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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Proposed law takes no texting and driving further for teens]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/no-texting.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 354px;" /></a><br />
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Last week in Ohio, the U.S. state Senate made a move that promises to be a very competitive entry in this year's "Demonstrate How Laws Are Basically Just Wishes" contest. They passed an anti-<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/texting/" target="_blank">texting</a> bill that will make all texting while driving illegal. That's nothing new - they'll be the 38th state to do that, if it passes. It's the bill's other provision that would make <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ohio/" target="_blank">Ohio</a> different - the one that says drivers under the age of 18 cannot use any electronic devices whatsoever. Not for calling, not for texting, not for status updating, not for anything. This is a total ban on device use for kids under 18 and an across-the-board ban on texting for everyone.<br />
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Well, it's an across-the-board ban on texting except that it does not include built-in voice recognition texting systems that play incoming messages out loud and send messages that users dictate. Why does it specifically exclude those? Perhaps because the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/ford/" target="_blank">Ford</a> Motor Company, which has a huge assembly plant and six manufacturing plants in <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ohio/" target="_blank">Ohio</a>, said "please." Just putting that out there.<br />
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Read more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Proposed law takes no texting and driving further for teens</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/">Proposed law takes no texting and driving further for teens</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234140/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/07/01/proposed-law-takes-no-texting-and-driving-further-for-teens/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bills</category><category>distracted driving</category><category>law</category><category>NHTSA</category><category>safety</category><category>Texting while driving</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Drive: 2012 Fisker Karma]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/2012-fisker-karma/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/2012-fisker-karma/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/2012-fisker-karma/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/2012-fisker-karma-0/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/fisker23011.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 420px;" /></a><br />
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Every so often, a car comes along that is so special in so very many ways, it immediately stakes a claim to becoming an instant classic. The 2012 <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/fisker/" target="_blank">Fisker</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/fisker/karma/" target="_blank">Karma</a> is just such a car. Although there are persistent rumors that the start-up manufacturer is in financial trouble, the same type of rumors dogged <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tesla/" target="_blank">Tesla</a> from the very beginning. Both companies are still around and both are producing some very interesting cars.<br />
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For the record, the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/fisker/" target="_blank">Fisker</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/fisker/karma/" target="_blank">Karma</a> is a luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/phev/" target="_blank">PHEV</a>), one that promises approximately 400 horsepower and an all-electric range of some 80 kilometres (50 miles). The <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/fisker/karma/" target="_blank">Karma</a> is similar in concept to the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/chevrolet/" target="_blank">Chevrolet</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/chevrolet/volt/" target="_blank">Volt</a> in that both are considered to be "range-extended <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ev/" target="_blank">EV</a>s" - its otherwise electric powertrain is supported by a range-extending gasoline engine.<br />
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In the case of the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/fisker/karma/" target="_blank">Karma</a>, however, its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine is not connected to the drive wheels and serves only to recharge the dual electric motors of the car's <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ev/" target="_blank">EV</a> drive system, whereas the range-extender on the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/chevrolet/volt/" target="_blank">Volt</a> can power the drive wheels directly in some circumstances.<br />
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Read more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/2012-fisker-karma/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/2012-fisker-karma/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Fisker Karma</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/canada/" rel="tag">Canada</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/fisker/" rel="tag">Fisker</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/quick-spin/" rel="tag">Quick Spin</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/green/" rel="tag">Green</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/2012-fisker-karma/">2012 Fisker Karma</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/2012-fisker-karma/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234723/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/2012-fisker-karma/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>eco-friendly</category><category>EV</category><category>fisker</category><category>Fisker Karma</category><category>green</category><category>hybrid</category><category>iphone</category><category>karma</category><category>phev</category><category>quick spin</category><category>Tesla</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mulroney's Camry: Twits and dweebs that tweet and Weib]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/mulroney-camry-weibo-1up.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 434px;" /></a><br />
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The recent kerfuffle over David Mulroney's car is a strange one, mainly because the kerfuffling car in question is a <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/toyota/" target="_blank">Toyota</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/toyota/camry/" target="_blank">Camry</a>, a vehicle that seems mostly unlikely to offend anyone. Though perhaps that was part of the problem. In case you haven't heard, Mulroney, Canada's Ambassador to China, recently posted pictures of his silver <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/toyota/camry/" target="_blank">Camry</a> on Weibo (sort of a Chinese <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/twitter/" target="_blank">Twitter</a>), looking quite fine in its <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/toyota/camry/" target="_blank">Camry</a>-ish way. The response he received was basically a collective appalled gasp, followed by wave upon wave of mockery. Apparently, if you drive a <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/toyota/camry/" target="_blank">Camry</a> in China, you're expected to hide it like a shameful secret... until someone else outs you on Weibo, anyway. But you don't out yourself. That's crazy.<br />
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Read more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Mulroney's Camry: Twits and dweebs that tweet and Weib</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/sedan/" rel="tag">Sedan</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/">Mulroney's Camry: Twits and dweebs that tweet and Weib</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234925/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/mulroneys-camry-twits-and-dweebs-that-tweet-and-weib/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>A6</category><category>ambassador</category><category>audi</category><category>camry</category><category>canada</category><category>china</category><category>government</category><category>passat</category><category>social network</category><category>social networking</category><category>toyota</category><category>volkswagen</category><category>weibo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Drive: 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8-0/#photo-5011851/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/mg0738dxo.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 420px;" /></a><br />
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At this year's North American International Auto Show, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/bentley/" target="_blank">Bentley</a> unveiled something quite incredible - <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/03/06/bentley-debuts-continental-gtc-v8-before-geneva/">a V8 version</a> of its <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/bentley/continental+gt/" target="_blank">Continental GT</a> sports coupe that is an estimated 40 per cent more fuel efficient than its <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/02/20/bentley-improving-w12-to-justify-over-v8-continental/">12-cylinder brethren</a>.<br />
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With the ever-increasing emphasis on the environment, tailpipe <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/emissions/" target="_blank">emissions</a> and fuel reserves, it's no wonder that alternative-fuel vehicles are seen as the answer to a solution that is very much needed in the foreseeable future. However, it's also worth noting that there are some pretty sharp minds out there working on optimizing the performance of the good ol' internal combustion engine - and the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/01/09/bentley-continental-gt-v8-detroit-2012/">2013 Bentley Continental GT V8</a> provides ample proof of this fact.<br />
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The entire Continental line, starting with the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/bentley/continental+gt/">original GT coupe</a> introduced in 2003, has only been offered with one type of engine: the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/02/20/bentley-improving-w12-to-justify-over-v8-continental/">twin-turbocharged W12</a>. Over the years, this engine has been modified and tweaked to produce more power, more torque and more performance.<br />
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<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/#continued">Click here</a> to see how the V8 stacks up in our review.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2013 Bentley Continental GT V8</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/bentley/" rel="tag">Bentley</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/car-buying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/reviews/" rel="tag">Reviews</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/performance/" rel="tag">Performance</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/">2013 Bentley Continental GT V8</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234179/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/first-drive-2013-bentley-continental-gt-v8/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>8-speed automatic</category><category>audi</category><category>bentley</category><category>continental</category><category>continental gt</category><category>coupe</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>Mulsanne</category><category>S8</category><category>V8</category><category>w12</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prototype Drive: BMW ActiveE]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/bmwactiveelifestyle2.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 420px;" /></a><br />
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While it's true that <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/bmw/" target="_blank">BMW</a> may appear to be a little late in joining the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ev/" target="_blank">electric vehicle (EV)</a> brigade, it's also true that the Munich-based manufacturer has been hard at work behind the scenes on electrification for years now.<br />
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Their efforts began in earnest with an <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ev/" target="_blank">electric</a> version of the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/mini/" target="_blank">MINI</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/mini/cooper/" target="_blank">Cooper</a>, dubbed the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/mini/" target="_blank">MINI</a> E, which was given a trial run by 500 early adopters in the U.S. and the UK in 2009. The plan was to gather feedback and use the information to drive improvements.<br />
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Some two years later, these same test drivers were encouraged to trade in their <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/mini/" target="_blank">MINI</a> Es for the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/bmw/" target="_blank">BMW</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/activee/" target="_blank">ActiveE</a>, an <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ev/" target="_blank">electric</a> version of the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/bmw/" target="_blank">BMW</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/bmw/1+series/" target="_blank">1 Series</a> Coupe and the next step in the company's electrification process.<br />
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See how it stacks up after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Prototype Drive: BMW ActiveE</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/electric/" rel="tag">Electric</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/mini/" rel="tag">Mini</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/quick-spin/" rel="tag">Quick Spin</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/">Prototype Drive: BMW ActiveE</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234662/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/06/08/prototype-drive-bmw-activee/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>1 series</category><category>128</category><category>135</category><category>ActiveE Concept</category><category>bmw</category><category>bosch</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>EV</category><category>i3</category><category>i8</category><category>leaf</category><category>mini</category><category>MINI E</category><category>nissan</category><category>samsung</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: Regulating Distracted Driving, what's the next step?]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/regulating-distracted-driving/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/regulating-distracted-driving/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/regulating-distracted-driving/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/regulating-distracted-driving/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/13superdutyplatinum34.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 420px;" /></a><br />
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No one would deny that distracted driving is a real problem. Everyone is familiar with it - it's that thing that happens when other people try to text, drink coffee, shave, apply mascara, and discipline their children all at the same time. Oh, and drive. Not you, though. You're an assiduous driver, right? It's all the other bozos out there who need regulating.<br />
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And regulated they will be. Earlier this week, the U.S. <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/nhtsa/" target="_blank">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)</a> held a hearing to discuss its proposed restrictions on built-in technology in cars, asserted as contributors to the problem of distracted driving. The U.S. <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/nhtsa/" target="_blank">NHTSA</a> is looking to restrict three main categories of technology: dashboard instruments and controls, navigational systems, and Web access.<br />
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With regard to the first category, dashboard instruments and control, members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers - which includes the 12 biggest automakers (except <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/honda/">Honda</a>, strangely enough) - has been operating according to voluntary guidelines for the past decade. One of these guidelines already includes dashboard operations with a design requirement to limit "manual-visual" operations - tuning the radio, adjusting climate controls, etc. - to no more than ten two-second glances. The proposed federal regulations would cut that to six two-second glances. That seems reasonable; it didn't provoke much protest from the automakers - an Alliance study already showed the mean number of glances away from the road scene for the radio tuning task is less than 7, anyway. Pretty close.<br />
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Read on after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/regulating-distracted-driving/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/regulating-distracted-driving/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Regulating Distracted Driving, what's the next step?</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/canada/" rel="tag">Canada</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/regulating-distracted-driving/">Regulating Distracted Driving, what's the next step?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Wed, 30 May 2012 16:29:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/regulating-distracted-driving/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234203/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/30/regulating-distracted-driving/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>distracted driving</category><category>GPS</category><category>NHTSA</category><category>regulation</category><category>SatNav</category><category>Texting</category><category>Texting while driving</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2012 16:29:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: Face it, cows know gas]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/face-it-cows-know-gas/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/face-it-cows-know-gas/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/face-it-cows-know-gas/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: center;">
	<img height="560" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/mackie.jpg" vspace="4" width="400" /></div>
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Last year, Roderick Mackie, Professor of Animal Sciences at the <a href="http://illinois.edu/" target="_blank">University of Illinois</a>, did some research on the way cows digest grass, raising hope that <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/biofuel/" target="_blank">biofuels</a> will eventually power our cars without compromising the world's food supply.<br />
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The study isolated microbes in a cow's gut that break through the tough cell walls of grass, allowing the animal to get at sugar inside.<br />
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That "grass energy" is the stuff of which <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/biofuel/" target="_blank">biofuels</a> like corn-based ethanol are made of. Moreover, unlike alternative fuels made from corn, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ethanol/" target="_blank">ethanol</a> made from switchgrass and other non-food crops doesn't eat into the world's food supply or drive up the cost of corn-based foods. Switchgrass, after all, is basically a weed - a prolific one at that.<br />
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<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/07/face-it-cows-know-gas/">Click here</a> to read more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/07/face-it-cows-know-gas/" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/face-it-cows-know-gas/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Face it, cows know gas</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/face-it-cows-know-gas/">Face it, cows know gas</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Mon, 28 May 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/face-it-cows-know-gas/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20233245/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/28/face-it-cows-know-gas/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cows</category><category>epa</category><category>ethanol</category><category>flex fuel</category><category>fuel</category><category>gas</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Skeptical excitement fueled by Biomass Gasification]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/primus-green-art.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 473px;" /></a><br />
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Primus Green Energy Ltd. just announced that it has produced its first viable batch of renewable "drop-in" gasoline. The New Jersey-based company, an American subsidiary of the holding company Israel Corp, next plans to build a commercial plant in eastern Pennsylvania that will be able to produce up to 4.8 million gallons of bio-gasoline per year.<br />
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Reportedly, the bio-gasoline is produced from a blend of biomass inputs (the company cites wood pellets, switchgrass, and "herbaceous materials" as examples) and natural gas. The resulting product, if all pans out as Primus intends, will be price-competitive with standard gasoline but burn cleaner. Most alluringly, the bio-gas will be usable in standard gas powered cars without any special conversion or engine modification.<br />
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Intrigued? Find out more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Skeptical excitement fueled by Biomass Gasification</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/green/" rel="tag">Green</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/">Skeptical excitement fueled by Biomass Gasification</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234605/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/skeptical-excitement-fueled-by-biomass-gasification/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bio-gas</category><category>biogas</category><category>crude oil</category><category>fossil fuels</category><category>gas prices</category><category>green</category><category>israel corp</category><category>Mitt Romney</category><category>primus</category><category>SwitchGrass</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flex Fuel - worth the hype?]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/07/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ford-flex-fuel-logo.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 420px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/flexfuel/" target="_blank">Flex fuel</a> sounds plain cool. It's fuel and it's flexible - who wouldn't be impressed with something that's both vital and accommodating at the same time? Only hippies and professional haters, right?<br />
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As an energy source, flex fuel is by definition a mixture of <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ethanol/" target="_blank">ethanol</a> and gasoline used in vehicles specifically modified/designed to accept it. And it can be any mixture; 99 per cent ethanol and 1 per cent <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/gasoline/" target="_blank">gasoline</a>; 1 per cent <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ethanol/" target="_blank">ethanol</a> and 99 per cent gasoline or any per cent variation in between.<br />
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Flex-fuel vehicles, meanwhile, have received a lot of attention from automakers as of late - mostly the U.S.-based ones. The <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/e85" target="_blank">E85</a> flex fuel - a blend that is 85 per cent <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ethanol/" target="_blank">ethanol</a> and 15 per cent <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/gasoline/" target="_blank">gasoline</a> - is widely touted as new alternative-energy genius. Problem is, it's hardly new.<br />
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Read more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/07/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Flex Fuel - worth the hype?</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/">Flex Fuel - worth the hype?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Thu, 17 May 2012 09:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20233195/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/flex-fuel-worth-the-hype/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>e85</category><category>ethanol</category><category>ethanol blend</category><category>flex fuel</category><category>ford</category><category>fuel economy</category><category>gas</category><category>Gasoline</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 09:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study: Fried chicken formula reveals best car resale values]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/kbb-resale-value-awards/#photo-5014336/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/4-2012-honda-fit-interior-1-1336586742.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 421px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">Kelley Blue Book (KBB)</a> has released their 2012 "Best Resale Value Awards." As always, these provide plenty of fodder for debate and complaint, but also for just plain geeking out. Because come on - seriously, you can control the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/chevrolet/volt/" target="_blank">Volt</a>'s battery recharging pace from your phone? How cool is that?!<br />
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<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">Kelley</a> divides its awards into three groups: best overall brand, best in category, and wild-card winners.<br />
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Based on some intricate set of calculations, a formula <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">KBB</a> keeps more secret than KFC's eleven herbs and spices, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">Kelley</a> determines the percentage of base price that each vehicle is likely to command when resold at 36 and 60 months. This year's overall awards, presented at a special ceremony on the eve of the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/la+auto+show/" target="_blank">Los Angeles Auto Show</a>, went to <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/toyota/" target="_blank">Toyota</a> (best resale brand) and <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/lexus/" target="_blank">Lexus</a> (best resale luxury brand).<br />
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Read more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Fried chicken formula reveals best car resale values</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/electric/" rel="tag">Electric</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/car-buying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/lexus/" rel="tag">Lexus</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/suv/" rel="tag">SUV</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/">Fried chicken formula reveals best car resale values</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234772/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/fried-chicken-formula-reveals-best-car-resale-values/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>chevy</category><category>EV</category><category>evergeek</category><category>fit</category><category>honda</category><category>hybrid</category><category>KBB</category><category>kbb resale value awards</category><category>kelley blue book</category><category>la auto show</category><category>lexus</category><category>Rx450H</category><category>suv</category><category>volt</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study: Nit-picking Kelley Blue Book]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/kbb-keyhole.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 473px;" /></a><br />
<br />
A natural extension of being a tech journalist is being a stats geek. As it turns out, nothing makes a stats geek happier than finding something wrong with someone Else's numbers. Especially when that someone is <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">Kelley Blue Book (KBB)</a>, a cornucopia of car statistics ranging from range to resale value.<br />
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Now, we love <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">KBB</a> - lots of great information, insight and reviews. It's the original go-to source for "what should this lemon/diamond-in-the-rough actually cost?"-type queries. In fact, we recently posted a story about <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">KBB</a>'s "<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/kbb-2012-best-resale-value-awards-dominated-by-toyota/" target="_blank">Best Resale Value Awards</a>," because <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">KBB</a> really does lead the way in generating that kind of informative repository of best and worst and in-betweens.<br />
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But sifting through <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">KBB</a>'s archive for background info on its award-winners unveiled an odd and often-troubling lack of confluence or concurrence... something in the numbers that <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">KBB</a> uses for various ratings didn't always add up. We don't want to nitpick, but... actually, no, that's exactly what we do want to do. We should make clear that we haven't done any comprehensive statistical analysis, and we make no claims about <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/kbb/" target="_blank">KBB</a>'s methodology or overall system. We've just noticed some things that don't jive, that should jive, and that have us a bit worried.<br />
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Read more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Nit-picking Kelley Blue Book</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/car-buying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/">Nit-picking Kelley Blue Book</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234239/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nit-picking-kelley-blue-book/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>best resale value</category><category>Buick</category><category>chevrolet</category><category>civic</category><category>fuel economy</category><category>honda</category><category>hybrid</category><category>Hyundai</category><category>investigation</category><category>KBB</category><category>kbb resale value awards</category><category>kelley blue book</category><category>LaCrosse</category><category>NHTSA</category><category>review</category><category>Sonata</category><category>styling</category><category>volt</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Report: AMP your ride: All electric SUVs?!]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/#continued" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ampgroup2.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 344px;" /></a><br />
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AMP <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ev/" target="_blank">Electric Vehicles</a>, an entrepreneurial startup in Ohio whose new <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ev/">all-electric vehicles</a> debuted at the North American Auto Show in January, has just qualified for the United States' USD$7,500 tax credit for plug-in electric vehicles. Congratulations, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/amp/" target="_blank">AMP</a>! You're in with the big boys now! Word is that <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/amp/" target="_blank">AMP</a> was also a finalist for the U.S. Automotive X Prize in 2010. So, cool name, startup, X prize - that must be some amazing-looking car! A Jetson-mobile, maybe, or some other futuristic thing that looks like a cross between a fish and a <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/delorean/" target="_blank">DeLorean</a>?<br />
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Oh. Well, that doesn't look futuristic at all. In fact it looks kind of like a <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/jeep/" target="_blank">Jeep</a>. Wait ... it looks exactly like a <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/jeep/" target="_blank">Jeep</a>. Umm, that's because it is a <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/jeep/" target="_blank">Jeep</a>! A <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/jeep/" target="_blank">Jeep</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/jeep/grand+cherokee/" target="_blank">Grand Cherokee</a>, to be exact, though the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/amp/" target="_blank">AMP</a> also comes in luxury flavor: the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/" target="_blank">Mercedes</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/m-class/" target="_blank">MLe</a>.<br />
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Okay, so it may not look very futuristic, but <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/amp/" target="_blank">AMP</a> has figured out how to do something that few innovators have bother to try, i.e. take existing vehicles, remove the entire powertrain, and replace it with a battery and electric motor.<br />
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Find out more after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>AMP your ride: All electric SUVs?!</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/electric/" rel="tag">Electric</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/jeep/" rel="tag">Jeep</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/suv/" rel="tag">SUV</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/">AMP your ride: All electric SUVs?!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Fri, 11 May 2012 11:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234193/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/amp-your-ride-all-electric-suvs/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>all electric</category><category>amp</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>EV</category><category>Grand Cherokee</category><category>Jeep</category><category>m class</category><category>mercedes-benz</category><category>suv</category><category>Tax Credit</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 11:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Automatic transmission: A brief history]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/automatic-transmissions/#photo-5014518/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/2-manumatic-transmission-1336591545.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 403px;" /></a><br />
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The <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/manual/" target="_blank">manual</a> transmission is not long for this world, much to the consternation of the "driving aficionado." As evidence, consider that the take rate for <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/manual/" target="_blank">manual</a> transmissions for all <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/lamborghini/" target="_blank">Lamborghini</a> models - among the most extreme super-sports cars on the planet, mind you - is a measly 1 to 2 per cent.<br />
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For the mathematically challenged, this means that 98 to 99 per cent of <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/lamborghini/" target="_blank">Lamborghini</a> customers are opting for the company's e-gear semi-automatic transmission over the traditional triple-pedal set-up. And the e-gear isn't even one of the best transmissions in the business.<br />
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All is not lost, though, because the latest generation of automatics can, in some cases, provide an equal measure of driving pleasure. Here's a rundown of the different kind of automatics, including those that will no doubt be propelling us forward in the future.<br />
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Set your shifter to Drive after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Automatic transmission: A brief history</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/bugatti/" rel="tag">Bugatti</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/ferrari/" rel="tag">Ferrari</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/mitsubishi/" rel="tag">Mitsubishi</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/porsche/" rel="tag">Porsche</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/">The Automatic transmission: A brief history</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234969/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/the-automatic-transmission-a-brief-history/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>audi</category><category>bugatti</category><category>CVT</category><category>dual clutch</category><category>Ferrari</category><category>gear</category><category>gearbox</category><category>gm</category><category>HydraMatic</category><category>manual</category><category>manumatic</category><category>mitsubishi</category><category>nissan</category><category>Porsche</category><category>Transmission</category><category>volkswagen</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study: Car mods that make hypermiling sense]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/hypermiling-mods/#photo-5014159/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/1b-mustang-front-air-dam.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 315px;" /></a><br />
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Most cars on the road today are designed with <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/aerodynamics/" target="_blank">aerodynamics</a> in mind, allowing each to scythe through the air like a dart while creating as little turbulence as possible - to a point, anyway - while also boasting sleek profiles, nice lines and a visceral aura of "let's roll." But put <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/aerodynamics/" target="_blank">aerodynamics</a> above all other design considerations and we'd all be driving giant, 4-wheeled saucers that wouldn't be particularly functional for transporting people and cargo nor look the least bit pretty.<br />
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Still, from grille to tailpipe, there are a number of cosmetic features on your typical ride that put form before function; style and sex appeal before the physics of drag and <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/hypermiling/" target="_blank">hypermileage</a> lost.<br />
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From simple to garishly effective, here are three modification for your current car or things to look for in your next vehicle, from front to sides to back, that will make it a natural <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/hypermiling/" target="_blank">hypermiler</a>.<br />
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Find out what they are after the <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/#continued" target="_blank">jump</a>.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Car mods that make hypermiling sense</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/aftermarket/" rel="tag">Aftermarket</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/ownership-and-repair/" rel="tag">Ownership and Repair</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/">Car mods that make hypermiling sense</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Thu, 10 May 2012 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234739/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/car-mods-that-make-hypermiling-sense/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aerodynamics</category><category>autobahn</category><category>car modification</category><category>fuel economy</category><category>hubcap</category><category>hypermilers</category><category>hypermiling</category><category>mod</category><category>modification</category><category>mods</category><category>spoilers</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Study: "Camaros eat Mustangs:" The origins of car names]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/#continued"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/01-sms-620-camaro-bj.jpg" style="width: 630px; height: 418px;" vspace="4" /></a><br />
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As a car <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/manufacturer/">manufacturer</a>, you have spent literally thousands of person-hours engineering a vehicle that is not quite entirely dreamy nor utterly practical, but some magical balance of the two that should sell by the trainload. Small problem: the folks in marketing have decided to name the car the "Acquiesce," so chosen for its inability to offend anybody and its inference of agreeability. Turns out, nobody in the focus group had a thesaurus on hand; nobody took acquiescence for submissiveness.<br />
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These days, the naming process starts as soon as a new model car is proposed and is usually led by the marketing team. They start by looking at the car they are going to build and brainstorming words that reflect the character or perceived character of the car they eventually intend to sell. This is how <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/voyager/" target="_blank">Voyager</a> came to be known as an abiding family road trekker while <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/ram/" target="_blank">Ram</a> emotes the ovine tenacity of a go anywhere <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/pickup/" target="_blank">pickup</a> truck.<br />
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<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/#continued">Click here</a> to find out more after the jump.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>"Camaros eat Mustangs:" The origins of car names</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/humour/" rel="tag">Humour</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/design-style/" rel="tag">Design/Style</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/">"Camaros eat Mustangs:" The origins of car names</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Wed, 09 May 2012 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234155/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/camaros-eat-mustangs-the-origins-of-car-names/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>911</category><category>alfa romeo</category><category>austin</category><category>Barracuda</category><category>Bonneville</category><category>bora</category><category>Bronco</category><category>Brooklands</category><category>Buick</category><category>Camaro</category><category>challenger</category><category>charger</category><category>chevrolet</category><category>citroen</category><category>Cobra</category><category>CrossOver</category><category>daytona</category><category>de tomaso</category><category>DeLorean</category><category>design</category><category>dino</category><category>dodge</category><category>edsel</category><category>Ferrari</category><category>ford</category><category>golf</category><category>honda</category><category>Hyundai</category><category>ibiza</category><category>Impala</category><category>Jetta</category><category>Lamborghini</category><category>Le Mans</category><category>Lucerne</category><category>mangusta</category><category>manufacturing</category><category>marketing</category><category>mazda</category><category>Mercury</category><category>Milan</category><category>mito</category><category>Mondeo</category><category>montreal</category><category>Mustang</category><category>names</category><category>nova</category><category>passat</category><category>pontiac</category><category>Porsche</category><category>ram</category><category>renault</category><category>rolls-royce</category><category>santa fe</category><category>Scirocco</category><category>seat</category><category>sebring</category><category>shelby</category><category>skylark</category><category>Stingray</category><category>Tacoma</category><category>Talladega</category><category>toyota</category><category>Viper</category><category>volkswagen</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Drive: 2013 Nissan GT-R]]></title><link>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/</guid><comments>http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/photos/2013-nissan-gt-r-0/#photo-5011752/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/nissangt-r101.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 630px; height: 372px;" /></a><br />
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As incredible as this may seem, the brand new, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/2013-nissan-gt-r-la-2011/">2013 Nissan GT-R</a> leaves the then-new <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2011/02/16/2012-nissan-gt-r-first-drive-review-road-test/">2012 Nissan GT-R</a> in its dust. Now, to the casual observer, the idea of a new car being better than its immediate predecessor hardly seems incredible - it's what cars do (or should do, anyway). But when the car being replaced offers such prodigious levels of performance to begin with, it begs the question: How is there any room for improvement?<br />
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The original <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/nissan/" target="_blank">Nissan</a> <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/nissan/gtr/" target="_blank">GT-R</a> was definitely good enough, if there ever is such a thing when it comes to super-sports cars. Introduced in 2007, the car codenamed "<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/tag/godzilla/" target="_blank">Godzilla</a>" featured a twin-turbo V6 engine that delivered a whopping 478 horsepower, a mind-blowing 434 lb-ft of torque and a stratospheric top speed of close to 310 km/h.<br />
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<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/#continued">Click here</a> to take a ride with Godzilla.<p><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2013 Nissan GT-R</em></a></p><p>Filed under: <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/car-buying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/reviews/" rel="tag">Reviews</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/quick-spin/" rel="tag">Quick Spin</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a>, <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/category/performance/" rel="tag">Performance</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/">2013 Nissan GT-R</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://ca.autoblog.com">Autoblog Canada</a> on Wed, 09 May 2012 12:05:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/forward/20234165/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ca.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/first-ride-2013-nissan-gt-r/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2013</category><category>AWD</category><category>bilstein</category><category>coupe</category><category>Double Clutch Transmission</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>florida</category><category>GT-R</category><category>launch control</category><category>nissan</category><category>palm beach</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Evergeek]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 12:05:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>