Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com Autoblog Canada http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Video: Honda returning to F1 as McLaren partner [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/honda-returning-to-f1-as-mclaren-partner/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/honda-returning-to-f1-as-mclaren-partner/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/honda-returning-to-f1-as-mclaren-partner/#commentsHonda and McLaren announce new F1 efforts by showing three race cars throughout history

McLaren Honda team formation - executives shaking handsHonda must really love Formula One racing, as evidenced by today's announcement that the Japanese automaker is returning to the world's most popular motorsport for the fifth time in its history. Honda has entered into a team partnership with McLaren to develop and manufacture power systems - the engine and energy recovery system - for the 2015 F1 season. McLaren will be in charge of chassis development and running the day-to-day operations of this newly formed team, which will be called McLaren Honda.

Honda says its decision to re-enter F1 racing had to do with new regulations for the 2014 season that require cars to be powered by a 1.6-litre direct-injection turbocharged V6 engine paired with an energy recovery system. Apparently the chance to develop this particular powertrain for F1 racing was too enticing for Honda to pass up, which suggests it has bigger plans for the knowledge learned while developing these systems beyond just winning races.

As mentioned, this is Honda's fifth foray into F1 racing, the first being back in 1964 when it participated as its own team through 1968. Its longest stint came from 1983-1992 as an engine supplier, during which time it partnered with many teams, including McLaren, and won six Constructor Championships. Honda then returned from 2000-2005 as an engine supplier for British American Racing (BAR) before buying that team outright and running it as Honda Racing from 2006-2008. Then the global economic crisis hit. Honda's return to the sport will surely be welcomed by fans as its partnership with McLaren should produce a formidable team. It's a strong signal that the company has returned to health after a few tumultuous years, and hopefully its rediscovered motorsports mojo will help yield more passionately engineered street cars.

Scroll down to read the official press release and watch a video news report.

Gallery: McLaren P1






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Honda returning to F1 as McLaren partner [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1formula 1formula onehondahonda engine suppliermclarenmclaren hondaThu, 16 May 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Parking lot traps uncoordinated driver [NSFW]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/parking-lot-traps-uncoordinated-driver-nsfw/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/parking-lot-traps-uncoordinated-driver-nsfw/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/parking-lot-traps-uncoordinated-driver-nsfw/#comments

We certainly have sympathy for this hapless driver who had a difficult time leaving a Wits University parking lot in Johannesburg, South Africa. The lot is overcrowded and probably beyond capacity, making the driver's efforts to turn down its lanes an exercise in futility and frustration.

It doesn't help that the camera operator and his friends offer nothing but colourful (read: explicit, hence the NSFW warning) commentary. They refer to the driver as being female, but it's not possible to tell from the video's perspective which sex was responsible for bungling the dozen-plus-point turnaround.

Scroll down to watch the excruciating extrication below.

Gallery: Poor Parking App

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Parking lot traps uncoordinated driver [NSFW] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 15 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>johannesburgparking lotsouth africatrapped parking lotvideowits universityWed, 15 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/clever-water-stop-sign-prevents-tunnel-crashes-in-australia/#comments

Faced with truck drivers not heeding warnings when their tractor trailers were too tall to enter the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, officials turned to a company called Laservision to put an end to these costly crashes that were not only closing the tunnel for weeks at a time, but also put other drivers on the road in considerable danger.

Developed and implemented back in 2011, Laservision's Softstop system projects a familiar bright red stop sign, seemingly in mid-air, at the tunnel's entrance if a vehicle too large to enter is detected. In fact, the stop sign does not float in mid-air, but rather is projected onto a water screen that, should a vehicle not heed its command, would cause no damage from being driven through.

The Softstop water stop sign is a last resort, mind you. If a driver's truck is tall enough that it would crash into the tunnel were it to enter, a number of brightly flashing warning signs are activated that signal the driver to stop earlier. Only if those flashing signs are ignored is the Softstop system activated at the tunnel's entrance. Likewise, the Softstop system can be activated for other reasons, including keeping drivers out for their own protection if there's a fire or other disaster inside the tunnel.

Though we admit to chuckling at the occasional truck-crashes-into-low-overpass video (11foot8.com is a whole website devoted to vehicles crashing into a low railroad trestle in Durham, NC), this clever solution for preventing such accidents is even more interesting to watch in action.

Gallery: Top 5 Forgotten Failures in Car Technology

Talking CarNuclear-Powered EnginesAutomatic Seat BeltsTurbine-Powered Production CarAir Grabber Hood-Scoop

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Clever water stop sign prevents tunnel crashes in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 15 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>laservisionsoftstopsydney harbour tunneltruck tunnel crashesvideowater stop signWed, 15 May 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Gran Turismo 6 confirmed for holiday 2013 release on PS3]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/gran-turismo-6-confirmed-for-holiday-2013-release-on-ps3/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/gran-turismo-6-confirmed-for-holiday-2013-release-on-ps3/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/gran-turismo-6-confirmed-for-holiday-2013-release-on-ps3/#comments

For those hoping the next iteration of Polyphony Digital's storied 15-year-old Gran Turismo franchise would take full advantage of the Sony Playstation 4, sorry, but we're going to burst your bubble. The next-gen console is slated to debut this holiday season, and while Sony officially announced today that Gran Turismo 6 would be released at the same time, it will be for the seven-year-old Playstation 3 console, not the new PS4. But hey, at least we won't have to have waited five years for this version like we did for the fifth.

GT6 will launch with a roster of 1,200 cars, 33 locations (seven more than GT5) and 71 track layouts. The racing simulator is also said to utilize new game and physics engines, which Sony claims "pushes the limits of the PS3." Today's announcement was made at the well-known Silverstone racing circuit in the UK, which is one of the new tracks in GT6. A demo version of the game with 19 cars (see the full list below and view them in the image gallery) will be released before the holiday season; Sony says it's scheduled for July and will kick off GT Academy 2013.

We'll see more of Gran Turismo 6 at the E3 games show in June, but for now you can watch the trailer below for what has become the Playstation 3's best-selling franchise with 70 million copies sold. This sixth iteration will likely lock down that honour for good.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 Review

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Gran Turismo 6 confirmed for holiday 2013 release on PS3 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 15 May 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gran turismogran turismo 6gt6playstation 3polyphony digitalsonyWed, 15 May 2013 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Audi kicks off ad campaign tonight with stirring new spot]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/audi-kicks-off-ad-campaign-tonight-with-stirring-new-spot/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/audi-kicks-off-ad-campaign-tonight-with-stirring-new-spot/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/audi-kicks-off-ad-campaign-tonight-with-stirring-new-spot/#comments

Following last week's entertaining and wildly popular Spock vs. Spock video, Audi has come back with a bevy of videos for its new advertising campaign that will begin airing tonight in primetime and on cable.

There are five ads altogether, but the longest one, a 60-second spot titled It Couldn't Be Done, is our favourite by far. Set to a reading of the poem of the same name by Edgar Albert Guest, the commercial chronicles the history of Auto Union Deutschland Ingolstadt from the days of its founder, August Horch, through its many decades of innovation, competition and creativity. Indeed, watching the commercial gave us chills similar to when we first heard the Ram brand's Farmer commercial that aired during this year's Super Bowl.

The other four commercials are shorter 15-second spots that focus on such familiar themes as the company's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the safety of its vehicles, their style and the company's advances in LED lighting. While less impactful than the longer ad, we think they effectively sound the drum beat of Audi's preferred tag line: Truth in Engineering. Scroll down to watch all five new ads, starting with the 60-second It Couldn't Be Done.

Gallery: Audi Quattro Concept: Quick Spin

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Audi kicks off ad campaign tonight with stirring new spot originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 13 May 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi adaudi commercialaugust horchedgar albert guestit couldnt be donetruth in engineeringvideoMon, 13 May 2013 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/#comments

After watching this video of Brazilian police ramming a suspected drug-smuggling plane with their car to prevent it from taking off, I've realized that Hollywood has once again lied to me. My last exposure to Brazilian law enforcement was courtesy of their portrayal in 2011's Fast Five, in which the country's police force was presented by Tinsel Town as easily corruptible and able to be defeated by a couple of Americans in Dodge Chargers towing a safe.

In reality, though, it appears not all Brazilian cops roll over that easily. The ones in this dramatic video did their own real-life stunt work when they decided to ram a suspected drug transport plane during takeoff. Appearing to take out the plane's tail section and then ram it from the side, the officers also braved some flying bullets, though it's unclear from the video who was doing the shooting. Huffington Post reports that five people were arrested and 230 kilograms of cocaine base paste were seized.

The Brazilian police aren't even newcomers to the plane-ramming business. An equally, if not more, dramatic video was captured in 2011 that showed Brazilian police using their car to shear off an entire wing of a plane while it was taking off. All of which makes me now believe that if Hollywood were more realistic, Fast Five would've been over in 20 minutes with Dom and Brian in handcuffs. Scroll down to watch this real-life car-vs-plane chase scene.

Gallery: Top 10 Police Chase Videos

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Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 13 May 2013 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brazilbrazil policebrazilian policedrug planedrug tradedrug traffickingdrugsplane rammingvideoMon, 13 May 2013 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking: VW debuts 503-hp Design Vision GTI at Wörthersee]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vw-debuts-503-hp-design-vision-gti-at-worthersee/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vw-debuts-503-hp-design-vision-gti-at-worthersee/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vw-debuts-503-hp-design-vision-gti-at-worthersee/#comments

As is the case every year, Volkswagen engineers have built and brought a new toy to their fans at the annual Wörthersee festival in Reifnitz, Austria. Called the Design Vision GTI, this track toy is a Golf that's been widened, lowered and given an injection of twin-turbo V6 steroids. We reported on this uber-fast hatchback concept last week, and now we've got photos the back up the rumours.

The powerplant providing motivation is a 3.0-litre V6 paired with two turbochargers to produce 503 horsepower and up to 413 pound-feet of torque. With all-wheel drive and Volkswagen's famous DSG gearbox (the gear count is unknown), the Design Vision GTI can erase what's between you and 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds, as well as a reach a terminal velocity of 300 km/h (186 mph). Carbon ceramic brakes, 20-inch wheels and a specially tuned chassis round out the hardware upgrades, while engineers compressed the car's dimensions to be shorter, wider and lower than a stock GTI.

The exterior of the Design Vision GTI is meant to evoke the future of GTI styling, which is fine by us as we especially like how the car's iconic C-pillar is pulled away from the body and flows into the significantly flared rear fenders. It looks like the reflection of a GTI in a circus mirror with menace-making bends. The interior, meanwhile, is an exercise in editing, with switches, knobs and all manner of unnecessary controls removed, and the centre console more severely oriented towards the driver. The rear seats have been replaced by an X-shaped crossbar, and red straps appear where door handles used to be (à la Porsche). There's even a camera embedded in the A-pillar that can shoot either the track ahead or the driver at work.

While not as stout in the power or performance departments as the 2007 GTI W12 Concept, the Design Vision GTI looks even more the business than that King of Golfs. For now we only have renderings, but we'll update this post with live images of the Design Vision GTI as soon as they're available.

Scroll down to read the official VW press release, then watch a video showing the Golf R facing off against the Mini Cooper S.

Gallery: 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI: First Drive






Continue reading VW debuts 503-hp Design Vision GTI at Wörthersee

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VW debuts 503-hp Design Vision GTI at Wörthersee originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 08 May 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>golfGolf GTIGolf Rgtivolkswagenvolkswagen golfvwvw design vision gtivw gtiwortherseeworthersee 2013Wed, 08 May 2013 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Viper GTS-R will have first full season chronicled in new web series]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/viper-gts-r-will-have-first-full-season-chronicled-in-web-series/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/viper-gts-r-will-have-first-full-season-chronicled-in-web-series/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/viper-gts-r-will-have-first-full-season-chronicled-in-web-series/#comments

SRT will be documenting its second season - and first full season - of Viper GTS-R racing in the American Le Mans Series with a new web series called Beyond the Checkered Flag. We don't know much yet, but the team has released a teaser video (below) and promises the series will run at least four episodes, if not more. The videos will feature all six drivers who are responsible for piloting the No. 93 and 91 Viper GTS-R cars that compete in each race, and each episode will be told from a different perspective of the action (drivers, the pits, the fans, etc.).

As we've mentioned before, the return of the Viper to motorsports is a big deal, and we're excited that SRT Motorsports has decided to document it. The car's first go around in racing began in the late '90s and peaked during the fledgling seasons of the then-new American Le Mans Series when the Viper GTS-R won 16 of 18 races during 1999 and 2000. The new Viper GTS-R hasn't been nearly as dominant as the original since returning to ALMS racing last August, the team having only just achieved its first podium finish a few weeks ago in Long Beach with one of its cars finishing third.

The first episode of Beyond the Checkered Flag, which should air in mid-May, will focus on preparations for the 2013 season, specifically the time leading up to the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring in March. Spoiler alert: the team didn't win its class, though the No. 91 car did lead for much of the race and finished fifth, scoring valuable championship points to kick off the team's first competitive season back.

Scroll down to watch the trailer for Beyond the Checkered Flag.

Gallery: SRT Viper GTS-R

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Viper GTS-R will have first full season chronicled in new web series originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsbeyond the checkered flagsrtsrt motorsportssrt vipersrt viper gts-rviperTue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Audi pits Star Trek's new Spock versus the original]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/audi-pits-star-treks-new-spock-versus-the-original/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/audi-pits-star-treks-new-spock-versus-the-original/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/audi-pits-star-treks-new-spock-versus-the-original/#comments

The only thing that makes a sci-fi geek happier than William Shatner and Patrick Stewart in the same room is when two Spocks collide. Audi has somehow managed to do just that ahead of the release of the second film in this historic franchise's new go-round called Star Trek Into Darkness, which opens in theaters later this month.

We won't spoil the fun (you can, and should, watch it yourself below), suffice it say that the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, steals the show from the franchise's new Spock, Zachary Quinto. The short video has the two Vulcans battling wits in a series of challenges that quickly comes to involve cars, but Audi manages to outwit them both in the final scene by leaving these logical beings with an emotion that resembles amazement.

This is the second summer blockbuster that Audi has tied its four rings to, the other being Iron Man 3. Whereas Tony Stark's garage and the Marvel universe have more Audis than people, we aren't expecting to see an Audi logo on the warp drive of the USS Enterprise in this latest Trek tale.

Scroll down and set your phasers to amuse.

Gallery: Best Hollywood Car Chases

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Audi pits Star Trek's new Spock versus the original originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 07 May 2013 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi a7leonard nimoystar trekstar trek into darknesszachary quintoTue, 07 May 2013 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: The List #0010: Drive a Big Rig Truck]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/the-list-0010-drive-a-big-rig-truck/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/the-list-0010-drive-a-big-rig-truck/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/30/the-list-0010-drive-a-big-rig-truck/#comments

A person's portfolio of automotive experiences should contain more than just family vehicles and the occasional sports car. That's why our list of 1,001 Automotive Things To Do Before You Die includes driving all sorts of different vehicles. So far we've driven drift vehicles, off-roaders and even tanks, and there are many more interesting conveyances we still want to sample.

One that's been on our list since the show's beginning is driving a big rig truck. We all pass these beasts of burden on the highway and probably don't give them a second thought, except maybe to question why one is blocking our way on the one day we're late for work.

Still, these many-wheeled machines account for the bulk of shipping that occurs in North America, and there's an army of highly trained drivers who pilot them all. You can't just step out of your Ford Explorer and into the driver's seat of a big rig; you need schoolin' first.

We sent hosts Jessi and Patrick to Southern California's Dootson School of Trucking, and because we had high hopes our two pupiles could be taught to drive a big rig on public roads, before school started they were required to pass a Commercial Drivers License written permit test, as well as receive a physical and drug test as ordered by the Department of Transportation. With that out of the way, their lesson could begin.

Scroll down to watch some of what it takes to become a real big rig driver.

Continue reading The List #0010: Drive a Big Rig Truck

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The List #0010: Drive a Big Rig Truck originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big rigdootson school of truckingjessi combspatrick mcintyresemithe-listtractor trailerTue, 30 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Shanghai: Buick Riviera Concept debuts in China]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/buick-riviera-concept-shanghai-2013/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/buick-riviera-concept-shanghai-2013/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/buick-riviera-concept-shanghai-2013/#commentsBuick Riviera Concept

It's nighttime in China, and Buick has just concluded an evening event the day before the first - and only - press day of the Shanghai Motor Show. The star of this evening's party was the Buick Riviera concept vehicle, a plug-in electric hybrid coupe that the automaker says gives a glimpse at its future design direction, not to mention resurrecting some nomenclature from the brand's history that includes a similarly named concept from 2007.

The shape of the Riviera is said to be inspired by water. While the traditional Buick "waterfall" grille is present, the front end gains a more aggressive note thanks to what appear to be vertical air inlets below each headlight.

As for the concept's drivetrain, Buick says it uses General Motors' new dual-mode wireless plug-in hybrid electric vehicle propulsion system, or W-PHEV for short. The keyword there is 'wireless,' as the Riviera can charge its onboard battery packs with a traditional cable or wirelessly via a "sensory recharge panel" underneath the car.

The car's other features include 10 high-res cameras and 18 micro high-precision sensors for image and distance monitoring of objects in the vehicle's path, which are then displayed on the inside of the windshield for the driver as a holographic image. Other electronic goodies include baked-in 4G LTE internet connection, night view assist, eagle view (like Nissan's Around View Monitor), full-range adaptive cruise control, an autopilot system and something Buick calls "transparent" A-pillars. A lot of this sounds like concept car hokum, but buried there somewhere beneath all that future-tech is an aesthetic Buick hopes will resonate with buyers, and maybe a production coupe it can sell in both China and Canada.

Click through to read Buick's press release.

Gallery: 2014 Buick Regal






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Buick Riviera Concept debuts in China originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showautoshow2013buickbuick riviera conceptconceptconcept carshanghaishanghai motor showFri, 19 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/2013-hyundai-santa-fe-sport-review/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/2013-hyundai-santa-fe-sport-review/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/2013-hyundai-santa-fe-sport-review/#commentsThe Crossover For The Kardashians Of 1895



My wife and I are holdouts among our friends and family in the offspring department. Our heir-free lifestyle, however, affords us the opportunity to travel this great land, and road trips are our favourite. So while I'm unqualified to remark on how well the new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport will swallow an infant son and stroller, I can pass judgment on this two-row crossover's talents for carrying people and cargo over great distances.

The lady and I recently drove a new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport to one of this country's national treasures: the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore was built between 1889 and 1895 by George Vanderbuilt, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbuilt who was one of this country's earliest captains of industry. Despite the Biltmore being the largest privately owned home in the United States, which it remains to this day with a footprint of 16,623 square metres (178,926 square feet), George and his wife, Edith, only ever had one child. A family of two parents plus one child would have made the Vanderbuilts exactly the type of people Hyundai hopes to attract with this two-row Santa Fe Sport - George's eldest brother, Cornelius II, had seven children and would've had better luck fitting his brood in the larger three-row Santa Fe (sans the "Sport" suffix).

Like George, the all-new Santa Fe Sport is now the youngest in a large family of redesigned Hyundais that have been pushing the Korean brand's sales ever higher. Being last in a line of overachievers has its advantages, as this new Santa Fe Sport comes to market with the brand's latest design, technology and safety features, all of which it needs to compete in a midsize crossover segment that is more crowded and competitive than perhaps any other.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai santa fe sportbiltmorebiltmore estatefeaturedgeorge vanderbuilthyundaihyundai santa fehyundai santa fe sportreviewreviewssanta fesantafeSantaFe2013vanderbuiltThu, 18 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking: Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept crossover leaked ahead of Shanghai debut]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/mercedes-benz-gla-concept-crossover-leaked-ahead-of-shanghai-deb/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/mercedes-benz-gla-concept-crossover-leaked-ahead-of-shanghai-deb/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/mercedes-benz-gla-concept-crossover-leaked-ahead-of-shanghai-deb/#commentsMercedes-Benz GLA Concept

With just a few days left before the start of the Shanghai Motor Show, images of the Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept compact crossover have emerged online. The little 'ute is based on the small A-Class hatchback, and though it shares an identical wheelbase, is larger in every other dimension.

Looking like a rough-and-tumble five-door hatchback on the tippy toes of its 20-inch wheels, the GLA is most certainly destined for production in a toned down form that will borrow many bits and pieces from other cars based on this platform like the aforementioned A-Class and the CLA-Class sedan. Carscoop reports that the production version of the GLA will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September of this year, with sales to the public starting in 2014.

Since it's based on the A-Class, we expect that the production GLA-Class will be powered by your choice of Mercedes' 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a diesel or two, and will offer transmissions that include the company's seven-speed DCT and perhaps a six-speed manual (at least in Europe). If the GLA follows the same path as the two cars before it, expect a GLA45 AMG producing over 300 horsepower, as well. As for what powers the GLA Concept, that just might remain a mystery until the vehicle is officially revealed in China.

Stay tuned to Autoblog this Friday night and Saturday for our live coverage of the Shanghai Motor Show.

Click through to watch a Mercedes-Benz coupe concept launch video.

Gallery: 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG: New York 2013






Continue reading Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept crossover leaked ahead of Shanghai debut

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Mercedes-Benz GLA Concept crossover leaked ahead of Shanghai debut originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 shanghai motor showautoshow2013conceptconcept carmercedesMercedes Benzmercedes-benzmercedes-benz gla conceptmercedes-benz gla-classshanghaishanghai motor showWed, 17 Apr 2013 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Followup: Guinness reconfirms Bugatti Veyron's world record top speed]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/guinness-reconfirms-bugatti-veyrons-world-record-top-speed/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/guinness-reconfirms-bugatti-veyrons-world-record-top-speed/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/guinness-reconfirms-bugatti-veyrons-world-record-top-speed/#comments

After taking last week to review the record category for World's Fastest Production Car, Guinness World Records has reconfirmed that the holder of this hotly contested superlative remains the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

The Veyron Super Sport set the official record back in 2010 with a Guinness-verified speed of 267.8 miles per hour (431 km/h), but other interested parties have recently contested that record's validity because the Veyron used that day had its speed limiter removed. With the speed limiter in place, the Veyron Super Sport tops out at 258 mph (415 km/h).

Guinness rules state that a record-setting production car must be unchanged from what is available to customers. While some, particularly Hennessey Performance, have claimed that removing the Veyron's speed limiter violated that rule, Guinness has settled the matter by stating that "a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine."

This is a nice win for Bugatti on top of the news last week that the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse also set a record for the fastest open-top production car with a speed of 254.04 mph (about 409 km/h). That record, however, as far as we know, has not been verified by Guinness World Records.

For its part, Hennessey, whose claim against the validity of Bugatti's record didn't work this time, could potentially break the record outright if given enough road for its own Venom GT to run. The 1,244-horsepower Venom hit 265.7 mph (427.6 km/h) earlier this year before running out of room on a two-mile runway, though those runs were not officially verified by Guinness. Nevertheless, there still remain questions about whether or not the Venom GT counts as a production car by Guinness standards. The world record authority defines "production" as building at least 50 examples and only 29 Venoms are supposed to be built, though Guinness does permit itself to grant exceptions.

Click here to watch the world's fastest supercars.


Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport WRE at Mullin Museum

Continue reading Guinness reconfirms Bugatti Veyron's world record top speed

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Guinness reconfirms Bugatti Veyron's world record top speed originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugattibugatti veyronbugatti veyron super sportguinness world recordhennesseyhennessey venom gtworlds fastest production carMon, 15 Apr 2013 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse sets world record for fastest open-top car]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/bugatti-veyron-grand-sport-vitesse-sets-world-record-for-fastest/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/bugatti-veyron-grand-sport-vitesse-sets-world-record-for-fastest/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/bugatti-veyron-grand-sport-vitesse-sets-world-record-for-fastest/#comments

Bugatti has come back from losing its "World's Fastest Production Car" title with a new superlative to add to the Veyron's trophy case: World's Fastest Open-Top Production Car. That's right, if you can't beat 'em, take the roof off and join them.

The record of 408.84 kilometers per hour, or 254.04 miles per hour, was set by a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse driven by Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu at Volkswagen Group's proving grounds in Ehra-Lessian, Germany. The speed was measured and verified by the German Technical Inspection and Certification Association, or TÜV.

That last point is important to note, as the kerfuffle over the closed-roof Veyron's record involved the Guinness World Records organization, which both sanctioned the car's world record run back in 2010 and then stripped Bugatti of the title after it was learned the car used to set the record had its speed-limited removed. Also, whereas Guinness calculates a car's speed based on the average of two runs in opposite directions, Bugatti doesn't say what criteria TÜV used to verify and calculate the convertible's speed.

So what we're really saying is that Bugatti claims to have the world's fastest open-top production car, but that claim remains unsubstantiated by what many consider to be the only authority on world records, Guinness World Records.

As for the particular Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse that hit 408.84 km/h, the special black-and-orange model will be on display at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month, and Bugatti plans to sell eight World Record Editions just like it for the princely sum each of 1,990,000 euro, or about CAD$2.64 million dollars.

Click here to watch the world's 10 fastest supercars, including the Bugatti Veyron.


Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Kit Car

Continue reading Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse sets world record for fastest open-top car

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Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse sets world record for fastest open-top car originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugattibugatti veyronbugatti veyron grand sport vitessefastest convertiblefastest open-topfastest production open-top carfastest roadsterguinness world recordstuvworld recordThu, 11 Apr 2013 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/volvo-s60-polestar-entering-limited-production-in-australia-w-v/#comments

The Volvo S60 Polestar Concept may be entering limited production in Australia and, depending how the Aussies take to this Swedish super sports sedan, could then be made available worldwide. The news comes from Austrlia's GoAuto, which claims to have received early info from its sources inside Volvo and its tuning/motorsport arm, Polestar.

Polestar released a short teaser video this week (watch it below) of what appears to be the S60 Polestar Concept clipping the snowy apex of an ice track's turn. The only information given with the teaser were the words "Limited Edition. Soon in Australia." Unveiled last June, the S60 Polestar concept has since made the rounds at auto shows, visited Jay Leno's Garage, played on the track with its future competition, and even secured a home for itself with a buyer who reportedly is paying Volvo some $300,000 to own it.

The S60 Polestar Concept is about the meanest machine one can imagine making out of Volvo's sports sedan. Packing 508 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque from its heavily modified T6 engine, then routing those revolutions through a six-speed manual transmission to all four wheels, the S60 Polestar is said to cover the sprint to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. A lower and wider body, brakes by Brembo, suspension bits by Ohlins and a diet to delete some weight make this car a serious issue for M3 and C63 AMG owners everywhere. GoAuto's sources say the production version's performance will be dialed back a bit from the concept's, but we'll have to wait until Volvo and Polestar make this sedan's production official to find out by how much.

Click here for the teaser video and additional images of the Volvo Polestar S60.


Gallery: 2013 Volvo C30 R-Design Polestar Limited Edition: Review

Continue reading Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video]

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Volvo S60 Polestar entering limited production in Australia [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiavolvovolvo 260 polestar conceptvolvo s60volvo s60 polestarWed, 10 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: The List #0071: Compete in a Demolition Derby]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/the-list-0071-compete-in-a-demolition-derby/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/the-list-0071-compete-in-a-demolition-derby/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/09/the-list-0071-compete-in-a-demolition-derby/#comments

Our host Jessi's going solo this week as we check off another oft-requested item from our list of 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die. The task this time is to compete in a demolition derby, so Ms. Combs took herself to one of Southern California's county fairs where this time-honoured tradition is still a celebrated "motorsport."

With a car supplied by derby veteran Stan "Mac" McDonald, Jessi was able to enter the field of 14 rust buckets, clunkers and mangled machines competing that night. The battle field was a 7,500-square-foot patch of earth in the center of an arena that was bordered on all sides by dirt mounds.

Her strategy? Put it in Reverse and mash the throttle. As it turns out, competing in the derby is a lot different than watching from the stands, and Jessi's night wouldn't go as she expected.

Click here to watch what happened.


Gallery: Drift Mania Car Crash Gallery

Continue reading The List #0071: Compete in a Demolition Derby

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The List #0071: Compete in a Demolition Derby originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bucket listdemolition derbyjessi combsthe-listTue, 09 Apr 2013 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: "Zombie cars" starting themselves with no human input leads to Subaru recall [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/07/subaru-issues-recall-over-cars-that-may-start-themselves/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/07/subaru-issues-recall-over-cars-that-may-start-themselves/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/07/subaru-issues-recall-over-cars-that-may-start-themselves/#comments2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek - front three-quarter view, black

Subaru has issued one of the strangest recalls we've come across in some time. As it turns out, certain Subaru models may randomly start their own engines. The issue is confined to select models equipped with an automatic or CVT and the company's optional Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. If the RES key fob is dropped, it could "randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button."

Vehicles affected include the 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback with an automatic or CVT, 2012-2013 Impreza with the CVT, and 2013 XV Crosstrek with CVT (shown), all equipped with the Audiovox RES accessory. Likewise, certain 2013 Legacy and Outbacks may have received replacement RES fobs that could be affected. All told, 47,419 vehicles are included in the recall.

Should one of these cars start on their own, Subaru says they will run up to 15 minutes, but the vehicle may also continue to start and stop until either the battery in the fob dies or the car runs out of fuel. Of course, if one of these cars is parked in an enclosed area, that means harmful gasses could build up, which could be dangerous if inhaled.

The fix is an obvious one: Subaru will replace the RES fobs for free. Owners of the affected vehicles can expect to be notified by the end of April, though their car might let them know sooner.

Click through to watch the zombie car action...

Gallery: Subaru WRX Concept - New York Auto Show 2013






Continue reading "Zombie cars" starting themselves with no human input leads to Subaru recall [w/video]

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"Zombie cars" starting themselves with no human input leads to Subaru recall [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiovoxauto startdangerdangerousengineimprezalegacyoutbackrecallrecallsremote enginer starterremote startremote startersafetysafety carself startstartersubarusubaru recallxv crosstrekzombiezonbie carsSun, 07 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Watch Infiniti Red Bull Racing set a world record pitstop time in Malaysia]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/04/watch-infiniti-red-bull-racing-set-a-world-record-pitstop-time-i/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/04/watch-infiniti-red-bull-racing-set-a-world-record-pitstop-time-i/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/04/watch-infiniti-red-bull-racing-set-a-world-record-pitstop-time-i/#commentsInfiniti Red Bull Racing conducts a world-record pitstop in Malaysia - video screencap

How quickly can you change a tire? The pit crew for Infiniti Red Bull Racing can do it in 2.05 seconds. Actually, they can change four tires in 2.05 seconds, and they did just that at the Grand Prix of Malaysia two weeks ago, setting a new world record for the quickest pitstop in the process.

There must've been something in the water over there in Malaysia, as the old pitstop record of 2.31 seconds set by McLaren in Germany last year fell six times during the course of the race. Five of those record-beating pitstops were performed by Infiniti Red Bull Racing, one for Sebastian Vettel on his first stop, which took 2.13 seconds, and four for fellow driver Mark Webber, who brought his car in on Lap 19 for what would be the quickest pitstop of the day and the new world record. Three other Webber pitstops were under the old record's time, and even team McLaren apparently beat its old record in Malaysia with a best time of 2.28 seconds.

What does a 2.05-second pitstop look like? Scroll down to watch these expert car handlers reshoe an entire car in less time than it takes you to find a tire iron. We've also included a video of the previous record-setting pitstop by McLaren that stood for about a year.

Gallery: Red Bull X1 Prototype

Continue reading Watch Infiniti Red Bull Racing set a world record pitstop time in Malaysia

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Watch Infiniti Red Bull Racing set a world record pitstop time in Malaysia originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1f1 videof1 videosF1-driverformula 1formula 1 videoformula 1 videosformula oneformula1Formula1Racinginfinitiinfiniti red bull racingmark webbermclarenpit stoppitstoprecord pitstoprenaultrenault f1Renault F1 teamsebastian vetteltire changevideoworld recordworlds fastest pitstopworlds quickest pitstopThu, 04 Apr 2013 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Blackprints Kickstarter campaign looks to put profiles on your wall]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/03/blackprints-kickstarter-campaign-looks-to-put-profiles-on-your-w/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/03/blackprints-kickstarter-campaign-looks-to-put-profiles-on-your-w/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/03/blackprints-kickstarter-campaign-looks-to-put-profiles-on-your-w/#comments

We enjoy highlighting artists who turn their brushes, lenses or whatever medium they fancy towards the four-wheeled things in life. San Francisco-based artist Sabrina Chun has done just that with her series called Blackprints: Car Designs Reimagined, which is currently enjoying an overabundance of funding on Kickstarter.

In the series, Chun has taken eight iconic autos and created inverse black-and-white profile views of each. The cars include the Porsche 911, '67 Mustang GT500, Shelby Cobra, Lamborghini Countach, Volkswagen Microbus, Ford Model T and pop culture icons like the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters and the DeLorean from Back to the Future.

The prints will be available in two sizes, mini (6x9 inches) and jumbo (24x38 inches), and they're printed on 80-pound card stock made of recycled paper using environmentally friendly soybean-based ink and solvent. What's more, this is some very reasonably priced art; a pledge of just US$34 or more will get you all eight mini prints, while a pledge of US$139 or more scores you all eight jumbos.

If you'll indulge us donning our art critic hats for a moment, what we like about Chun's Blackprints is not only the fact that she's chosen eight excellent cars to feature, but the works will hang equally well on the wall of a garage or living room. They seem so simple, but you'll soon lose track of time staring at features you've never noticed before that only reveal themselves in the light of Chun's negative spaces.

Hit the jump to check them all out for yourself and watch a video on these works of automotive art.


Gallery: Top 10 most iconic cars of each decade

Continue reading Blackprints Kickstarter campaign looks to put profiles on your wall

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Blackprints Kickstarter campaign looks to put profiles on your wall originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back to the futureblackprintscar designs reimagineddeloreanecto-1 salefordford model tford shelby gt500ghostbusterslamborghinilamborghini countachporscheporsche 911sabrina chunshelbyshelby cobravwvw microbusWed, 03 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST