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: Rolls-Royce gets into LSR game, backs Bloodhound SSC [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/rolls-royce-gets-into-lsr-game-backs-bloodhound-ssc-w-video/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/rolls-royce-gets-into-lsr-game-backs-bloodhound-ssc-w-video/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/rolls-royce-gets-into-lsr-game-backs-bloodhound-ssc-w-video/#comments

Rolls-Royce, the "power solutions" company that makes jet engines and much more (not the luxury motorcar company) has signed on to support the Bloodhound SSC Land Speed Record attempt project. This isn't just a financial tie-up and exchange of engines and tech, though, Rolls-Royce is just as interested as the Bloodhound gang in promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics to children in the UK and around the world.

It will be providing its EJ200 jet engine that powers the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet with 20,000 pounds of thrust. In the Bloodhound, the engine will be the first stage in the hybrid rocket system that they hope will get the SSC to 1,609 km/h (1,000 mph). Coincidentally, although Rolls-Royce hasn't been officially involved with Bloodhound before, its engines have been used to break records in the Bloodhound predecessors Thrust 2 and Thrust SSC.

There's a press release below with more details and a video that animates how the hybrid rocket inside the blue streak works.

Gallery: BMW sets Guinness record for longest sustained drift






Continue reading Rolls-Royce gets into LSR game, backs Bloodhound SSC [w/video]

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Rolls-Royce gets into LSR game, backs Bloodhound SSC [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 19 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerospacebloodhoundbloodhound sscland speed recordlsrrolls roycerolls-roycespeedspeed recordSun, 19 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Porsche again staring down another US$1.8B in hedge fund lawsuits]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/porsche-again-staring-down-another-1-8b-in-hedge-fund-lawsuits/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/porsche-again-staring-down-another-1-8b-in-hedge-fund-lawsuits/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/porsche-again-staring-down-another-1-8b-in-hedge-fund-lawsuits/#commentsVolkswagen and Porsche emblems overlayed

The sequence of events from 2007 that began with Porsche's secret attempt to take over Volkswagen, and instead lead to Porsche being taken over by VW, continues to instigate lawsuits against the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer. A group of hedge funds that suffered over US$1 billion in losses sued the car company in New York. Porsche had publicly stated it wasn't trying to buy VW, the hedge funds in question were shorting VW stock, and when Porsche's actual intentions were revealed, the stock shot up and the hedge funds took a beating.

The case was thrown out over the issue of jurisdiction, then appealed, only to see another suit filed on top of that. After that, most of the hedge funds withdrew their claims in New York and Porsche offered a 90-day window to refile in Germany where it is already fighting a number of other suits over the same issue. The hedge funds accepted the offer, refiling in Stuttgart for US$1.8 billion in damages. According to Bloomberg, Porsche hasn't commented on the refiling, but as the same plaintiffs are involved, it's safe to assume that the carmaker still feels the case is "unsubstantiated and without merit." It has fared alright so far even in German courts, with two lesser cases against it thrown out last year.

Click through to watch a video showing classic Porsches.

Gallery: 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S






Continue reading Porsche again staring down another US$1.8B in hedge fund lawsuits

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Porsche again staring down another US$1.8B in hedge fund lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 19 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>derivativesgermanyhedge fundslawlawsuitporscheporsche lawsuitporsche volkswagenporsche vwstock marketstuttgartvolkswagenvwSun, 19 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Daimler discussing collaboration with Aston Martin]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/daimler-discussing-collaboration-with-aston-martin/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/daimler-discussing-collaboration-with-aston-martin/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/daimler-discussing-collaboration-with-aston-martin/#comments

Daimler and Aston Martin have been "in discussions" over various matters going back at least five years, when an engine-supply deal from the Germans to the Brits turned into rumours of Daimler looking to buy a piece of Aston Martin. Neither the engines nor the company stake ever changed hands, but three years later they were talking about trying a relationship again, this time in the large luxury sedan segment - Daimler would get help with Maybach, Aston Martin would get help with the Lagonda revival. That also came to nothing.

Late last year, when Investment Dar offloaded a share of its stake in Aston Martin to Anglo-Italian equity house Investindustrial, part of the allure was that Investindustrial said it would work to unite Aston Martin with technology and components from AMG. So the talks have begun again.

Although nothing's come of it yet, Bloomberg reports that the English and the Germans have opened dialogue "on supply and technical-cooperation agreements." In November 2012, Investindustrial mentioned getting engines, gearboxes and other technology from AMG - a brand it got to know when it owned Ducati. A tie-up would also help indie player Aston Martin rein in development costs. Daimler is said to be Investindustrial's preferred partner, but the latest chapter has only just begun. We're sure they hope it won't take another five years to get something closed with someone.

Click through to watch our video short cuts of the Rapide.

Gallery: 2013 Aston Martin DB9: Review






Continue reading Daimler discussing collaboration with Aston Martin

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Daimler discussing collaboration with Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 18 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amgaston martindaimlerinvestindustrialSat, 18 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class live reveal [w/videos]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-introduction-videos/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-introduction-videos/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-introduction-videos/#comments

Mercedes-Benz isn't a brand afraid to put on a show for any old reason at all - like, just because it's Tuesday - but the premiere of the 2014 S-Class, even by the standards we're used to, was Broadway-theater intense. Held at a purpose-built venue inside a hanger at the Airbus factory in Hamburg, the hours-long extravaganza was hosted by two German newscasters and guest-starred Alicia Keyes, an A380, fireworks, every model in the lineup in a choreographed driving routine while The Stig did donuts in an SLS AMG in the rain, and at the very end, burlesque. That's how much the S-Class means to this brand.

What's it going to mean to the razor's edge of the mass-market large luxury sedan market? The exterior, that's ripe for debate. But the interior - well, it just hung a sign on the segment that read, "Achtung! This, meine Damen und Herren, is how it's done."

Scroll down to see the festivities...

Gallery: 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class






Continue reading 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class live reveal [w/videos]

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2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class live reveal [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 17 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 mercedes s-classmercedesmercedes s-classmercedes s-klassevideoFri, 17 May 2013 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Hot Wheels stages competition to find its own world's best driver [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/hot-wheels-stages-competition-to-find-its-own-worlds-best-drive/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/hot-wheels-stages-competition-to-find-its-own-worlds-best-drive/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/hot-wheels-stages-competition-to-find-its-own-worlds-best-drive/#comments

Take the Race of Champions, keep its wide-ranging motorsports disciplines but replace national teams with duos called Red Outrageous, Yellow Powerful, Blue High Tech and Green Superfast. Give them rides from a toy store shelf and the cockiness of Top Gun, put them on courses from Mad Max and mix in a vibe and radio chatter from the attack on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, and what do you have? The Hot Wheels short film World's Best Driver.

The maker of little diecast cars got some big cars together - some you've seen before, some are from other planets - as well as some wild drivers and moto-crossers, and put them to the test at a 'secret' location called the Hot Wheels Test Facility, where things get quite a bit wilder than they do at the Nürburgring.

We have no idea why this movie exists, and we don't care - it's 22 minutes of camped-out fun and you'll find it below.

Gallery: Red Bull X1 Prototype






Continue reading Hot Wheels stages competition to find its own world's best driver [w/video]

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Hot Wheels stages competition to find its own world's best driver [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 17 May 2013 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron rossbryce hudsoncasey curriediecastgeoff aaronhot wheelshot wheels worlds best driverluke johnsonronnie rennervideoworlds best driverFri, 17 May 2013 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Pedestrian fakes hilariously bad hit, foiled by Russian dash cam]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/pedestrian-fakes-hilariously-bad-hit-foiled-by-russian-dash-cam/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/pedestrian-fakes-hilariously-bad-hit-foiled-by-russian-dash-cam/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/pedestrian-fakes-hilariously-bad-hit-foiled-by-russian-dash-cam/#comments

After the Good-Samaritan-fest that was the last Russian dash cam video, it's back to our regularly scheduled program of sneaky scamming and automotive madness. This time, it's a woman who attempts to pretend she's been hit by a car and rendered unconscious, the same tired con-job that happens to be one of the primary reasons that Russians probably perform more surveillance on themselves than the state does.

It's a remarkably bad job of method acting on the woman's part (is she drunk?), but we'll give her credit for persistence. The worst acting job you'll see all day is on video just below.

Gallery: Russian SLR Replica

Continue reading Pedestrian fakes hilariously bad hit, foiled by Russian dash cam

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Pedestrian fakes hilariously bad hit, foiled by Russian dash cam originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dash camdashcamfraudpedestrianpedestrian failrussiarussian dash camscamvideoThu, 16 May 2013 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Vettel and Coulthard racing on Russia's very unfinished Sochi Circuit]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/vettel-and-coulthard-drive-russias-very-unfinished-sochi-circui/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/vettel-and-coulthard-drive-russias-very-unfinished-sochi-circui/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/vettel-and-coulthard-drive-russias-very-unfinished-sochi-circui/#commentsCoulthard and Vettel drive Infiniti M sedans on the site of Russia's future grand prix circuit

The next Winter Olympics will happen in Sochi, Russia from February 7-23, 2014. Sometime after that, barring any delays, a portion of the Sochi Olympic Park will be turned into the Sochi Olympic Park Circuit, a 5.9 km (3.65-mile) track for the first Russian Grand Prix in 100 years (the last of two Formula One grands prix were held in St. Petersburg).

As we've come to expect from the Infiniti Red Bull team, it recently sent race driver Sebastian Vettel and brand ambassador David Coulthard to the unfinished venue to run the route in Infiniti M sedans and offer some impressions. With average cornering speeds above 100 km/h, Coulthard called it a fast street circuit in the Monaco vein. You can watch them try it out - yes, that's Vettel gone airborne above - and avoid a "White Van Man" in the awesome video below.

Gallery: Red Bull Racing demonstration in Austin

Continue reading Vettel and Coulthard racing on Russia's very unfinished Sochi Circuit

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Vettel and Coulthard racing on Russia's very unfinished Sochi Circuit originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david coulthardf1formula 1formula oneinfinitiinfiniti mrussian grand prixsebastian vettelsochisochi olympic park circuitvideoThu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Yellow-lights being shortened leads to more traffic tickets issued]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/yellow-lights-being-shortened-leads-to-more-traffic-tickets-issu/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/yellow-lights-being-shortened-leads-to-more-traffic-tickets-issu/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/yellow-lights-being-shortened-leads-to-more-traffic-tickets-issu/#comments

Red light cameras don't appear to be going away, so it should come as no surprise that neither are the controversies around them. We're told again and again that they're about safety, not revenue collection, yet year after year, the studies and headlines compete to support and tear down those arguments. An investigative report by WTSP Channel 10 News gets the maelstrom whirling again, having found that various municipalities in Florida have recently shortened yellow light times to below those recommended by the US Department of Transportation.

Until 2011, Florida regulations "mandated yellow light calculations factor in either the posted speed limit or 85th percentile of drivers' actual speed - whichever was greater." That year, though, the phrase "whichever was greater" was cut, and certain cities began resetting the yellow lights to illuminate for the shorter interval - either trying to ensure more safety or more revenue. The Florida Department of Transportation says the new language was only meant to establish a minimum time for yellow lights, not to dictate their exact duration.

And with so much money in play - the Channel 10 news report says Florida collect about US$100 million in red light camera fines last year and could get to US$130 million this year - it's no wonder cities shorten yellow light times below the minimum guidelines, manipulate accident data, robo-sign tickets with the names of dead police officers, and redesign their license plates to make them easier for the cameras to read.

Watch the news segment in the video below and if you're in Florida, you'll need to pay even more attention to the lights in front and the traffic behind.

Continue reading Yellow-lights being shortened leads to more traffic tickets issued

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Yellow-lights being shortened leads to more traffic tickets issued originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of transportationfloridaflorida dotred light cameratraffic camerastraffic lightsvideowtspyellow lightThu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Ariel Atom V8 races against BMW HP4 superbike and Citroën DS3 racer]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ariel-atom-v8-races-against-bmw-hp4-superbike-and-citroen-ds3-ra/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ariel-atom-v8-races-against-bmw-hp4-superbike-and-citroen-ds3-ra/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ariel-atom-v8-races-against-bmw-hp4-superbike-and-citroen-ds3-ra/#comments

Autocar took an Ariel Atom V8, BMW HP4 superbike and X-Games gold medalist Liam Doren's Citroën DS3 rallycross ride to an airstrip for a drag race. Sadly for all the drivers and for us, the clouds took to the sky and poured more and more rain on the track before the big race.

It's still a fun theoretical battle. The 550-kilogram Ariel Atom brings a 3.3-litre V8 with 475 horsepower, 268 pound-feet of torque and a 748-hp-per-ton ratio. The engine-restricted, 1,300-kg DS3 Rallycross rocks a 2.0-litre four-cylinder set for the day to about 560 hp, 600 lb-ft and - because of its variable boost - anywhere from 454-577 hp-per-ton. The HP4, naturally, does the most with the least, its 169 kg hauling a 1.0-litre engine with 163 hp, 83 lb-ft and a screaming 757 hp-per-ton.

It's a shame the weather didn't allow the entrants to show all they could do, especially the two-wheel-drive Atom. Nevertheless, it does demonstrate how critical the amount of available traction is to get the most from high-performance machinery, and there's lots of launch-controlled action and watch a winner crowned in the video below.

Gallery: Ariel Atom in Canada

Continue reading Ariel Atom V8 races against BMW HP4 superbike and Citroën DS3 racer

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Ariel Atom V8 races against BMW HP4 superbike and Citroën DS3 racer originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ariel atomariel atom v8autocarbmw hp4citroen ds3liam dorenrallycrosssteve sutcliffevideoyoutubeThu, 16 May 2013 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Chris Harris among first to test the mettle of Porsche's 887-hp 918 Spyder]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/chris-harris-among-first-to-test-the-mettle-of-porsches-887-hp/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/chris-harris-among-first-to-test-the-mettle-of-porsches-887-hp/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/chris-harris-among-first-to-test-the-mettle-of-porsches-887-hp/#comments

Last October, Chris Harris got a shotgun ride in the Porsche 918 Spyder. Seven months on, the automaker is quite a bit further on the development on the hybrid supercar, and Porsche invited him to the Leipzig circuit for a test drive.

Harris starts off going through some of the technical bits on the car, including the galvanized carbon fibre instrument panel and forged carbon fibre attachment points, and before he gets in, he's a little unsure of the car. The hybrid aspect is of particular concern, Harris almost wishing that instead of a 3,608-pound (1,636 kg) coupe with a combined 887 horsepower, that Porsche would ditch the heavy batteries and make a 2,420-pound (1,098 kg) coupe with the combustion engine's 608 horsepower.

Then he drives it, and all of a sudden, "It doesn't feel like I'm driving a hybrid sports car." You can watch him come around in the video below.

Gallery: Porsche 918 - Martini livery

Continue reading Chris Harris among first to test the mettle of Porsche's 887-hp 918 Spyder

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Chris Harris among first to test the mettle of Porsche's 887-hp 918 Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris harrischris harris porsche 918 videoporsche 918 spyderPorsche 918 Spyder test driveporsche testtesttest drivetest drive porsche 918 spydervideoyoutubeThu, 16 May 2013 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Jaguar F-Type debuts in first TV commercials]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/jaguar-f-type-meets-america-in-first-tv-spots/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/jaguar-f-type-meets-america-in-first-tv-spots/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/jaguar-f-type-meets-america-in-first-tv-spots/#comments

With its new "Your Turn" global ad campaign, Jaguar has introduced its 2014 F-Type to the world of broadcast media. The effort takes aim at the monied 25-54 demographic, which makes sense of Jaguar recently shacking up with the 2013 Playboy Playmate of the Year Raquel Pomplun and San Francisco NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. You'll also be seeing the new roadster on ESPN's SportsCenter, late night ABC talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, the USA Network show Covert Affairs, the Sundance Channel and theaters, magazines and everywhere digital. On top of all that, a social media campaign includes a contest called #MyTurnToJag that will reward four winners with a custom drive in the new convertible.

You'll find the first TV commercials below, along with a press release on the roaring red marketing onslaught headed your way. Enjoy.

Gallery: 2014 Jaguar F-Type: First Ride

Continue reading Jaguar F-Type debuts in first TV commercials

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Jaguar F-Type debuts in first TV commercials originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 jaguar f-typead campaigncommercialjaguarjaguar f-typemyturntojagvideoyour turnThu, 16 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Legendary Pikes Peak 'Climb Dance' remastered in high-definition glory]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/peugeots-legendary-climb-dance-remastered-in-high-definition-gl/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/peugeots-legendary-climb-dance-remastered-in-high-definition-gl/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/peugeots-legendary-climb-dance-remastered-in-high-definition-gl/#commentsPeugeot Climb Dance Pikes Peak film - remastered screencap

Climb Dance, the rally-porn film celebrating the Pikes Peak Hill Climb victories of Ari Vatanen in 1988 and Robby Unser in 1989 - and including footage from both drives - has been remastered in high definition. It was commissioned by Peugeot, maker of the four-wheel steering 415 T16 Grand Raid, the racecar that took both drivers to the top to overall victories.

Peugeot will be hoping that Sébastien Loeb can climb dance the same way next month when he runs up the now-paved mountain in his 208. You'll find the breathtaking remastered Climb Dance video below, as well as tribute the Motor Trend made with Marcus Gronholm in a Ford Fiesta back in 2009. Enjoy.

Gallery: 2012 Pikes Peak Hill Climb - Practice Day 1

Continue reading Legendary Pikes Peak 'Climb Dance' remastered in high-definition glory

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Legendary Pikes Peak 'Climb Dance' remastered in high-definition glory originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 16 May 2013 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ari vatanenclimb danceford fiestapeugeotpeugeot 405 t16pikes peakpikes peak international hill climbrobby unservideoThu, 16 May 2013 12:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: 2014 Mercedes S-Class is ready for your plutocratic dollars [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-revealed/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-revealed/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-revealed/#comments2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class in silver - front three-quarter view

There are superlatives and acronyms, there is hyperbole, there are neologisms like "navitainment," there is the longest press release we've ever seen - it includes a glossary - and there is the quest to build "the best automobile in the world." What else could it be but the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

With the Asian market and its chauffeured drivers in mind, the long-wheelbase S-Class is the focus this time. It has the same length and wheelbase as the outgoing model, it's about 18mm (0.7 inches) higher and about 25mm (1-inch) wider, but made of aluminum throughout so weight gain is negligible (Mercedes-Benz hasn't released a North American-spec weight yet). In front is a larger radiator grille and a facial treatment that, from quite a few angles, makes it look like a slightly larger E-Class to our eyes. Behind that are the design themes we've seen unleashed on other Mercedes such as its "Dropping Line" along the side and the sloping rear end. The coefficient of drag is just 0.24 - that's only 0.02 more than the comparatively tiny CLA.

There's plenty of reading continued below to keep you occupied while we go visit the car and return with a report on the live European reveal you can watch this video on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and what inspired its designers.

Continue reading 2014 Mercedes S-Class is ready for your plutocratic dollars [w/video]

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2014 Mercedes S-Class is ready for your plutocratic dollars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 15 May 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 mercedes s-class2014 mercedes s-klassemercedesmercedes s-classmercedes s-klassemercedes s550v222Wed, 15 May 2013 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: BMW M5 sets Guinness record for longest drift [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/bmw-sets-guinness-record-for-longest-drift-with-new-m5-w-video/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/bmw-sets-guinness-record-for-longest-drift-with-new-m5-w-video/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/bmw-sets-guinness-record-for-longest-drift-with-new-m5-w-video/#comments

In September of 2011, Chinese drifter Wang Qi broke the Guinness record for the world's longest sustained drift, doing 13 laps inside the Olympic Center Stadium in Tianlin, China for 5,802.3 meters. That was broken in February of this year by Abdo Feghali in Abu Dhabi drifting a new Chevrolet Camaro around a skidpad for 11,180 meters. In March, BMW decided it wanted the record and set up a course at its BMW Performance Driving School near Greenville, South Carolina to get the job done. On May, 11 it was Mission Accomplished when Performance Center driver Johan Schwartz drifted a BMW M5 around a skidpad continuously for 82,559 meters (51.3 miles).

Despite that accomplishment, we're pretty sure that professional drifter Vaughn Gittin, Jr. isn't impressed. The way Guinness defines "drifting" can also describe a donut, which is effectively the kind of drifting that's been done for these last three records. BMW went even further by watering down the surface of the track, reducing the skill required and the need to change tires during the effort. On the other hand, you can't drift a car for long in a straight line, but perhaps there should be some clarification or classifications added to the milestones.

There's a short video below taken during the record-breaking run, and a press release from the company that did it.

Gallery: BMW Drifting GSR Autosport Playboy Video Shoot

Continue reading BMW M5 sets Guinness record for longest drift [w/video]

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BMW M5 sets Guinness record for longest drift [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 bmw m5bmwbmw m5bmw performance driving schooldriftingdrifting recordguinnessguinness book of world recordsjohan schwartzvideoworld recordWed, 15 May 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: 2014 Cadillac XTS gets 410-hp twin-turbo V6]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2014-cadillac-xts-gets-410-hp-twin-turbo-v6/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2014-cadillac-xts-gets-410-hp-twin-turbo-v6/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/2014-cadillac-xts-gets-410-hp-twin-turbo-v6/#comments

General Motors has made it official: The twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 announced for the 2014 Cadillac CTS will also join the options list for the 2014 Cadillac XTS. The LF3 engine puts out 410 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in the XTS, however, which is 10 hp and 61 lb-ft down from its application in the CTS. It will be identifiable from the outside by a specific grille treatment and a badge on the decklid. The 3.6-litre V6 with 304 hp and 264 lb-ft holds steady as the standard engine, and both will be yoked to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Also new for the front-wheel drive model for 2014 are updates that include electric power steering and optional Automatic Parking Assist that can maneuver the sedan into parallel parking spots. The three trims above standard - Luxury, Premium and Platinum - get Intellibeam headlights that automatically switch between high- and low-beam,

The four current trim levels remain but the list of optional extras for the higher specs grows with a rear-seat entertainment system equipped with DVD screens in the front seatbacks, memory settings for the front passenger seat and an armrest in the back seat fitted with radio and sunshade controls. The press release below has more info on all of the changes.

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2014 Cadillac XTS gets 410-hp twin-turbo V6 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 15 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 cadillac xtscadillaccadillac twin-turbocadillac xtsgeneral motorsgmlf3twin-turbo v6Wed, 15 May 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Recap: 2013 Spanish Grand Prix is Catalan for 'Lottery' and 'More pit stops']]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/recap-2013-spanish-grand-prix-is-catalan-for-lottery-and-mor/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/recap-2013-spanish-grand-prix-is-catalan-for-lottery-and-mor/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/recap-2013-spanish-grand-prix-is-catalan-for-lottery-and-mor/#comments

This year's Formula One season might qualify as being just as crazy as last year's, only it's a different kind of crazy. Instead of a new winner every Sunday, how the winner actually manages to take the victory is the mystery, and just when we thought the season might have settled into a groove regarding team performance, here comes the Spanish Grand Prix to remind us that we don't know anything until the race has been run.

There were many similarities to past weekends to being this one: Mercedes-AMG Petronas showed awesome one-lap pace, Fernando Alonso did well enough in qualifying to get fifth on the grid but talked up the race pace of the Ferrari, Kimi Räikkönen was the equivalent of a racing photobomber, never saying much but always showing up in the picture, Felipe Massa wasn't really big on the tires and McLaren might want to consider starting a blues band they spend so much time singing them.

Then the lights went green and things went nuts...

Continue reading Recap: 2013 Spanish Grand Prix is Catalan for 'Lottery' and 'More pit stops'

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Recap: 2013 Spanish Grand Prix is Catalan for 'Lottery' and 'More pit stops' originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 14 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 spanish grand prixf1felipe massafernando alonsoFerrariformula 1formula oneinfiniti red bull racingkimi raikkonenlewis hamiltonlotusmercedes-amgnico rosbergspanish grand prixTue, 14 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Custom 12-cylinder 'LS12' motor will blow your mind and doors off]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/12-cylinder-ls12-will-blow-your-mind-doors-off/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/12-cylinder-ls12-will-blow-your-mind-doors-off/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/12-cylinder-ls12-will-blow-your-mind-doors-off/#comments

So there you are, minding your own business on the internet when a forum user called "V12Baker" uploads a picture of the engine block above. But you're on the LS1 forum, a site devoted to the legendary V8s made by General Motors, and that's a V12?! V12Baker explains that he sliced two LS1 engines and used the pieces to not only make an LS12, but also a V4 with the leftovers.

But the engine is real, built by a guy named Ray and his partners in a shop in Seattle, WA. Ray said they wanted to make a V12 engine for a plane, and after experimenting with Buick 215 engine blocks they got around to the LS. With a stock stroke and a 4.4-inch sleeve, the result is a 545 cubic inch motor (8.9 litres) that fires like a V16 short of four cylinders. Their first two LS12 builds went into a 3/4-scale P51 Mustang, and a Chevrolet Tahoe two years ago. The Tahoe engine, only the second build, was said to get around 525 horsepower.

They now have the parts to make five more LS12s and are refining their technique, working on simpler solutions for the crankshafts - they machined the first crankshafts from a solid piece of steel, but that's crazy expensive. One of the engines is already slated to receive a massive Littlefield supercharger and "might find its way into a long-nosed 240Z." That Z, mind you, will also be getting its own chassis since the decades-old original item couldn't begin to handle the power.

Check out EngineLabs.com for more on the build, and a brief walkaround of the engine in the video below. For the long story, the link to LS1 forums is where the story begins - and where you'll discover that the V4 is apparently the perfect size for a Harley-Davidson.

Gallery: Ultimate Sleeper - AMS Turbo Chevrolet Express 1500 AWD

Continue reading Custom 12-cylinder 'LS12' motor will blow your mind and doors off

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Custom 12-cylinder 'LS12' motor will blow your mind and doors off originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enginegmls v12ls1ls12v12videovimeoTue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: 650-hp Hennessey Jeep Grand Cherokee does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/650-hp-hennessey-jeep-grand-cherokee-does-0-60-in-3-9-seconds/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/650-hp-hennessey-jeep-grand-cherokee-does-0-60-in-3-9-seconds/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/14/650-hp-hennessey-jeep-grand-cherokee-does-0-60-in-3-9-seconds/#comments

Hennessey Performance Engineering has created an HPE650 package for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 fitted with the 6.4-litre Hemi engine. When it leaves the showroom floor it has 470 horsepower and gets from 0-60 miles per hour (0-96 km/h) in 4.8 seconds. When it leaves Hennessey's garage floor after the upgrade it has 650 horsepower - 530 hp at the wheels, according to Hennessey - and gets to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.9 seconds on its way to running the quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds.

There's more than just a roots-type supercharger bolt-on, with ported cylinder heads and high-flow headers among the many changes made to the engine. You can watch it prove its spec sheet on the drag strip in the video below.

Gallery: 2013 Jeep SRT8





Continue reading 650-hp Hennessey Jeep Grand Cherokee does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds [w/video]

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650-hp Hennessey Jeep Grand Cherokee does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 14 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0-60drag racingdrag stripdragstriphennesseyhennessey grand cherokee srt8hpe650jeepjeep grand cherokeejeep grand cherokee srt8john hennesseyquarter milevideoyoutubeTue, 14 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Rapping grandmas love the Mitsubishi i EV]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/rapping-grandmas-love-the-mitsubishi-i-ev/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/rapping-grandmas-love-the-mitsubishi-i-ev/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/rapping-grandmas-love-the-mitsubishi-i-ev/#comments

For some reason, having unlikely rappers - like minivan-driving suburbanites or British mothers - spit about their rides is still a catchy advertising hook, even in other cultures. Far more so, we're guessing, than having P. Diddy sing about his dog and his pickup truck or a Brazilian street gang doing a Celtic dirge, for example.

And that's how you get three grandmothers ridin' dirty clean in a Mitsubishi i electric vehicle. The ad for the Belgian car sharing company Cambio - promoting the i in its fleet - gets the three "omaatjes" rolling through town in veteran hip-hop fashion, right down to the police once-over.

Check out how they do it in the video below, but beware, there is some explicit language.

Gallery: Top 10 celebrity cars and rich stars who drive cheap and ugly cars

Continue reading Rapping grandmas love the Mitsubishi i EV

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Rapping grandmas love the Mitsubishi i EV originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbelgiumcambiocambio car sharingrapvideoyoutubeMon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Lamborghini Aventador reports for taxi duty at Bologna airport]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/lamborghini-aventador-reports-for-taxi-duty-at-bologna-airport/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/lamborghini-aventador-reports-for-taxi-duty-at-bologna-airport/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/lamborghini-aventador-reports-for-taxi-duty-at-bologna-airport/#commentsLamborghini Aventador in airport

Lamborghini has invaded another airport as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. In January, it took over one of the two runways at Miami-Dade International Airport so it could conduct high-speed runs and have an Aventador pose with a Boeing airliner. Across the Atlantic, the Aventador has just been made the "Follow Me" vehicle at the Aeroporto di Bologna, which is 30 minutes from the company factory in Sant' Agata Bolognese.

According to Auto Evolution, it's been done up just like the Fiat models one normally encounters on such duty - it even has a light bar in case pilots don't simply want to follow the noise. Specially trained airport staff will guide arriving flights to their gates in the Aventador from May 6 to May 19, and once passengers are deplaned, they can check out the Lamborghini exhibit inside the airport.

Click here to check out more Lamborghini video footage.

Gallery: Top 10 Lamborghini Facts

Continue reading Lamborghini Aventador reports for taxi duty at Bologna airport

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Lamborghini Aventador reports for taxi duty at Bologna airport originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 13 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 lamborghini aventadoraeroporto di bolognaairportairport equipmentbolognabologna airportlamborghinilamborghini aventadorMon, 13 May 2013 18:00:00 EST