Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Mike Hailwood Eddie Keizan Phil Hill Parker Kligerman
Saturday, 31 December 2011
iRacers Team-Up
Report: 2012 Toyota Camry gets Consumer Reports "Recommended" rating

Toyota was once the unquestioned lead sled dog when it comes to the Consumer Reports "Recommended" list, but the automaker and the consumer advocacy group have had a bit of a falling out over the past couple years. In 2010, the publication removed the Recommended ratings of many models as a result of Toyota's unintended acceleration controversy. In January Ford nearly overtook Toyota in overall Recommended ratings.
We're on the verge of a new year, and it appears that the Toyota is getting back on CR's good side. Bloomberg reports that the February issue of CR reveals that the 2012 Camry has scored the coveted tag. The non-profit lauded the Camry for its improved interior and fuel economy, along with an upgraded ride. The four-cylinder Camry averaged 27 miles per gallon during CR testing, tying the Hyundai Sonata for most efficient in the mid-size segment.
We're quite certain that the 2012 Camry would have sold like gangbusters whether or not it was Recommended by Consumer Reports. But at the same time, CR subscribers seem to really like their Toyota models, so it certainly helps to have a thumbs-up from the powerful publication.
2012 Toyota Camry gets Consumer Reports "Recommended" rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsPeter de Klerk Boy Hayje Jeffrey Michael Gordon Karl Kling Kurt Thomas Busch
Lotus sets date for first engine run
Kerry Dale Earnhardt Roberto Guerrero Scott Russell Riggs Duncan Hamilton Robert Allen Labonte
Friday, 30 December 2011
Dover International Speedway to widen seats
Trevor Bayne Kevin Paul Lepage Oswald Karch Hans Herrmann Cliff Griffith
Hulkenberg: Understanding tyres key
Aldo Gordini Yuji Ide Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Mike Hailwood Eddie Keizan
Sahara Force India confirms Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg for 2012
Nicolas Kiesa André Guelfi Paco Godia Billy Garrett Brian Hart
Richard Petty Motorsports Statement on Best Buy
Oscar González Christian Goethals Cuth Harrison Jean Pierre Jabouille Denny Hulme
Award-winning presence by Audi Sport
Miguel Ángel Guerra Matthew Roy Kenseth Carl Edwards Yves Giraud Cabantous David Hampshire
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Leal joins Trident for 2012 GP2 season
Bruce Kessler Brad Keselowski Juan Pablo Montoya David Lee Blaney Charles Robert Hamilton V
Menzer: Busch brothers flood year-end mailbag (NASCAR.com)
Menzer: Busch brothers flood year-end mailbag
José Froilán González Bruno Giacomelli Marc Gené Frank Gardner Zaxby s Chevrolet
SPEED Opens 2012 Full Throttle
Eddie Irvine Gerino Gerini Sam Hanks Stefan Johansson Bruce Halford
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Volkswagen?s Big Game of Risk: The Ambitious Plan for World Domination
Gary Hocking Carel Godin de Beaufort Juan Jover Narain Karthikeyan Carl Michael Edwards III
Kubica loss ?biggest blow? to Renault
Hans Heyer Theo Helfrich Heikki Kovalainen Z Line Designs Toyota Jean Pierre Jarier
Geneva-Bound Hyundai i-oniq Concept to Preview Updated Fluidic Sculpture Design Language
Kevin Paul Lepage Oswald Karch Hans Herrmann Cliff Griffith Mack Hellings
Audi R8 LMS ultra to fight for World Champion's title in 2012
Jean Pierre Jarier Helm Glöckler James Christopher McMurray Alan Jones Hubert Hahne
Spy Shots: BMW i8 breaks out of Mission: Impossible and into the real world
Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Technology, BMW, Design/Style, Electric, Diesel, Luxury

If you went to the movies over the holiday, chances are pretty good you saw the latest box-office-topping Tom Cruise vehicle. We're not talking about the globetrotting explosion-fest it came wrapped up in, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol; we're speaking of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car that featured heavily in the movie (along with seemingly every other model in Munich's arsenal).
But the Vision EfficientDynamics coupe isn't just a flight of fancy for the world's auto show circuit or for Cruise's Ethan Hunt character - it's set for production sooner than you think, albeit carrying the i8 moniker. Snapped undergoing testing through a fence, the extended-range plug-in supercar looks ready for the street, if only we could peel away the Van Gogh camouflage. This BMW 2+2 is widely expected to deliver a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, and we're expecting the lightweight flyer to lose the unique lower glass door panels of the 2009 show car (a design change hinted at by this prototype's swirly coverup).
Speaking of the doors, they also look to be more conventional in size and possibly operation - the concept car featured elongated butterfly doors that afforded accesses to both the front and rear seats. The prototype seen here would appear to have more conventionally sized apertures. We're guessing that mundane real-world considerations like crash-worthiness and ease of operation had something to do with the transition. Another likely concession to the realities of production auto-making appear to be a pair of rather ungainly bumper-level nacelles in the rear fascia that weren't present on the show car. We're not sure if these are merely reflectors, actual taillights or if they're simply clever camouflage, but we're hoping for the latter.
While the concept was powered by both an electric drivetrain and a small diesel generator, our spies suggest that the production car may switch over to a more conventional turbocharged four-cylinder range-extender. Whether it burns gas or oil, however, the i8 is sure to be one of the most radical cars on the road... and it's likely to carry an exotic price tag to match.
BMW i8 breaks out of Mission: Impossible and into the real world originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsJames Christopher McMurray Alan Jones Hubert Hahne Jean Marc Gounon William Clyde Elliott
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Report: Steve McQueen's Le Mans suit fetches nearly $1M, BTTF DeLorean $541k
Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Celebrities

Two bits of automotive movie history at a Profiles in History auction held earlier this month have drawn massive bids from collectors. As you may recall, Steve McQueen's racing suit costume from Le Mans was poised to go under the gavel with the auction house estimating the Gulf Oil suit would fetch between $200,000 and $300,000. Hemmings says that by the time the last bid came in, the suit had fetched a staggering $984,000, thereby proving that when it comes to celebrity auctions, few names can draw dollar bills quite like McQueen. The actor's Porsche 911, which he drove in the film, recently sold for $1.25 million.
McQueen's Le Mans suit wasn't the only big draw, however. The same auction also saw a DeLorean DMC-12 used in the filming of Back to the Future III pull sizable bids of its own. The flux-capacitor-equipped gullwing met the auction house's estimates with a towering final bid of $541,200. Great Scot, indeed.
Steve McQueen's Le Mans suit fetches nearly $1M, BTTF DeLorean $541k originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsHeikki Kovalainen Z Line Designs Toyota Jean Pierre Jarier Helm Glöckler James Christopher McMurray
DAMS signs Pic for 2012 FR3.5 season
Mike Hawthorn Maurício Gugelmin Bruce Kessler Brad Keselowski Juan Pablo Montoya
Ferrari confident of ?no surprises?
Jean Marc Gounon William Clyde Elliott Elmer George Masten Gregory Clint Bowyer
McKinney Takes SoBo
Kyle Eugene Petty Walt Hansgen Mark Anthony Martin Kevin Harvick Howden Ganley
Monday, 26 December 2011
Ferrari pushing for more testing
Olivier Gendebien Bruce Johnstone Richard Allen Craven Mike Hawthorn Maurício Gugelmin
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
A Day in the Life of a Pop-Up Caf�
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Grosjean prepared to give up on F1
Kasey Kenneth Kahne Piercarlo Ghinzani John James Tony Gaze Nanni Galli
Kurt Busch Shares His Side of the Story in Penske Racing Split on SPEED Center
Bobby Grim Kyle Thomas Busch Georges Grignard Peter de Klerk Boy Hayje
2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Top Performances
Olivier Grouillard Al Keller Jeremy Allan Mayfield Casey James Mears Dan Gurney
Jarrell, Paquette ?Maine? Men at Oxford
Jeffrey Michael Gordon Karl Kling Kurt Thomas Busch Out! Pet Care Toyota Olivier Gendebien
Monday, 12 December 2011
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid: Mo? Battery, Mo? Mileage
James Hunt Fred Gamble Patrick Gaillard Masahiro Hasemi Jackie Holmes
Watkins retires from FIA Institute role
Innes Ireland Trevor Bayne Kevin Paul Lepage Oswald Karch Hans Herrmann
Sunday, 11 December 2011
2012 10Best: Biggest Sales Gainers and Losers of 2011
Denny Hulme Nick Heidfeld Charles Robert Hamilton IV David Carl Allison Eddie Irvine
AMA Ice Race Grand Championships kick off 2012 amateur championships
Jeffrey Michael Gordon Karl Kling Kurt Thomas Busch Out! Pet Care Toyota Olivier Gendebien
Saturday, 10 December 2011
2011 Tokyo Motor Show: Honda Uni-Cub First Ride
Jacky Ickx Peter Gethin Ukyo Katayama Kazuyoshi Hoshino Lucas di Grassi
Door-to-Door at Atlanta
Masahiro Hasemi Jackie Holmes Floyd Anthony Raines Joe James Emmanuel de Graffenried
A Mug for the Morning Drug: Coffee-Container Torture Test
Maurício Gugelmin Bruce Kessler Brad Keselowski Juan Pablo Montoya David Lee Blaney
Hakkinen completes Mercedes test
Olivier Gendebien Bruce Johnstone Richard Allen Craven Mike Hawthorn Maurício Gugelmin
2012 10Best: Biggest Sales Gainers and Losers of 2011
Toyota Kimmy Lewis Hamilton Travis Wade Kvapil Kerry Dale Earnhardt Roberto Guerrero
Friday, 9 December 2011
2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top Performances
Gary Hocking Carel Godin de Beaufort Juan Jover Narain Karthikeyan Carl Michael Edwards III
Hakkinen to test for Mercedes
Cliff Griffith Mack Hellings François Hesnault Willi Heeks Bill Holland
Official: Ward's releases annual 10 Best Engines list
Filed under: Technology, Audi, BMW, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Mazda

It's that time of year, folks. No, we're not referring to the oodles of time spent shopping for the holidays, we're talking about end-of-the-year lists. Kicking things off in the automotive spectrum is industry stalwart Ward's Auto, which has just released its annual 10 Best Engines list.
Without further ado, here are the award-winners for 2012:
- 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 (Audi A6)
- 2.0L N20 Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (BMW Z4/528i)
- 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6 (BMW 335i Coupe)
- 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 (Chrysler 300/Jeep Wrangler)
- 2.0L EcoBoost DOHC I-4 (Ford Edge)
- 5.0L DOHC V-8 (Ford Mustang Boss 302)
- 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Buick Regal GS)
- 1.6L DOHC I-4 (Hyundai Accent/Kia Soul)
- 2.0L Skyactiv DOHC I-4 (Mazda3)
- 3.5L DOHC V-6 HEV (Infiniti M35h)
In fact, there isn't a single engine from Honda or Toyota on 2011's edition of the 10 Best Engines, nor are the 1.4-liter/111kW electric motor package in the Chevrolet Volt or 80kW AC motor in the Nissan Leaf anywhere to be found - both of which were on the list in 2010. Also missing? A diesel... any diesel - and there certainly are a few options from the likes of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen from which to choose.
Though its neither direct-injected nor turbocharged, the Pentastar V6 from Chrysler is surely worthy of inclusion, if for no other reason than its single-handed ability to transform any vehicle it's in from an also-ran to a competitive proposition.
We'll also give a shout-out to Ford, which earned two spots on the list but could seemingly have garnered another for the excellent 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in the F-150 pickup. Ward's has plenty of commentary on why each engine was chosen, and you can read all about it right here. But first, have a look at each powerplant in our high-res image gallery.
Ward's releases annual 10 Best Engines list originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsDamon Hill Jimmy Jackson Kamui Kobayashi Jo Gartner Bob Gerard
Burns Tops the Field at USA
Floyd Anthony Raines Joe James Emmanuel de Graffenried Toyota Kimmy Lewis Hamilton
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Alonso certain of success at Ferrari
Willi Heeks Bill Holland Jim Hurtubise Mike Harris Gary Hocking
Podium dreams fail to come true
Kyle Eugene Petty Walt Hansgen Mark Anthony Martin Kevin Harvick Howden Ganley
2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top Performances
Jerry Hoyt Z Line Toyota Kenny Dale Irwin Jr José Froilán González Bruno Giacomelli
2011 Tokyo Motor Show: Honda Uni-Cub First Ride
Brian Gubby Dale Arnold Jarrett Nicolas Kiesa André Guelfi Paco Godia
DTM, ALMS, Customer Racing, promotion of juniors - and a DTM test for the Sports Trophy winner
Out! Pet Care Toyota Olivier Gendebien Bruce Johnstone Richard Allen Craven Mike Hawthorn
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Sauber also leaves FOTA
William Clyde Elliott Elmer George Masten Gregory Clint Bowyer Brian Gubby
Alguersuari wins karting race hosted by Massa
Trevor Bayne Kevin Paul Lepage Oswald Karch Hans Herrmann Cliff Griffith
Joey Logano and GameStop Team Grab Top-10 Finish to Round Out 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Season
Hans Heyer Theo Helfrich Heikki Kovalainen Z Line Designs Toyota Jean Pierre Jarier
Convers goes into Administration
Ernst Klodwig Horace Gould Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Ingo Hoffmann Olivier Grouillard
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Richard Childress Named 2011 NASCAR Buddy Shuman Award Winner
Showing-up Big at Bristol
Jean Pierre Jarier Helm Glöckler James Christopher McMurray Alan Jones Hubert Hahne
Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 115: 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S
Kevin Paul Lepage Oswald Karch Hans Herrmann Cliff Griffith Mack Hellings
2012 10Best Cars, Test Day 2: Family Sedans Come Into Focus
Long Term: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: November 2011
Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel, Long-Term Garage

It's been a little over six months since the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI joined our long-term garage, and since then, we've put more than 17,000 miles on this Tempest Blue sedan. After spending much of the summer in Detroit, the Jetta TDI was road-tripped out to Los Angeles where the Autoblog staff in Southern California have been tending to the car.
Even after half a year, we are still amazed at how easy it is to get excellent fuel mileage in the Jetta TDI. Official EPA ratings for the car are 30 city and 42 highway, but rarely do we fall below that average. Twice we have averaged more than 50 miles per gallon for a tankful, and only occasionally do we drop below 40 mpg on average. Apparently, only lead-foot Michael Harley, last month's caretaker of the Jetta TDI, knows how to get mediocre fuel mileage out of the 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder, averaging around 35 mpg during his time with the car.
This admirable fuel mileage translates to well over 500 miles per tank (we went 608 miles in between our last two fill-ups), a pleasant change compared to the frequent stops necessary with other vehicles.
Of course, there's more to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI than its fuel mileage. Follow the jump to read more about how the other aspects of the car have fared during the past month.
Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: November 2011
2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: November 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsJerry Hoyt Z Line Toyota Kenny Dale Irwin Jr José Froilán González Bruno Giacomelli
Monday, 5 December 2011
Stewart hires Steve Addington as crew chief
Jim Hall Paul Hawkins Ignazio Giunti Kasey Kenneth Kahne Piercarlo Ghinzani
Rally Driver of the Year: Loeb
Al Herman Bobby Grim Kyle Thomas Busch Georges Grignard Peter de Klerk
Red Bull sure it can still improve
Jim Hurtubise Mike Harris Gary Hocking Carel Godin de Beaufort Juan Jover
Stanaway on top at Aragon test
Sunday, 4 December 2011
PASTOR MALDONADO CONFIRMED FOR 2012 WITH VALTTERI BOTTAS JOINING AS RESERVE DRIVER
Jesús Iglesias Ryan Joseph Newman Loris Kessel Leslie Johnson Kyle Eugene Petty
Report: Chrysler settles with graffiti artists over J.Lo's Fiat 500 ad [w/video]
Filed under: Convertible, Budget, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Celebrities

Fiat has had nothing but trouble from its 500C commercial featuring Jennifer Lopez. After enduring a body double scandal and reports that the vehicle actually broke down during filming, Chrysler then found itself in the crosshairs of a lawsuit. The artists behind a copyrighted mural in the Bronx sued the automaker for using the image without their permission, but The New York Times now reports that the two parties have settled their differences out of court. Neither side is disclosing the details of the settlement at this time, but Fiat and artists TATS Cru have conveniently announced a new collaboration.
Fiat will provide the artists with a 500 to be painted and then auctioned off at a later date for charity, though no one is saying whether the group received any compensation for the use of its artwork in the Jennifer Lopez ad. Hit the jump to check out the ad in question for yourself.
Continue reading Chrysler settles with graffiti artists over J.Lo's Fiat 500 ad [w/video]
Chrysler settles with graffiti artists over J.Lo's Fiat 500 ad [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsBruce Johnstone Richard Allen Craven Mike Hawthorn Maurício Gugelmin Bruce Kessler
Red Bull amazed Vettel reached the end
Tom Jones Divina Galica Oscar González Christian Goethals Cuth Harrison
At Sloth-Like 3.5 MPH, M50 Bus Wins This Year?s Pokey Award
Want to understand why more Manhattanites don’t ride the bus? Look no further than this year’s Pokey awards, given out annually by the Straphangers Campaign. Manhattan buses, as usual, [...]
Jim Hurtubise Mike Harris Gary Hocking Carel Godin de Beaufort Juan Jover
Saturday, 3 December 2011
New points system for BTCC in 2012
Ruby Tuesday Dodge James Hunt Fred Gamble Patrick Gaillard Masahiro Hasemi
Penske, Kurt Busch respond to Homestead outburst against Dr. Jerry Punch
Dan Gurney Gus Hutchison Kyle Busch Chris Irwin Helmuth Koinigg
Honda AC-X Concept: Is This the Future of Acura Design?
Four for Four for Kerkhof
Scott Russell Riggs Duncan Hamilton Robert Allen Labonte Cecil Green Jerry Hoyt
Friday, 2 December 2011
Toro Rosso strengthens technical team
Horace Gould Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Ingo Hoffmann Olivier Grouillard Al Keller
2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0 Sedan Tested
Max Jean Aldo Gordini Yuji Ide Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Mike Hailwood
AT&T WILLIAMS 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix Race Report
Olivier Grouillard Al Keller Jeremy Allan Mayfield Casey James Mears Dan Gurney
Dixon hopeful over DW12 handling
Mack Hellings François Hesnault Willi Heeks Bill Holland Jim Hurtubise
Thursday, 1 December 2011
City Council Bill Would Weaken Bikes in Garages Law, Keep Number of Spaces
Two years after the City Council passed the Bicycle Access to Garages law, which set aside space for bike parking in commercial garages, legislators are turning their attention back to the issue. In response to low demand for the garage spaces, a [...]
Ukyo Katayama Kazuyoshi Hoshino Lucas di Grassi Jim Hall Paul Hawkins
Caterham to run in green and gold
David Hampshire Michael Duane Bliss Joseph Francis Nemechek III Mika Häkkinen Randy Joseph Lajoie
991 Variants, the Beginning: 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet
Juan Jover Narain Karthikeyan Carl Michael Edwards III Joe Kelly Christian Klien
Sutil targets ninth in the standings
Yuji Ide Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Mike Hailwood Eddie Keizan Phil Hill
RANDSTAD INCREASES COMMITTMENT TO AT&T WILLIAMS
Roberto Guerrero Scott Russell Riggs Duncan Hamilton Robert Allen Labonte Cecil Green
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Button confident, wet or dry
Leo Kinnunen Gregory Jack Biffle Nico Hülkenberg Jesús Iglesias Ryan Joseph Newman
Brad Daugherty testing race truck at Martinsville this week
Clint Bowyer Brian Gubby Dale Arnold Jarrett Nicolas Kiesa André Guelfi
NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented By Sprint Features Appearances By 2011 Champions
Theo Helfrich Heikki Kovalainen Z Line Designs Toyota Jean Pierre Jarier Helm Glöckler