Well, this is certainly different. We’ve seen our fair share of wild vehicle modifications over the years, but this one takes the cake as one of the most imaginative. If the YouTube description is any sort of indication, this craft was hewn just for Sheik Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan as his personal toy. Near as we can tell, the guy liked the side-mount spare tire carriers on classic vehicles from the ’30s, but wanted to be able to deploy them without having to actually get out and spin a lug nut. The solution was found in the miracle (or curse) of hydraulics.

Let’s just do the world a favor and make sure this doesn’t evolve into a trend. We’ve already had terrible visions of a future SEMA show with row upon row of six-wheeled, white-wall wearing Honda Civics. If you’re brave enough, you can hit the jump to see the Nissan-based for yourself. Just don’t show anyone else.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Sheik’s custom six-wheeled Nissan SUV is a thing that makes us go ‘Hmmm’

Video: Sheik’s custom six-wheeled Nissan SUV is a thing that makes us go ‘Hmmm’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So you’re headed to Japan and need to rent a car. What to choose? The island nation is a smorgasbord of metal foreign to American tastes, from a wide buffet of pint-sized kei-cars to more American-sized contraptions. But what if none of those options have the kind of flair you require for that special business meeting? Fear not. Mitsuoka has you covered. The company has just announced a rental program that will let you pick up either of its two sports cars for a fairly low per-day rental rate in Osaka.

For a mere 0 per day, you can play around with the ridiculously over-the-top Orochi, complete with its underwhelming Toyota 3.3-liter V6 mounted mid-ship. If you require something topless, Mitsuoka will be happy to put you in the driver’s seat of its roadster, the Himiko for a mere 7 per day. Whichever you choose, you’ll need a fair command of the Japanese language to navigate Mitsuoka’s site. Our Google Translator was no help at all.

[Source: Mitsuoka via Gizmag]

Mitsuoka Orochi now available to rent in Osaka originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve obviously laid eyes on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV on numerous occasions, but the modified Euro-spec version has remained unseen. That is, until now. If you gander at the image above you may notice the slight tweaks that differentiate the Euro-spec i-MiEV from its Japanese counterpart. What, you can’t see the differences? Okay, well maybe a long, drawn-out stare will lead you to discover that this Euro-spec models sports revised front and rear bumpers that meet EU regulations. Those revised bumpers are the only exterior changes that are required to make the i-MiEV Euro-ready and the only tweaks that you will find on the outside.

Turning out attention to the interior, the Euro-spec i-MiEV features a re-arranged center stack in the instrument panel and, according to Mitsubishi, improved passenger comfort. On the safety front, all Euro-spec i-MiEVs feature a stability control system and side curtain airbags as standard equipment. Pricing for the European i-MiEV will vary by country, but its expected to cost under €35,000 (,400 U.S. at the current exchange rate) in all 14 European countries that Mitsubishi targets for sales. Hit the jump for more on the Euro-spec i-MiEV.

[Source: Mitsubishi Motors]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Mitsubishi to debut Euro-spec i-MiEV

Paris Preview: Mitsubishi to debut Euro-spec i-MiEV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The long rumored Chevrolet Cruze hatchback was unveiled today by Holden, General Motors’ Australian division. The five-door Cruze was designed and built at Holden’s Port Melbourne design studio and will be shown publicly at the Paris Motor Show at the end of the month.

The hatchback features a forward sloping rear glass and a shorter rear overhang than the existing four-door sedan but significantly better access to the cargo space. The new body style is labeled as a global model – just like the sedan – but General Motors has not announced if it will come to the U.S. market. If the Cruze hatchback does make it to America, it will be the first C-segment hatchback from Chevrolet since the first-generation Cavalier ended production way back in 1988. GM will no doubt be watching the sales mix for the new Ford Focus, which is being offered as both a sedan and hatch in North America, before deciding. Holden will launch production of the Cruze hatchback down under in late 2011.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading General Motors Australia reveals new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback

General Motors Australia reveals new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz and its partners at Hughes Telematics have released an updated version of its Mbrace app for the iPhone, and 2.0 brings along a new line of location-based services.

In addition to the usual array of safety and convenience features (locking and unlocking doors, finding the Benz in a parking lot, etc.), the app now includes Mercedes-Benz’ Concierge service which can pull down everything from driving directions and traffic updates to movie times and restaurant listings and then ports them directly into the navigation system. The Roadside Assistance program has also undergone a rework and Mbrace Plus subscribers can download it now from the App Store. Full details in the press blast below the fold.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz updates Mbrace app with ‘Concierge’ service

Mercedes-Benz updates Mbrace app with ‘Concierge’ service originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We got a glimpse of it not long ago in renderings, now Heico Sportiv has taken its retuned 2011 Volvo S60 to the track and brought us some souvenirs of the day. Changes are restrained yet aggressive outside, with added front lip components and a rear diffuser that wraps around four tailpipes, in addition to a set of attractive gunmetal Volution wheels.

Under the hood is where the real oomph resides, with power outputs hitting the 297 horsepower and 258 pound-feet in the 2.0T, and 330 hp and 339 lb-ft. in the T6. In the T6 model, that will get you from naught to 62 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds. Follow the jump for all the details and to see it in motion, and have a look at the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Heico Sportiv]

Continue reading Heico Sportiv adds aggression to new Volvo S60 [w/video]

Heico Sportiv adds aggression to new Volvo S60 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the past several years, the answer to the question of whether producing ethanol from corn is a net energy benefit or loss has depended on who you asked. An assortment of studies have come down on both sides of the equation. Michigan State University professor Jake Ferris comes down firmly on the net benefit side in an op-ed published by the Lansing State Journal.

Ferris references a study released by the U.S. Department of Energy in June of this year that concluded that corn ethanol yields 2.3 BTUs of energy for every BTU used to grow it. It turns out that the calculation in this study added in a factor for the reuse of the waste materials from ethanol production. The distillers’ dried grain that is left over from the milling and fermentation process is now commonly being incorporated into livestock feed in place of raw corn grain and high protein meal. Since feedstocks that have already been grown are replacing the need to grow more, there is a net positive change in the energy balance.

Unfortunately, the DOE’s calculation still doesn’t account for water use in growing and processing the corn and this may actually be a bigger problem than the energy use. Until cellulosic ethanol production is widely commercialized, the overall cost-benefit ratio of biofuels is likely to remain vague.

[Source: Lansing State Journal]

Byproduct use makes corn ethanol a net energy gain, water use still ignored originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The achingly slow striptease of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe continues with a 47-second-long spot of the camo-clad coupe bearing just enough sheetmetal to keep us interested.

The multi-spoke wheels, drilled discs and quad-exhausts are the only elements not left to the imagination, but the extra vinyl aft of the front wheels is sure to hiding a set of M-style fender vents while a ducktail spoiler is fitted out back.

As for mechanicals, the smart money is still on an upgraded twin-turbocharged inline-six (N54), channeling over 335 horsepower through a manual gearbox and down to the rear wheels via a torque-vectoring M differential.

We’re hearing rumblings that the Coupe could be unveiled at next week’s Oktoberfest BMWCCA event in Wisconsin, but in the meantime, check out the latest teaser after the jump and scope the first vid in our previous post. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Continue reading Video: BMW releases second 1 Series M Coupe teaser

Video: BMW releases second 1 Series M Coupe teaser originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever since the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) announced the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup early this year, Audi has remained non-committal about participating. Actually, Audi has been non-committal about everything this year except for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, more than two months after coming away with its ninth victory in the French race, Audi has announced that it will run the R15+ TDI in the three-continent series starting next month at Silverstone in the UK.

After the British race, the diesels from Audi will join the Peugeot 908s for the trek to Road Atlanta for the Petit Le Mans before finishing with a six-hour run at Zhuhai in China in November. Audi has stuck with sports car racing because it is the only major international motorsports venue that allows cars to run a variety of different fuels and drivetrain technologies. The R8 was the debut platform for turbocharged direct-injected gasoline engines before Audi introduced its TFSI engines in road cars and the R10 and R15 have allowed Audi to demonstrate the performance and efficiency advantages of its diesel engines.

In 2011, the ACO is will officially allowing hybrid power-plants. The American Le Mans Series currently has four different fuels in use: E10, cellulosic E85, biobutanol and, of course, diesel. The flywheel-equipped Porsche 911 GT3R hybrid will also be running at the Petit Le Mans.

[Sources: Audi]

Continue reading Audi commits to 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with R15+ TDI

Audi commits to 2010 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with R15+ TDI originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When a car comes with a 48-page press release, well, you know its maker has some special things in mind for it. The 2011 Ford Mondeo, in five-door and wagon styles, is just such a car, with The Blue Oval calling it “the most stylish and technologically advanced Mondeo ever.” Visually, the car’s main lines haven’t changed, but the details have been made sharper: a sleeker front bumper with new LEDs and more aggressive lip, the twin character lines down the side, the chrome trim all around the windows and the new chiseling in the rear valance.

Inside is the familiar story of upgraded materials wrapped around new techno bits. Ambient LED illumination falls from overhead, where also resides a new woven headliner. Driver aids include Lane Departure Warning system, Auto High Beam, Driver Alert, Smart Regenerative Charging and Active Grille Shutter, which opens and closes the grille aperture automatically to promote either cooling or increased aerodynamic efficiency.

Under the hood are new engines, including the Mondeo’s first crack at Ford’s 237-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost. That will be an option alongside the current, 203-hp version. There’s also a reworked 2.2-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel putting out 197 hp, the most powerful such engine yet.

It goes on sale as soon as next month at the same starting price as the current Mondeo, £17,295 (,842 U.S.), although the Titanium trim gets bumped up £200 to £19,945 (,958 U.S.). Follow the jump for an abridged version of the presser, and take your time perusing our huge gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Mondeo gets spiffed up

2011 Ford Mondeo gets spiffed up originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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