Saturday, July 16, 2011

Spied: 2013 Jaguar XE?This Time We Catch the Interior, Too

Another Jaguar spotting, this time in the scorched desert landscape of the southwestern U.S., presents irrefutable proof that Jaguar is preparing a compact sports car, likely to be called XE. �As with the first group XE roadster prototypes we nabbed just a couple of weeks ago, this mule wears a suit of XK armor, some [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/nuKVRXsUeKE/

Carl Edwards Copart Ford Denny Hamlin

Green light for off-throttle diffuser use

The FIA confirmed on Thursday that it will now allow Formula 1 teams to keep running their blown diffusers off-throttle for the rest of the season, after it was agreed unanimously that a ban on the practice should be abandoned.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/green-light-for-off-throttle-diffuser-use/

Juan Jover Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh Rupert Keegan Eddie Keizan

Monday, July 11, 2011

Hamilton: Friday not a total write-off

Lewis Hamilton reckons he was still able to get some useful information about McLaren's latest upgrades - including a new rear wing - despite the rain in Silverstone practice. Though most drivers were frustrated with the total lack of dry running on day one of the weekend of the exhaust rules clampdown, Hamilton felt he had managed to learn at least a little about the new parts. "Despite the lack of running, today was actually quite encouraging; we tested a couple of things and I managed to pick up quite a decent feeling for the car," he said.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/hamilton-friday-not-a-total-write-off/

Sterling Burton Marlin

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Comparo: Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI

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Battle Of The Eco Compact Cars

Battle of the Eco Compact Cars
Battle of the Eco Compact Cars - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you wanted a highly efficient compact car five years ago, you bought a hybrid. Diesel was still a dirty word commonly reserved for heavy-duty pickups and the occasional Euro import, and 30 miles per gallon was just becoming the new industry benchmark. The Chevrolet Volt was still just a concept, all-electrics like the Nissan Leaf were barely a blip on our radar, and if a car was turbocharged, it was for go-fast reasons, not fuel-sipping ones.

Fast forward to 2011. Times have changed.

Now, 40 mpg is the new 30 mpg, and we're quickly approaching the days when 50 mpg won't be such a lofty number. After all, there are quite a few cars that already crest that mark without breaking a sweat (including one or two of the cars in this test...).

Enter the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco and 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - a trio of cars that all boast fuel economy figures of 42 mpg or higher on the highway, and all have price points within the $18,000 to $24,000 range. All three fuel-sippers take a completely different path towards overall efficiency - traditional hybrid, turbocharged gasoline and clean diesel.

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid badge2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco badge2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI badge


We're here to put these three eco compacts through their paces - testing not only economy, but general drivability, quality, comfort and value. The winner won't be based simply on its miserly ways - all three cars are pretty darn close in that regard. Instead, we're looking to see which car represents the best overall package, regardless of powertrain. We're here to find out which eco-warrior is the one we'd open our wallets for.

Continue reading Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/honda-civic-hybrid-takes-on-chevrolet-cruze-eco-and-volkswagen/

Mike Hawthorn Boy Hayje Willi Heeks

David Ragan, 2011 NSCS Quaker State 400 Race Preview

NSCS No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion Crew Drew Blickensderfer with Driver David Ragan - Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCARDavid Ragan ? NSCS ADVANCE Team: No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer Chassis: Primary: RK-750 Last ran Charlotte ? finished 2nd;Backup: RK-711 Last ran Darlington ? finished 21st Ragan on racing at Kentucky Speedway:...more»

Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2011/sprintcup/07/06/david-ragan-2011-nscs-quaker-state-400-race-preview/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=david-ragan-2011-nscs-quaker-state-400-race-preview

William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya

Bortolotti on Nurburgring pole again

Mirko Bortolotti topped a tight second qualifying session to take pole position for this afternoon's second Formula 2 race at the Nurburgring. The Italian edged German rival Tobias Hegewald out of the top spot by just 0.014 seconds, as just over one second covered the top 16 drivers.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/3rdparty/bortolotti-on-nurburgring-pole-again/

David Hobbs Gary Hocking Ingo Hoffmann Bill Holland Jackie Holmes Bill Homeier Kazuyoshi Hoshino

Official: Mugen shows Honda CR-Z RR Concept at Goodwood

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honda cr-z mugen rr concept
Honda CR-Z Mugen RR Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mugen is not a name that one would be shocked to hear announced over the Goodwood Festival of Speed PA system. The Honda CR-Z, however, is a car that festival goers would be surprised to see idling ahead of its run up the hill. Upon closer inspection, though, you would see a bunch of aero bits, hear a racy exhaust thump and see the Mugen badge on the rear end. The Mugen CR-Z that we showed off earlier was not the only tuned hybrid two-seater at Goodwood. In fact, it wasn't the only CR-Z that Mugen brought along. Like a lonely Skywalker... there is another.

The Honda CR-Z Mugen RR Concept also showed its aggressive face at the Festival of Speed. The RR Concept goes a step further into the race-ready arena than the Mugen CR-Z. The exterior aero bits are more focused for track use, but there is no word on the performance figures created by what's under the hood. Mugen says this vehicle is being used as a study to help define future performance models. Take a look at it from both angles in our gallery below.

Continue reading Mugen shows Honda CR-Z RR Concept at Goodwood

Mugen shows Honda CR-Z RR Concept at Goodwood originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/mugen-shows-honda-cr-z-rr-concept-at-goodwood/

Dave Kennedy Loris Kessel Bruce Kessler Nicolas Kiesa Leo Kinnunen Danny Kladis Hans Klenk

Spengler wins at wet Norisring

Bruno Spengler took victory in a rain-shortened DTM race at the Norisring, denying Jamie Green a fourth straight win on the German street circuit. The Canadian, who retakes the championship lead from Martin Tomczyk with his second win of the season, led the whole race aside from when he dropped down the order for each of his pitstops. Green had been mounting a challenge in the middle of the race once he was released into to second when Gary Paffett had a bizarre crash exiting the chicane on lap 16.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/miscellaneous/dtm/spengler-wins-at-wet-norisring/

David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton

New Sponsorship Deal for Lobb

It is with much excitement that we can announce a new sponsorship initiative for the Zwartkops Round of the Shelby Can-Am series next weekend. In a deal concluded late Thursday night, former South African Shelby Can-Am champion — and veteran iRacer — Darryn Lobb will be pairing with current Shelby Can-Am TV sponsor, the Hollard Insurance Company. Hollard were previously involved with the Shelby Can-Am series in 2007, when Lobb won his first championship, as the official series sponsor. Since then, Hollard have remained involved with the series through TV sponsorship, as well as one or two other initiatives. The deal to back the 2010 champion for this event is the first opportunity for Hollard to put their support behind a specific car in the series, in addition to the [...]

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/new-sponsorship-deal-for-lobb/

Damon Hill Graham Hill Phil Hill Peter Hirt David Hobbs Gary Hocking Ingo Hoffmann

Well-laid plan rewards Ragan with the win

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/07/03/1319051/well-laid-plan-rewards-ragan-with.html

Oscar González Aldo Gordini Horace Gould Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green

Report: 2016 Next-next Porsche Boxster to get twin-turbo four, Cayman sticking with six

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Porsche Cayman
Porsche Cayman Spy Shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

With the next-generation Porsche Cayman caught running 'round the 'Ring, the reports/rumors about its platform and powertrains have begun to surface.

According to Car, both the Boxster and Cayman will ride on a wheelbase that's 60mm longer than its predecessor (up to 2,415 mm), with the overall length growing slightly and curb weight dropping by around 30 pounds. So nothing revelatory then...

However, Car contends that the next major Boxster/Cayman facelift is due around 2015/2016 and a host of new drivetrains will follow suit. A bigger bore twin-turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four will replace the current 3.4-liter flat-six, developing over 350 horsepower and a similar amount of torque. A smaller, 1.6-liter version will make its way into the oft-rumored 356-inspired speedster, the nearly forgotten mid-engine Volkswagen and Audi's sub-TT. And don't be surprised if a hybrid-assist option appears in late 2016.

But for the time being, the current flat-six will soldier on, although we've heard that the four-pot could debut inside the Boxster at first, with the Cayman getting the new turbocharged mill the following year.

2016 Next-next Porsche Boxster to get twin-turbo four, Cayman sticking with six originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/05/2016-next-next-porsche-boxster-to-get-twin-turbo-four-cayman-st/

Kazuyoshi Hoshino Jerry Hoyt Nico Hülkenberg Denny Hulme James Hunt Jim Hurtubise Gus Hutchison