Autoblog

Nissan released a second video of the incredible 7:29 lap time achieved by the GT-R earlier this year at the Nürburgring Nordschleife along with a photo of the stock tires that were installed on the car at the time. It did so to dispel accusations that the time might not be 100% authentic. Porsche in particular seemed highly suspicious, and boldly claimed its belief that Nissan wasn't using stock tires at the time. The new video starts with some off-track buildup and shows the 50kg of test equipment that was on-board the car at the time, as well. Although we don't speak Japanese, we think that's what they're talking about along with discussing the fresh stock tires that were fitted to the car. The actual lap starts about 4 minutes in and looks pretty authentic to us. We're sure there will continue to be questions and complaints from all sides in this controversy, and we know that this is starting to turn into a a bit of a melodrama, but we really can't help ourselves. You can catch up on the whole sordid affair by clicking here and check out the video after the jump.

[Source: GTR Blog via Edmunds]

Earlier today we told you the latest news on McLaren's upcoming "F1 Jr." P11 project. We even showed you a glimpse of what is believed to be a styling buck for the new F430/Gallardo fighter. Expected to show up in production trim about 18 months from now, the P11 will certainly be a tough secret for McLaren to keep. The P11 is one of the most highly anticipated sequels in automotive history, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that spy shots of running prototypes have already surfaced. This time it's Auto Express publishing a few pics of the car in the wild. Heavily camo'd, the car was spotted near the McLaren F1 shop in Woking, Surrey. Even in disguise you can see that the car looks like it will be as trim as we hoped it would be. Expected stats include a 6.2L AMG V8 possibly turbocharged to 500 hp, 1,100-kg curb weight, 0-60 in under four seconds and a top end of 200+ mph. AE also thinks pricing should fall into the £150,000-£200,000 range.

[Source: Auto Express]

The Infiniti EX is a perfectly good little CUV with G37-inspired looks and sharp reflexes that keep it near the front of the cute 'ute segment in most reviews. Apparently that hasn't been enough to attract buyers. Or more precisely, the buyers who have been showing up at Infiniti dealers haven't been the kind of people that the company was actually marketing to. Where the advertising for the EX up to this point has been directed towards sedan buyers, and particularly couples or single women, a lot of families are actually looking considering it and, like ourselves, are complaining about the lack of back seat legroom and cargo room. Infiniti has taken those complaints to heart and is planning a few changes for the 2010 model that will increase room in both of those areas, though it hasn't said exactly how it will squeeze the extra cubic inches out of the vehicle's finite amount of interior space. Additionally, Infiniti will work with its dealers to help better pitch the EX to prospective buyers. An example of that is making content like the family-friendly Around View Monitor available in more trim levels. Hopefully it will help boost EX sales beyond the expected 15,000 units for this year, though we wouldn't get our hopes up in this market.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

Word has it there is an eight-month waiting list for the Audi R8 in the car's home market of Germany. Here in the good ol' U.S. of A., the 50 units we get per month are not nearly enough for all of the interested buyers. Well, with V10, convertible and possibly diesel versions in the works, we can't imagine that demand will subside anytime soon. You might think that Audi would be smart to amp up production to handle the high demand, especially with those new versions coming soon, but that isn't gonna happen according to Audi. Seems they can only make 27 R8s a month day and no more. That should keep the R8 variations very scarce and very dear.

For those lucky enough to have the coinage and a place in line, there is more news. Car and Driver talked to Michael Dick, Audi's member of the board of management for technical development, who told them the company expects to sell around 80% with V10 flavor. That version goes on sale next year, with drop-tops following soon after in Europe. Yanks will have to wait another year with 2011 models showing up in '10.

Other tidbits gleaned from the interview: Pricing hasn't been set, the diesel might be Euro-only if it even makes it to production, and a little brother R4 was never in the cards with the TT-RS and possible Audi R3 version of the VW roadster filling out the dance card well enough. We'll keep our fingers crossed that there are enough V10s available so we can get one in our garage at least.


[Source: Car and Driver]

This past Sunday, Ferrari had its Racing Days event at the Nürburgring in Germany and after the customers got a chance to 'ring out their rides, company legend Michael Schumacher wheeled out the new Ferrari California and put it through its paces. For those of you waiting to hear a lap time, don't hold your breath. The track was wet, the course was the F1 track, and the event was more of a meet-and-greet than a pedal-to-the-metal assault on the GT-R. This short YouTube clip by JurreAG will show you MS taking the California through the first few turns from a standing start near turn one. While you can clearly see that the car has some oomph, there aren't any real references for comparison or hard data for bragging/arguing/flaming yet. Sure does sound nice though, and it beats the last video clip we had of the car pretty much sitting still and posing for beauty shots. Check out the mini-gallery of stills below and the YouTube clip after the jump.

It looks like the Top Gear guys are in Vietnam working on an hour-long special. While we don't have any specifics, we do have some pics that popped up on Ausmotive. The Top Gear website isn't much help, cryptically telling us that the lads don't plan on shooting anyone, but they don't rule it out knowing that Jezza is there. Expect a challenge of some sort, probably involving something considerably slower than the American iron they sampled while Stateside, and of course lots of laughs as always. Thanks for all the tips!


[Source: Top Gear]

Imagine riding along in your family's car as a kid. Your hand is out the window and slicing through the air as you explore the concepts of drag and lift. As a child you might work that hand to rise and fall around the objects on the horizon, dodging treetops and ducking below bridges in the distance. Some German students apparently had this experience, and now they've taken that basic premise and added more cowbell. The result is Carcade, a scrolling video game concept that uses a webcam and laptop to scan the view out your car window and use it as the interactive background for a spaceship adventure. It recognizes and uses the objects in the view out your window as obstacles, instantly incorporating them into the action. It even adjusts game play speed according to vehicle speed. It's all pretty amazing work by the crew of Andreas Nicolas Fischer, Martin Kim Luge and Korbinian Polk. Watch the Carcade demo after the jump and let us know if you wouldn't have liked to waste away your family's road trip playing this game.

British mag Autocar just got through driving a 2010 Mazda3 prototype and the author seems to have come away impressed. The mag got the chance to sample the new 3 in gas and diesel variants while driving them around Iceland's coastline. They were very impressed with the new 2.2L diesel, but we'll likely just get the equally new and impressive 2.0L direct-injection gas engine here in the former colonies. They described that DI engine as "impressively smooth, refined and torquey" while routing its power through a "very slick" six-speed manual. Mazda has apparently also kept the spirit of Zoom-Zoom alive in the handling department, producing a car that is more "pointable... than is common in this class." Autocar went so far as to compare it to a Mk IV Golf V5. High praise indeed. We'll have to wait until later next month at the LA Auto Show to see how the U.S. version turns out, but for now we'll take Autocar's word on this being "a big improvement over the current car," which many of us already love.

[Source: Autocar]

In a recent post about the 2009 Dodge Challenger SE, KickingTires quotes director of Dodge brand marketing, Mike Accavitti, saying that there will be no convertible version of the reborn muscle car in Dodge showrooms. Apparently the platform would require too much additional hardware to handle the extra flex from cutting the roof off, and the added weight would push the car too far into the Sumo class. And that would be with just a simple manual soft-top, not one of them there new-fangled retractable hardtops that are the top du jour for convertible buyers. There's also the issue of cost and the fact that Dodge's market analysis seems to indicate there isn't a huge market for them. We understand the reasoning and know that even the coupes are going to be low-volume, but we would humbly like to suggest a limited run of SRT-8 convertibles at double the coupe's asking price. Say 20 or so. Buyers will pay twice the sticker price at least and mothball them immediately so they can be exhumed in 2050 and be the '71 Hemi 'Cuda convertible equivalents of their day.


[Source: KickingTires]

In just a week's time, anyone so willing will be able to walk into a Chevrolet dealership and order a new 2010 Chevy Camaro. We now have the ordering information that will greet buyers on that blessed day. Thanks to CamaroZ28.com, we have the complete order book that shows standard and optional equipment for LS, LT and SS versions of the car with codes 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, 1SS and 2SS. Basically, the LT won't get the fog lamps of its racier brethren, and only the SS versions get the 6.2L V8, the 20-inch wheel/tire combo, the 4-piston Brembos, and unique instrumentation and fascias. The rear spoiler is standard on the SS but optional on the LT. If you opt for either the 2LT or 2SS you also get a package of amenities that includes leather, an upgraded stereo with redundant steering wheel controls, Bluetooth, a USB port, PDIM, a cargo net, and an upgrade to the mirrors and gauges, but buyers of the 1LT and 1SS can get some of these as options. The complete book is laid out in the gallery below.

While LS buyers can only select black or gray for their interiors, LT and SS buyers can opt for beige or Inferno Orange as well, with or without gray or white striping. The sunroof and RS appearance package are available on all but the base LS, as is a special Red Jewel Tintcoat. That RS package also includes special 20-inch aluminum wheels, HIDs, body-color "ditch" molding, unique taillamps and badging, and the rear spoiler. Check out the pages below for more specifics, but make sure to check out the pages about the accessories as well: a Hurst shifter, 21-inch wheels, high wing spoiler, ground effects, special striping and engine covers, and a performance section that includes a catback exhaust, air intake and "shorty" headers. We'll take an Inferno/black 1SS with the performance accessories, RS package, ground effects, high wing, the Hurst shifter and white stripes. Or maybe a 2LT in black with the Inferno interior and white accents. On third thought, what about...aww, this could go on forever. How are you going to order yours?


[Source: CamaroZ28.com]