Audi of America president, Johan de Nysschen has dismissed General Motors Chevrolet Volt as “a car for idiots”. Speaking to veteran American journalist Lawrence Ulrich, de Nysschen said that few customers will be prepared to pay the estimated £25,000 asking price for the Volt, which will go on sale in Europe as the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera . “No one is going to pay a $15,000 (£9,000) premium for a car that competes with a Toyota Corolla ,” said de Nysschen. “So there are not enough idiots who will buy it.” De Nysschen, a long-time advocate of diesel power, admitted that plug-in hybrids are good in concept and hold advantages over diesels in stop-and-go driving. However, he maintained that electric cars are more about making a statement at present. “They’re for the intellectual elite who want to show what enlightened souls they are,” he said. De Nysschen concluded by saying that the Volt will fail to sell and the Government will be forced to subsidise it and boost sales, having forced GM to develop electric cars. However, De Nysschen said in his defence: “Let me clearly state that in my opinion, electric vehicles will be part of the future transportation of society – but only if we go about it the right way. In fact, Audi is working on electric vehicles,” he said.” De Nysschen also apologised if he had been “unclear” about the fact that he isn’t opposed to electric vehicles, and said he didn’t remember specifically saying the Volt is a car “idiots”. More here: Audi USA president; Johan de Nysschen – The Volt is for idiots (U.S) Original post:  Audi USA president; Johan de Nysschen – The Volt is for idiots (U.S)

With car sales rising 2.4%  in July, August car sales rose 6% compared with the same month last year. The increase is the second consecutive monthly rise, after more than a year of decline in vehicle sales. Industry figures revealed that 67,006 new cars were registered during August. The scrappage scheme is widely accepted to have prompted the boost in sales since its introduction in May. However, the scheme is expected to run out of cash by the end of the year. Most buyers have been waiting out for the ‘59′ plate change, which changes this month. September generally yields 5 times as many sales as August. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) chief executive Paul Everitt said: ‘The scrappage incentive scheme is having a positive impact, but with consumer and business confidence still fragile, there remain significant risks ahead. However, the figures from the SMMT also revealed that total sales for the year so far are still 21.5% lower than for the same period last year. ‘It is essential that these early signs of recovery are sustained into 2010.’ The top 10 best-selling cars for August were as follows: 1) Ford Focus – 4,366 2) Ford Fiesta – 2,968 3) Hyundai i10 – 2,431 4) Vauxhall Corsa – 2,031 5) Volkswagen Golf – 1,832 6) Peugeot 207 – 1,558 7) BMW 3 Series – 1,482 Vauxhall Astra – 1,355 9) Vauxhall Insignia – 1,334 10) Toyota Yaris – 1,331 The worst performers in August were: 1) Saab -91.48% 2) Bentley -75.51% 3) Lotus -58.82% 4) Porsche -43.7% 5) Jeep -36.96% Germany has ended its scrappage scheme , but is expected to offer tax incentives instead. France will extended it’s scrappage scheme  until 2011, to avoid plunging car sales. The UK Government has no intention of expanding, despite the fragile state of the car industry. However, pressure from automotive magazines, car manufactures and consumers could see it expanded. See more here: Car sales rise, city-car sales rise by 253% (UK) View original here: Car sales rise, city-car sales rise by 253% (UK)

Now here’s a strange one for you, folks–a downright puzzler, in fact.  What would you say if I told you about a car stereo that’s controlled by your iPod?  You’d say I already told you about that, because it’s in the headline.  But now, I’m going to tell you all about it–the Parrot car stereo system. Not only will the Parrot offer docking for the iPod and the iPhone, but it’ll also allow you to run your playlist through the stereo and use it like an external speaker array.  If you use your iPhone with it, you’ll get an easy to use hands-free operation device for the phone, and with the cops breathing down everyone’s neck waiting to write a ticket if you so much as LOOK like texting your BFF Jill, this could be just the thing to keep you connected while you drive. Best part?  This beauty can be bought direct from the company for about four hundred bucks.  If you’re in the market for a new car stereo and can’t live without your Mac gear, then this may just be the stereo you’ve wanted all your life. Related Posts GROM-USB2 Car Kit Belkin TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct for iPhones Jupiter Jack from Telebrands Alpine iXA-W404 Touch Screen Head Unit Sony Launches New Xplod Car Stereo Lineup No tags for this post. Related posts No related posts. View original here: Parrot Car Stereo–The Stereo Driven By Your iPod Original post:  Parrot Car Stereo–The Stereo Driven By Your iPod

Well, surprise, surprise…far be it from me to evangelize in a car piece, but it may not exactly be a surprise to anyone that eight of the top ten states to benefit from the US Government’s Cash for Clunkers program voted for Barack Obama back in 2008.  Even more interestingly, seven of the bottom ten voted for John McCain! The larger breakdown went down like this:  the twenty eight states Obama won in 2008 requested just over two billion in rebates.  Meanwhile, the states that voted for McCain have requested three quarters of a billion dollars in rebates. It’s almost a three to one difference! Possible causes?  Well, there are more blue states, for one.  And there are more people IN those states, for the most part.  So that’s at least one possibility.  Some have suggested a note of concern for the environment , but others have said it was a matter of sheer desperation.  In fact, in some places, dealers were matching the clunker rebate with their OWN rebate.  It was possible to get nine grand knocked off the price of a car, and with deals like that, anyone even vaguely thinking about a new car is going to strike while that particular iron is hot. And that particular iron, ladies and gentlemen, practically burned through the table it was resting on. Related Posts 200+ New York dealers withdraw from Cash for Clunkers program GM to advance Cash for Clunkers payments to dealers Mazda Prepping for Cash for Clunkers Customers Cars.com Announces Webinar for Car Dealers to Generate More Car Sales German thiefs stealing traded-in clunkers No tags for this post. Related posts No related posts. More: Blue State Car Dealers Come Out Ahead With Clunkers Original post:  Blue State Car Dealers Come Out Ahead With Clunkers

Move over, Oprah–you’re not the only celebrity who can make with the automotive loot.  You’ve got to share the stage with Ludacris now! The rapper, in partnership with an Atlanta area car dealer, handed out twenty cars free of charge to those who wrote into his charitable foundation and explained why they needed a car to get to work or to find work. Stories flew fast and furious at the rapper, who made his selections and handed out the cars just yesterday.  One of the stories that really “touched” Ludacris’ heart came from a guy named Mading Duor, who moved to the United States six years ago after his mother, father, five brothers and sisters were killed in Sudan. And as if that weren’t enough, Duor went on to describe how a drunk driver killed one of his own sons in Atlanta a  few years prior. So nicely done, Ludacris!  You’ve helped out twenty people who needed help getting to work.  Twenty down…somewhere around five million nine hundred ninety nine thousand nine hundred eighty to go. Related Posts Jupiter Jack from Telebrands Belkin TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct for iPhones High class French villa project giving away free Tesla Roadsters Driving Focus with the Ford Sync Acura to include XM, Bluetooth and USB in all 2010 models No tags for this post. Related posts No related posts. See more here: Ludacris Hands Out Free Cars View post: Ludacris Hands Out Free Cars

Looks like McLaren’s obsession with beating Ferrari is taking to the roads again, although this time with a less ambitious offering than their highly impressive F1 three-seater of yore. That’s an artist rendering you see pictured here, and although it has some of the styling cues of the F1, a lot of commenter on various message boards have slammed the car as looking derivative; some see a lot of the Porsche Carrera GT, others see various Japanese influences. Those are just random people with opinions (in most cases) but perhaps the most damning criticism comes from within. The new car, dubbed the MP4-12C features an automatic variable rate suspension, that at low speeds is softer “to prevent the jaw-jarring experience you get in most sports cars if you hit a pothole at slow speed,” according to McLaren main man Ron Dennis. And when you park the MP4-12C at home, you can use wireless internet to download MP3 music files, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Google maps with driving directions from your computer to the car. Which is nifty, no doubt about it. Dennis and his partners have already sunk £100 million on the venture, and they plan racing variants, as well as extending the model range down, to include a car to go head-to-head against the likes of the Porsche 911 and another model higher to compete against cars like Ferrari Enzos and Bugatti Veyrons. Best of luck with that, Ron. He has decided to launch a new, high end car brand during the worst recession since The Great Depression, and to also go up against people like Ferrari, Maserati, Audi, Aston Martin, Bentley, Porsche, Bugatti and even Ford. The MP4-12C is small two-seater, as any real sportscar should be. Out back there’s a high-revving V8 engine, and a seven-speed gearbox. The chassis is carbon fiber and it features “gullwing” doors that open upwards, not outwards. The design of the MP4-12C was done by Frank Stephenson. On the upcoming MP4-12C he says: “It has an iconic design, like the E-type Jaguar and, on all performance parameters and price, will be better than our competition.” Strong stuff, and who could disagree with him since he’s the same fellow responsible for the new Mini, Ferrari’s F430 and the new Fiat 500. Well one guy who is, is Gordon...

BMW’s EfficientDynamics programs is inspiring graphic artists around the world. Taking a different approach, Stefan Radev, introduces the Blue Dynamics Land Yacht, a conceptual design of a wind powered vehicle running on three wheels and a sail. Purely an exercise and not sponsored by BMW, the renderings show a premium version of a sail car/land yacht that combines the “distinctive style and emotional character” of a BMW with the “exclusiveness of a yacht, powered by an environmental force- wind”. The futuristic concept reminds of Richard Jenkin’s Greenbird project , the wind-powered vehicle that set a land-speed record of 126.1 miles per hour. It’s exciting to see that BMW’s latest technology have an influence on designers that focus on industrial fields other than cars and more important, it stimulates these talented designers to come up with interesting concepts. BMW “Blue Dynamics” land yacht description : The “Blue Dynamics” is a wind powered vehicle. It consists of three wheels and a sail. The challenge was to incorporate the style of a premium vehicle with the exclusiveness of a yacht, powered by an environmental force- wind. It is an interpretation of the idea through the eyes of a premium automobile brand like BMW, that has taken a path of creating environmentally- friendly cars, who carry a distinctive style and emotional character. The name “Blue Dynamics” combines a symbolic connection of the wind (air) and BMW’s “efficient dynamics”, “active hybrid” greener emission programs. The playground of “Blue Dynamics” is flat a open space like deserts or beaches with typical wind conditions . [Source: Autobloggreen ] Read the original: BMW Blue Dynamics Land Yacht

The near-series Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS electric car combines environment-friendly electric mobility in the city with unrestricted suitability for long-distance driving. This is made possible by the combination of the battery-electric drive with a combustion engine. The range extender gives the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS a total range of up to 600 kilometers, with 100 kilometers thereof solely under electric power and thus free of local emissions. Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. The BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS is part of a family of modularly constructed electric cars, which will enable Mercedes-Benz to meet all customer requirements for sustainable mobility in the future. In this variant of the concept vehicle, the electric motor of the purely battery-powered BlueZERO E-CELL is combined with an additional three-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. Putting out 50 kW, the compact combustion engine is installed in the area of the rear axle and can charge the battery while the car is being driven. The CO2 bonus for the battery-electric driving mode reduces the vehicle’s emissions to only 32 grams of CO2 per kilometre. The range extender enables the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS to drive for up to 600 km, of which up to 100 km can be driven in electric mode with zero local emissions. The long combined range makes the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS fully suitable for everyday use and assures that the customer will reach his or her destination even with a depleted battery. After all, the car can be refuelled quickly and easily at any normal filling station. Battery with superior lithium-ion technology During rapid charging with a charging capacity of 20 kW, the high-performance, 18 kWh lithium-ion battery of the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS can store enough power within around 30 minutes for a 50 kilometre cruising range. The complete electric range of 100 kilometres requires a charging time of somewhat more than an hour. Charging time with a standard charge cycle at a conventional household outlet with 3,3 kW is approximately 6 hours. Special on-board electronics support the intelligent charging stations and billing systems used by electric fuelling stations. Advantages of lithium-ion batteries compared to other battery technologies...

Daimler AG today reported sales for the Mercedes-Benz Cars division in the U.S. (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 18,734 units, a decline of 10.5% compared to August 2008. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted. Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported August sales of 17,112 vehicles. Although August volume was slightly off by 7.5 % versus August 2008, August sales were MBUSA’s strongest so far this year and marked the fourth month of increasing sales momentum. The volume leaders for the month were the E-, C-, and M-Class with sales of 4,671, 4,253, and 2,577 respectively. The all-new 9th generation 2010 E-Class continues to exhibit strong sales performance, topping August 2008 by 74.2%. Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it. On a year-to-date basis, the company sold 118,428 new vehicles, a decrease of 25.3 percent over the comparable period last year. smart USArecorded 1,622 sales in August 2009, an increase of 14.3% versus July 2009, and its best month since March of this year and second consecutive month over month sales increase. Since its introduction in the United States, there are now over 36,000 smart fortwos traveling the roads throughout America. The smart fortwo offers the right balance of power, outstanding fuel efficiency, innovative safety features, environmental friendliness and excellent value. Detailed vehicle sales information for MBUSA will be announced later today in a separate press release issued by Mercedes-Benz USA. Mercedes-Benz Cars Division in the U.S. Sales Summary Through August 2009 Month Sales % Sales CYTD % Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Mercedes-Benz USA 17,112 18,507 -7.5% 118,428 158,519 -25.3% smart USA 1,622 2,420 -33.0% 11,607 16,378 -29.1% Mercedes-Benz USA / smart USA combined 18,734 20,927 -10.5% 130,035 174,897 -25.7% Related Posts Mercedes-Benz USA sales drop by 11.8% in August Mercedes-Benz USA finally released sales number today for the month of August, and they aren’t ver… Mercedes-Benz Continues to Post Record Sales Stuttgart – Sales of Mercedes Car Group passenger vehicles rose by nine percent in August 2007 t… Mercedes-Benz USA sales fall more than 35% in January Mercedes-Benz today...

Source: DanicaPatrick.com Reports over the weekend suggest that Danica Patrica is considering a move to NASCAR under the guidance of Tony Stewart. The two-time Sprint Cup champion spoke to reporters at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Labor Day Classic, telling them, "I can pretty much guarantee at some point she's going to be over here." ESPN cites an unnamed source "very close to the situation," who says Patrick's future involvement with NASCAR is all but certain. However, Patrick apparently will not give up Indy car racing and, at least next year, will limit her involvement to the Nationwide Series and Trucks to build up familiarity with the cars. Juan Pablo Montoya, who hasn't had the easiest time in NASCAR since coming over from F1, has already gone on record with some friendly advice for Patrick. "(The cars are) so different to drive," Montoya said in an interview with the Associated Press. "It's not the same feeling. When you drive an open-wheel car on an oval, you have the grip, you turn the wheel and it turns, you get on it and it goes and you get on the brakes and it stops. "This (type of racing), it goes more with the momentum. You've got to give time to the car and you've got to get used to the feeling that you've got to go fast when the car doesn't feel right." Although Stewart says Patrick is looking for a fun, new challenge, no one seems to be laboring under the illusion that lucrative endorsement deals aren't part of the attraction for the 2009 SI Swimsuit Edition model . ESPN Sporting News Sports Illustrated Read more from the original source: Danica Patrick May Be Weighing a Move to NASCAR View original here:  Danica Patrick May Be Weighing a Move to NASCAR

The luck of our car rotation board has had me driving a variety of Ford vehicles for the past week, from one of their most modern designs to one roughly as old as dirt. It’s been an interesting experience, kind of like driving a Ford timeline and tracking how far the industry has come in the last 20 years or so. First up was the Fusion Hybrid , a family sedan so good it now ranks as our top-rated domestic model in the category. Refined, quiet, and comfortable with or without the hybrid, the Fusion is fully competitive with market leaders. The hybrid powertrain is one of the smoothest and most transparent I’ve driven, and it returned 38 mpg at 70 mph with four aboard on a recent highway trip. Next, I got the keys to the Mustang GT . While the newly freshened ‘Stang is more polished than last year’s model, it remains an unapologetic throwback to its 1960s roots – especially when compared with the Fusion. But the Mustang gets away with it, striking a nice balance between retro style and modern livability and safety. It’s also just unpretentious fun, and handily outscored the newer Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro in our testing. My week rounded out with the Ranger compact pickup, which has soldiered on with minimal changes since a decade before Chevrolet stopped building the Camaro in 2002. Inside and out, it looks and drives virtually the same as examples from the mid 1990s, including Fritz Kysar’s. Who is Fritz Kysar, you might ask? We featured his truck in a story two years ago about driving vehicles past the 200,000 mark . At the time, Fritz had put some 488,000 miles on his, and many other motorists reported crossing the 200k milestone with their Rangers. Looking at his well-used truck, the body panels and even the pinstripes are the same on our 2010 Ranger. Unfortunately, so is the stiff ride, noisy interior, and skitterish handling. True, Fritz managed to get a lot of miles out of his, and the simple, utilitarian design probably helped with that. But that doesn’t make it competitive today. Just simple. Like dirt. — Jim Travers Continued here: A tale of three Fords – Fusion hybrid, Mustang, and Ranger

At the Frankfurt Motor Show Brabus will introduce world’s fastest and most powerful luxury sedan called SV12 R Brabus. Based on the recently introduced facelifted Mercedes S600 it is powered by a BRABUS SV12 R Biturbo 750 twelve-cylinder engine with 750 hp and a peak torque of 1,350 Nm (995 lb-ft). This luxury sedan can leave plenty of sports cars in the dust as 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) takes just 4 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) comes in 11.9 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 340 km/h (211 mph).  Aerodynamic upgrades include new front apron, centrally located air duct that optimizes the cooling of engine and front brakes, new aluminum sport fenders, LED lights, rocker panels with entrance lights, rear spoiler lip and new rear apron.  All the power is kept under control with custom-tailored solutions for tires, brakes and suspension.   SV 12 R is fitted with the latest entertainment and communication technologies from notebook computers, internet, TV to supreme sound system.   Press release: The Fastest and Most Powerful Office on Wheels in the World BRABUS SV12 R with 750 hp (740 bhp) / 552 kW, 1,350 Nm (995 lb-ft) and 340 km/h (211 mph) With the business version of the BRABUS SV12 R BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com) presents the world’s fastest and most powerful luxury sedan. The high-performance automobile reaches a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph). It is built based on the latest Mercedes S 600 facelift model and is powered by a BRABUS SV12 R Biturbo 750 twelve-cylinder engine with 750 hp (740 bhp) / 552 kW and a peak torque of 1,350 Nm (995 lb-ft). The BRABUS SV12 R Biturbo 750 engine is a prime example for the old adage that nothing can replace displacement except more displacement. A special crankshaft with longer stroke, forged pistons with a larger diameter and an increased cylinder bore result in a displacement increase from standard 5.5 to now 6.3 liters (336 to 385 cu. in.). In addition the inlet and outlet ports of both cylinder heads are optimized for improved mixture flow. Four special camshafts also contribute to that same effect. The BRABUS engine specialists further equip the engine with larger turbochargers, a more efficient...

The new addition to the BMW group is revealing it self under some tough competitive glares at the Frankfurt Motor  Show . The BMW group has been working on to bring some of the greatest machines that they have ever had in recent times. The BMW M6 with its great interior and exterior has created a great design that is appealing. The powerful engine is smart and crisp. The exclusive design is paired with the great matte finish color. The special engraving is for the limited edition only. In fact a few lucky customers would be there to make way for the new limited pieces. The special floor mats, black or grey or dual toned stitching inside and the Merino full leather interior really makes way for the M6 Competition version . This M6 is all here to make the owner seem special. Credit: flickr Some of the finest technical tunings will bring about great suspension that provides about greater momentum and revised springs. The rear has been lowered in some mm in this current version. Source: autospies   View post: New BMW M6 at the Frankfurt Motor Show Read the original post:  New BMW M6 at the Frankfurt Motor Show

Now that you have seen all the photos and read the long press release it is time to see this luxury limousine in motion. Ghost is packed with all the latest luxury and safety features guaranteeing a very safe and pleasant ride whether you are on the drivers seat or back on the passenger seat. Originally posted here: Videos: Rolls-Royce Ghost interior and exterior views Read more from the original source: Videos: Rolls-Royce Ghost interior and exterior views

Rolls-Royce Ghost is here in its full glory! Visually unchanged from the 200EX concept it is meant to be more affordable and driver-oriented than the flagship Phantom. Its 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine produces 563 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to rear wheels via 8-speed, shift-by-wire automatic ZF gearbox. 0-100 km/h comes in 4.9 sec (0-60 mph in 4.7 sec). Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). Even though is has been also called Baby Rolls, it is far form being small. It is 5,399 mm( 212.6 in) long and weighs 2,435 kg (5.368 lbs.) UK Pricing will start from £165,000 (about $272,000 US/ €191,000) with sales starting end of the year. Sales in North America and Asia will begin in the second quarter of 2010. Ghost will make its public debut next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. For all the little details take a look at the extra long press release after the images. Press release: ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST INTRODUCTION Autumn 2006, Paris motor show: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that work had begun on a new model series. The new car would be in production and on sale by the turn of the decade. The only other facts confirmed at that stage were that it would be smaller than the Phantom saloon and priced somewhere between €200,000 and €300,000 before tax. Speculation about its style and specification began almost immediately… Little was seen of the new car, codenamed RR4, until the spring of 2008, when Rolls-Royce released the first official sketches. The styling was instantly recognisable as a Rolls-Royce, although less traditional than previous models. At the time Chief Designer, Ian Cameron, said, “The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense.” As sightings of secret development models on the road increased, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled 200EX, the experimental forerunner to Ghost, at the Geneva motor show in March 2009. An instant hit, 200EX bore the trademark Rolls-Royce design cues but in altogether more compelling fashion. It was a clear statement of intent. What...