On Friday of last week, struggling Swedish automaker Saab signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese partners Pang Da and Youngman. The MOU essentially sells Saab to its Chinese partners for the bargain-basement price of $142 million. That investment, however, is only the first step on what will be a long journey back to health for Saab… Original post: Saab Starts A New Chapter, But How Long Will It Be?

BMW has issued a recall for 5-Series, 7-Series, X5, and X6 vehicles from the 2008 – 2011 model years. Some of those vehicles may suffer from a faulty water pump circuit board, which could result in a fire. Specifically, the BMW recall affects vehicles with 8-cylinder or 12-cylinder turbocharged engines. According to a bulletin from the National… View post: 2008-2011 BMW 5-Series, 7-Series, X5, And X6 Recalled For Fire Hazard

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. Image: Chrysler Group LLC Living on this side of the Atlantic, the name Abarth isn’t exactly well known. In Europe, however, Abarth is widely recognized as the in-house tuner for Fiat, similar to what AMG is to Mercedes or NISMO is to Nissan. Abarth earned a reputation by tuning and racing cars in the 1960s and 1970s, and despite the diminutive size of the cars built, they proved more than capable of beating larger, more powerful rivals around tight European road courses. We’ve known for a while that Fiat would bring an Abarth-tuned version of the Fiat 500 into the U.S. market, but here are the very first images of a U.S. spec car. The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth will make its official debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, so Fiat hasn’t released any specific details on the car’s output. We know it will use a tuned version of Fiat’s 1.4-liter Multi-Air Turbo engine, and we know the Fiat 500 Abarth makes 133 horsepower in Euro trim. That’s good enough for a zero to sixty time of under 8 seconds, or roughly two and a half seconds quicker than the base Fiat 500. The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. Image: Chrysler Group LLC Still, worrying about a zero to sixty time on a car like the Fiat 500 Abarth misses the point entirely. There will always be faster cars in a straight line, but the strength of Abarth models has always been more about how the car works as an overall package. Like Mazda’s MX-5 Miata, going fast in an Fiat 500 Abarth is all about preserving momentum, and I suspect that the Mini Cooper will soon have a serious challenger to the title of best handling front-wheel-drive car.   Read more: The 2012 Fiat Abarth: Worth Waiting For View original post here: The 2012 Fiat Abarth: Worth Waiting For

This is the Morning Shift , our one-stop daily roundup of all the auto news that’s actually important — all in one place at 9:00 AM. Or, you could spend all day waiting for other sites to parcel it out to you one story at a time. Isn’t your time more important? More » Read the original post: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth, 2012 Mini Roadster, and Honda knows the Civic blows [The Morning Shift] Go here to read the rest: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth, 2012 Mini Roadster, and Honda knows the Civic blows [The Morning Shift]

The Basics: Lift the powertrain from the shattering Corvette ZR1 and wedge it neatly into Cadillac’s CTS, and what do you get? If you’re like us, you get a huge, goofy grin and a stupendously quick, sharp version of the best small Caddy ever, in either coupe, sedan or wagon form. Cadillac’s “V” formula is like the M, AMG, S and RS treatment… Originally posted here:  2012 Cadillac CTS-V

The Basics: The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling full-size pickup line for more than three decades, and big improvements in the past three years have kept it at the top of its class for towing, gas mileage, and luxury and technology features. It’s still true for the 2012 model year, with some more minor changes that maintain its place near the… See the original post here:  2012 Ford F-150

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat is a common demand heard from pirates, hobos, or this season’s political candidate de jure, this being Halloween. Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe Buick Roadmaster has a 6-speed conversion that’s pretty trick, and which should make driving it a treat, but is its price a little too scary? More » Read the original post: For $3,000, go as the Roadmaster this Halloween [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe] Go here to read the rest: For $3,000, go as the Roadmaster this Halloween [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

It is with heavy hearts that we reflect back on the last few weeks of motorsport. First the death of Dan Wheldon who passed in a fiery Indy crash, then the death of Marco Simoncelli who passed after low-siding his MotoGP bike through a corner, subsequently being hit by fellow riders. Neither of these tragedies are part of the intended spectacle, and yet, in a world of speed and wailing motors, tragedy sometimes strikes. How do we reconcile our love of motorsport with the inherent risk it presents? How do we best remember these two racers, taken from us far too soon? First of all, it is important to remember that when tragedy befalls motorsport – or any of us at any time – time truly stands still. Nothing else matters, but the welfare of the casualty, and suddenly we are all transported from the realm of entertainment back to reality. What matters most in life, is friends, family, and love. Surely the friends and family of Wheldon and Simoncelli are deeply morning the loss of their respective loved ones, and we would do well to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. It’s been said that success in motorsport is 90% mental. That’s not to undermine the enormous physical demands of top class motorsport – but the case in point is this: racers are highly disciplined masters of control. In my limited experience behind the wheel, I most love the place that racing takes you. Your goal is fixed firmly in mind. Your body becomes loose and relaxed. Your pulse first quickens, then slows. Your periphery blurs and the landscape flies past. You’re in, “the zone.” Once you’re in the zone and you’ve found a rhythm, the laps melt away. You feel freer than you’ve ever felt, and the stress and demands of life are far from you. The zone is a happy place. The immense satisfaction found in pushing for tenths of a second is not unique to any discipline of motorsport – it is shared by all drivers and riders around the globe. Surely Dan and Marco passed doing what they loved the most – what sets them free. Another observation we can make of racers is of their relentless drive to improve. A racer’s toughest critic is himself, or herself. No coach or team principal could ever convey the passion and ambition...

Filed under: Latest News VW have certainly upset Suzuki’s apple cart with the latest development in the spat between the two automotive giants , seeing VW demote Suzuki from its “associate” list. The Japanese firm now officially appears under VW’s “other holdings”. Although it sounds pretty trivial, the move is actually pretty significant and could see the agreement collapse completely, acting as a marker that starts the sparks flying between both companies. The original agreement between the Japanese and German automotive titans saw the two firms swapping new technologies with VW donating its super-efficient engine and powertrain know-how for Suzuki’s expertise in making small cars. But according to Suzuki, VW broke the terms of the deal by being selfish with its technology and now the Japanese giant wants all of its 19.9% stake back after VW fanned the flames in its annual report stating that it could “significantly influence financial and operating policy decisions” at Suzuki. In typical management speak VW added, “the opportunity to exert notable influence upon Suzuki is, for the time being, no longer available,” before moving Suzuki into its “other holdings” list. So with handbags (or should that be glove boxes?) at 10 paces between the two automotive firms who are not doing anything to reconcile relations, the outcome looks set to be a brutal fight. VW has dismissed Suzuki’s accusations that it violated the agreement by not sharing technology and is resolutely digging its solid German heels into the ground claiming it won’t give Suzuki its shares back. There aren’t many toys left in the proverbial prams of either party and with the predicament looking like it could boil over at any minute since Suzuki served VW with a legal ‘notice of breach’ after attempting to smooth over the relationship, prepare for the bloody legal battle to begin.   See original here: Suzuki no longer an "associate" of VW – deal turns sour again View original post here:  Suzuki no longer an "associate" of VW – deal turns sour again

Filed under: Humour Everyone likes a good car chase, whether it’s a more subtle follow-the-bad-guy type or an action packed fireball extravaganza and cars have been the bedrock to some of the most memorable moments in cinema history. So, it was probably more a case of when, rather than if, the Top Gear boys would stamp their own mark on these antics. And in good time for the Christmas market, Clarkson, Hammond and May have teamed up to produce a DVD recreating some of the most thrilling races, stunts and awesome feats from iconic movies of the past. In their usual unreserved style, the three amigos have tried their collective hands at the chase from the French Connection – which sees Hammond racing a jet-pack equipped man in a Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car – auditions for the best ‘goodie’ and ‘baddie’ cars a la Steve McQueen’s Bullit and Q-branch Bond-style attempts to make a Range Rover bullet proof and weaponised as well an ingenious solution to make the car invisible. Finally, the trio attempt an all out Bourne Identity-style chase featuring a Porsche Cayman R and a BMW 1-series M hounded by an army of menacing and villainous vehicles, including a 15-tonne tank stuffed to the gunnels with ammo, a pack of baying Motocross bikes, a military grade Wildcat and even a helicopter for good measure. The Top Gear guys don’t exactly do things by half, so as per usual, expect uncontrollable mayhem to ensue. We won’t spoil the surprise for you too much but we can tell you the DVD is packed with supercar royalty – with an Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Eagle E-type Speedster, Porsche GT3 RS and a Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante among the auditionees, there’ll certainly be a good soundtrack to go with the movie. Check out the trailer below.   Go here to see the original: Video: Top Gear at the movies Go here to see the original:  Video: Top Gear at the movies

The online edition of Top Gear published their review of the all-new BMW 1 Series. The entry-level BMW launched back in September and due to its controversial exterior design, it has received mixed reviews. Let’s have a look at an excerpt from Top Gear’s review, and we already look forward to a full video review by Jeremy Clarkson. “Time to hit the road. BMW’s smallest car now has a cabin that’s on a par with its much bigger, pricier siblings. It’s almost a decade since iDrive appeared in its brave but misfiring v1.0 incarnation, and, for my money, BMW’s current multi-media system is easily the most elegant and user-friendly of the lot. Hard drive-based navigation and 12-speaker Harman/Kardon hi-fi with DAB and a digital amplifier are all brilliant if pricey options, but even a parched 1-Series is a handsome place to be. Good materials, great driving position and some decent design flourishes. I love the interior doorhandles, and the cup-holder recesses in the base of the doors are cleverly designed and spacious. Here, at least, it kicks a Golf or A3 into touch. It gets better. As with the previous 1, this might be a small BMW, but the bits underneath are very grown-up. The suspension is independent all-round, with MacPherson struts on the front and a sophisticated five-link axle at the rear. The front axle is mostly aluminium, which reduces unsprung mass, and the suspension’s kinematics have all been sharpened. You can tell immediately. A veteran of numerous ruinously run-flat-clad BMWs, I actually got out after 10 minutes to double-check that TG’s test car was actually on them and that my arse wasn’t lying to me. It’s still firm enough, don’t get me wrong, but it filters out the worst that the UK’s beaten roads can chuck at it while maintaining a decent entertainment focus.” Full review at Top Gear View original post here:  Top Gear likes the new BMW 1 Series

The online edition of Top Gear published their review of the all-new BMW 1 Series. The entry-level BMW launched back in September and due to its controversial exterior design, it has received mixed reviews. Let’s have a look at an excerpt from Top Gear’s review, and we already look forward to a full video review by Jeremy Clarkson. “Time to hit the road. BMW’s smallest car now has a cabin that’s on a par with its much bigger, pricier siblings. It’s almost a decade since iDrive appeared in its brave but misfiring v1.0 incarnation, and, for my money, BMW’s current multi-media system is easily the most elegant and user-friendly of the lot. Hard drive-based navigation and 12-speaker Harman/Kardon hi-fi with DAB and a digital amplifier are all brilliant if pricey options, but even a parched 1-Series is a handsome place to be. Good materials, great driving position and some decent design flourishes. I love the interior doorhandles, and the cup-holder recesses in the base of the doors are cleverly designed and spacious. Here, at least, it kicks a Golf or A3 into touch. It gets better. As with the previous 1, this might be a small BMW, but the bits underneath are very grown-up. The suspension is independent all-round, with MacPherson struts on the front and a sophisticated five-link axle at the rear. The front axle is mostly aluminium, which reduces unsprung mass, and the suspension’s kinematics have all been sharpened. You can tell immediately. A veteran of numerous ruinously run-flat-clad BMWs, I actually got out after 10 minutes to double-check that TG’s test car was actually on them and that my arse wasn’t lying to me. It’s still firm enough, don’t get me wrong, but it filters out the worst that the UK’s beaten roads can chuck at it while maintaining a decent entertainment focus.” Full review at Top Gear See original here:  Top Gear likes the new BMW 1 Series

BMW announces a recall of 32,000 vehicles to replace potentially faulty electric auxiliary water pumps that can overheat and cause a vehicle fire. The Munich-based automaker says the recall applies to 2008-2011 5 Series, 5 Series Gran Turismo, 7 Series, X5 and X6 models that have 8 or 12-cylinder turbocharged engines. BMW found at least 102 cases of pump failures worldwide, including two engine-compartment fires which drew the recall process. For Detroit News, BMW said it is unaware of any crashes or injuries as a result of the condition. The auxiliary pump helps cool the turbocharger during some driving conditions and in some cases can fail, causing the circuit board to overheat potentially leading to a fire. BMW said in most cases drivers will be alerted by a warning message on the instrumental cluster during driving. BMW first discovered the issue in June 2009 on test vehicles. In April 2010, a smoldered electrical cable of the water pump was found on a BMW-owned vehicle. Dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump and BMW owners will be notified starting next month. [Source: DetNews ] See original here:  BMW recalling 32,000 vehicles over engine fire risks

BMW announces a recall of 32,000 vehicles to replace potentially faulty electric auxiliary water pumps that can overheat and cause a vehicle fire. The Munich-based automaker says the recall applies to 2008-2011 5 Series, 5 Series Gran Turismo, 7 Series, X5 and X6 models that have 8 or 12-cylinder turbocharged engines. BMW found at least 102 cases of pump failures worldwide, including two engine-compartment fires which drew the recall process. For Detroit News, BMW said it is unaware of any crashes or injuries as a result of the condition. The auxiliary pump helps cool the turbocharger during some driving conditions and in some cases can fail, causing the circuit board to overheat potentially leading to a fire. BMW said in most cases drivers will be alerted by a warning message on the instrumental cluster during driving. BMW first discovered the issue in June 2009 on test vehicles. In April 2010, a smoldered electrical cable of the water pump was found on a BMW-owned vehicle. Dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump and BMW owners will be notified starting next month. [Source: DetNews ] Original post: BMW recalling 32,000 vehicles over engine fire risks

Filed under: Formula One A point of interest throughout the Indian grand prix weekend was Ferrari’s “fluttering” front wing. It is believed the Italian team, with a firm eye on 2012, is publicly experimenting with the sort of legal wing flexibility that is being mysteriously achieved by Red Bull. At high speed at the Buddh circuit, a prototype version on Felipe Massa’s car was often seen wildly oscillating; a phenomenon referred to in the aviation industry as “flutter”. “It does seem a bit exciting,” chuckled Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn after seeing the television images. Given Ferrari’s good pace in India, some observers wondered if the wing movement might even be intentional. Ferrari chief Stefano Domenicali played down that possibility. “We will analyse the data now to see what causes this fluttering,” he is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport. An amused onlooker this weekend was Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s revered designer. “I don’t think Ferrari had this effect in mind,” he said. “Somehow it doesn’t look quite right. But if we are being used as a model, we take it as a compliment.”   View original post here: Ferrari to analyse front wing fluttering The rest is here: Ferrari to analyse front wing fluttering