Filed under: Latest News Taxi users in Oxford had better shut up or put up, as the city council plans to make sure every one of its cabs has a CCTV camera with audio recording equipment installed. The move, which will see every single conversation made in a licensed cab recorded, has sparked a furious response from pressure group Big Brother Watch (BBW), describing it as a “total disregard of civil liberties.” BBW says that the installation of CCTV with audio recording facilities is “in clear breach of the guidance issued by the Information Commissioners Office,” and questions its legality. In a post on its website, an angry BBW writes: “This is a staggering invasion of privacy, being done with no evidence, no consultation and a total disregard for civil liberties. “Big Brother now has big ears, and they are eavesdropping on your conversations with absolutely no justification.” And in a double whammy for public transport users in Oxford, it has also been found that Oxford Company Buses and a Stagecoach Oxford Tube bus already have audio recording equipment on board; most modern buses have CCTV cameras installed for personal safety reasons, but without audio recording capabilities. The crux of the issue is whether audio CCTV recording breaks the code of practice of the Information Commissioner’s Office – the independent body set up by Government and tasked with “uphold[ing] information rights in the public interest”. The code of practice states that “CCTV must not be used to record conversations between members of the public as this is highly intrusive and unlikely to be justified. You should choose a system without this facility if possible.” A code of practice is not a legal obligation, although BBW claims that “it remains to be seen if the Council even has the legal authority to do this”. However, an Oxford Council spokesperson said that “the risk of intrusion is acceptable compared to the public safety benefits,” and added that all recordings will be encrypted so that they’re only accessible to the police. “Oxford City Council is committed to ensuring the safety of those who live in, work in, and visit the city and through the implementation...

You thought the Chevrolet Sonic was small? Well, Chevy is about to get even smaller than that. The subcompact and minicar segment in the United States has seen an explosion of offerings and interest. The Spark minicar has been confirmed to come to the U.S for a while now, but just recently Chevy let loose details on WHEN it would be coming. Now, ahead of the Los Angeles International Auto Show, all the details have been announced. The Spark destined for U.S and Canadian markets gets some styling tweaks versus international models. It includes revised headlights, a bigger grille and reworked fascia, along with Sonic-esque rear taillights. The Spark is aimed at young buyers and customers in urban areas. Funky? Oh yes, but Chevy thinks that is central to its appeal. The Spark is powered by a 1.2-liter four-cylinder making 85 horsepower (or electric power, if you go for the Spark EV in 2013). Standard is a five-speed manual transmission, with an optional four-speed automatic. What color would you like? Salsa, Jalapeño, Denim, or more traditional colors like Grey Area, Black Granite, Silver Ice and Summit White? Inside, the car has an interior with body-color elements to add an element of style. A Sonic-like instrument cluster with digital readout continues Chevy’s motorcycle-themed small car look. Maybe they did some studies saying customers like motorcycle elements? Anyhow, we think its cool. Standard features on the Sonic are pretty impressive; air conditioning, power windows and 10 airbags. Optional is Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system, which is available on 1LT and 2LT models and is operated through a seven-inch touchscreen. That is definitely something we’d want to spring for, if we ever found ourselves driving one of these (chances are slim to none). The Spark goes on sale in the U.S and Canada in mid-2012. Pricing information is forthcoming. You can check out a gallery of Chevy’s smallest offering below. Related posts: Chevrolet Spark Coming Next Year, EV Announced for 2013 Chevrolet Announces Record Sales For First Half of Year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Booms into Detroit Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Original post: Chevrolet Reveals U.S-Bound Spark Minicar

The Los Angeles International Auto Show is this week, and it is set to host quite a few debuts. We’re under 48 hours from the start of the show, and it looks like good things are in store. From Ford, we’ve seen the updated 2013 Flex already, as well as teasers for updated Lincoln MKS and MKT models. Today, Ford has revealed a teaser image of its updated 2013 Mustang on Facebook. An updated Mustang? It doesn’t seem that long ago that Ford was releasing the 2010 model. Ford has done a good job of keeping the Mustang fresh through style and engine updates. With the Chevrolet Camaro surpassing it in sales though, keeping it competitive is a must. There isn’t anything fundamentally wrong with the Mustang formula (it has always been wildly successful), but the styling of the current car has been panned by some fans. Especially the rear taillights; most we’ve talked to prefer the 2005-2009 models rather than the current look. Look for the 2013 to fix some of this; but don’t expect huge changes. The 2013 is a freshening rather than a complete redesign. That means the platform and all the key structural points will stay the same. An updated headlights, taillights and interior are on the menu. As they say, the devil is in the details right? For instance, the interiors of Mustangs have tended to be a bit generic. Rich details from the original could be used in a modern way for the new model, much like Ford’s retro modern update to the 2013 Flex. For instance, the interiors of past Mustangs have tended to be a bit generic. That could be remedied for 2013; one of the details in the Facebook teaser picture is an updated instrument cluster. At Los Angeles, most of Ford’s introductions look like they will be updates to existing products. With a pretty fresh and critically well-received lineup, that could be just the ticket. Related posts: Ford Updates Flex For 2013 Ford Invites Web World to Make Your Own Mustang Ford Launches 2009 “Warriors in Pink” Mustang for Breast Cancer Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Continued here: Ford Teases 2013 Mustang; Attempts To Fend Off Chevrolet Camaro

The most cost-effective and boring plug-in. It’s all about cost effectiveness Today, a plug-in vehicle just doesn’t work for me. Unfortunately, I live in an old North East Los Angeles neighborhood where many old homes were built before cars were common. Consequently, many houses have garages built for buggies, if any garage at all. And if you don’t have a garage, you typically don’t have a driveway either. Thus, while I’m fortunate to have subway access — an LA rarity — I don’t have plug-in access. As a result, I’ve built my life around the subway, which I love. In fact, the more I take the subway the less I’m even interested in cars, but you still need one at times, and if I had access to plug-in charging, one plug-in stands above the crowd. Of course, that depends on your metric. For me it’s all about cost-effectiveness, followed by upfront price. I like to KISS. So my pick is easy: the Mitsubishi i. It’s the cheapest, most effective choice. It’s as simple as that. Sure, the i is also the most boring choice, but that’s another story. Others have different metrics. For instance, if money were no object — gosh how I wish that were the case — it’s a Tesla Model S. Plus, I’d also trick out a Ford Transit with a photovoltaic shell and a diesel plug-in hybrid drive that is biofuel friendly (Anybody want to fund such a conversion business? Give me a call). Unfortunately, the plug-in I really want isn’t yet available: The self-driving plug-in. But that’s a whole different conversation. Read more: Smooch, I mean KISS: The plug-in vehicle I’d buy today

This is the Danish Zenvo ST1 , sporting 1,104 horsepower and a $1.85 million price tag. Tomorrow we’ll be riding in it, but we caught up with the car and its production team in midtown Manhattan. More » See the original post here: The $1.8 million Zenvo ST1 has arrived in NYC [Zenvo St1] Read the original: The $1.8 million Zenvo ST1 has arrived in NYC [Zenvo St1]

The RAUH-Welt Begriff Porsches are highly polarizing automobiles. Either you think they’re air-cooled abortions for “nouveau-riche toolbags with a license to deface” or the work of a spiritual tuner genius. I’m in the latter camp, although this shade of green isn’t my ideal color. More » Read more: Your ridiculously cool RWB Porsche 911 is here [Car Porn] Read more from the original source: Your ridiculously cool RWB Porsche 911 is here [Car Porn]

We’ve seen some ’shops in our day… Considering GM’s lukewarm, condescending denial of the veracity of those C7 Corvette renderings we showed earlier today, someone had to respond with an equally lukewarm visual. And someone did. And we laughed. More » Read the original post: COTD: Nomad is an island edition [Commenter Of The Day] Go here to see the original: COTD: Nomad is an island edition [Commenter Of The Day]

Gasoline prices are down in most areas around the country compared to the week before . The national gasoline average is $.56 above the price this time last year. Diesel fuel is about $.80 above this time last year. Premium fuel is $3.7, up $.02 from last week. National regular gasoline prices Price Change from last week Regular gasoline/gallon $3.44 ↑ .01 Diesel fuel/gallon $3.99 ↑ .10 Regional regular gasoline prices East Coast $3.42 ↑ .01 —New England $3.50 — —Central Atlantic $3.45 — —Lower Atlantic $3.38 ↑ .02 Midwest $3.38 ↑ .04 Gulf Coast $3.23 ↑ .01 Rocky Mountain $3.46 ↓ .02 West Coast $3.76 ↓ .01 —California $3.84 ↓ .02 Source: Energy Information Administration, 11/14/11. Figures rounded to the nearest cent. See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline, including reports on how to get the best gas mileage and where to find the cheapest gas . Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels . Read the original here:  Average gas prices–November 14, 2011

With its Range Extender engine, Lotus Engineering is asking, “Why use a car engine in an EV?” The firm first showed off the powerplant in an Evora concept at the 2010 Geneva auto show and later announced it would produce the setup in partnership with Spanish automotive supplier Fagor Ederlan. The idea is simple: If maximizing efficiency is the goal, then the device spinning the generator should be optimized for the task. First-generation range-extended EVs like the Fisker Karma use off-the-shelf engines that were designed to directly drive a car’s wheels, not to turn a generator. In the case of the Karma, this task falls to a turbocharged four-cylinder making an impressive 260 hp and previously employed in the Pontiac Solstice GXP, among other cars. You can imagine that such an engine is not at its best when making electricity. So how would you design an engine for the express purpose of making electricity? Vertical orientation If you are Lotus Engineering, you keep it simple. Both the range extender’s intake and exhaust manifolds are integrated into the cylinder head, which reduces the number of parts. There is no variable valve timing, which adds weight, cost, and complexity. The generator housing is mounted directly to the block, which increases stiffness and reduces vibration. And the engine is optimized to run at low speeds, with a long, 95.5-mm stroke. The 1.3-liter inline-three’s final output figures (they’ve varied slightly throughout its development) are 51 or 74 hp, the latter with the addition of a supercharger. Both power peaks occur at 3500 rpm. Peak torque is 79 or 111 lb-ft, both at 2500 rpm. The generator in Lotus’s example (automakers could alternatively use their own unit) puts out 35 kilowatts with the naturally aspirated engine and 50 kilowatts with the supercharged unit. The numbers might not seem too impressive, but consider the size of the engine: just 20.1 inches long, 16.9 inches wide, and 24.0 inches tall with the generator attached. That’s about the size of two pieces of carry-on luggage, and it weighs between 112 and 128 pounds. Lotus also designed the engine to work on its side with only minimal design changes. In this configuration, it’s small enough to fit under a seat. Although we find that scenario unlikely—it...

Fire worries no reason not to buy a Volt. According to multiple preliminary reports The Chevy Volt has been associated with several fires, but the evidence suggests more and more that the Volt is not the problem. Yes, lithium-ion batteries in vehicles like the Volt are combustible, but so too are gasoline engines. And, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still investigating a Volt fire, a previous garage fire involving the Volt was not caused by the Volt. According to GreenCarReports, preliminary reports indicate the Volt was not the cause of this latest North Carolina garage fire . But, where there’s smoke there’s fire, right? And, after just 5,000 Volt sales, isn’t all this smoke a worrisome sign? Even the NHTSA fire — a fire that erupted 3 weeks after Volt crash testing — appears to be more a case of improper handling than truly dangerous technologies. For instance, if you crash a car and gasoline is probably leaking, do you take care of the leak or just hope nothing happens? Inevitably, handling damaged lithium-ion battery packs will require some different safety procedures, but that should be expected. Likewise, charging a plug-in at home requires some extra safety precautions — as does using an electric cloth’s dryer. New and emerging technologies always lead to some unexpected and, sometimes, unfortunate results, but industry learns and moves forward. Thus far, the most damaging problem for plug-in vehicles is not one of safety, but of costs. Read more from the original source: Possible Chevy Volt garage fire not due to the Volt

I’ve always believed that threats of termination are obviously the best form of confirmation that you’ve got the real deal when it leaks way early. Like what a user over at VWVortex claims happened when he posted a link to our exclusive 2014 Corvette / 2015 Corvette ZR1 renderings over on Facebook. More » See the rest here: Possible threats of termination are a sure-fire confirmation your Corvette images are real [2014 Corvette] See original here:  Possible threats of termination are a sure-fire confirmation your Corvette images are real [2014 Corvette]

Engineers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are taking a closer look at possible transmission issues with 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura. The federal safety agency says it has received an increasing number of consumer complaints where the car fails to shift into the proper gear or, worse still, fails to remain stopped when “Park” is selected. NHTSA first began investigating the transmission issues in 2007 Saturn Aura sedans last May. According to the NHTSA Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) and General Motors, the issue may involve the jacket covering the transmission shifter cable wearing out prematurely. Without proper protection, the metal wires inside the cable may deteriorate and prevent the transmission from shifting into the gear selected by the driver. The federal safety agency has received more than 100 reports of such transmission shifting failures; seven reports involved collisions. In one instance, an Aura rolled forward and struck a building after a driver believed the car was set in Park. In another similar incident, a driver was struck by an Aura moving in reverse even though the driver claims to have selected the Park gear. GM believes that the issue affects only 2007 Saturn Auras installed with four-speed transmissions. However, the administration’s Office of Defect Investigation says it expanding its probe to include 2008 model year Auras, including the Aura Hybrid. In all, some 89,000 Saturn Auras may be affected, should NHTSA’s ODI determine a recall is necessary. According to NHTSA, GM has noted that similar cable installations are used in other GM vehicles, namely the 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu and 2005-2008 Pontiac G6. GM is working with the NHTSA to determine the nature and extent of the possible issues. It also announced that the company will extend the warranty on 2007 and some 2008 Saturn Auras to include free repairs. ODI investigates 2007-2008 Saturn Aura transmission – Campaign ID #: EA11015 [NHTSA ODI] Safety Regulators Intensify Saturn Aura Investigation [Wall Street Journal] More: NHTSA looks into Saturn Aura transmission problems

The third non-championship race of the season, on a track where it’s impossible to overtake and where nobody has won a race except the current world champion? It was meant to be a yawnfest—but it was pretty exciting for the first two corners. Warning: spoilers. More » Go here to read the rest: The 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Crayola [Crayola F1] Read more here:  The 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Crayola [Crayola F1]

Almost a 1/4 of all car consumers ready to buy a Prius. Good intentions, little action Almost every American — 93 percent — supports higher fuel economy requirements and 81 percent are even willing to pay a premium for a more fuel efficient vehicle according a recent Consumer Reports study. Even better, 56 percent are ready to buy a hybrid or plug-in vehicle today. So, why are just 2 percent of consumers actually following through on their good intentions, at least in terms of hybrids and plug-ins? Amongst alternative vehicles, the Toyota Prius was the vehicle most cited by consumers ready to pay a premium for a hybrid or plug-in vehicle, at 41 percent. Shouldn’t that make the Prius the top selling car in the US, minimally? While Prius sales are respectable, other small cars are selling better than the Prius. Inevitably, consumers might be willing to pay a premium for better fuel economy, as long as that investment is recouped almost immediately. Or, they expect a tax subsidy in return for their good intentions. For years now, similar studies have suggested the same, yet hybrid cars still can’t top 3 percent sale’s penetration. Perhaps these polls are just so poorly constructed that their results are meaningless, or it appears that US consumers are hypocrites whom want to have good intentions, but are simply unable to act upon them. Source: NYTimes See the original post: Hypocrites: 1/4 of all car consumers ready to buy a Prius

If you’ve never been to a car show, you should really do yourself the favor. Between all the schmoozing, the swag, and the sneak-peeks, they’re a little slice of automotive paradise. In fact, the only thing that might improve on the experience would be merging the fun of a car show with, say, the deliciousness of a grilled cheese sandwich. Which… View original here: 2012 Nissan NV Brings A Little Taste To The Los Angeles Auto Show