We recently ran a news piece that covered the breaking headline that Chris Chapman has left BMW to work for Hyundai. This news clipping is important enough to mull over for a second time. I’ve long said that if I didn’t own a BMW, I’d own a Hyundai. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? It would have been crazy to make such a statement 10 years ago, but in 2012 Hyundai is looking good. I should elaborate on that statement by adding that if I gave up driving a BMW and was no longer interested in performance driving, track days and drifting, I would own a Hyundai. Basically, removing performance from the performance driving equation leaves you with simple driving, and that is an area where Hyundai is awfully good at providing maximum value. Hyundai now represents the reliable, good value option that the Japanese once represented with their late 80s, 90′s and early new-millennium offerings. Unfortunately, Toyota lost their way in a large way, not only losing their enviable reliability record (note the 14 million recalls since winter 2009) but also losing their honest design philosophy, and sporting edge of the past. To be fair, Toyota does have the FT-86 on the way – a brilliant new sports car for all that should right a few wrongs, but a single candle can’t light a factory. Honda has also lost their way, never putting a foot wrong in the area of reliability, but totally losing inspiration in design. Have you seen a recent Honda that excited you or made you want a test drive? The last car to get our juices flowing was the S2000, which has been discontinued. Honda’s Acura division also shut down production of the venerable if slightly underpowered NSX, leaving a bunch of out-dated mutts to tow the line of mediocrity. How sad. Hyundai on the other hand has been reaching for new heights without so much as a glance down at the competition from Japan. Their market share has been growing – doubling actually – over the last few years and they now find themselves sitting at around 5% of the US market share. That might not sound like much, but given their trajectory of sales growth, Hyundai are en route to make the big players nervous. What should make the competition even more nervous is the fact that with Hyundai’s...

Excuse the play on words – all joking aside, our jaws dropped at the news that MINI have dropped their top driver, Kris Meeke, apparently to shave money from the expense side of the balance sheet. What MINI evidently overlooked, however, is the significance of the talent behind the wheel. Millions are being spent on MINI’s World Rally Championship efforts – so shaving money from the most important performance factor beside (well, inside) the car makes no sense at all. Worse still, it’s rumored that MINI will be giving up Meeke’s seat to the highest bidder in an all too familiar “wimpy rich kid gets the drive” show down – or should we say ‘slow down.’ Look no further than Formula 1 to see how sluggish most rich-kid drivers have proven. Still not bad enough news for your tastes? It’s been said that this race seat will be sold to the highest bidder on a race-by-race basis! So on the unlikely chance that MINI finds a rich kid who actually has talent – it won’t matter much because there will be no consistency behind the wheel, he’ll likely be dispatched by the next illegitimate kid in a golden jump suit. MINI, we know you march to the beat of your own drum and like to do things differently, but this is the wrong kind of different. If you’re serious about your racing endevours, don’t play around with your drivers. Meeke is still under contract and it’s possible that he will remain at the helm for testing and development purposes. But with such limited seat time it would be far more difficult to positively influence the car. BMWBLOG is looking forward to the 2012 WRC season, but with some trepidation given the recent news. Now excuse me as I make a phone call to some wealthy relatives… [News source: AutoCar ] Original post:  MINI WRC Team Makes a MAJOR Mistake

This Duratec-powered Westfield takes on a course through Tripolis airport with 1950s Formula One-grade oversteer. Who needs Fangio when we’ve got this guy? More » Here is the original post: Greek Se7en does its time trials sideways [Video] More:  Greek Se7en does its time trials sideways [Video]

January: Most veterans of the car-launch circuit have been to southern Spain at least six- or seven-dozen times, mainly because German execs like to introduce new cars where they take their winter vacations. Part of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport drive was through open rolling country south of Seville, with an optional extension into the granite shark’s maw of the Baetic Cordillera peaks. The goat paths that serve as roads through these mountains vary from 1.1 to 1.4 Bugatti Veyrons wide. I skipped the mountains to search for wider, straighter roads to see what 200 mph felt like. It definitely burned a lasting memory. Those who went for the mountains felt that they had narrowly cheated death. Keep reading: Aaron Robinson: Cops, Ants, “Zins,” and “Cabs”—and Another Year Goes to Pot Continued here: Aaron Robinson: Cops, Ants, “Zins,” and “Cabs”—and Another Year Goes to Pot See more here: Aaron Robinson: Cops, Ants, “Zins,” and “Cabs”—and Another Year Goes to Pot

Although we work hard here at Jalopnik to bring you awesome stories every day it’s easy to get a little lost in the day-to-day sludge that is commoditized car news. But it wasn’t until I took a look through this week’s lists of top stories that I realized just how many great exclusives our team put together in 2011. More » See original here: The Top Ten Jalopnik Exclusives Of 2011 [2011] View original here: The Top Ten Jalopnik Exclusives Of 2011 [2011]

We were pretty impressed with the redesigned-for-2012 Hyundai Accent GLS sedan we tested. It proved to be a substantial improvement over the model it replaced. Now we bought a second Accent to test, this time a well-equipped SE hatchback with a manual transmission. Its $16,695 sticker price includes a lot of content-full power accessories, iPod control, keyless entry, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, even a trip computer. Other than the lack of an outside temperature display, this Accent really doesn’t want for anything. Several early logbook comments from our staff say that they could happily live with this inexpensive car. (That said, the roomier Hyundai Elantra GLS stickers at only $17,205 with a manual -and at that price, all you give up are the Accent SE’s alloy wheels.) Like several other Hyundais, the Accent SE claims 40 mpg on the highway. Hyundai’s come under fire in some quarters, particularly from Elantra owners, for having optimistic EPA fuel economy estimates. We’ll be curious to see how this Accent stacks up in our formal tests, but so far, it’s not too hard to eke over 40 mpg out of the car on the highway. The six-speed manual transmission certainly seems to help. The Accent shares its 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder with the funky Veloster sports car. Small stick-shift hatchbacks like these may be sold as gas-sippers, but they often provide cheap fun as an unexpected bonus. Cars like the Ford Fiesta SES and Honda Fit Sport hatchback that we’ve tested prove to be both practical and entertaining. We’ll see how this Accent SE compares when we fully test it. Here is the original post:  Just In: 2012 Hyundai Accent SE

If you purchased a 2012 Chevy Sonic you might want to check and see if the car’s brake pads are all there as GM now admits they may have shipped as many as 4,296 of them without them. Also, they’re not notifying anyone until mid-January. Happy New Year! More » Go here to read the rest: GM admits it maybe forgot to put brake pads on your Chevy Sonic [Chevy Sonic] Read more here:  GM admits it maybe forgot to put brake pads on your Chevy Sonic [Chevy Sonic]

Okay, here’s what we know: 1. Tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve. 2. You will probably be celebrating. 3. By “celebrating” we mean “boozing”. 4. Because you’re the clever sort of person who thinks ahead, you’ve already made plans to ditch your car or keep a designated driver on hand. 5. As a result, you have no need of drunk-driving apps (which… See the original post: 4 Apps For New Year’s Eve That Aren’t About Dodging DUIs

The biggest news about the 2012 Impala (besides it being 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart’s ride) is that it now has a modern 302-hp, 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. Other than that, we’ve found this relic of a car– the platform dates back to 1988–wanting. As you might imagine, acceleration and handling don’t quite match what Mr. Stewart experiences in his racecar. Zero to sixty times are definitely improved by the new engine, but the car is outpaced by numerous competing V6 and turbocharged four-cylinder family sedans with less horsepower. The pedestrian Impala’s handling is fairly clumsy with steering that has about as much feedback as a bored teenager. And too much engine noise makes its way into the cabin, further downgrading the driving experience. Cabin ambiance is fine as long as you’re content with low-rent-looking materials, flat and wide front seats, and less room inside than the car’s exterior suggests. And the driving position is compromised by the lack of a telescoping steering wheel – somewhat insulting for a $29,000 sedan. The good news? Well, the trunk is large. All-in-all, for the amount we spent on our Impala, most of us could think of a half-dozen other cars we’d rather have…even Chevrolet’s own less costly (and much more contemporary) Malibu is worth considering if you must have a GM-branded product. See our full road test and Ratings on the Chevrolet Impala . Originally posted here:  Test complete video: 2012 Chevrolet Impala

Most of us try to be good, courteous drivers, but somehow bad habits creep up, which can put ourselves and others in danger. Make 2012 the year you resolve to change your dangerous driving behaviors. You can even start today. The most important step to reducing vehicle fatalities is to start with the driver. Most roadway deaths are preventable by following a few simple rules. See some of our suggestions on how to be a safer driver in the New Year. I resolve to: Always buckle up. Seat belts save over 12,000 lives a year by protecting passengers from hitting hard vehicle surfaces or being ejected from the vehicle in a crash. Not use my cell phone behind the wheel. In 2010, over 3,000 people died in crashes related to using a cell phone or texting while driving. Put the phone down or pull over to use it. Never drink and drive or drive drowsy. Over 10,000 people die in drunk driving car crashes each year. If you plan on drinking, make sure you have a designated driver or hand over your keys. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians make up 12 percent of all motor vehicle deaths each year and bicyclists about 2 percent. Drivers need to be especially diligent around crosswalks and remember to look both ways for bikes even on one-way streets. Drive the speed limit. Speeding is a factor in about one-third of all fatal crashes. Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Studies show that the use of motorcycle helmets is 42 percent effective at preventing deaths and 69 percent effective at preventing head injuries. Model good behavior when driving children around. Children learn from their parents. Don’t show them bad habits. Always use a proper car seat. Children under age 8 should be secured in a proper car seat and all children under 12 should be in the back seat. See our car seat advice for the ages and weights of the various types of car seats available. Stop at red lights. Red light running killed 676 people and injured 113,000 in 2009 and most of those killed were occupants in other vehicles. Stop at red lights and slow down on yellow. Maintain your vehicle and tires. Performing regular tire checks and routine maintenance will help to ensure your vehicle will stay in optimal condition. We wish you safe travels in 2012. Related: Eight things that can dramatically...

Filed under: Latest News The new Low Emission Zone requirements come into effect on 3 January, making London a no-go area for many businesses with vans older than a Y plate. The Freight Transport Association is advising operators using vehicles over ten years old to avoid driving into London or they could end up having to pay a daily charge of £100 or a fine of £500. The heavy fines will have to be paid if older vans do not comply with Euro 3 standard emission laws. To comply, businesses can get a particulate filter fitted, but exorbitant costs may force some small businesses to reconsider their transport methods. A full filter can cost anywhere between £1800 to £3500 to buy for most vans and a further £200 and over to fit it the vehicle. The filter will then need to be serviced each year, which could cost up to £200. Natalie Chapman, FTA’s Head of Policy for London, said: “For tradespeople operating vans over ten years old the LEZ will be an entirely new consideration and, therefore, preparedness will be far lower. This is where our immediate concern lies.” Transport for London gives operators a couple of choices, from buying a newer van or fleet, to converting vehicles to gas. Although, this will be of little relief and a number of businesses will enter 2012 worrying how to afford the new addition to their overheads. To find out more about the Low Emission Zone, visit the TfL website .   The rest is here: Miserable New Year for businesses as older vans get forced out of London Here is the original post:  Miserable New Year for businesses as older vans get forced out of London

Looking more like an executive business jet’s cabin than a small earthbound van, Bulgarian tuner Vilner has taken an ordinary Mercdes Vito van and made it truly extraordinary. The understated exterior treatment hints at very little of the transformation wrought by Vilner to the interior of the van. From the outside, the van just sports aftermarket wheels and a subdued presence. Open the sliding door, step inside, and you are transported to a plush luxury interior that you wouldn’t be embarassed to accommodate any VIP or celebrity in. Four ultra-plush seats occupy the cabin, whose headliner and side trim are finished in matching-color Nappa leather, Alcantara and fine wood. Tinted windows isolate the occupants from the outside world, the better to enjoy the complete infotainment system featuring multispeaker audio and a 19-inch LCD. Helping the occupants keep their cool is an onboard mini ref. Of course, the front occupants of this Vito have not been forgotten, as they are cossetted in Mercedes CL seats. View post:  Vilner Showcases Vito’s Luxury Possibilities

Filed under: Latest News The latest report by the Institute of Advanced Motorists has found that almost 2 out of 3 young, inexperienced male drivers think they are more skilful than the average motorist. Despite novice drivers being calculated as the highest risk group on our roads and male drivers between 17-29 more than twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured as female drivers (according to DfT road casualty statistics), bravado and a lead right foot are still major issues when young men get behind the wheel. The road safety charity found that in contrast, only 32% of young women believe they are more skilled than other drivers. A staggering 30% of car occupant deaths are drivers aged 17-24, yet according to the DVLA, only eight percent of drivers in the UK fall into this age group. IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Young male drivers suffer from a lethal combination of overconfidence and inexperience. They don’t need curfews and other restrictions on their driving; they need to practice and gain driving experience safely. “There are many paying thousands of pounds a year in insurance and killing themselves. The solution to this problem is to link driver training and insurance discounts.” The IAM is calling for more young driver training through incentives such as lowering insurance premiums through more advanced driving tests.   See the rest here: Arrogant young drivers think they know best despite road casualty figures Original post: Arrogant young drivers think they know best despite road casualty figures

Filed under: Latest News A new electronically printed badge for disabled drivers will crack down on Blue badge fraud that costs the UK £46 million a year, Transport Minister Norman Baker said today. New measures will come into force on 1 January and will replace the handwritten card badges that are abused by thousands of motorists every day. From the New Year, disabled drivers will have to apply for a Blue badge electronically, similar to the current driving licence application. To halt fraudsters reproducing the new badges, each one will have security features including a unique hologram, a digital photo of the user and a serial number that can be easily identified by parking wardens to check that each badge is genuine. Norman Baker said: “Motorists who pretend to be disabled to get some free parking are frankly disgraceful. They prevent real Blue Badge holders from using parking bays designed for those genuinely in need and they cheat the vast majority of road users who play fair when they park their cars.” Under the current system, altered expiry dates and forgeries are rife. Friends and family of disabled badge holders often use their cars to park where they please, but, confident in the proposed changes Baker warned: “If anyone’s thinking of forging it, forget it.” The Department for Transport has also announced further changes to the Blue badge service, extending it to more disabled children under three years old and severely disabled Armed Forces personnel and veterans. Local Authorities will be given control of NHS spending on Blue badge assessments and independent assessments on eligibility will now become commonplace. Charity Disabled Motoring UK welcomes the new measures and Helen Dolphin, Director of Policy and Campaigns, said: “After years of campaigning for improvements to the Blue Badge Scheme, I’m delighted that changes that make the scheme fit for the 21st century have been introduced. “The new badge design will stop badges being so easily forged and new guidance to local authorities will make the issuing of badges fairer.”   Read the rest here: Blue badge fraudsters to be targeted in New Year Read the original post:  Blue badge fraudsters to be targeted in New Year

Our second annual Car of the Year Award is upon us, and this year we have an exciting – if slightly predictable pick. Every year BMWBLOG will consider every BMW Group car released for production during the calender year, forward nominations, and crown the one that best exemplifies the ethos and qualities of the brand. Last year we chose BMW’s 740i as the most pure and honest example of Bavarian design. An excerpt from last year’s award elaborates, “With legendary inline-six power onboard, the 740i offers the type of brand purity that personifies its roundel. Whereas the 12 and 8 cylinder models were mighty and powerful to drive, the 740i was “fun.” There is a special honesty, simplicity and character to this car that embodies the magic of the brand – and for that, the 740i becomes our 2010 Car of the Year.” Just as we did last year, we’ve given one vote to each of our staff Editors, and the car with the most votes takes the crown. You can read all of our Editor’s picks and rationale below before voting for your own pick among our finalists at the end of the article. To that end, we also have a 2011 BMWBLOG Reader’s Choice Award, which will air in a separate article once the voting period has concluded. Last year’s Reader’s Choice vote came down to the wire with a three-way tie! BMW’s 740i, 528i, and M3 ZCP (Competition package) shared a very narrow slice of the top step. You’ll note that this year’s winner was not chosen unanimously among our Editors, but our 2011 BMWBLOG Car of the Year nonetheless wins by a landslide. Hugo Becker Yes, it’s officially the 1 Series M Coupe, but who (other than BMW) has called the car that. Odd when the name of the car is longer than its wheelbase. And that’s just what makes the 1M so good. It is a short wheelbase car with plenty of go! We’re aware that this isn’t a from-the-foundation-up M. But it isn’t just badging and fluff, the 1M gets the ‘big boy’ suspension bits from the M3 and that transforms the car’s handling. The base 135i understeers when pushed, gets hinky under braking at high speeds, and flexes its butt under accelerative forces. The 1M’s suspension cures that. This is a rock solid...