A stretch of road in Columbus, OH coated with a liberal helping of cruel black ice is proving very effective at slinging trucks and SUVs wildly out of control. Watch as a local news team sat in one spot by the side of the road to record a slew of accidents. More » Read more: Watch Black Ice Send Cars Crashing [Video] Original post:  Watch Black Ice Send Cars Crashing [Video]

Graphics Interchange Format files — GIFs — are the equivalent of margin doodles on the Web, and like those adolescent scribbles they can be alternately hilarious, freakish, or small works of pure art. A car in motion is a perfect subject for a GIF, but sometimes this silent super-short movie format can be exploited to other ends. What’s your favorite automotive GIF? More » Here is the original: What’s The Best Automotive GIF? [Question Of The Day] Read the rest here: What’s The Best Automotive GIF? [Question Of The Day]

The Hamtramck assembly plant, home of the Chevy Volt. Image: © GM Corp. Despite Tim Allen’s insistence in a televised ad that the Chevy Volt was the car “America had to build,” it’s apparently not the car that Americans want to buy. Citing a need to maintain “proper inventory levels,” GM will temporarily suspend production of the Chevy Volt for five weeks, beginning on Monday, March 19. Workers on the Volt assembly line at GM’s Hamtramck, Michigan plant will be laid off until production resumes on April 23. As The Detroit News reports, this is the second production stoppage for the Volt in three months, and it comes on the heels of the December holiday shutdown that stretched until February. Chevrolet currently shows some 3,596 Volts in dealer inventory (including demonstrators), which represents over a 90 day supply based on February’s sales of 1,023 units. In 2011, GM sold roughly 7,700 Volts, less than the targeted 10,000 units. GM blames lagging sales on the “collateral damage” caused by seemingly endless negative publicity, including an investigation into post-crash battery fires that ultimately prompted a modification to the battery housing. While no consumer Volts have gone up in flames, the media hype regarding a single isolated fire (caused by a battery short-circuit, two weeks post-crash) planted doubt in the minds of consumers. That’s not the only battle GM needs to fight on the Volt, either. As Lacey Plache, chief economist at Edmunds.com points out, “The price premium on the Volt just doesn’t make economic sense for the average consumer.” On the other hand, if your daily commute is less than 30 miles roundtrip and you want the world’s first practical extended-range electric vehicle, Chevrolet would love to put you in a Volt today.   View original post here: GM Temporarily Halts Chevy Volt Production Original post:  GM Temporarily Halts Chevy Volt Production

Apple is once again proving they’re still the company Steve Jobs built. After years of saying “meh” to working with automakers on tighter integration of Apple products into automotive infotainment systems, there’s evidence Apple is now hiring people to build a system for them that’ll work with all their devices. More » Read more from the original source: Apple’s Hiring Automotive Engineers, Is An ‘iCar’ Infotainment System Coming? [ICar] More here:  Apple’s Hiring Automotive Engineers, Is An ‘iCar’ Infotainment System Coming? [ICar]

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 more from the original source: Mansory McLaren MP4-12C, Obama CAFE Numbers Investigated, And Chevy’s Weird Web Sitcom [Video] View original post here:  Mansory McLaren MP4-12C, Obama CAFE Numbers Investigated, And Chevy’s Weird Web Sitcom [Video]

Putting a modern engine in an older car can either time-warp its performance, or point out the glaring faults of its remaining antiquated architecture. Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe Datsun 510 has received Honda’s peaky F20C as its motivator, but should its price be even higher than its rev limit? More » Continued here: For $11,500, It’s A Datshonda! [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe] Read the original:  For $11,500, It’s A Datshonda! [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

Riding a wave of impressive redesigned models in the last few years, Subaru for the first time has earned the top score in Consumer Reports automaker report cards for 2012. Meanwhile, Honda, which had been the perennial winner for the past four years, slipped two points to fourth place among 13 major automakers, behind Mazda and Toyota. Subaru’s score of 75—two points higher than last year—reflects better test scores for such redesigned models as the Impreza , Legacy , and Outback over the last few years. The 2012 Impreza, which Consumer Reports just tested, now tops the small-sedan class and is the Consumer Reports Top Pick in that category. Subaru’s average road-test score of 82 is the highest in Consumer Reports analysis. Honda has been hurt by several redesigned models—including the Civic and Odyssey —that didn’t measure up to their predecessors. Honda models, however, are still among the most reliable on the road overall. Toyota remains among the top three automakers for the fifth straight year, buoyed by consistently above-average reliability and most vehicles have high test scores. “While Japanese automakers still hold the top five spots, their lead is shrinking. In some of Honda’s and Toyota’s recently redesigned models, cost-cutting has become more noticeable,” said David Champion, senior director, Consumer Reports Automotive Test Center. Among all automakers, Ford dropped the farthest, from fifth place last year to 10th. Ford’s road-test score improved by two points over last year’s, but subpar reliability of some new vehicles, due largely to the troublesome MyFord Touch infotainment system and Power-Shift automatic transmission, hurt its report-card grade. “GM and Chrysler are building nicer cars with each redesign. Still, their scores are dragged down by several older designs that score low in Consumer Reports testing or have reliability issues,” Champion said, “As more new products are introduced, their fortunes could change if they can improve their overall reliability.” Although Chrysler remains in last place, its overall score jumped eight points, making it the second most improved automaker. Consumer Reports automaker report cards reflect the...

Riding a wave of impressive redesigned models in the last few years, Subaru for the first time has earned the top score in Consumer Reports automaker report cards for 2012. Meanwhile, Honda, which had been the perennial winner for the past four years, slipped two points to fourth place among 13 major automakers, behind Mazda and Toyota. Subaru’s score of 75—two points higher than last year—reflects better test scores for such redesigned models as the Impreza , Legacy , and Outback over the last few years. The 2012 Impreza, which Consumer Reports just tested, now tops the small-sedan class and is the Consumer Reports Top Pick in that category. Subaru’s average road-test score of 82 is the highest in Consumer Reports analysis. Honda has been hurt by several redesigned models—including the Civic and Odyssey —that didn’t measure up to their predecessors. Honda models, however, are still among the most reliable on the road overall. Toyota remains among the top three automakers for the fifth straight year, buoyed by consistently above-average reliability and most vehicles have high test scores. “While Japanese automakers still hold the top five spots, their lead is shrinking. In some of Honda’s and Toyota’s recently redesigned models, cost-cutting has become more noticeable,” said David Champion, senior director, Consumer Reports Automotive Test Center. Among all automakers, Ford dropped the farthest, from fifth place last year to 10th. Ford’s road-test score improved by two points over last year’s, but subpar reliability of some new vehicles, due largely to the troublesome MyFord Touch infotainment system and Power-Shift automatic transmission, hurt its report-card grade. “GM and Chrysler are building nicer cars with each redesign. Still, their scores are dragged down by several older designs that score low in Consumer Reports testing or have reliability issues,” Champion said, “As more new products are introduced, their fortunes could change if they can improve their overall reliability.” Although Chrysler remains in last place, its overall score jumped eight points, making it the second most improved automaker. Consumer Reports automaker report cards reflect the...

As the competition grows stronger with each passing year, it has been increasingly difficult for a single automaker to dominate Consumer Reports’ annual Top Picks list. This year, Toyota is the first brand to earn half of the top 10 spots in nearly a decade. The redesigned Toyota Camry Hybrid and Highlander edged out the competition to become Top Picks in Consumer Reports’ Family Sedan and Family SUV categories, respectively. The Camry Hybrid delivers a surprising 38 mpg overall fuel economy—the best in class and as good as some smaller and less versatile hybrids. The two new Toyota additions join the incumbent Prius, RAV4, and Sienna as the best in their individual categories to secure the brand a starring role in this year’s list. The Toyota Prius was named CR’s Top Pick Green Car for the 11th time and the ninth consecutive year—both records claimed by no other model in the history of Consumer Reports’ Top Picks. “Every year the competition grows tighter; in recent years as many as nine different brands have taken the top spots. Combined with the improved Camry, Toyota’s ability to maintain a competitive lead among hybrids and SUVs is a big factor in its strong presence on this year’s list,” said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports’ automotive editor. The last time a single brand held such a grip on Consumer Reports’ Top Picks was Honda in 2003. Historically a strong performing brand, this year there are no Honda models on the list for the second time in three years. The Top Picks by category: Family sedan: Toyota Camry Hybrid ($29,052). Sporty car: Ford Mustang ($28,880 to $43,880). Small SUV: Toyota RAV4 ($24,405 to $30,328). Affordable family sedan: Hyundai Sonata ($21,800). Family hauler: Toyota Sienna V6 ($35,810). Sports sedan: Infiniti G ($34,225 to $37,225). Green car: Toyota Prius ($26,750 to $28,217). Small car: Subaru Impreza ($21,345). Pickup truck: Chevrolet Avalanche ($47,435). Family SUV: Toyota Highlander ($38,578 to $47,255). Consumer Reports’ Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories, chosen from more than 275 vehicles the organization has recently tested. Top Pick models must meet CR’s stringent criteria in three areas: road test, reliability,...

Filed under: Latest News An image purporting to be next year’s Ferrari 599 supercar replacement, with the rumoured name F620 GT, has leaked onto the automotive blotting paper that is the internet. The picture of the stunning new Ferrari, which first appeared on website GTSpirit , appears legitimate, showing a car with more than a hint of 458 Italia but the pronounced bonnet characteristic of today’s 599 . Ferrari has extremely secretive about the new car (though not quite enough to prevent someone getting close to one with a smartphone), but reports suggest it will pack up to 740bhp from a tuned version of 6.3-litre V12 engine found in the Ferrari FF . It will become the most powerful production road model Ferrari has ever made. The 6.3-litre V12 unit develops 650bhp in the FF, while today’s 599 has a 6.0-litre twelve-cylinder with 612bhp. With 700bhp-plus being mooted for the new F620, it’s likely to hit 62mph in three seconds flat, and it’s more a case of how far over 200mph it can go rather than whether it actually will. Due to be officially unveiled tomorrow, the car will face-off with the new Lamborghini Aventador , and we can expect a significant price hike over the £212,000 that a new 599 GTB Fiorano costs today; the 700bhp Lambo costs £242,000. Ferrari will confirm the major engine stats tomorrow, as well as revealing some of the technology involved in making the F620, perhaps, the most advanced supercar ever made.   Read more:  Ferrari’s most powerful road car ever leaks out See the original post:  Ferrari’s most powerful road car ever leaks out

Pininfarina, the Italian design house responsible for such classics as the Ferrari 250 GT, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, and the Cadillac Allanté, has released photos of its new “elegant and refined sports sedan” concept, the Cambiano, ahead of the 2012 Geneva auto show . The concept is named after the town where the firm is based, and where it opened its Styling Center 30 years ago. (Whether the indebted company will exist to celebrate further anniversaries, at least under family ownership, remains uncertain .) Lancia Florida II Press information isn’t available yet, but a report from Automotive News (subscription required) pegs the car as a plug-in extended-range hybrid that incorporates four 80-hp in-wheel electric motors and a diesel turbine (!) engine. The turbine is the range-extender, recharging the batteries when they are depleted; it also will feed power directly to the electric motors if there’s no juice on tap. Thus equipped, the Cambiano supposedly can reach 62 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph; short bursts up to 171 mph are also claimed to be possible. The car is said to have a total range of close to 500 miles, including almost 130 miles in pure electric mode. Actual performance and range likely are limited to just enough to get it on the show stand under its own power. Pininfarina refers to the concept as a sports sedan, despite it not featuring four doors: There is one large door on the driver’s side and two smaller doors on the passenger side, the rear one opening suicide-style. The interior is as cleanly designed as the exterior, and features a wood floor and stitching-free upholstery. In the Automotive News report, Pininfarina says the Cambiano is inspired by the 1957 Lancia Florida II (pictured above). Stay tuned for more details and photos live from Geneva. Original post: Pininfarina Cambiano Sports-Sedan Concept Revealed [Geneva Auto Show] See the original post here: Pininfarina Cambiano Sports-Sedan Concept Revealed [Geneva Auto Show]

Automaking is a game of constant progress. With precious few exceptions , car companies are always looking for the next step forward. Sometimes a few steps get taken together and a serious technical masterpiece arrives. What are the most advanced cars — by decade — in automotive history? More » Excerpt from: What Was The Most Advanced Car For Its Decade? [Question Of The Day] Continued here:  What Was The Most Advanced Car For Its Decade? [Question Of The Day]

Automaking is a game of constant progress. With precious few exceptions , car companies are always looking for the next step forward. Sometimes a few steps get taken together and a serious technical masterpiece arrives. What are the most advanced cars — by decade — in automotive history? More » Excerpt from: What Was The Most Advanced Car For Its Decade? [Question Of The Day] Go here to read the rest: What Was The Most Advanced Car For Its Decade? [Question Of The Day]

It’s one thing to have a car evolve into a special product, but sometimes a car comes out of nowhere and sets everyone back on their heels. These are Jalopnik readers’ choices for ten of history’s biggest automotive surprises. More » The rest is here: Ten Cars That Were Giant Surprises [Answers Of The Day] Read more from the original source: Ten Cars That Were Giant Surprises [Answers Of The Day]

It’s one thing to have a car evolve into a special product, but sometimes a car comes out of nowhere and sets everyone back on their heels. These are Jalopnik readers’ choices for ten of history’s biggest automotive surprises. More » The rest is here: Ten Cars That Were Giant Surprises [Answers Of The Day] Continued here:  Ten Cars That Were Giant Surprises [Answers Of The Day]