2009 Seat Bolero: Spanish Firm Unveils Details On Its Audi A4 Sized Sedan

Once upon a time, VW Group wanted to transform Seat, whom it had acquired (or rather saved) from Fiat, to a Spanish “Alfa Romeo”. Then all of a sudden we saw Seat presenting models like the Toledo, the Altea XL and recently, the Freetrack... Well, looks like VW’s white-collar workers have learned their lessons. Along with the announcement that they’ll present an all new C/D segment model available in sedan and station-wagon bodies in 2009, Seat also released a set of sketches featuring the sedan version. And yes, it has nothing to do with the abomination called Toledo.

Most probably based on the same, Audi A3/VW Golf/Seat Leon stretched platform that the VW Passat uses, the Toledo’s successor is rumored to be named Bolero. Judging from other VW models, the Bolero will probably get the Group’s latest 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TFSI engines. According to Seat, it will be built at the Martorell plant with the market launch planned for 2009. -Follow the jump for pics an the press release

PROGRESSES IN IMPROVEMENT PLAN FAVOUR DECISION

SEAT to produce two new C/D-segment models in Martorell

The Spanish car maker SEAT, S.A. will manufacture two new C/D-segment models at its plant in Martorell. This was announced today by SEAT chairman Erich Schmitt, during a meeting with several media representatives at the SEAT headquarters. In the future, SEAT will have two versions: a saloon and an estate car.

The decision to produce these models in Martorell, whose market launch is planned for 2009, contributes to considerably improve the capacity utilization of the Spanish plant. This announcement is the first made by SEAT since the dissolution of the brand groups and supports the progress of the Improvement Plan that was set in motion at the beginning of 2007 and whose most important objectives have been met by now.

Erich Schmitt said: “The assignment of the two new C/D-segment models to the plant in Martorell is an historic step for SEAT. By these means, we enlarge our current product range, which does not only give our clients the possibility to grow with the brand, but also enables us to increase the profitability of our dealer network thanks to the availability of these new models.”

Technorati: Seat, Toledo, Bolero, cars, Carscoop

Porn Star Claims Highway Trooper Ignored Drugs In Exchange For An Oral Favor...

This story has it all; porn star, drugs, sex, cops, video tapes and… blogs! The incident allegedly took place on May 7 in Wilson County near Highway 840 and Interstate 40 when a Tennessee Highway Trooper named James Randy Moss stopped porn-star Barbie Cummings (…) aka Justis Richert –yeah, we prefer the alias too, for a speeding ticket. He found drugs in her car and decided –always according to Barbie, to let her off if she “orally” pleased him. Which she did… Moss is on paid leave now until the situation clears up.

According to Barbie’s story, after stopping her, the Trooper asked her whether or not she had illegal drugs in her car. The 21-year-old porn star admitted of having “happy-pills” and the officer told her that a drug charge would mean she could not leave the state. Cummings replied that would be a problem because she frequently travels from Tennessee to L.A. for her work at which point she “blew” her job description. The trooper then pulled up her website in his patrol car and well, lets put it this way, asked for an oral favour –you catch our dirty drift.

Barbie says she has photos and video footage of the encounter sent to her by the trooper along with a speeding ticket. Allegedly, Barbie had put up the photos and video on her blog but the latter was taken down due to maintenance reasons. -Follow the jump to read what Barbie wrote on her blog

Via: Wate

Here’s what Barbie wrote on her blog. The content, where it was sexually explicit, was edited by 6 News

This event is almost unbelievable, but I haven't lied about anything so far, so believe what you want. (I do have pictures to prove this).

I was at my aunt's house yesterday, about two and a half hours away in another part of Tennessee. (I want to be light with words, don't want anyone to lose their job)

I headed home late at night, almost early in the morning. I had to get home cause my puppies were home alone.

I was on the phone with Billy when I seen blue lights behind me. Ugh... not again.

Well, I had been drinking, wasn't drunk by any means, but had been drinking some. He put his light in my car and seen some liquor I had in the back seat, which I had forgotten about. oops

So, I answer all of his questions.

"Do you have any weapons, such as guns, knives, etc?" "Do you have any illegal drugs in the car?" "Do you have any drug paraphernalia in the car?"

Well, I am standing outside of my car and answer yes to a few of these questions and no to a few others.

I had some "narcotics" in the car, or as I refer to them in other blogs, some "happy pills."

I sometimes have these pills as I may take one or two before going to a club, and thats it. I have no addiction and use these more so, recreationally.

However, they are a "level 4 is the term I think he used. Crack is a 2, Marijuana is a 6... He starts talking about the minimum punishment for this offense. It was an 11-29 with 30%, which means they sentence you to 11 months and 29 days in jail and you have to serve a minimum of 30%. Then he said I would be on six months of monitored probation, which means the likely hood of them allowing me to go to California, would probably be very minimal, if at all.

Thats when we start chatting about my trips to Los Angeles...

You all know where this is going?

I tell him I make dirty movies. He says he wished he had gotten into that industry.

I want to mind you all that I have been arrested many times before and was trying my hardest to be respectful, that always used to help.

So, I am answering the questions he is asking me about (**expletive deleted**), with "Yes sir" and "No sir."

He kept saying to me, and now I understand why, "are you sure you aren't hiding anything on your persons?" He asked me that about ten times, and I just thought it was routine. Well, now I understand what he wanted me to do.

So, he asks me about what I do. I tell him internet and movies. He asks me one of the sites, I tell him to go to my blog (this one). He then proceeds to open his lap top in his car. (I mind you, at this point I am sitting in the front seat of his car with him)

He brings up my blog and we watch two of my video clips. I don't even know what to do at this point, I thought I was going to jail.

He says to me, while staring at the screen, (**expletive deleted**)

Oh dear...

Now, I understand.

So, he gets out of the car with the narcotics in hand and walks around to the side I am sitting in. He asks me if I would stand up and walk in front of the car, and told me I look even more beautiful in person. I smile.

He takes the hand full of pills and scatters them in the brush next to the interstate. Then he asks me, what does it cost for someone like me to get anything like you.

I said to him, "If you weren't working..."

and he said, "don't worry about me working!"

I said, "Okay, right now?"

He asks me to follow him to some desolate place he knew about, I did.

I get out of my car, walk to his car and (**expletive deleted**)

We moved to the back of the car, cause he didn't want to take the chance of anyone pulling in. We were in the middle of nowhere, and it was 3 am-ish, there was no one to be found. Either way, he wanted to be safe.

So, behind his cop car (**expletive deleted**)

He asked me if he could take photos, I said yes, only if I can have them, he said okay.

He even made little videos too.

(**expletive deleted**)

I loved every minute of it and want to do it again next time I go to my aunt's house.

Lexus RX 400h Ad Banned For Misleading Low-Emissions Implications!

Our friendly British advertising watchdog has done it again by banning a Lexus magazine advert for the RX 400h on the grounds of false claims! For those of you with a hefty memory, the British Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) had banned Ford’s "Focus Zetec Climate" TV ad last year due to complaints from two viewers who said that it was misleading.

The magazine ad for the Lexus RX 400h was headlined "HIGH PERFORMANCE. LOW EMISSIONS. ZERO GUILT". Following the picture of the SUV, there was a text stating "RX 400h. The world's first high performance hybrid SUV ... category-leading low CO2 emissions. A combination without equal. Or compromise". In the small print, Lexus stated that the RX 400h’s carbon dioxide emissions figure was 192g/km CO2. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

ASA received 10 complainants stating that Lexus’ advert was misleading as it falsely implied that the SUV caused little or no harm to the environment. Lexus argued that the CO2 emissions of the RX 400h were very low compared to those of core competitors within its category and that the prominence of the illustration of the vehicle in the ad clarified the type of car the headline claims referred to and also the class of vehicle to which they applied.

The British advertising watchdog wasn’t convinced. In their release, they scold Lexus not to imply in future that a car caused little or no harm to the environment and had low CO2 emissions in comparison with all cars if that was not the case. Ouch…

ASA PRESS RELEASE

Ad

A magazine ad, for a Lexus RX 400h car, was headlined "HIGH PERFORMANCE. LOW EMISSIONS. ZERO GUILT". Accompanying an illustration of the product, text stated "RX 400h. The world's first high performance hybrid SUV ... category-leading low CO2 emissions. A combination without equal. Or compromise". Text at the foot of the ad stated "... CO2 emissions 192g/km

Issue

Ten complainants believed the claims "LOW EMISSIONS" and "ZERO GUILT" misleadingly implied the car caused little or no harm to the environment and gave a misleading impression of the car's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in comparison with other vehicles. They argued that the "192g/km" emissions figure was high when compared to the emissions of all cars.

Response

Lexus said they had sought approval from the CAP Copy Advice team before launching the ad and explained that, at 192g/km, the CO2 emissions of the RX 400h were very low compared to those of core competitors within its category. They submitted a chart, which compared the fuel emissions of the RX 400h with other vehicles they said were in the same class and showed that the emissions figure of 192g/km was the lowest of all those cars.

Lexus argued that the prominence of the illustration of the vehicle in the ad clarified the type of car the headline claims referred to and also the class of vehicle to which they applied. They believed readers of the ad would understand that the claims were made in relation to sports utility vehicles (SUV) only.

Assessment

Upheld

The ASA acknowledged that, based on the evidence submitted, the CO2 emissions rate for the RX 400h was low compared to other cars in its class. We considered, however, that the headline claim "HIGH PERFORMANCE. LOW EMISSIONS. ZERO GUILT" implied the vehicle's emission rate was low regardless of category and readers were likely to understand from it that the car caused little or no harm to the environment, which was not the case, and had low emissions in comparison with all cars, which was also not the case. We noted the body text, which stated " ... category-leading low CO2 emissions ...", clarified that the low emissions claim was made in the context of the cars category only, but considered that that was not prominent enough or linked to the headline claim. Because of that, and because the words "ZERO GUILT" implied the car was environmentally friendly, we concluded that the headline claim was likely to mislead.

The ad breached CAP Code clauses 7.1 (Truthfulness), 19.1 (Other comparisons) and 49.1 (Environmental claims)..

Action

We told Lexus not to imply in future that a car caused little or no harm to the environment and had low CO2 emissions in comparison with all cars if that was not the case.

Ford’s Hydrogen Powered E-450 Shuttle Buses Arrive In Orlando

Next time you’re in Orlando keep an eye open for these funky blue shuttle buses as FoMoCo and the State of Florida announced today, May 23, that they’re putting together a fleet of eight hydrogen-fueled Ford E-450 buses, four of which will be used by the Greater Orlando Airport Authority (GOAA) and the Orlando Convention Central District.

The Ford E-450 shuttle bus is powered by a 6.8-liter V-10 engine that has been supercharged and modified to run exclusively on hydrogen fuel. The first batch of Ford’s hydrogen powered buses had been delivered to Canada in late 2006 (three in Ottawa and two in Vancouver). In all, Ford will deliver 30 buses to customers across North America by the end of 2007. -More pics and the press release after the jump

FORD DELIVERS FIRST ULTRA CLEAN HYDROGEN POWERED BUSES TO U.S. CUSTOMERS

• Ford is the world’s first automaker to deliver commercial vehicles, powered by internal combustion engines that are fueled exclusively with hydrogen.
• The buses will be used as passenger shuttles at the Greater Orlando Airport Authority in Florida, as well as at the Orlando Convention Central District.
• Ford is the only automaker with gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles, hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, clean diesel, ethanol and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles on the road today.

ORLANDO, Fla. May 23, 2007 - Ford Motor Company and the State of Florida today announced that they are putting a fleet of hydrogen-fueled Ford E-450 buses on the road in Orlando, the first U.S. city to take delivery of these ultra clean vehicles.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist marked the occasion at a Chevron Hydrogen station that will provide fuel for eight buses, powered by internal combustion engines that are fueled exclusively with hydrogen.

“These buses represent part of Ford Motor Company's strategy to deliver transportation solutions that emit less CO2 and reduce our dependence on oil,” said Sue Cischke, Ford senior vice president. Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “We are pleased to partner with the State of Florida, Progress Energy and Chevron Hydrogen to place these buses into service so that Central Florida residents will be able to experience this unique form of clean transportation.”

“Today’s event demonstrates the incredible level of support hydrogen technology is receiving from our nation’s distinguished business leaders,” said Governor Charlie Crist. “ Florida is excited to be a part of these revolutionary advancements and we are embracing the challenges that lie ahead. We are committed as state to be a leader in both the policies and projects that protect our economy and our environment.”

Power for the Ford E-450 shuttle buses is provided by a 6.8-liter V-10 engine that has been supercharged and modified to run exclusively on hydrogen fuel. Of these eight vehicles – the first to be operated in the United States – two will be used by the Greater Orlando Airport Authority (GOAA), and two by the Orlando Convention Central District. The remaining four will be delivered to customers in Florida at a later date. Ford delivered five buses to Canada, three in Ottawa and two in Vancouver in late 2006. In all, Ford will deliver 30 buses to customers across North America by year’s end.

The Ford E-450 shuttle buses in Florida are part of the state’s broader plan to move toward a greater use of alternative fuels. Last year, Ford delivered five hybrid hydrogen Ford Focus Fuel Cell vehicles as part of separate effort with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Progress Energy to gain feedback on hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Technology

Ford Motor Company believes hydrogen internal combustion engine technology can serve as a bridge to enabling hydrogen to become a viable alternative fuel. Hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines have many advantages, including high efficiency, all-weather capability, and near zero emissions of regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases (CO 2). They also can be hybridized for further gains in fuel efficiency.

While these hydrogen internal combustion engine shuttle buses will provide valuable real-world experience, Ford also is conducting research into next generation hydrogen internal combustion engines, including features such as direct injection to enhance power and fuel economy.

Chery: Chrysler Deal Still On

Despite a recent report on German newspaper Handelsblatt that said Chery wanted to re-examine a deal to build small cars for Chrysler due to the sale of the latter to Cerberus, the Chinese car maker has still got the hots for Chrysler. A Chery spokesman told Reuters today that the German newspaper had misquoted Chery’s general manager, Zhang Li, and that the earlier agreement with Chrysler, approved by DaimlerChrysler’s Supervisory Board in February 2007, was still on. According to the non-equity partnership, the Chery-built vehicles will be distributed under Chrysler and Dodge logos, primarily in North America and Western Europe. Via: Reuters

Aggressor Diesel-Electric Hybrid Prototype: The Army Gets Eco-Friendly

It was bound to happen; after winning the hearts of thousands of civilian drivers, hybrids are a just a step away from conquering the hearts of the military personnel. Take the Aggressor prototype for example. An off-road Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV) that specializes in military ground exploration and scouting missions equipped with a battery-dominant, hybrid-electric drivetrain with a diesel engine-generator. All developed by the US Army’s auto research arm -part of the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). -Continued below

Spec-wise, the Aggressor accelerates from 0 to 40mph (64 km/h) in 4,0 sec while it can reach a top speed of 80mph (128 km/h). In addition, thanks to its battery-only operation, the Aggressor can switch into "silent mode" with a reduced thermal signature thus making it extremely hard to detect.

Could the Aggressor be the beginning of a whole "army" of hybrid military/security vehicles in the near future? According to Popularmechanics, yes, as there have been internal discussions about the benefits of hybrid drivetrains for other commercial applications, including homeland security and border patrol. Somehow, though, the terms "eco-friendly" and "military/security-vehicle" don’t seem to fit very well in our books. Via: PopularMechanics

"Kia Cee’d XR": Made By INCUS Tuning House... However, A 225Hp 2.0 Turbo Is Coming In ‘08 April

Although we posted a detailed report on all upcoming versions of Kia's Cee’d last week we thought it would be a good idea to get a few things clear after seeing a report on the Cee’d XR on Autocar today. First of all, the "XR" styling kit was unveiled in March at the 2007 AutoRai Show in Amsterdam -see here. Second, it’s the work of a tuning house called INCUS (Innovative Customization Sys) that also offers a kit for the Hyundai Elantra/ Avante. From what we made, INCUS doesn’t seem to be associated with the Hyundai Group –any help from Korean speaking readers will be more than welcome.

As for the "hot" Cee’d, while our inside source hesitated to give us a name, he was pretty clear about two things; it’s going on sale in Europe in April 2008, and it’ll be equipped with a 2.0-liter Turbo engine delivering 225Hp (and not 200Hp as previously thought). And yes, its going to be based on the 3door Cee’d that goes on sale in Europe this October, a month after its worldwide debut in Frankfurt this September. -More Pictures of the INCUS Kia Cee’d XR after the jump

Technorati Tags: Kia+Cee’d, cars, Carscoop, blogs,

Nemesis: Man Leaves Girlfriend On Railway, She Gets Hit And Lives, He Gets Hit By His Car And Dies

What a tragic yet, unbelievable story. A 21-year-old Californian man who tried to kill his 23-year-old female companion by leaving her in a parked car on a railway crossing at San Fernando Road and Branford Street, L.A. was ironically killed himself when the oncoming Metrolink commuter train threw the parked Dodge into him.

According to eyewitnesses, the couple had been seen arguing in their 2005 Dodge Magnum when suddenly, the man pulled the car into the opposing lane and parked it on the railway lines gate just before the crossing arm dropped. Although some witnesses told police that the man jump out of the Dodge just as the train hit the vehicle, police are unsure whether he also intended to commit suicide. Although seriously injured, the young woman is expected to survive. Luckily no one aboard the train, which was carrying 132 passengers and crew, was injured. Via: LA Times

Man Gets Even With Cops By Paying Parking Fine With Dog Poo!

If you thought you had a bad day at the office, I’m sure you can sympathize with the poor employee at the Austin Police Department that opened an enveloped filled with dog poo and a check for a parking ticket. Apparently, the man that was outraged at the fine he received when he parked his car outside of his residence and decided it was time for revenge. The women that opened that envelope noticed a horrifying stench being emitted from the drop box. The envelope was, “dripping with brown fluid.” The next day she was hospitalized for vomiting and an undetermined illness. The man is being charged with “disorderly conduct” and is summoned to appear in court June 15th. Via: cbsnews

Posted by Dani

Watch Out: Popular Car-Jack Method In The UK Gets You Pawned

Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most effective as they’re the ones you least expect to happen. In this video we see how a high number of vehicles in the U.K. have been stolen via car-jacking. Before you say “what else is new”, note: the car-jackings occur without the use of any sort of weapon or threat. How? Two people, usually a man and a woman, go to see a private-sale car they found on the net or a newspaper. While they’re checking it out, one of them… See what happens in the video after the jump. –Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Via: Autoblog.nl

Nanjing Restarts MG Production In The U.K.

A couple of months after Nanjing presented the first Chinese built MG sport cars and sedans back in March and the British carmaker’s new owner announced that it’ll end the Longbridge plant's two-year production hiatus with the assembly of the first MG TFs on May 29. It should be noted that Nanjing Auto doesn’t specify whether they’ll fully build the TFs in Longbridge or just assemble the roadster with kits from China. We remind you that, in 2005, MG Rover was split in half, with Nanjing Auto taking control of MG and rival SAIC acquiring the rights to build (but not to name), Rover models. Sales of MG models are expected to start in Europe in the second half of the year. Via: Reuters

GM To Build Corsa Based Opel & Chevrolet Compact SUV’s In Antwerp

GM plans to present an all-new compact SUV/Crossover based on an extended Opel Corsa platform in 2009/2010, offered both, in Opel and Chevrolet flavours and built in GM’s Antwerp site in Belgium. According to German newspaper, Automobilwoche, the compact SUV/Crossover will be available in FWD and 4WD versions and placed under the Antara and Captiva in Opel’s and Chevrolet’s line-up respectively. Although a long shot, Chevy’s version could be inspired from the New York Show Trax concept featured in the photo.

The news comes about month after GM announced that the next generation Opel Astra, due in 2010, wouldn’t be built at the Antwerp site in Belgium, thus raising several questions about the plant’s future that currently employs 4.500 people. Even though GM plans to cut 1.400 jobs by the end of the year, the decision to build the compact SUV/Crossovers in Antwerp means the plant will continue to operate until 2016. In this case, something is better than nothing. Via: Le blog auto , Source: Automobilewoche

Honda Attacks Canadian Government Over Low Consumption Rebate Policy

For those of you how have might missed the story, the Canadian Government issued earlier this year an eco-rebate system that provides a refund of up to $2,000 for cars that have an avg, consumption of less than 6.5-liters per 100km, but nothing to those above that line. Honda’s Fit (Jazz in Europe) boasts an avg. consumption of 6.6-litres per 100km while Toyota’s Yaris achieves a 6.4-liters figure, thus, qualifying for a $1.000 CND rebate which helped its sales climb 15% in April (vs Fit’s 1% decline).

One plus one makes two and Honda Canada didn’t stick around with its thumb up its fuel pump. Starting off from Saturday, March 19, 2007, Honda is publishing an open letter on all Canadian newspapers criticizing the government's rebate program. According to Honda, consumers shouldn’t have to choose between an ecoAuto rebate and vehicles that offer the right balance of safety and environmental responsibility. Simply put, Honda’s saying our car has slightly higher avg. consumption over the Yaris cause its safer -U.S. regulators gave the Fit five-star crash worthiness, compared with a four-star rating for the Yaris.

We could give them a point there, but then again, let’s say the Canadian Government changed its decision announcing eco-rebates for all cars with an avg. consumption of less than 7.0-litres per 100 km. How many car manufactures would pop-up the next day repeating Honda’s accusations? Via:Autoblog.com , Source: theglobeandmail

Video: Skoda Creates A Whole Fabia Made From Sweets!

Skoda wants the new Fabia to be "one of your favourite things." To really prove to you how totally "sweet" this car is, Skoda gathered the country's finest chocolatiers, bakers and bricklayers to help create a life delicious size version of the Fabia with cake and candy. According to the Czech manufacture, "rivets were for raisins, metal for marzipan and spark plugs for sugar." The process was captured on a TV advertisement that aired in the UK on May 17, 2007. We wonder, will a concept like this make people buy the car, or just make everyone hungry?

Posted by Dani

Technorati: Skoda, Skoda+Fabia, TV, ad, Commercial, Video, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Nissan Exports UK Made Micra C+C Convertible To Japan

Although Nissan Micra hatch is available in Japan since 2002, this is the first time that the UK designed, engineered and built Micra C+C Convertible will be available in the Japanese market. The Japan bound C+C’s will all be top spec models featuring 15” alloys, in-dash 6 CD autochangers, keyless entry and leather upholstery. All cars will be powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine, with customers able to choose between manual and automatic transmission. Initially, around 1,500 cars will be shipped, with customer demand carefully monitored once the car reaches Japanese showrooms in July. Notably, the Micra C+C will be Nissan’s Sunderland Plant second export model to Japan after the Qashqai crossover.

Technorati: Nissan+Micra+C+C, Japan, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

8-Year-Old Leads Police On A Car Chase!

Unlike our previous juvenile joy-rider and despite the fact that he was half his age and probably in need of a booster to see out the window, this kid at least had the “decency” of bringing the car to his home in one piece and… the right way up. However, let start from the beginning. The 8-year-old took the keys from his family car and set off for a mid-day joy-ride. The boy’s and the car’s absence were noticed by the 8-year-old’s grandma who notified the police. The latter didn’t have a difficult time in finding him; however, he lead the police to a low-speed pursuit for 5-10 minutes at speeds between 25 and 35mph, causing a car accident on the way that resulted to an injured driver.

But the story didn’t stop for the police their as once the kid parked at his home he refused to get out of the car causing his mother to go bazurk at the police who finally arrested her for child endangerment and assault on a peace officer. Via: Wcbstv

Technorati: Accident, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Life Ball MINI Cooper

Designed by renowned fashion photographer Mario Testino, this one-of-a-kind MINI Cooper will be auctioned in June on www.ebay.at with proceeds benefiting the “Life Ball” association, one of Europe's largest charity events in the fight against HIV and Aids. While we’ll avoid to comment on Testion’s paintwork on the MINI Cooper, one can’t but applaud the efforts of Life Ball and hope that the MINI Cooper will hit a sky-high price on ebay. -More Pictures Below

Technorati: Life+Ball, MINI+Cooper, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Teen Drops Into An Office Basement... With A Ford Focus!

A 16-year-old’s joy ride in a stolen Ford Focus came to an abrupt end in Edinburgh, UK on Tuesday (March 15, 2007) when the teen attempted to make a getaway after spotting a police vehicle. According to reports the 16-year-old lost control of the car as he tried to take a bend at high speed and ended up, or rather sideways down, in an office basement at the corner of North Castle Street and Hill Street. Luckily no one was hurt.

Ironically, the police stated that they hadn’t noticed the vehicle! A police spokesman said: "It was a stolen vehicle but I can confirm he was not being pursued by the police. He saw a police car and drove off at high speed before swerving and crashing into the basement." Via: Theregister

Technorati: Accident, Ford+Focus, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, images, pictures

Ingenious: Guy Makes $100-300 Per Day Accompanying Carpool Lane Commuters!

Are you the lonely in your car stuck in rush hour traffic with the rest of the loner drivers? Don’t you just wish you could whisk on by in the two or more passenger lane? A smart guy with nothing else to do opened up his own business in which he rents himself to commuters who travel to work alone so they can take advantage of the carpool lane. The idea is to have another body in the car to bypass traffic jams. The price: about 10$-20$. This smart guy with nothing else to do now reportedly makes $100-$300 per day accompanying random people to work everyday! Wait, we just had an epiphany; how about just using passenger blow up dolls, and who knows, you might even get lucky… Via: Autoblog.com

Posted by Dani

Saturn: GM Fanboys Imagine A Realistic Future Line-Up

"Revitalization in Action" or RIA for short is a group formed by bunch of guys at the GMInsiderNews (GMI) site who like to dream up entirely new product portfolios for various GM brands. This time the group that consist of GMI Staff Member ChevroletRevived, the Director/Writer of RIA, GMI Photoshop Artist fbodyrules who designs the vehicles, and GMI Administrator/Interior Photoshop Artist NSAP got their hands on Saturn. Good thing is that the guys at GMI took in consideration the fact that GM has tied Saturn’s future with Opel, thus creating a future line-up with a realistic twist in it. -Pictures after the jump Via: Autoblog.com , Source: GMInsiderNews

Here’s RIA Proposal For Saturn’s Future Model Lineup:

• Saturn Signal - Premium Hatchback Sub-Compact, Gamma, Ford Fiesta | Opel Corsa
• Saturn Astra- Premium Compact, Sedan/Hatchback, A3 | Opel Astra
• Saturn Sky- Sports Luxury Roadster, Kappa, MX-5 | Opel GT
• Saturn Vue - Compact CUV, Theta II, RAV4 | Opel Antara
• Saturn Aura - Mid-Size Entry Premium, Sedan/SportWagon, EPII, VW Passat | Opel Vectra/Insignia
• Saturn Outlook- Large CUV, Lambda, Highlander | No Opel Counterpart
• Saturn Switch - Large SUT, Lambda, Ridgeline | No Opel Counterpart

Signal



Astra

Aura








Sky



Vue



Outlook



Switch

Technorati: Saturn, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007