Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Humor

Is the Stig about to get a sex change? William Hill, one of the UK's largest bookmaking operations, places the odds of the next Stig being a lady at 4-1 and has reportedly seen a good amount of action on that particular wager. Gamblers can also bet on what color the next Stig will wear, with pink currently holding 5-1 odds.

Ireland's largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, is also in the mix, posting odds on both the color of the next Stig and who will be behind the mask (they stick with all-male options, though). Paddy Power is also taking bets on how White Stig will meet his demise. The long shot, at 20-1 odds, is currently an assassination by Tom Cruise (not a solid bet, really, as such behavior seems unbecoming of a high-level Thetan).

If Top Gear does go the Lady Stig route, who do you think will suit up? We're going with Sabine Schmitz. She clearly has the ability, plus she's already friendly with the Top Gear crew.

Actually, that's not a bad bet at all - excuse us while we place a few international calls...

[Source: The Sun; BettingDirectory]

Will the next Stig be a woman? UK bookies lay odds originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Toyota

One month of dreary sales figures doesn't signal the end of the hybrid, but the numbers reported for August hint that without a rise in gas prices, hybrid vehicle sales will likely continue to suffer. Overall hybrid sales dropped 40.4 percent in August compared to a year ago. Not even the mighty Toyota Prius could avoid the plunge. Prius sales fell 37.5 percent compared to August 2009 and dropped off 16.3 percent compared to the July 2010 numbers. Combined, Toyota and Lexus hybrids saw a 36.2 percent decline from a year ago. Ford fared better by posting a 17.1 percent drop in year-over-year numbers.

Hybrid sales were clearly boosted last August by the government's Cash for Clunkers program, but this summer's low gas prices take much of the blame for the current hybrid sales plunge. Toyota remains in the number one spot, posting 15,444 sales last month. Ford sits in second place after moving 3,894 hybrid vehicles off dealer lots, while Honda holds onto third with 3,485 sales. It's getting redundant, but Toyota still leads the hybrid market. Anyone want to place bets on when (or if) that'll change?



[Sources: Green Car Advisor, Autoblog]

Hybrid sales plummet 40% in August; Prius records 37.5% decline originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Of all the special edition Mustangs that Ford has been trotting out in the last several years and that recall earlier Mustang variants (California Special, Boss 302, all the Shelbys), I don’t think Ford’s ever going to come up with another SVO-type Mustang, even with all the talk nowadays of installing smaller turbocharged engines in place of larger naturally aspirated engines. So will that make the existing Mustang SVOs, such as this 1986 Ford Mustang SVO for sale on Hemmings.com, more desirable? From the seller’s description:

1986 Ford Mustang SVO 86, black ext, grey int., RARE car Comp, prep, 83 made. 39000 km, canadian one, very nice, new tire, origninal car

See more Mustangs for sale on Hemmings.com.

* I’d heard that one of the Futurliners was recently sold to a collector in Sweden who intends a full resto, and thanks to BigLorryBlog, we see that Futurliner #8 recently made an appearance at the Elmia truck show in Sweden.

* Newsday recently took a look at high-dollar collector cars and compared the collectors who seek those cars out to other investors. I know, not really news, though they did a good job of capturing that scene as it exists today. What I found most interesting was the comment from James Glickenhaus further down in the article:

“There is a huge business in buying and selling classic cars, and these guys will tell you whatever you want to hear,” says Glickenhaus, whose collection includes seven Ferraris. “To the average person, it is not a good investment.”

(via)

* Rather well-done video explaining why one man got into hot rodding and drag racing. Includes excellent color footage from the 1950s. (via)

* Chris over at MC Art recently took it upon himself to not only investigate one of the many urban myths in the custom bike scene, but also to connect it to a photo of the custom bike in question.

* Finally, the Mohs Ostentatienne restoration continues.

Buy Porsche OEM and Tuning parts on the Porsche Store
Browse by category or by brands like: Techart, 9ff, Gemballa, Agency Power and much more...

Vorsteiner has released details of their V-RT kit for the facelift Porsche 997 Turbo. The V-RT kit aids performance by reducing weight and addressing the Porsche’s overall weight distribution. Vorsteiner’s aerodynamic line uses art dry carbon fiber vacuum technology, which Vorsteiner claims offers greater rigidity and strength compared to other materials – the net result is a reduction in weight up to 40%.

A newly redesigned front bumper is constructed from carbon fiber composite (CFRP). These items exhibit a performance orientation, together with the carbon fiber chin spoiler and larger duct openings (which feed air to the front radiators), and the removal of the fog lights for improved visual styling and weight reduction.

The rear bumper and decklid has been completely redesigned for both performance and visual design considerations. This is demonstrated with the use of a carbon fiber decklid and carbon fiber wing blade to increase rear end down force and overall handling characteristics.

Vorsteiner also offer one-piece monoblock aluminum wheels packaged with Michelin PS2 sport tires. The new range of wheels coincides with the release of the Porsche 997 facelift V-RT kit, although information released to date suggests these products are still in development. PorscheTuningMag will release more details as they become available.

Information and photos of the VRT kit and new range of wheels can be viewed at Vorsteiner’s website www.vorsteiner.com/VRT/

No more deals after summer?

“This may be as good as it gets, and get used to it,” Jeff Schuster, the executive director of forecasting for J.D. Power and Associates, recently told the AP about summer car deals.

In the past automakers have used August to unload excess inventories in preparation for new models, but more and more excess inventories are becoming a thing of the past as automakers pare down production.

So, is Labor Day your last best chance for a good deal on a hybrid?

That’s the conventional wisdom amongst most automotive analysts. Still, with hybrid sales tanking, for instance, will automakers never again offer a deal to move inventory? Obviously, only time will tell, but the deals on hybrid vehicles have typically been far less ripe than those offered on pickup trucks, for instance, so the lack of a summer sale will probably have limited impact on hybrid sales and hybrid prices.

Likewise, with Toyota anticipating a large increase in hybrid sales over the next few years, coupled with growing competition, especially from lukewarm Ford, and red hot Hyundai, cheaper hybrid prices seem an inevitable trend.

Nevertheless, the Nissan Altima hybrid is still one of the best deals this summer, so that’s worth a look if in the market. Likewise, Toyota Prius leases are the best I’ve ever seen. For other hybrids, why not make a low ball offer? The future probably holds better hybrid pricing anyway, and that makes it a bit easier to walk away if your dealer won’t budge on pricing.

Hybrid fuel economy or hybrid performance?

When the Lexus CT 200h hybrid hits dealers it will offer 4 different driving modes – Normal, Eco, Sport and EV – that will provide a nice element of control that might be demanded from Lexus drivers.

While control is a nice option, is a focus on fuel economy slipping away from hybrid technology?

Much of my hybrid driving is focused on trying to achieve ever-greater fuel efficiency but there are times, however, when I’ve definitely taken advantage of the extra torque my Camry hybrid can provide. No one’s perfect. Even hypermilers need to step on it every once in a while just to get the blood flowing.

And, as new hybrids hit the scene, newer and more sophisticated driving modes are becoming standard. In the upcoming CT 200h hybrid for instance, EV mode can be used to power through some extremely sluggish congestion using pure electricity, and Eco mode can provide the most efficient driving in a any kind of driving conditions. Of course, if you just want a nice balance of performance and efficiency, normal is your mode, but if you need to get the blood pumping, Sport mode will help cure the craving.

There’s no harm in that, right? And in a luxury brand like Lexus, Sport mode will probably enable the CT200h to appeal to a wider range of buyers.

Still, horsepower and acceleration have been big drivers of the US auto industry for decades, resulting in a massive foreign oil dependency problem. While hybrid drivers will certainly appreciate ever greater control over their hybrid vehicles via such driving modes, isn’t it possible that hybrid buyers are slowly being led astray from the original point of hybrid technology: fuel economy?

The newest electric aircraft to take flight is a tiny airplane from a big airplane company. The Cri-Cri, developed by Airbus’ parent company, EADS, made its first flight Thursday at Le Bourget airport near Paris.

The Cri-Cri is based on an existing design that uses two small gasoline engines. EADS swapped the gasoline engines with four small electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. The plane, which was unveiled in June, was airborne only seven minutes, but pilot Didier Esteyne is looking forward to more adventurous flights.

“We are still at the beginning and have a lot to learn,” he said in a statement after the flight. “We are allowed to start aerobatic manoeuvres only after five hours of flight and 15 landings.”

The Cri-Cri is being used as a systems test bed to support future electric and hybrid power systems. The company expects the plane will be capable of flying for 30 minutes at nearly 70 mph or for 15 minutes during aggressive aerobatic flying at speeds topping 150 mph.

Photos: EADS

Those who want a luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) will definitely want to consider the 2010 Acura RDX. This great car is currently available at an affordable average price of approximately $32,000 to $37,000. That’s a real steal, especially when you consider that this car received a high 8.7 government rating on overall performance. It’s fairly difficult to find such a low priced car that is of such high quality and standards.

It’s not just the government that’s raving about this car either. Car and Driver Magazine praised the technology, cost, and power of the all wheel drive model, as did the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Edmunds.com, one of the most reputable automobile reviewers in the world, went so far as to compare the RDX to a sports sedan, calling it “quick” and “nimble.” For those drivers who love the reliability of an SUV but hate the bulkiness of driving one, this is quite obviously the perfect choice. If you want to drive a responsible car that still allows for a little bit of fun, the 2010 Acura RDX is for you.

Of course, the agility of this car does not mean that it lacks in safety. In fact, the 2010 Acura RDX scored an impressive 9.9, an almost perfect score, in safety ratings. The car comes standard with anti lock brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist, frontal airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, front outboard seat curtain airbags, rear outboard seat curtain airbags, the coveted rearview camera, and high intensity discharge headlights. Perhaps it was all of these awesome features that caused it to receive five stars (the highest possible rating) in the government’s frontal crash tests and side crash tests. This high rating also helps if you are looking for a good deal on a car insurance quote comparison. It even got a four star rating on rollover tests, which is quite high for an SUV. The insurance industry also gave it a score of “good” in frontal offset crash tests, side impact crash tests, and rear crash tests, which often equals lower insurance rates for drivers.

You’ll also be hard pressed to find a car with better gas mileage or with better overall ratings. Scores were high in most testing areas. The car received an 7.6 or “good” in interior design and a 7.0 or “good” in reliability. These are very high for SUVs, which tend to score low in both design and reliability areas. There has never been a better time to purchase such an affordable dependable car than now.

Onyx are expected to release a new styling and performance package for the BMW M3 (E92/E93). Having previously focussed on the SUV market, the new upgrade suggests a change of direction for this tuning company.

The BMW M3 exterior changes consist of a new front and rear bumpers, sides skirts, front carbon fiber lip, rear carbon fiber diffuser, carbon bonnet, carbon boot lid and roof tip spoiler. The interior has an onyx designed buffalo hide leather package that can be chosen in different color combinations.

Power is raised to 630 PS (463 kW / 621 hp), which is a significant increase over the original 420 PS (309 kW / 414 hp). Other upgrades include a 12 piece carbon fiber paneling kit in either black/blue/orange colored carbon weaves.

The upgrade is expected to be available from October 31st, contact Onyx for further information on pricing and specifications.

It's unlikely that any other BMW has had such a polarising effect as the gigantic X6. The Munich SUV, with its suggestive coupé silhouette, possesses proportions that seem enormous, and is the perfect embodiment of a luxury all-terrain vehicle. Positioned above the much-loved BMW X5, in recent years the X6 has quietly developed into a real sales hit for the Bavarian carmaker.

The name Enco Exclusive is now famous all over the world, and the Chemnitz manufacturer has specialised in refining luxury vehicles since the beginning of the new century. The newest creation out of Saxony is a complete body kit for the BMW X6. The Enco designers have developed a widebody kit that makes the X6 even wider, brawnier and, naturally, more sporty.

The new front bumper has three large air intakes to improve cooling of the engine and brakes, as well as integrated LED daytime driving lamps. Full wheel arch surrounds are responsible for a brawny appearance, complemented by a pair of new side skirts. The rear doors have been specially modified to flow seamlessly into the new rear bumper. The rear appears extremely brawny, thanks to a diffuser integrated into the bumper, and a new, centrally positioned sports exhaust system with four round stainless steel tailpipes.

The four Jura model rims, exclusive to Enco, ensure a suitably impressive appearance. The impressively sized 11 x 23 inch wheels fill out the oversized wheel arches, and are fitted with 315/25 R3 tyres.

The Chemnitz manufacturer is asking approx. EUR 15,000.-, including VAT, for the complete conversion including fresh paintwork.

More information available online at www.enco-exclusive.de

The Sustainable Business Council of Los Angeles (SBCLA), a non-profit organization which provides a professional networking and education forum for Southern California businesses and individuals working with sustainable products, services, and processes, will host “Electric Vehicle Roundtable and Drive-a-thon.” The panel features six key players in this fast-emerging and competitive industry who will help guide the audience through a topic that is especially integral to the fabric and future of Los Angeles. The event will take place on Thursday, September 30, 2010, from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at Valcucine’s showroom in Beverly Hills. The distinctive presentation reinforces SBCLA’s commitment to showcasing environmentally-conscious businesses, and spotlighting cutting-edge sustainability trends and best practices across a broad range of industry sectors.

Moderated by Plug In America’s (http://www.pluginamerica.org) VP, Paul Scott, who is also President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Southern California, “Electric Vehicle Roundtable and Drive-a-thon” presents:

** Paul Wilbur, President and CEO, Aptera (http://www.aptera.com)
** K. Forest Beanum, VP of Public Affairs & Communications, CODA Automotive (http://www.codaautomotive.com)
** Richard Steinberg, Manager, Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy, BMW of North America, LLC (http://www.bmwusa.com/ActiveE)
** Eric Shieh, Account Executive, Coulomb Technologies (http://www.coulombtech.com)
** Mike Sullivan, Owner and President, LAcarGUY (http://www.lacarguy.com/green)

This distinguished group of professionals–representing the cycle of invention to delivery and consumer use–will address the value proposition of these businesses and California’s leading role in the sector’s growth. “We will explain why this technology will improve our environment, strengthen our economy and increase our national security,” states Paul Scott, VP, Plug In America. “With the new era of electric vehicles mere months away, this is information vital to anyone who cares about these issues,” Scott added. Specific topics may include:

** Why is the timing for electric vehicles more ideal now than when “Who Killed the Electric Car” was released in 2006? What has changed? Or has it?
** What are the sustainable aspects of the vehicle industry vs. other forms of mobility, especially in Los Angeles?
** What are the economic implications of millions of Californians switching from 60% foreign oil to 100% domestic renewable electricity?
** What do national security experts say about the need to switch from oil to electricity as the energy source for our transportation fleet?
** What plug-in vehicles are available today and what will be available in the near future?
** How many charging stations are there, and how many are really needed?
** What companies are opening electric vehicle showrooms in L.A.?
** How important is the L.A. market as a model for electric vehicle adoption?
** What are the predictions for the future of electric vehicle adoption? What will be future trends?

“On behalf of the SBCLA board, I am thrilled to welcome such a strong representation of this vibrant, rapidly-expanding industry to the Valcucine showroom,” said Laura Berland-Shane, member of the SBCLA board of directors, and business development manager of Alternative Energy at SIEMENS Industry. “We anticipate a lively discourse that will inform and hopefully inspire creative thinking and planning in light of the current electric vehicle renaissance. We are particularly excited to note that many of the companies we will hear from are California-based.”

Event Registration
Advance registration is required to attend SBCLA’s “Electric Vehicle Roundtable and Drive-a-thon” panel discussion and drive-a-thon. To RSVP, please visit http://www.sustainablebc.org.

General admission price of $25 includes:
** Admission to “Electric Vehicle Roundtable and Drive-a-thon” mixer and panel discussion.
** Electric Vehicle driving demo, first come first served.
** Tour of Valcucine’s showroom featuring sustainable kitchen furnishings.
** Light refreshments

Event Sponsors:
The event is sponsored by Stonefield Josephson, Inc. LAcarGUY, Valcucine, “Dom,” Luna & Larry’s Organic Coconut Bliss, Summa Marketing Communications, New Belgium Brewing, Evenson Design Group and dubroWorks Public Relations/Marketing/ Project Management.

Media Attendance and Interview Requests
Attendance of “Electric Vehicle Roundtable and Drive-a-thon” is also open to accredited print, online, and broadcast journalists who register with SBCLA in advance. To register, media members should contact Program Director Molly Lavik by phone at (310) 488-4401, or by e-mail at molly.lavik@sustainablebc.org. In addition, Berland-Shane and all panelists and moderator are most likely available for media interviews before and after the event. To schedule an interview, please contact Lavik.

Driving Directions and Parking Information
“Electric Vehicle Roundtable and Drive-a-thon” will be held at Valcucine, located at 9030 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and South Wetherly Drive. Attendees may park with payment in the lot situated at 140 South Doheny Drive until the lot is full, or on the street in available metered spaces.

About the Sustainable Business Council of Los Angeles
The Sustainable Business Council of Los Angeles (SBCLA) is a non-profit organization acting as a professional networking and education forum for California businesses and individuals working with sustainable products, services, and processes. The Council’s goal is to assist members with improving their profits, enhancing their communities, and protecting the environment through the education of business professionals about the opportunities represented by technologies and management philosophies that reduce negative and unsustainable ecological impacts. For more information, please visit http://www.sustainablebc.org.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will introduce the European-spec version of its i-MiEV 100% electric vehicle at the 2010 Paris Motor Show (“Mondial de L’ Automobile 2010″) to be held at Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles in Paris, France from Thursday, September 30th to Sunday, October 17th (open to the general public from Saturday, October 2nd).

A total of 12 vehicles (7 on press days) will be displayed at its stand in Hall 3, including:

* The recently introduced ASX (RVR in Japan) compact crossover equipped with MMC’s all-new “low impact” 4N13 diesel engine,

* The Lancer Sportback (Galant Fortis Sportback in Japan) now featuring the same 150 ps 1.8 DiD engine,

* The new Outlander 2.2 DiD mid-size crossover, whose 177 ps unit is a further derivative (4N14) of this same family of innovative diesel powerplants.

Concerning the European-spec i-MiEV, MMC plans to successively roll it out from December of this year in 14 countries*1 including France, the United Kingdom, Germany and further expand the European rollout from fiscal year 2011.

The price*2 of the European-spec i-MiEV will differ by country but will be set to around €33,000 – €35,000 (or equivalent) so that the final cost to the customer after government incentives (where applicable) remains under €30,000 (or equivalent) in a majority of the countries it is to be sold in.

*1 Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
*2 The price includes car and batteries

Compared with the Japanese market version, the European-spec i-MiEV includes specific features such as:

* new design to the front and rear bumpers to meet EU regulations,

* re-arranged center stack in the instrument panel,

* improved interior comfort.

Furthermore, safety – both active & passive – has been improved with the addition of Active Stability Control (ASC), as well as side and curtain airbags, all standard equipment.

To celebrate 40 years of electric development at Mitsubishi Motors, a further display in Hall 8 will present the 1989 Mitsubishi Minicab EV for the first time in Europe, as part of “The Incredible Collection” heritage show.

For more information on the i-MiEV, please access www.new-imiev.com.