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C/D drills down to find out what goes into EPA fuel economy ratings

August 31, 2009

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ever wonder what actually goes into determining the rated fuel economy of a new car or truck? Anyone with a vehicle that’s failed to live up to its EPA estimated figures would surely fit into that camp - especially if the car or truck were purchased in large part to its high mileage rating - and you can add our names to that list as well. As it turns out, the process is every bit as as complicated as we’d expect.
Car and Driver recently hung out at the EPA’s testing facility near the Motor City, and some highly intriguing bits of information were gleaned. For instance, C/D says that just 15 percent of new cars get tested by the EPA each year for fuel efficiency, and the rest get their ratings from testing performed by the manufacturer using [...]

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Aston Martin Storms the Desert

August 31, 2009

A test drive in Kuwait of the new Rapide four-door coupe.

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REPORT: GP2 mechanic placed into coma after pitlane incident at Spa

August 31, 2009

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Safety

Serious injuries to the head temporarily left a mechanic in the GP2 series in a medically-induced coma following a pit-lane incident at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit this past weekend during a support race for the Belgian Grand Prix. The GP2 series is the second rung on the ladder below Formula One, and shares its calendar with F1’s European races.
According to reports, an air gun left out of place in pit lane was caught by the wheel of Trident Racing’s Ricardo Teixeira, tugging at the hose which toppled a metal beam onto the head of team mechanic Vasco Rossi. The mechanic was evacuated with serious - but not life-threatening - injuries to a nearby hospital where he was placed into a medically-induced coma, from which he has since reportedly emerged. We wish Vasco a full recovery.
[Source: Autosport | Image: Trident Racing]
REPORT: GP2 mechanic placed into [...]

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7 Reasons GM Wants to Keep Opel

August 31, 2009

General Motors hopes to keep a foothold in Europe by retaining Opel.

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Ford to Debut Powerful, Quiet Diesel

August 31, 2009

New engine hits the road in Ford’s new lineup of Super Duty pickups.

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The World’s Ugliest Car

August 31, 2009

It’s an age old question, but one I never grow tired of considering: Just what is the ugliest car ever built. I’m not talking about a one-off, homebuilt special that some crackpot put together in his backyard. …

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“I’ll have the 10W-30 burger, please” - Examining the car dealers as eatery trend

August 31, 2009

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

A restaurant that has a few hot cars gathered round is one thing — but a car dealership that opens a restaurant, where does that rank on the scale of ambiance? With recent trends, you could soon get a chance to decide sooner than you thought.
As our friends at The Detroit Bureau point out, California’s Bistro33 at Rocklin Mercedes will be the next dining experience in a dealership. The cars don’t mingle in the restaurant — this isn’t some trendy Vegas amusement. And this isn’t just about having something to do while you wait for the mechanics to finish with your car. You actually go to a dealership to have your dinner. That means you can discuss APR after appetizers and sort out your warranty with a nice Napa red.
There isn’t any reason a dealership can’t also make a decent dinner. Galpin’s Horseless Carriage has been [...]

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BMW’s Radical, Plug-In Vision

August 31, 2009

German automaker to reveal revolutionary concept coupe in Frankfurt.

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10 Jobs, 10 Cars #9

August 31, 2009

Job: Outdoor tour guide
Car: 2009 Jeep Wrangler
Love getting up close and personal with mother nature, but not a fan of walking? Try a Jeep tour.

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10 Jobs, 10 Cars #8

August 31, 2009

Job: Paper delivery
Car: 2009 Honda Element
The Honda Element isn’t just roomy and four-cylinder efficient, it also features a rubber floor and stain-resistant seat fabric that will defend against the infectious nature of newsprint.

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