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In-car mobile phone blocker on sale

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +0000

Filed under: Accessories Dialing and driving is both illegal and rather stupid. Making a quick call involves taking your eyes off the road and fiddling with your phone – not a good idea if you’re, say, doing 70mph on a rainy M11. Scosche, an American company, has released a solution to said misdemeanor – the cellCONTROL phone blocker. After registering online and downloading a special app linking your phone with the device, cellCONTROL will activate whenever the car is moving.In a smart move it’ll not only block incoming calls, but emails, texts and those oh so tempting apps like the camera and internet access. There is a work around, though – it’ll allow incoming calls if a handsfree headset is detected in the vehicle because, over here at least, it’s the only legal way to chat while you’re steering. Some of you may be thinking that popping it in your newly qualified offsprings’ wheels. A good idea indeed – especially since the device will let you know if anyone tries to deactivate, remove or generally fiddle with it. It’ll work with over 1,200 models of phone, though not the Apple iPhone . Currently it’s only available in the US though it may make its way over here if there’s enough interest. That said, it costs $129.95 which works out at £83.56 (using today’s exchange rates) and it’s available on the internet which means you can easily acquire one. The company says it’ll work in any vehicle sold in the US from 1996 onwards, which covers a fair chunk of the cars sold in the EU. We can’t help thinking that you might be better placed to simply turn your phone off when you get behind the wheel, then you’d have an extra £80 to spend on apps, scones and texting for when you’re not driving. That said, it’ll lower your risk of crashing and keep your mind on the road , where it should be. For more information head over to Scosche’s website . If you need more convincing it’s a good idea, have a quick look at the video below.

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In-car mobile phone blocker on sale

Video: Aston Martin wants women to know they’re loved

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:05:00 +0000

Filed under: Comment When you think Aston Martin you think of James Bond (not James Martin) cruising to the Riviera with a stunning, intelligent female Russian spy in the passenger seat looking longingly at him, as a tramp would a plate of chips. But Aston doesn’t want you to think that. Aston Martin wants to you to know that it’s not just a man-brand. It’s for women too. To hammer this point home the firm’s released a new advert especially for girls. The ad shows an initially unidentified driver threading a Virage through narrow passageways, zooming down the motorway and generally looking the dogs on the roads. You’ll also notice the women paying attention to the car, as a petrolheaded chap would in the street. Though maybe with less pavlovian salivation rolling to their shoes. The ad itself is beautifully shot , showing the car off in its best light and wonderfully showing the drama such a machine can bring to the roads. Though we’re a little torn as to why such an ad exists. Yes, car ads tend to be heavily focussed towards men (unless it’s a small French hatchback: ‘Nicole..?’) though men tend to care more about their wheels than women (before the PC brigade go nuts: that doesn’t mean there are no female petrolheads, no one’s so stupid as to think so) and therefore cynical advertising types tend to mercilessly target them as a Terminator would Sarah Connor. But why create an ad specifically saying: “We love women”? Imagine if Aston made an ad stating “We love men”. The ill-educated mocking would be endless, then they’d get it in the neck from the PC peeps. Thankfully, it’s a brilliant ad, so none of that should matter anyway. Enjoy.

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Video: Aston Martin wants women to know they’re loved

First "General Lee" ever built heads to auction [Car Auctions]

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

At next weekend’s Barrett Jackson Scottsdale auction the first 1969 Dodge Charger ever used in “The Dukes of Hazzard” will cross the block with No Reserve. The car was used and destroyed filming a jump off a dirt ramp that was featured in the opening of all 145 episodes of the show. More »

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First "General Lee" ever built heads to auction [Car Auctions]

GM Prez: 2013 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup to Target Tacoma, Could Spin Off a GMC Version

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:08:25 +0000

The upcoming Chevy Colorado pickup truck will directly target the Toyota Tacoma, says GM North America president Mark Reuss. “Tacoma is the volume leader. We know that there’s a buyer for a really good Chevrolet lifestyle sport truck that’s quite different than the Tacoma.” Different how? Reuss and his colleagues won’t say. But, having seen the Asian-market Colorado, we’re not expecting any dramatic differences between it and the truck Chevy sells here. The U.S.-market Colorado will still be a body-on-frame affair, after all. And we already know what it looks like, inside and out. It’s possible Reuss brought up the Tacoma simply in reference to the Colorado being extremely capable in addition to it competing in the mid-size truck segment. Although “mid-size” is relative—Reuss says the Colorado will be something like 90 to 95 percent of the size of a Silverado. (Full specs for the Colorado, even in overseas markets, haven’t yet been released.) There also could be a GMC version, Reuss says. That seems like a no-brainer, but GM isn’t confirming anything at this point. If it does happen, we’re told that the GMC will be significantly differentiated from the Chevy version. We’re not sure how this could mean much more than a different fascia—a truck is a truck, after all—but we would like to see what the General’s stylists have in store. In discussing the Colorado, Reuss also referred to fuel efficiency and a “powertrain change” versus the Silverado. We figure this probably just means the Colorado packs a four- or six-cylinder engine, but a diesel unit is a possibility. The company recently announced plans to offer the Chevy Cruze with a diesel four in 2013, and the Colorado is sold in most parts of Asia exclusively with two diesel V-6 engines. Even though GM has confirmed that yes, the Colorado will be built and sold here, it isn’t talking timing yet. We expect an appearance in the next year, though.

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GM Prez: 2013 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup to Target Tacoma, Could Spin Off a GMC Version

Video: Off-Roader of the Apocalypse

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:12:00 +0000

Filed under: Latest News Fancy an off-roader but don’t want to be associated with the Chelsea Tractor set? This could be just the thing to set you apart. Take 200ft of steel tubing, 43-inch tyres, a massive General Motors crate engine and trick Fox coil-over suspension, and what you get is this: an unstoppable – and terrifying – rock climbing monster. Named ShowTime, it has been built by off-road nutter (and quite clearly, Mad Max obsessive) Tim Cameron, who has been putting together similar machines for years. Obviously, with 620hp as standard from the GM V8 , and bespoke axles with almost endless articulation, there isn’t any place that the ShowTime will get stuck. Well, in theory – take a look below.

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Video: Off-Roader of the Apocalypse

Study: U.S. diesel auto sales up 27% in 2011 while hybrid share shrinks

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Filed under: Car Buying , Hybrid , Technology , Diesel A plethora of new diesel offerings is driving sales, according to a new report from the Diesel Technology Forum. Sales of diesels rose 27.4 percent in 2011, according to numbers from HybridCars.com and market researchers Baum and Associates. The Diesel Technology Forum pegs the overall market growth in 2011 at 10.2 percent, putting diesels’ increase considerably ahead of the curve. Interestingly enough, the group says hybrid sales were down 2.2 percent. The non-profit coalition of diesel engine and technology companies includes such auto industry heavyweights as Chrysler , Daimler , Ford , General Motors , Mazda and Volkswagen . Diesel sales are expected to grow to over six percent of the U.S. market by 2015, according to the report, and could reach as high as 7.4 percent by 2017, as more diesel models hit the market. Diesel-powered versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee , Cadillac ATS , Porsche Cayenne , Chevrolet Cruze and Mercedes-Benz S-Class are slated for near-term U.S. release, according to the group. To read the entire release, click past the jump . Continue reading U.S. diesel auto sales up 27% in 2011 while hybrid share shrinks U.S. diesel auto sales up 27% in 2011 while hybrid share shrinks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM to Replace 2.4-liter Fours with 2.5-liters Across the Range

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:23:19 +0000

General Motors will upgrade one of its workhorse four-cylinder engines. The news comes straight from GM’s North American president Mark Reuss at this year’s Detroit auto show . The 2.4-liter four—which currently does duty in the Chevy Equinox, Buick’s Verano and Regal, and the GMC Terrain—will hit the road; it’s replaced with a new, direct-injected 2.5-liter inline-four. The new engine will debut in the 2013 Chevy Malibu with slightly north of 190 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and we expect it to offer similar power in other applications. This will be a nice bump from what the 2.4-liter engine offers today: 169 hp with port injection and 182 hp from the direct-injected version. The change will be applied across GM’s U.S. range, with the switchover taking place within the next 12 months. GM hasn’t yet confirmed whether the 2.4-liter engine used in its EcoAssist hybrids will remain in use, or if the 2.5 will be adapted to do service there.

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GM to Replace 2.4-liter Fours with 2.5-liters Across the Range

Christmas with: Audi A6 3.0 TFSi Quattro SE Avant

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Road Tests Christmas holidays in the life of a motoring journalist is a time where if you are lucky enough, a manufacturer will loan you a nice set of wheels for use during the holidays. This year, Audi kindly offered me a car and because I was doing some serious mileage to the in-laws in Somerset I gratefully accepted. Transporting my wife, son, the usual paraphernalia for a 15-month old, plus presents in our five-door Volkswagen Golf wouldn’t have been much fun; so instead I went for the biggest available, an A6 3.0 TFSi SE Quattro Avant. There was another reason I plumped for this A6, as remembering the snowy weather of last year, this model’s Quattro four-wheel drive gave me more confidence in making my final destination. Typical then, that it turned out to be one of the mildest festive periods on record! When the specification sheet arrived just before the car, I was surprised that with all the options (of which made up a page) the total price of OY61LPU was a smidge under £73,000. Yes, you heard that right, over £70,000 big ones, for an Audi estate that wasn’t one of the super quick S models. First test for the big Audi estate was loading it on Christmas Eve morning in readiness for our trip to Somerset. I’ll admit that after seeing the luggage for the four day trip, plus presents (mostly for my son) I have to admit to worrying that the 565 litres of bootspace would be enough. It all went in eventually, but the standard power-operated boot turned out to be more of a hinderance than a help. I had to load right up to the edge of the luggage compartment and the safety mechanism that detects whether there’s someone or something in the way of shutting, didn’t like this. As such, it would almost close and then reopen partly. The only way I found to close it was a firm hand on the boot as it shut. All this loading also made me think about the A6′s design. There’s no doubt that the latest A6 Avant is a good looking estate car, but I wonder how much rear loadspace is lost with the curvy rear styling. Yes, more upright designs aren’t as attractive, but I bet you can get more in them. The Christmas Eve route gave me a chance to try this A6′s performance and handling, sadly the news wasn’t all good. The 3.0 TFSi I thought would be rapid all the time with its 155mph top speed and 0-60mph acceleration in 5.6 seconds. In reality, unless in sport mode, this engine felt lazy and happier as a cruiser. Still, in just under the 500 miles I had this car, even fully loaded and on occasions driven hard, we were averaging around 30mpg – which I don’t think is bad. The standard start/stop system obviously helping here. The handling wasn’t as sharp as I had hoped either; the optional adaptive air suspension might have given a surprisingly composed ride on the big alloys, but left in auto mode I felt there was too much body roll and the car could feel a bit floaty at speed. Playing with the other suspension settings didn’t help much to remedy this either. Still, on muddy roads the extra grip of the Quattro four-wheel drive system was noticeable and welcome. The LED headlights with auto high beam assist (£2,710), were also the best I’ve tried. During this drive, I got accustomed to the A6′s interior. In general, it was a pleasant and in the case of this car, well-equipped place to be. The dashboard design is attractive, the build quality first rate and the seats and driving position very comfortable. My son had more than enough space in the back too. The distinctive Oakwood, beaufort inlays (a £700 option on the dash, console and doors) were a constant source of comment for my wife and I, plus anyone that travelled in the car during the time I had it. We were not fans and I’m not sure it represents good value for money. However, I was a fan of the MMI navigation Plus system with its touch keypad (£1,175), the punchy but frighteningly expensive Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system (£6,300) and the way it hooked into my iPod via the music interface (£260) and could make the most of my CDs via the CD/DVD autochanger (£680). The way the MMI screen popped out and the tweaters rose out of the dashboard never ceased to raise a smile when I drove this car. Christmas over and the A6 was pushed into further trips to see relatives and the sales. The trip to the shops was an eye-opening one, as it involved negotiating a modern multi-story car park. Easier said than done you would think, after all this car was fitted with front parking sensors and rear reversing camera. Wrong, as this was the only time I found the A6′s size a problem. The small, tight route through the car park was a constant source of worry about damaging one of the 20-inch alloys. Then, when I did park, the A6 appeared to dwarf the small modern space. So, after this time with the A6, if I had the money would I buy one? Well, I really missed it when the man from Audi came to take it away, as there’s no doubt it’s an attractive high quality car. However, if it was my money, I would go for the 2.0-litre TDi diesel with a more sensible specification.

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Christmas with: Audi A6 3.0 TFSi Quattro SE Avant

2013 Cadillac ATS: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Live Photos [Detroit Auto Show]

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

After brief opening remarks from General Motors CEO Dan Akerson, head of design Ed Welburn, and President of GM North America Mark Reuss at the College for Creative Studies, America’s biggest automaker dropped the sheets off the Cadillac of compacts — the 2013 ATS ahead of tomorrow’s Detroit Auto Show . More »

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2013 Cadillac ATS: 2012 Detroit Auto Show Live Photos [Detroit Auto Show]

Fiat Confirms “L0? Crossover Based on 500, and We’ll Get it Here

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:37:51 +0000

Fiat will introduce a 500-based crossover at the Geneva auto show in March, a spokesperson has confirmed. The car is called the L0, or “elle zero”—this from the company that calls the Abarth SS the “esseesse”—and will be sold in the U.S. Our artist’s rendering, above, borrows styling from both the 500 hatchback and its platform-mate, the Fiat Panda, a city car with crossover styling. The final L0 may be a bit more SUV-ish than van-inspired Panda, and the Panda door handles probably will be swapped for chrome grab bars, like on the 500. We also anticipate a more normal roofline. But in a general sense, what you see here is what we’ll get. We hope that Fiat bypasses the 500′s underwhelming 101-hp, 1.4-liter inline-four and goes straight to the turbocharged version found in the upcoming 500 Abarth and Dodge Dart . Regardless of the engine, the L0 will have standard front-wheel drive and offer optional all-wheel drive. Since the L0′s underpinnings will come right from the Panda, and that car is offered with all-wheel drive, much of the difficult engineering work has already been done. Before you laugh, take a peek at some videos of the Panda 4×4 on YouTube—it’s pretty damn capable off road. Figure on sales starting around the third quarter of this year. Illustration by Christian Schulte

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Fiat Confirms “L0? Crossover Based on 500, and We’ll Get it Here