Back to the Future: Formula One Racecar Lapping the Nürburgring Circuit in 1967

The Nürburgring circuit is called “The Green Hell” for a good reason. Measuring 24.4 km (15.2 miles) in today’s combined version that uses a part of the Formula 1 track, it’s not an easy circuit to master. Complete a fast lap was even more difficult in the late ’60, when Formula 1 was nowhere near the high-tech parade it represents now. Back then, fearless drivers raced cars with skinny tires that had very few, if any safety features and weren't exactly easy to drive.

Check out the video after the break to see 1967 Formula 1 car running the Green Hell. At the time, the Nordschleife measured 22.8 km (14.2 miles) and had 174 turns.

By Csaba Daradics

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2012 Buick Verano Pricing Estimates, Preliminary Engine Specs and Trim Levels Leaked

The last time we heard about General Motors' forthcoming Buick Verano was back in October when the company teased the U.S. version of the already revealed in China, Excelle GT, with a single cropped picture. Now, the folks over at GM Inside News forum managed to get their hands on the car's preliminary specs through a leaked online order study destined for Buick dealers.

According to the official document, the Verano will be available with the 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. Peak output will be 180 hp and 172 lb-ft (233 Nm) of torque. Customers will have the option to choose between four trim levels, each building up on the previous version.

The base version is codenamed “1SB Cloth Base” and comes with a cloth interior. It has an estimated MSRP ranging from $20,900 to $21,500.

Next up is the “1SD Cloth Mid-Level” that adds a variety of features such as remote start, dual-zone automatic air conditioning and sound system with Bluetooth connectivity. The MSRPs range between $22,100 and $22,700.

The third variant is the “1SG Cloth Mid-Level”, which ups the luxury ante with power adjustable driver seat, heated mirrors, rear park assist and dimming inside rear view mirror. Base price for this variant is estimated to be in the $23,300 - $23,900 range.

Last but not least, Buick will offer the range topping “1SL Leather Up-Level”, boasting heated seats and steering wheel, keyless entry system, premium Bose sound system and 18-inch alloys. This version is estimated to cost up to $26,200.

If true, Buick will be charging mid-size sedan money - think Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata- for a car that belongs in the subcompact category along with its Chevrolet Cruze twin and the Ford Focus. Of course, being that we're still more than six months away from the Buick Verano's market launch in the States, one should take these prices for what they are: estimates and not final prices.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: GM Inside News , Via: Worldcarfans

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Seattle Police Department Twittering Car Thefts

From now on, if you are unfortunate enough to have your car stolen in Seattle, the local Police Department [SPD] will post a description of your vehicle on Twitter. Yes, that Twitter. It’s part of a new initiative to cut down on the roughly 3,000 car thefts that occur in the city each year.

The new Twitter account is called, "Get Your Car Back" [http://twitter.com/getyourcarback#], though I’m sure the SPD could have something cooler like, ‘Stolen Vehicle Watch’ or ‘Smile, You’re On Twitter’. The Tweets, which are visible to everyone, look like this:

COLOR:SILVER YR:1993 MAKE:HONDA MODEL:ACCORD BODY:4DR LIC:608YTL ST:WA ***DO NOT MAKE CONTACT CALL 911***

The idea is to get ordinary, average citizens on the streets looking out for stolen vehicles and reporting them to the police so that they can quickly be recovered. Kind of like that reality TV show, The Fugitive, though not as dull. It is also hoped to deter criminals from stealing the cars in the first place.

Lieutenant Mike Edwards of SPD’s Investigation Procedures, explains:

“Twitter is more than a craze. It’s been around long enough now that clearly [it’s] something the average citizen at almost any age is aware of and using, so for us it is an opportunity to get information out in a very timely fashion, much quicker than we have been able to in the past. So what will happen is once the officer has arrived and confirmed it is a stolen vehicle, our dispatch center will then tweet it.”

Depending on the success of ‘Get Your Car Back’, the SPD may consider using Twitter for other purposes, such as reporting traffic accidents.

“One of the important messages from all of this is as technology continues to grow and expand [the SPD is] growing and expanding. We are looking for new and different ways to do what we’ve done and part of that too, is to engage the public a lot more and get the community more involved and aware of what we are doing.”

Needless to say, Lt. Edwards and the SPD discourage citizens from taking action against the drivers of stolen vehicles; you should always call the police.

By Tristan Hankins

Spy Video: 2012 New Beetle Caught Testing on the Road

We've shown you the spy shots and told you about the Oprah gig where the famous TV host gave away 275 examples of the yet-to-be-revealed New Beetle to her audience. Now, the 2012 model was caught on video towing a pretty big trailer during a series of tests carried out in Europe. VW has promised that the new generation of the retro-styled hatch, which will arrive in May next year, will be a “driving machine" but did not elaborate further. Video after the jump.

By Csaba Daradics

Via: Autoblog

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Nostalgic Styling Take on 2015 Volkswagen Transporter

Even though the current day Volkswagen Transporter is a descendant of the famous Beetle-derived Type 2 vans, it has never managed to enjoy the same level of popularity among enthusiasts as its predecessors did. One of the reasons why the past two generations of the Transporter (T4 and T5) never caught on as much as VW would have liked, could be that their styling is completely forgettable.

Eduardo Oliveira, a Brazilian designer who you may remember from the 2012 New Beetle study, has come up with a retro styled proposal to fix this issue for the Transporter's successor. Presented here in a variety of models, the conceptual Transporter is inspired by the famous T1 and T2 VW vans. Granted, the renderings need some polishing up but the idea is there. Hit the break for the full photo gallery.

Source / Designer: Eduardo Oliveira

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VIDEO: Race Driver Fast Laps NZ Circuit in New Volvo S60 Blindfolded!

And you thought your latest weekend track race was adrenaline-filled... Enter the realm of Jonny Reid, one of New Zealand's top racing drivers. The 27-year-old Kiwi put a brand new 2011 Volvo S60 to the test around Hampton Downs raceway in Auckland. Nothing spectacular there you say? How about if we told you that he did it blindfolded? Yes, that's right; the young racing driver couldn't see a thing.

According to the promo event's organizers, it took Reid more than one try but in the end, he managed to return a lap time of 1:28 with a top speed of 193km/h (119 mph). "He was guided only by the feel of the car, his knowledge of the track, and co-driver Earl Bamber's voice," said Volvo. Pretty neat, though we're not sure who was the bravest of the two; the driver or the co-driver... Scroll down to watch the clips.

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Automakers Ram Up Ads for Super Bowl XLV

At least eight auto brands have purchased ad airtime for the next Super Bowl sports event to be held in Arlington, Texas, on February 6. That means we can expect to witness the biggest auto-ad smackdown of recent times, as some automakers plan to air two or even more commercials during the game.

At the 2010 Super Bowl, five car makers aired a combined 5 minutes and 30 seconds worth of ads, while the same number of companies ran just three minutes worth of commercials in 2009. With an ad costing as much as $3 million, it seems that auto makers are ready to ditch their more conservative ads of the last couple of years in favor of funnier, eye-catching spots.

These days most commercials have pretty much the same agenda: a car is traveling on the road, with music playing on the background. To Steve Wilwhite, who worked twenty years for Volkswagen’s American branch, these campaigns are “absolute dreck”, “mind-numbing” and “uninspiring”.

That’s why car companies have to push their limits once again in terms of advertising. “You must have a key, new, innovative, value-laden message to put out there”, said George Cook, executive professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Rochester's Simon Graduate School of Business.

One of the most catching ads of the past years was Hyundai’s “Angry Bosses” masterminded by Jeff Goodby of Goodby Silverstein & Partners, who now work for Chevrolet.

“The Hyundai Assurance spots wouldn't have won the USA Today ad meter, but they were certainly written about in the wake of the Super Bowl a lot. There are also things like 'Angry Bosses' [an ad that aired in Super Bowl 2009] which did do well on the polls because it was designed to be something people remembered, laughed at, talked about”, Mr. Goodby commented.

One of the eight confirmed buyers is BMW, which returns to the Super Bowl after a decade of absence. The Germans plan to use the football match as a stage to promote several new cars.

GM didn’t buy ad space in the last two games, but it’s planning a comeback with Chevrolet. Chrysler did feature a Dodge ad in the last Super Bowl, but this time plans to up the ante.

Audi is consistent: this is going to be the fourth consecutive year that the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer seeks publicity during the first commercial break. Volkswagen will join Audi by purchasing an additional spot.

According to Autonews, Kia will double its exposure, opting for a 60-second ad this time, while Hyundai is bringing out the big guns with three secured commercials – one more than in 2010.

Mercedes is preparing for its 125th anniversary and four new launches next year, so it’s going to run a 60-second ad during the fourth quarter.

Ford opted not get on the Super Bowl train as it will only advertise during Fox’s pre-game coverage.

Source: Automotive News

By Csaba Daradics

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Topcar jumps on the Porsche Cayenne Tuning Bandwagon with Vantage GTR 2

Topcar might be a newbie in the industry, but the Russian tuning firm is churning one proposal after the other. Following a display of project cars at this year's Essen Motor Show, the company has unveiled its latest package in the form of the Vantage GTR 2 for the latest Porsche Cayenne.

Limited to 50 units, the package overhauls the SUV's looks with a full bodykit comprised of carbon Kevlar and carbon fiber components, including front and rear bumpers, bonnet, ultra-wide wheel-arches and a rear diffuser. New two-tone black and white alloy wheels complete the exterior make up. Furthermore, the Moscow-based tuner offers multiple performance upgrades with the output ranging from 550 to 750 hp.

By Csaba Daradics

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