- The End And The Return Of Ferrari’s Archways of Aerodynamics
- #acuransx
When Ferrari introduced the 599 GTB at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, they introduced with it a graceful and elegant piece of aerodynamics: Gothic flying buttresses for C-pillars. They are gone on the F12 Berlinetta, the 599’s just-unveiled successor, but Honda is here to pick up the slack with the NSX. More »
- Five Good Things About High Gas Prices
- #ifeelgassy
High gas prices suck, right? Wrong. There's actually a silver lining that only the in-market car consumer boys at Edmunds Inside Line are able to see. They put together a list of five good things about the increasingly higher cost of gas that we've refined and edited below. More »
- 2013 Ford F-Series Super Duty: Touch The Platinum
- #fordsuperduty
With Big & Rich's (a duo normally found shilling in Chevy ads) "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" twanging over the speakers, Ford revealed their 2013 Ford Super Duty pickup here at Ford Field, home to those lovable losers — well, until this year at least — known as the Detroit Lions. More »
- American Airlines Flight Attendant Rants To Passengers About Plane Crash
- #planelopnik
Passengers on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Chicago were about to take off when an angry flight attended started screaming about the plane crashing. The crew and passengers had to restrain the woman. Welcome to your new flying nightmare. More »
- How Princess Diana's Former Flack Became The Pied Piper Of Automotive Media
- #mercedesbenz
A few steps below the lobby at the Amangani Lodge in Jackson Hole, one of the finest hotels in the world, several car writers sat around a massive wooden table, eating Caesar salads and Kobe beef burgers, the snow-capped Tetons framed behind us as though Mercedes-Benz had installed them for our pleasure alone. "Goddamn it, I told them not to put tomatoes on my club sandwich!" a large man bellowed. More »
- Wait, What Size Is Your Penis Again?
- #licenseplates
This Texan Ariel Atom used to roll with a license plate that said L8RH8R. Now its owner's moved on to something a bit more self-deprecating. The result? Something straight out of Conan O'Brien. More »
- The New Ferrari Looks Like A Uterus
- #ferrarif12
When looking at the back end of the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta we were struck with the belief that it looked like... well, something. But we couldn't quite place our finger on it. Until our good friend at IEDEI finally put his finger on it. More »
- The 2013 Dodge Charger Sprint Cup Car Is Pretty And Empty
- #2013dodgecharger
Dodge went to Las Vegas today to unveil the 2013 Dodge Charger Sprint Cup car you've already seen, which seems appropriate given the long odds of a MOPAR-badged car winning the championship next year. More »
- Daimler Edits Wikipedia Page, Nepotism At Volkswagen, And The Return Of Datsun
- #themorningshift
This is the Morning Shift, our one-stop daily roundup of all the auto news that's actually important — all in one place at 9:00 AM. Or, you could spend all day waiting for other sites to parcel it out to you one story at a time. Isn't your time more important? More »
- The Exhaust Pipe That Made Red Bull A Success
- #formulaone
The coolest car at Renault’s booth at the Geneva Motor Show was the Red Bull RB7, the Renault-powered Formula One car which won the 2011 championship in the hands of Sebastian Vettel. Unlike the old or partially complete F1 cars displayed at many carmakers’ booths, this was the real deal, as evidenced by this flattened oval exhaust pipe which played a key part in the car’s dominance. More »
- This Is $150 Million Worth Of Ferraris On A Ferry
- #carporn
What you see here is a flock of the most desirable Ferraris ever built — all assembled on a single ferry. That includes a huge percentage of the entire GTO production run. An estimated $160 million worth of Italian metal calmly crossing the sea. Even the police escort is impressed. What's going on here? More »
- How To Import A Foreign Car... Legally
- #howto
Draconian import restrictions make it difficult, but not impossible, to bring lustworthy foreign cars never sold in the U.S. to our shores. Do it wrong and the Feds will take your ride. Here's Mike Solo's instructions for doing it right. — Ed. More »
- Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Pebble Beach Special Edition
- At this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Carmel, California which marked its 60th anniversary, Rolls-Royce introduced a bespoke Phantom Drophead Coupe that was unveiled by CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös and Chief Designer Ian Cameron.
Sold within minutes, the new car is painted in a one-off Bespoke exterior colour called Stillwater Blue as a tribute [...]
- 2011 Renault Latitude introduced at the Moscow Motor Show
- Renault has big plans for the Russian market. the 2011 Renault Latitude was introduced at the Moscow International Motor Show.
The French manufacturer will also launch several new models to the Russian market such as Duster, the new automatic Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway as well as Fluence sedan and Megane hatchback. The Latitude [...]
- 2010 Moscow Motor Show: 2011 Vw Polo Sedan unveiled
- The new 2011 Volkswagen Polo saloon has just been unveiled at the 2010 Moscow Motor Show. VW said that the Polo saloon, which will be made at VW’s factory in Kaluga, Russia, was developed specifically for the Russian market, with consideration for its specific climate and street conditions.
The reason why small saloons are [...]
- Toyota and GM recalling over 1.3 million vehicles for engine stalling
- Toyota and General Motors, announced today that they will recall 1.3 million vehicles from the 2005-2008 model years due to complaints of engine stalling.
Toyota will recall 1.1 million Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles after more than 1,000 complaints were received, while GM will recall 200,000 Pontiac Vibes, including 162,000 in the United States. For those [...]
- Geely posted a forecast-beating 35% rise in first half earnings
- For the first half of the year, Geely Automobile Holdings exceeded forecasts and posted a 35% increase in earnings in China.
However, sales of Geely (whose parent purchased Ford’s Volvo unit this month) are expected to slow as its competitors gain ground in China, the world’s largest auto market. As Beijing offered incentives starting last year [...]
- Great Wall Motor plans to start overseas expansion
- Within the next three years, China’s Great Wall Motor Co. will begin to assemble vehicles from kits in Europe, Africa, the Philippines, South America and Malaysia. In late September, vehicle assembly is slated to begin in Senegal.
The Philippines will follow later this year. A company spokesman confirmed that operations will begin at plants in Bulgaria, [...]
- Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks rose 10 percent in July
- For the seventh straight month, sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks have increased. In July, 21,493 units were sold, a 10% increase.
This streak is remarkable because before this sales rebound, there had been three years of declines. Sales of Class 8 trucks increased by 28% to 9,589 units; however, there were sharp divisions by brand [...]
- Sonic to begin a test of no-haggle pricing at finance and insurance
- On Sept. 1, Sonic Automotive Inc. will start a test of no-haggle pricing at finance and insurance offices in two markets: Columbus, Ohio, and northern Virginia.
Sonic, the nation’s third-largest dealership group, said that this pilot is part of its attempts to make shopping faster and easier for customers, according to Jeff Dyke, Sonic’s executive vice [...]
- Bosch to expand Chinese plant
- Robert Bosch GmbH’s expansion of its existing plant and the construction of a new technical center in an economic development zone in the central China city of Changsha will be completed in mid-2012.
Bosch’s investment for this project amounts to 240 million yuan ($354 million). According to the deal with the zone administration, Bosch will lease [...]
- Paris Preview: 2011 Lotus Evora S and Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift)
- After we saw the leaked e-mail, Lotus unveiled today the Evora S and Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option. As expected, the Evora S is more powerful and now the 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers 350 PS (standard version delivers 280 PS) and 400 Nm of torque (295 lb ft).
The Evora S can sprint [...]
- Tata Motors planning to raise as much as $1 billion from selling securities
- Sources confirmed today that Tata Motors a.k.a. the owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, hired Credit Suisse Group AG and Citigroup Inc. in order to raise as much as a $1 billion from selling securities.
Apparently Tata may tap capital markets in the next month and may consider options including a private placement, shares with differential [...]
- 2010 Nissan Frontier recalled in the United States
- Because of failure to meet the requirements of child restraint anchorage systems (federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225), Nissan is issuing a service campaign in the US and is calling back 951 Frontier vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the affected vehicles include those produced from June 10, 2010 through June [...]
- The MotoGP™ History app now available in Spanish and Italian!
- The MotoGP™ History app offers you a chance to re-live the most significant and exciting events of the MotoGP decade, and it is now available in Spanish and Italian, along with the current version in English.
- Private CRT testing at Aragon concludes
- The second day of testing wrapped up under largely improved weather conditions, especially in the evening, for the five MotoGP riders present at the Aragon circuit. Riders were able to make up for time lost on Thursday due to high winds, with the two Spanish and one British team present and accruing more laps and experience.
- CAME IodaRacing Project presented in Venice
- The Casino of Venice on the spectacular Grand Canal hosted the CAME IodaRacing Project team presentation on Saturday with riders Danilo Petrucci and Simone Corsi.
- Lorenzo races with fans
- The Yamaha Factory Racing rider caught up with motogp.com at the official Jorge Lorenzo fan club off road race held at Montmelo last Saturday to discuss his preparations for the 2012 MotoGP™ season.
- AC Milan honors Marco Simoncelli
- The AC Milan paid tribute to the champion shortly ahead of their Serie A match against Lecce on Sunday through the actions of 58 children from the Milan football school in Coriano.
- The San Carlo Honda Gresini Team presentation in Milan
- The Fausto Gresini led team presented its three projects for the 2012 season, with riders Álvaro Bautista, Michele Pirro and Niccolò Antonelli.
- Lin Jarvis: "We have two riders capable of challenging for the title"
- After a positive two tests in Sepang, motogp.com caught up with Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis to hear his thoughts on Yamaha´s 2012 challenge and their expectations for all four riders contesting the year on-board the YZR-M1.
- A day adjustments for Alvaro Bautista
- The San Carlo Honda Gresini rider avoided a crash and finished with the fifth fastest time on the first day of the second Official Test at Sepang.
- Ducati Team plans abbreviated on day one at Sepang
- The second Official Test of 2012 began in Malaysia today, but the Ducati Team riders and technicians had abbreviated work schedules due to a dirty track surface in the morning and rain in the afternoon.
- Testing ends early for Abraham
- Karel Abraham, who completed only 3 laps during the first day of the second official MotoGP™ test at Sepang, withdrew from the test after back injuries from a crash at Jerez in Spain last week didn’t allowed him to continue.
- Spies leads as rain halts Sepang track action
- Early intermittent rain storms paused the track action at the Official MotoGP™ Test at Sepang by the midway point of day two, with Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo leading the times and no Hondas yet on track.
- Repsol Honda Team miss today's test but is ready for tomorrow
- Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa had to sit out the second day of testing at Sepang waiting to get the all-clear from HRC after Pedrosa experienced an engine failure on the first day.
- 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Review - Video
- The team behind the Camaro ZL1 deserves a serious pat on the back, because they've clearly listened closely to their critics when refining the SS into this surprisingly high-tech and hugely capable sports car.
- Mercedes 4MATIC AWD System Review
- Known in much of the country as the winter that wasn't, you wouldn't know it in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Mercedes is showcasing the latest version its 4MATIC all-wheel drive system and planning ahead for next year.
- 2012 Aston Martin Virage Volante Review
- Aston Martin's newest droptop, the 2012 Virage Volante, splits the difference between the DB9 and DBS.
- 2012 Nissan Leaf Review [Video]
- AutoGuide Editor-in-Chief Colum Wood sets out to see what happens when you use an electric city car for an unintended purpose, namely, making the long-haul commute from the suburbs.
- 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage
- Japan's aftermarket auto parts and racing expo, the Tokyo Auto Salon features displays by all major domestic automakers including Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and Subaru. Tuners from NISMO to TRD and Mugen display their latest products and point to the future of the Japanese tuner industry. The 2012 show promises to be a big one, thanks to the debut of the Toyota GT 86 and Subaru BRZ.
- 2012 Subaru Impreza Hatchback Review
- Subaru continues in its quest to be more Toyota-like with the new Impreza, although many of its best features include brand staples like permanent all-wheel drive.
- 2012 Chicago Auto Show Coverage
- One of America's premiere new vehicle venues, the Chicago Auto Show always seems to have a theme, from last year's performance focused models, to trucks the year before that. Watch for this year's theme to develop as word of debuts like the 2013 GMC Acadia begin to leak out.
- 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Review
- As with past iterations, the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI continues a strong tradition of offering boy-racer performance in a finely tailored suit.
- 2012 Chevrolet Volt Review [Video]
- Impressive? Without question. But is the Chevrolet Volt that much better than a hybrid or an electric car; or even a hyper-efficient, and significantly cheaper, gas model?
- 2012 Fiat 500C Review
- Cutesy looks and plenty of cachet, but is the Fiat 500 Cabriolet a catch?
- 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited Review
- AutoGuide hits the streets and the dirt to test out the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, featuring a more powerful and efficient V6 engine.
- 2012 Mercedes C350 Review
- Mercedes updates the C-Class for 2012, but still doesn't offer its 4MATIC all-wheel drive system on the top trim.
- 2012 MV Agusta Brutale R 1090 Review
- Motorcycle art, as MV Agusta has branded itself, is a generally accepted description of the models produced by the Italian manufacturer. Our question is if a bike as attractive as the Brutale 1090R can perform as well as it profiles.
- 2012 Cleveland CycleWerks Tha Misfit Review - Video
- From its kick-starter to fuel petcock and handlebar-mounted choke, Cleveland Cyclewerks' Tha Misifit does more than look the part of a vintage cafe racer, it adheres to the simplicity of the era.
- 2012 Aprilia Tuono V4 R Review
- One of our favorite sporting nakeds has been Aprilia's Tuono that debuted a decade ago, based on the V-Twin RSV1000. Today, we have its successor, the Aprila Tuono V4R, a naked conversion of the championship-winning RSV4.
- 2012 Piaggio Typhoon 125 Review
- Piaggio claims the Typhoon can achieve an astonishing 90 mpg from its tiny 124cc single-cylinder engine. Another notable figure is its price. At just $2699, the Typhoon is a natural choice for anyone looking for cheap, reliable transportation.
- Dainese D-air Racing Leathers Make U.S. Debut
- Dainese was the first to bring motorcyclists knee sliders, back protector and carbon/Kevlar knuckle protection. Now the Italian company is the first manufacturer to offer airbag protection in an off-the-rack (or custom) leather racing suit in America.
- 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow vs. Triumph America [Video]
- If you're eager to have a user-friendly cruiser that won't break the bank and yet still offers reputable performance and is welcoming of new and/or returning riders, then gaze upon the Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow and Triumph America.
- 2012 Yamaha Zuma 125 Review
- If riding a small-bore scooter leaves you feeling emasculated, consider the Yamaha Zuma 125: rugged, aggressive styling (especially in black), fat, semi-knobby tires and power enough to shoot its rider across an intersection faster than the average car.
- In Living Color: Exploring Ontario's Grey Bruce Region
- Making the decision to take a much-needed holiday, we closed our laptop, shut off our phone and headed north to explore Tobermory and Ontario's Grey Bruce region - an area seemingly made for exploring on a motorcycle.
- 2012 Confederate X132 Hellcat Preview
- Hellcat, the most affordable motorcycle in Confederate's portfolio, enters 2012 as a new model with reduced complexity and increased performance. Among the upgrades is a 2,163cc V-Twin engine of unit construction, with cases milled from billet aluminum.
- RoadRace Factory School and Race Team [Video]
- These are crazy times for Danny Walker. Not only is the former AMA pro 250cc racer now running a new four-rider race team, but he's also started an innovative new riding school - the RoadRace Factory School - where crashing is not frowned upon.
- 2012 125cc Scooter Shootout [Video]
- The red-headed stepchild of motorcycledom, scooters are a strong alternative to the costs of car ownership and public transit. We decided to pit three of these gas sippers against each other - the Honda PCX, Piaggio Typhoon 125 and Yamaha Zuma 125.
- 2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two and Softail Slim Preview
- Harley-Davidson has just released two new 2012 models that look in the Motor Company's mirrors for inspiration, the XL1200V Seventy-Two and the FLS Softail Slim.
- Ford Bets On Ecoboost, Chrysler And GM On Natural Gas For Pickups
- While both General Motors and Chrysler are putting their money on Compressed Natural Gas options for their pickup-truck lineups, Ford is going with pretty much everything but CNG as it examines alternative fuel strategies for future vehicles – and for now, the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 will be the standard bearer for light duty versions of [...]
- Blind Spot: Obama No Longer Dreams Of Electric Cars
- “The electric things have their life too. Paltry as those lives are.” Phillip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? At the High School I attended, progress reports were never a good thing. Halfway through each term, students who were averaging a D or lower would receive a print-out of their grade accompanied by [...]
- Volkswagen Wants Ducati
- When I started working for (not at) Volkswagen in the 70s, they talked about adding many brands, all the way “from MAN trucks to a motorcycle.” 40 years later, Volkswagen finally has MAN. And it might soon have that motorcycle wish fulfilled. German media, from Financial Times Deutschland all the way to Das Handelsblatt report [...]
- ar Collector’s Corner: 1960 Chevy Impala 4 Door Hardtop – And Now for Something Completely Different
- Picture courtesy mystarcollectorcar.com We like to draw readers in with our titles, so the logical question is “what’s completely different about a 60 Chevy?” The 60 Chevy was in a Bob Seeger song. How unique can it really be? That’s a fair question, but the answer is really obvious. This is a right-hand drive car and [...]
- Best Selling Cars Around The Globe: Myanmar Keeps Its Secrets
- Over the last couple of weeks, your favorite travel agent has taken you on trips to Belarus, Eritrea, Chile and Georgia (mmm, am I really your favorite travel agent? I’m getting a little worried…). But you only have yourselves to blame: bFor the third week I’m only taking you where you asked to go. And today the destination is [...]
- Hammer Time: Should Speed Limits Be Limits?
- There used to be a long line of cars going in the direction of my childhood home. My mom, bless her heart, used to observe the speed limits with enough zeal to make Ralph Nader blush. “Do we drive 25 miles per hour? No! We drive 20. That way we are always obeying the law!” [...]
- Junkyard Find: 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup
- Americans have never had many choices for front-wheel-drive pickup trucks; you could make your own by dropping a random pickup bed on a Sawzall-ized Sentra, or you could go with an Omnirizon-based Dodge Rampage or a Golf-based VW Caddy. Not many Rampages or Rabbit pickups left, though I did find this ’80 VW in a [...]
- SEC Inquiry Into Fisker Fundraisers
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the principals of a private equity firm that has raised a significant amount of the private financing for Fisker Automotive, says Crain’s Chicago Business. Though nothing on the public record has tied the investigation with Fisker, the National Legal and Policy Center, a politically right of center [...]
- Dangers Of Distracted And Drunk Walking: Plastered Pedestrian Prompts Pile-Up
- A drunk man who was talking on his cell phone caused a three-car pile-up near Chicago, and he wasn’t even driving. According to the Chicago Tribune, a 31-year-old intoxicated, and, to make matters worse, cell phone using man crossed Warrenville Road in Naperville, IL, after having visited a bar. Then, all hell broke loose. Fist, [...]
- Jack Baruth’s Frog Colored Audi S5 Causes Backlash In China
- China has become famous for its golden and pink cars. Now, there is some kind of a backlash. Or maybe word of Jack Baruth’s lime green Audi S5 has reached China? Can’t possibly drive an Audi S5 in gold, pink, or lime green in China after Jack’s frog-colored Audi was flogged on eBay. Even China [...]
- Of Hybrids and Electrics: 2012 Chevy Volt
- The Chevy Volt has probably been the most over-reviewed vehicle of modern times. You want some insights on a Volt? Go here, here, and here without ever leaving the homely confines of TTAC. Then there are hundreds of reviews from other sites throughout the web and beyond. From Mommy blogs to the more conventional [...]
- Lotus Suspends Development Of New Models Due To Pending Proton Sale
- As one of the few people who doesn’t hate the direction Lotus is going in, the news that development of Lotus’ entire lineup has been suspended is disheartening. It seems that the Malaysian government is looking to unload their stake in Proton, parent company of Lotus. Malaysian takeover laws stipulate a three month “lockdown” on [...]
- Q&A with Charlie Whiting
- F1 race director Charlie Whiting talks rules; both sporting and technical; ahead of the start of the new Formula One season...
- Glock: Nothing to lose
- Timo Glock is confident Marussia have done everything they can away from the track to negate their lack of pre-season running in the new MR01...
- Raikkonen: Melbourne will suit the E20
- Kimi Raikkonen is expecting a "reasonably strong" start to the season for Lotus as the Melbourne circuit should suit the characteristics of his E20...
- Brawn: W03 can win races
- Mercedes could be in for a good season with Ross Brawn revealing that he has "not seen anything" in the W03 that says it can't win grands prix...
- Q&A with Eric Boullier
- Eric Boullier reckons Lotus have reasons to be positive ahead of the season, which he hopes will yield a few podiums and maybe even a win...
- Williams preview the Australian GP
- Williams are determined to put their 2011 disappointments in the past, starting with a good result in Melbourne...
- Hamilton: I was distracted
- Lewis Hamilton concedes life away from the circuit took his focus away from Formula One, costing him dearly last season...
- Q&A with James Allison
- Lotus Renault technical director James Allison discusses the rule changes, their chassis setback and the potential of the E20 among other things...
- Good news and bad news for McLaren
- McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh admits there is good news and bad news heading into the season-opening Australian Grand Prix...
- DC backs Kimi to surprise
- BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard believes Kimi Raikkonen "could be the surprise of the season"...
- Force India preview the Australian GP
- Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg look ahead to the season-opening race in Australia this coming weekend...
- Senna itching to race again
- New Williams recruit Bruno Senna admits he can't wait for the 2012 season to get underway in Australia this coming weekend...
- UK specialist looking to give TVR Tuscan a second life as Chevy-powered Titan
- Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, GM, UK, Specialty
Classic World Racing TVR Titan - Click above for high-res image gallery
Might the quintessential British muscle car soon be blessed with the quintessential American muscle car powerplant? If UK-based racing specialist Classic World Racing gets its way, the answer is yes. The car is the TVR Tuscan - and we're talking about the beautiful 1968 version, for what it's worth - and the engine is none other than General Motors' undeniably excellent LS3 V8.
CWR has somehow managed to obtain the original molds for the old TVR Tuscan that had been sitting unused for decades in an old barn, after which the company built a race car using the molds for a client in Malaysia. Shortly thereafter, demand for a roadgoing version was deemed strong enough to make the necessary modifications to make it street legal. In this new form, CWR chose to call the machine the Titan.
Power figures for the Yankee-sourced 5.7-liter V8 engine start at 480 horsepower and go from there, and those ponies will be sent to a limited-slip differential at the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. Couple that prodigious output with a weight of just 2,160 pounds (980 kilograms) and you've got a recipe for formidable performance. Price? Around £42,500 (plus VAT) in the UK - that's about $65,500 dollars. Check out our high-res image gallery below and read the press release after the break.
Gallery: Classic World Racing TVR Titan
[Source: Classic World Racing via Piston Heads]Continue reading UK specialist looking to give TVR Tuscan a second life as Chevy-powered TitanUK specialist looking to give TVR Tuscan a second life as Chevy-powered Titan originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Video: Audi R8 Spyder gets lead role in Iron Man 2
- Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Audi, Celebrities, Luxury
Audi R8 Spyder in Iron Man 2 - Click above to watch video after the jump
We're officially counting down the days until Iron Man 2 hits theaters on May 7. The sequel to one of our favorite superhero flicks is set to boast a serious cast, including performances by Don Cheadle and Micky Rourke. Speaking of those two, the actors will be bringing two of the best characters from the Iron Man universe to life - War Machine and Whiplash. Oh yes. It will be good.
Of course, one of the best parts of watching Robert Downey Jr. play the part of spoiled playboy Tony Stark is drooling over the guy's bachelor pad/garage. We would give unmentionable portions of our anatomy to have our very own holographic drafting table and pint-sized manufacturing facility stashed downstairs. You can go ahead and throw in the flathead '32 roadster while you're at it.
Audi has once again teamed up with Marvel for Iron Man 2. A new ad from the company shows off the R8 Spyder as one of Stark's main rides, which makes sense considering the car was spotted on the set not too long ago. As if we needed another reason to be jealous. Hit the jump to see the spot for yourself.
Gallery: Audi R8 5.2 FSI Spyder
[Source: Audi via YouTube]Continue reading Video: Audi R8 Spyder gets lead role in Iron Man 2Video: Audi R8 Spyder gets lead role in Iron Man 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- iPhone 4.0 software hints at automotive integration, new dock
- Filed under: Technology
Our Apple-obsessed brethren at TUAW have been probing the company's new iPhone 4.0 software and, with the help of a trusted tipster, came across what could be a new automotive-related feature buried within the update.
The new software will apparently allow a "iPod out" functionality, which could be integrated into vehicles utilizing the iPod Accessory Protocol. While that's nothing new, the software tweaks have the potential to allow users to control music and other content through the iPhone (or by relation, the iPod Touch or iPad), turning the device into a separate remote control of sorts.
If that's the case, there's a distinct possibility that Apple - or third party accessory manufacturers - could develop a car kit complete with a dock, buttons and custom menus. The video after the jump provides a snooze-worthy tease of the functionality, and if this software sleuthing is to be believed, we might see some kind of Apple-branded car kit released by year's end.
[Source: TUAW]Continue reading iPhone 4.0 software hints at automotive integration, new dockiPhone 4.0 software hints at automotive integration, new dock originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Pics Aplenty: Audi RS5 officially unloaded to the Internet
- Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi, Luxury
2011 Audi RS5 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Good news, Quattroheads: Audi has just unloaded a boatload of new images of the RS5 coupe in red, white and blue doing its thing all over some beautiful roads in Europe. We feel the need to point out where these shots were snapped simply because the German automaker has not yet announced any plans to bring its ubercoupe Stateside. And we therefore shed a tear.
Then again, maybe there's hope after all - we have heard rumors that Audi was at least considering blessing us Americans with the RS5... though nothing substantiated by any other reliable sources. In any case, it's always a good time to gaze upon 4.2 wonderful liters of naturally aspirated goodness with 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque sent to all four wheels, right? Right. So go ahead and click through the high-res image gallery below.
Gallery: 2011 Audi RS5
[Source: Audi]Pics Aplenty: Audi RS5 officially unloaded to the Internet originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Report: Toyota Prius minivan coming in 2011
- Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Toyota
Toyota Hybrid X Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
We've been hearing the rumors for over a year, and it's now looking increasingly likely that Toyota is getting ready to launch a new hybrid minivan that will wear the Prius nameplate. If true, this would be the first completely new vehicle added to the Prius stable, where it would join the well-known hatchback sometime in 2011.
According to Reuters (which is citing the Japanese Nikkei), this new Prius hybrid minivan may be the first such vehicle from Toyota equipped with an in-house developed lithium ion battery pack. The three-row vehicle, which we can only presume would also have sliding doors, would potentially seat up to seven people, expanding Toyota's hybrid technology further into the family-use market.
No other details are available other than the notion that Toyota would like to keep the price close to that of standard minivans currently on the market. Stay tuned for more as we hear it.
Gallery: Geneva Motor Show: Toyota Hybrid-X concept
[Source: Reuters via The Truth About Cars]Report: Toyota Prius minivan coming in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Video: Pagani Zonda R commerical is pure pr0n
- Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos
Pagani Zonda R promo - Click above to watch video after the jump
The Pagani Zonda R comes down to three words: More. Track. Focused. Yet, what good would it to do merely imagine that focus? We'll have none of that. What we will have is rather dramatic high-res video of one, and then two, Zonda Rs on track in the rain, making roostertails as they slide their own tails. In fact, no more talking about it - follow the jump to watch to watch the twelve-cylinder wet dream in action.
Gallery: Pagani Zonda R
[Source: Runimation Studios]Continue reading Video: Pagani Zonda R commerical is pure pr0nVideo: Pagani Zonda R commerical is pure pr0n originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
- SMS Supercars pulls the wraps off 2011 302 Mustang
- Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford
2011 SMS 302 Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's been nearly a year since SMS Supercars first showed us a rendering of their proposed 460 Mustang. And we had nearly given up hope that it would ever come out. But sure enough, Steve Saleen and the rest of his crew have been hard at work developing the new SMS Mustang. That car, now named the 302 Mustang due to the V8's displacement change for 2011, was officially unveiled today at the company's headquarters in Corona, CA.
Two separate versions of the 302 Mustang will be offered, including a naturally aspirated base 4V model and a supercharged 302SC Mustang. The 4V will produce 440 horsepower thanks to a few powertrain tweaks, while the supercharged model will boast 535 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.
Both Mustangs will have a slew of standard features including the new SMS body kit, hood with heat-extracting grilles, 20-inch wheels and tires, upgraded suspension and brakes, and numerous interior appointments including Alcantara seats, 200 mph gauges, short-throw shifter and more. The styling appears to be a mix of the previous generation Saleen Mustang, also penned by SMS designer Phil Frank, along with the new design language featured on the SMS 570 Challenger. We especially like the elongated rear end that helps hide the awkward taillights, although we would probably do away with the massive spoiler.
As you'd expect from a Steve Saleen product, each model will offer impressive performance figures. SMS quotes a 0-60 mph time of under 4.5 seconds for the base 302 Mustang while the supercharged version can perform the same task in just 4.3 seconds. A higher performance model is also in the works, named the 351X Mustang, which we should learn more about in just a few months.
Pricing for both models is just about what we would expect, which is fairly expensive. The 302 4V starts at $54,990 while the 302SC Mustang will cost $64,990. Follow the jump for more details on both cars or browse through both of the live galleries below.
Gallery: 2011 SMS 302 Mustang
Gallery: 2011 SMS 302 Mustang Unveiling
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading SMS Supercars pulls the wraps off 2011 302 MustangSMS Supercars pulls the wraps off 2011 302 Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.16.10
- Long-Term Update: Touring our Subaru Legacy 2.5GT's birthplace
We take a tour of Subaru's Indiana production center to see where our new bouncing burgundy baby comes from.
BMW sets price on new 5-er; says no price too high for independence
BMW sets the pricing on the all-new 5 Series and confirms its new city car project, while U.S. marketing and product head Jack Pitney offers up his thoughts on the competition's recent partnerships and BMW's new tag-line.
Ford Gets An Earful: Five best and worst ideas from consumers
Ford asked, you answered and we've rounded up the five best and worst ideas to come into the suggestion box.
Also of interest:
Top Gear takes blame for Icelandic volcano eruption
Reuters: Unified Toyota lawsuits set in motion by judge
Video: KBB gets down, dirty and airborn with the Ford Raptor
Video: Sébastien Buemi unhurt in crazy Shanghai F1 GP practice crash
IndyCar switches up qualifying payouts for more exciting 500 pole shootout
Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed
Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.16.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- 2011 Ford Mustang GT vs. 2010 BMW M3: Tie Game? [w/poll]
- Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Performance, BMW, Ford, Luxury
Ford Mustang GT and BMW M3 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Alright, fan boys (and girls), prepare for battle. The ever keen-eyed Sam Smith over at Jalopnik has spied an interesting phenomenon in the car universe. The new 2011 Ford Mustang GT performance figures are within spitting distance of the mighty 2010 BMW M3. The Bavarian bruiser produces 414 horsepower out of its milky-smooth 4.0-liter V8 and hits the scales at 3,652 lbs. Meanwhile, the 5.0-liter Mustang serves up two less horsepower, but weighs 40 pounds less, too.
At this point, odds are your blood is pumping no matter which side of the ring you happen to find yourself on. Stats that close yield frighteningly similar numbers when the two cars hit the track, too. The M3 can clip off the 0-60 dash in 4.3 seconds. The Mustang can do it in 4.4. Quarter mile? Deadlocked at 12.7 seconds at 111.3 mph.
It's true, a quarter mile doth not a sports car make, which is why these next figures are so important. While the M3 can come down from 60 mph in 105 feet, the Mustang can do the same in 104. And here's the real shocker: Both cars hold onto the skidpad at .97 g. Now, before the comments go superfly TNT, it's worth noting that the as-tested BMW will set you back an eye-widening $28,180 more than the Ford. We could think of a thing or two to do with an extra 30-large.
So the question remains, which would you take home?
View Poll
Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford Mustang GT
Gallery: Review: 2008 BMW M3
[Source: Jalopnik]2011 Ford Mustang GT vs. 2010 BMW M3: Tie Game? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Volkswagen and Stanford: Parking Cars Without People [w/video]
- Filed under: Technology, Videos, Audi, Volkswagen
Volkswagen and Stanford's Autonomous Vehicle Program - Click above for high-res image gallery
Yesterday at Stanford University, the world's valets were put on notice. The crew at Volkswagen's Vehicle Innovation Lab (VAIL) hosted an event for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where the diplomat from Deutschland got to see first-hand what VW has been working on for the past five years, and what kind of practical implementations are around the corner.
The VAIL team was the first group to complete the DARPA Grand Challenge with a fully autonomous Touareg that scaled over 130 miles of the Mojave Desert in 2005. The original self-driven vehicle, Stanley, has evolved into Stanley 2, a Passat wagon with enough computing power to completely fill the boot. That vehicle took second place at an urban course for the 2007 DARPA Challenge and now that technology has been scaled down, refined and put into another diesel-powered Passat to show off one of the many uses for the autonomous tech.
After Merkel caught a plane home and the crowds subsided, we scored a ride in the self-propelled Passat and discovered that the days of parking attendants are officially numbered.
Gallery: Volkswagen and Stanford's Autonomous Vehicle Program
Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Volkswagen and Stanford: Parking Cars Without People [w/video]Volkswagen and Stanford: Parking Cars Without People [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Jody Scheckter launches Lormarins 1200 with £10m in classics
- Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Jaguar, UK, Celebrities
Lormarins 1200 launch in London - Click above for image gallery
If you're into classic cars and vintage rallies, you know the Mille Miglia, but you likely haven't heard of the Lormarins 1200. Not yet, at least, because it was just announced and has yet to take place. Unlike the Mille Miglia, upon which it's modeled, the Lormarins 1200 is a new event and not a revival. The inaugural running is scheduled for October in South Africa's Western Cape wine region, and to announce it, organizers brought out the big guns.
Former F1 world champion Jody Scheckter took the wheel of a 1952 Jaguar C-Type and lead a £10 million convoy of classics through London's Mayfair district. South Africa's ambassador in London, Dr. Zola Skweiyiya, rode shotgun. They were joined by a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza and a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France - one of only seven ever made. But that's nothing compared to the 40 to 50 cars expected to take part in the full rally. In the meantime, you can check out the details in the press release after the jump and the photos in the gallery below.
Gallery: Lormarins 1200 launch in London
[Source: Lormarins 1200]Continue reading Jody Scheckter launches Lormarins 1200 with £10m in classicsJody Scheckter launches Lormarins 1200 with £10m in classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Next-gen Hyundai Accent caught totally undisguised
- Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, Hyundai
2011 Hyundai Accent spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery
Looks like we were spot on in our assessment of what we happened to catch out testing near Disneyland in California. As we suspected, the car in question is the next-generation Hyundai Accent, a fact you can clearly discern by comparing our spy shots and an earlier Korean "naked" shot with the two images in our gallery below from auto.ifeng.com.
As you can see, the next-gen Accent takes on a mini-Sonata look, with a heavily-rounded, arcing greenhouse, a prominent chrome-topped grille, and deeply-sculpted sheetmetal everywhere in between. Note also the absolutely massive headlights situated above squared-off fog lamps.
Still second-guessing what you may be gazing at? Take a closer look at the decklid. From what we can tell, the badge on the right reads Verna - that's the Accent's moniker in some foreign markets (including South Korea). See for yourself in our image gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Rudy!
Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Accent Spy Shots
[Source: auto.ifeng.com via GenCoupe Forums]Next-gen Hyundai Accent caught totally undisguised originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
- Project Cars: Build 169 Available
- Slightly Mad Studios have released build 169 of Project CARS, making various improvements to the game, including 5 brand new tracks which are Donington, Road America, Rouen and Hockenheim (modern & classic). As well as this, there are frame rate improvements and other changes which are listed below.
To download the update, visit the WMD Portal.
Much more about the game can be found on our Project CARS game profile, and don't forget to keep up to date by following us on Twitter.MUST START A NEW PROFILE WITH THIS BUILD
Adjust grid placement percentages to 80% performance, 20% random
Fix in weather system for restarting a race
Adjusted minimum AI defaults
Fixes for cockpit steering wheel/driver arms anims during AI control and replay playback
HUD display: Fixed rpm bar background colour, added fuel readout
Fixed up Badenring grids and opponent counts
Corrected opponent count for Derby and Wisconsin
Added overall AI difficultly range based on place on grid using 60% position and 40% random to bias the field to stronger drivers at the front.
Removed applinks and data from the profile for old AI sliders
Bumped version of all vehicles for Friday?s stat reset
Reinstated use of phase 2 lighting data for trees ? this allows headlights to cast onto them correctly
Caterham R500: LODA/B springs added
GUMPERT physics update
Constraint orientation of contact between vehicles is adjusted to help prevent scooping
Added a small range to AI driver minimum default sliders
New Caterham export
New Badenring historic export
New Belgium Forest export
New Loire exports
New Rouen export
Wisconsin Raceway added
Derby GP and National added
- Project Cars: Mugello Previews
- Slightly Mad Studios have released several new previews of the Mugello circuit, which will be added to the simulation shortly.
The previews can be found on our screenshots page.
Don't forget to visit our Project CARS game profile for more information on the game, and to keep up to date make sure you follow us on Twitter.
- rFactor 2 Preview @ SimHQ
- SimHQ have posted a preview of rFactor 2:Rather than produce an upgraded rFactor, Gjon Camaj and his team stepped back and took a look at the entire rFactor racing world from purchase to functionality to modding. Not only has the ISI code evolved, but many new elements such as developing a brand-new distribution and purchasing function, new physics, new effects, as well as a new simulation, proved to be a significant challenge for the small development team.You can read the full preview here and do not forget to view our game profile.
- Test Drive Ferrari - Screenshots Added
- We have added several new screenshots for Test Drive Ferrari Racing Legends, which is due to be released on March 30th.
You can find the screenshots on our Test Drive Ferrari Racing Legends game profile.
Don't forget to keep up to date with all the latest sim-racing news, follow us on Twitter.
- GTR 3 - Pagani Zonda Licensed
- Simbin have announced that they have officially licensed the Pagani Zonda R for inclusion in the upcoming GTR 3 simulation.
The car was first released in 2007 and features a six litre V12 Mercedes engine.
No previews of the car have been released yet, but you can find much more GTR 3 content on our GTR 3 game profile page.
Don't forget also to keep up to date by follow us on Twitter.
- F1 2012 Game Profile Added
- Today we have added our F1 2012 game profile page in preparation for the first news about the game.
The third game in the Codemasters' F1 series, F1 2012 will feature all the cars, drivers, and tracks from the 2012 Formula One Season. The game will once again be released on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, and will likely hit the shelves around September.
Keep up to date by keeping an eye on our F1 2012 game profile, and by following us on Twitter.
- rFactor 2 Build 60 Released
- ISI have released build 60 for rFactor 2 fixing various issues with the game.
The new build can be downloaded by Torrent here.
The changelog is shown below:MULTIPLAYER:
?????????-
Configurable multiplayer race countdown timer (?Race Client Wait? in multiplayer.ini).
Reducing collision work in multiplayer (including completely turning off remote car vs. scene collision for now) in order to prevent slowdowns.
Modifed Dedicated server and mpfile to allow/disallow nicknames.
Fixed in-car chat for extended ASCII characters.
GRAPHICS:
?????????
Fixed showroom sun occlusion problem.
Fixed sun occlusion toggle.
Improved HDR debug output.
Moved all HDR processing to GPU.
Now enforcing deformable meshes.
Fixed and improved ?visible vehicles? algorithm.
Updates to static meshes now disabled.
Fixed AI brake lights.
Fixed some issues doing HDR/Post on monitor.
Fixed up some postFX problems.
Updated sun occlusion.
Improved post FX integration with HDR.
Dixed bug that could result in cam file having more shadow parameters than the array that holds them.
Fixed problem with using post with HDR.
Fixed up hdr debug output, also improved post-processing.
Tidy up line drawing, also deactivated pre-caching for now as a test.
Fixed up hdr debug output.
Fixed a crash when loading a new profile to an existing track.
Shaders are recompiled if vid driver or HDR changes.
Reverted virtual mirrors back to using options settings rather than video settings.
UI:
?????????-
Fixed car skin spinner not selecting current selected skin when entering screen.
Fixed path error for loading truetype fonts.
Fixed car spinner gizmo bug where it selection didn?t take into account pace cars in the veh list ordering. (so picking a car near the end of spinner would select the wrong car.)
Fixed crash from skin selector gizmo that would happen 1st time you join a online game for a new mod and go to tuning from car selector screen.
Fixed bug where one couldn?t select a new UI.
Fixed gear graph text in wide-screen mode with non-wide-screen UI.
Tidy up some loading bar problem.
Fix HUD pit menu selector box.
Added tire volume slider.
Added new options for VSync and FXAA.
****
Software sync uses a timer to draw frames based on your refresh rate. In other words, you could compare it with a software VSync.
GPU sync is a UI element for the PLR?s ?Flush Previous Frame? setting. This setting is not recommended for SLI.
Video sync is actually the good old VSync option (notice that the usual VSync checkbox is now missing).
None means it will behave like the previous build, without VSync enabled.
AI:
?????????-
Extra code to prevent ramming from behind when attempting to pass.
Generally made AI initiated player crashes less likely.
Made line transitions safer (for example moving from fastest to blocking line).
Fixed exaggerated pitspot slowdown.
Implemented 1st round of VERY basic wet weather tire logic.
Now always simulating a lap once for every car to get fuel, time, and minimum speed for track (to improve AI pit strategy).
Made AI slower at 70% by not only reducing their grip (was already being done) but also cutting a bit of speed off corners on top of that when figuring.
Made AI cars more likely to pass another car in the straight if given the opportunity.
GAMEPLAY:
?????????-
Fix for timescaled mechanical failures.
CONTROLLER:
?????????-
Added controller.ini variable ?Off-road multiplier? at least until we have proper soft terrain physics modeling.
Changed default for ?Keyboard Layout Override? in controller.ini to 1 which seems to work better most of the time.
Added new controller.ini option ?Use Keyboard Rates For Analog? which allows gamepad users to intentionally delay the response time of their twitchy inputs.
Added controller.ini variable ?Use Hardware Additional Features? to control whether we play G27 LEDs, for example. Actually that?s the only example right now.
Added ability to read/write Thrustmaster wheel range (only available on new T500RS series, by the way).
Set default control for ?Display Vehicle Labels? to TAB key.
OTHER OPTIMIZATIONS
?????????-
Various collision optimizations, including better automatic LODs for trackside collidable objects.
Fixed crash that occurred when no sound devices was enabled on Windows 7 Machine.
Improved and/or fixed OnTop variable in TDF ? this is a precise way to physically apply paint stripes on top of the road with a realistic thickness.
Minor SSE optimizations added.
Vertical position of individual mirrors wasn?t being transferred from CCH file to PLR file (note that these values are not editable in realtime with the Shift/Ctrl/Alt + Seat position controls).
Fixed dedicated server not updating scoring for plugins.
Fix for ?Unknown? name in player file.
Fixed wide characters aborting the results file write.
Mirror toggle control lets you go through all 5 permutations in cockpit now.
Fixed a potential problem alt-tabbing with SL.
FUNCTIONAL ADDITIONS:
?????????-
Allow nickname and attempt to allow wide char names.
Added a ?Steering Wheel? option for ?No Arms?.
Added user car skin support.
MOD/PACKAGING
?????????-
Fixed a bug with packaged files which could have allowed tire data to be overridden by external components.
Fixed a minor issue with encrypted mas.
Fixed ttool crash.
- Project CARS: Build 154 Available
- Slightly Mad Studios have released build 154 for Project CARS offering many updates for the game.
The file can be downloaded from here.
The full changelog is detailed below:Build 154 (17/2/12, Team Member +)
MUST START A NEW PROFILE WITH THIS BUILD
Changed Fanatec wheel default from 270 degree range to 900 degree range. This would be a problem if the player did not calibrate the wheel before driving
Removed memtrace calls from System Pool header expansion due to deadlock issue until they can be sorted properly
Fixed force effect thread crashes by implementing deferred creation/deletion of forces
Removed loading code for obsolete tracksglobal pakfile
Increased fidelity of replays for player and AI vehicles
Aries: Fixed memory leaks in Timings::ExportBestLiveLapData due to incorrect mempool overries
Ambient shadow height editing with F1 menu and reduced default to 5cm (from 25cm) to stop overlapping with bodywork
Camera / replay updates:
Physics tick and pause uses the same sync timer
Update camera using new metrics from physics
Physics sync timer uses app timer exclusively
Deprecated SetPhysicsClock no longer required
Detachable components and attached wheels are now regularly updated for AI vehicles
Detachable components are updated only once per simulation step.
Disabled automatic switch to ?photomode? when pressing P ? this stops the game pad right trigger from causing the camera to shoot into the ground if you hit P to pause the game
Increased number of op user channels from 12 to 13 to avoid crash occuring when changing window focus with certain wheels and recently added deferred effects deletion code
Corrected custom livery number for F68
Belgian Forest and Bathurst WDF edited and new textures added
Formula A: quick fix for offset sidepod collision mesh.
New livery for GUMPERTS
Increased far clipping dist for all cameras
Removed some understeer from the Kart. Increased front grip
New Caterham export
New California Raceway export
- Project CARS: New Screenshots Added
- Today we have added several screenshots taken by the community for Project CARS, showing off some of the game's highly detailed graphics.
You can see those here. We have also added some community developed videos showing some comparisons between Project CARS and rFactor 2 and real-life Formula One - those are available from the videos page.
Don't forget to visit our full Project CARS game profile, and to keep up to date by following us on Twitter.
- GTR 3 - First Renders of Pagani Zonda R
- Simbin have released the first preview renders of the Pagani Zonda R car which is officially licensed for inclusion in their upcoming GTR 3 simulation.
You can see the renders and the rest of the screenshots for GTR 3 here.
Don't forget to visit our GTR 3 game profile for more information on the game, and to keep up to date make sure you follow us on Twitter.
- TrackMaker - First News
- Bjorn Klaassen got in touch to share some news on a piece of software he is developing to shorten and simplify the time it takes to create tracks for today's popular sims. He plans to release the first version of the software (currently a plugin for Maya) before the summer under a creative common license.
Further information can be found below, and you can also see a preview video of the software at work on Youtube. We'll bring you more news and updates as we get them.The main goal was to be able to create a racetrack while maintaining all dynamic relationships, ensuring the user can still tweak the layout, individual lofts and props....run the exporter and direct iterate in game. This way iteration times should go from hours/days to minutes. Besides that I wanted to make it as user friendly as possible so that everyone with a basic knowledge of a 3d package can use this. Right now it's a plugin for Maya, I hope I can port it sometime into different packages or as a standalone package.
The first public version will released somewhere before summer (under a creative common license probably)...but first I want to use this in a real production environment to see where the weaknesses and strenghts are....it'll be a racetrack for rfactor 2, located in Morocco!
- Project CARS: Builds 159/160 Available
- Slightly Mad Studios have released the latest builds 159/160 for Project CARS, adding various improvements to physics and new support for Fanatec wheels. A full list of changes can be found below.
We have also added several fantastic looking new community screenshots which are available here.
Don't forget to visit our Project CARS game profile, and to keep up to date by following us on Twitter.Build 160 (24/2/12, Team Member +)
FFB:
- Added the notion of ?fade level? to BForceEffect, used as a secondary gain control
- Added the notion of ?boost? to AppInput::cForce. Used to promote one particular force above the others (0 = no boost ? no change, 1 = max boost ? completely silences all other forces).
- cForceSteeringSpring modified to include a ?lock? mode where the effect params are switched to emulate a bump-stop when the wheel lock has been exceeded.
- Removed cForceSteeringLock.
Disabled legacy deadzone helpers.
Removed ultra shadow option, until it can be properly debugged and reinstated taking into account the shadow changes
New Loire export
Build 159 (24/2/12, Team Member +)
MUST START A NEW PROFILE WITH THIS BUILD
Apologies ? it appears the ultra shadow option is broken with this build, please use high instead
Severity of vehicle crash damage state is not decreased when vehicle collides with heavy dynamic object
Tweaked Logitech FFB kerb settings
Limit fallback AIs to race liveries
Increase freecam speed to compensate for changes to time steps ? now correctly matches whether paused or not, and feels more appropriate for fast and slow modes
Disabled other uses of key combinations required by freecam when in freecam mode, to prevent accidental debug information etc
Changed shake effect code to properly reflect requested frequency, by not resetting to a movement endpoint on whole tick boundaries
Pre heat brakes to optimal values based on vehicle
Added PC support for Fanatec CSR, CSRE, CSW wheels using 911 as template ? no per device button config applied as yet
Added undertray scrape audio volume
Ensure newer Fanatec controllers cannot match to older Turbo S wheel
Add profile option to toggle HUD map on/off
Completed last few remaining free-camera isses which were effected by pausing and unpausing the game.
Changed call to camera callback when paused to use core tick rate (180Hz) instead of sub tick rate (30Hz) as basis for the timer value, this fixes the camera speed changing when paused
Added custom Depth of Field mode
Enable camera editing when paused
Reduced effect of wheel to wheel collisions (and chance of them happening to the player)
Formula A, Formula B, TDX, Racer4x, Racerv8, Gumpert Appollo, Asano X4, F68, F77, F86, Kart, and Super Kart: Physics updates
Fixed trees cutting through wall at Bologna
Gumpert: excluded paint colours from AI races
Added fresnel/specular maps for all custom liveries
Vehicle client versions incremented in advance of Aries server-side leaderboard reset (physics/tyre changes)
Leonus F68: added metallic liveries + fresnel
Show Map on HUD added
Louder Caterham AI sounds
New Bathurst, Bologna, and Loire exports
- Six appeal - the 2012 Season Preview Part One
- There have never been six world champions on a Formula One grid. That's how special 2012 will be, with 25 per cent of the field having at one time or other held the crown and accounting for 14 titles between them.
As Sebastian Vettel aims for a third consecutive drivers' championship (and Red Bull ditto in the constructors' stakes), Michael Schumacher strives to show that he is still capable of taking a record eighth with Mercedes, and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso wants to move a title ahead of Vettel, whilst McLaren team mates Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button and the returning Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus all seek to draw equal with the young German, who has dominated for the past two seasons.
- Rules and regulations - the 2012 Season Preview Part Two
- In the second installment of our look ahead to the start of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship, we discuss this year's rule book changes (Continued from Part One)...
- The potential frontrunners - the 2012 Season Preview Part Three
- In the third installment of our look ahead to the start of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship, we examine the prospects of the key contenders in the race for the drivers' and constructors' crowns (Continued from Part Two)...
- The midfield & more - the 2012 Season Preview Part Four
- In the final installment of our look ahead to the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship, we consider the midfield teams and those at the back of the grid (Continued from Part Three)
- Alexander Rossi joins Caterham as tester
- American Alexander Rossi has joined the ranks of Caterham as their test driver for the 2012 season. Rossi will work alongside the team's racers, Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov, and reserve driver Giedo van der Garde.
The 20 year-old, who participated in November's Abu Dhabi young driver test for the team, is expected to take part in several Friday practice sessions. He will also compete for a second year in the World Series by Renault 3.5 for the newly-formed Arden Caterham team.
- WMSC modify DRS and tyre usage rules for wet events
- The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) met on Friday in the Italian city of Milan and agreed a number of minor changes to the sporting regulations. The amendments include tweaks to DRS and tyre usage at events affected by wet weather. The FIA also revealed they had slightly modified the curfew rules for team personnel.
- Pre-season interview with Bernie Ecclestone
- Tighten your belts and ditch the rose-tinted glasses. That is Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone's advice to F1's other big players as he ponders the future health of the sport. As for 2012, with six world champions on the grid a fascinating campaign is all but assured. Ecclestone, of course, wants to see it go down to the wire at the very last race - though he admits that could be a case of him wearing the rose-tinted specs
- Pre-season Q&A with the FIA's Charlie Whiting
- The changes to the Formula One rules for 2012 may look small compared to some previous seasons, but as ever their implications run deep. The FIA's F1 race director, Charlie Whiting, talks us through the major revisions to the 2012 sporting and technical regulations and explains the reasons behind the various decisions
- Free 'lite' version of official 2012 App now available
- With the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship due to get underway in Melbourne, Australia, this weekend, a free 'lite' version of Soft Pauer's official F1 Timing and Track Positioning App is now available via iTunes and the Android Market place, with the option to upgrade to the full version in-App
- Whitmarsh: McLaren competitive, but nobody dominant
- This time last year McLaren were in desperately bleak mood after a difficult winter. Fast forward to 2012 and the British team seem to have a real spring in their step.
With the MP4-27 impressing during pre-season testing and drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button chomping at the bit to wage a convincing championship challenge, team principal Martin Whitmarsh is feeling optimistic
- Alonso: We will have to grit our teeth and work hard
- After a frustrating winter, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso has warned that the first few rounds of the 2012 season could prove difficult for the Italian team. Alonso, however, is confident they can resolve their development struggles and reverse their fortunes before it is too late.
?We definitely still need to improve a lot, working on our understanding of the F2012, adapting my driving style to a new car which, with the loss of aerodynamic downforce at the rear and the new Pirelli tyres, is a bit harder to drive,? explained the Spaniard in his blog on Ferrari's official website.
- Codemasters win race to drive new official F1 games
- Codemasters will remain the home of official Formula One games following confirmation that they have extended their partnership with Formula One World Championship Limited. The multi-year agreement will see Codemasters continue to develop and publish multiple titles for video game consoles, personal computers, mobile devices and online platforms.
?Codemasters has created some of the best and most successful Formula One games to date,? said Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone. ?We and the teams work closely with them and look forward to creating more award-winning games together in the future.?
- iRacing - Team VVV Race Review episode 3.
- iRacing – Team VVV Race Review episode 3.Another 3 races, this time its not all smooth running and I learn some hard lessons in racing, ultimately though it proves the level of concentration required. Winning or at least competing in the higher divisions requires complete concentration and that's demonstrated here. [ Continue Reading...] News sourced from: Belgian Sim Racers
- Project CARS Trailer
- Another trailer from the upcoming game simulation game made by SMS, team behind NFS SHIFT and GTR series! Project Cars details: FRANCHISE MODE allows you to carve out a personalized career starting in the Karting world and then progressing on to whichever motorsport specialization you prefer including Rally, To... News sourced from: Gameguru Mania
- Ridge Racer: Unbounded Hands-on Preview
- Let me preface this preview with the admission that going into it, I wasn’t really expecting much especially given that Ridge Racer 7 was one of my least favourite racing games of this generation. Like the old saying goes, time makes fools of us all and I came out of Ridge Racer: Unbounded with a newfound sense of optimism not just about this game itself -although at this very moment I think it could prove to be the break-out surprise of 2012- but of life as a whole, anything was possible! That was, until I got to the North Circular in rush hour.Lest we forget it’s been a solid 5.. News sourced from: Gamekicker.com
- Game Stock Car - 2012 Update Coming Soon
- A few months ago Reiza Studios announced the Formula 3 car for their current title Game Stock Car which was said to be the last batch of free content for their first sim racing title. Well recently on their official forums over at Race Department they announced that soon Game Stock Car will receive more free content. Most importantly the announcement said that Game Stock Car will receive an update to bring the game up to the 2012 spec of the Brazilian Stock Car season which will include new models, content, textures and shaders. All of which will be available free of charge for current digi.. News sourced from: Sim News Daily
- iRacing - Donington Coming Soon
- Recently executive producer of iRacing Steve Myers has revealed on his twitter some exciting new information surrounding future content for the ever-expanding sim. Recently on twitter Steve announced that they had now officially signed a contract for Donington Park. Also he announced that they are organizing a scanning trip to the UK in order to scan Donington along with a re-scan of Silverstone to include the latest changes and bring the iRacing track version up to the real life standard. Upon further investigation followers of Steve Myers twitter will have noticed his reply to a fellow fol.. News sourced from: Sim News Daily
- F1 Licensing Extended By Codemasters
- Codemasters officially announced today that they have extended their partnership Formula One World Championship Limited in a further multi-year agreement to develop and publish multiple titles for video game consoles, personal computers, mobile devices and online platforms. The latest installment of the F1 platform is set to be F1 2012 which is expected for Fall of 2012. However no information was released today following the extended licensing agreement with Formula One to bring the game to use for many years to come. Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One group CEO, said: "Codemasters has created .. News sourced from: Sim News Daily
- Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
- Games have been around for so long that these days it's difficult to call anything truly original. But this is something that we definitely haven't seen before: an entire game based around graffiti. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and The Warriors both included graffiti tasks, but only in passing. In Getting Up, the only way to succeed is by putting up your pieces of art around the fictional city of New Radius. Standing in your way are rival artists and cops, who aren't keen to see you News sourced from: GamesRadar
- International Formula Master 2009 - Comparison Shots
- CTDP has released new comparison shots of the Formula Master model for rFactor 2. News sourced from: VirtualR.net
- rFactor 2 - New rFactor Video Comparison
- BSNismo has put together an interesting comparison video between rFactor & rFactor 2. News sourced from: VirtualR.net
- The 8 Ball 03.13.12: Top 8 Most Surprising Moments in Gaming
- From the ability to commit whatever crimes you wanted in Grand Theft Auto III and Samus' big reveal in Metroid to the nuke scene in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and more, 411's David McGregor counts down the top 8 most surprising gaming moments of all-time! News sourced from: 411mania.com
- Project CARS - Three New Tracks Coming Up
- Slightly Mad Studios have revealed the next three tracks to make it into Project CARS. News sourced from: VirtualR.net
- Xbox turns 10 in EU, VG247 releases The Xbox Story ebook
- The original Xbox was released in Europe ten years ago today, marking the start of a Microsoft mission that changed gaming forever. Xbox is ten in Europe. The original machine released on March 14, 2002 in Europe, having released in the US on November 15, 2001 and Japan on February 22, 2002. With launch titles including Halo: Combat Evolved, Jet Set Radio Future, Max Payne, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, Project Gotham Racing and more, Xbox released in the at an event at London’s Virgin Megastore attended by Richard Branson and others. Widespread cynicism at Microsoft releasing a console .. News sourced from: Gamekicker.com
- Head2Head: Does No. 48 team need to win appeal?
- After being hit with a penalty that included a 25-point deduction in driver and owner points and a six-week suspension to crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec for an illegally modified C-pillar on the No. 48 team's Daytona 500 car, Hendrick Motorsports went before the appeals board for an opportunity to explain what happened and to get the penalty overturned. NASCAR's ruling was upheld Tuesday, but owner Rick Hendrick will have one final appeal to the chief appellate officer.
- Knaus, No. 48 team prepare for appeal
- Chad Knaus is hoping it will feel a little like 2005 again.
- Coca-Cola Racing Family wins again
- Coca-Cola made a second consecutive appearance in Victory Lane with the defending series champion dominating in Las Vegas.
- Appeal rejection leaves Hendrick with final plea
- Rick Hendrick's appeal of penalties levied against his No. 48 team for infractions discovered prior to the Daytona 500 was denied Tuesday, setting up one last-ditch plea to prevent crew chief Chad Knaus from having to sit out six races and driver Jimmie Johnson from losing 25 points.
- Fantasy Preview: Busch favored at Bristol, but make room for Biffle
- There are several periods during the season in which the diversity of NASCAR's schedule is showcased; the beginning of the year is one of those times. In the first four weeks of the season, the Cup series visits a restrictor-plate superspeedway; a flat, 1-mile oval; a doglegged, 1.5-mile progressively banked track; and a short course. After Bristol, the series rolls into Fontana for a visit to a 2-mile unrestricted, intermediate speedway and this means drivers need to adjust quickly to new conditions. That is part of what makes this brand of stock-car racing the best in the world.
- Sadler backs out of Cup deal with MWR
- Less than two days after Michael Waltrip Racing announced Elliott Sadler would run five Sprint Cup races later this season in MWR's No. 55 Toyota, Sadler went on several national media outlets Monday to say he was backing out of the opportunity -- which reportedly was nullified by Sadler's Nationwide Series owner, Richard Childress, within hours of it being announced.
- Allmendinger looking to buck odds at Vegas
- This isn't the start to the 2012 Sprint Cup season A.J. Allmendinger envisioned when he made the decision to jump from Richard Petty Motorsports, where he was driving the iconic No. 43 car, to Penske Racing and driving the No. 22 Dodge.
- Smith, Menard escape injuries in Colorado road accident
- Regan Smith and Paul Menard, along with Smith's wife, Megan, and a friend of the Smiths, escaped injuries in a Colorado road accident Wednesday. The foursome was on the way to a nearby ski slope.
- Track Smack: The 11 vs. 14; Dodge's '13 car; Kahne in hole
- 1. Which duo will ultimately have the better season: Tony Stewart and crew chief Steve Addington, or Denny Hamlin and crew chief Darian Grubb?
- Vickers to drive MWR's No. 55 for six races
- CORNELIUS, N.C. -- Michael Waltrip Racing on Thursday announced Brian Vickers will drive the team's No. 55 Toyota in six Sprint Cup races in 2012, beginning at Bristol on March 18.
- Points leader stumbles on concrete at Dover
- He arrived at the Monster Mile on a roll, leading the Chase for the Sprint Cup points standings and riding a wave of momentum produced by back-to-back victories.
- Mechanical issues keep Junior from making move
- Tony Stewart's 25th-place finish in Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway tightened the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings considerably, but with a sway bar and a wheel threatening to fall off his car, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn't able to take advantage of Stewart's problems.
![[HQ] "Guerre d'Algérie, La Déchirure" - Inédit - France 2](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6BiG5MqiSeQ/default.jpg)
