Auto Site News » hb

Video: Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Veloster rally car is about par for the course

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:41:26 +0000

Filed under: Motorsports , Videos , Hatchback , Hyundai , Humor , Racing We can think of a handful of automobiles that appear to be closer to golf carts than what we’d otherwise think of as “cars”. Like the Smart ForTwo , for example. Or the Tata Nano .

Originally posted here:
Video: Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Veloster rally car is about par for the course

First Drive: 2012 Audi A1 Sportback [w/video]

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:11:58 +0000

Filed under: Budget , Europe , Hatchback , Audi , First Drives , Luxury Do We Really Want Audi To Think This Small In America? Perhaps… It is perhaps with all the speed of a mighty iceberg, but increasingly, more and more North American buyers appear willing to think smaller when pondering their next auto purchase. The other shoe, which still has largely yet to drop, is for automakers to convince consumers of the merits of a luxury subcompact, paying a price premium for a longer list of creature comforts, options and badge appeal

See the article here:
First Drive: 2012 Audi A1 Sportback [w/video]

Video: Lotus shows off slushbox equipped Evora S IPS

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:10:49 +0000

Filed under: Coupe , Performance , Videos , Lotus Lotus would like to sell more Evoras, and it’s no secret that there are some customers who want to buy them, if not for the lack of an automatic transmission standing in the way. That hurdle’s been cleared for 2012, with the Evora receiving the six-speed automatic that Lotus calls IPS, for Intelligent Precision Shift. Mechanically it is the same Aisin unit found in the Toyota Camry (paired with a supercharged version of Toyota ‘s 3.5-liter V6) upgraded with Lotus electronics and actuators.

Continued here:
Video: Lotus shows off slushbox equipped Evora S IPS

Report: Chevy stretched Sonic sedan because it looked funny

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:10:10 +0000

Filed under: Budget , Sedan , Chevrolet , Design/Style If you think the Chevrolet Sonic sedan looks a bit abbreviated now, you should have seen it before General Motors stretched the vehicle. Take a good look at the spec sheets for the Sonic hatch and Sonic sedan, and you’ll likely notice the four-door is over a foot longer than its twin. According to Automotive News, GM felt that early design attempts at the sedan bodystyle were too stubby looking. While the four-door was always intended to be somewhat longer than the hatch, designers rolled in additional space in the vehicle’s rump to help situate the vehicle’s proportions

Go here to see the original:
Report: Chevy stretched Sonic sedan because it looked funny

Report: GM CEO stands up for Chevy Volt in D.C. hearing; Issa tells NHTSA: "I don’t believe you"

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:24:56 +0000

Filed under: Hybrid , Government/Legal , Safety , Hatchback , Chevrolet , Electric What a surprise. Today’s Congressional hearing over the Chevrolet Volt fire and the resulting investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration turned out to be contentious. The hearing took place in the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending. Just from the title of the event – “Volt Vehicle Fire: What did NHTSA Know and When Did They Know It?” – it was plain to see that chairman Darrell Issa was not looking to mess around