The Mini Rocketman (we’ll spare you the Elton John lyrics) was one of our favorite concepts from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Sure, the name is silly, but this pint-sized concept showed what could be in store for an even more mini Mini. A smarter Smart, if you will. However, a new report from CAR states that the entry-level Mini project has allegedly been canned. The Rocketman as we know it has been grounded.

The reason? CAR reports that it would be a costly endeavor to develop the Rocketman to meet street-legal specifications; specifically, handling, stability and crash standards. The concept only measures in at 134.6 inches long – a full 12 inches shorter than a standard Cooper hatchback, and while Mini insiders said that a production version could come as early as 2016, there are now no plans to offer a vehicle smaller than the current Cooper.

Mini Rocketman reportedly canned originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog Concept Cars

Mercedes-Benz is issuing a recall for its 2000-2002 M-Class and 2000-2004 M-Class AMG models after reports that hitting the brakes may not automatically turn off cruise control. The recall affects 136,751 vehicles built between August 1999 and June 2004.

The recall follows a preliminary investigation the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started in December, 2010. The root of the problem is reportedly a failed brake lamp switch, which can cause not only the cruise control issue, but also prevent the vehicle being shifted out of park and a failure of the brake lights.

Though the investigation by NHTSA is only a few months old, Daimler AG issued a technical service bulletin in May, 2005 to replace the faulty brake lamp switch. According to Daimler, the problem can be solved by pumping the brakes to disengage cruise, but the automaker admits that it may require an “unusually high” amount of pressure on the pedal.

Mercedes dealers will replace the switch for affected customers when the recall begins in September.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz reportedly recalling 136,000 M Class models over cruise control problem

Mercedes-Benz reportedly recalling 136,000 M Class models over cruise control problem originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

Chris Bangle, the controversial former head of BMW design, has joined forces with Samsung to oversee the design of notebooks and phones. Bangle, you may recall, left BMW in 2009 after 17 years to focus on his own design projects.

According to Samsung, Bangle is operating as an outside influence on the design of their phones and laptops and will still work on his own projects outside of the company. The American designer set up Chris Bangle and Associates shortly after leaving BMW, and has been working on designing yachts and electronics ever since.

Samsung says the move is an effort to emphasize its new focus on the design of their electronics and move the brand upmarket. Samsung says it will set up a European design center specifically for Bangle and send 10 or so researchers from the company to work with him on new design ideas.

[Source: JoongAng Daily]

Flame Surfaced Computers? Chris Bangle reportedly signs deal with Samsung originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

If you’re looking for the bragging rights with four wheels, getting your hands on any of a number of exotic supercars – most of them hailing from Italy – will undoubtedly do the trick. But if every kid on the block already has one, you’ll need to go with a coachbuilt custom. Still not enough bragging rights? Then a racing version is in order.

That’s what Jim Glickenhaus did with his custom Ferrari P4/5, commissioning a second Competition model to follow the road car. Now Michael Stotschek is following the same route with his new take on Lancia’s fabled Stratos. The Pininfarina-designed New Stratos road car just made its debut at France’s Paul Richard HTTT circuit, and already reports of a racing version are popping up online.

While the original Stratos cut its teeth on the rally stage, the new model is reportedly being prepared for circuit racing in accordance with GT2 specifications. The work is reportedly being carried out by Danisi Engineering, which has previously worked with the likes of Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Iveco and Pininfarina on a variety of racing machinery, from touring cars to Dakar trucks.

Few details are available at this point, but high-end model studio Amalgam has already got a 1:8 scale diecast model on its way, and as you can see from the images in the gallery below, some serious aero modifications are apparently in the works for the racing Stratos. Thanks for the tip, Chris!

[Sources: Italiaspeed, Amalgam]

New Stratos GT2 racer reportedly in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

Remember the Jaguar C-X75 Concept at the Paris Motor Show? Of course you do. The company repeatedly said it was “a pure concept” that wouldn’t ever learn what the word “production” meant. Well, along with Galileo, Jaguar is reportedly joining the list of those who took it all back – well, almost – by admitting it’s studying the production feasibility of what would become the X-75.

The stats again: Two 96-horsepower micro gas turbines powering batteries which in turn feed a quartet of 195-hp electric motors at the wheels for a shuddering 780 hp and 1,187 pound-feet, a 3.4-second run to 62 miles per hour, a top speed of 205 mph, an electric range of 68 miles and a range-extended blast of 560 miles. Autocar says that although Jag is studying only making 1,000 or 2,000 per year and could charge a fortune for every one of them, it’s those turbines that could decide – or more likely, terminate – the car’s fate.

See, Jag doesn’t want to stick a plain old combustion engine in it. Otherwise it would have to be redesigned because the turbines’ small footprint don’t allow room for what would need to be a very powerful V8 or a large V12. Even though the company says developing the turbines for production would cost less than doing so for an ICE, it will take up to eight years to get them ready – for even a low-volume item. Of course, we can’t imagine Jaguar is going to stand up at the 2016 Paris Auto Show and declare “The six-year-old concept car you loved in 2010 will be here in two more years! Get ready!” As far as we’re concerned, we’re happy to imagine gas turbines coming in some kind of Jaguar at some kind of date, whenever it is.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Of Course They Are: Jaguar reportedly investigating C-X75 production originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

Mini boasts about the go-kart like handling of its popular Cooper model. It’s true, the car handles like a toy – except when the power-steering goes out. According to CNN Money, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into numerous claims by owners that their power steering assistance suddenly disappeared.

So far 54 owners have complained of the issue, which may be blamed on a power steering pump failure. So far it seems that the issue is only showing up in some 2004 and 2005 model year cars. There have been no reported incidents and most drivers were able to maintain control of their vehicle. However, a few did report they struggled to do so.

BMW of North America, which owns Mini, has said it’s aware of the investigation but has yet to receive any formal notice from NHTSA.

Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: CNN Money]

Mini Cooper reportedly under investigation by NHTSA over power steering failures originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

As is the case in the automobile world, what’s old is suddenly new again. While some homages to the past may be better left right where they are, others are simply due to come back in vogue. Such is the case with the classic cafe racer motorcycle, which some might argue never actually went out of style in the first place. And we totally dig the effective use of simple touches that make Moto Guzzi’s V7 Clubman stand out from the rest of the Italian manufacturer’s lineup.

Take, for instance, the sloping single-passenger humped saddle and the tiny front windscreen and number plate, which is mimicked on either side of the rear fender. Add in a highly polished fuel tank and an upswept Arrow exhaust system and you’ve got the perfect modern reinterpretation of a classic street racer. Makes us want to do the ton on our way to the Ace Cafe just looking at it…

That dream may soon be a reality, it seems. According to Motorcycle-USA’s monthly Euro Gossip report, the handsome Guzzi is headed for production in October. The supposed additional $1500 over the standard V7 Classic seems reasonable for all those aforementioned upgrades. We’ve contacted Moto Guzzi for an official word on whether or not the bike will come to the States, but in the meantime feel free to take a look at our high-res image gallery below.

[Source: Motorcycle-USA]

Moto Guzzi V7 Clubman reportedly set for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

As a testament to its success in starting the four-door coupe movement, the Mercedes-Benz CLS is nigh on its second version, yet competitors have only recently begun to crowd the room. With the Audi A7 about to gain membership in the club, BMW couldn’t hang back, so it has reportedly slapped a sales date on the 6 Series Gran Coupe concept: it’ll be here in 2012.

Rumored for the summer of 2012 by German publication Automobilwoche, that puts its introduction a year behind the next-generation 6 Series. Engines are said to be a mix of gas and diesel, and BMW evidently spoke of a potential hybrid application. Perhaps most importantly, design cues such as the frameless doors and LED lighting will be carried into production. Those trick exhaust tips, however, not likely. Follow the jump for a video walkaround of the exterior and check out our high-res gallery below for a refresher.

[Sources: Automobilwoche (translated), BMW Blog]

Continue reading BMW reportedly green-lights 6 Series Gran Coupé concept for production

BMW reportedly green-lights 6 Series Gran Coupé concept for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

Automotive News reports that a federal grand jury in New York has subpoenaed Toyota for documentation related to a component in the steering mechanism of some of its vehicles. The company announced that the subpoena came on June 29, but isn’t yet saying publicly which vehicles are involved with the issue.

What we do know is that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an investigation in February of 749,685 2009 and 2010 model year Corolla and Matrix vehicles for a potential steering issue. Toyota has received 437 reports, including 11 injuries and 18 crashes, since 2008, and NHTSA has received 168 complaints. In affected Corolla and Matrix models the electric power steering units are reportedly prone to drifting or locking up, with the problem most notable when cruising at highway speeds. The Japanese automaker has stated publicly that the issue is not a safety recall, though it intends to service the vehicles of Corolla and Matrix owners who say they have an issue. NHTSA still has not revealed the results of it’s investigation.

This subpoena is the third Toyota has received so far in 2010, with the first coming in February due to unintended acceleration issues and the second from the Michigan Attorney General for recall issues in March. Toyota has recalled 10.8 million vehicles worldwide for acceleration-related issues.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: David McNew/Getty]

Toyota reportedly subpoenaed for steering rod documents originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog

If you were disheartened by reports last week that Citroën had shelved plans to build the GTbyCitroën concept, we’ve got better news for you this week. Much better news, in fact.

First of all, follow-up reports claim that Citroën hasn’t killed the program, so the proverbial jury is still out on whether it will get built or not. But that’s not even the good part, as Britain’s Autocar magazine has it on good authority that the French automaker is working on bringing two more recent concepts into production.

The first is the pint-size Survolt concept unveiled in Geneva, a model that more recently ran the Circuit de la Sarthe at the Le Mans Classic… with a more appealing paint scheme, too. According to reports, Citroën is evaluating putting the little electric sportscar into limited production, and even launching a one-make spec racing series (like the Porsche Supercup or Ferrari Challenge) specifically for the Survolt. Sounds enticing, and we’ve put together a nice big fresh image gallery of the concept at Le Mans for the occasion.

That’s not the end of it, however, as the Chevron marque is also reportedly evaluating production possibilities for the Metropolis concept, a car that could halo the company’s premium line with a DS9 nameplate. The sleek limousine was unveiled in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show, and if for the Chinese market alone could be worth putting into production. With the German luxury marques forging into the supermini category, Citroën is rearing for a fight, and launching a luxury sedan back at ‘em could be just what the docteur ordered.

[Source: Autocar]

Citroën reportedly considering producing Survolt, Metropolis concepts [w/pics aplenty] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View full post on Autoblog