Auto racer and car designer Caroll Shelby has died at age 89. Shelby designs included the Shelby Cobra and the Shelby line of Ford Mustang cars. You can see some of the cars on the Shelbyautos.com website. You can find a timeline on the carrollshelby.com. Take a look:
Nevada has given Google's driverlass car permission to hit the road. ABC News reports that Florida may be the next state to allow driverless vehicles navigated by artificial intelligence and GPS. You can see a video of a blind man being driven by Google's driverless car here. Take a look:
Volkswagen has unveiled a Hover Car at Auto China 2012. The concept is the result of the People's Car Project (PCP) launched last year. The zero-emissions magnetic suspension vehicle would hover above the ground as it travels along electromagnetic road networks. The Hover Car features an autonavigation mode and safety sensors designed to help prevent accidents.
Simon Loasby, Head of Design at Volkswagen Group China, says, "The creative ideas from the 'People’s Car Project' give us a valuable insight into the wishes of Chinese drivers. The trend is towards safe cars that can easily navigate overcrowded roads and have a personal, emotional and exciting design."
The first video is from Volkswagen. The second clip is an animation from NMA News. Take a look:
A Harley Davidson from the Japanese tsunami in March 2011 has washed up on the coast of British Columbia. The rusty motorcycle has Japanese plates. It was found inside a storage container, which also contained golf clubs and camping equipment. Take a look:
Timereports that authorities were able to track down Ikuo Yokoyama, the 29-year-old owner of the bike using its plates. Yokoyama survived the tsunami, but he lost his home and three family members. Yokoyama says he immediately knew the bike was his when he saw the photograph.
Time also says that the Maritime Museum of British Columbia recently launched the Tsunami Debris Project, an effort to return personal items that wind up on Canada's beaches back to their owners in Japan.
BYD, a Chinese carmarker, has a new plug-in electric car coming out called the Qin. The Qin has a little robot sitting on its dashboard. China Car Times reports on the car here. They are not entirely sure of the purpose of the little dashboard robot, but they suspect it has something to do with the vehicle's "i" networking system. The little bot is outfitted with cameras and is suspected to be the centerpoint for features like a driver fatigue warning system, wireless Internet and voice activated controls.
The Lamborghini Urus SUV made its world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show. The car is still four years away from production. The red concept vehicle is very stylish looking for an SUV. The Urus was introduced with a ceremony that included many dancers. Take a look:
Here is a report from the Wall Street Journal on the SUV. Take a look:
The Allstate Foundation and National Organizations for Youth Safety have partnered partnering with actress/singer Victoria Justice to encourage young adults to Act Out Loud for stronger teen driving laws. She is asking teens to visit Facebook.com/ActOutLoud to create an Act Out Loud Yearbook from now until May 6.
Victoria says, "On average, 11 teens die every day in car crashes – and that’s far too many. As a teen myself, I want to make sure my friends and I come home safely each and every day. Through Act Out Loud, we can work together to make an impact and help stop this deadly epidemic."
Here are some photographs from the 2012 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). We have provided links to where you can find out more information about each vehicle.
Bentley Continental GT: You can find more about the new Continental GT here.
BMW X1 2013: You can find more about the new BMW X1 2013 here and here.
Bentley Continental GT V8: You can find more about the new Continental GT V8 here.
Lincoln MKZ: You can find more about the Lincoln MKZ here.
Lexus GS350 F Sport 2013: You can find more about the Lexus GS350 F Sport 2013 here and here.
Subaru XV Crosstrek 2013: You can find more about the Subaru XV Crosstrek 2013 here and here.
Photos: PRNewsFoto/New York International Auto Show
Acura debuted its Acura RLX Concept at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. Acura's RLX flagship sedan is slated for launch in early 2013. Here are some highlights of the vehicle:
3.5L direct-injected VTEC V-6 engine and Acura's Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system combine for over 370-horsepower
7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and lightweight body to deliver V-8 acceleration with 4-cylinder fuel economy - estimated EPA (city/highway/combined) rating of 30/30/30 mpg.
20-inch forged aluminum wheels and 255/35 R20 high-performance tires
Jewel Eye LED headlamps
Front-wheel-drive versions of RLX will utilize Acura's new Precision All Wheel Steer system
Safety features include Collision Mitigation Braking System, Acura's Lane Keep Assist System, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. Passive safety features will include front, side and side-curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a driver's knee airbag.
Dual LCD screens (8-inch display and 7-inch touch screen)
14-speaker ultra premium audio system will be offered in addition to Acura's award winning ELS Surround® sound system
Bluetooth HandsFreeLink calling and pre-loaded text message replies provide for easy two-way communication
The RLX also will be available with Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognitio
Mitsubishi Motors displayed its 2013 Outlander Sport SUV at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. Mitsubishi says the vehicle has the following design improvements for the new model year:
Redesigned front bumper section; New grille styling; New fog lamp design
New rear bumper design.
Side sills now black in color to match the lower sections of the redesigned front & rear bumpers.
18-in. alloy wheels now standard on all on all trim levels for the 2013 model
New interior fabrics; New chrome accent molding for the front doors; New All Wheel Control (AWC) push button switch.
Revised rear multi-link suspension for improved handling and ride comfort.
The 2013 Nissan Altima made its debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. The Altima was the second bestselling car in the United States in 2011. The new vehicle has a wider front and rear track (+1.4 inches) and deeper fenders (+0.8 inches each side). Nissan says it turned to NASA to help with cabin design and reduce fatigue during long road trips. Here are some more highlights of the 2013 model:
38 mpg highway fuel economy (2.5-liter engine)
Premium exterior styling with a powerful presence and improved aerodynamics
Advanced Drive-Assist Display and Bose Premium Audio System
Standard Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System and Streaming Audio via Bluetooth
NissanConnectS and NissanConnect Navigation integrated smartphone connectivity suite with hands-free text message integration, Pandora playback, real-time Google POI search
NBlind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Moving Object Detection (MOD) systems
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Easy Fill Tire Alert
The vehicle also includes Nissan's Xtronic CVT, which Nissan describes in the following video:
Drivers Drive is now on Pinterest. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets users create pinboards for their favorite topics, such as your favorite car brands. You can find us on Pinterest here.
At the annual auto show in New York City Nissan revealed its
prototype, gas-powered Taxi of Tomorrow NV200. The new taxi will hit streets in October, 2013. Features include
a new panoramic roof,
more legroom, no hump in the
floor, USB ports,
floor lighting, overhead
lighting, and -- best of all --
a new antimicrobial
fabric for the seats. Take a look:
Rising New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin has signed an endorsement deal with Volvo. CNN Money reports that Volvo CEO John Maloney says Lin "embodies the best of the human spirit."
Here is a video clip of Jeremy Lin's press conference announcing the Volvo deal. It is a two-year deal. Lin says he will makes sure the term "Linsanity" will not be used. Take a look:
