Latest Cars News Blog: сентября 2009

GM Reportedly Cancels Plans for Engine Plant in Flint, MI

It is being reported that contracts for GM's new engine plant in Flint, Michigan have been canceled.

The $370 million plant was supposed to produce the 1.4L engine for the upcoming Chevy Volt and Cruze in turbocharged and naturally-aspirated forms. GM spokesperson Sharon Basel, confirmed the news to the Flint News. Basel also stated that GM remains committed to the area and could possibly build the engines at one of the existing plants in the future.

The plant would have created 300 new jobs for the suffering town of Flint.

For now the engines will be produced by one of GM's European plants that already builds variants of the "Family Zero" engines, which range from 1.0-1.4L in size.

Spy Shots: Chevy Camaro Convertible Caught Testing Down Under

The 2010 Chevy Camaro finally enters production this March, but GM has yet to officially unveil the convertible version. We've seen countless photos of the new Camaro, but here are two more of the convertible testing in Australia.

According to Bob Lutz, GM has reportedly pushed back the release date of the Camaro Convertible until sometime in 2011.

One more push for Best Major Blog votes!

There have been some interesting events in the Best Major Blog survey since we last spoke. Autoblog still has the most votes in polling for the Best Major Blog award, but the previous front runner, cjane enjoy it, has gained back a lot of ground over the weekend. Thanks to your help, Autoblog stands at 10,809 votes and cjane enjoy it is right behind with 10,490. We're canvassing the streets, knocking on doors and cold calling constituents to ward off our resurgent opponent, and we're calling on you for one last push.

You can click here to vote for Autoblog at the 2008 Weblogs Awards website, or use our own embedded polling station after the jump. We promise you won't regret it. There will be a lot of positions to fill in the new Autoblog empi... er, republic. How does Minister of Transportation sound?

Continue reading One more push for Best Major Blog votes!

One more push for Best Major Blog votes! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Science of Car Faces And Why We Love - Or Hate - Them

Have you ever looked up into the sky and seen a face on the moon, or in a cloud; or looked at a tree and seen a face in the bark? It happens all the time, all around the world, people see religious figures in their toast or in a woodgrain pattern. It’s because the human brain is hardwired to see faces. In fact, we have a whole section of the brain devoted specifically to it, the Fusiform gyrus, we’ve talked about that before.

Humans can look at a persons face for a tenth of a second and know what their intentions are. To see if that facial recognition reflex extends to automobiles, a team of researchers led by Karl Grammer of the University of Vienna asked 40 young adults — half women, half men — to rate the front ends of 38 recent-model cars, all of the same color.

The researchers first classified the “expressions” on the cars using a computerized system of standardized measures for human faces that indicate degrees of masculinity or femininity, and different emotions, based on the size and position of facial features.

Then they asked participants to rate each car’s “face” for 19 different factors. For example, they asked if the face was more child-like or adult-like, friendly or hostile, male or female, etc. They were also asked if the car’s front end even looked like a face at all. Finally, they picked the vehicles they liked.

More than a third said that 90 percent of the cars reminded them of a face, and all of the participants indicated headlights for the “eyes” and a radiator grill for the “mouth.”

Their ranking of emotions matched the ones generated by computers in most cases, according to the experiment, reported this week in the journal Human Nature, published by Germany’s Springer group.

As for preferences, both men and women showed a clear liking for cars they described as mature, dominating, masculine, arrogant and angry — characteristics the researchers bundled together under the heading “power”.

These cars had a low-slung bonnet and wide front, associated with with the square jaw and prominent chin of stereotyped masculinity. Topping the list of “power” cars were top-of-the-line BMWs and the Chrysler 300C, 340-horsepower alpha-male of an auto with a V-8 under the bonnet.

At the submissive, friendly and childlike end of the spectrum were Nissan’s New Micra, Volkswagen’s New Beetle and the Kia Picanto.

(via AFP News)

Detroit 09': 2010 Lexus HS250h...Lexus First Dedicated Hybrid

Lexus has officially unveiled its first dedicated hybrid, the Lexus HS250h. The compact sedan shares many of its mechanicals with the third-generation Prius that is also being unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show.

The 2010 Lexus HS250h is powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, mated to a 187-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Overall the HS250h is slightly longer than the IS and a little wider than the ES.

Inside Lexus newest hybrid comes equipped with leather seats, moonroof, Lexus premium audio systems, and a new standard multi-media package. A new Hard Disk Navigation system is also available a retractable navigation screen. There is also a new wide-view front monitor that uses a camera mounted in the front of the car to provide a 190-degree front view via the navigation screen.

The 2010 HS250h will be in dealerships by late summer.

PCH, Joad Family Redux Edition: 1957 Cadillac Camper or 6-Door Rabbit Limo? [Project Car Hell]

Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! Hard times is a-comin', and it's time to prepare for life on the move!

The global economic meltdown doesn't mean you have to take a break from Hell Projects. In fact, it's more important than ever that you break out your Hell Project skills in order to give you and your'n an edge when it comes time to hit the road in search of work, handouts, escape from rampaging urban mobs, etc… and that means building a vehicle that can haul you, your loved ones, and a large percentage of your personal possessions around the land. We're talking pots and pans, crates of squawking chickens, and mattresses strapped to the outside of the vehicle here, with maybe Grandma lashing down the spare engine with bungee cords as you horse-trade some crafty yokel for a sack of cornmeal to feed your white liquor still. Sure, you could just buy a diesel Econoline and be done with it, but it's not just enough to survive, like rats or roaches. You need to roam the land in style!

The 1957 Cadillac is one fine-looking car, no doubt about it, and Cadillac built bulletproof forged-crank engines back in those days, but even a Fleetwood wouldn't be voluminous enough for your Joad-style peregrinations. Time to go Winnebago shopping? Hell no, not when you could have this 1957 Cadillac camper, which is now sitting on eBay with a price tag just barely into four figures, no reserve, and an auction end time just hours away. It doesn't run at the moment, but as the seller says: "IT MIGHT FIRE UP WITH A FRESH BATTERY AND SOME FRESH GAS." Even if it doesn't, the junkyards are full of Cadillac 472s, and even a smogified 425 will get the job done. Check out that luxurious interior- plenty of room for everyone! Thanks to Ian for the tip.

That Cadillac camper is great, but you and your fellow Joads would be forced to panhandle twice as hard to keep it fueled up (or, even worse, you'd be forced to use your whiskey still to make 200-proof to burn in the engine). What you need is a vehicle with space for family members, pets, livestock, weapons, etc., yet doesn't go through gas the way the Federal Reserve is currently going through banknote-printing ink. You could get one of those Toyota truck-based campers, but living in one of those isn't really living. Instead, this 1985 VW Rabbit six-door limo will do the job. It's got plenty of space, an economical four-cylinder engine, and will show all those other losers at the hobo jungle that you've got class! The engine isn't in the car- something about an attempted VR6 swap- but the seller will include it in the deal. You might even consider grafting the bed from a VW pickup onto the back, for more carrying capacity. You might need a running start to get up hills, but that's no big hardship! Thanks to Nitroracer for the tip.

Great Depression II survival vehicle Hell Project?
( surveys)

Project Car Hell's Greatest Hits

Toyota to Halt Production for 11 Days Due to Declining Sales

Toyota has announced plans to idle its plants in Japan for 11 days in February and March due to declining sales in the U.S.

Last month Toyota reported a 37 percent sales decline and now vehicles are beginning to pile up. Last month was Toyota's sharpest decline in more than a quarter of a century. Toyota even performed worse than GM and Ford.

"I never expected the crisis to spread this fast and leave this deep a scar," Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters at a Tokyo event hosted by Japan's top business lobbies.

Nissan and Honda have also announced to cut production by at least 200,000 vehicles for the year ending in March.

What's Your Favorite New Car Of 2008? [Question Of The Day]

With 2009 just days away we thought it best to ask you what new car you loved the most this year. To help, some of the staff has put together their answers below.

If you haven't noticed, we're a somewhat eclectic and eccentric bunch of car nuts, so deciding on one vehicle was impossible. Instead, we've got some favorites from a sampling of our staff. To make things easier on our more literal readers, we've divided the question into your favorite car on sale this year and your favorite car which debuted this year but may or may not yet be on sale.

Ray Wert: 2009 Corvette ZR1 / 2010 Pontiac G8 ST, 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, 2010 Honda Insight
I'd go with the 2009 Corvette ZR1 as my favorite new car of 2008. GM has brought high horsepower to the masses, with the power, cornering ability and exterior looks able to make any supercar fanboy happy. The car revealed this year that's got me most excited is a three-way tie — the 2010 Pontiac G8 ST, the Chevy Camaro SS and the Honda Insight. The first two are obvious. The third? Because it does the exact opposite of the ZR1 — it brings high fuel economy to the masses — and that's pretty cool too.

Matt Hardigree: 2009 Skoda Superb / Ford Transit Connect
Can you say Twindoor? I've made a references few to loving the Superb I fear some may have taken as a joke. It was no joke. The Czech-built, VW Passat-based Superb is an exceptionally well-conceived car. Europeans crank out tons of boring sedans for the mid-level executive and while some of them, like the 2009 Opel Insignia, are getting better, we think the Superb is the most thoughtful. The design is flawless, elevating the boring Passat to a level of stealth luxury only paralleled by the Phaeton. Even better, the Twindoor system finally combines the usefulness of a hatch with the lines of a sedan and the ease of a working trunk.

Though the Ford Transit Connect is old news in the Old World, I think the vehicle offers the kind of multipurpose design and compact size missing from America's commercial fleets. The prospect of an electric Transit Connect is also appealing

Wes Siler: 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX / 2010 Ford SVT Raptor
The new WRX is the right blend of price, practicality, under-the-radar looks, involvement and ridiculous pace. You could use it to haul manure, take road trips, carry friends or blow the doors off most supercars. It'd be a bargain at twice the price, but at $24,995 it's the best bargain on offer today.

Why the Raptor? Because deep down, I've come to terms with my inner 909. Anyone recommend a good place to get a tribal neck tattoo?

The Auto Insider: 2009 Corvette ZR1 / 2010 Ford Mustang

2009 Corvette ZR1 - I'm thoroughly impressed with the ZR1's capability to take on the worlds best at half the price and twice the speed. I like my cars like I like my women, cheap and fast.

2010 Mustang - Ford has done a great job with the updated Mustang and it still proves to be a great performance value.

Ben Wojdyla: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V / 2009 Nissan 370Z

CTS-V: 556 HP, six speed manual, godlike handling, obscenely badass interior.

2009 Nissan 370Z: The first car in recent memory to actually get smaller than its precedessor. It's more powerful, better looking, and more Z. What's not to like?

(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)

LeMons Arse Freeze-A-Palooza People's Choice Winner: The Bi-Polar Express Mustang! [24 Hours Of Lemons]

The People's Choice award at the 24 Hours Of LeMons goes to the team that best embodies the spirit of the event, and the crop of contenders at the Arse Freeze-A-Palooza was the best yet.

Chief Perpetrator Lamm determines the People's Choice winner by wandering the pits and seeking the opinions of the rabble (in the old days, the rabble had a chance to vote directly, but that turned out to be too much hassle). There were several really strong contenders, including the Family Truckster Pinto.

The Faster Farms Chickens team was also considered a People's Choice powerhouse, but they ended up taking the equally coveted Dangerous Banned Technology trophy for their bowling-ball-actuated ironing-board wing.

And, of course, you've got to include the mighty Porcubimmer on the People's Choice short list. Pricks outside! But it's hard to argue with a team that builds a 400-pound particle-board steam locomotive that towers eight feet above their Mustang, so in the end it was the train that got the thousand bucks in People's Choice prize nickels. It didn't handle so well on the track, but the drivers were polite and were pretty good about not getting in the way of the quicker cars. Congratulations, Bi-Polar Express!

Thanks to the Mad Science Boys and Mad Science Sr for many of these photos!

Commenter Of The Day: Paul's Boutique Edition [Commenter Of The Day]

After their commercially successful Licensed to Ill, the Beastie Boys produced the initially less successful but now well-regarded Paul's Boutique. The typical line on the album is it is now considered one of the best hip hop records of all time but was not understood by the public or their record company. While there is some truth to this view, and to the recognition of the album as setting a new benchmark in sampling thanks to the Dust Brothers, but it misses the negative side. The sampling is so good, mixing Elvis Costello and Sly And The Family Stone, it makes it seem easy, launching some particularly bad performances. Sure, Girl Talk and Dan The Automator can do it with skill, but don't expect Fall Out Boy's producers to be able to pull it off. Seriously, listen to "Shake Your Rump" and catch the combination of Afrika Bambaataa and Led Zeppelin in the same song. Do it wrong and they'll feed you to the bears leaving BlueRSX to make the hilarious photo captioning happen.

Update: Grid fills out for 2009 F1 car presentations

Filed under: Motorsports, Honda, Ferrari

Click above for a high-res gallry of last year's BMW Sauber F1.08 reveal

Each day in the new year is bringing us closer to the successive unveilings of the latest batch of Formula One race cars, with nearly all the teams confirming the launch dates for their latest machinery.

Contrary to earlier reports that placed its unveiling on January 15, Scuderia Ferrari will be the first team to show its new car with an online preview on January 12, ahead of the official Fiorano debut. Toyota will follow, as expected, on January 15 from Cologne, Germany, and McLaren the next day from Woking, England. Renault and Williams will unveil at the official FIA-sanctioned test session on January 19 at Algarve, Portugal, with BMW Sauber to follow the next day from Valencia, Spain.

Red Bull, which previously remained a question mark, has now announced its debut on February 9, citing the desire to take advantage of more development time. Sister team Toro Rosso has yet to confirm reports that its presentation will wait until March, when Force India is expected to unveil as well. But there's no telling what will be with Honda as the team's future hangs in the balance. Stay tuned.

[Source: F1-Live]

Update: Grid fills out for 2009 F1 car presentations originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One more time, with feeling: Vote for Autoblog!

w00t! We've moved up to first place in voting for the Best Major Blog category of the 2008 Weblogs Awards! The polls don't close, however, until Tuesday at 10:00PM EST, so we've got to keep the pressure on. The rules of voting allow you to vote once every 24 hours, so if you voted yesterday and the day before, you can vote again! Click here to visit the polling station and cast your ballot once again for your friendly neighborhood Autoblog. We appreciate your support and promise that a shiny, new Hyundai Accent will be sitting in your driveway once we win.

One more time, with feeling: Vote for Autoblog! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ssangyong enters receivership

Filed under: China, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials

Could it be too late for Ssangyong? Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) appears to have given up on Ssangyong Motor Co., allowing the company to slip into receivership. SAIC holds a 51% stake in Ssangyong, but gave up management rights in a bid to avoid liquidation and allow Ssangyong some time to get back in the black. The Korean automaker's Chief Executive Zhang Hai Tao and President Choi Hyung-tak both stepped down after the filing.

As recently as a couple of days ago, SAIC said they would help prop up Ssangyong, but that apparently has changed. As vehicle sales have fallen a whopping 50%, money was clearly tight. With the global economic crisis, credit was evidently unavailable to pay workers and new negotiations with the unions weren't going anywhere fast. This receivership agreement protects Ssangyong from creditors and keeps it from entering bankruptcy, allowing it some time to get back on its feet. For its part, SAIC said that it "will work with all parties so that Ssangyong can achieve a plan to normalize its operations." Thanks for the tip, Ken!

[Source: Market Watch]

Ssangyong enters receivership originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get Or Give Any Good Car-Related Gifts This Year? [Question Of The Day]

It's Boxing Day, when people in other countries give to the needy (or shop) and we complain or brag about what we got this year. Did you get or give any noteworthy car-related gifts?

Knowing our chosen profession and our passion, people often get us gifts of the automotive variety. Usually, this works out. A future family member gave us a copy of Floyd Clymer's Historical Motor Scrapbook Foreign Car Edition, in vintage hardcover, originally from the San Diego Public Library. It's quite a great volume if you can get your hands on it, primarily consisting of European car ads from the teens onward. Additionally, a certain special someone got us one of those 12-volt "Car Coolers" to keep beverages and sandwiches chilled on the long car trips we're fond of these days.

How about you? Get anything worth keeping or worth promptly giving away?

Photo from The Samba.

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