There was an insane scooter craze a few years back. Everybody and their pal had a scooter, and they were scooting everywhere from the front driveway to the mall parking lot. The population of the USA scooted so much and so hard that the craze never went away. It’s not quite as huge a craze as it once was, but it’s still wild. It might just go bonkers once more when the “X-Scooter” is released unto the population. Why, you might ask? Because it has not just the standard two wheels and a handlebar, nay! It has three.

This is a replacement that you can use. Provided you haven’t just destroyed one of your first two tires, you can do some wild tricks and ride on all three. And what’s that on the sides of the wheels? Pegs! Brilliant! I remember riding one of these scooters when the craze first hit – I was crashing and falling all over the place because the handle turned the front wheel too easily. That’d never happen if I could put my foot by the wheel. And if THAT weren’t enough, this scooter comes with a camera pocket you can fit your camera in and use to take realtime photos. Go! And do the sweet tricks! Go! And take the sweet pics!

Designer: Boaz Lazar

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The 2011 Bentley Continental GT is just the second generation of the blockbuster coupe that rumbled ashore eight years ago. And frankly, this new one looks a lot like that ancient one, but Bentley would have us believe that this is actually a completely new car. Outside, the bodywork gets all kinds of massaging: prominent front fender lines that roll over the headlights and into the more-upright grille, a more pronounced grille treatment that asserts itself into the lower intake, LED running lamps surrounding the main headlight elements, a double-horseshoe rear-end treatment inspired by the Mulsanne and taillights that curl into the rear fenders. For a start…

More substantively, the 2011 Conti gets a boost in horsepower from its 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine, hitting 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet. The engine swipes a page from the Continental Supersports playbook and gains flex-fuel capability, accepting any combination of gasoline and E85. To keep you in touch with that power, Bentley’s six-speed Quickshift transmission swaps cogs more quickly and does double downshifts. To keep that power in the right place, the rear track is wider, front-to-rear bias of the all-wheel-drive system is now 40/60 front-to-rear, and the coefficient of drag has been reduced to 0.33. 0-60 mph? 4.4 seconds? Top speed? 198 mph.

As of next year, the nominally eco-conscious will be able to get their Continental GT with a 4.0-liter V8. Numbers haven’t been released yet, but you can expect it to register high on the horse and torque while getting significantly better gas mileage than its big brother.

Perhaps the best upgrade of all: the interior accoutrements that now boast an eight-inch touchscreen interface, dynamic navigation and Google Maps. Joining that are a sleeker dash, climate-controlled “Cobra” seats sculpted to provide more rear legroom, and leather-lined door pouches with water bottle holders. It’s everything the current Continental GT is. Only more. Follow the jump for the press release and have a gander in the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading 2011 Bentley Continental GT arrives with new design, optional V8

2011 Bentley Continental GT arrives with new design, optional V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The concept is elegantly simple, yet complicated to implement. Valeo SA has developed a product they are calling “Beamatic Premium” that uses a camera to track where the oncoming car is, allowing motors inside the headlights to move and avoid blinding the oncoming driver. The company is currently developing two versions, one for HID and another for full LED lighting.

[via Autoblog]

It is only fitting that NASCAR has as history of cheating that’s as cunning and varied as the methods of the original, moonshine-running racers skirting the law. Popular Mechanics has detailed 11 great moments in the bending and breaking of NASCAR rules, which include a cheating incident and ejection in the very first series race in 1949, an inflated basketball to circumvent gas tank capacity and frame rails loaded with BBs to get around weight restrictions.

And although a stricter rule book and the Car of Tomorrow might make “rules violations” harder ever year, it certainly hasn’t stopped: a site that keeps track of NASCAR penalties shows the series has docked five teams five teams already this year. Perhaps that’s because, as Darryl Waltrip said after getting busted in 1976, “If you don’t cheat, you look like an idiot.”

[Source: Popular Mechanics | Image: Jason Smith/Getty Images]

NASCAR’s greatest cheats detailed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s only taken seven filed complaints out of 37,889 vehicles sold, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking a close look at the 2009 VW Jetta TDi regarding sudden stalling. Although only a handful of complaints have come into the NHTSA, a greater number of owners in various forums like VW Vortex, TDIclub.com, and VWDiesel.net have reported the same thing: a loss of power and then the engine cuts out.

Suspicions seem to center on the fuel delivery system or the type of diesel used at the moment. Tales of $10,000 repair estimates have been related, but it’s too early to say where the gremlins truly reside, so if you’ve experienced the issue yourself, get on the horn to NHTSA.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Detroit News]

Report: NHTSA looking at 2009 VW Jetta stalling issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The arrival of the A1 abroad means the tuning of Audi’s pint-sized hatch begins in earnest. Germany’s Senner has taken on the angry-eyed three-door and has beefed up the 1.6 TDI model, boosting output from 103 to 138 horsepower. And just the engine mods alone will run you €899 ($1,146 U.S.).

If you have more needs and more to spend, the comprehensive Senner Tuning Package for €4,999 ($6,373 U.S.) bolts on an adjustable KW suspension, 18-inch Barracuda Voltec T6 wheels, stainless steel sport exhaust and “special painting.” For more details, check out the presser after the jump and for a look, hit up the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Senner]

Continue reading Senner Tuning among first to amp up Audi A1

Senner Tuning among first to amp up Audi A1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In case you thought installing SYNC into Ford vehicles was a ho-hum-whatever affair, that’s not the case – Ford puts a lot of thought into it. The Blue Oval’s latest assembly line advance is to have SYNC’s infotainment software installed into the 2011 Ford Edge via WiFi. Made possible by the the latest version of SYNC with WiFi access, the new process allows Ford to save money on parts and inventory by using a common module among vehicles in different cars and made in different plants. After the Edge, the Lincoln MKX and 2011 Explorer will gain the same systems. Follow the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford begins using WiFi to install Sync on assembly lines

Ford begins using WiFi to install Sync on assembly lines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saab has already talked up its hopes for entering the forthcoming 9-2 in a future installment of the World Rally Championship. But before it can, the 9-2 needs to exist. And before that can happen, Automotive News reports that Saab needs the technology and money from a partner automaker. A recent rumor surfaced that Saab was talking to BMW about building the 9-2 on the Mini chassis. At the same time, another rumor came to light that Saab was discussing using Mini engines for the next 9-3.

Now word has it that Spyker‘s Victor Muller is in talks with three companies about getting the help necessary to build the 9-2. Muller hasn’t disclosed the companies’ names, but we assume one of them is BMW. The hook is that the cost of the 9-2 wasn’t included in the turnaround plan, so Saab needs its chosen partner to injects some cash as well. The model has yet to be officially confirmed, of course, so at this point, it isn’t even clear that a teardrop Saab will get off the ground at all.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Muller in talks with three automakers about Saab 9-2 revival originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to the latest reports, Opel will be taking its name, not just its cars, to at least four new markets around the world. Standard practice has been to rebadge Opels as one of General Motor’s other brands in countries outside of Europe, but company heads believe it’s time to market Opel’s European roots, especially in China.

The German automaker sold 4,000 cars in China last year, and to that end, Opel spokesman Andres Kroemer says “We will market Opel as a European designed car in the premium segment. There are a growing number of Chinese who like European cars and have the money to afford them.” By comparison, Audi, a luxury darling in China with local production facilities, sold more than 130,000 cars, and it’s clear that Opel’s launch will eventually be followed up by local production in China for better competitive footing.

In addition to joining the world’s largest auto market, the Opel brand will head to Australia and South America in the near-term, as well as other Asian markets after that.

[Source: Deutsche Welle]

Report: Opel expanding outside of Europe, headed for China, Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The product pipeline for Mercedes-Benz is a Horn of Plenty over the next three years, with at least seven new models landing on American shores on top of refreshed and new-generation offerings. We’ve seen the new CL, CLS, S-Class and R-Class, and spy shots of the coming SLK, SL, SLS Convertible, C-Class Coupe.

Beyond those, it’s the next B-Class that could be one of the most intriguing additions to the MBUSA playbook. The redesigned hatch will be made more compelling for American buyers, and will be the first Mercedes to arrive Stateside with front-wheel drive and four-cylinder engines. Recent rumors also suggest it will get a rear-wheel-drive AMG version and be the basis for a CLC Shooting Brake, as well as getting its own coupe, crossover and sedan trims.

Other models in the queue will be brand new, not just new to us. These include a C-Class convertible and potential crossover would give M-B 3 Series convertible and X3 competitors. A 100-strong fleet of F-Cell vehicles will be tested in California, and the SLS E-Cell will come in 2013 with 526 horsepower and a 120-mile range. And just as all of those treats are arriving, the same year will see the arrival of the new S-Class Coupe (replacing the CL nameplate), S-Class, E-Class and GL.

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: Mercedes-Benz readying raft of new product, including B-Class coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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