Thursday, 19 November 2015

Gallery: Ford GT Unveiled in Stunning Yellow Suit

Gallery: Ford GT Unveiled in Stunning Yellow Suit

Gallery: Ford GT Unveiled in Stunning Yellow Suit

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The Ford GT is being shown at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show sporting a stunning yellow shade while not far away is a Ford GT race car in full livery.

Next year, the American automaker will campaign the new Ford GT race car at the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Ford's historic 1-2-3 victory in the GT40. The GTE racing version is similar to the production model that first debuted at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, sporting a carbon monocoque chassis, aggressive bodywork and a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. The race car however boasts a giant rear spoiler, ground effects, center-lock wheels paired to racing tires, a gutted interior and a livery that is unmistakably Ford.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage

As for the yellow Ford GT on display, it will likely be offered as a color when the vehicle launches, joining the blue, silver and red shades we've already seen.

The 2017 Ford GT will boast at least 600 horsepower and you'll get to see race variants competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the IMSA SportsCar Championship next season.

Discuss this story on our Ford Forum

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Chevrolet Volt Named Green Car Journal’s 2016 Green Car of the Year

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Green Car Journal has named the Chevrolet Volt its 2016 Green Car of the Year.

The second-generation Chevrolet Volt beat out the Audi A3 e-tron, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Prius with Green Car Journal's editors applauding all the improvements Chevrolet made to its plug-in hybrid. The publication pointed out the Volt's sleek and sporty design, more energy-dense batteries, new electric motors and quicker acceleration as reasons for naming it the 2016 Green Car of the Year.

The original Chevrolet Volt also captured the title of 2011 Green Car of the Year. Last year's winner was the BMW i3.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Chevrolet Volt Review

The Green Car of the Year is selected through a majority vote by a jury that includes Jay Leno and leaders of noted environmental and efficiency organizations including Jean-Michael Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; Matt Petersen, board member of Global Green USA; Dr. Alan Lloyd, President Emeritus of the International Council on Clean Transportation; Mindy Lubber, President of CERES and Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance to Save Energy.

"Chevrolet is bringing fun-to-drive, technology-loaded, and affordable electric solutions for our customers, and the 2016 Volt delivers on all fronts," said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet marketing manager. "For the Volt to stand out as Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year reaffirms Chevrolet's commitment to delivering electric solutions to our customers that exceed their expectations."

Discuss this story on our Chevrolet Volt Forum

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Scion’s Newest Ads have us saying “WTF” in a Good Way

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Scion's latest tagline of "Weird, right?" is certainly unique, and it works in getting our attention. 

Two quirky new ads hit the brand's YouTube page today including a vampire-themed spot to sell the iM, as well as a commercial that uses Stock Photos to help sell the standard features of the new Scion iA.

The Scion iM is the brand's new compact hatchback and it features a lot of standard equipment like dual zone automatic climate control, a seven-inch touchscreen audio system and a rear view camera. Under the hood is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 137 hp.

The new Scion iA is the brand's first sedan, but is basically a rebadged Mazda2 sedan. It features a SkyActiv powertrain that uses a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 106 hp. It comes with push-button start, low-speed pre-collision system, rear-view backup camera and a seven-inch touchscreen.

See all the features in Scion's sarcastic and silly tone below.

Discuss this story on our Scion Forum

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Production Chevrolet Bolt Debuting January 2016

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The production Chevrolet Bolt will debut early next year at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

GM executive vice president Mark Reuss confirmed the news at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show, meaning the Bolt will go from concept to production in about a year's time. After the Chevrolet Bolt concept debuted at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, GM didn't waste time confirming the Bolt would launch in 2016.

Over the past few years, CES has become more prominent with vehicles and automakers showing up to Las Vegas, filling the hallways with next-generation driving technologies to go alongside shiny new flatscreen displays and home audio equipment.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Interior Revealed in New Spy Photos

GM CEO Mary Barra will deliver a keynote at next year's CES and that's when the American automaker will likely debut the production Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle, boasting at least a 200-mile range. Expected to be priced under $40,000 the Chevrolet Bolt will compete with the upcoming Tesla Model 3 that is currently in development. Tesla's more affordable electric car will make its debut later this year before it heads to production in 2017.

Spy photographers have caught the Chevrolet Bolt testing in recent months, riding on GM's Global Gamma chassis.

[Source: The Verge]

Discuss this story on our Chevrolet Bolt Forum

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We Deliver the 2016 Reader’s Choice Car of the Year Awards at the LA Auto Show

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While the AutoGuide team was busy delivering our industry-leading coverage of the LA Auto Show, we found time to shake hands and deliver plenty of hardware.

Editorial Director Colum Wood hand-delivered the 2016 Reader's Choice Car of the Year Award to Ford Utility Marketing Manager Craig Patterson for the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. The new hard-core sports car beat out some impressive models for the win: the Cadillac ATS-V, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Volt, Honda Civic, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Nissan Maxima, Scion iM and Toyota Prius.

Patterson was also pleased to accept the Reader's Choice Utility Vehicle of the Year Award for the new Ford Edge.

Colum Wood Craig Patterson

Top honors for the Reader's Choice Truck of the Year went to the new Colorado Diesel, with Chevrolet Truck Marketing Director Sandor Piszar accepting the honors.

Colum Wood Sandor Piszar

That was just the first or two wins for Chevy this year, with Steve Majoros accepting the award for the Reader's Choice Sports Car of the Year for the Corvette Z06. The Z06 beat out the Audi TT, Cadillac ATS-V, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Dodge Viper ACR, Mercedes-AMG GT S and Jaguar F-Type R Coupe.

Colum Wood Steve Majoros RCCOTY-07

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2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Arrives with $20,445 Price Tag

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Mitsubishi's best-selling crossover just got a facelift at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show.

Now equipped with the Japanese automaker's "Dynamic Shield" front design, the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport looks bolder and sleeker than before. Along with the facelift, Mitsubishi gave the crossover new power folding side mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, wheel lip moldings, auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink and new 18-inch alloy wheels. Shoppers will also get to choose from three new exterior colors: Cool Silver, Diamond White Pearl and Quartz Brown.

Inside the cabin, the updated Outlander Sport receives a redesigned steering wheel, new 6.1-inch Display Audio, high-quality seat fabrics and a new light gray interior option. Pricing will start from $20,445 including destination.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage

"The Outlander Sport is a brand leader for Mitsubishi Motors, and we are excited to unveil this eye-catching 2016 model-year," said MMNA executive vice president, Don Swearingen. "The Outlander Sport has always been a fun vehicle that delivers on its promise of reliability and value, and the 2016 model year continues to do so with a great new family look that unifies the Mitsubishi CUV lineup."

Discuss this story on our Mitsubishi Forum

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Wednesday, 18 November 2015

Mazda CX-3: car review | Martin Love | Technology | The Guardian

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Mazda CX-3: <b>car review</b> | Martin Love | Technology | The Guardian

Mazda CX-3: <b>car review</b> | Martin Love | Technology | The Guardian

Posted: 14 Nov 2015 10:00 PM PST

Seeing red: the Mazda CX-3 is a small car which drives and handles like a much bigger one.

Price: £17,595
Top speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 8.7 seconds
MPG: up to 70.6
CO2 emissions: 105g/km2

They say being a parent is all about letting go, and last month we did just that. More than let go, in fact, we gave our boy a great long shove up the M1 – and off into a world of his own. Taking him to university isn't exactly chucking him naked into a loveless void, but that's what it felt like to us. "Out you get, sonny, you're on your own now." But there were upsides to abandoning him in Edinburgh. One was that it gave me 900 miles and 21 hours at the wheel to really get inside the skin of this all-new Mazda CX-3. Another was that when coming home we followed the winding A701 for miles as it snakes alongside the River Tweed to Moffat – the soft rain, purple heather and scree-scarred slopes a perfect backdrop to our melancholic mood.

The Mazda CX-3 is a compact crossover – which sounds like a miniature mongrel, but is in fact the fastest-growing class of car in Britain. And it's easy to see why people like it. Neat, nimble and capable, yet with a big-car presence, it has the driving position and comfort of a much larger SUV. We jammed three adults and an entire year's worth of student clobber into it. You'd have been astounded how much we got in. I can't say it wasn't a squeeze. It was like a game of sardines and when I opened the boot at the other end I thought duvets, laptops and toastie machines would jump out like a jack in the box.

And then there's the drive. Despite the added weight, the car is a real performer. Buyers have a choice of two engines: one petrol and one diesel. I drove the 2-litre petrol version, which in two-wheel mode produces 118bhp. This was more than ample: it was smooth and responsive and was as happy negotiating narrow inner-city roads as it was blasting the length of the country. There is a more powerful 148bhp model, but that comes only as a four-wheel drive which reduces the remarkable economy: over 900 miles I averaged almost 50mpg – real-world data.

In order to showcase the CX-3's many talents – its agility, its strength and its endurance – Mazda has produced four short films in which they enter the vehicle in a series of car v dog races. There's the start torque of the greyhound, the agility of the collie, the power of the mastiff and the reliability of the Labrador. The Mazda wins hands down in every race and I'm not sure it proves anything other than how fun it is to watch dogs doing things in ultra slo-mo. However, I do object to one thing: does my Dalmatian not have any qualities that a car would need?

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter at @MartinLove166

Suzuki Vitara – <b>car review</b> | Technology | The Guardian

Posted: 13 Nov 2015 10:00 PM PST

The Suzuki Vitara is the reverse of the tardis, looking larger and fancier, only from the outside. Inside, the displays are maddening: slow touchscreen, slower satnav, a radio that stops and starts for no reason, a parking camera in permanent panic mode and a "you're about to crash into the person in front of you" alarm. I figured out that's what it was only because of the illustration: one car, another car and a giant comic-book star between them. I would say this feature makes you more, rather than less, likely to crash.

And how would that crash come about? Certainly not through a sudden burst of speed. It's 0-62mph is 12 seconds, far faster than anyone but a getaway driver would have call for, yet nevertheless the most sluggish I've driven for months, and you can feel a certain reluctance from the minute you turn on the engine. I could hear its Eeyore voice as I pummelled it into second gear, "Really? Driving again? Wouldn't you rather just stay at home?"

The steering feels really cheap, almost like a fake steering wheel, mounted for effect on a driverless car; I waggled it from side to side just to check that it was really connected to the wheels. The car jerked, with more duty than enthusiasm, across the lane.

In a battle of the components to see which could feel the cheapest, the gear box aced it. The housing, particularly in reverse, was imprecise: you might get it in, you might not. You might move when you hit the accelerator, you might have to try again. Who knew? Again, I tell you: do not choose it if you're a getaway driver, or even if you're simply a prideful person who would find it embarrassing to take a long time to park.

On the upside, it's pretty thrifty and it looks far more expensive than it is, particularly if you don't let anyone inside it. The sunroof is fun; fully grown people complain about headroom in the back, but I say (pace Margaret Thatcher): a person over 17 still using the back of a car has to ask in which direction their life is headed.

It is high off the ground, which people with that peculiar, modern yet ancient status anxiety – wanting to be above others – will enjoy. The engine is actively fun on a motorway, confident and cruisy. The least-polite version of this verdict is: fur coat, no knickers; for people who want to look classy from a distance. The most polite is… There isn't a polite one.

Photograph of Suzuki Vitara interior

Price £20,299
Top speed 112mph
Acceleration 0-62mph in 12 seconds
Combined fuel consumption 50.4mpg
CO2 emissions 130g/km
Eco rating 7/10
Cool rating 5/10

Tushek Renovatio T500 <b>Review</b> | Autocar

Posted: 10 Jul 2012 01:24 AM PDT

It's Slovenia's first supercar, or, in other words, the Tushek Renovatio T500. It's from a brand new company, it is not a totally ground-up design, yet costs, wait for it (drum roll), €300,000.

Quite a lot, yes? Yes. But give it a chance.

A spot of history. Actually, a lot of history, because too little might not be helpful. Aljosa Tušek used to race cars (euro tin tops) and when he stopped, he decided for a living he'd assemble and sell high-spec variants of a car (available in component form) called the K1 Attack.



So he bought one and set about it, before realising that, although he liked the look of it, the engine was too lazy and tall (a Ford V6 with the gearbox beneath it) and the (glassfibre) body was too heavy and imprecisely moulded.

Truth is, it wasn't the car he wanted to make. So, now, although it retains a tubular spaceframe chassis, more than 80% of it is different to the K1. It's a lot longer, a bit wider and lower. Power comes from a 4.2-litre Audi RS4 motor and drives the rear wheels via an S5's 6-spd manual gearbox. The body is carbonfibre. 

Slovenia doesn't have a rich heritage in supercar manufacture, it's true: but Ferrari's composite body panels are made here, as are Ducati panels and Porsche's ceramic brakes, while it's home to Akrapovic exhausts. 

So there are experts in carbonfibre, ceramic composites and titanium. Tušek works with them all. The Renovatio makes a modest (by supercar standards) 444bhp, but here's the thing: dry, it weighs only 1090kg. Tušek thinks most supercars aren't particularly suited to track use because they're too heavy. I'm inclined to agree. And the Renovatio is pitched at the track-oriented end of the scale, which makes it additionally unusual in supercar circles.


Anything else unusual? Yes. A refreshing lack of over-ambition on the part of the people who build it. They're modest; the claimed top speed starts with a one; the 0-62mph time is a believable (if it gets there in first gear) 3.7sec. Tušek isn't exactly out to shake-up the establishment, either. He only plans to build 30 (a successor is already on paper, looks good, and would satisfy his output for the next ten years), and is pleasingly open about progress so far: two early prototypes were made and sold. 

This is the third (it isn't for sale) and, as I write, there are another two paid-up orders. Tušek wants to make another five this year. Those cars will get an R8 rather than RS4 motor because it's dry sumped, while there's also a stylish coupe roof option. It takes a couple of minutes to manually remove the roof you see in some of these pictures. It's a less slick operation than in all of its rivals, but the thinking is that the weight saving is worth it.

The Renovatio could be one of those cars that's easy to dismiss. But sometimes there are exceptions, and I'm inclined to think and hope that this is one of them. 

It's the details, as much as anything. The quality of the body mouldings is excellent. The interior is sweetly finished, which is all too often a rarity among start-ups who let people see, feel and touch cars before they're ready. Tushek has even made its own windscreen wiper assembly. It gives you a good feeling about quality of the engineering.

The hardware is pretty straightforward. There's no bluff and no nonsense. Double wishbones all round with inboard dampers at the front, the engine in the middle, slight rearward weight distribution, hydraulically assisted power steering and servo assisted (but non-ABS) carbon-ceramic brakes.

The driving position is a bit off, for me: the seat is too short in the squab and set too high, too. "No problem," say the Tushek lads. "Customers can be seated how they like." That's the key to making these cars work, I think, by offering a level of bespoke tailoring that the accepted supercar establishment can't match. There is a list of options as long as your arm. Telemetry and a sequential Hewland race gearbox (which will shave another 30kg or so) are among them.

My first taste of the Renovatio comes on the road, where it shows itself to ride very firmly, but not harshly. The dampers can be slackened if you want.

It also has a pretty raw drivetrain, but in a good way. With fluids this is still only an 1133kg car, so it gets along pretty nicely. Makes a good noise, too, and, because of a lack of sound proofing, a very audible one. There's quite a lot of heat soak, perhaps inevitably. But it feels very honest.

We take it to an airfield where a small circuit has been set up and where we're encouraged to give it the lot. Frankly, it'd be rude not to. Wound round towards the 7900rpm power peak the T500 feels about as quick, to me, as a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. I don't ever remember thinking one of those needed more power.

What the Lamborghini could sometimes use, and what the Tushek offers, is increased agility. The Renovatio gets hydraulically assisted steering of middling weight and fine accuracy and speed. There's less hyperactivity than in a Ferrari 458 Italia, albeit a touch less oily slickness than I think you'd find in a Noble M600 or a McLaren MP4-12C. All told, it's an honest rack, with plenty of feel, and a weight that reflects the amount of effort going through the front tyres.

Its tyres are of a particularly high performing compound, incidentally, and they hang on gamely. There's a bit of body movement under braking and cornering, but body control is always very tight. 

Then, on a steady throttle, a touch of understeer is telegraphed superbly through the rim. Lift and the nose will drop back into line. Lift and wait and the rear might get a touch involved. Lift on the way into a corner, or trail the brakes in (allowed by superb pedal feel) and the back will engage even more willingly.

From that point on, the Renovatio displays a superb balance. There's enough power to kick the rear wide and hold out a slide, and it's more predictable and approachable than most cars with their engine amidships. 

No mistake, there's a thoroughly sorted chassis underneath the T500. I'd be happy to lap one on a track for hour after hour. That it's relatively light, that its brakes resist fade seemingly interminably, mean that it has a track demeanour more like a GT Porsche or the latest Lotus Exige S than a traditional supercar.

I'm not sure I understand supercar buyers. As I understand it, most buyers of modern ultra-exotics already have garages filled with modern ultra-exotics, and many of these cars seem to do the same thing. 

So from where I'm standing, it looks like the Renovatio offers something truly unusual in the class: it's a track-biased supercar whose consumables should wear out or overheat less quickly than an alternative that's carrying a few hundred extra kilos. And I think I buy into that idea. 

No, it's not going get the Italian establishment looking over their shoulders, but it isn't meant to. It's novel, it's interesting. It seems nicely put together. The people who make it are sensible, modest and intelligent. Me? I'd tick the 'Hewland gearbox' option and indulge myself.

Tushek Renovatio T500

Price £241,000; Engine V8, 4163cc, petrol; Installation Mid, longitudinal, RWD; Power 444bhp at 7900rpm; Torque 316lb ft at 3200rpm; Power to weight 391bhp per tonne; 0-62mph 3.7sec; Top speed 193mph; Gearbox 6-spd manual; Kerb weight 1133kg; Economy 24.6mpg (combined); CO2 NA

On the road: Vauxhall Adam S – <b>car review</b> | Technology | The <b>...</b>

Posted: 06 Nov 2015 10:00 PM PST

The Vauxhall Adam Grand Slam was a variation on the Adam, designed to be more appealing to men; then, manliness being such a difficult quality to pin down, they changed the name to the S. Everybody knows that men love initials, especially consonants.

You cannot fault it on performance. Its 1.4-litre, turbo-charged, four-cylinder petrol engine could get a tractor to a decent speed over time; a car this size is at 62mph from cold in the time it takes you to wonder how long it will be before you have a panic attack and jump out, shouting, "I don't need an MRI! I'm fine with a brain tumour – I'll get it treated homoeopathically!" (This, if you really want to put a number on it, is 8.5 seconds.)

No, seriously, guys, I actually don't mind a small car. I prefer a small car. I love the confident, quicksilver movements I can make while parking, like a fast-forwarded video about car culture in 1950s America. It's the first car I've driven in months that doesn't have a parking sensor, and that's probably because it would be an outright insult to suggest you needed one (especially if you were a man). But when even a six-year-old is complaining about leg room, you know you are dealing with a pretty unusual design.

As in all man-focused items – the Honda Civic, Coke Zero, Catwoman – the exterior styling is mainly black with flashes of red on the piping and spoiler. It is so nippy that it took my brain some time to adjust, during which I steered all over the road, like a person who doesn't drink auditioning for a part as a drunk driver. With the driver's seat extended as far back as it'll go, the seating position is racy but cosseting; late-night, solo driving on deserted A-roads is truly fun, the hard suspension and grippy feel putting you and your Adam in perfect harmony.

Truly, this is for more than a man: it's for the man manly enough to say, "I'd love to give you a lift, but unfortunately I have read too much Ayn Rand and now I really have to prioritise that point at which my pleasure meets my destiny." I, conversely, was a woman, with two children and another adult in the car. My knees were touching the steering wheel, my feet were bent backwards like a ballerina's cruel stretching exercise, the gear stick in reverse actually rubs against the passenger seat, and still the six-year-old complained that the flip-down mechanism on the front seats (it's three-door, of course) was poorly made, and her knees couldn't move.

In the final analysis, I think a small- or medium-sized man would feel like a giant in this car, which will make it more appealing still. If you have some driving aims other than feeling like a giant and going extremely fast, you may want to think again.

Photograph of Vauxhall Adam interior

Price £16,995
Top speed 124mph
Acceleration 0-62mph 8.5 seconds
Combined fuel consumption 47.8mpg
C02 emissions 139g/km
Eco rating 7/10
Cool rating 8/10

Vauxhall Viva: <b>car review</b> | Martin Love | Technology | The Guardian

Posted: 31 Oct 2015 11:00 PM PDT

Young at heart: the new Vauxhall Viva with its cheeky smile. Photograph: David LF Smith

Price: £7,995
Engine: 1-litre three-cylinder, 75bhp
0-60mph: 13.1 seconds
MPG: 62.8
Top speed: 106mph

Remember your first car? Mine was an orange Renault 5. Moss grew in its window sills and rust spread from the corner of its grille like a nasty outbreak of a cold sore. It had no heating, no stereo and we'd have had no chance of surviving a crash. But we loved it. My wife actually wept when it was finally towed to that great scrapyard in the sky.

First cars aren't like that any more. They are safe and warm and have lights and windscreen wipers that actually work, they even have extras such as cruise control, fog lights and issue lane-departure warnings. It's a disgrace! How will our children ever learn to entertain themselves without spending long cold nights shivering on the hard shoulder waiting to be rescued? Today they get to drive cars like this cheerful new Vauxhall Viva.

It takes its name from the original saloon that was launched in 1963: the definitive biscuit box on wheels, its straight edges and minimal design mean it has become a collectible classic. That car was built in Luton; this one is put together in Korea. But it has been designed in Europe – across the Channel it's called the Karl, which reminds me of those people who give their dogs with human names. (We have a Mark and a Dave in our park, one's a Spaniel, the other a Staffy.)

The big selling point of this little car is its price – £7,995. For what you get that is incredible value. But if you are young, and this is your first car, that is still a large sum. And if you are much older, and this is your last car, you'll also worry about the price. But in both cases you'll be very pleased.

The Viva is roomy, well made and a pleasure to drive. The back seats get their own doors, which isn't something you take for granted in this class. Its lines are nicely curved and it has strongly styled lights which wrap around the grille. It's impressive – and looks every bit as good as the Fiesta, which is easily the best-selling car in this category. Vauxhall is proud of the Viva's sculptured new looks and plans to roll them out across all its cars.

For me – and this may not be a factor you worry about when buying a car – the Viva looks happy. It's got a cheeky smile and seems ready to accompany you on your adventures.

It comes with a 1-litre engine, which produces 75bhp. The original Viva also had a 1-litre engine but only produced 44bhp. This new one is a clean-burning 3-cylinder job, which does an excellent 66 miles to the gallon: double what that 1963 car achieved.

On the open road it's not as whinny and lurchy as some small engines, but where dinky cars come into their own is in the city, and the Viva with its light steering and nippy acceleration is all up for a bit of ducking and diving with its precise steering.

It's amazing what you can get for £8,000 – but then my Renault 5 only cost £15. It was worth every penny.

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter at @MartinLove166

Why Self-Driving <b>Cars</b> Must Be Programmed to Kill | MIT Technology <b>...</b>

Posted: 22 Oct 2015 06:29 AM PDT

Self-driving cars are already cruising the streets. But before they can become widespread, carmakers must solve an impossible ethical dilemma of algorithmic morality.

When it comes to automotive technology, self-driving cars are all the rage. Standard features on many ordinary cars include intelligent cruise control, parallel parking programs, and even automatic overtaking—features that allow you to sit back, albeit a little uneasily, and let a computer do the driving.

So it'll come as no surprise that many car manufacturers are beginning to think about cars that take the driving out of your hands altogether (see "Drivers Push Tesla's Autopilot Beyond Its Abilities"). These cars will be safer, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient than their manual counterparts. And yet they can never be perfectly safe.

And that raises some difficult issues. How should the car be programmed to act in the event of an unavoidable accident? Should it minimize the loss of life, even if it means sacrificing the occupants, or should it protect the occupants at all costs? Should it choose between these extremes at random? (See also "How to Help Self-Driving Cars Make Ethical Decisions.")

The answers to these ethical questions are important because they could have a big impact on the way self-driving cars are accepted in society. Who would buy a car programmed to sacrifice the owner?

So can science help? Today, we get an answer of sorts thanks to the work of Jean-Francois Bonnefon at the Toulouse School of Economics in France and a couple of pals. These guys say that even though there is no right or wrong answer to these questions, public opinion will play a strong role in how, or even whether, self-driving cars become widely accepted.

So they set out to discover the public's opinion using the new science of experimental ethics. This involves posing ethical dilemmas to a large number of people to see how they respond. And the results make for interesting, if somewhat predictable, reading. "Our results provide but a first foray into the thorny issues raised by moral algorithms for autonomous vehicles," they say.

Here is the nature of the dilemma. Imagine that in the not-too-distant future, you own a self-driving car. One day, while you are driving along, an unfortunate set of events causes the car to head toward a crowd of 10 people crossing the road. It cannot stop in time but it can avoid killing 10 people by steering into a wall. However, this collision would kill you, the owner and occupant. What should it do?

One way to approach this kind of problem is to act in a way that minimizes the loss of life. By this way of thinking, killing one person is better than killing 10.

But that approach may have other consequences. If fewer people buy self-driving cars because they are programmed to sacrifice their owners, then more people are likely to die because ordinary cars are involved in so many more accidents. The result is a Catch-22 situation.

Bonnefon and co are seeking to find a way through this ethical dilemma by gauging public opinion. Their idea is that the public is much more likely to go along with a scenario that aligns with their own views.

So these guys posed these kinds of ethical dilemmas to several hundred workers on Amazon's Mechanical Turk to find out what they thought. The participants were given scenarios in which one or more pedestrians could be saved if a car were to swerve into a barrier, killing its occupant or a pedestrian.

At the same time, the researchers varied some of the details such as the actual number of pedestrians that could be saved, whether the driver or an on-board computer made the decision to swerve and whether the participants were asked to imagine themselves as the occupant or an anonymous person.

The results are interesting, if predictable. In general, people are comfortable with the idea that self-driving vehicles should be programmed to minimize the death toll.

This utilitarian approach is certainly laudable but the participants were willing to go only so far. "[Participants] were not as confident that autonomous vehicles would be programmed that way in reality—and for a good reason: they actually wished others to cruise in utilitarian autonomous vehicles, more than they wanted to buy utilitarian autonomous vehicles themselves," conclude Bonnefon and co.

And therein lies the paradox. People are in favor of cars that sacrifice the occupant to save other lives—as long they don't have to drive one themselves.

Bonnefon and co are quick to point out that their work represents the first few steps into what is likely to be a fiendishly complex moral maze. Other issues that will need to be factored into future thinking are the nature of uncertainty and the assignment of blame. 

Bonnefon and co say these issues raise many important questions: "Is it acceptable for an autonomous vehicle to avoid a motorcycle by swerving into a wall, considering that the probability of survival is greater for the passenger of the car, than for the rider of the motorcycle? Should different decisions be made when children are on board, since they both have a longer time ahead of them than adults, and had less agency in being in the car in the first place? If a manufacturer offers different versions of its moral algorithm, and a buyer knowingly chose one of them, is the buyer to blame for the harmful consequences of the algorithm's decisions?"

These problems cannot be ignored, say the team: "As we are about to endow millions of vehicles with autonomy, taking algorithmic morality seriously has never been more urgent."

Ref: arxiv.org/abs/1510.03346 : Autonomous Vehicles Need Experimental Ethics: Are We Ready for Utilitarian Cars?  
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Monday, 16 November 2015

Kia to Introduce Semi-Driverless Car by 2020

Kia to Introduce Semi-Driverless Car by 2020

Kia to Introduce Semi-Driverless Car by 2020

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Kia is hard at work on self-driving car technology, some of which will be introduced into its cars by 2020. 

The Korean brand is targeting 2030 for its fully self-driving vehicle which is currently under development. The brand will begin by introducing semi-autonomous systems in the Sportage, Optima and Sorento which will handle some of the driving by the year 2020.

SEE ALSO: Kia Niro Hybrid Teased

Called the advanced driver assistance system, the suite of technolgoy incorporates highway driving assist, traffic jam assist and smart parking. With these systems, Kia vehicles will be able to drive on the highway by themselves, park themselves and navigate stop-and-go traffic without driver input.

Looking ahead at fully driverless cars, Kia is investing its research time into vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-everything communications.

[Source: Auto Express]

Discuss this story at our Kia Forum

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Kia Niro Hybrid Teased

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Kia is teasing its new hybrid model, the Niro, before its debut in 2016. 

The Niro, which Kia calls a Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV), will make its production debut sometime in early 2016. It will share its platform and running gear with the new Hyundai Ioniq, both of which will be fighting to take away some market share from the Toyota Prius.

SEE ALSO: Hyundai Ioniq Named as Prius-Fighter

Under the hood, the Niro and Ioniq are both expected to use a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, mated to a 32 kW electric motor powered by lithium-polymer batteries. A six-speed dual-clutch transmission is likely to send that power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is expected to be offered as an option sometime after launch.

The Kia Niro will fit in between the Sportage and Soul in terms of size. Rumor has it that this Kia hybrid will be coming to the U.S., and is likely to make its debut at the either the 2016 Detroit or Chicago auto show.

Discuss this story at our Kia Forum

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Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Wins 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader’s Choice Car of the Year Award

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The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 took home top honors as the winner of the 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader's Choice Car of the Year Award. 

With Ford keeping a tight grasp on AutoGuide.com readers, the fifth-generation Mustang also won last year's Reader's Choice Car of the Year. This year's high-performance edition seems to have just as many fans.

Powered by a hand-built, naturally aspirated, flat-plane 5.2-liter V8, the Shelby lives up to its legendary predecessors with 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, and with a redline of 8,250 rpm, it is the highest-revving production V8 in the American automaker's history. Adding to its appeal is surely its starting price of $49,995, including destination, which cements its place as an attainable and very capable sports car.

"America loves the Ford Mustang. For the second year in a row, a Mustang took home our Reader's Choice Car of the Year Award," says AutoGuide.com editorial director Colum Wood. "Last year, it was the new generation that won the hearts of AutoGuide.com readers. This year, it's the supercar performance of the GT350 with its incredibly powerful and even more incredible sounding 5.2-liter V8 engine.

"Voting continues to gain traction on social media and, as always, the votes poured in for this year's awards from across the 500+ AutoGuide.com Group forums."

ALSO SEE: 2016 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 Review

Mike Schlee, AutoGuide.com's road test editor, says driving to the GT350 is a religious experience.

"Crank up the GT350, and it's immediately apparent that this is a loud car. But it gets better," he says in his review. "Flip the toggle switch to activate the sport exhaust, and the Mustang enters a whole other realm of crazy. It's like acquiring your own personal volatile on-demand cumulonimbus cloud. Running from 1,000 rpm to 8,200 rpm in the Shelby is a religious experience."

The Shelby GT350 got more of your votes than the Cadillac ATS-V, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Volt, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, Honda Civic, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Nissan Maxima, Scion iM and Toyota Prius.

With seven different vehicle categories voted for in this year's 2016 Reader's Choice Awards, Ford took home two wins: The Shelby GT350 took home Car of the Year, and its Edge was awarded Utility Vehicle of the Year. Chevrolet also took home two Reader's Choice wins for the Chevrolet Colorado Diesel as the Truck of the Year, and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 as Sports Car of the Year. Tesla's Model X took home two wins for the Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year and the Green Car of the Year. The Jaguar XF rounds out the 2016 Reader's Choice awards as the Luxury Car of the Year.

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Tesla Model X Wins 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader’s Choice Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year Award

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The brand new Tesla Model X took home the award for 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader's Choice Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year.

Winning a lot of fans for its innovative and futuristic-looking falcon doors, the Tesla Model X SUV has been generating buzz long before it was officially unveiled.

Tesla calls it "the safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle in history," and the Model X can drive up to 257 miles on a single charge. It's also really quick: With the Ludicrous upgrade, the Model X can hit 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, which is faster than a lot of sports cars.

ALSO SEE: Tesla Model X: 13 Things You Need to Know

The Tesla Model X got more of your votes than the Infiniti QX50, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Lexus RX, Lincoln MKX, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC90 for the top spot in this category.

With seven different vehicle categories voted for in this year's 2016 Reader's Choice Awards, Ford took home two wins: The Shelby GT350 took home Car of the Year, and its Edge was awarded Utility Vehicle of the Year. Chevrolet also took home two Reader's Choice wins for the Chevrolet Colorado Diesel as the Truck of the Year, and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 as Sports Car of the Year. Tesla's Model X took home two wins for the Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year and the Green Car of the Year. The Jaguar XF rounds out the 2016 Reader's Choice awards as the Luxury Car of the Year.

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Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Wins 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader’s Choice Sports Car of the Year Award

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The performance-oriented Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has taken home top honors as the 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader's Choice Sports Car of the Year. 

Powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, the Z06 cranks out an enormous 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Besides having the most downforce of any Chevy product and the slickest legally available road tires, the Z06 has brakes that are so strong, they will blow your mind.

"Call it old-school, dated or traditional. If you own a Z06, you won't care," says Mike Schlee, AutoGuide.com's road test editor. "Instead, you'll be too busy setting blistering lap times. It's stupid fast and the capabilities of this machine are ridiculous. This is the new super 'Vette and it's out for blood."

SEE ALSO: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Review

The Corvette Z06 got more of your votes than the Audi TT, Cadillac ATS-V, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Dodge Viper ACR, Mercedes-AMG GT S and Jaguar F-Type R Coupe in this category.

With seven different vehicle categories voted for in this year's 2016 Reader's Choice Awards, Ford took home two wins: The Shelby GT350 took home Car of the Year, and its Edge was awarded Utility Vehicle of the Year. Chevrolet also took home two Reader's Choice wins for the Chevrolet Colorado Diesel as the Truck of the Year, and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 as Sports Car of the Year. Tesla's Model X took home two wins for the Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year and the Green Car of the Year. The Jaguar XF rounds out the 2016 Reader's Choice awards as the Luxury Car of the Year.

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Ford Edge Wins 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader’s Choice Utility Vehicle of the Year Award

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The redesigned Ford Edge has won the award for 2016 AutoGuide.com Reader's Choice Utility Vehicle of the Year. 

The second-generation Ford Edge has been completely redesigned from bumper to bumper, and the SUV gets a more high-end and stylish look both inside and outside.

The new Edge comes with three engine options: a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder, a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 and the Sport model's 2.7L EcoBoost V6. The SUV has been lauded for its new-found sophistication and host of new technology features.

ALSO SEE:  Ford Edge Review

The Ford Edge got more of your votes than the Fiat 500X, Honda HR-V, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Renegade, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-3 and Mitsubishi Outlander in this category.

With seven different vehicle categories voted for in this year's 2016 Reader's Choice Awards, Ford took home two wins: The Shelby GT350 took home Car of the Year, and its Edge was awarded Utility Vehicle of the Year. Chevrolet also took home two Reader's Choice wins for the Chevrolet Colorado Diesel as the Truck of the Year, and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 as Sports Car of the Year. Tesla's Model X took home two wins for the Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year and the Green Car of the Year. The Jaguar XF rounds out the 2016 Reader's Choice awards as the Luxury Car of the Year.

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Saturday, 14 November 2015

2016 BMW M6 GTLM Making US Debut at Daytona

2016 BMW M6 GTLM Making US Debut at Daytona

2016 BMW M6 GTLM Making US Debut at Daytona

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The 2016 BMW M6 GTLM race car will make its first U.S. public appearance at Daytona International Speedway on November 17-18.

BMW Team RLL will participate at the IMSA test event as it gets ready to campaign a pair of BMW M6 GTLM race cars in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The race car recently completed its first U.S. test at Sebring International Raceway last month along with a BMW M6 GT3 that will provide the foundation for BMW's worldwide customer racing program. According to the German automaker, the three-day test at Sebring was a successful one, providing the opportunity for 2015 BMW Motorsport Junior driver Trent Hindman to test last year's Z4 GTLM race car.

SEE ALSO: BMW M6 GT3 Debuts in Full Racing Suit

Next year will mark BMW Team RLL's eighth season of successfully racing for BMW in North America. The 2016 BMW M6 GTLM will be the third BMW model campaigned by the team following the BMW M3 and Z4 race cars used in the past seven seasons. In total, BMW Team RLL has captured 57 podiums, including 13 wins. Last year, the team finished second in the GTLM class Manufacturer, Team and Drivers championships.

The 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will kick off at the 54th annual Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 30-31, 2016.

Discuss this story on our BMW Forum

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2017 Mercedes-Benz SL Leaks Ahead of Official Debut

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The facelifted, 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL has leaked ahead of its official debut at the 2015 LA Auto Show.

Already teased by the German automaker, one website has leaked the official photos of the updated SL revealing its new styling that is heavily inspired by the new Mercedes-AMG GT sports car. Along with the new, narrower and arched headlights that include LED running lights, Mercedes has given the SL a new hood and front bumper with a design that reflects other recently updated Mercedes models. In the rear, it features updated tail lights and a rear bumper that has small vents located just behind the wheels.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage

Unfortunately like most leaks, technical details on the facelifted SL are still unclear, but it will reportedly get an updated nine-speed automatic transmission, the Dynamic Select system and Active Body Control for enhanced handling. Expect some minor engine updates to boost performance and fuel economy for the updated SL as well.

The roadster will make its official debut early next week at the 2015 LA Auto Show, so check back with AutoGuide.com for all the details on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL as we'll be reporting live from the show floor.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Discuss this story on our Mercedes-Benz Forum

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Nissan Color Studio Program Extends to Versa Note

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Versa Note shoppers can now take advantage of Nissan's Color Studio personalization program.

Last year, the Japanese automaker launched the Color Studio for the Juke crossover and this year, Nissan is following it up by including the 2016 Versa Note. Through the Versa Note Color Studio, owners will be able to "make it yours" through an a-la-carte selection of 13 exterior and interior accent accessories, each available in a choice of six colors. The accessories will be offered on all Versa Note models, as well as retrofitting them on 2014 and 2015 model years.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Nissan Versa Note to Start from $15,005

Accessories available include 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, wheel center caps, front lip finisher, door handle covers, side mirror caps (with and without turn signal) and rear roof spoiler. Interior accessories available are floor mats, kick plates, speaker rings, air vent rings, rearview mirror interior cover and interior trim appliques. Shoppers can choose to finish the accessories in black, white, red, black-purple, orange and carbon fiber look.

"The expansion of the Color Studio program to the active lifestyle Versa Note builds on the success of last year's JUKE Color Studio," said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. "As we found with JUKE, a little color – or a lot – dramatically changes the look of a vehicle and there's no easier way to make a ride stand out than the convenient, affordable Color Studio process. We believe Versa Note owners are going to embrace the concept just as much as JUKE owners do."

Discuss this story on our Nissan Versa Forum

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Jeremy Clarkson, BBC Sued for Racial Discrimination by Producer

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Jeremy Clarkson may have a shiny new deal with Amazon but his saga with what happened at Top Gear is ongoing.

The Top Gear producer involved in the "fracas" with Jeremy Clarkson is suing the former host as well as the BBC for over £100,000 ($152,000) over racial discrimination and personal injury.

Lawyers for producer Oisin Tymon along with the BBC have already attended the Central London Employment Tribunal for a preliminary hearing about the legal action. Although Tymon officially returned to work at the BBC in May, it is understood that he has not worked since the incident with Clarkson.

SEE ALSO: Top Gear Dumping Three-Host Format

A BBC investigation led by BBC Scotland head Ken MacQuarrie found that Clarkson subjected the 36-year-old Irish producer to a 30-second physical attack after a verbal tirade.

Since Clarkson's dismissal, him and former co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May have agreed to develop a new show for Amazon Prime's service. The three reportedly signed a $240-million deal for the new show.

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