Filed under: Green

There’s more that one way to green a car, and many of the most interesting technological advancements don’t involve powering an internal combustion engine. Consider that much of the fabric, plastic and rubber that goes into a car’s construction is derived from petroleum, and you see why alternatives are becoming increasingly attractive. Automakers have taken up corn-based plastics and soy-based seat foam, and now the latest greenery comes by way of defatted soy flour. The latter is an organic substance that’s being considered as a replacement for the petroleum-based “carbon black” rubber particles that are currently specified in the vast majority of tires.

The technology has a long way to go before we could be driving on soybeans, and there are likely issues involving using a possible feedstock as a petroleum replacement (again) that will need to be worked out. Still, as pressure builds to abandon the use of petroleum in as many ways as possible, advancements are likely to become a bigger part of our day-to-day transportation needs.

[Source: DairyHerd.com]

Vegetarian radials? Defatted soy eyed as tire filler substitute originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

It may not be the entire 320 billion won that its largest creditor was looking for, but Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp’s recent announcement that it would prop Ssangyong up with an investment of 25.9 billion won ($19.89 million) should do the trick. SAIC says the money is to facilitate the development of new products, but we’d guess that paying the Korean automaker’s employees for their services will probably take top priority. According to the unionized workers for Ssangyong, which is Korea’s fifth-largest automaker, a total of 29 billion won is owed to employees.

The union and SAIC appear to be posturing back and forth on how to proceed from here. Ssangyong’s Chinese owners want to cut a total of 2,000 jobs from the Korean automaker before investing any further money and the union is expected to vote on this new plan, which is widely expected to fail. After reporting a staggering sales drop of over 50% last year, though, something’s got to give.

[Source: Gasgoo]

Ssangyong gets bailout from SAIC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Sports/GTs, Dodge

Excessive power is just enough, right? If you abide by that rule of thumb, perhaps you’d be interested in RDP Motorsport’s latest offering, which trumps the Challenger’s SRT8’s 6.1L Hemi and its 425 horsepower with a stroked version displacing a classic 440 cubic inches. That block is topped with a duo of superchargers that offer an astounding 1,000 horsepower. Oh yeah, it’s also boosted with two nitrous kits. That’s enough grunt to catapult the portly Challenger down the 1/4 mile in the nines, and if that’s not fast enough for you, we suggest therapy.

This outrageous pony car was recently unveiled at the PRI Show in Florida and is definitely a bit overkill for most people’s needs. So, while the Australian company will be happy to replicate this powertrain combination for you for a price, it’s good to know that RDP will work with you to design pretty much whatever you need on a custom basis. Check out the video after the break for more.

[Source: RDP Motorsport via Challenger Blog via Motor Authority]

Continue reading 1,000 hp, twin-supercharged Dodge Challenger by RDP Motorsport

1,000 hp, twin-supercharged Dodge Challenger by RDP Motorsport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Renault

Perhaps Fernando Alonso should stick to the ground. After all, he’s considered to be one of, if not the, best drivers in all of Formula 1, which many consider to be the pinnacle of motorsports. Sure, F1 racing isn’t necessarily the safest career choice in the world, but it may seem like the more responsible play after Alonso’s private plane suffered a mild crash in Kenya on Sunday. Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper says that Alonso’s plane wing had a minor run-in with an airport terminal building as it was readying for takeoff, but there were no injuries reported.

According to reports, the Spanish driver was in Kenya to take part in a New Year’s party that was hosted by Flavio Briatore, the managing director for Renault’s Formula 1 efforts (sounds suspiciously like your New Year’s too, eh?). It seems that while the accident wasn’t particularly serious, Alonso, his wife and his brother-in-law needed to postpone their return home until Monday.

Side note: After commenting on this crash, Alonso’s manager is again quoted as suggesting that his client has a longstanding interest in getting a shot at the driver’s seat for Ferrari, yet Alonso is contracted with Renault through 2010. Hat tip to reader Dan!

[Source: Yahoo Eurosport UK - Photo: Mark McArdle CC 2.0]

Alonso escapes Kenyan plane crash unhurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Green, Supercars, Cadillac, Chevrolet

The world’s greenest supercar project is progressing nicely. The last time we checked in with Joe Harmon and his team of woodsmen craftsmen from North Carolina State University, the all-wooden car’s hand-laid bodywork had been mated with the chassis, which was awaiting installation of the twin-supercharged, 32-valve Cadillac-sourced V8 engine and six-speed rear-mounted transaxle from a modern Chevrolet Corvette. Those 600 ponies will be funneled to the rear wheels, which have center hubs made from pressed and laminated wood, naturally. Even the transverse leaf springs are made from orange osage wood.

Work on the project has slowed so Harmon and his colleagues can finish school, but the Splinter continues to garner attention having appeared in a flattering piece published by Automobile Magazine. While we wait for Team Splinter to graduate and finish the car once and for all, take a look at these new high-res renderings of the arts and crafts supercar.

The Splinter is one of those rare projects that’s truly inspiring, and Harmon seeks to prove that wood is anything but an outdated material with no place - outside the dashes of expensive luxury cars, of course - in modern automobiles. Point taken.

[Sources: Joe Harmon Design, Automobile Magazine]

Splinter Update: Students making progress on wooden supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, BMW, Rumormill

According to a report originally posted at Germancarzone and then repeated at BMW Blog, a certain Bavarian automaker is currently working on a new performance version of its 1 Series. Although it wouldn’t be called an M1 — since that moniker is reserved for supercar status — the so-called 135i SuperSports would get a bunch of improvements, consisting mostly of lightweight body panels, a decontented interior, as well as an upgraded suspension and brake package. Power is said to come from the latest version of BMW’s outstanding 3.0L turbocharged inline-six that’s rated at 326-horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque in the 2009 7 Series.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see the upgraded engine migrate down the line from its placement under the hood of the latest flagship, but we’re a bit dubious that an upcoming lightweight SuperSports edition will see daylight beyond that. We’d rather see the 1 Series get these light weight mods (in a tii model perhaps?) along with a smaller four cylinder engine option, complete with a price that’s a bit easier to swallow than the current model. We’re also still holding out hope for the 123d.

[Source: Germancarzone via BMW Blog]

Rumormill: BMW 135i “SuperSports” model coming in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Renault, Rumormill

Fernando Alonso, who some believe is the best driver in F1, has seen his name in the news a lot these last few days. First, reports popped up that the Spanish racer has signed a (still unsubstantiated) secret deal that would put him in the seat of a Ferrari Formula 1 car beginning when his contract with Renault expires after the 2010 season. According to the latest set of rumors, Ferrari actually wanted Alonso to break his contract with Renault for the upcoming season, but the driver chose to honor his current deal out of loyalty. If true, Alonso would have taken Kimi Raikkonen’s seat at Ferrari, racing alongside Felipe Massa. The starting grid for Formula 1 has always been a bit of a roundtable affair, and these most recent rumors would appear to keep the ongoing soap opera going for the next few years, at least.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Rumormill: Alonso could have switched to Ferrari immediately originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Videos, Motorcycles

Ever since Evel Knievel made jumping a motorcycle into a national phenomenon, there seems to be an endless supply of insane (and inane) stunts with which to occupy our imaginations. The latest feat was performed in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve and involved launching Robbie Maddison — the man who performed a different jump in Sin City last New Year’s Eve — over 100 feet and landing at the top of the Arc de Triomphe at the Paris hotel. Of course, what goes up, must come down, and so did Robbie. Fortunately, he managed to stick the landing but he reportedly injured his hand in the process. Watch the whole bit go down on the video — complete with the obligatory cut-shots to his rightfully concerned significant other — after the break. In related news, Robbie Knievel also made a (less impressive) Vegas jump that night, and that video can also be seen after the break.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Robbie Maddison jumps a motorcycle 120 feet to top of Arc de Triomphe in Vegas

Video: Robbie Maddison jumps a motorcycle 120 feet to top of Arc de Triomphe in Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Crossovers/CUVs, Volvo

It may not be the same as attending the event in-person, but a live, interactive webcast of Volvo’s press conference at the Detroit Auto Show, where the S60 concept and production XC60 for North America will be shown, could be the next best thing. The broadcast is intended for media types and members of the press, but the fact that it’s being aired on DirecTV (channel 101, January 11 at 5:30 - 6:30 PM ET) means that anybody with a television and the satellite service can watch it live. Alternatively, users can register for a password to the online site, the location of which is not yet determined.

The coolest bit of tech that’s making an appearance for this event is the capability to send questions to a live host who will then relay selected inquiries to key Volvo executives. These days, the global economic downturn is affecting everyone, including those who would normally cover these events for the media. This being the case and assuming the event is a success, we’d expect to more manufacturers to adopt a similar system at upcoming auto shows. Of course, we’ll be there live and you can always direct your browsers to our pages for the best coverage available.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo to webcast Detroit Auto Show press conference live

Volvo to webcast Detroit Auto Show press conference live originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Nissan

Nissan’s latest Z-car has hit the ground running in the U.S. and Nissan may begin stirring the pot to ratchet up excitement another notch. Although we usually have to wait for the extra goodies launched in Japan to make the trek to the States, rumor has it that the factory NISMO S-Tune kit will migrate over the Pacific in short order. In addition to the coupe’s already aggressive bodywork, a ground effects kit designed to improve aerodynamics will be part of the package, along with a new set of deep dish, five-spoke aluminum wheels and upgraded suspension and brake kits. A cat-back exhaust system rounds out the bits and pieces. If the rumors hold true, we can expect to see the NISMO S-Tune 370Z kits on dealer shelves sometime in June.

[Source: GT Channel]

Rumormill: Nissan 370Z NISMO S-Tune coming to the States in June originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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