David Vespremi: A lot is hanging on the Leaf Here’s what the Leaf and the iPad have in common.		Dealers flunk the EPA NADA not happy with proposed fuel economy letter grades.
	Ask AutoblogGreen: What’s up (and down) with electric vehicle performance in hilly terrain If it goes up, it must come down. What does this mean, exactly?	Other news: Low gas prices pose a problem for efficient vehicles coming to market Think on GM’s range anxiety trademark: “their technology is limited” Study: Modern li-ion batteries have little effect on life cycle impact of electric cars

AutoblogGreen for 09.07.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is a spare tire cover painted by British contemporary artist Damien Hurst. It currently retails for £900. That’s $1,390 based on current exchange rates.

You read correctly – a tire cover that costs over one thousand dollars.

Hirst’s work is praised around the world, and this isn’t his first dive into the automotive realm. Earlier this year, a Hirst-painted Audi A1 sold for over $527,000 at an auction held by Elton John. This tire cover is obviously art on a smaller scale, featuring Hirst’s spin painting design. The cover itself is made of a high-quality stainless steel band covering the tire tread with a high-impact plastic central dish displaying the artist’s work.

Need a fashionable way to spruce up the tire cover on your Jeep Wrangler? Have an extra $1,400 burning a hole in your wallet? Hirst’s art-gone-four-by-four can be purchased now from Other Criteria.

[Source: Other Criteria via Highsnobiety.com]

Artist Damien Hirst selling world’s most expensive spare tire cover? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ultimate Four-Wheeled Value Proposition

If the Genesis sedan was Hyundai’s opening salvo to bring the pain to Lexus, the Equus is a set of leather-covered brass knuckles flying towards the jaws of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It’s a bold move by an automaker riding high on the intoxicating fumes of increased marketshare and boosted brand awareness. But here’s one thing the Equus is not: Phaeton Part Deux.

Click to continue…

Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Equus

First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Equus originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Honda CR-Z (Compact Renaissance Zero) will get a makeover by WRAPTIVO. The CR-Z Type-F will be wrap in matte black (seems like this is the trend) While the root, hood and part of the center section of the bumper will be wrapped with di-noc Carbon Fiber film.

The kit also comes with a full aero kit and the obvious glossy red wheels. Performance boost will include a supercharger system (on the hybrid, sounds great to us), suspension package, Tuned ECU, exhaust system and also help from other Honda Accessories partners.

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Aston Martin Lagonda hasn’t lacked for four-door models in its history, but its latest efforts have had us all scratching our heads in bewilderment. Instead of badging the Rapide as a Lagonda model, the four-door DB9 derivative has come to market instead. Meanwhile, the Lagonda badge was resurrected for an odd crossover concept that, let’s just say, wasn’t warmly received after its unveiling at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Subsequent reports indicated that the Lagonda concept – reportedly based on a Mercedes platform – was heading back to the drawing boards. Now, the latest reports indicate a different approach. Apparently the crossover has been canned entirely, but that doesn’t mean the dormant half of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd is going back to sleep.

In response to customer complaints that the Rapide was lacking in rear-seat legroom (and it is pretty cramped back there), AML is now reportedly preparing to enlarge the four-door coupe into a more accommodating form that will bear the Lagonda name in the crossover’s stead. Sources place the sedan’s arrival no sooner than four years from now, so you’re long-legged friends will half to wait a while longer to enjoy the rear accommodations in your Aston.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Lagonda crossover reportedly scrapped in favor of Rapide-based sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a few years since single-seaters roared through America’s Playground, but they could be back before we know it. And back in a big way, if the latest reports from the world of motorsport materialize.

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted IRL races from 1996 to 2000 and Champ Cars from 2003 to 2005, and continues to hold NASCAR races, along with a handful of racing schools and other events. The circuit’s chief Bruton Smith, however, is now reportedly campaigning to get the joint open-wheel series back on track (so to speak) for next year. If successful, the Vegas oval could play host to the season finale, a slot currently held by Miami-Homestead.

The IRL is expected to announce next year’s calendar on September 10 (just a few days from now), so one way or another, we’ll be finding out shortly.

[Source: Autosport]

Las Vegas campaigning for Indy season closer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here is the first teaser of a serie of 6 that Lamborghini is showing before the Paris Show.

Source: Lamborghini

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Step-by-step unveilings of new car models can be a painfully slow affair, but when it’s something as exciting as a new Lamborghini, chances are that it’ll be worth it in the end.

Following the barely-a-teaser shot released three months ago, this new image just released by the Italian factory gives us a glimpse at a section of what looks like the taillight on what is expected to be the company’s new Murciélago successor. The Murci has served admirably in its range-topper role, having carried on in numerous variants since 2001.

What you’re looking at is the first in a series of six teasers slated to be released by the Bolognese exotic automaker ahead of the car’s expected debut at the upcoming Paris Auto Salon. The rest of the shots will undoubtedly follow in a timely fashion, so stay tuned.

[Source: Lamborghini]

Lamborghini teases new supercar ahead of Paris debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It seems appropriate while we celebrate the last vestiges of summer on this Labor Day weekend that we also acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the recreational vehicle, also known as the RV. The summer season and RVs go hand in hand, and people have motored across America in mobile homes since 1910. RV historians say that year was when just a few companies began building the precursors to what we now know as recreational vehicles, thus marking the birth of the RV industry. Those companies include Pierce-Arrow from New York (above, 1910 Touring Landau), the Los Angeles Trailer Works and Michigan’s own Auto-Kamp Trailers of Saginaw.

The RV industry has survived wars, tough economic times and oil crises and still come out no worse for wear. Credit the American spirit of adventure, our love of travel or maybe just the unique freedom one experiences while traveling without a tether to your permanent residence.

If I’m waxing too poetic about what some consider to be just ill-constructed boxes of balsa wood on wheels, know that I am an RV owner myself (right, 2011 Forest River Sunseeker) and have known the joys of sitting around a campfire in the forest roasting s’mores one minute and playing Rock Band in an air-conditioned living room the next. It may sound like sacrilege to hard-core outdoorsmen who like sleeping on the ground, but it makes perfect sense to an RV enthusiast.

So, in honor of the RV’s 100th birthday, we’ve assembled r a gallery chronicling its history courtesy of the RV industry’s centennial website. Enjoy the trip through time.

[Source: NY Times, RVcentennial.org]

Happy 100th birthday to the RV originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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