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Ferrari Italia 458 outdrives Lotus, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz

The Ferrari 458 Italia has outdriven 10 of the word's most renowned cars, Audi to Mercedes-Benz, Lotus to Porsche, according to Motor Trend. The automotive magazine named the Ferrari 458 Italia as the "2011 Best Driver's Car" after the 11-lap racetrack drag race and racetrack hot-lapping. Motor Trend drafted a crew of 25 editors, photographers, video producers, championship-winning race driver Randy Pobst and Le Mans class winner/TV host Justin Bell, to test, review and film the cars in the competition's history over six days. The competition required daily driving, hot lapping on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, plus the full battery

World Fastest Car: It's a show, It's mobile, It's on eBay

News Service

World's Fastest Car Show, an original video series for its website and mobile application, has been announced as the first originally produced media content for eBay Motors. Hosted by Justin Bell, the former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and FIA GT2 World Champion, the series chronicles the fast-paced automotive lifestyle, designed to engage automotive enthusiasts through both the web and mobile platforms. There will be two versions of each weekly episode, one produced for the eBay Motors mobile application, and the other produced for the eBay Motors website. Episodes will feature segments such as automotive adventures, celebrity interviews and

Toyota Camry Hybrid, 2012: More car, less money

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid will feature a slightly larger engine and, depending on the model, will be priced $800-$1,000 cheaper than the 2011 versions. The base model 2012 Camry Hybrid will be priced $25,900, approximately $1,000 less than the 2011 model. The premium will be priced at $27,400, a decrease of $800 from last year’s model. Equipped with the company’s Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, the new Camry features a four-cylinder, 2.5 liter engine that can produce 200 horsepower. It has a combined fuel economy of 41 mpg. During the Green Drive Expo, a recent media brand launch in Richmond,

Toyota Prius, 2012: Some old, some new for hybrid leader

The 2012 Toyota Prius will retain many of the same features offered in the hybrid's third generation that debuted in 2010. But new year models of the United States' best-selling hybrid will also offer exterior and interior upgrades. In other words, Toyota knows it has a good thing, but it's tweaking its existing offering while other manufacturers continue their quest to gain increased shares of the still-small hybrid market. For 2012: The Prius will feature updated headlamps and tail lamps, plus a new front fascia and bumper; The Prius Two will feature 15-inch wheel covers for 2012 and standard LED

Jennifer Lopez takes new love Fiat for a hot, hard ride

Jennifer Lopez has influence in the worlds of fashion and pop music. Fiat also believes the singer/actress is also an ideal spokesperson to market the newly re-introduced Fiat 500. A 2012 Fiat 500 Cabriolet is featured in a 30-second trailer for Jennifer Lopez’s new “Papi” video. The trailer first aired during the first “Monday Night Football” game on ESPN at the start of the 2011 NFL season. The commercial is also featured on other networks. “Like the Fiat consumer, Jennifer Lopez sees the world as her canvas and is not afraid to express herself; she is continuously drawn to projects

Scion xD, 2012: More hi-tech, still low-priced sub-compact

The 2012 Scion xD five-door urban subcompact vehicle, which will come standard with several Bluetooth features and HD Radio, will have a MSRP of $15,345 and $16,145 for the five-speed manual and the four-speed automatic transmissions respectively. The xD truly focuses on youth with its all-new standard AM/FM/CD/HD/USB 160-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system. New standard features for 2012 include HD Radio technology and Bluetooth connectivity that allows hands-free phone connection and streaming audio capability. Streaming audio allows compatible phone or personal media devices to pair with the audio system and listen to music through the vehicles sound system. The

John Travolta’s vintage Mercedes-Benz stolen in California

John Travolta is as passionate about vintage transportation as any aficionado. He’s driven vintage cars in films and he’s a pilot who owns a Boeing 707. But the veteran actor is now also a victim of the vast world of auto theft. Travolta’s 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL has been stolen. Then incident occurred quickly on Sept. 18 in Santa Monica, Calif., when Travolta stopped for 10 minutes at a Jaguar dealership. The actor’s vintage Mercedes was gone when he returned from the dealership. Travolta then re-visited the dealership and waited for law enforcement officers to file a crime report. According to

Lexus GS 450h, 2013: Faster, greener, better mpg

Lexus, which now has five vehicles in its hybrid lineup, has debuted the 2013 GS 450h. It’s the first premium performance sedan equipped with a V6 Atkinson cycle gas engine and two-motor hybrid system in a front engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle. The hybrid version of the 2013 GS 450 incorporates improvements to its hybrid powertrain and is equipped with a second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system. With a total system power output of 338 hp, the GS 450h will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Conversely, fuel consumption is expected to be improved by more than 30 percent. The

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera ready for North American debut

The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera, the redesigned seventh-generation sports car icon, will make its North American debut October 14 at Rennsport Reunion IV at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The new 911 will be shown alongside the world’s most noteworthy Porsche race cars for three days. The three-day occasion will be highlighted by on-track competition featuring hundreds of treasured vintage and current Porsche race cars. Every chapter of Porsche’s motorsports history will take to the track, from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-50s through the legendary 917 and 956/962 of the 70s and 80s to the GT3

2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: Best Jeep Ever?

Sport Utility Vehicles, Automotive Reviews

Try a Coke. Better yet, try out the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Few things are more American than a bottle of Coca-Cola or a Jeep. Jeep wisely decided to expand its line with the addition of its larger, more comfortable four-door Wrangler Unlimited in 2007. The two-door Wrangler model continued, but the Unlimited soon became — and is — the only Jeep for serious sustained road travel. The Unlimited also became the first four-door convertible with a soft or removable hard top. It retained Jeep’s traditional features, which include a seven-slot grille and round headlights. The Unlimited doesn’t look as

2012 Toyota Prius v: Car of the Year front runner

The recently debuted Toyota Prius v is touted by the manufacturer as having attributes that will “meet the needs of growing families with active lifestyles.” After driving the Prius v at the Green Drive Expo, a media launch in Richmond, Calif., and speaking with Wayne Gerdes, owner of the site, www.cleanmpg.com, and my test drive colleague, I had four quick reactions: 1. The Prius v, like Gerdes espoused several times, is the most fairly priced model in Toyota‘s green fleet; 2. The Prius v logically should prove so popular, Toyota may find it has two Prius models competing against each

Toyota Prius, 2012: Plug-in hybrid debuts, 87 MPGe

Toyota has introduced the Prius Plug-in hybrid, joining the third-generation Prius Liftback and the new Prius v and Prius c models, the latter of which is set to debut in 2012. The Prius Plug-in combines the benefits of the standard Prius model’s hybrid vehicle operation with extended electric vehicle (EV) driving. Marketed as seating five, the 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is expected to achieve a manufacturer-estimated 87 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined driving and 49 MPG in hybrid mode. The recent introduction of the larger Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid gives Toyota four eco-focused vehicles, including

Audi A6, 2012 gets top safety award selection

The 2012 Audi A6 has been selected as a large luxury sedan Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after a good performance in all four of the IIHS’s safety evaluations (front, side, rollover and rear crash tests). In the IIHS evaluation of roof strength, the A6 withstood a force equal to 4.9 times the car’s weight. The roof strength test evaluates how well the occupant compartment holds up in a rollover crash. Vehicles that have a strength-to-weight ratio of 4 or higher earn a “good” rating. Electronic stability control (ESC), previously a requirement to earn

Volkswagen Beetle, 2012: High fives and hand claps

Volkswagen isn't the first manufacturer to make clever television commercials. But the new spot for the 2012 Beetle is among the best. It's simultaneously hip and ideally deals a recent prevailing trend that Beetle are only purchased by women. The video features a male driver driving in various situations around town. No matter where he drives, people want to "high five" or do "knuckles." The commercial is shot to the ""The Clapping Song." It was originally recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965, shortly after she hit it big with a similar song, "The Name Game". The Clapping Song song made

Subaru recalls 400,000 cars, rust issues

Subaru is recalling more than 400,000 vehicles, including Impreza, Forester, Legacy and Outback models sold or registered in 20 states to replace potentially rusty brackets on the underside of the vehicles. The recall covers the 2002-2007 Impreza and 2003-2008 Forester because of front lower control arms broken at hanger brackets due to corrosion caused by road salt. The second recall covers 195,000 2010-2011 Legacy and Outback to replace the windshield wiper bottom cover, which could catch fire or stop working. Subaru said it received a complaint of smoke from a wiper motor in January and began an investigation. Owners will

Honda Pilot recalled for seatbelt quality issue

Honda is recalling 310,773 Pilot SUVs from the years 2009-2011 because driver and passenger seat belts whose anchor webbing may not have been properly completed and could detach. Honda said the first claim occurred in May 2010 of a seat belt anchor detaching and a second claim was made in July, prompting an investigation and recall. Honda will notify owners starting next month and dealers will replace the seat belts if necessary. No injuries or deaths have been reported, but the latest recall adds to Honda's woes. Last week, Honda announced a global recall of about 800,00 vehicles, including about