BMW and Toyota to Jointly Develop New Sports Car and Numerous Technologies

Last December, the BMW Group and Toyota entered a mid-to-long-term partnership on the sharing of hybrid systems and diesel engines, which was enhanced this past March with an agreement on the development of lithium-ion battery cell technology. Now, the two companies have announced a significant expansion of their existing cooperation that will include the joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle together with fuel cell, powertrain electrification and lightweight technologies.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two partners today at the BMW Group headquarters in Munich.
BMW board member, Norbert Reithofer, commented: "We aim to further strengthen our competitive position in sustainable future technologies. Toyota and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility. Together we have a great opportunity to continue leading our industry through this transformation."
At the signing of the deal, Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, seemed very excited about the prospects of the cooperation.
"BMW and Toyota both want to make ever-better cars. We respect each other. That is why we already can take the next step together," said Akido.
"Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells … I believe BMW's strength is developing sports cars. I get so excited thinking about the cars that will result from this relationship," he added.

Fun Times: 1970s Lada 2101 Drag Races a Porsche 911 Carrera RS and a Nissan GT-R with 1,000HP

Who said that only exotic supercars and muscular pony cars are allowed to steal the limelight at the drag strip?


If anything else, an unpretentious VAZ 2101 from the 1970s (better known with the Lada brand name outside the former Soviet Union), is bound to draw attention simply for being what it is…

But you should know by now that looks can be very deceiving sometimes and this cherry-red Lada created by the Vintic & Spuntic Workshop has 240 ponies neatly packed under its rickety hood.

Its competition in these two races is a mid-1990s Porsche 911 Carrera RS with 300-horses and a ferocious Nissan GT-R MK.1 Boostlogic Godzilla boasting 1,000-ponies.

Make your way over the jump to watch the video.

Illinois Cops Use Facebook to Post Videos of Red Light Violators

Police cameras keeping an eye on motorists is nothing new these days, but posting these videos of offenders on Facebook is something different altogether. Welcome to the world of Granite City in Illinois.


In an effort to inform the public and reduce violations, the local police department has being uploading videos of red light runners at the intersection of 27th and Madison street on its Facebook page on an almost weekly basis for the past few months.

Note, however, that the videos do not reveal the license plate numbers or the names of the drivers that violate the red light.

The Granite City Police Department told Fox News that while the red light camera at the intersection has helped reduce violations with some 93 percent of drivers ticketed never receiving a second one, there has been a steady stream of violators.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3348369915034

Poor Man's Lamborghini Reventon Filmed Cruising Down the Road…

Unless one of the 20 owners of the real $2 million Lamborghini Reventon had a change of heart regarding the Italian exotic's mid opaque grey color, something we humorously doubt, this is a replica based on an unknown donor car.

Nevertheless, it was special enough for one camera phone equipped by-stander to waste 11 seconds to film it passing by. Feel free to do the same by watching the video

Top Gear Stunt Team Successfully Completes World's First Ever Double Loop-The-Loop

Delivering on their promise, the Top Gear Live stunt team succeeded in setting a new world record by becoming the first to complete a double loop-the-loop on four wheels during the Top Gear festival in Durban, South Africa, this past weekend.


Called the ‘Deadly 720’, the stunt saw a single seater buggy fruitfully tackling the two loops, each of which was 8 meters tall and comprised 8 tons of steelwork (16 tons in total).

Besides the impressive double loop-the-loop, more than 15,000 people that made it to the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban enjoyed the presence of Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond as well as several stunt drivers and free runners.

You can watch the 'Deadly 720' as well as some other stunts and scenes from the Top Gear Live show in the videos

Test drive: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R

Rain and golf are rarely a perfect mix, but as I spotted storm clouds gathering on the horizon on during a recent outing I couldn’t have been more pleased.
That’s because the golf part of this particular equation was the Volkswagen Golf R that I was in, parked just outside of road course at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. What better way, or place, to get a taste of VW’s latest all-wheel-drive treat?
It’s hard to believe from its mild-mannered looks, but the Golf R is currently the sportiest car in VW’s U.S. lineup. Perhaps ever. Few better sleepers there have ever been.
Aside from a tastefully aggressive front fascia with big air intakes and LED lighting accents, rocker panel extensions, rear spoiler, unique five-spoke wheels and dual center exhausts, the R is your run of the mill Golf and not likely to raise many eyebrows. Same goes for the cabin, where a set of huggy sport seats, flat-bottom steering wheel and blue needles on the gauges are the only reminders that this is a very special, but still practical car for a very particular group of people.
Featuring a reworked version of the VW GTI’s 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, with a larger turbo running at a lofty 17 psi of boost, the Golf R sends 256 hp to the wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Want an automatic? Move to Europe, because they don’t offer one here. For once, we have all the fun. This is doubly true on a closed course.
Although the skies never fully opened up on us, a light shower drew enough oil to the surface of the otherwise dusty track to turn it into the perfect test venue for this type of car.
Throttle down, drop the clutch and even with the traction control turned off the Golf R pulls away like its wearing cleats. Underway there is a bit of turbo lag when you get on the gas, but at around 3000 rpm it’s as if a small wormhole opens up in front of the car and pulls the little pocket rocket toward the event horizon, or next corner. Keep the revs up and the corners of your mouth will follow.
Quick to turn, the Golf R is supremely-balanced through curves and very responsive to steering, throttle and brake inputs as it slides toward the exit. The latest generation of VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system can send all the power to the rear wheels and doesn’t require the fronts to start slipping before it does. Instead, it constantly monitors the throttle, turn angle and yaw of the car to best predict where the power should go. After a few laps, visions of rallycross glory start dancing in your head.
The Golf R is one of the easiest cars to take to the limit with confidence, even in much less than perfect conditions. There’s absolutely no fear that it might do something unexpected. Try something foolish yourself, however, and the stability control will intervene to understeer you to safety. Hardcore racers will be disappointed to hear that the system can’t be fully turned off, but despite its sporting intentions this really isn’t a hardcore race car.
With the level of refinement on hand, and a relatively cushy 18-inch wheel and all-season tire combination, it’s much more of a grand touring hatchback. The suspension, while tuned for the track with stiff anti-roll bars front and rear, isn’t at all harsh on the road and the Golf R drills down the highway with Autobahn-quality poise.
Road roar is a little on the loud side, but the deep resonance from the engine is a welcome passenger in a world of supposedly sporty cars that have become so quiet some automakers have resorted to amplifying the noise through artificial means.
Of course, with a starting price of $34,760 you should expect to be getting something a little out of the ordinary. That’s twice the price of a standard Golf, and about four grand more than a similarly equipped GTI. The only options available are a $1,500 package that adds a sunroof, navigation and premium sound system, or all that plus a set of rear doors for $2,100. However, all models do come with a very special feature: exclusivity.

Only 5,000 Golf Rs will be sold in the United States over the next two years to a discerning group of customers, making this a very rare bird from a company better known of late for chasing the mass market with fine, but lowest common denominator rides like the Passat and Jetta. When it comes to Golf clubs, this is one that I would definitely enjoy being a member in.
If nothing else, it’s open 365 days a year.
----------
2012 Volkswagen Golf R
Base price: $34,760
As tested: $36,260
Type: 5-passenger, 3-door hatchback
Engine: 2.0L turbocharged inline-4-cylinder
Power: 256 hp, 243 lb-ft torque
Transmission: 6-speed manual
MPG: 19 city/27 hwy

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4000416/


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/06/08/test-drive-2012-volkswagen-golf-r/?intcmp=features#ixzz1xLZ55x94

"High Gear" Mustang chosen to be SEMA's first all-female build

Ford designer Jennifer Seely's "High Gear" Mustang concept will debut at the 2012 SEMA show this fall after collecting the most online votes out of three female-created Mustang concepts.

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women, a partnership between Ford Motor Co. and the Specialty Equipment Market Association, will begin transforming a 2013 Ford Mustang GT into the High Gear concept with an all-female team.

The car features rosegold trim, satin black body, quilted suede seats and will arrive with additional modifications to the engine, suspension, drive train and sound system. Seely also added "angel eyes" to her concept, which are the horizontial lights across the headlamps to give it a distinctive daytime appearance.

The build begins in July by a group of aftermarket specialists. After the car is shown at the SEMA show, it will be auctioned off on eBay to raise money for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Diesel-powered BMW 7 Series headed to U.S.

According to a report in Car and Driver, the refreshed 2013 BMW 7 Series will be offered with diesel power here in the Untied States. The flagship BMW will be powered by the same 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-six that's found elsewhere in the Roundel lineup, though as of this moment, it's still unclear what sort of power or fuel economy figures are expected in the 7 Series. Expect the production model to wear either 735d or 740d nomenclature.

For reference, the BMW X5 xDrive35d with this same engine produces 265 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel-drive X5 crossover is able to achieve up to 26 miles per gallon when equipped with the 3.0-liter diesel engine. The 7 Series is indeed a big boy, but we expect it to achieve better fuel economy numbers than the X5.

Car and Driver says that the diesel 7 Series should arrive in about one year's time, where it will compete against the Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec and Audi A8 3.0 TDI for diesel-powered luxury supremacy. The rest of the updated 2013 7 Series range goes on sale this summer.