Just a few days ago we've talked about the fact that Tesla Motors is suing BBC's Top Gear because of their 2008 episode in which they've reviewed the Roadster model. The law suit claims that TG's review of the vehicle was rigged and its assertion that the car does not even work in the real world had been decided even before Jeremy Clarkson drove the Roadster.

There had been no responses coming from either Top Gear or BBC, other than to say they would defend themselves. According to Andy Wilman, who is the show's producer, it is their policy to hold back to any comment until the problem is addressed to a court. Because Tesla Motors has been very vocal about the case (although more than two years later), Wilman has decided to respond to this issue.

TG says that the 55-mile range claim came from the automaker's engineers who studied all the data gathered from the vehicle after the test day. Wilman added that the Roadster's brakes broke, stating that a blown fuse in the vacuum pump made the pedal effort to be unusually high, and that Tesla wouldn't let them continue the review/test until the issue was fixed.

What I really don't understand is why Tesla decided to respond to this after almost two and a half years since the episode aired. To be more exact, it was the 7^th episode in the Series 12, and it aired on December 14^th, 2008. Why now? Well, my guess is that Tesla Motors is doing this for publicity, to attract more audience and who knows, boost up preorders on the forthcoming S model.

Source: Top Gear via Autoblog

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Top Gear Responds To Tesla's Law Suit

We all have seen lots of drivers parking their cars in a totally inappropriate way, covering two parking spaces instead of one or leaving too little space for other cars to park.

So, for you not to use any brutal and violent form to show your dissatisfaction or disagreement, KindOfRude.com has created a etiquette, like hotel Do Not Disturb-flyers, that you can leave on the door handle of the car that you consider to have violated the parking rules. Actually, it's an angry and patronizing instruction manual of proper parking that can be bought on $9 for an eight-pack.

What do you think: does this method will actually solve the problem of violated parking rules or it's just a no-effect and not so cheap passive-aggressive manifestation?

[Source: KindOfRude]

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Hotel-like Parking Lot Etiquette from KindOfRude.com

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has managed yet again to outsell the 2011 Nissan Leaf. The good news for the Japanese automaker is that they've managed to sell almost five times more Leaf in comparison to February, but they still are far behind Chevrolet. In March, there were 906 plug-in cars sold: 608 Volts and 298 Leafs, which is a lot more from February's sales of 281 and 67, respectively.

Up until now, Nissan managed to sell a mere 471 Leafs, while Chevrolet did a lot better, delivering 1,536 Volts, since the first Leaf was delivered back in December 2010, followed just three days later by the first Chevy Volt.

Let's not forget about the small manufacturer Think, located in Elkhart, Indiana, who managed to sell 27 units of its City two-seat electric car last month. Their grand total reached the 95 sold units mark, since their introduction in last December.

Add all these figures up and you will get a grand total of 2,100 brand new plug-in EVs, either bought or leased.

Source: greencarreports.com | Photo: crunchgear.com

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Chevrolet Volt Outsells Nissan Leaf, Again

2008 Kia Pro Cee'd

Kia's next step in conquering the mainstream European brands is to launch a hot-hatch that will rival the VW Golf GTI. The automaker's management told Autocar that a high-performance model is in the works. Most likely, the foundation of this new car will be based on the next-generation three-door Cee'd (aka Pro Cee'd), whose appearance will probably be influenced by the Koup concept, which is a 2-door fastback cope that was revealed in 2008 at the New York Auto Show.

The 5-door version of the Cee'd will turn four years old next spring, when the new generation should be launched. The 3-door variant will be out probably in fall 2012. The heart of the Cee'd GTI will most like come from the automaker's latest 2.0-liter turbocharged Theta II engine, like the one available in the U.S.-spec Optima saloon. This power unit delivers 274 hp and 269 lb.-ft of torque, but the one in the future Golf GTI rival will probably be de-tuned to around 220-230 hp.

The Korean car manufacturer sees next year as the one when it will begin to roll out driving dynamics and sportier models in order to help its design department in differentiating its models from those of Hyundai, its sister company.

Also in the works is a convertible, based on the Soul model, which should be out sometime in 2014.

Source: autocar.co.uk

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Kia Working On Golf GTI Competitor

2012 Audi S6

Our colleges from autocar.co.uk have managed to grab a couple of spy shots with the forthcoming Audi S6. The automaker's super-saloon is going to be more civilized and refined in comparison to the predecessor. Similar with the regular A6 that became more luxurious in the latest generation, the S6 will be more elegant, while at the same time offering more oomph under the bonnet, thanks to its new V8 turbocharged 4.0-liter power unit.

Rumors say that the S6 will be available in a single-turbo version of this new engine, offering about 440 hp. The more powerful twin-turbo version will equip the RS6 model, delivering approximately 555 hp. The first car that will benefit from this engine is the entry-level Bentley Continental GT V8. The new engine is going to be mated to a 7-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, that will guarantee a smooth and fast shifting.

2012 Audi S6

The new generation of the S6 will be only 5 hp more powerful than the old-gen model, which has a V10 engine that cranks out 435 hp. However, its performance and fuel economy are expected to be considerably better than the model it replaces. In addition, the car will be significantly lighter, thanks to its new lightweight construction and the more compact dimensions.

The German automaker will probably launch both the saloon and estate versions of its new S6 model. In the UK for example, the Avant version outsold the saloon by a ratio of three to two. Here, sales will commence in early 2012 and later on Audi will launch another two S models, the S7 and the all-mighty S8.

Audi is currently thinking about whether to launch the aforementioned two models along with the S6 at the Frankfurt Motor Show which will be organized in Frankfurt this September. The S7 and the S8 will benefit from the newer version of the V8 4.0-liter engine, although we don't know if they will feature the twin-turbo version (555 hp) or the single-turbo variant (440 hp).

Source: autocar.co.uk

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New Pics With The Audi S6

We all know that the Autobahn is one of the last places where we can drive at very high speeds, without having to worry about getting a ticket. Well, slowly but surely, this dream of ours is dying. The voters in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, which is the home to both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, have elected the Green Party to power, and there could be some consequences to the famous Autobahn.

According to Automotive News, one of the promises made by the Greens was to implement a speed limit of 74.5 mph (120 km/h) on the areas of the Autobahn that is not restricted at the moment.

Dieter Zetsche, who is the CEO at Mercedes-Benz, said that speed limits are not good for business, noting that customers from foreign countries view the Autobahn as part of the automaker's formula for developing high-performing cars.

Winfried Kretschmann, who will most likely be named as the State Premier, said recently that the Autobahn contributes 30% of the area's emissions. For this reason, the sector "has to make a contribution of its own to reduce the gas that's harmful to the environment."

Source: Automotive News via Autoblog

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Certain Autobahn Stretches Might Get Speed Limit

Probably one of the coolest cars ever made by BMW is the 8-Series. Add to this the M8 badge and the result is epic. Unfortunately, the car never made it into production and remained only a prototype. The German automaker did launch the 850CSi, which had a modified version of the 850i's V12 engine, featuring 380 hp from its 5.6-liter displacement, which was bigger than on the regular 850i.

Last week, BMW decided to open its doors of its very special M car garage to the press, revealing a bunch of prototypes that never were green-lighted for production. One of these one-offs is the M8. The most powerful 8-Series had a bespoke V12 engine that later on was the heart of the legendary McLaren F1. The 12-cylinder power plant was built around two 6-cylinder engines sourced from the M3 (E36), outputting around 580 hp.

Featuring widened wheel arches, bespoke front & rear bumpers, additional air vents in the back, aerodynamically optimized mirrors and special alloy rims, it is my favorite BMW ever made. The engine was later on found not only in the aforementioned McLaren F1, but also in the automaker's 1999 Le Mans racer.

My question is: why BMW decided not to roll out this model? They would have made a fortune.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: BMW via M5Board, Autocar via Carscoop

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BMW M8, Featuring McLaren F1's V12 Engine

Another bicycle released by a car manufacturer is Audi's duo City. Developed in collaboration with Renovo Hardwood Bicycles, this one features a monocoque hardwood frame and comes with a lot of design elements that were inspired from the automaker's cars. It is going to be available in three models: City, Sport and Road.

The bicycle is able to absorb shocks thanks mostly to its wooden frame. If you didn't know, wood is approximately 1/4 the weight of aluminum, while at the same time being just as stiff (or even superior), tough and durable.

The bicycle benefits from several interesting innovations, like the belt drive, carbon fiber and aluminum components, LED lightning and disk brakes. Each bike is hand-mad at Renovo's studio.

Price? Well, the City version costs $6,530; while the most expensive one, the Road edition, will set you back $7,460.

Source: Audi via ZerCustoms

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Audi Reveales Hardwood Bicycle

The ex F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen is going to run a limited schedule in the Camping World Truck Series for the Kyle Busch Motorsports team this year. His debut will occur on May 20^th in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway as the teammate of owner Kyle Busch.

As a reminder, Kimi spent nine years in F1 and he managed to win 18 races, finished 62 of the races on the podium and in 2007 he grabbed the title. He left the sport in 2009 and participated with his own team – ICE 1 Racing, in the World Rally Championship (WRC), which I'm sure that you know, he didn't break any records, only his car, several times.

His debut in the Camping World Truck Series will be the first step in what he hopes will be a successful transition from open-wheel and rallying to the exciting world of NASCAR, which is something that another former F1 driver did. We are talking about Juan Pablo Montoya back in 2007.

I'm eager to find out if Kimi is going to do a better job in this competition. My hope is that one day he will get back where he belongs – in Formula 1 (for Ferrari, preferably).

Source: Kyle Busch Motorsports via Autoblog | Image: Gepa Pictures/McKlein/Red Bull Content Pool

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Kimi Raikkonen Will Run In The Camping World Truck Series

Current F1 champion and the winner of the inaugural race of this season, Sebastian Vettel, has taken to Youtube to explain what the addition of the famous KERS system and the adjustable rear wing means for drivers. Simply put, the KERS is good for an 80-hp boost and a six-second.

He said that the most efficient way to use it is when trying to get off the grid ahead of the other cars, or when attempting to sneak through a gap in traffic at the start of a GP. It can also be used for blocking off an incoming attack or as an edge when attempting to overtake.

As far as the adjustable rear wing is concerned, it is available only as an overtaking help at specific points in a race within a certain distance of an opponent. It was designed in order to reduce drag when an F1 pilot steps out of the slipstream and into clean air. The driver can lose some of the increased resistance by reducing the pitch of the wing.

We'll let Vettel explain it more clearly.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: YouTube via Autoblog

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Vettel Talks About KERS And The Adjustable Rear Wing