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JIM HENSON's Muppets News and Wallpaper

2011-09-26T00:10:00.001-07:00

Jim Henson
It was 75 years ago today that Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, was born. There can be no dobut that he is the most famous puppeteer of the 20th Century. And his creations, the Muppets, are still promoted and merchandised to this day. Indeed, in November the Muppets will star in a new theatrical movie, The Muppets.
Jim Henson was born on 24 September 1936 in Jackson, Mississippi. He spent his early childhood in Leland, Mississippi. It was in the late Forties that his family moved to Hyattsville, Maryland. As a child he was heavily influenced by ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy, who were very popular on radio in the Forties. After his family bought a television set he would be influenced by Burr Tillstrom, the puppeteer who created Kukla and Ollie on the series Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, as well as Bill Baird, the creator of Charlemane the Lion.
Jim Henson was still very young when he received his first job as a professional puppeteer on television. He was still attending Northwestern High School when he created puppets for the WTOP-TV children's series The Junior Morning Show. He was a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1955, when he created the five minute puppet show Sam and Friends for WRC-TV. Sam and Friends starred a balding, human puppet named Sam, as well his friends Yorick, Harry the Hipster, and the earliest version of Kermit. The original Kermit had been made from turquoise coat that his mother had thrown in the waste can, with ping pong balls for eyes. Although today Kermit is known as a frog, at the time he was more or less a lizard like creature of an indeterminate species. It would be ten years later, in 1965, that Kermit would officially became a frog after Johnny Carson referred to him as "Kermit the Frog."
The term Muppet had also yet to be coined either. That would come about in 1956 when Jim Henson created the term for his creations which were not quite hand puppets, but not quite stick puppets either. Precisely how Mr. Henson came up with the term is a bit of a mystery. He has often told the story of how he developed the term by combining the words marionette and puppet. That having been said, on other occasions he has said that it was simply a term that he liked and as a result used for his act.
Regardless, Sam and Friends would prove very popular. In its earliest days the puppets primarily lip-synched to current songs. As time went by, however, the puppets would perform in written sketches, many of which were parodies of current television shows. Working with Jim Henson on the show was his future wife Jane, as well as Jerry Juhl, later the head writer on The Muppet Show. Sam and Friends proved very popular, lasting for six years.
Despite the success of Sam and Friends, it would be some time before Jim Henson found sustained success on a national level. Much of the Sixties would find Mr. Henson and his Muppets making guest appearances on various television shows. It was in 1956 that he first appeared on The Tonight Show, then starring Steve Allen. He would also appear on Steve Allen's primetime show, The Steve Allen Show, in 1956 and 1957. One of the earliest breakthroughs for the Muppets would come in the form of The Jimmy Dean Show in 1963. Rowlf the Dog would be a regular on the show and proved so popular that he even received more fan mail than Jimmy Dean. While Kermit may have been the first Muppet, Rowlf was the first one to enter the national consciousness.
Much of the rest of the Sixties would spent making guest appearances on various shows. The Muppets would appear fairly frequently on The Ed Sullivan Show starting in 1966. Muppets also appeared frequently on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In fact, it was on the 31 December 1965 episode that Johnny Carson referred to Kermit, still an indeterminate creature, as "Kermit the Frog." Muppets would also appear on The Hollywood Palace, The Mike Douglas Show (which they co-hosted for a whole week in 1966), and Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall.
While much of Mr. Henson's work in the Sixties consisted of guest appearances, two pivotal events would occur during the decade that would guarantee the Muppets' success in the future. It was in 1961 that Jim Henson first met then 17 year old Frank Oznowicz. In 1963 Frank was hired by Jim Henson to help bring Rowlf the Dog to life on The Jimmy Dean Show. It would be Jimmy Dean who was the cause of Frank Oznowicz becoming Frank Oz. Unable to remember his name, Mr. Dean introduced him by saying Oz and mumbling the rest of his name. Mr. Oz kept it as his stage name. Frank Oz would prove pivotal to the success of the Muppets. On Sesame Street he introduced the characters Bert, Grover, and the Cookie Monster. On The Muppet Show Frank Oz was the Muppeteer behind Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Animal. He also became one of Jim Henson's closest friends. While Mr. Oz would branch out to other projects beyond the Muppets, he remained friends with Mr. Henson until Mr. Henson's death in 1990.
The second pivotal event in Jim Henson's career would come in the form of a children's show that debuted in 1969. Mr. Henson was asked to participate on the show Sesame Street. He brought Kermit the Frog to the show, and was also responsible for the creation of Muppet characters specifically for the show. Among these were Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, and even Big Bird. It was while Jim Henson was working on Sesame Street that he created and directed a series of specials under the umbrella title of Tales from Muppetland. Among these specials were Hey, Cinderella; The Frog Prince; and The Muppet Musicians of Bremen.
By the mid-Seventies Jim Henson worried that because of Sesame Street the Muppets might be regarded simply as a children's act. Producer Lorne Michaels invited Jim Henson and the Muppets onto the first season of Saturday Night Live as regular performers. This took the form of a series of sketches known as "The Land of Gorch." Unfortunately it would not prove to be a good experience for Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and the rest of the Muppets team. None of the Muppets' writers were hired to write the sketches on Saturday Night Live, and the Saturday Night Live writers were not particularly happy to write for the Muppets. Fortunately, the Muppets would not have to remain on Saturday Night Live for long, as their biggest success was just ahead of them.
Concerned that the Muppets were being typecast as a children's act, Jim Henson conceived of a variety show that could be enjoyed by people of all ages. He shopped the idea to the various networks, and ABC even ordered two specials that could serve as pilots for the prospective series. The first was the The Muppets Valentine Show. The second was The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence. ABC ultimately passed on the series. Jim Henson had not considered syndication, for fear that the show could fail without a networks backing. Fortunately, Lord Lew Grade of ATV in the United Kingdom came to the rescue. Lord Grade proposed to Mr. Henson that he could finance the show and so it would be able to enter syndication in the United States and other countries with very high production values.
The Muppet Show debuted in 1977 and proved to be a smash hit. It introduced a whole new generation of Muppets who would become superstars all their own, including Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, and others. Because of the show's success it was able to get many big time guest stars, including Vincent Price, Milton Berle, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Steve Martin, George Burns, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Danny Kaye, and Gene Kelly. No guest star ever appeared on the show twice. The success of The Muppet Show would also lead to a huge amount of merchandising.
It would also be the success of The Muppet Show that would lead to the Muppets' first feature film, The Muppet Movie, in 1979. The Muppet Movie would prove very successful and it was largely because of that success that the still popular Muppet Show ended its run in 1981 as Jim Henson decided to concentrate on feature films. Over the next several years the Muppets would appear in such films as The Great Muppet Caper (1981), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), The Muppets Treasure Island (1996), and Muppets From Space (1999). Since then they have appeared in the television films It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie and The Muppets' Wizard of Oz.
It would also be largely because of the success both The Muppet Show and the various movies that Jim Henson was able to expand beyond the Muppets. From 1983 to 1987 he produced the children's fantasy show Fraggle Rock for CBC. He would later produce the series The Storyteller for HBO. Still later he would produce the short lived Jim Henson Hour for NBC. Mr. Henson also worked on two non-Muppet fantasy films: The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986).
Sadly, Jim Henson would die only four years after Labyrinth and almost a year after The Jim Henson Hour. Mr. Henson fell ill and on 15 May 1990 was admitted to New York Hospital. On the morning of 16 May 1990 Jim Henson died. The cause was organ failure resulting from Streptococcus pyogenes. It was a mark of Jim Henson and the Muppets' popularity that there was an enormous outpouring of grief rarely seen even for the best known actors. Jim Henson and his creations were not simply legends. They had become icons.
As to why Jim Henson achieved such superstardom, that is a difficult question to answer. It was not simply that Jim Henson had created puppets that could be enjoyed by young and old alike. Burr Tillstrom (who had been a huge influence on him) and Bob Clampett (creator of the puppet show Time for Beany) had both created puppet shows that were very popular with adults in their day. Burr Tillstrom's puppet shows, with Kukla and Ollie, relied on very sophisticated wit and word play. Bob Clampett's Time for Beany relied on a sophisticated blend of satire and irreverence. The Muppets would be different from both in that they were much more visual. In some respects the Muppetry of Jim Henson and Frank Oz could be compared to the comedy routines of Ernie Kovacs, relying heavily on sight gags. Example of this are the early "inchworm" sketch (in which Kermit is chewing on what he thinks is an inchworm, but which turns out to be the tongue of a large monster) and the various "Mah Nà Mah Nà" sketches. At the same time much of the humour of the Muppets could be very absurdist.

Of course, much of the reason for the success of the Muppets is the same reason as the success of Kukla and Ollie, and Beany and Cecil. All of them were such well developed characters that it was hard to believe that they were merely puppets. Indeed, children have been known to address Muppets themselves as real individuals, even when the Muppeteer is visible. Even adults tend to treat the Muppets as if they are real--Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog each have their own stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Because the Muppets are actually fairly sophisticated characters, they achieved success that had lasted literally decades.
Another factor in the Muppets' success could also be the fact that, both on The Muppet Show and in their many films, they have consistently been portrayed as underdogs. On The Muppet Show the ragtag troupe was always scurrying to make sure the show went off without a hitch. In their movies the Muppets were often struggling to put on some show or another, or they were at the mercy of villains with far superior resources. No matter what happened, however, the Muppets would always succeed in the end. At the same time that the Muppets were always portrayed as underdogs, it must also be pointed out the Muppets were a diverse group. The Muppets troupe consists of everything from frogs to pigs to dogs to humans. Despite these differences (or perhaps because of them), it is very clear that the Muppets are all friends who care very much for each other.
That a ragtag troupe of diverse performers could overcome incredible odds perhaps should not be surprising coming from Jim Henson. He was a man with an incredible amount of hope and positive attitudes. He once said, "Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending." In a guest post on the Official Google Blog his son Brian Henson said of his father that, "One of his life philosophies was that we should love people not for their similarities, but for their differences." Jim Henson always looked for the best in life and always appreciated people for not how much they were like him, but for how different they were from him. It was reflected in his work with the Muppets, who could come together to put on a show each week despite disparate personalities and a good number of obstacles. Jim Henson also said once, "My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here." There can be no doubt that he did.
Jim Henson Pictures:

Jim Henson

Jim Henson Funy

Jim Henson Cartoon

Jim Henson Muppets

Claire Sinclair: Attending E3 Launch Party

2011-09-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

Claire Sinclair
First "The Playboy Club" announced the obvious promotion of planting one of the show's stars, actress Laura Benanti, on the cover Playboy's October edition. Now, in keeping with the lessons from Crossover 101, it appears a Playmate may soon appear on the NBC show.
Claire Sinclair, Playboy's 2011 Playmate of the Year, took to her Twitter page to announce she read for a role in upcoming series.
"Just auditioned for the NBC Playboy Club show," she writes. "I would love to be part of it!!"
This would be Sinclair's first venture into scripted programming, however she has made frequent appearances on the E! program "Holly's World" starring former Playmate/Hef girlfriend Holly Madison.
The 20-year old Sinclair retro style should a good match for the period drama that takes place in 1960s Chicago. Her look has often been compared to pinup icon Bettie Page and even Hugh Hefner's ex-girlfriend and former Playmate Barbi Benton.
Claire Sinclair’s profile
Born : May 25, 1991 (1991-05-25);Born: Los Angeles, California; Measurements: Bust: 36D; Waist: 24; Hips: 36; Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m); Weight : 125 lb (57 kg).
Hugh Hefner introduced Playboy’s 2011 Playmate of the Year, Claire Sinclair to the media at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. At 19 years old, Claire also appeared for the first time as the youngest headliner in Crazy Horse Paris at MGM Grand. He chose Sinclair for Playboy’s annual #1 girl. After unveiling the new Playmate’s June cover and pictorial, Claire received her prizes, including a lifetime supply of Playboy Fragrances and a set of The Playboy Fragrance Collection adorned with Swarovski Elements.
Claire Sinclair Hot Pictures:

Stefania Bivone Amazing Girl

2011-09-25T07:22:00.001-07:00

Stefania Bivone
Stefania Bivone, 18, Miss Calabria, was crowned Miss Italia 2011 at the national finale held on September 19, 2011. The event was telecast live by RAI 1 for millions of people in Italy and in over 170 countries. Stefania, from Sinopoli, is 18 year old and stands 1.79 m. However, the winner of Miss Italia does not compete in Miss World or Miss Universe despite the fact that it is the most celebrated beauty title in Italy. First runner-up was Miss Taranto – Mayra Pietrocola, and second runner-up was Miss Emilia – Sarah Baderna.
Stefania Bivone Hot Pictures

Best Wallpapers Miss Angola 2011

2011-09-20T09:13:00.005-07:00

Miss Angola 2011

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2011-09-20T09:13:00.003-07:00

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2011-09-20T09:12:00.001-07:00

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Christina Hendricks Sexy Pictures

2011-09-20T09:11:00.003-07:00

Christina Hendricks, who in July 2010 was a U.S. size 14,as received considerable positive attention due to her voluptuous figure. She has been credited as a role model for full-figured women and was nicknamed the "sexiest woman in the world" in 2010 in a poll of female readers taken by Esquire magazine.
British Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone praised Hendricks' hourglass figure as an ideal shape for women, saying "Christina Hendricks is absolutely fabulous... We need more of these role models. There is such a sensation when there is a curvy role model. It shouldn't be so unusual." Hendricks commented in September 2010 that the media is too focused on women's bodies and not their actual talents, "I was working my butt off on the show [Mad Men] and then all anyone was talking about was my body."A study by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons attributed a 10% rise in 2010 of the number of British women receiving breast augmentation surgery in part to Hendricks' influence.
Los Angeles Times television critic Mary McNamara says her portrayal of Joan Holloway has revolutionized perceptions of beauty on television She has been called the "new modern ideal of Hollywood glamour—full figured, voluptuous; a throwback to the days of Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell and Veronica Lake." British designer Vivienne Westwood selected her to represent its "Get A Life" Palladium jewelry collection in March 2011. Westwood described Hendricks as "the embodiment of beauty."

Christina Hendricks Sexy Pictures

Andy Whitfield

2011-09-20T09:10:00.004-07:00

Andy Whitfield
Andy Whitfield, the Welsh actor best known for his portrayal of the eponymous hero in Spartacus : Blood and Sand has died aged 39 after a long battle with cancer. Andy was born in Amlwch but moved to Sydney in the late nineties where he switched from engineering to modeling and acting. He started out as a model in commercials, runways and print ads in various magazines and catalogs. His initial reaction to modeling was not so optimistic, instead his aspiration was to be an actor. After a period of struggle, he finally landed his first acting role at age 30 in the TV series All Saints. And has since appeared in several Australian television series, such as Opening Up, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters and McLeod's Daughters. However, Andy got his big break in the film Gabriel in which he played the lead role - Since the beginning of time, Heaven and Hell have fought over purgatory and the souls trapped inside it. Each side has sent seven warriors: Archangels from heaven, Fallen Angels from hell. Hell has attained control, transforming purgatory into a dark, seedy city. The last Archangel, Gabriel endeavours to discover what has become of his comrades and to restore the Light. But it is as the warrior we love so much in Spartacius : Blood and Sand that he will be remembered. The high drama, vibrant sexuality, and strength of story led Spartacus to become an instant hit. Andy was then known across the world for his sensitive and strong portrayal of the Thracian slave who leads his fellow gladiators to overthrow their Linister and escape to freedom. At the end of Blood and Sand it was announced that a prequel, Gods of the Arena, would be shot to allow Andy to recover from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However it became clear that he would not be well enough to reprise the role of Spartacus in the third season, Vengeance. I think Andy was a beautiful man and an amazing actor. He had an allure about him that could not be ignored. I fell in love with him the first time I watched Gabriel, and that attraction only grew when I discovered Spartacus. It's always a shame to lose someone so young and talented, and he will be missed by his huge worldwide fanbase - myself included. I would like to take this time to send my deepest sympath to his family. Andy is survived by his wife Vashti and their two children.
Andy Whitfield Pictures

andy whitfield

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mayweather vs ortiz

2011-09-20T09:09:00.001-07:00

Victor Ortiz will come to the ring again on September 17th to defend for the WBC welterweight title. For Ortiz, this fight is all his concerns. It is considered as his highpoint of his boxing career, win or lose Victor fight to make a great pact of money. With a win, he becomes the most popular name in boxing and will continually be famous as the one who defeated “Money Mayweather" his first defeat. With a win, the stage is set for potential amalgamation battle with other top welterweight’s titleholder such as Manny Pacquiao and Vyacheslav Senchenko (WBA Champ). For a young boxer like Ortiz, a big fight such as this could boost his career forward extensively.
Although he is the current WBC title holder, Ortiz's star power is dwarfed in evaluation to Mayweather's and he will be incoming the fight as the vibrant second best. Just months detached from a tough fight with welterweight contender Andre Berto, questions retained unanswered concerning Ortiz's skill to accomplished excellent battle. In his most bouts, he managed to bead both Lamont Peterson and Berto twice in their separate bouts. Lamont Peterson wants to fight to a draw despite a 10 to 7 round, and Berto held on to fight 12 rounds losing unanimously.

mayweather vs ortiz

Porsche Releases Details on All-Electric Boxster E RWD and AWD Prototypes

2011-05-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Back in February, Porsche announced the development of three pure-electric prototypes based on the Boxster roadster, but aside from a single photo and the fact that the electric motors could produce up to 180kW/241HP, the Stuttgart-based automaker did not release any other details on the cars.

After the demonstration of the Boxster E at last week’s Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin, the company decided to share more information on the test cars that are being used as part of the government-funded “Model Region Electro-Mobility Stuttgart” large-scale trial to study the everyday practicality of all-electric vehicles. Of the three Boxster E prototypes, two are rear-wheel drive and one is all-wheel drive.

SPIED: Nissan Testing New 2012 Sunny / Versa Sedan in Europe

2011-05-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Our spy photographers have captured a lightly camouflaged prototype of the freshly revealed in the USA and China, Nissan Versa / Sunny series, during testing in Sierra Nevada, Spain. The prototype was a right-hand drive example with test license plates from Spain.

Aside from the odd-looking exhaust tail pipe that extends all the way to the outer corner of the rear bumper and possibly the headlamp and tail lamp designs, we didn’t notice any other styling differences compared to the North American Versa and the China market Sunny models.

Bertone Auctions Off Some of its Most Recognizable Concepts to Avoid Insolvency

2011-05-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

Here lies Bertone, the famed Italian automotive design house, bankrupt and on almost on the verge of death. The once legendary company was forced to sell its most prized possessions – six concept cars – to appease the bankruptcy commission and also to remain afloat. RM Auctions of London handle the sale at this past weekend’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011.

So what delectable concepts were the vultures able to get their beaks into? Well, there’s the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal that once graced the Monaco Grand Prix and is often cited as the inspiration for the Espada of the following year.

President Obama’s Cadillac gets Trapped on a Ramp in Ireland

2011-05-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

The heavily armored Cadillac that U.S. President Obama relies on for short-distance travel caused an embarrassing moment during his trip in Dublin, Ireland, today when it got jammed on a ramp after exiting the U.S. Embassy's complex. The first cars from the presidential motorcade passed without problems through the gates of the Embassy, but a BMW 7-Series preceding the Cadillac slightly touched the asphalt.

The Presidential Cadillac, nicknamed ‘The Beast’, came next and hit the ground much harder and was immobilized. "There was a loud kind of bang, metal-on-metal, grinding, crunching noise and the car was stuck," an RTE reporter told the AFP.

Hyundai Set to Become Sixth Biggest Automaker in the U.S. In 2011

2011-05-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

In the realm of U.S. automotive sales, 8% is a magic number. When an automaker hits 8%, they know they’ve become one of the big guns. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and Nissan have all made it, and 2011 is expected to be Hyundai’s year.

So sayeth market research firm Polk, and I’m tempted to agree. Hyundai and its partner-brand / internal rival Kia have steadily been evolving into truly world-class carmakers. They’re keenly priced, inoffensive to look at and comprehensively covered quality-wise – everything the vast majority of new car buyers want in this day and age.

VW Salesman Likes to Bang and Jump on Doors

2011-05-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

As the adage goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity and it is better to be reviled and even mocked at than to be ignored. In the case of Larry Roesch Volkswagon (that’s how the name of the German automaker is spelled on the dealer’s Youtube account), making the automotive ridiculist was intentional to grab some media and customer attention. And since we’re here talking about it, you could say that their goal has been achieved…

The VW dealer has published a series of intentionally cheap and corny commercials starring one of the company’s salesmen, Nick Pontarelli. In two of the videos, Pontarelli abuses a Volkswagen Golf GTI and a Jetta by forcefully shutting and climbing onto the doors to prove the cars' ‘German’ strength and quality. His final statement is “try that with a Hyundai or a Honda”. Watch the clips after the break.

Lamborghini CEO Hints at New "Everyday" Model Fueling Rumors about the Estoque

2011-05-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini plans to add an "everyday" model to its lineup, according to a report from Reuters quoting the firm’s CEO Stephan Winkelmann. The Lamborghini executive believes the luxury super sportscar market will return to the record levels seen in 2007 by 2013-2014. In 2007, some 35,000 super sports cars were sold, compared with around 26,000 in 2010.

Report: Next Holden Commodore VF to get Aluminium Panels, Electric Power Steering

2011-05-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

*Current Holden WM Caprice pictured in the above development sketch

When Holden’s next-generation VF Commodore series launches in Australian in 2014, it will be the first locally-produced automobile to incorporate mass produced aluminium panels in its construction. In addition, the new large car, which will also spawn a long-wheelbase Caprice model, will get improved aerodynamics and electric power steering in place of the current-gen’s hydraulic unit. It’s all part of an effort by Holden to lighten up its flagship model and thereby make it more fuel efficient in an effort to remain competitive with the likes of the locally-produced Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Fuel savings are expected to be around the 7% mark, bringing the 9.1lt /100 km (26 mpg) combined rating of the 3.0 L V6 SIDI down to a more politically-correct 8.4 lt/ 100 km (28 mpg). Similar savings will be experienced with the older 3.6 L Alloytec V6: 9.1 lt / 100 km (26 mpg) down from 9.8 lt / 100 km (24 mpg). The program is part-funded by the Australian federal government, which poured AU$39.8 million in from the now defunct Green Car Innovation Fund.

Real Life Grand Theft Auto with Man Stealing Police Car and Crashing it into a Truck

2011-05-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today's video find contains three things: a police vehicle, a dangerous individual and a high-speed run that could answer the question what would Grand Theft Auto look in real life. It all started on Friday, March 13 when 38-year-old Arthur Lee Thompson allegedly attempted to steal a computer from a Walmart store in Summerville, South Carolina. According to the report, when faced by the store manager, he purportedly punched him in the mouth and took off in a green Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The police were called in to investigate and it didn’t take long for an officer to locate Thompson and pull him over. From there on, the entire incident was caught on film by the police cruiser’s inboard camera.

China Becomes Bentley's No. 2 Market after Record Breaking Q1 Sales

2011-05-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Bentley Motors sold 396 cars in Mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) in the first four months of 2011, an all-time record result for the Asian market. With this number, Bentley broke its previous record set just last year, by an amazing 66 percent increase in sales.

Video: Sights and Sounds of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato

2011-05-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

Having brought you a first look at the winner of the design award for Concept Cars and Prototypes at this year’s edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy, it is now time to show you the Aston Martin V12 Zagato in the flesh and on film. The concept study is a V12 Vantage draped in an aluminum Italian suite, and it will spawn a racing model that will compete in the 24-hour Nurburgring endurance race in late June as well as a limited run production version, scheduled for launch within the next year.

Follow the jump to get a look of the supercar’s lines and a taste of the brutal sounds produced by Aston Martin’s 517-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 engine in our collection of videos.

Feds Won’t Pay the Bill for a Ferrari F50 Wrecked by an FBI Agent

2011-05-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Back in 2009, an FBI agent made headlines after crashing a rare $750,000 Ferrari F50 that had been stored in a government impound lot. The story has it that the Italian supercar was stolen from a Pennsylvania dealer in late 2003, and while the insurance company paid off on the loss, the F50 was eventually found in August of 2008 in Kentucky. The V12-powered model from Maranello was then impounded and kept in Lexington, Kentucky, as part of an active criminal investigation. And here’s where the story gets interesting.

In May of 2009, FBI agent Fred Kingston invited Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Hamilton Thompson for a “short ride” in the 1995 Ferrari F50, of which 349 were ever made with only 50 coming to the States. Unfortunately, the joy ride was cut short after the driver lost control of the Italian supercar.

New Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Grand Edition ups the Luxury Ante

2011-05-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

While Mercedes-Benz’s GL-Class isn’t short of luxury, the automaker has presented a new variant called Grand Edition that caters to the needs of buyers desiring a little extra opulence. The packaged adds numerous features, including 20-inch special light-alloy wheels, two-tone leather seats with a new design and wood trim in black ash.

Toyota Mulling a Larger Hybrid Minivan than the Prius V with Seating for Seven

2011-05-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

The all-new Prius V five-seater minivan isn’t due to arrive in U.S. showrooms until this fall, yet Toyota is already looking into the development of a larger model capable of seating seven passengers as well as carrying their luggage, according to Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager. The larger Prius won’t be based on the Japanese market Prius Alpha nor the European specification Prius+, both of which pack a retractable third row of seats into the Prius V’s cargo area.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato is the Winner of this Year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award

2011-05-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

The world premiere of the new Aston Martin V12 Zagato, which took place at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2011 this past weekend on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, was marked by the design award for Concept Cars and Prototypes. The conceptual model, which was created to celebrate the Aston Martin and Zagato partnership in the 50th anniversary year of the famous DB4GT Zagato, won the approval of the visitors to the Concorso D’Eleganza event.

The competition in the Concept Cars and Prototypes category included BMW’s new 328 Homage Roadster, the Ferrari Superamerica 45, Audi Quattro, Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake, Infiniti Etherea, Italdesign VW GO!, Rinspeed Bamboo, Renault DeZir and the Scuderia P4/5.

Rough & Tough MINI DSQUARED² Glides Down the Catwalk in Vienna

2011-05-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

The BMW Group’s Mini division continues to support the Life Ball gala, Europe’s largest annual charity event in the fight against HIV and AIDS, by commissioning designers to fashion up its cars and then offer them up for auction. For this year’s event in Vienna, Austria, brothers Dean and Dan Caten, who are better known as the Canadian designer duo DSQUARED², crafted the Red Mudder based on the three-door Mini Cooper S.

VW Launches 180HP Transporter Sportline in the UK

2011-05-23T04:32:00.000-07:00

A new trim level that brings sportier looks and enhanced equipment features has been added to the UK range of the latest Volkswagen Transporter. The Sportline specification is available on the panel van and kombi models, in both short and long-wheelbase versions, with prices starting at £28,220 (€32,000) for the panel van, and at £30,100 (€34,150) for the kombi.

Lexus Loses Big In the U.S.A.: Outpaced by Two of its German Rivals

2011-05-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

It took eleven years for Lexus to earn the title of top dog of the U.S. luxury car market, and roughly the same amount of time for it to lose it. As a result of parent company Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall saga and the fifty percent drop in production capacity caused by the Tōhoku earthquake, old guard automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz have left the Japanese upstart gasping for air in third place.

According to automotive forecaster IHS, Mercedes-Benz will most probably sell 254,100 cars and SUVs in the States topping BMW’s estimated deliveries of 250,400 units. Lexus is projected to drop to third place with 192,900 sales.

BMW’s Retrolicious 328 Homage Concept Makes Official Debut

2011-05-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

The stage is set for this weekend’s Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy with automakers and individual owners of classic cars already rolling out their goods for the 2011 edition of the show. The famed event will also play host to the world premiere of a fresh batch of sports car concept cars such as the Aston Martin V12 Zagato that we told you about earlier today and the BMW 328 Hommage concept, which we present here.

The BMW 328 Hommage was created on the occasion of the original model’s 75th birthday. While the Bavarian automaker avoids to make the connection, the 328 Hommage appears to be based on (or at least developed from) the Vision ConnectedDrive roadster study, which premiered at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

BMW’s New Age 328 Roadster Concept: First Live Photos

2011-05-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Just a few minutes ago, the Belgian crew from Autofans dropped these cell-phone photos (courtesy of a Twitter user Sjoerdvstokkum) of a new BMW concept model into our e-mail box. The design study is called the 328 Hommage Concept and it was created by BMW to celebrate the original model’s 75^th birthday. Stay tuned as in a few minutes we’ll bring you the full details and photos of the 328 Hommage.

Audi-fied Fiat Uno Turbo is a Hideous Eyesore

2011-05-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Along with Peugeot’s award winning 205 (remember the Rallye and the GTi?), the Fiat Uno is considered one of the finest superminis to come out of Europe in the 1980s. And the fact that both models remained in the market with small changes for more than a decade is a testament to that. The Uno’s clean and modern lines were the work of Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign, which has now passed into the hands of the ever-growing Volkswagen Group.

The Uno Turbo with its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 105HP at launch and 118HP in the refreshed model was the flagship version of the range. And as with any other hot hatch, the Uno Turbo was subjected to numerous modifications, be that in design or performance. That said, we’re accustomed to seeing the Uno Turbo in strange outfits, but what we have here is beyond words…

Ferrari's One-Off Superamerica 45 Special Drops its Top at Villa d'Este

2011-05-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

The coachbuilt Ferrari Superamerica 45 special commissioned by American billionaire Peter Kalikow has arrived at the Villa d'Este for the Concorso D'Eleganza contest. Not surprisingly, a by-passer took advantage of the occasion and filmed the car's roof mechanism in action at its first outing under the sun. This is the first time we see the supercar’s rotating top on the move and we have to admit it's pretty fast.

Aston Martin’s One-77 Supercar Filmed on the Streets of London

2011-05-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

There are very few cars in this world that can stir our imagination just by looking at them parked on the road, and this is one of them. We’re talking about the top dog in Aston Martin’s current lineup, the One-77 supercar, which was filmed here on the streets of London as it was being started up and ready to launch, by a Youtube user. It’s always great to see a rare supercar being used on the road instead of spending its life in a garage as a centerpiece.

Q&A with Endora Cars on its Corvette-Based SC-1

2011-05-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Coachbuilt Corvettes are a dime a dozen these days, but only a select few builds manage to stand out from the crowd. The most recent Corvette-based proposal to pop up in the news is the new SC-1 from Endora-Cars, a company based in Karlshuld, a municipality in the district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen in Bavaria, Germany.

Now, seeing that the SC-1 captured the attention of you, our readers (albeit in a sort of love-it-or-hate-it kind of way), we came in contact with Endora Cars and asked their spokesman, Björn Marek, a few questions about their Corvette-based build. Follow the jump to read our Q&A session with Marek.

Autocar Magazine Envisions the Perfect Driver's Car with the BS1 (No Pun Intended…)

2011-05-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

What we learn from specialized publications is that all cars have their flaws, no matter how expensive they are. So could there be such a thing as a perfect car? Autocar believes it so, with the British magazine going as far as creating renderings and specifying a driver’s ideal set of wheel. Editor-at-large Steve Sutcliffe's vision of the perfect sports car goes like this: an open-top two-seater with a mid-engine layout, rear-wheel-drive, less than 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs) and with a price of £35,000 ($56,800).

“As the world of cars gets ever more complex and produces machines that are increasingly sophisticated in their design and engineering, there’s still a desire for something at the other end of the scale. A sports car that’s simple to understand and interact with. And, most of all, dead good fun to drive,” says Sutcliffe.

New Toyota FT-86 / Scion FR-S Sports Coupe Scooped on Video

2011-05-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

By now, you have probably already seen our spy shots of the kitted-out Toyota FT-86 prototype with the Supra-like rear wing, which was snagged during testing in Germany, but one scoopster managed to film the sports car on the road as well.

Kubatech’s Chipped Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG with 583-horsepower

2011-05-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

For some people, there is no such thing as too much horsepower. The more the better, even if we’re talking about a compact sedan like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG that leaves Stuttgart’s factory with a 6.2-liter V8 engine cranking out 457-horsepower and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft)of peak torque.

In the case of German tuning firm Kubatech, the answer to the C63 AMG’s horsepower problem was a Stage 3 performance kit that includes a new ECU from Mcchip-dkr along with a complete sports exhaust system from Cargraphic, which help bump output to 583HP and 692 Nm (510 lb-ft).

Aston Martin V12 Zagato: Italian Elegance Meets British Brute Force

2011-05-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

Some companies really know how to celebrate. Take AstonMartin and Zagato, for example. The iconic British sports car maker and the legendary Italian coachbuilder will mark the 50th anniversary of their first collaboration with a brand new study.

To honor their first joint project, the 1961 DB4GT Zagato, the two companies developed the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, a race car study that will be unveiled on May 21 at the Villa D'Este Concorsod'Eleganza in Italy, where it will compete against the Ferrari Superamerica 45. But this elegant and dramatic coupe was not built for classy Concours d'Elegance events alone, as it will actually race at the Nurburgring 24 Hour event on June 25-26.

SCOOP: Audi’s Über R8 GT Spyder Hits the ‘Ring

2011-05-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

There’s a new Audi model coming to town. We’re talking about the 2012 R8 GT Spyder that will make its global premiere at the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and which we caught testing in and around the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany. Even though Audi recently teased us with a set of renderings, these are some of the first real life photos of the R8 GT Spyder, which is seen here in prototype guise.

What Lies Ahead in Saab’s Future?

2011-05-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

Saab is in trouble. With mounting debts and limited capital investment, the Swedish company is a prime candidate to go the way of the dinosaurs. The troubled automaker has not built a single vehicle since the 1st of April, and a much touted deal with China’s Hawtai Motor Group has fallen through. They did however sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with another Chinese company called Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. Ltd, earlier this week, but we will have to wait and see if the deal goes through.

In light of this, I’ve thought up four plausible (though unlikely) scenarios for Saab. These range from the hugely cynical all the way to the brazenly optimistic. After all, isn’t it better than Saab has some future rather than no future at all? Without further ado, here are your options:

Oakley Design Working on Extreme Lamborghini Aventador LP760-2

2011-05-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

With its 700 horsepower and jaw-dropping styling, the recently launched Lamborghini Aventador hardly needs a tuning job. However, that's not what the crew over at Oakley Design believe, as the UK-based aftermarket specialist recently unveiled plans for an extensively upgraded Aventador.

Double Fail: Service Crew Flips Double-Decker Truck Full of Cars

2011-05-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

The hows and whens of this accident involving a double-decker lorry full of cars that fell on its side dropping the top row of vehicles on the road remains unknown as the video footage your about to see was filmed during the recovery process.

A service truck along with its crew hooked up the 18-wheeler and tried to get it back on its feet. Well, let’s just say the procedure didn’t go as planned as they managed to flip the truck for a second time thus completing the damages on the rest of the vehicles on the bottom row… Video follow after the break.

Mazda Debuts New 1.3-liter Skyactiv Gasoline Engine on JDM Demio

2011-05-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

The new generation of powertrains developed by Mazda under the Skyactiv name will soon have its another member out on the road, as the company announced that the “Skyactiv-G 1.3” direct-injection gasoline engine will debut on the facelifted Demio (known as the Mazda2 in international markets) in Japan this summer. Mazda will unveil the new engine at Tokyo's Automotive Engineering Exposition on May 18-20.

Report: Do Speed Cameras Save Lives?

2011-05-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

No matter where in the world you live, speed cameras are bound to be a hot button item for most drivers and especially automotive enthusiasts. With a recent proposal by the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) suggesting that the operation of and collection of fines from speed cameras in the hands of local government, the issue has once again come to the forefront of public opinion. The big question on many people’s minds is: are speed cameras actually effective at saving lives and preventing accidents?

First, let’s eliminate any prejudice against speed cameras. I and many others object to the sometimes devious ways our nation’s police force use speed cameras. Camera vans hidden in the bushes, signage placed in front rather than behind the vans and the use of unmarked vehicles have all soured public opinion on this supposed accident-reducing device. This is not about how speed cameras are used; it’s a question of whether or not they actually do what they’re intended to do.

Hilarious Honda Malaysia Ad Mocks Independent Service Centers

2011-05-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

As car owners, most of us have had bad experiences with auto service stations, either official or independent. Of course, carmakers don't like competition from independent units, so here's what Honda of Malaysia thinks of these stations. In a commercial for the local market, Honda mocks an independent garage called “HONDI” which, as you may have already assumed, offers bad service for big bucks.

A beautiful young woman, owner of a Honda Civic, is shown taking her car to the Hondi service center, where all sorts of strange things happen, with the personnel doing a crappy job while singing their own version of the famous “YMCA” song. If only service stations were such a blast... Follow the jump to watch the ad.

Endora SC-1: A New Coachbuilt Corvette from Germany

2011-05-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

The Corvette is not only a popular sports car among buyers but also among individual coachbuilders. Over the years, we’ve shown you tons of Corvette-based builds ranging from the bad-ass Rossi SixtySix and the Genadi LSR Roadster to the more recent Soleil Anadi. In other words, there’s a Corvette for every taste, however outlandish you can imagine.

The latest company to jump onto the Corvette coachbuilding bandwagon is Endora Cars, which is based in Germany. Their build is called the SC-1 and it’s styling is inspired by the American and European sports cars of the 1960s and early 1970s. Seen here in the first official renderings, the SC-1 blends certain elements of the Corvette such as the Coke-bottle profile and sweeping roof, with a sharp front nose and a unique rear end along with partially covered rear wheel arches.

Car Spotting: New BMW 6-Series Coupe

2011-05-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

antonio melandries reader Florian G. from Germany emailed us these photos of a 2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe that he spotted parked on a road in Munich. While not a scoop in the traditional sense given the introduction of the new BMW 6-Series Coupe at last month’s Shanghai Auto Show in China, it is an interesting find nonetheless.

The only thing we’re not sure of is what the ‘iCenter’ sticker below the vents of the front fenders means (that is, if it means anything). For the record, we’ve encountered the same logo on a few recent BMW prototypes. Follow the break for more pictures.

GM Celebrates 100 Years of Chevrolet and Indy 500

2011-05-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

America's most famous race, the Indianapolis 500, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and so does Chevrolet, whose name was tied to the “Brickyard” from the very beginning. Arthur Chevrolet competed in the inaugural Indy 500 on May 30 1911, a few months before founding the company that bears his name, on November 3 the same year. Today, Chevrolet and Indy 500 are still together, with the Camaro SS Convertible to be the 22nd Chevrolet to pace the Indy 500 race on May 29 as a common celebration for their 100-year anniversary.

Fiat 500 by Gucci Priced from £14,565 in Britain

2011-05-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

Having launched a new spicy campaign for the 500 by Gucci starring Russian bombshell Natasha Poly, Fiat is now beginning to announce pricing for individual markets. Today, the Italian released details for the United Kingdom, where the limited edition model designed by Gucci will be offered with two gasoline engines, a 1.2-liter unit priced at £14,565 OTR and a 0.9-litre TwinAir, which won the International Engine of the Year accolade and costs £15,765 OTR.

Citroen C3 Picasso Recalled in the UK because the Brakes can be Activated from the Passenger Side!

2011-05-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

Citroen announced it will recall over 20,000 C3 Picasso models sold in the United Kingdom for a rather unusual reason. It seems that the car's brakes can be activated accidentally by the front passenger when pushing their feet into the footwell! The discovery was made by a BBC TV show called Watchdog that was alerted about the problem from a cleaning company owning three C3 Picassos.

The reason for this malfunction is a manufacturing flaw occurring in France during the right-hand drive assembly of the C3 Picasso for the UK market. Even though the brake pedal is switched to the right, it remains connected to a mechanism on the left passenger side, BBC's Watchdog explained. It was discovered that the mechanism was covered only by a thin piece of felt, and that it could be easily activated by the passenger’s feet.

A bit of Abracadabra turns a Seat into an Audi Alhambra

2011-05-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

Leaving the revolutionary but with a small footprint A2 from the late 1990s aside, Audi never really delved directly into the minivan market preferring instead the more lucrative premium crossover segment. And this despite the fact that the VW Group has presented several people carriers over the years. However, when there’s a will, there’s a way, as this creation proves.

Subaru Targets Young Asian American Buyers with New Sweet Tomorrow Campaign

2011-05-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

Subaru’s American division is taking audience segmentation a step further with the release of a new advertising campaign for the 2011 Legacy that specifically targets the Chinese-American market. The campaign has been produced in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, and can be seen across a wide variety of media placements including TV, print, online and out-of-home running.

The television spot is called “Sweet Tomorrow” and it shows a young Chinese American couple preparing for the birth of their first child. The advert is scheduled to air through October 2011.

Ferrari Unveils New Superamerica 45 Coachbuilt Special

2011-05-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

Ferrari is once again showing off its coach-building capabilities with the release of its latest one-off special, the Superamerica 45, which will make its first public outing at this weekend’s Villa d’Este Concours d’Eleganza in Italy. It was built to order for New York billionaire, collector and former owner of the New York Post, Peter Kalikow, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his Ferrari purchase in 1961.

SPIED: Toyota FT-86 Sports Coupe with New Wing Scooped Alongside the Supra

2011-05-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Now that the international auto show circus has shifted into neutral gear for the summer, Toyota is back at the Nurburgring trying out its upcoming FT-86 rear-wheel drive sports coupe, which is been co-developed with Subaru. The prototype seen in these fresh spy spots appears to be wearing a production bodywork while also featuring a host of aero fittings, the most prominent of which is the jumbo-size rear wing that brings to mind the last Supra.

Talking about the Toyota brand’s last sports coupe with a rear-wheel drive layout, as you can see for yourself in our photo gallery, a mid-90’s example of the Supra was spotted traveling alongside the FT-86 at the Nurburgring. Observing the two cars together, it is not hard to see the resemblance.

FAB Design's Cadillac Escalade Proves Money Can't Buy Taste

2011-05-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

Swiss-based tuning firm Fab Design will no doubt raise a few eyebrows with its most recent work on the Cadillac Escalade. Roland Rysanek, the owner of the aftermarket company, which specializes on Mercedes-Benz models, found himself in front of a dilemma when asked by a North African client to modify the heavyweight American SUV.

Rysanek eventually accepted the job, as the eccentric owner was a loyal client with plenty of Fab Design Mercedes models parked in his garage. Anything for a devoted customer, right? Well, this particular client wanted the car to look like no other Escalade and to have an interior lined with genuine snake leather and crocodile-imitating leather – lots of it.

Bruno Senna Drivers An F1 Car...One Handed!

2011-05-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Race car drivers are a funny bunch. In this video, we see Brazilian Formula 1 driver and the nephew of the late three-time Formula One world champ Ayrton Senna, Bruno Senna, behind the wheel of the new Renault R30 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. “Oh,” you say in your most jaded tone, “How interesting.” Well it is interesting, as Senna is driving this 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) single-handed while filming the action with a camera phone. Read more »

Some Like it Very Hot: Fiat’s New Campaign for 500 by Gucci

2011-05-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Russian model Natalya Sergeyevna Polevshchikova, more commonly known as Natasha Poly, is the new face (and legs…) of Fiat’s advertising campaign for the limited edition 500 by Gucci. The blonde temptress from the land of hot spies, beautiful ballets and Vodka, is dressed in a one-of-a-kind black leather ensemble and is all over the 500’s ultra compact body [sic...].

The campaign was imagined by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, who was also responsible for the design of the special edition 500. Fiat said the single and double-page advertisements will appear in publications throughout the year.

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish: The Last of San Francisco’s U.S. Dealerships Closes its Doors for Good

2011-05-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

Are you in the market for a new car in San Francisco and are considering a product built by America’s Big 2.5? If so, then I have some bad news: the last U.S. domestic automaker dealership has just shut up shop. San Francisco Ford Lincoln Mercury on Van Ness Avenue closed a few weeks ago, leaving some 50 employees out of a job.

Ford Lincoln Mercury presidente Mel Turner told the San Fransisco Chronicle: “We are proud to have served the San Francisco community and will be focusing over the coming weeks on helping employees through this transition and ensuring our current customer commitments are met.”

It’s Official: Audi Debuts Stylish and Practical 2012 A6 Avant

2011-05-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

The all-new 2012 Audi A6 Avant has just made its world premiere during a special happening in Berlin Germany, but not before we got our first taste of the estate model with a set of photos that we showed you earlier today. The latest addition to the new A6 range has grown in size offering improved interior space but without any penalties in weight or fuel efficiency thanks to a new composite construction of the body.

Audi has a knack for designing stylish station wagons with clear lines and details that will delight the aesthetically cultured, and the latest A6 Avant is no exception to this rule. Inside, the estate model features the same materials and dashboard layout as the four-door version adding some bespoke options such as a load-through hatch, a fixing set and a power rear hatch.

Dacia Duster Pikes Peak Race Car Revealed by Driver

2011-05-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

When Renault announced it will compete with a Dacia Duster prototype at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, we knew from the official rendering that the race car would carry a big rear wing. We didn't expect it to be colossal however, as the first real-life photos can reveal. Read more »

New Audi A6 Avant: First Official Photos Out in the Open

2011-05-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

We told you last week that Audi’s next generation A6 Avant would debut today, and now the first official photos have just found their way onto the internet. The presentation of the station wagon version of new A6 Avant is taking place in Berlin, Germany, as we speak, so it should not be long before we get full information and pictures of the car. Read more »

Fiat’s 0.9-Liter TwinAir Scoops the “International Engine of the Year 2011” Award

2011-05-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

And the big winner of the 2011 edition of the coveted International Engine of the Year is…Fiat’s 0.9-liter twin-cylinder gasoline engine also known simply as the TwinAir. A jury comprised of 76 journalists and industry experts from 36 different countries were convinced by the 875 cc unit's low emissions, high fuel economy and impressive output for its size, awarding it four awards: “Best New Engine 2011”, “Best Green Engine 2011”, “Best Sub 1-Liter Engine” and the “International Engine of the Year 2011” overall award. Read more »

SCOOP: 2012 Bentley Continental GTC Convertible Facelift Spotted Testing at the Nurburgring

2011-05-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

We knew that Bentley was working on a revised version of its Continental GTC drop-top model after the introduction of the facelifted Continental GT coupe, and these fresh-from-the-Nurburgring spy shots are here to prove it.

Following the example of its coupe sibling that was unveiled in facelifted form at last year’s Paris Motor Show, the 2012 Conti convertible receives a styling makeover. The changes include newly shaped body panels all around and a more prominent front end with Mulsanne-inspired quad headlamps featuring inner lamps powered by xenon on low beam and LED on high beam.

New Nissan 370Z GT Edition Launches in Britain

2011-05-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

Following its European presentation in March, Nissan has announced the UK introduction of the new 2011 370Z GT Edition, which is available for order now with first deliveries expected during the first week of June. The new GT model is based on the European market 2011 370Z adding bespoke styling and equipment features to the mix. Read more »

First Photos of Honda’s Hot CR-Z Mugen, Early Tests Show better Performance than Civic Type R

2011-05-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

Honda's sporty-looking CR-Z hybrid will finally get the performance to back its looks, as the Japanese carmaker teamed up with its tuning partner Mugen Euro to develop a high-performance version of the hybrid model. As we wrote earlier this year, the car will be unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, but until then, you can take a look at the first official photos of the car to see if they match the sketches released by Honda two months ago.

The Japanese company says development of the CR-Z Mugen is on track, with “performance figures already looking promising”. Honda revealed that early tests with a prototype car based on a standard CR-Z and a mid-tune engine have given 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint times around that of the European market Civic Type R (6.6 seconds). Later on, Mugen increased output by another 15 percent and reduced the chassis' weight by 50 kilograms, so that overall performance is expected to be even better than the Type R's.

Project Kahn's Lil' R8 is a dressed up Audi TT

2011-05-18T06:49:00.000-07:00

Given the huge price difference between Audi’s two core sports coupe models, the mainstream TT and the niche R8, it doesn’t come to much of a surprise that many tuners have tried to offer the first a taste of the latter, both in terms of performance and styling. In the case of Project Kahn’s newest tuning take on the Audi TT, the goal was to flavor the small coupe with some R8 seasoning. Read more »

Renault Launches Special Edition Scenic to Celebrate 15 Years of its Compact MPV

2011-05-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Renault is marking the 15th anniversary of its first compact MPV model, the Scenic, with a new special edition version called Scenic 15th. Based on the Expression trim level, the Scenic 15th offers a package of additional equipment and discreet styling upgrades for both bodystyles, the 5-seat Scenic and the 7-seat Grand Scenic. Read more »

New Opel Zafira Tourer Receives its Video Debut

2011-05-17T22:03:00.000-07:00

Across the pond, General Motors is upping the ante in the popular compact MPV sector with the introduction of Opel’s third generation Zafira model that will go on sale in most European countries this autumn. The production version of Opel’s Geneva show concept will also wear Vauxhall’s badges with the first cars to reach UK showrooms by early 2012.

We have already brought you the news and the first batch of photos in our previous post (see here), but now we have also obtained the launch film showing Opel’s people carrier on the move.

Audi Challenges BMW, Mercedes and Lexus with new Ad Campaign

2011-05-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Audi of America has launched a new advertising campaign that will most likely generate a similar response from the competition in the premium segment. Under the tagline “Car Carrier”, the two Audi commercials feature a BMW owner that goes nuts when he sees a truck full of brand new automotive metal from Ingolstadt.

Beatboxing with the Polo GTI: New TV Spot from Singapore

2011-05-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not a huge fan of beatboxing. It’s something me and my friends were big into in junior high, but I’ve since outgrown it. Others have not. In a recent TV spot promoting the latest-generation Volkswagen Polo GTI, the Singapore arm of global marketing agency Tribal DDB brought in local beatboxing talent Dharni Ng to lay down some slick beats.

The result is...interesting, I guess. I’m not really in much of a position to judge beatboxing, so it’s hard to tell if this is good or merely average. You can check out the full ad below and an additional clip of Ng “rehearsing” while being driven about in the Veedub. Oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment in the section below.

Lamborghini Indomable Concept to Be Built as a 2,000HP Hypercar by U.S. Company

2011-05-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Remember the Lamborghini Indomable concept? It was a supercar project designed by Daniel Chinchilla Ochoa and Alberto Fernandez Albilares under a Masters Program sponsored by Lamborghini. Well, guess what? The study will be built, albeit not by Lamborghini. Read more »

All-New 2012 Opel Zafira 7-Seater Minivan Breaks Cover Ahead of Frankfurt Motor Show

2011-05-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

Meet the new Opel Zafira Tourer, which was revealed today in its final production form before a global premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany this fall. General Motors’ European division had previewed its new range-topping people carrier as a concept model at the Geneva Salon this past March.

The Zafira nameplate was first launched onto the market in 1999 with Opel having introduced a second-generation model in 2005. Now in its third iteration, the new Zafira will attempt to expand its customer base by adding a more impressive design and a more premium feel to the mix of qualities that are typical of the minivan segment.

Eurocopter’s C145 Helicopter gets a Mercedes-Flavored Interior

2011-05-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

Automakers' design departments have started to explore new areas beyond automobile styling, with the first two examples that come to mind being Porsche and BMW. Following in the footsteps of its local rivals is Daimler and its “Mercedes-Benz Style” venture that has just released its first project after announcing the launch of the division a year ago.

We're talking about the Eurocopter EC145, a business helicopter with an interior crafted by Mercedes-Benz’s newly formed styling division. Designed at the company's studio in Como, Italy, the interior of the EC145 “Mercedes-Benz Style” helicopter is inspired by the Stuttgart-based automaker’s executive saloons.

Viva Las Vegas: Google Lobbies to Legalize Self-Driving Cars in Nevada

2011-05-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Internet and software bigwig Google has begun lobbying the state of Nevada to legalize driverless cars. The move comes on the heels of some very promising results in California, where Google had mapped out the terrain and sent a couple of its autonomous Toyota Priuses (Prii? Priora?) on an epic jaunt from Mountain View to Santa Monica.

The California-based company is keen to point out the claimed benefits of self-driving cars over their human-driven counterparts including better safety, improved fuel efficient and greater environmental friendliness.

The Maserati GT Garbin is the GranTurismo of the Year 2020

2011-05-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

The GT Garbin is a design study for a future Maserati sports coupe. Called Garbin, the Maserati GT is the project thesis of three students (Jaime Cervantes, Andrea Coccia, and Chetan Rajput) and was developed during their Master's degree in Transportation and Automobile Design, with a sponsorship from the Fiat Group. Read more »

antonio melandries Version 5.0 has Arrived: Tell us What You Think about our Latest Redesign

2011-05-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you wondering why we have been dragging our feet on the news front these past few weeks, it’s because we were busy with the HTML5’s and CSS’s of our brand new template. True, the feel and the design have remained more or less the same with some subtle changes in the aesthetics and the size of our site, which is slightly more compact, but almost everything underneath is new.

Think of antonio melandries Version 5.0 as something like a new Porsche; while the looks remain the same (to the previous Version 4.3), everything else is new or revamped. In our case, this should translate to a better experience on most modern browsers and more importantly, faster speeds regardless the connection.

Audi UK Puts a Price Tag on its New Q3 ‘baby’ SUV

2011-05-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

The third crossover model of Audi’s Q-series, the new Q3, will carry a base price tag of £24,560 OTR (about US$39,800 / €28,200) when order books open in Britain this June, with first deliveries set to take place in November. Buyers will have a choice of four powerplants, all combining direct fuel injection with turbo charging and all backed up by start-stop and energy recuperation systems, while Audi will also offer a front wheel drive only version. Read more »

Top Gear vs. Electric Cars Part Two: Nissan Leaf Runs of out Electric Juice…

2011-05-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Lately, it seems that pushing an out-of-juice electric car is quickly becoming a trademark of Britain’s popular Top Gear TV series. After the Tesla Motors row, it seems another EV will be featured in the show while being pushed. This time it's the Nissan Leaf, whose batteries ran dry while being driven by Jeremy Clarkson.

Fortunately, one of the many witnesses of the event caught Clarkson and James May trying to find an outlet to plug for the Leaf on camera. The two TV hosts were filming a test drive with the Nissan Leaf and the Peugeot iOn for the next episode of the show. After looking for outlets in the park, the crew eventually plugged the Leaf in at the UK's University of Lincoln.

U Spy: Is this the New Alpina B6 Based on the 2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe?

2011-05-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Back in April, BMW lifted the covers off its spanking new 2012 6-Series Coupe at the Shanghai Auto Show in China. Having already shown the Convertible version, the only model left to complete the series is the presentation of the M6 in both coupe and open top forms. Well, at least in absolute terms, as we’ve yet to hear from BMW’s longtime tuner, Alpina, which is considered a manufacturer in its own right.

And that’s where antonio melandries reader Michael from Germany steps in. Michael spotted this partially camouflaged 2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe parked somewhere in Munich. And while the lack of any aero parts such as the typical M-style front bumper with larger air vents minimize the possibility of it being the new M6, there are two elements that make us believe it could be the upcoming Alpina B6.

SCOOP: 2013 Porsche Cayman Shows up on the Track

2011-05-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

These are some of the very first spy shots of the next generation Porsche Cayman sports coupe snagged while performing the usual tests on the track. As is the case with the current Cayman, the German firm’s entry-level coupe will be based on the Boxster, the third generation of which is currently undergoing development and has been covered extensively by antonio melandries. The two models will share the same architecture, mechanical hardware including the engine range and suspension bits as well as interior parts. Read more »

Saab Eyes Another Chinese Savior, Signs MoU with Pang Da Automobile Trade Co.

2011-05-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

For the second time this month, and shortly after the break up in talks with the Hawtai Motor Group, Saab’s parent company Spyker Cars N.V. today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a new Chinese company to provide fresh funds for the deeply troubled Swedish automaker. This time Spyker signed a tentative finance and import deal with Pang Da Automobile Trade Co., Ltd (Pang Da), said to be China’s largest publicly traded automobile distributor with over 1100 dealerships in the country. Read more »

VW Reportedly Readying Polo R Model following WRC Announcement

2011-05-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

Reports of a future production version of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC car have started to emerge after the carmaker announced it would enter the World Rally Championship in 2013. According to a VW board member quoted by Autocar, the company is working on a hardcore performance version of the Polo to back up its WRC entry.

Before the WRC announcement, Volkswagen had denied rumors of developing a Polo R, explaining that a very expensive small hot-hatch wouldn't be profitable. However, the rally car revealed in the beginning of May featured the R nameplate and had lots of R branding on the bodywork.

Insane! Swedes Turn a Dodge Viper into the Saab 9-3 SRT10 MegaPower

2011-05-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

Proving once again that there is no limit to what one can build when you let your imagination take over, a team of Swedes transformed a Dodge Viper into the menacing Saab 9-3 SRT10 MegaPower you see in these pictures.

It all started when a man bought a wrecked Dodge Viper SRT-10 with the intention of rebuilding it. However, it soon became obvious that task was far more difficult than he originally thought due to the extent of the damages and the lack of parts. It didn’t take long to come up with a fresh idea: strip the Viper’s body clean and use the mechanical hardware and parts of the chassis on a Saab 9-3 Sport Combi.

Piecha Design Gives the new 2012 Mercedes SLK its First Tune

2011-05-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

Not surprisingly, it didn’t take long for aftermarket specialists to get their hands on the new Mercedes-Benz SLK. Piecha Design is if not the first, one of the first tuners to release a package for the compact German roadster. Named “Accurian RS”, the kit focuses on exterior enhancements. Read more »

All-New 2012 Audi A6 Avant to Debut on May 18

2011-05-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

It’s only been five months since Audi pulled the wraps off the four-door saloon version of its fourth generation A6 executive model at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, but the brand with the four rings has already prepared a more practical station wagon body style with the Avant moniker.

Today, Audi announced that it will reveal the spanking new 2012 A6 Avant next week on Wednesday, May 18, during a special event at the Humboldt Box in Berlin, which will also be broadcasted online. Don’t expect any surprises under the hood, with the Avant model gaining the same range of diesel and gasoline engines (depending on the market, of course) with the option of the firm’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell’s World Tour Cut Short after Accident in Kazakhstan

2011-05-13T14:44:00.000-07:00

On January 30th, 2011, three Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell models set out from Germany to travel around the globe covering 30,000 kilometers (about 18,700 miles) in 125 days to demonstrate the technical maturity and reliability of the world’s first series production fuel cell vehicle.
Read more »

Gerhard Plattner Does it again: Drives Skoda Fabia GreenLine 2,006 km / 1,246 Miles on a Single Tank of Fuel

2011-05-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

We're not sure if you know this, but there's a world champion in economy driving out there and his name is Gerhard Plattner. He's the kind of guy you'd want as a driver on your gas-guzzling car now that oil prices have hit the roof.

However, the Austrian champ has better things to do, like driving a Skoda Fabia GreenLine from Austria to Denmark and back on a single 45-liter (11.9 gallons US or 9.9 gallons UK) tank of diesel fuel. He covered a distance of 2,006 kilometers in a Skoda Fabia GreenLine without ever having to refuel the eco-friendly diesel car.

Canadian Man Throws a V12 into a 1967 MGB GT

2011-05-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

If you are a car guy like Mark Sawatsky of Winnipeg, Canada, and you happen to have a Jaguar 5.3-liter V12 and an old 1967 MGB GT lying around in your garage, it doesn’t take too long to come up with an impressive project. For Mark it was the creation of racecar to compete in the modified class of the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). Read more »

SCOOP: 2012 Audi S7 Snagged Testing, Rumored to get New V8 Engine

2011-05-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

With the reveal of Audi’s rakish A7 sports liftback in the summer of 2010, we knew it was only a matter of time before the Ingolstadt-based automaker enhanced the range with a top-spec model wearing the S badge and down the line, an even gutsier version with the firm’s famed RS moniker.

We’re still waiting for the RS7 but the development of the S7 appears to be reaching its final stages as you can see in these photos of a prototype spied in Europe. Being that unlike the flashy-looking RS range, all of Audi's ‘S’ branded models are rather inconspicuous, it comes to no surprise that the only telling feature of the prototype model other than the S-Line aero package, which can be had on all A7s, are the four-exhaust pipes at the back.

Carlsson Gives the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet more Power and Poise

2011-05-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

German aftermarket specialist Carlsson released a new tuning package for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, offering 20 percent more power, a new aero package and interior improvements. All these are available for the E 350 CDI model, whose 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine delivers 231 horsepower out of the box. As expected, Carlsson didn't think that was enough, so it developed the C-Tronic Diesel Power CD28-35 REVO package that consists mainly of ECU remapping. Read more »

The Great Escape: Motorcyclist Rides Through a Three-Car Accident

2011-05-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

It is a known and sad fact that most drivers will experience an accident two at some point in their careers on the road. Fortunately for the motorcyclist seen in this footage from a closed circuit camera in a tunnel, it just wasn’t meant to happen this time. The driver of the motorcycle miraculously passed through a three car accident that seems to have been caused by two cars chasing each other,

We don’t know the wheres and whens of the incident and there’s a good chance that this video may not be new, but the commentator on the background appears to be speaking Portuguese (any help with translation would be appreciated). Watch the clip after the break.

2012 VW Beetle to Participate in New Car Sharing Scheme in Hanover

2011-05-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

To be completely frank, what caught our attention in Volkswagen’s latest press release (and probably yours in this post) on the new pilot car-sharing program called Quicar, wasn’t the news itself but the special livery of the 2012 Beetle shown in the promotional set of photos. Nevertheless, since we already told you the headline here’s the rest of the story on Volkswagen’s new car sharing concept that will take place in the German city of Hanover (or Hannover). Read more »

Lexus CT200h Race Car to Debut at the Nurburgring

2011-05-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Lexus CT200h compact hybrid will debut in racing car guise at an endurance race this weekend at the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. Entered by Gazoo Racing, the same organization that races the Lexus LFA, the CT200h will compete in the Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy. Around 200 cars will line up at the start of the six hour-race. Read more »

Good News Everyone! We’re Back after Blogger’s 24-hour Outage

2011-05-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

As Professor Farnsworth would say, Good news, everyone! We’re back! For those of you that missed our rants and were wondering what in tarnation happened to us for the past 24 hours, put the blame on Google’s engineers and a supposedly regular maintenance issue that turned into a widespread outage. Here at antonio melandries, we’ve “lost” about a day’s worth of posts, but Google’s people have promised to reinstate them soon. If they don’t keep their word for any reason, no worries, we’ll just do it the good ‘ol fashioned way – manually… Read more »

Vilner Custom Studio Takes on the Smart ForTwo

2011-05-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

You may or may not like Vilner's aesthetic proposals, but you’ll have to agree that Bulgarian studio is a very good example of what a company from a relatively small country with no background in its niche can achieve with some hard work and smart yet efficient marketing tactics. You see, instead of focusing on the local market and waiting for someone to discover the firm’s products, over the past year or so Vilner has been aggressively promoting every tune it has worked on. We don’t know if this strategy has translated into an overseas income, but it has put the company on the map, and that’s something worth noting.

In this latest tune, Vilner crafted a bespoke Smart ForTwo for one of its local customers. The Lilliputian two-door model received extensive styling modifications built around a square motive that is visible inside and out. On the outside, the ForTwo gains a colorful wrap that includes a chrome finish at the back and orange wheels, while the interior has been completely reworked featuring new and more luxurious materials throughout. Follow the jump for more pictures as well as a video from the build.

New Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS adds All-Wheel Drive to the Mix

2011-05-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just when everyone believed that the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 was going to be Porsche's last version of its current 997 range, the Stuttgart-based carmaker announced yet another addition. It's called the 911 Carrera 4 GTS and it has been created by pairing the 911 Carrera GTS’s powertrain with an all-wheel drive system. Available as a Coupe and Cabriolet, the new model combines the 3.8-liter engine of the Carrera GTS with the German firm's all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management system. Read more »

Lexus LS 600h L Getting Prepped for the Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco

2011-05-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

With monthly average sales of around 2,000 units this year, Lexus’ cars continue to be a scarce commodity on Europe roads and we somehow doubt that being crowned the official vehicle of His Serene Highness [very sic…] Prince Albert II of Monaco will help improve the Japanese automaker’s position in the market. Read more »

Vladimir Putin’s Lada Stunt Turns into a Joke as Car Fails to Start

2011-05-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

“What do you call a Lada that starts the first time? A novelty!” This is only one of numerous joke about Lada’s cars and their reliability but to the misfortune of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the joke turned out to be true during an official presentation of the troubled automaker’s new Granta small sedan.

The 58-year-old prime minister attended the unveiling of Lada’s budget model at the headquarters of its car manufacturer Avtovaz in the Volga River city of Tolyatti. In his usual confident style, Putin approached the car for a first look. The troubles started right from the beginning as one of the men accompanying the prime minister had a hard time opening the vehicle’s boot.

Then, in a marketing fail comparable only to Volvo’s unbelievable crash incident last year, Putin entered the car to take it for a test drive. He tried to start it once. He failed. He tried a second time, nothing. The same thing happened three more times until finally, the Lada came into life. Luckily for us, the entire incident was captured on film. Watch the video right after the jump.

Toyota Overtakes BMW as World's Most Valuable Brand

2011-05-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

The BrandZ Top 100 annual study revealed that Toyota is once again the world's most valuable auto brand, after losing the position last year to BMW due to the massive recall campaign. Toyota saw an 11 percent increase in its brand value, which is now rated at $24.2 billion (€16.85 billion). The research company Millward Brown, whose global brand director said Toyota’s recall had not affected consumers’ confidence in the carmaker, compiled the ranking. Read more »

Mercedes-Benz Rumored to be Readying Monstrous G65 AMG Limited Edition with 612HP V12

2011-05-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class or G-Wagen, started its life towards the end of the 1970s as a rugged off-roader featuring a body-on-frame construction and three fully locking differentials, one. And even though the base models continue the same formula today, somewhere down the line, a crazy AMG engineer had a eureka moment and threw in a powerful engine under the hood transforming the boxy 4x4 into a 3.5-tonne weapon capable of humiliating sports car in a straight line duel.

Today, the most potent G-Class model is the G55 AMG fitted with a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 engine developing 507-horses and 700Nm (516 lb-ft) of peak torque for a 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 5.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 210 km/h. But that may soon change if we are to believe a report from Dutch website Autoblog.nl on a new range topping G-Class model with the G65 AMG moniker.

It Came from Britain: Delta E-4 Coupe is a 150mph Electric Sportscar

2011-05-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

Following in the footsteps of the Tesla Roadster, British engineering company Delta Motorsport has designed and built a new electric sports car, the E-4 Coupe. Powered by two electric motors, each developing 120 horsepower while only weighing 23 kg (51 lbs), the car has a driving range of 200 miles (322 km) on a single charge. The E-4 Coupe has been developed from the ground up with the intention to obtain a curb weight as low as possible, while considering the presence of batteries, which unavoidably add weight. Read more »