Renault Laguna Black Edition

Renault Laguna range kicks off 2009 with the release of a stylish limited edition version of Laguna Black Edition. Renault Laguna Black Edition stands out through its great look of black front bumper, black headlamp masks, tinted rear lights.

[Source: Renault]

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Tanner Foust Tours the Lamborghini Factory

If I ever make it over to Italy, going to Sant’Agata to see the Lamborghini factory is going to be one of the first things I do. Obviously, there are tons of gorgeous shots in this Supercars Exposed clip, but just getting to see the Murcielago’s massive V12 laid bare makes the entire clip worth watching. The only thing I was a little confused about? In the very beginning, there’s a shot of someone applying a Lamborghini racing sticker. The footage looks old, and since Lamborghini didn’t participate in motorsports until recently, I have to wonder what’s going on there. Anybody know?

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Infiniti G37s Coupe

[Source: Infiniti]

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When to pull the trigger

In response to talk of bankruptcy as a better solution than a bailout, jgoods says you don’t shoot the horse you are riding.

He and I agree on the bottom line: the auto industry needs a complete overhaul. We both want to see the U.S. companies become competitive, and even lead, in the world of automotive innovation.

We agree that they’ve simply followed the easy money when Americans were in love with city dwelling monster trucks. In fact, I wrote a blog about that here. It’s true that the American public simply got what they were demanding and probably should accept some guilt.

However, it’s the responsibility of a corporation to plan for the possibility of future scenarios, rather than just hope a lot that things stay the same forever. That’s where the Detroit 3 have failed miserably.

The UAW hasn’t helped. The union has bogged down the industry with high labor costs and forced the Big 3 into paying unfathomable sums of money for health care and retirement benefits. While being good for the employees, it came at the cost of stagnant innovation and sub-par quality. That’s not good business.

It’s time to accept that the U.S. auto industry isn’t confined anymore to the United States. Those foreign transplants, Toyota, Honda and all the others, will have a significant impact on the shape of the industry here. We have to think bigger than our borders and accept the fact that organized unions can’t control everyone.

The U.S. automakers do need our support. And now that they’re being humbled and forced to play on the same field as the rest of the world, they’ll probably earn it. But that doesn’t mean all 3 companies have to survive by being bailed out.

Remember that horse? If he’s got broken a leg and won’t take you where you want to go, it’s time to shoot him. Even if you can’t imagine traveling without him.

Do you think all three U.S. auto companies can be succesful in the future? Let us know where you fall in this debate! 

-tgriffith

 

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Top Gear 13×05 Now Available

A few minutes slow today due to circumstances outside of my control, but it’s out now.

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Top Gear Polar Special In 1080p Available Once Again

If you were looking to download the Polar Special in 1080p but were unable to as the torrent had been pruned from Mininova, well then you’ll be happy to know that the torrent is available again.

And before you ask, this Top Gear in HD was a one-time thing. It was the only episode of Top Gear to ever be broadcast in HD sadly.

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Aston Martin V12 Vantage sports car

Aston Martin will present the V12 Vantage Fastest and most agile Vantage ever; ultimate performance interpretation of the Vantage range at the Geneva motor show.The V12 Vantage will feature a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and 0-62 mph (0-100 kp/h) time of 4.2 seconds.

[Source: Aston-Martin]

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Ford Flex Car Profile

The Ford Flex is a great choice when it comes to a family vehicle.  It has several great features, and is a 4 door, 7 passenger vehicle.  The Flex is available in 6 different trims, which are listed below.

Ford Flex’s available: SE FWD, SEL AWD, SEL FWD, Limited FWD, Limited AWD

Seating capacity : 7 people

MSRP: $28,495 – $39,015

Key features :

- Applies to certain models only:

• 3 Chromed grill
• 2 Toned roof option
• Ambient lighting
• Vista roof
• Ford SYNC
• Navigation system
• SIRIUS Satellite radio
• Active park assist
• Refrigerated counsel
• MyKey
• 6 Airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• AM/FM/CD player
• MP3 Capable

Gas mileage : 17/24

Awards won : No awards yet

News articles:

• Hot Rod
• Los Angeles Times
  

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• Kelley Blue Book
• Ford Flex Commercial
  

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AutoblogGreen for 11.20.08

Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

click to visit AutoblogGreen

Joining in the massive Autoblog crew at the LA Auto Show, AutoblogGreen saw the show through our green-tinted glasses. The big surprise, natch, was the FC Sport concept but we also oohed and ahhed over the 2010 Lexus RX 450h and the Ford Fusion hybrid. And all these:

• LA 2008: Honda pulls a surprise with FC Sport concept
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• LA 2008: Confirmed - AC Propulsion provided the electric drive systems for the MINI E
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• LA 2008: Nissan Altima Hot Rod hybrid
• LA 2008: Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid
• LA 2008: Nissan announces electric car partnership with Oregon
• LA 2008 anticipation: Which debut are you most excited about (POLL)
• First 22 officially registered X-Prize teams announced
• LA 2008: Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid Concept gets early reveal
• Nissan Cube makes an early appearance
• More shots of the 2010 Prius leak out
• Ford ekes out more mileage and lower CO₂ from European models
• Huh, so that's what a million dollar moped looks like...
• ZAP report 52% revenue increase for third quarter of '08
• Toyota Auris gets stop/start in U.K., introduces Optimal Drive
• Micro hybrid drive (mhd) smart fortwo gets upgraded
• SolarWorld offers to purchase Opel, kind of
• Three wheels + 60 Mpg = EMC³

AutoblogGreen for 11.20.08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read |  |  | 

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Is the bailout just a band aid?

Wow, how about the pump-fake that ol’ Mr. Bush pulled on us all, huh?

On Thursday the White House was playing up the possibility of an ‘orderly bankruptcy’ for the Detroit automakers. Bush even said,

Under normal circumstances, no question bankruptcy court is the best way to work through credit and debt and restructuring.

Then the influence and pressure of the Big 3 and the UAW kicked in, who called the idea “unworkable and dangerous.”

Never mind the fact the majority of the Americans were against a bailout, as was Congress who voted not to bail out the automakers. Even the president was considering bankruptcy as the best option to allow a complete reorganization of the auto industry. 

Then something happened and Bush abruptly threw to the other side of the field. Maybe his decision was partly the influence of Chrysler’s desperate ploy of playing up their upcoming month-long plant closure; portraying themselves as victims because people weren’t buying their cars anymore. (If they were any other business they’d react by decreasing the size of their business, not whining to the government that they’re out of money.) 

President Bush’s $17 billion bailout does come with considerable restraints though, the biggest of which being the question of viability. According to the White House, “A firm will only be deemed viable if it has a positive net present value, taking into account all current and future costs, and can fully repay the government loan.”

If, by March 31, 2009, any of the companies are not deemed viable, the loans will be called and bankruptcy will likely result. Can GM or Chrysler achieve a “positive net present value” by spring and avoid having to give back the government’s money? I have my doubts.

This bailout seems like President Bush’s way of saying, “Hey, good luck President Obama. The automakers didn’t collapse on my watch, so now it’s your turn!”

Even though he believed it was the better option, I don’t think President Bush wanted to oversee a federally orchestrated bankruptcy process this late in his administration. The bailout option was easier and provided a nice band aid that would last until the next president could make the final decision. 

Do you think at least one of the Big 3 will still end up in bankruptcy come spring? Let us know by leaving your comments here!

-tgriffith

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