V2V communication as a safety feature

Vauxhall's latest safety idea turns the highways and byways into a life-sized feedback loop by allowing vehicles to communicate with each other. We're not talking about the type of communication we humans do in our cars – behavior like pointing out the state bird – think more like WiFi. There are some real safety gains to be had with the system, inventively named Vehicle-to-Vehicle. Using GPS-based technology, along with some type of wireless communication facility, V2V can warn you of potential danger by alerting you to the presence of cars in your blind spots or around a bend, and it can also use data such as speed, direction, and acceleration to determine whether or not you're gonna smack that Scimitar in front of you. Driver alerts can be visual, auditory, or via a Magic Fingers® seat cushion. If you ignore your playfully jiggly seat cushion, the car can even apply its own brakes. This sounds kind of like the funk-tastic Carhood, but with real development dollars behind it.

[Via: Vauxhall ]
[Tag: communication,electronics,europe,gps,safety,vauxhall ]

Abarth launches new Grande Punto tuning kits

Fiat's tuning workshop Abarth has released details for two new performance kits for the Grande Punto Abarth: the Assetto and esseesse (read: SS, for Super Sport) kits.

Starting with the standard 155-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged Grande Punto Abarth, both kits can be ordered after the fact and installed by specialized Abarth centers being established in markets around the world. The Assetto package includes an upgraded brake kit with cross-drilled discs front and rear and beefier brake pads, plus high-performance coil springs that drop the suspension an additional 15+ mm and special 18" white alloys with 215/40-ZR18 Pirelli PZero rubber. Customers who opt for the esseesse kit also get a bigger Garrett turbocharger, a BMC Carbon Dynamic induction kit, twin exhaust with chrome-tipped tail pipes, and a remapped ECU, boosting power up to 180 hp.

The kits are hitting the market in Italy this weekend for €2,500 and €4,500 respectively, and coincide with a concerted new Abarth marketing campaign and the opening of the Abarth performance driving school.

[Via: Italiaspeed ]
[Tag: abarth,fiat abarth,fiat grande punto abarth,FiatAbarth,FiatGrandePuntoAbarth,grande punto abarth assetto,grande punto abarth esseesse,grande punto abarth ss,GrandePuntoAbarthAssetto,GrandePuntoAbarthEsseesse,GrandePuntoAbarthSs,pricing abarth,PricingAbarth ]

Rock Solid Idea: Faux-marble Audi S5 spotted in Russia

Growing up in Canada, my mother had a Dodge Caravan with fake wood siding. Then she replaced it with... another Dodge Caravan with fake wood siding. The wisdom of plastic made to look like wood notwithstanding, the van hardly felt rock-solid. Meanwhile, someone in Russia – that bastion of good taste that brought us, among other abominations, that hideous Cayenne/Touareg monstrosity – thought it would be a good idea to cover his brand new Audi S5 with a film that makes it look made of marble. Our first reaction: he was probably stoned when he decided this was a good idea.

[Via: German Car Zone ]
[Tag: audi s5,AudiS5,marble audi,marble audi s5,MarbleAudi,MarbleAudiS5,rock audi,RockAudi,russia,russia audi,RussiaAudi,stone audi,StoneAudi ]

SEMA 2007: Hope you aren't eating while viewing this Lambo

Anyone unlucky enough to make it over to the Sony Xplod booth at SEMA this week will be greeted by this "Lamborghini" replica that takes some of the best elements of the Italian supercar and twists them into something that isn't for anyone with a weak stomach. Built by The Custom Shop for John Robert Wargo, some of the details look right, but it basically only has a loose association with the real thing. Blending elements of the Diablo, Gallardo Superleggera and Murcielago, it is none of the above. It's actually powered by a 450 HP, 5.3L Chevy LS4 and is said to be good enough to push this 3200-lb car to 200 mph. We sincerely doubt it, especially considering its dubious aerodynamics and the TV monitors and speakers pouring out of every orifice on this "vehicle." We really doubt that it would be up to the task of going down the road at even regular highway speeds, let alone 200 mph. If you have the guts, click through to see the full gallery.
[Via: Autoblog (Audio) ]
[Tag: Lamborghini,Lamborghini MurciГ©lago,Lamborghini Superleggera,LamborghiniMurciГ©lago,LamborghiniSuperleggera,The Custom Shop,TheCustomShop ]

VIDEO: Designing the Ford Verve concept car

One of yesterday's biggest stories was, of course, the introduction of the Ford Verve concept car that will be presented by the automaker at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show. The B-class show car forecasts the "Kinetic Design"-influenced next-generation Fiesta, and now you can hear from the team that created the plucky little 3-door in a short video released by Ford yesterday afternoon.

Follow the jump to see a 3-minute look at the creative process, complete with designer commentary. We'd also like to call your attention to the new Autoblog Video "bumper" attached to the beginning of the vid. It now incorporates our new logo, and is hot off our man Dan Roth's PC as of last night. Let us know what you think.
[Via:

Gallery: Ford Verve Concept ]
[Tag: design video,DesignVideo,ford fiesta,FordFiesta,new fiests,NewFiests,verve,verve concept,verve design,VerveConcept,VerveDesign ]

BRABUS tunes new Mercedes-Benz SL to reliably insane levels

Click above for a high-res gallery of the BRABUS SL

"BRABUS" might as well be German for, "Hey, why not?" This would seem to be the question its engineers ask themselves before they stuff ludicrous amounts of power under the hoods of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks. This behavior is well-documented, and it continues unabated with the arrival of MB's new SL. Full wheel/tire, interior, and styling packages are a given. Backing up those enhanced looks is an assortment of tuning packages capable of providing more power than even Montgomery Scott could ever plead for.

The SV12 S Biturbo engine swap appears to have been created by someone with a severe, pathological hatred for tires. This is the same engine used in the Brabus Bullit, and it dishes out a predictably ridiculous 720 horsepower and 973 lb-ft of torque. The latter number is electronically restrained to a mere 811 lb-ft., and a top speed of well over 200 mph comes with the territory. Not interested in the full swap? No worries, BRABUS has your back. SL 65 AMG drivers can opt for the T 65 S package, which bumps the stock V12 Biturbo to 705 hp/811 lb-ft. There's a solution for the all-motor SL 63 AMG as well that packs on an additional 40 horses over stock. This pattern continues right on down the line -- even the "lowly" V6-powered cars can be tuned to deliver 327 hp/ 310 lb-ft. Bonkers. Er, BRABUS, rather.