Auto News - Jeep Grand Cherokee Struggled in Swerve Test: Consumer Reports

Auto News - Jeep Grand Cherokee Struggled in Swerve Test: Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports is, to an extent, corroborating Swedish magazine Teknikens Varld‘s accusations that the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a rollover hazard.

The group isn’t outright agreeing with the results, but it weighed in on the issue today and discussed the results of a similar test it conducted on the 2011 model. In the Consumer Reports test, vehicles are also taken through a double lane change maneuver meant to simulate swerving away from an object then back into the original lane, though their test is “less severe” in key areas.

While Consumer Reports didn’t experience the tires lifting or separating from the rims like Teknikens Varld did, the group’s 2011 report noted that the V6 equipped Laredo “hopped and skipped sideways.” The “Limited” trim level with a V8 didn’t have the same issues.

After noticing the issue, the group reported its findings to Jeep, prompting recalibrated stability control and a software update that reportedly fixed the problem.

That leaves one question: in what ways was Consumer Reports easier on the Jeep than Teknikens Varld? As it happens, very important ways that might prove the Swedish magazine isn’t as crazy as Chrysler wants everyone to believe.

First, the test is run on a longer course with less steering wheel play and therefore a lower chance for a rollover. Second, they only run with a driver and full tank of gas, rather than the full passenger load and the sand bags the Swedes use to test maximum capacity.

Chrysler’s changes to the 2011 Grand Cherokee suggest that there was a problem with the car — probably one it thought was fixed. And it’s true that those fixes helped it to pass the less extreme Consumer Reports tests.

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Auto News - Justin Bieber Proves Nobody Knows What a Fisker is

Auto News - Justin Bieber Proves Nobody Knows What a Fisker is. Justin Bieber’s chrome-wrapped Fisker Karma looks more like a spaceship to the general public than what CEO Henrik Fisker would probably prefer: a car identifiable with his brand. 

The young pop star managed to prove that while flying along highway 101 under hot pursuit by several SUVs, as a number of 911 calls attest. Some were sure it was a Corvette, others said it was a stainless steel Ferrari. “The one is totally, totally silver. I’ve never seen anything like it; It looks like a Spaceship,” one caller said.

Of course, Biebier’s bodacious car is understandably difficult to recognize in direct sunlight, where anything short of polarized lenses will probably leave you open to burned retinas. Still, it’s a little surprising that nobody even came close to correctly identifying the car.

“Uh, maybe a Corvette? Some kind of a race car,” one caller said. “It’s a metallic silver. You can not miss it,” she said. Another man said he saw “five or six or seven SUVs chasing a silver Ferrari.” Someone else said he saw a chrome plated Maserati four-door.

This could be a good thing for Fisker. It means nobody knows what its cars are, but that also suggests that the company’s recent controversies have fallen from the public eye.

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Auto News - Bill Gates Invests in Engine Company EcoMotors

Auto News - Bill Gates Invests in Engine Company EcoMotors. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is investing money into EcoMotors, an engine development company that is in the process of designing a new age of efficient engine. 

The company announced on Tuesday that it will be receiving a $32.5 million investment, led by Braemar Energy Ventures. Gates and Khosla Ventures are also in on the investment, although exactly who put in what dollar amount has not been revealed.

EcoMotors builds opposed-piston-opposed-cylinder engines, which provide a very efficient use of gasoline, or diesel. Gates believes that this could be a large breakthrough in engine design. He invests in companies like this because Gates wants to help “create affordable energy that lessens the impact of climate change.” The company claims that its engine provide a 50% reduction in both fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Green technology needs investment to succeed, and it is good to see Bill Gates helping the cause.

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Auto News - Porsche 918 Spyder to Get Track Pack Option

Auto News - Porsche 918 Spyder to Get Track Pack Option. Inspired by race cars the Porsche 918 Spyder will be a truly awesome performance machine when it hits the market, but the German sports car maker is already planning an even more capable version.

From the company that brings you the 911 GT3 RS, essentially a street legal race car, the 918 Spyder will get a Race Track package aimed at cutting weight and thereby improving overall performance. Rather than add power, this reportedly pricey package will delete items, including much of the interior luxuries and even the paint, dropping the overall curb weight by over 60 lbs.

Standard curb weight is expected to be below 3,700 lbs, which isn’t overly light, but considering all the electronics and batteries involved, it’s not too hefty. Regardless, moving all that mass shouldn’t be too hard with the electric motors mated to a 4.6-liter V8 with power of around 770 hp.

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Auto News - Acura ILX Could Go Racing in World Challenge, Grand Am Says PR Boss

Auto News - Acura ILX Could Go Racing in World Challenge, Grand Am Says PR Boss. Yesterday Acura announced it would field a two car effort at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race later this year using its new ILX sports sedan. Now Acura has revealed that racing plans for the ILX might not stop there.

Speaking to AutoGuide, Acura public relations manager Gary Robinson dished on the brand’s musings for a future motorsports program. “We would like to see the ILX racing in a higher profile series,” he said. “Considering where Civic Si and TSX are today. It would make a great Grand Am or World Challenge Car.”

Robinson did, however, qualify his statement, noting that “nothing is decided yet…”.

Both Acura and parent-company Honda already have racing initiatives in place in both series. Though not an official factory-backed effort, Realtime Racing has been competing in the SCCA World Challenge series for years, and is currently racing a pair of TSX models. And with rumors that the TSX will be axed in the near future, the ILX could take its place.

Honda also announced earlier this year a major commitment to World Challenge and Grand Am, backing the Toronto-based Compass360 racing team as it competes in both series.

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Auto News - SRT Viper GTS-R to Make Racing Debut at Petit Le Mans

Auto News - SRT Viper GTS-R to Make Racing Debut at Petit Le Mans. Earlier in April, SRT revealed its Viper GTS-R race car that is destined to return to the American Le Mans Series this year and now we know when.

Ryan Hunter-Reay confirmed that he’ll be part of the Petit Le Mans driver lineup for the new SRT Viper race car, and joins Kuno Wittmer, Dominik Farnbacher, and Marc Goossens as confirmed drivers for the team. Though SRT hasn’t confirmed which races the Viper will make an appearance at, it’s widely believed that the Viper will participate in several races before Petit.

Hunter-Reay, who is currently the IndyCar points leader, will focus on capturing the IndyCar championship before hopping into the SRT Viper. Thankfully the Petit Le Mans race occurs after the IndyCar season ends.

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Auto News - 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata Officially Revealed in Japan

Auto News - 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata Officially Revealed in Japan. No big surprise here, but Mazda has given its popular MX-5 Miata sports car a refresh for the 2013 model year, which is now on sale over in Japan.

A few days ago, photos of the refreshed Miata leaked out onto the Internet, showing off its new CX-5-ey front end. The Japanese automaker has now made the changes official, announcing that the MX-5 Miata not only got aesthetic adjustment, but also a new pedestrian safety feature, and a few performance tweaks.

The new MX-5 front end benefits from a more pointed black mesh grille, while the foglight housings and lip spoiler have been altered for a sportier and more sleek appearance. Buyers who opt for the power-retractable hardtop also receive new 17-inch wheels while Dolphin Gray Mica will replace Metropolitan Gray Mica as a color option. A tan interior option is also available to buyers.

Mazda also decided to differentiate its hardtop models from its soft top models; the soft top variant has its headlights black-tinted, while the wheels are dark gray, while the interior door handles get a black treatment, and the gauge surrounds are finished off in a dark gray. The hardtop version has all of its accent pieces painted in silver rather than a darker shade.

While no modifcations were done to the powerplant, Mazda did retune the ECU on the manual transmission MX-5 to provide a more linear throttle response. Braking performance has also been altered, with the brake booster being modified to better modulate braking performance on the roadster. Lastly, the MX-5 went on a tiny diet with the redesigned 17-inch wheels, new front bumper, and wiring harness.

Most notable of all the new features on the 2013 MX-5 however is the Active Bonnet. When the vehicle senses a frontal impact under certain conditions, the rear edge of the hood will prop up in order to create more space between the hood and engine compartment. The automaker hopes this reduces the risk of injury if a pedestrian is hit by the car.

Unfortunately there’s no confirmation if the American Miata’s upcoming facelift will resemble the changes seen on the Japanese model, but we highly doubt that the automaker would deviate from what works.

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