Audi R8 Commercial: It’s a Good Day for a Drive in the Snow

While the worst of winter may soon be over in the northern hemisphere, carmakers continue to roll out snow-theme advertisements, which proved to be rather popular this season as even Ferrari touted the capabilities of its newest offering, the FF GT, on the snow.

This advertisement comes from Audi, which is an automaker with a long tradition in all-wheel drive models. The German company questions the notion that supercars are only good for the track and for flat, dry roads and not for the “biggest snowstorm in recent memory” showcasing an R8 Coupe having some fun on the snow. Watch the video right after the jump.

VIDEO

Frozen in Time: Brand New 1970s Toyotas Abandoned on Dealer Lot in Cyprus

The Green Line is a 180 kilometer-long (112 miles) stretch of land that divides the island of Cyprus and its capital city of Nicosia. It was created as a demilitarized zone or a buffer, if you prefer, between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot controlled areas of Cyprus after Turkey invaded the Mediterranean island back in 1974. Here, lies an unoccupied piece of land that seems to have been frozen in time.

Now, we know some of you may be wondering what any of this has to do with an automotive website like Carscoop, so let’s cut to the chase and get to the story.

The answer is a stunning gallery from Bo de Visser, a photographer and journalist from The Netherlands, who was able to visit the Green Line in Cyprus and discover an abandoned Toyota dealer lot with an amazing collection of new cars from the 1970s.

The vehicles, as well as the dealership, were apparently abandoned in a hast during the invasion creating a one-of-a-kind time capsule of an assortment of 1970s Toyota models including Corollas and Celicas. The photo gallery along with a description from Bo’s brother, Bart, whom we came in contact with, is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump.

Here's what Bart de Visser told us:

After the invasion by Turkey in 1974 a large part of Northern Cyprus became a cease-fire line, protected by UN and both Cyprus and Turkye.

And while other towns managed to carry on, cities like Famagusta and Nicosia are partly abandoned since then. Rumors were told about car-dealers as Ford and Toyota, where new cars just standing the way they have been parked 33 years ago.

A dream of every car -enthusiast and photographers of abandoned places.

After a long time of negotiating the photographer and journalist Bo de Visser from The Netherlands managed to get inside and made a photo-documentary.

Besides the 'forgotten cars' he discovered a city with a sad history, empty streets with decayed houses.

The many bulletholes in the walls are silent witnesses and keep remembering us why this city was abandoned.

Old advertising signs of forgotten brands, and of course, the Toyota dealer.

'New' cars, with only 37 driven miles.

Many thanks to Bart de Visser!

Source: Urban Travel via VWvortex

[Photos published with permission]

PHOTO GALLERY

A Future of Smarter Cars as Automakers and Regulators Seek to Cure Driver Error

In 2010, “unintended acceleration”, a phrase that had been somewhat forgotten in the automotive lexicon returned to the hearts and minds of many Americans. After exhausting research by the NHTSA and other independent agencies, the culprit was found to be a combination of poorly designed floor mats, “sticky” accelerator pedals...and driver error.

As our roads become more congested and the traffic rules more and more complicated, incidents of driver error resulting in accidents are likely only to increase. The solution: smarter electronics that take the “driver” out of “driver error”.

Things like electronic systems that cut power to the car when drivers hit both the brake and gas pedals, rear vision cameras, electronic data recorders and even wireless monitoring of the vehicle’s performance are set to become increasingly commonplace in the coming decades.

There are other less sophisticated measures: such as driver training and a subtle reworking of driver ergonomics that could reduce the number of or even prevent such accidents from occurring in the future. It’s all well and good, but it does hint at the low opinion both regulators and automakers have of the average car driver.

By Tristan Hankins

Via: Wall Street Journal

It Came from eBay Hell: Toyota Celica-Based Ferrari F430 Replica

There are probably more Pontiac Fiero-based imitations in the world than real Ferraris. Today, though, we have something a little different. No, it is not a Pontiac Fiero-based Lamborghini Miura (we have already had one of them), it is a Toyota Celica that has been transformed into a passable F430 replica.

Did I say passable? Well, only just. From the front, it looks okay, with the hood, headlights and A-pillar being sufficiently F430-like. As you move back, however, it all starts to unwind. The awkward side window treatment, slab-sided rear flanks and the shape of the rear windscreen just seem wrong. Though you can’t expect much from trying to transform a front-engined, front wheel drive Japanese coupe in a mid engine, rear wheel drive Italian exotic.

Things only get worse inside; the interior is essentially stock seventh-gen Celica with stick on parts that are supposed to give the impression of a Ferrari interior. Suffice to say, it does not work. The seller is asking US$45,000 for a car that nominally pulls around $7,500 on the used market, a frankly ridiculous price. You can check out our gallery (if you dare) and leave your bit in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

PHOTO GALLERY

Ford Releases Videos of Its New Police Interceptors Taking on the Competition

Ford has released a series of six videos with the Taurus and Explorer-based police vehicles undergoing various tests performed by police officers. The performance, handling and durability of the Interceptors were tested in a series of real-world police maneuvers and driving conditions and then compared to those of the competitors. The six videos show Ford's police cars taking on the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV and Dodge Charger Pursuit in a series of tests to find out which are the most capable purpose-built police cars.

We will remind you that both models are available with all-wheel-drive and a choice of powertrains, all of them being at least 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the current 4.6-liter V8 of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor – always according to Ford.

The Exlporer Interceptor has a 3.7-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox and delivers 300 horsepower and E85 compatibility, while the sedan is offered with two engine choices, a 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 that is E85 compatible or a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 twin-turbocharged engine with direct-injection developing 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque (475 Nm).

Both Police Interceptors will be built at Ford's Chicago plant from the end of this year right after the end of production of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEOS

Andros Trophy 2011: This is How France's Winter Version of NASCAR Looks Like

Four-time Formula 1 champion Alain Prost and his Dacia Duster took first place at the Andros Trophy season finale held in Paris on the Stade de France this past weekend. Although the competition did not count for the championship, it attracted more than 50,000 spectators at France's largest stadium that was transformed into an ice-covered oval track. What they witnessed was a superb ice-skating contest for cars and bikes. Follow the break for the videos.

The former F1 ace drove the race-spec Dacia Duster Ice to victory after eliminating all of his opponents, including Olivier Panis (Skoda Fabia) and Jean Philippe Dayraut (BMW 1-Series), the latter being none other than the Andros Trophy champion and the man who will drive the Duster hill climb car at Pikes Peak in June.

“I would like to dedicate my win to Dacia and to the public who gave me such a warm welcome," said Alain Prost. "We really wanted to perform well today, and we did," he added.

All cars that participate in the Andros Trophy must look like their production counterparts on the outside while complying with certain regulations including four-wheel drive system, four-wheel steering, a three-liter six-cylinder engine with 340HP, a six-speed gearbox and special studded ice tires.

By Dan Mihalascu

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PHOTO GALLERY

How Not To Customize: New Hampshire’s Subaru Impreza WRX STi Cabriolet

There was a special guest at Manchester Subaru in New Hampshire last week, and it wasn’t some B-list celebrity slumming it for a free car. No sir, it was a one of a kind 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi convertible. You read that correctly, and we have the gallery to back it up.

And all I can say is wow. Remember when the boys over at Top Gear UK converted an old Renault Espace into a convertible? This is like that, but better. It’s somewhere between the ASC Helios (nee Chrysler 300C) and the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet in the, “so crazy it’s just might be cool” category.

I don’t know what’s better: that ‘80s style convertible row bar or the whopping big spoiler on the back. It’s the car you never knew you wanted! We don’t have any information on who built it or why; just this neat-o image gallery to sate your WRX STi convertible craving ways.

Check it out, and don’t forget to leave your bit in the comments section below!

Hat tip to Pauly!

By Tristan Hankins

Source: ManchesterSubaru

PHOTO GALLERY