Official: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette gets upgraded interior, new tires and options [w/video]

The Chevrolet Corvette C6 platform soldiers for the year 2012, although buyers are looking forward to some subtle changes compared to the 2011 model. The entire 2012 Chevrolet Corvette line now benefits from a slightly massaged interior includes a new steering wheel and new seats. The Throne pack more supportive on the sides and strengthen micro-inserts are also available for the first time. The revised features crab-spokes wrapped hide and what General Motors calls to trim the "streamlined"switch. Who has time recently in a Corvette will know that this internal tweaks much needed improvements.

Otherwise, the base 2012 Chevrolet Corvette will remain remarkably unaffected. Those who choose to Z06 and ZR1 trims a few new changes, however. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires are now optional on both the big boys, and tell the engineers that the new rubber should set an eight-percent gain in the transverse acceleration and the private tests at Virginia International Raceway was good improvement of three Seconds per lap on the standard tires.

The Z06 also gets optional equipment such as power traction control, a full-width rear spoiler and a carbon fiber hood treatment. The mighty ZR1, meanwhile, will use larger gear in the fifth and sixth wheels to maximize fuel economy. Something tells us that they may help only on the top-end as well. Hit the jump for the full press explosion and an introductory video.

Report: Hyundai quarterly profit up 46% to $1.75B

Hyundai had a great year, and the results will show in the form of healthy profits. According to BusinessWeek, the Korean automaker earned $ 1750000000 in the first quarter, up 46 percent over the first quarter of 2010. The total turnover of the industry by 21 percent to $ 17,000,000,000th

Sales volumes were higher as well as the 922 000 units sold worldwide nine percent. Much of that increase occurred in the plants in the U.S. and China, where production climbed by 14 percent. A richer model mix and boost Hyundai profits, such as pricing, depending on the model by an impressive 14 percent in the overseas markets and 2.5 percent in the Korean domestic market.

Hyundai impressive performance in the second quarter, helped rally stocks in Korea, and the automaker saw a gain of 7.5 percent on the day. For the year, Hyundai's shares rose a steep 44 percent.

Rumormill: All-new Honda CR-V coming this fall?

The 2012 Honda CR-V is, and you can expect that to continue the successful compact crossover, in its current form, despite a completely new generation. There are virtually no official information on the next iteration of the popular CUV, but since the current formula even outsells the Toyota RAV-4 and is still among the top finishers in comparison tests, we would not expect any wild runs.

Fuel economy is probably from the current CR-V figure improve, front-wheel drive models can even hit 30 mpg mpg on the highway, compared to the present 28th C / D suggests that the current CR-V is not 180 hp probably subject to change. And while talking about curiously, what appears for the same on a new model to make the CR-V solid sales figures are a golden goose for Honda, which are handled very carefully, not unlike the conservative recrafted 2012 Civic, which has just been revealed last week on the New York Auto Show.

Video: Lamborghini Aventador pairing frolics in the Italian countryside

Lamborghini builds footage is the latest addition to its stable share with the congregation of the world. The latest clip follows two Aventador models as they make short work of a rolling piece of land asphalt. There is no CGI or strange apocalyptic theme here. Oh no. Instead, you have a fast vision, like life, if you would treat your significant other and was able to fork the ransom needed to bring not one but two examples of the Lamborghini Aventador enjoy home for the.

Life would certainly be different. The company has also shown edged out an additional clip from the same duo through the city of Rome.

As you may recall, the Aventador is the latest in the evolution of the Raging Bull The 691 hp lightweight carbon-fiber animal weighs 3472 pounds light, which he related to the kind of power to weight ratio is usually on a race track. If you like what you smell, the suits in Sant'Agata you are down in the driver's seat for around $ 370,000. If you're not quite swing that (or if you're not sure you are when you have a pair of this or that island you want to buy your eye on), we will have a first drive of the Aventador to you soon. In the meantime hit the jump to check out the full video for themselves.

Video: Motus hits the track with MST-01 and MST-R

The last time we heard from the Motus crew, they were packing their gear and hitting the road for a long journey that tested both the MST and the MST-01-R through its paces. Now it seems that the American-built bikes has recently ordered some time on the track with the suspension gurus Ohlins the kit before full production begins to obtain. Fortunately for us, they brought on a video crew to document the action and give the world an example of exactly what it sounds like a pushrod V4.

We like what we hear.

So, how long will it take until you get your hands on either bike? Motus is not giving them a fixed dates not just yet, but the company say that it is currently shopping for dealers. If you think it is a dealer in your area, in sale-American Sports Tourer with 160 horsepower on tap and a tuned suspension Öhlins, drop a line could be Motus. Meet to review the jump, full video itself

DiRT 3 available for pre-order, includes Traxxas Ken Block R/C Fiesta [w/video]

The third installment in the DiRT video game franchise, DiRT 3 hits stores on 24 May 2011. It costs $ 59.99 for a copy that is steep, but in line with the pricing for today's video games. If you hide a few coins under the couch cushions have, but then GameStop a tempting product bundle for you. Spend $ 299, for a copy of DiRT 3 reserve, and you get the Traxxas Ken Block R / C Ford Fiesta.

If you already thought about buying the radio Gymkhana machine, this is very much, for it raises essentially the game for free. If, like us, you were thinking of buying the Codemasters game, and you currently have R / C cars on the brain, this means around, you have to explain to your wife why the American Express bill shows a GameStop sales for most of the Five times the amount previously discussed

All-wheel drive finds favor with Lincoln buyers

Audi may be the king when it comes to premium vehicles with all-wheel drive. Lincoln, however, must take notes, because his customers prefer their luxified Ford's all-wheel-movement as well. Each model in the automaker's current lineup is available with all-wheel drive, and control many people, especially field on the order form.

It seems that 2011 will go down as Lincoln's attack on four driven wheels. So far this year 72 percent of the MKT have opted for AWD customers, while 62 percent of those buying the MKX have done the same. Of course, as you fall to step into the car manufacturers start sedans these numbers, what to expect. Nevertheless, acquired 46 percent of buyers choose the foot all-wheel-drive version and a quarter of the MKZ sedans are prepared for bad weather driving.

Let us not forget the Navigator (yes, they still do), the all-wheel drive gets 62 percent of the time.

Lincoln enjoys this shift in consumer demand contracts, as all-wheel-drive vehicles extra command anywhere from $ 1,850 to $ 6,890 when compared to their non-AWD counterparts. Full press release from Lincoln after the jump.

Opinion: Automakers, let my wife use the nav

My wife and I have to buy a house in the Bay Area for most of the past month (if you sell in Oakland, hit me up) and as you would imagine that by means of input a set of addresses in a number of different navigation systems. Since I got the ability of a brain-damaged directional buttons opossum, the proliferation of in-car GPS (and mobile applications map) has also moved a favor an absolute necessity.
But there is a problem ..
About half of the vehicles block destination entry while the car is in motion - a serious PITA when you go to a fixer-upper next bounce ..
Now we are aware that voice control the future and the public should not be fiddling with touch screens and all-in-one control while driving through a school zone, but what if you have a perfectly seated in a position passenger in the have is sitting next to you?. Since 1998, the FBI passenger-side air bags are required, and for the better part of a decade is one of the requirements that a weight sensor that detects whether a person is sitting on the seat, "5th percentile female" in the - essentially come in more than 100 pounds (give or take). It is as a security measure designed so that when a child or infant in the front passenger seat if the airbag goes boom, they will not be violated.
? Why, then, that the sensor be assessed for one more thing by co-opting of the sensor, whether an occupant in the passenger seat could automaker assume that a competent person - not the driver - can operate the navigation and infotainment systems, while the vehicle is in motion.
We have the airbag read the law and can not find any verbiage prohibiting car manufacturers that achieved just that, we out to see some of what - if any - reasons why it was not for implementing such a system. The responses were as expected cryptic, but the basic principle was sound: How do you prove there is a person, not a 100-pound bag of sand (or a car Blogger's padded laptop bag) in the passenger seat?
Scott Geisler, General Motors technical expert on driver workload and wireless security, was so kind to us and our humor Hairbrained idea, but as you would expect, it comes to detection. "Could the sensor used to be a little signal? Yes, possibly. But there are some other things that do receive it as easy as you think," said Geisler us. "As the sensor for the presence of a passenger, you know nothing else that's useful when trying to assess the confrontation with the center stack system. You do not know who is involved."
The same feeling has been a spokesman for Nissan, who pointed out that it a long-standing gentlemen's agreement in Japan lock all navigation functions while the vehicle is in motion, but not everybody in this agreement (thank you, Honda echoed signed). In the same unspoken arrangement has filtered on our shores and is not only the most Japanese vehicles is limited, but some national and European brands, such well.One point that was brought in almost every conversation was the lack of federal regulation for navigation and infotainment systems. And the automakers want it to stay. is passed with the hands-free mobile phone requirements in several states and vehicles are increasingly connected, there is a noticeable interest from the automotive manufacturer, that the FBI will step in to enact the distraction of the driver. Rather than wait, that happened to the state or federal level, car manufacturers are trying to proactively address legislative concerns and avoid sweeping legislation.
"We try to make this a moot point." Geisler says. "We have ways to move this lock-out situation," citing OnStar ability to target either a server or the call center by pressing a key or send two.
Unfortunately, not every trip an OnStar-equipped vehicle or packaging the latest voice recognition technology (a la Ford SYNC) is. But the continued development and expansion of systems - both on the OEM and aftermarket sites - ie destination input on-the-go easier on a lot in the near future. And it can not come soon enough.