Video: How to get Even with Your Other Half

We have no way of knowing if the protagonist of the video you're about to enjoy after the break had some scores to settle with his other half (be that his wife or girlfriend), or if he simply had his moment of Zen, but if it's the former, we can guarantee its success. All joking aside, we'll assume that there's a large entrance located somewhere behind the man filming the driver in the Cobra roadster leaving his mark on the wooden floors – well, that or he built the car from a kit inside the room in which case we'd support the "moment of Zen" theory. Either way, watch the video after the break.

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Toyota Shows US Market 2012 Yaris Hatch at Lollapalooza Music Fest

When an automaker is ready to launch a new model into the market, we usually receive a press release along with some initial or teaser photos before we see it in person at a major auto show.

But that's not the case with the U.S. market version of the 2012 Yaris as Toyota quietly unwrapped the car under a tent at the…Lollapalooza annual music festival in Chicago this past weekend while today, the Japanese company announced U.S. pricing without, however, releasing any photos or further details. Strange indeed.
We'll remind you that the new generation of the Yaris was first shown in Japan in December, 2010. Toyota then presented a concept hybrid version at the Geneva Show in March this year before revealing the final production model for Europe in June and for Australia in July at the Melbourne Motor Show.
Toyota said the redesigned 2012 Yaris's base MSRP will range from $14,115 for the L grade three-door liftback fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox to $17,200 for the SE grade five-door liftback with a four-speed automatic transmission.
The aforementioned MSRPs do not include a $760 delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee which lifts prices to $14,875 and $17,960 for the 2012 Yaris L and Yaris SE grades respectively
Toyota said that pricing for the new model is "comparable to a Convenience Package-equipped current generation Yaris" adding that production of the car will start on August 31.
And while Toyota did not announce any further details, Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek was at the Lollapalooza music fest where he managed to get a look at the spec sheet found on the 2012 Yaris LE that was on display.
The LE comes fitted with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with Toyota stating on the spec sheet that the manual model will return an estimated fuel efficiency of 30mpg city and 38mpgh highway, while the automatic 30mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
By comparison, the current generation Yaris that also features a 1.5-liter gasoline unit, returns 29mpg/36mpg when equipped with a manual gearbox and 29mpg/35mpg when fitted with an automatic.
While we wait for Toyota to release photos of the North American-specification 2012 Yaris, scroll down for a video and a comprehensive gallery of the European market model.

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Audi Reboots its 1.8-liter TFSI Engine

Last month, Audi divulged the facelifted versions of its A5 range, which include the Coupe, Convertible and Sportback models.
While the cosmetic changes were minor, the Ingolstadt-based company introduced a new 1.8-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine that will power the entry-level A5 models. Now, Audi decided to share the full details of its new, more powerful and at the same time more frugal gasoline unit.
The new 1.8 TFSI has a displacement of 1,798 cc. It produces 170HP at a rather low 3,800 rpm and, more importantly, 320 Nm (236 lb/ft) of peak torque from 1,400 rpm until 3,700 rpm. When equipped with a manual-gearbox, the A5 Coupe 1.8 TFSI accelerates from 0-100 km (0-62 mph) in 7.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph).
Audi says the four-cylinder engine is much more fuel efficient than its predecessor as average consumption has been reduced by 21% to just 5.7 lt/100 km (41.27 mpg), while CO2 emissions are the lowest in its class, with 134 g/km.
Naturally, the force-fed 1.8-liter unit meets the Euro 6 standards which will be implemented in 2015.
Audi has achieved this by paying particular attention to the combustion behavior of the engine. For example, the new unit features direct fuel injection (FSI) but with rail pressure increased from 150 to 200 bar. At the same time, it also uses indirect injection where fuel is sprayed at the end of the intake manifold when the engine operates at part-load. The direct injection system operates at start up and at higher engine loads. In addition, the variable valve system operates on the exhaust side and adjusts the camshafts in 2 angles, 30 or 60 degrees.
The new 1.8 TFSI is lighter by 3.5 kg (to 131.5 kg) than the previous unit and features an all-new turbocharger with a maximum boost pressure of 1.3 bar. The turbine wheel is manufactured by a new alloy that can withstands temperatures up to 980 degrees Celsius and the electronic boost pressure controller adjusts pressure immediately in order to reduce fuel consumption.
It also has a fully electronically regulated cooling system that aims to bring the oil to operating temperature as fast as possible. This is done by operating the main radiator only at the last possible moment and by keeping the coolant in the crankcase for a long time. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the water-cooled cylinder head, reducing exhaust gas temperature and thus doing away with the need to use a rich fuel mixture at full engine load, further reducing consumption.

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NHTSA Investigates 2011-2012MY Ford Mustang

The feds have opened an investigation into the latest generation of the Ford Mustang to look for possible transmission problems.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration [NHTSA] issued a statement saying that it has received 32 complaints from owners of the 2011 and 2012MY Ford Mustang that were unable to change gears on the car's new six-speed manual transmission.
Ford had introduced the new six-speed manual gearbox on the refreshed 2011 Mustang replacing the previous five-speed unit. You can read NHTSA's statement after the break.

National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Statement:
"[The] ODI has received 32 complaints alleging an unexpected inability to shift into gear on model year (MY)2011-2012 Ford Mustangs equipped with manual transmissions.
Some reports allege incidents occurred while merging into high speed traffic and others allege that incidents occurred while turning left across oncoming traffic. Some complainants allege that the erratic shifting behavior almost caused a collision with adjacent vehicles.
A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect."

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Ferrari Gives Up on 2011 Championship to Prepare Next Year’s Car

Truth to be said, Scuderia Ferrari had a bad start in the F1 season this year. Nevertheless, changes to the personnel and, more importantly, to the Ferrari F1 car's aerodynamic package gradually improved its pace considerably, yielding a win in Great Britain and four podium finishes for Fernando Alonso.
But even with Felippe Massa saying that nothing's over and Luca di Montezemolo claiming that he expects more wins in 2011, team principal Stefano Domenicali revealed to the Telegraph that the Scuderia will stop developing this year’s car in September.
From this point on, Ferrari will concentrate all of its resources on next year’s car. And, given Red Bull’s huge points advantage, no one can really blame them.
“OK, if you have to do some fine tuning you can do it. But otherwise you will lose a lot of time on development of the new car. The more time we can spend on the wind tunnel the better” said Domenicali. “What I really want to avoid is another difficult winter like the last two years," he added.

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Van Bumps Ferrari 360 Modena Spider into the Sea after Brake Failure

When it comes to exotic sports cars like the Ferrari 360 Modena Spider and accidents, more often than not, mishaps are the result of speeding or bad road conditions, sometimes even both.
But that's not the case here as the Ferrari Modena Spider pictured half dipped into the sea was actually parked on the road when this accident occurred.
The incident took place at the Croatian island of Pag located in the northern Adriatic Sea on Monday morning when the driver of a van bumped into the Ferrari pushing the drop-top model into the sea.
According to the local media, the driver of the van said that his brakes didn't work.
For more pictures of the incident, check out the links below.

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Land Rover Rumored to Reveal New Defender Concept

Designing a new car from scratch is a relatively easy task for an automaker –provided it has the resources. Replacing an icon, however, is much more difficult.
Especially if said icon has a long and distinguished history and has made its manufacturer synonymous to hardcore 4x4 capabilities. The Defender is one such example.
However, that’s what Land Rover intends to do, and the first step will reportedly be the unveiling of a new Defender concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Land Rover director John Edwards told Autocar magazine that he “can’t imagine not producing a successor” to the four-wheel drive that established the brand. However the market is now much more competitive and Land Rover's owner Tata Motors must find a way to make the new Defender a credible rival that can command higher prices without losing its legendary character.
Edwards admits that for the project, which is scheduled to begin production in 2015, to be viable, annual sales must be in the 60-80,000 units region.
In comparison, only 18,000 Defenders were sold worldwide last year. Edwards says that, like the 4x4 it intends to replace, it must be versatile and reliable enough to adapt to army use.
Currently Land Rover is considering all options for the new Defender’s underpinnings, from using a modified Discovery chassis to designing something completely new.
Whatever the British company decides, one thing is for sure: they need to satisfy the loyalists and at the same time attract a much larger clientele.

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This is What Happens When You Keep Your Eyes on the Girl

The title of this post is pretty much self-explanatory, but if you insist here's the skinny: a man riding his scooter on the road spots a young and apparently attractive woman dressed in a knee-high dress walking on foot.
And as it surely has happened to so many others, one quick look didn't satisfy our protagonist's curiosity (or possibly admiration) so he let his guard down and turned his focus away from the road to get a 360 view of the young woman… See what happens next after the break in the security camera footage.

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2012 Delahaye USA Bella Figura Type 57S Enters Production

It may have taken three years but at last Delahaye USA’s Bella Figura Type 57S is available for purchase. The Long Valley, NJ based specialist vehicle manufacturer has taken its design inspiration from Jean Bugatti’s legendary Type 57S coupe of the 1930s and ‘40s and modified it to fit a stretched and widened platform.
Using cutting edge materials such as carbon fibre and polished aluminium, Delahaye USA’s describes their new offering as, “much more than a replica”.
With air conditioning, power brakes and steering, electric windows and a choice of engine and transmission options, this certainly appears true.
The Bella Figura Type 57S is available in both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive in turnkey complete, turnkey minus (that is, no engine and transmission), roller body (body, chassis and wheels only) and self-assembly kits both in the U.S. and the UK.
Unsurprisingly, prices are on application only though it sure will be nice to see this design classic back on the road and in much larger numbers than before.

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