PRVI PUT U ZIVOTU mi se desilo da sam se smorila na zurci #TDI

Filed under: Technology, Videos

Those that hanker for the days when automobiles were generally simple machines - responsive only to the will of their human masters - probably don't work in R&D at Visteon. The Michigan-based automotive supplier, with a track record in climate control and electronics manufacture, has released some new information about a new system it is calling Human Bayesian Intelligence Technology or HABIT.

The goal of HABIT, in a nutshell, is to learn and predict what in-car setting a driver would like, in advance of him even having to ask for them. Using data about radio, climate control and driving behavior, HABIT stores and analyses (some might say "learns") about a driver's preferences, and then makes cues them up for the driver at the right time of day, or in the right situation.

If all of that sounds a little "big brother" to you, well, just wait until you have a look at the demo video Visteon has put together. We'd certainly like to get a closer look at the HABIT system when it's ready for primetime (or even in advance of that), but we're not entirely sold on the sort of creepy, blonde robot guide that we've seen here. Scroll down to see and watch what we mean.

Continue reading Visteon working on creepy artificial intelligence for your car's infotainment [w/video]

Visteon working on creepy artificial intelligence for your car's infotainment [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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@PaulaDevlin1 ah now sure why would ya waste money gettin a petrol #tdi #devilsfuel

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Toyota

Our tiniest Toyota (Scion iQ notwithstanding) is about to get a little French flair. The Japanese automaker announced Thursday that its Toyota Motor Manufacturing France facility would begin building Yaris models destined for North America - specifically, the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. This will mark the first time in history that Toyota has exported vehicles to North America from Europe.

Initially, Toyota will export roughly 25,000 Yaris models to North American markets from France each year. In order to handle this additional production, Toyota Motor Manufacturing France has invested 10 million euro into its French facility.

Despite being somewhat of a snooze-fest (it's a car!), the Yaris carries on in North America with a 106-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with prices starting at $14,370 for the three-door and $15,395 for the five-door, not including $795 for destination.

Continue reading Toyota begins shipping Le Yaris to America

Toyota begins shipping Le Yaris to America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fooling widd mha squad threw buc #TDI

RT @juansuraci: Pablo Sánchez delantero d #AndesGeneralAlvear "vamos a salir a ganar" #SanMartínMonteComán #TDI @DosDePunta_Mza

Pablo Sánchez delantero d #AndesGeneralAlvear "vamos a salir a ganar" #SanMartínMonteComán #TDI @DosDePunta_Mza

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

We at Autoblog love the new little Ford Fiesta ST, and apparently, folks in Europe are pretty impressed with it, as well. According to Ford, the automaker's European arm has already logged 3,000 orders for the new hot hatch since it hit dealerships this March. The US-spec car, which will only be available as a five-door, will go on sale in the United States this summer.

What's perhaps most interesting about the Fiesta ST ordering is that the majority of customers appear to be ordering high-spec cars. According to Ford data, 60 percent of customers have opted for the leather interior with Recaro buckets, and 90 percent have selected the upgraded 17-inch wheels (seen on our test car, above). Spirit Blue has been the most popular color, commanding 27 percent of all orders. As for the technology upgrades, 19 percent of customers have ponied up for the Sony stereo with navigation.

To recap, the Fiesta ST is offered with Ford's 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, putting out 179 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, mated exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission. We had an absolute blast flinging the hot Fiesta through the French Alps, and we can't wait for this sharp little hatch to make its way over to the States.

Ford has already announced US pricing for the Fiesta ST, which starts at $22,195 (including $795 for destination). Load one up with Recaros, navigation, a sunroof and more, and you'll just crest the $26,500 mark.

Scroll down for Ford's full release about European orders.

Continue reading Ford Fiesta ST orders off to strong start

Ford Fiesta ST orders off to strong start originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RT @JuuaniPoza: Mañana #Everton vs #Camioneros final del #TDI , vamos decano #TodoxelTDI

RT @JuuaniPoza: Mañana #Everton vs #Camioneros final del #TDI , vamos decano #TodoxelTDI

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Police/Emergency, Humor

One driver in Portland, OR should make a hefty donation to his or her local wildlife conservation group after a family of ducks got the person out of a speeding ticket. A Portland police officer clocked a car going 52 miles per hour in a 35-mph zone, but when the officer went to pursue the speeder, a mother duck and her two ducklings ran some unintended interference.

Rather than just going around the ducks, the officer blocks the street to usher the waterfowl from the road. While the speeder got away, it's nice to see some compassion from the authorities. Besides, the gesture might've saved more than just the ducks from an unfortunate accident on the rain-slicked road. Scroll down to watch the video taken from the patrol car's dash cam.

Continue reading Portland police pursuit quack down caught on dash cam

Portland police pursuit quack down caught on dash cam originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Audi, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche

A few weeks ago, we bid a fond happy 40th anniversary to the automotive dark ages of 1973-84 that have come to be known as "The Malaise Era" - the performance ice-age when 160 horsepower was a lot and a 0-60 time of under 10 seconds was remarkable. Like music in the 1980s, everything in automobiledom didn't suck, however. There were a few bright spots. Here are five of our favorites:

1976-79 Porsche 930, aka 911 Turbo Carrera (above)
Photo Credit: Dorotheum

While Chevrolet beat them by a decade with the turbocharged Corvair Corsa, the Germans more fully developed turbocharging through racing where General Motors couldn't. Early Porsche 930s (known technically as 911 Turbo Carreras) were a bit crude, with turbo lag that could be measured with an egg timer. They lacked an intercooler as well as brakes that were up to the task, but performance was sensational, with the buff books reporting 0-60 times of anywhere from 4.9 to 5.8 seconds and quarter-mile times of under 14 seconds. This was '60s muscle car performance at the height of the Malaise Era. Sadly, the 930 cost about six times as much as your average muscle car did.

Rob Sass is the Publisher of Hagerty Classic Cars magazine. He is a regular contributor to the automotive section of the New York Times and is the author of "Ran When Parked, Advice and Adventures from the Affordable Underbelly of Car Collecting."

Continue reading Malaise Era All-Stars

Malaise Era All-Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RT @aratgirl: Getting my new #VWjetta just in time for the #longweekend @VWcanada let's see how many km I can drive on a tank! #tdi

Happy to give you a few pointers on a #TDI. Keep asking me questions + not doing what I say - I'll quit helping.

Dubai's police fleet is officially the envy of law enforcement organizations across the world.    

"@RIPTae_TDI: "@DflQuon: Dis a day in da life of a #DAWGNIGGA #TDI"" #DFL

RT @RIPTae_TDI: "@DflQuon: Dis a day in da life of a #DAWGNIGGA #TDI"

"@DflQuon: Dis a day in da life of a #DAWGNIGGA #TDI"

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Lexus

What do you do if you have enough money to buy a Lexus LFA but can't get the car safely to your house? Get local government involved, of course. Rune Berge Vik, of Stavanger, Norway, did just that after he bought a Lexus LFA (the only LFA in the Nordic region according to tv2.no) last year only to find out that it could not clear a speed bump in his neighborhood.

To remedy the situation, Vik got in touch with his city, which had the speed bump removed. Talk about your tax dollars hard at work. On the other hand, it's commendable that the man actually uses his supercar as a daily driver, and besides, doesn't a street-legal car have the right to access said public streets?

Lexus LFA owner gets town to remove speed bump originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Getting my new #VWjetta just in time for the #longweekend @VWcanada let's see how many km I can drive on a tank! #tdi