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 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:00:00 EST

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 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:09:08 -0400

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 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:15:06 PDT

Sites that help you lodge complaints

If you've been wronged or you're just not happy with the way you were treated, there are some sites on the Web that will help you get your voice heard.

Google App Engine misfires

A morning outage in Google App Engine--a hosting service for Web application developers--was resolved around noon Pacific Thursday.

iPhone heat issue much ado about nothing

Some reports on Friday claim that Apple admitted in a tech note to having heat issues with the iPhone 3GS, but that's just not true.

Report: Guilty verdict overturned in MySpace suicide case

Lori Drew allegedly used a fake MySpace profile to harass a teenager to the point of suicide, but judge says prosecutors can't use the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act against her.

Net neutrality gets a boost from the feds

The Obama administration includes the FCC's Net neutrality principles as conditions for some of the funds it will allocate as part of the economic stimulus package.

DOJ opens formal investigation into Google Books settlement

Government investigators will probe whether or not Google's agreement with publishers over the digital rights to index books violates antitrust laws.

Apple fixing iPhone SMS security hole

Vulnerability in the way iPhones handle text messages could be used to track the location of the phone, turn on the microphone, or turn phone into botnet zombie.

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New Fiat 500

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Autoblog

 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:15:06 PDT

UKDM Nissan 370Z "Yellow" is a special-edition homage to Europe"s GT4 series

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2010 Spyker C8 Aileron - Click above for image gallery

American fans of Nissan's fantastic new 370Z can order their cars in Chicane Yellow, but up until now, their counterparts in Blighty have been out of luck if they've wanted a sunburst Z of their own. Until now. That's because Nissan UK has cooked up a special new limited-edition (if unimaginatively named) 370Z Yellow.

Apparently inspired by the Japanese automaker's European GT4 series racers, all Yellows will receive 19-inch forged RAYS alloys, a black leather and suede interior, along with illuminated door sill plates, special floor mats, and so on. Did we mention the bespoke lower body graphics? They remind us of less subtle, billboard-sized versions of the graphics packages on certain Porsche 911s.

Nissan assures that there will be a 'strictly limited volume' of Yellows for sale in the UK, with 'exclusivity guaranteed.' But tellingly, perhaps, the company isn't divulging just how many it plans to produce in the model's press release (available after the jump). If you're interested, prepare to shell out £31,650 (nearly $52,000 USD)
for a six-speed manual or £33,050 for the automatic (just over $54,000 USD - as usual, bear in mind the UK's comparatively inflated pricing structure for new cars).


Continue reading UKDM Nissan 370Z 'Yellow' is a special-edition homage to Europe's GT4 series

UKDM Nissan 370Z 'Yellow' is a special-edition homage to Europe's GT4 series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

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Hybrids Stumble While Diesels Surge

The new-car sales figures for June must be a cause for concern for fans of hybrids. But at the same time they're very encouraging for diesel proponents. You don't want to read too much into one month's sales numbers, but the numbers do tell a story.

Ever since gasoline prices tumbled from their highs of last year, sales of hybrids have tumbled along with them. And while most automakers are shunning diesel engines right now, Volkswagen turned in sales numbers in June that should make everybody sit up and pay attention.

So, are we going to see a battle royale between hybrids and diesels? It's too early to tell, but here's what's going on in the market at this snapshot in time.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John McElroy
is host of the TV program 'Autoline Detroit' and daily web video 'Autoline Daily'. Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.
____________________________________________________________________________________

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.2.09



Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent
A week with Honda's new Insight proves there's more to making a dedicated hybrid than aerodynamic sheetmetal and a miserly mill.
Hurst announces Competition/Plus Dodge Challenger
Hurst's Competition/Plus Dodge Challenger gets back to basics with a new hue, Eibach springs, 20-inch wheels and a full exhaust.

VIDEO: Twin-turbo Viper V10-engined Ford Mustang looks to be one sick pony
How do you breath life into a decade-old Mustang? Throw in the Viper's 8.4-liter V10 and attach a couple of turbos for good measure.
Other news of import

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.2.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Dodges to be rebranded as Alfa Romeos in Europe

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With the ink still wet on the Fiat/Chrysler deal, many auto sites (including Autoblog) have had a bit of fun prognosticating which Fiat/Alfa models would be rebadged as Chrysler products. U.K. site Autocar is reporting that Fiat is exploring bringing in Dodge models to Europe to be rebadged at Alfa Romeos. CEO Sergio Marchionne is said to be considering the move, saying that the two brands share the same core identity.

Autocar quotes Marchionne as saying that Dodge is the muscle car of the U.S. while Alfa is the muscle car of Europe, the latter being an interesting bit of positioning that we Statesiders don't normally associate with the brand. If the right Dodge-branded products were to make their way to Europe, the theory is that the Auburn Hills marque could actually bolster the products already offered by Alfa. The problem is, though, that there are few (if any) Dodge models that could reasonably be expected to perform well in Europe. The only models that are likely to be of interest are the Charger, Viper and Challenger, and the there is a chance that the Viper could soon find itself outside of the Chrysler portfolio altogether. The Charger and Challenger are likely too big for Europe as well, and would probably only sell in small numbers.

Marchionne also tells Autocar that the Chrysler group is still losing money, but the rate has slowed due to production and labor cuts.

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Dodges to be rebranded as Alfa Romeos in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: McLaren planning hybrid supercar

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McLaren F1 LM - Click above for high-res image gallery

McLaren has put up a job posting for a Senior Engineer for Powertrain Hybrid Technology on its official website, which may offer a few clues as to where the automaker may be heading in the near future for its road cars. As far as rumors go, this one seems pretty solid. According to an unnamed spokesperson quoted by Autocar:
It (hybrid technology) is something we want as a forward-thinking, technology-driven company. We have been considering it for future projects. All the advert means is that we are looking for a senior engineer in powertrain hybrid technology. Read into it what you will.
One possibility is that McLaren will attempt to adapt the KERS system from its Formula 1 race cars for street use. It's widely agreed upon that McLaren's KERS implementation is the best in F1 and both BMW and Ferrari are also thought to be working on KERS for future road cars.

Within the next few years, McLaren is expected to introduce a couple of new supercars, including a replacement for the current SLR, codenamed P11, and a successor to the famed F1 supercar from the mid '90s that's currently known as the P12.


Gallery: McLaren F1 LM


[Source: McLaren via Autocar]

Rumormill: McLaren planning hybrid supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5-Series mule caught in the desert

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2011 BMW 5-Series - Click above for gallery

A year ago, we showed you pics of the next-generation BMW 5-Series doing some high-speed testing on the Nürburgring, but that was pretty much the last we heard about this midsize bahnstormer. Well, intrepid spy photographer Rich Truesdell spotted a similar mule out in the desert last week, and he has filled us in on some additional details. The car he spotted appears to be a 2011 BMW 540i sedan. Rich relates that the car was big enough to have him thinking 7-Series at first, but BMW helped out by having a clearly larger current 7 on hand for comparison purposes. How thoughtful of them.

While not a lot of final detail shows through, Truesdell points out that the heavy rear quarter cladding could be a tip that something is brewing in the recently revamped styling department in Munich. In particular, around the C-pillar, there was a lot of camo, indicating that perhaps there's something worth hiding. Beyond that, the sedan looks like a shortened 7-Series from most angles, and the dual exhausts suggest that this is likely the V8-powered 540i. Follow the source link to read what Rich thought of the vehicle and to see all of the photos in high-res.



All images (C) 2009 Rich Truesdell/Automotivetraveler.com

[Source: Automotive Traveler]

Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5-Series mule caught in the desert originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai starts accepting Cash-for-Clunkers trade-ins early

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2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration doesn't plan to release its final rules and regulations for the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), otherwise known as Cash-for-Clunkers program, until July 23rd, Hyundai has decided that its customers don't have to wait. Alexandria Hyundai in Alexandria, VA has already accepted the first trade-in and doled out its first rebate. The clunker is a 15-mpg 1995 Ford Explorer, and Katherine Michon of Arlington, VA traded it in for a $4,500 credit on a brand new 26-mpg Hyundai Elantra Touring.

How can Hyundai get away with accepting clunkers early? The automaker is giving dealers short-term cash advances to cover the cost of its rebates until the CARS program officially kicks off later this month. Hyundai has 13 models with particular engine combinations that qualify for CARS, and the NHTSA has already confirmed that transactions on or after July 1, 2009 are eligible.

This could be a brilliant move on Hyundai's part, since its own internal research shows that 11 percent of car shoppers have delayed their purchase to take advantage of the rebates. If Hyundai is the only game in town that's accepting trade-ins and giving rebates early, it could steal a few sales away from other brands that are waiting patiently for the program to officially begin.

On the other hand, the NHTSA warns on the CARS official website that 'interested dealers and consumers may want to wait until all of the detailed issues that must be addressed in the implementing regulations are resolved and the final rule is issued.' By that time, however, you'll be driving around in a new car and getting reimbursed for the rebate will by Hyundai's problem.



[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai starts accepting Cash-for-Clunkers trade-ins early

Hyundai starts accepting Cash-for-Clunkers trade-ins early originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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