VIDEO: Japanese Tsunami Sweeps Cars as if They Were Toys

Images coming from Japan today are horrific and it's only in moments like these that we're reminded what an overwhelming force nature really is. If cars are to blame for global warming, then what you will see in the videos after the break could be interpreted as nature's revenge on automobiles.

The massive tidal wave triggered by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake swept everything in its path along the northern and eastern coasts of Japan, creating biblical scenes like these, in which the tide took cars, boats and all sorts of debris away as if they were toys. Surprisingly, despite the massive earthquake and tons of debris from the tsunami, the bridge stood motionless.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEOS

BMW i8 Hybrid Sports Coupe Spied Testing on the Snow [with Videos]

With BMW having already announced to the world the creation of its new �i� sub-brand, through which the Bavarians intend to market a line of stand-alone hybrid, range-extended and full-electric plug-in vehicles, the company is now concentrating on the development of the first cars to wear the i logo.

In this series of spy videos, we see the test driver sub-brand�s halo car, the i8 hybrid sports coupe, which is based on the 2009�s Vision Efficient Dynamics concept model, undergoing cold weather tests in Northern Europe.

Up until now, it was believed that the i8 would keep the concept model�s mechanical hardware with a 163HP 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel engine located behind the back seats, and two electric motors, one positioned between the diesel engine and the six-speed double clutch transmission, and the other in the front of the vehicle.

But while the electric motors will remain, in a recent interview with Autocar, BMW R&D chief Klaus Draeger revealed that the diesel unit will be replaced with a gasoline engine in the production model. �We want to sell it all over the world. Diesel is only really relevant to Europe,� Draeger was quoted as saying.

The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is scheduled to arrive in the market along with the i3 small hatchback (previously known as the Megacity) in 2013.

Source: Bimmerpost

VIDEOS

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PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO: 627 hp VW Scirocco + Sweden and Snow = Awesome!

You probably think Sweden is all about IKEA, ABBA and Volvos. Of course you do because, like me, you base all your cultural assumptions on asinine, outmoded stereotypes. Though few would be so willing to admit it, we�ve all done it from time to time, mostly when drunk off our backsides around the family barbie.

So what if I told you the Swedes � well, a few of them anyways � were big into racing stripped out, turbocharged Volkswagen Scirocco�s packing AWD and 627 hp (468 kW)? And not simply racing them but racing them on snow and ice. You heard right, and we have the video to prove it.

Sadly, we don�t know much more about the car and its driver than what we�ve given so far; our Swedish isn�t even as good as our grammatically flawed German and poorly enunciated French. Still, it�s a fun video to watch, and the sonorous sound of the turbo gives me goosebumps all down my back.

Check out the video and leave your comments in the section provided below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Bilsport via Autoholics

VIDEO

Fired Renault Executive Asks French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Intervene in Spy Case

Each day brings something new in Renault�s EV-related espionage affair. This time Bertrand Rochette, one of the three employees fired by the company, has appealed directly to French President Nicolas Sarkozy to intervene in the case. More specifically, Rochette's lawyers have called on Sarkozy and Justice Minister Michel Mercier to demand they be given access to the legal complaint Renault filed in January against unknown persons.

The lawyers based their request on the fact that their client doesn't know exactly what the complaint contains, although it involves him directly. Furthermore, the attorneys said Rochette's right to defend himself had been compromised since he can't appeal against Renault in court without knowing what he's accused of.

"We can envisage keeping an investigation secret to avoid any interference or hindrance, but public statements about the accusations should immediately be accompanied by transmitting full information to the person concerned about what he is accused of," legal advisers wrote in the document sent on Thursday.

Interesting times lie ahead in the investigation, with a key part of the case to be unwrapped in the coming days. Results of official probes into whether or not the three executives had bank accounts in Switzerland or Liechtenstein are expected soon and they could prove the innocence of the three ex-employees. If that happens, Renault's top management will have a lot of explaining to do.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Autonews

Saturn Vue Comes Back to Life as the Chevrolet Captiva Sport for Rental Fleets

Meet General Motor�s newest offering in the world of rental vehicles; the Chevrolet Captiva Sport. Even though GM makes no word of the Saturn brand in the press release, most of you will probably see the Vue hiding behind the Chevy bow-tie on the grille. And that�s about the only difference between the Vue and the 2012MY Captiva Sport, which is also sold under various nameplates in more than 50 markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and South America.

However, unlike its Saturn twin, the Captiva Sport will only be sold to fleet customers in the USA, with deliveries set to start in the fourth quarter of 2011. The Captiva Sport will be offered in LS and LT models, with four trim packages, including an all-wheel-drive model (LTZ).

The base LS can be equipped with either an Ecotec 2.4-liter direct-injected four-cylinder or a 3.0-liter direct-injected V6 engine, both matched to a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission. The higher grade LT (FWD) and LTZ (AWD) models get the V6 engine as standard.

All models feature standard 17-inch alloys, XM Satellite Radio, six-speaker sound system, four-wheel disc brakes with antilock, traction control, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, air conditioning, power locks and windows (with driver�s express down) and remote keyless entry.

The LT adds OnStar and Bluetooth phone connectivity, while the LTZ also gets a rear-view camera, leather trim package, a 10-speaker sound system and a sunroof.

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT

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SATURN VUE