Bentley has recalled 520 Azure and Arnage models amid fears that wheels could come loose while the cars are being driven.
Incorrect wheel bolts were reportedly attached to wheels, resulting in rattling on the £220,000 Bentleys.
The models affected by the recall were the Azure and the Arnage R, T and RL and were produced between February 2005 and August last year.
Famous customers include David Beckham, Gordon Ramsey and Elton John.
by Damon Lavrinc
With both Audi and Apple’s minimalist design ethos, it was simply a matter of time before they joined forces and offered a way to integrate the new iPhone across the four-ringed lineup. Any Audi model equipped with Bluetooth will allow the iPhone to be paired with the vehicle, giving users the ability to make and receive hands-free phone calls, as well as providing a signal strength indicator, assigning specific names to numbers (Work, Home, etc.) and allowing access to call lists.
On the music front, the addition of the Audi Music Interface will give the vehicles MMI system direct control of all the iPod capabilities of the iPhone, allowing users to navigate everything from playlists to albums. The AMI is available as an optional extra on the A5, A6, A8 and Q7, although we’d expect the full line of Audi vehicles to allow integration sooner rather than later.
[Source: Audi]
Actually, the iCar isn’t quite as tiny as the Smart but it is still small - about six inches shorter than a Ford Ka. And you can understand Mitsubishi’s caution when you first set eyes on its almost-alien proportions.
Compact dimensions make the Mitsubishi i perfect for the city, and the unique styling helps it stand out from the crowd
The Livina Geniss is a seven-passenger MPV-type vehicle whose front-end styling (based on the sketches released) looks like a Murano / Presage blend. The interior will be reconfigurable and should be nicely appointed since luxury is one of the themes Nissan is trying to communicate with the car.
Two engine options are available, the HR15DE (109hp at 6,000rpm, 148Nm at 4,400rpm) and the MR18DE (128hp at 5,500rpm, 174Nm at 4,800rpm), both now with CVTC Variable Valve Timing. The MR18DE comes with with a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed auto, while the HR15DE’s gearbox offering is similiar except the manual only has 5 cogs.
by Chris Tutor
Not that there was a lot of speculation about Dodge possibly dropping out, but Dodge’s senior manager for motorsports, Mike Deahanty, says the brands presence in NASCAR will remain under Chrysler’s new ownership by Cerberus Capital Management. Petty Enterprises and Evernham Motorsports have both renewed their contracts with Dodge.
Top Speed, however, says sponsorship for the Evernham team, which currently includes Dodge dealers and the United Auto Workers, could change, with Budweiser rumored to be interested in paying Kasey Kahne to wear its red livery.
So rest easy, NASCAR Dodge fans. You’ll still be able to see Dodge Chargers (or at least machines with Charger written across the nose) roaring around in circles.
[Source: Top Speed]
It was a sunny July day, Friday the 13th and we were feeling good about ourselves for having gotten an early start on our trek across the eastern Oregon mountains on our way to Redmond. We left Boise at 7am and were in and out the Pilot truck stop in Ontario with plenty of day left to make a casual commute to our rally destination. As I waited for the 150 gallon fuel tank to fill I did my usual walkaround looking at the tire pressure, towbar connections and engine bay for anthing awry. All was well so we headed out for our scenic run over the mountains with camera at the ready. As we started up a long but mild grade the coach was running great. I started my routine check of the mirrors when the worst site I always feared came slamming back to my eyes from my drivers side mirror. WE WERE ON FIRE! I hit the emergency brake and was at the exit door with Karen at my side handing me a fire extinguisher. I barked a strong order to get the other one and follow me when I heard Karen say, I can’t find the other extinguisher in the smoke. My mind raced as I went through the list of places I had extinguishers and it dawned on me that there was another one at the passenger seat. I ran back for that one and met Karen outside for a look at what I had to fight to save our home. When I got to the rear of the coach the back end was entirely covered with flame and the van being towed was burning as well. I knew that instant there wasn’t anything I could do to save the coach but I could possibly get the van disconnected if I could get it loose. I emptied both extinguishers on the front of the van and amazingly enough the flame was out. I started to disconnect when I realized the flames building on the back of the coach were searing my skin. The idea of saving the van was dwindling and when I touched the tow bar it was obvious that I wasn’t getting it disconnected. Karen was there at my side asking what were we going to do but I just grabbed her arm and walked away from the coach for safety.
Karen and I stood there staring at the flames with astonishment and total disbelief. This couldn’t be happening, it only happens to other people and read in the newspaper the next day. Our minds raced trying to think of what we could do to pause this horrifying scene but it was not stopping. Matter of fact the flames were growing higher and higher. A stranger tapped us on the back and said you better back up because the fuel tank on the van could explode. We turned around to see a good samaritan standing there with concern on her face. We started to walk away from our home but I didn’t want to go. I needed to do something! My cell phone had no signal and there was no water to be found. What could we do? It was then I saw Karen had no shoes on. She was upset that she not only left her shoes behind but somehow forgot her purse as well. We held each other trying to find some sense of sanity in all this chaos. I looked at the RV door standing open wondering if i could go back in to retreive some strand of our lives before it all was gone. The flames were so hot now you couldn’t get within a hundred yards without getting burnt. I gave up and walked away.
It took fouteen minutes before the first volunteer firemen arrrived. He had a single pickup with a water tank on the back. I was relieved to see him because the coach was already a total loss but the van looked like it could be saved if he could get the flames away from the gas tank. He went to work on the van and it was looking as if he was winning. Unknown to me the interior was burning fiercely and it was heading to the cargo area. Not knowing this I was shocked to see the man open up the rear and flood the interior of the cargo area. That probably saved the back of the van but the smoke had already done it’s damage to the cargo.
When the flames were about out the whole rig was merely a skeleton and a total loss. I climbed to the top of the hill more to see what our home had been reduced to but to also get away from everyone for a moment. It was above 95 degrees outside that day and the blacktop was probably raising the temperature to well over 100 degrees and here I was climbing a hillside. I didn’t even think about it at the time. When I got to the top I remembered the cell phone camera I had on my hip so I instinctively took it out and snapped a keepsake to start our new photo album. I stood there thinking to myself, now what?!
Two days have gone by since this tragedy and our phones have rung steadily with friends and family offering their support and best wishes. We are without anything whatsoever except each other and a circle of great friends & family. We have spent the last day or so buying day to day essentials like a tooth brushes and clothes and it amazing how much all this stuff can cost when gotten all at once. We have been asked over and over if we need anything. The answer is, we need everything but don’t even have a place to put it at this time. For the next few weeks we will be in Ontario, Oregon awaiting the barrage of appraisers and inspectors. We’re not sure what to expect exactly so if you know someone that has been through a scenario like this please ask them to call or email us. We need to know what is coming and how we will get our lives back. You can go to our Contact us page for a sellection of ways to contact us. We have put this page together to let everyone know how we are doing but to also let fellow RVers know what can happen so they will be more prepared than we were in a tragedy like this. We will continue to update this page so stay tuned to see where this quest leads.
by Alex Nunez
This past weekend, police in the Estonian city of Tartu pulled over a car because it was being driven erratically. The officers who made the traffic stop found a 20-year-old driver accompanied by a 16-year-old passenger. Thinking that the driver was drunk, they sought to administer a breathalyzer test, but the driver kept missing the tube he needed to blow into. Ultimately, Estonia Five-O figured out that the driver was blind and was piloting the car based on instructions given to him by his passenger. Hey, maybe they were were practicing for some enhanced form of the World Rally Championship. We’ll never know. Anyway, at that point, the cuffs came out, because apparently Estonia requires drivers have the ability to see before getting behind the wheel. What a bunch of killjoys. It can be done! Haven’t these people seen Scent of a Woman?
[Source: Reuters]
by Jonathon Ramsey
Michael Wiley lost his arms and most of his left leg in an electrical accident when he was 13. He didn’t let the lack of limbs stop him from getting his driver’s license or driving. His toes handle starting, his knee is on shifting duty, and his stumps do the steering. He turns on the lights with his teeth. He also didn’t let it stop him from the kind of spirited piloting that includes leading police on high speed car chases, having his license suspended numerous times, and racking up enough felonious driving charges to spend three years in jail. He’s even kicked a state trooper.
His latest trick: speeding off in an Explorer, leading police on a high speed chase — and eluding them. Finally caught and taken to court, he was sentenced to five years in jail for felony driving and drug charges. Now Wiley says his driving days are over: “I’m beat. The white flag is up.” For a man with one limb, it’s a pretty incredible record.
Thanks for the tip, Ben!
[Source: MSNBC]
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2008 Hummer H3, 2008 Infinity G37, 2008 Nissan 350Z Nismo, 2008 Ford Shelby GT 500 KR, 2008 Subaru WRX & Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.