Monday, October 29, 2012

Ford Comes in Second Last in Consumer Reports’ 2012 Auto Reliability Survey [w/Video]


Two years ago, Ford was included in the Top 10 of Consumer Reports’ (CR) annual reliability survey, with more than 90 percent of its range rated average or better.

In the 2012 survey, however, you’ll have to look a long way down to find the Blue Oval: it occupies the next-to-last place as it finished 27th out of 28 brands rated, and its Lincoln luxury division is just one place ahead.

"Ford's bumpy road can be seen in the numbers. Sixty percent of Ford-branded models and half of Lincolns were below average in predicted reliability and none placed above average," said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports.

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Volkswagen Goes Beetles for 2012 SEMA Aftermarket Show


On the eve of the 2012 SEMA Show, Volkswagen presented its range of customized cars that include six Beetles and one Golf Mk6 tune.

The lineup kicks off with the "Ultimate Super Beetle" show car built in collaboration with performance specialist APR and the VWvortex team. The concept is based on the 2013 Beetle Turbo with the 2.0-liter TFSI, which in factory trim, produces 200-horses.

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O Say Can You Read: Romney Says Jeep will Shift All of its Production to China


There is nothing wrong with flying the Stars and Stripes during an election year; after all, in a democracy, people get to hear all sides and then decide whom they will vote for.

Unless, of course, your argument is based on a wrong assumption. Even worse if you make a statement in front of a wide audience based on misinterpreting a news report…

Mitt Romney, the Republicans’ 2012 presidential candidate, told an Ohio crowd last Thursday night that Jeep is considering moving all of its production to China.

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Toyota MR2 Whipped up as a Lamborghini Murcielago Replica [w/Videos]


In the colorful and imaginative world of clone cars, the Toyota MR2 is commonly used as a donor model for Ferrari replicas of all sorts, from 360 Modena Coupes and Spiders to Enzo hypercars, but once in a rare while, Maranello's archrival Lamborghini also comes into the picture.

Such is the case of this eBay find from Albertville, Alabama, with a 1991 Toyota MR2 being sacrificed to give birth to a Lamborghini Murcielago replica.

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Head of Mitsubishi’s French Network Steps Down After Calling Industry Minister a "Retard"


Each person is entitled to his or her own opinion. On the other hand, calling someone a “moron” and a “retard” is certainly not the best of manners; even more so if you are an automotive industry executive and the individual on the receiving end is a minister of the government.

Jean-Claude Debard is (or rather was) the head of Mitsubishi’s French dealer network, which is owned by Swiss group Emil Frey and is also the Japanese carmaker’s official importer in the country.

According to Reuters, Debard was quoted by French daily La Provence making the following statement about industry minister Arnaud Montebourg: “This moron, this retard, is increasing green taxes, lowering speed limits on the Paris ring road and ruining our lives.

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Tuner Mods Porsche 911 Cabriolet with a Central Driving Position


There are many ways to modify a Porsche 911, but to be candid, turning Stuttgart's sports car into a three-seater of sorts featuring a 1+2 seating arrangement with the driver positioned in the center, is something that never really crossed our minds.

Which brings us to this creation named the "Centro 911" built by Nigel Tuckey from Trinity Motorsports in Lima, Ohio.

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This is What the Roads of Ocean City NJ Look Like Just as Sandy Touched Down Monday Morning


Those living on the East Coast began to experience the brutal force of Hurricane Sandy in the first morning hours of Monday, with some areas in New Jersey already flooded by water.

Videos of roads and streets turned into rivers have already started showing up on YouTube, including two clips from user "rsmc55" who filmed these scenes from the deck of his house in Ocean City, New Jersey, earlier this morning.

"We stayed," rsmc55 wrote on his YouTube account. "It is not full tide yet, however you can see how the streets in Ocean City NJ are completely gone. This is taken from the deck. We are on pilings. Sandy is the worst storm I have yet seen here...it is Monday morning."

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