Mercedes-Benz working on carbon fiber E-Class?

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Technology, Luxury

A few years ago if you wanted a Mercedes-Benz Coupe your only choices were the dandyish CLK two-door or spending the GDP of a Polynesian island on an SL or CL. The options have grown - and grown more manly - lately, and according to a story in Auto Bild there's another one coming: the E-Class Superlight.

With a rumored arrival of 2015, this rethink of the E will weigh just 2,860 pounds, meaning it would shed 770 pounds compared to the current E Coupe. How? By being "made of super lightweight carbon fiber." Powerplants for the model are suggested to be a six-cylinder gas with a hybrid motor, or a fuel-cell hybrid.

If true, this is presented as Mercedes' response to BMW and Audi moves into plastics and light weight. And this wouldn't be the only challenger from Benz, with a lightweight B and an SCS also said to be in the works.

Mercedes-Benz working on carbon fiber E-Class? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/30/benz-working-on-carbon-fiber-e-class/

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Video: Lexus documents LFA development

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus

It's not often that a mainstream automaker sets its sights on building a world-class supercar, but a few standout examples come to mind: cars like the Acura NSX, the Ford GT, the Dodge Viper, and the Lexus LFA.

Of course, none of these projects simply materialized overnight. Each took years of development, fine-tuning, tweaking and, in the case of the LFA, going back to the drawing board. Toyota spent years on the car's development and put some of its best personnel on the job. Lexus has now documented the LFA's development in a ten-minute video.

Follow the jump to watch it in full and see how the LFA went from idea to aluminum concept car to carbon fiber reality, through its rigorous development at the Nürburgring, the tragic loss of Hiromu Naruse and the victorious Nordschleife lap time.

Continue reading Lexus documents LFA development

Lexus documents LFA development originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/29/lexus-documents-lfa-development/

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Erving denies auction tied to lawsuit (AP)

Julius Erving has denied an upcoming auction of his personal basketball memorabilia collection is tied to a lawsuit filed against him by a Georgia bank. Known on the hardwood as Dr. J, Erving tells The Associated Press on Wednesday he's never been a "hoarder or collector," and plans to donate a portion of the auction proceeds to the Salvation Army.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=11re5htnl/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-erving-auction

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Billy Kennedy diagnosed with Parkinson's

Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/37613/billy-kennedy-diagnosed-with-parkinsons

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Rockstar Games begins Grand Theft Auto 5 countdown

Posted on 10.29.2011 18:00 by Kirby Filed under: | car games | Car Games | Racing Games | XBox | Playstation 3 | Grand Theft Auto | Cars | Car News

In the annals of recent car video game history, games franchises like Gran Turismo, Need For Speed, and Forza Motorsport have etched their own cult followings for the remarkable realism and creativity of hardcore racing.

And on the other side of that is Grand Theft Auto.

Unlike the previous three titles, GTA is different in the sense that it’s not so much about full-throttle racing as it is about going through dirty missions and using whatever form of transportation as your accessory of destruction.

The franchise has given birth to four installments and die-hard fans of GTA - like ourselves - will be delighted to know that Rockstar Games, the brains behind it - is already working on Gran Theft Auto 5.

A release date for the game is still unknown at this point and for their part, Rockstar is milking every ounce of anticipation by publishing a countdown banner on their website that will eventually lead to the very first trailer of GTA5.

Ever since Grand Theft Auto was launched 14 years go, the title has sold more than 114 million copies, making it one of the most successful video game franchises in history. So what lies ahead for GTA5?

We’ll have to wait until November 2, 2011 to find out.

Rockstar Games begins Grand Theft Auto 5 countdown originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 29 October 2011 18:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/rockstar-games-begins-grand-theft-auto-5-countdown-ar119007.html

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Toyota FT-86 Production Version Leaked

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/toyota-ft-86-production-version-leaked.html

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Video: 120 mph Ford Focus vs Concrete Wall

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/video:-120-mph-ford-focus-vs-concrete-wall.html

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Escort marries social networking and radar detection with Android/iPhone app [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos

Now we're not suggesting that you're a lawbreaker, but if you're a social networker and you'd like to know where speedtraps are - for no reason at all - then Escort might be able to help. Makers of the Passport line of detectors, Escort has started a mobile app-supported network called Escort Live that features Bluetooth notifications.

When an Escort detector using a special Bluetooth-enabled cord - called SmartCord Live - registers a trap, it sends that info to the cloud, which then forwards that location to your smartphone to warn you of the trap if you're about to be in range. It can also identify red light cameras and other types of road surveillance systems.

The app works with certain Apple iPhone and Android handsets, and a subscription to the service through 2012 costs $79.95. That strikes us as rather pricy, but we suppose it's cheaper than a speeding ticket. Check out a video of it in action after the jump.

Continue reading Escort marries social networking and radar detection with Android/iPhone app [w/video]

Escort marries social networking and radar detection with Android/iPhone app [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/28/escort-marries-social-networking-and-radar-detection-with-androi/

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Progress Made, Some Optimism Peeks Through

Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/10/27/2518001/progress-made-some-optimism-peeks-through

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Exclusive: BMW announces start of new 3 Series production

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Luxury

BMW has announced that production of the sixth-generation 3 Series has officially begun at its Munich manufacturing facility. The automaker invested around €500 million - over $700M USD - in the plant in preparation for the new model; a move that BMW says secured around 9,000 jobs. A portion of those funds went toward the purchase of a new press that can operate at speeds of up to 17 strokes per minute and process up to 600 tons of steel per day. The automaker says that the machine can handle the equivalent of all of the metal in the Eiffel Tower in just 12 days.

The new technology is part of the recipe that BMW says will allow the plant to produce around 680 units per day in as little as three months from the start of production. That figure will place the plant's total output at over 900 units per day. Surprisingly enough, that volume occurs in a space of just 700,000 square feet across five floors, making for an incredibly dense work space. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading BMW announces start of new 3 Series production

BMW announces start of new 3 Series production originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/28/bmw-announces-start-of-new-3-series-production/

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2011 Dodge Avenger Rally Car High Performance Collaborative Purpose Built Vehicle with 283 bhp to 300 bhp Pentastar 3.6 L V6 Engine

Press Release: Mopar Unveils Avenger Rally Car to Celebrate New Relationship with Magneti Marelli April 13, 2011 , Center Line, Mich. ? A new Dodge Avenger rally car was unveiled today at Chrysler Group LLC?s Mopar Complex in Center Line, Mich., heralding the first collaboration in the brand?s newly announced relationship with Magneti Marelli. The public will get their first glimpse of the vehicle up close at the New York International Auto Show, April 22?May 1. ?Our Dodge Avenger Rally car showcases Mopar?s new relationship with Magneti Marelli,? said Pietro ...

Source: http://www.distrocars.com/2011-dodge-avenger-rally-car

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Toyota teams up with Oreca on new LMP1 entry

A major manufacturer doesn't just show up at Le Mans and hope to race right off the bat. Developing a new car is one thing, but running it is another. And for that, Toyota is turning to Oreca.

Oreca is no stranger to Le Mans, as one of the few privateers that's managed to mount a serious challenge against factory efforts from Audi and Peugeot.

Its services have also been solicited by automakers looking to challenge various racing classes, including development and production of the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe and the successful campaigning of the Mazda 787B at Le Mans in 1991. Oreca also worked with Toyota to prepare of the Corolla that Alain Prost drove in the Andros Trophy ice racing series.

Toyota isn't looking for help from Oreca to build or develop its new hybrid LMP1 racer - that's being done in-house. Instead, the automaker is soliciting Oreca's services to actually field the car at Le Mans and other races in the new FIA World Endurance Championship starting next year. Follow the jump for the official announcement.

Continue reading Toyota teams up with Oreca on new LMP1 entry

Toyota teams up with Oreca on new LMP1 entry originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/29/toyota-teams-up-with-oreca-on-new-lmp1-entry/

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Mark Blount: Worst. Celtic. Ever.

Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/10/28/2519825/mark-blount-worst-celtic-ever

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Thursday Bullets

• Owning an NBA team might not be as miserable as some make it sound. University of Chicago economist Kevin Murphy, who is consulting the players union, speaks about the glory of equity in an interview with NBA.com's Steve Aschburner: "There are a couple of things that are really attractive. One is, historically, you’ve seen franchises appreciate in value and that appreciation has more than outstripped any cash-flow losses that you’ve had. And if you’re in the right tax position, it’s actually pretty good because you’ve got a tax loss annually on your operating and you’ve got a capital gain at the end that you accumulate untaxed until you sell it and then pay at a lower rate. So you get a deferred tax treatment on the gains and an immediate tax treatment on the losses, that’s not a bad deal."
• The Milwaukee Bucks never stop working, but they're fundamentally a poor offensive club. If that's going to change, an inefficient Brandon Jennings will need to improve his shot from long-range, learn how to draw some fouls and figure out how to finish.
• A legal battle between Michael Beasley, his former agent and an AAU power broker grows uglier. Beasley's third-party complaint against Curtis Malone, his old AAU coach, reads: "In summary, Third-Party Defendant, in concert with [Bell Sports, Inc.] corrupted every mechanism of honest guidance Beasley had in his life to assist him to pursue the best NBA agent available, which seriously deprived Beasley, both economically and otherwise." Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports has more.
• Do you remember whom the Trail Blazers got for Sam Bowie in 1989? �He wasn't Michael Jordan, but a very, very nice piece nonetheless.
• The sale of the Atlanta Hawks to Alex Meruelo might be on the verge of collapsing because Meruelo doesn't have sufficient resources. How was Meruelo going to finance the sale? By borrowing from the sellers. There's mounting evidence that this a lousy template for the sale of a big-league sports franchise. We present the Los Angeles Dodgers as Exhibit A, but there are others.
• In a piece that cites the $33.5 million in public funds the city of Indianapolis coughed up to the Pacers (termed a "forgivable loan"), but makes no mention of the nearly identical amount the team paid to Mike Dunleavy Jr., T.J. Ford, James Posey and Jeff Foster in 2010-11, Anthony Schoettle of the Indianapolis Business Journal�tells Pacers fans to root for the owners in CBA negotiations.
• Even those who want fewer games on the NBA schedule feel the quality of play suffered during compressed 1998-99 season. Was the frenzied, abbreviated free agency period that followed the settlement also a factor?�Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don't Lie: "The 1998 free agent class, in terms of sheer numbers, was the largest ever; and instead of 29 teams taking their time as they worked through the hundreds that were available, the league and its players were forced to take fewer than three weeks to figure out where about half its workforce was going to play for the next few years." The free agency and player movement blitz that will be launched by a resolution is going to be a blast for NBA fans. General managers will have to recruit, react, pivot, hedge and react again in a split second. Is that a good thing? When you're staffing an office or choosing where you want to work or go to school, is your process better served with a careful evaluation of the candidates or a close consideration of how you think you'll fit in? Or is everyone better off by rushing into partnership? Which model do we think produces better personnel decisions?
• No arguments whatsoever with J.J. Redick's food trinity.
• Evan Turner learns that pet ownership isn't always what it's cracked up to be.
• This could be a fun artistic exercise for Heat haters and lovers alike.
• A.C.L tears: not just for pro athletes and aging amateurs anymore.
• Trey Kerby of TBJ pays a visit to 48 Minutes of Hell to talk about Tim Duncan, Matt Bonner and wedding parties on the 4-Down podcast.
• Riot police and demonstrators clash outside the Oakland apartment of Ethan Sherwood Strauss of Hoopspeak. His account of Wednesday night's events is full of nuanced imagery and observation -- and also this: "A certain neuroses prevents me from subsuming my personality into any collective emotion. It’s rooted more in an intense fear of getting manipulated than any grand, righteous code."

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/32878/thursday-bullets-221

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First Cup: Friday

• Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle: "Of all the things that David Stern has been accused of being during the NBA’s long labor fight, funny was not among them. Then Shecky Stern went from heckler in the audience to open mic night comic, and it didn’t matter quite what he said. There was a surge in optimism that a deal with the players’ association was within sight and the NBA lockout could soon be over. A week after Billy Hunter and Derek Fisher ripped the owners, calling the Spurs’ Peter Holt and Stern’s right hand Adam Silver liars, Stern sat in the back as Hunter and Fisher spoke of the day’s 7 � hour negotiating session and the progress made in nearly 23 hours of talks over two days. Hunter sounded relatively optimistic, but when he was asked when he thought the significant steps toward a deal would be made, he happily called on Stern sitting in the back of the room."
• Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald: "Not that you need any more evidence that the NBA labor contretemps is all about money, but the fact the league and players’ union are racing toward a new collective bargaining agreement largely can be attributed to the calendar and the potential game dates contained therein. The carrot in the narrowing distance is an 82-game schedule. The players want it so they can collect a full year’s salary. The owners want it because, assuming they get the deal they want, and they will, they’d love to spread it over a complete schedule of games. There is local television and radio revenue to be pocketed here. The NBA has talked about the need to create a level playing field for teams in the smaller markets, but the only real competitive balance at stake is on the bottom line, not the baseline. So, as the sides spoke again yesterday, the number 82 was a Holy Grail of sorts. Speaking of the lure that brought the NBA and players back to the bargaining table after an ugly break six days earlier, union executive director Billy Hunter mentioned the schedule."
• Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times: "With one pen stroke, the Lakers apparently drew a cloud over the NBA and the players union and their negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement. he team's 20-year agreement with Time Warner Cable, starting next year, didn't just anger Lakers fans who only have access to network channels. The deal angered other NBA owners, who believe it gives the Purple & Gold another unfair advantage. The contract, which Times columnist Bill Plaschke reported could be worth as much as $3 billion, won't just enrich the Lakers. It may enrich the small-market owners, who believe that they're entitled to revenue sharing. ... But the jealousy over the Lakers' television deal also points up what should be a misconception among some owners -- that they're entitled to such revenue without making the smart business moves and taking the risks that ultimately ensure such a lucrative deal. The Lakers may have announced the cable deal on Feb. 14, but what made it possible came long before. Such a deal, like the Lakers' 10 titles under Jerry Buss' watch, was a product of how well he's run the organization since buying the team, the Forum, the NHL's Kings and a 13,000-acre Kern County ranch for $67.5 million in 1979."
• Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee: "So can they finally close the deal? That's what everyone wants to know. Can the four people intimately involved with the NBA's labor negotiations the past several months – make that the past two years – reach agreement and persuade their colleagues to scream 'uncle' and sign the deal despite an enduring belief that they were robbed? David Stern, Billy Hunter, Adam Silver and Derek Fisher have miserable jobs. In their respective roles with the NBA (Stern, Silver) and its players' association (Hunter, Fisher), the four will be asked to overwhelm the opposition – inside and outside their own ranks – with the brute force of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the gentility of Mother Teresa. Once this impasse is all over, remember, everyone affiliated with the league will sit around a campfire and croon about making love instead of labor war. ... If an accord is reached within the next day or two – and NBA teams are prepping as if the end of the lockout is near – they can pat themselves on the back for ending the second regular-season work stoppage in history. If not? Let's not even go there."
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Last week, that had New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony in full recruitment mode when it came to New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, who cannot become a free agent until at least next summer. Thursday, LeBron James playfully hit his own recruiting trail in cyberspace. First, the Miami Heat forward posted on his Twitter account, 'Would love to see @JCrossover in a Heat uni! What u guys say?' That Twitter account belongs to Atlanta Hawks guard Jamal Crawford, who happens to be an impending free agent, albeit one expected to fall beyond the Heat's salary-cap means. Crawford and James have been spending time together in recent NBA lockout exhibitions, including the one hosted by James at Florida International University. James then posted on his Twitter account, 'Maybe @SteveNash in a Heat uni! So we can help each other get our 1st ring.' That would be point guard Steve Nash, who is under contract to the Phoenix Suns for $11.7 million this coming season. Under NBA rules, which are not in force during the lockout, players may not publicly lobby for the acquisition of a player under contract to another team. The only way the Heat could trade for Nash under current salary-cap rules would be a deal involving James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh."
• Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: "Kevin Durant's latest Nike commercial is set to make its viral debut Friday, The Oklahoman has learned. The spot will debut on network television during NBC's coverage of Sunday Night Football. In the commercial, the Thunder star will be featured alongside Miami Heat star LeBron James, New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire and Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki. Hip-hop artists Questlove, who is best known as the drummer from the Grammy Award-winning group The Roots, and J. Cole also make appearances, as well as Jimmy Kimmel's 'pop-a-shot' champion Ricardo. The spot is centered on Nike's 'Basketball Never Stops' campaign, which has become the slogan of many Nike-sponsored NBA players throughout the league's near four-month-long lockout."
• Michael Hunt of the Journal Sentinel: "Like the Brewers, the Bucks draw way disproportionate to market size when they are merely competitive. When they're good, the support borders on remarkable. If anyone doubts that for reasons beyond insecurity, let them go to an NBA game in places like Atlanta and Charlotte to compare how relatively healthy the Bucks are against a number of struggling franchises around the league. It's true, fans can be as fickle here as anywhere. They were quick to bail on the Bucks last season, when injuries and bad chemistry robbed them of a chance to build of their success of the previous year. But that's not letting the Bucks off the hook; it is always incumbent on them to put an entertaining product on the floor if they expect to sell tickets. It's also true that the NBA has been fairly ridiculous in the way it has conducted itself leading up to the recent lockout. It forgot about its place in the market, promoted itself in all the wrong ways and then tried to blame it on the players at a time when it was convenient to ask the workforce to take a pay cut. Again, it's convenient to say the league and the Bucks will be irreparably harmed. But it's not only easy for those who just do not like pro basketball for whatever reasons, it also ignores history. Against a lot of odds, the NBA was popular beyond expectations last season. It's also easy to forget just how good the scene was in 2009-'10 for the Bucks, whose surprising showing was met with typically good support from an appreciative market. It's not unreasonable to expect that again."
• Robert MacLeod of the Globe and Mail: "The 2011-12 NBA season is in limbo because of a contract dispute between the owners and players, but Bryan Colangelo is already tempering any optimism that might exist about the team’s chances. 'We may be looking at a year where we actually take a step back,' Colangelo said, noting that the uncertainty of the labour dispute and the new rules that a new collective agreement will bring will all play a role. Colangelo elaborated that it really doesn’t make sense right now, with such a young roster, to chase after free agents. 'To go out and spend money this summer just to spend money would be probably swimming against the current of what the plan actually is all about,' he said. 'And the plan is to acquire the right pieces, the correct pieces, to keep adding to this young nucleus that we have. Or to put championship pieces together.' With a new coach in Dwane Casey itching to instill his defensive ideals to new group, Colangelo suggested it makes more sense to let the young players develop as the Raptors take their lumps in the won-loss column."
• Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun: "Ed Stefanski has 'sat in my chair,' says Raptors president/general manager Bryan Colangelo and that is a major reason why he is now on the Raptors’ payroll. No, Colangelo does not expect to step aside anytime soon, but he said on Thursday that he and ownership are pleased that the option now exists. 'Whether or not Ed ultimately succeeds me is an unknown, but at least I’ve got a guy with certainty who has been there and done that,' Colangelo said. 'But last time I checked, I’m not going anywhere, I plan to stay around as long as they’ll keep me. I don’t anticipate my role changing a great deal.' Colangelo lauded Stefanski as a great deal-maker with a vast wealth of experience."
• Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald: "Larry Brown will be the featured speaker at Harvard coach Tommy Amaker’s clinic on Sunday, and the arrangement seems vaguely sacrilegious. Since when does Dean Smith’s first point guard appear at the behest of a Mike Krzyzewski prodigy? Isn’t there a secret societal code that prevents Tar Heels and Blue Devils from appearing in peace on the same floor? 'Oh, I’ve had my heart broken by a lot of Duke guys,' Brown said yesterday. 'I tried to recruit Tommy, Billy King, Quin Snyder, a lot of them. But when (Amaker) was at Michigan, he let me come and hang out at his practices, so this is more of the same. I’m going to (Kansas) next week. I’ve been speaking a lot — Villanova and Rutgers. I hang out in Philadelphia, so I’ve been at Villanova a lot.' This is about Brown re-connecting with everyone he knows in the business, which is an epic concept. Though dismissed by Charlotte last season, he wants to coach again in the NBA. He’s understandably even more dismayed than most by the lockout. But until the next contract is signed, Brown plans to travel the country as a 71-year-old patriarch, checking out all of his former haunts and players."
• Brian T. Smith The Salt Lake Tribune: "A charity exhibition basketball game featuring former Brigham Young standout Jimmer Fredette, Chauncey Billups and Jazzmen Al Jefferson, Devin Harris and Paul Millsap is planned for Nov. 7 in Salt Lake City, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned. The game will likely be held at Salt Lake Community College. Pro Player Tours is organizing the contest, which is also expected to feature Stephen Curry, Derrick Favors, Corey Maggette, Anthony Tolliver and Ronnie Price. ... The contest could be canceled, though, if the NBA lockout ends soon."

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/32933/first-cup-friday-168

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Scion iQ-RS by Michael Chang

Posted on 10.29.2011 15:00 by Kirby Filed under: Scion | compact cars | SEMA Auto Show | hatchback | car tuning | Scion iQ | Cars | Car Reviews | Scion

It takes a special kind of tuning talent to turn a rather mundane Scion iQ into a piece of racing art for the 2011 SEMA Auto Show. Fortunately, Scion found the right person in Michael Chang.

In turning the iQ into a wicked little racer, Chang enlisted the help of Evasive Motorsports in breaking some attitude to the iQ. A plethora of EM custom materials were used on the exterior, including fender flares, a vented, a Voltex GT wing and trunk mount, a carbon front lip, front splitter, side splitter, and rear diffuser. On top of that, the car was also fitted with Voltex carbon canards, a Wraptivo Matte White vehicle wrap with custom Red Pin striping, and a set of 17" Advan Racing RT wheels wrapped on Toyo R888 Racing R-Compound tires with a Wilwood 6-piston front and rear brake kit. Inside, the iQ-RS was dressed up EVO seats with 6-point, 3" racing harness, racing side mounts, a steering wheel, pedals, and a Weld-On quick release, all of which were sourced from Sparco. Then there are the custom parts, which Chang himself put into the car. There’s a carbon fiber door panel, a rear trunk panel, a 6-point roll cage, a carbon dash trim, a rally-style shifter, a carbon fiber center console, a warning indicator and toggle switch, and an 11" touch-screen display.

With all these modifications in tow, Chang and EM also modified the engine by putting an a carbon air induction box, a heat-shield with a gold thermal reflector, a custom transmission cooler with a carbon cover, and custom Koyo full-size radiator, among other things.

gallery: 2011 Scion iQ

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Scion iQ-RS by Michael Chang originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 29 October 2011 15:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/scion/2011-scion-iq-rs-by-michael-chang-ar118951.html

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Rockstar Games begins Grand Theft Auto 5 countdown

Posted on 10.29.2011 18:00 by Kirby Filed under: | car games | Car Games | Racing Games | XBox | Playstation 3 | Grand Theft Auto | Cars | Car News

In the annals of recent car video game history, games franchises like Gran Turismo, Need For Speed, and Forza Motorsport have etched their own cult followings for the remarkable realism and creativity of hardcore racing.

And on the other side of that is Grand Theft Auto.

Unlike the previous three titles, GTA is different in the sense that it’s not so much about full-throttle racing as it is about going through dirty missions and using whatever form of transportation as your accessory of destruction.

The franchise has given birth to four installments and die-hard fans of GTA - like ourselves - will be delighted to know that Rockstar Games, the brains behind it - is already working on Gran Theft Auto 5.

A release date for the game is still unknown at this point and for their part, Rockstar is milking every ounce of anticipation by publishing a countdown banner on their website that will eventually lead to the very first trailer of GTA5.

Ever since Grand Theft Auto was launched 14 years go, the title has sold more than 114 million copies, making it one of the most successful video game franchises in history. So what lies ahead for GTA5?

We’ll have to wait until November 2, 2011 to find out.

Rockstar Games begins Grand Theft Auto 5 countdown originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 29 October 2011 18:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/rockstar-games-begins-grand-theft-auto-5-countdown-ar119007.html

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Mac Audio Mini Clubman S

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/mac-audio-mini-clubman-s.html

Travis Kvapil Old Spice Office Depot Chevrolet Nicola Larini Jamie McMurray J.R Smith David Ragan

Toyota FT-86 Production Version Leaked

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/toyota-ft-86-production-version-leaked.html

Mikko Kozarowitzky Anthony Wayne Stewart Kevin Harvick Andrew Bynum Baron Davis Golden State Warriors

A Few Optimistic Lockout Links

Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/10/28/2521596/a-few-optimistic-lockout-links

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Video: Andy Richter on cross-country Chevy Sonic odyssey for Conan show

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Chevrolet

Andy Richter is piloting a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic from Burbank, California to New York City as part of a stunt for Conan O'Brien's self-titled late night talk show. It's officially been one year since Team Coco found a home on TBS, and to celebrate, the entire Conan crew is packing up for a special performance at the Beacon Theater in the Big Apple. While the rest of the crew is turning to the miracle of commercial flight for the trip east - including O'Brien himself - Richter is saddling up in the newest compact from Chevrolet for a three-day road trip across the continent.

Hilarity is bound to ensue. The Team Coco site has been configured to allow viewers to follow along with Richter's big Sonic adventure, and the comedian will also be tweeting along the way to keep everyone abreast of his progress. Keep an eye out for tweets with the hashtag #orangebullet. In the meantime, hit the jump to see O'Brien sending Richter off yourself.

Continue reading Andy Richter on cross-country Chevy Sonic odyssey for Conan show

Andy Richter on cross-country Chevy Sonic odyssey for Conan show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/28/andy-richter-on-cross-country-chevy-sonic-odyssey-for-conan/

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Range Rover Evoque by Merdad

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Mercedes F 125 Presentation

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Big Ten: Five Things I Can't Wait To See

Here are five storylines I look forward to following in the Big Ten this season:

1. How good can Ohio State be?

We know the Buckeyes are going to be good. Jared Sullinger is back. That's enough to guarantee a solid season at the very least. With Aaron Craft, William Buford and Deshaun Thomas all returning from last season's squad, as well, there's a fair amount of experience and continuity around the ultra-talented forward. That's enough to upgrade the Buckeyes to Big Ten favorite status.

That much seems given. The question is whether Ohio State can be truly great, whether it has the talent and cohesion to top the likes of North Carolina, Kentucky, Connecticut and any other challengers that arise in the next five months. Here, the questions are more valid. Can freshman center Amir Williams start alongside Sullinger and provide enough inside presence to allow Sullinger's expanded inside-out game to flourish? Will star freshman point guard Shannon Scott earn minutes alongside Craft and Buford, and how will that rotation work? Will Thomas -- one of the best players in Indiana high school history, who flashed loads of talent in limited time as a freshman -- emerge as the X factor swingman? And how do the Bucks replace fifth-year senior David Lighty's defense?

It's safe to assume Ohio State will be good. Very good? Sure. National-championship good? The above questions -- and others we don't yet know -- will determine that.

2. Illinois' search for identity

The 2010-11 Illinois team should have excelled. Instead, it was merely mediocre. At first glance, this season's team should take a step back: Three senior starters graduated, the most experienced returners have thus far been role players, and the rest of the squad is comprised of a host of freshmen and inexperienced sophomores. In the meantime, coach Bruce Weber is on something of a hot seat: Illinois fans are restless after last season's letdown, and probably for good reason.

Which makes the Illini's search for an identity all the more important. At Big Ten media day Thursday, Weber said he expected his team to be more aggressive. That'd be a good start; Weber's teams are at their best when they play a pressuring man-to-man style. That was missing last season. If Illinois can find it, it may not have to worry about taking a step backward. It may well move in the opposite direction.

3. Wisconsin's usual suspects

There was a lot of talk at Big Ten media day about underrating Wisconsin. It's a fair point. Every year, the Badgers lose a couple of key players, and every year, we're not sure how good they're going to be, and every year Bo Ryan's team is among the best in the Big Ten and not infrequently among the best in the nation. This season isn't all that different. The Badgers lost forwards Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil, their two most important frontcourt players, and the replacements aren't immediately clear. But if yours truly had to guess, he would say look out for Mike Bruesewitz. He's not a big name and his game won't land him on too many YouTube highlight reels, but it's never the flash that gets Wisconsin in the top 10.

4. Is this (finally) Northwestern's year?

Northwestern coach Bill Carmody is officially sick of the questions about the NCAA tournament. He admitted as much Thursday, when he lamented that he couldn't make it through the entire news conference without answering that question. Fat chance, Coach.

Still, there is some hope he won't have to deal with another year of the same questions. NU returns its two most talented players in 2011-12, one of which, John Shurna, could be the best quick-release long-range shooter in the country. Shurna dealt with nagging injuries for much of the stretch run last season. Meanwhile, Drew Crawford has morphed into a capable and versatile scorer. The Wildcats will have to deal with the loss of Michael "Juice" Thompson, their charismatic leader and late-game specialist.

The Cats have been knocking on the door, and the questions have become more pertinent than ever. Is this their time?

5. Is Iowa the dark-horse candidate?

The Big Ten is as wide open this season -- at least beyond Ohio State and Wisconsin, that is -- as at any point in the recent past. So the question is: Which previously struggling program, if any, can surprise the rest of the league? Candidates include Northwestern, Minnesota, Indiana and, I'd argue, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have one of the best post players in the league in Melsahn Basabe and a potential breakout wing player in Matt Gatens, and coach Fran McCaffery now has the benefit of a year's work with the same players in his high-pressure uptempo system. I'm not saying Iowa is going to the tournament, but as a slightly surprising sleeper? I can see it.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/37619/big-ten-five-things-i-cant-wait-to-see-2

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Cadillac CTS-V Le Monstre by D3 Group

Posted on 10.28.2011 20:00 by Kirby Filed under: Cadillac | coupe | SEMA Auto Show | sports cars | Cadillac CTS | car tuning | Cars | Car Reviews | Cadillac

The days when 1,000 horsepower cars were nothing more than myths and figments of our imagination are long gone. These days, they’re bringing thrown around like water balloons on a hot summer afternoon. Okay, it still doesn’t happen as often, but you get the point.

Over the past few days, we learned that two Cadillac CTS-V Coupes headed to the ultimate showcase of automotive excess, the SEMA Auto Show, will serve notice to the aftermarket industry that these bad boys are not be messed with. We already covered the V1000 Martin a few days ago so now it’s time for us to introduce the ’Le Monstre.’

As the work of the "D3 Group," the CTS-V Le Monstre takes its name from the 1950 Cadillac Coupe Series 61, a car that competed in the 24 Hours of LeMans way back when in the 50’s. Fast forward six decades later and the namesake will surely make its predecessor proud.

This Cadillac sports coupe was named ’Le Monstre’ for a reason, and that reason takes shape through a heavily modified 6.2-liter LSA V8 engine that was turned into 7.0-liter engine with matching upgraded internals. The result is a powertrain that packs a walloping 1,001 horsepower and 1,000 lb/ft of torque. Ay, caramba!

To allow the car to look and handle as well as it should given the significant spike in output, the D3 Group also gave the CTS-V Coupe a a stealthy Matte Black wrap courtesy of Wraptivo, a custom wide-body kit, an upgraded chassis and suspension system, and a new set of 20" wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes T1R UHP tires.

Talk about living up to your ’Le Monstre’ monicker.

gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

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Cadillac CTS-V Le Monstre by D3 Group originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 28 October 2011 20:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/cadillac/2011-cadillac-cts-v-le-monstre-by-d3-group-ar119039.html

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Three reasons for the new mood

Derek Fisher declared, "It gets tougher towards the end."

Adam Silver said "we remain apart on both" systems and economic issues. "So from that standpoint," he added, "we're disappointed."

But who will remember one more dose of gloom when, for the first time in a long time, it came with some sunshine.

David Stern and Billy Hunter started cracking smiles Thursday night.

Stern invaded Hunter's news conference and literally yukked it up from the back row.

Hunter spied him there and called him out with a grin. Their back-and-forth included each proclaiming to the other, "Tomorrow!"

It's the first time either side has been this jolly and the first time either side has declared a day as the day. Friday is the day, and no one's afraid to say it.

"There are no guarantees that we'll get it done," Stern said, "but we're going to give it one heck of a shot tomorrow. �I think that Billy and the union's negotiators feel the same way." He later added, in a notable softening of earlier public tones: "We're prepared to negotiate over everything. �We're looking forward to it."

We're looking forward to it? That does not sound one bit like war. What is the source of all this?

One part of the story is that federal mediator George Cohen was effective. While he was not able to inspire final consensus last week, he did force meaningful progress on several of the trickier issues.

Also, having blown through chances to prevent the lockout, the cancellation of the preseason and missing the first weeks of the regular season, both sides appear to be genuinely motivated to meet the next deadline, coming any day now, which is the latest possible day to make a deal while preserving the chance of an 82-game season.

A third contributing factor, according to multiple sources, has been the absence this week of one of the union's most feared negotiators, lawyer Jeffrey Kessler.

Owners make no bones of the fact that Kessler, the first name in American sports law, is a bear in the bargaining room.

Some point out that the NFL players got a deal only after Kessler left the room. (Kessler might point out that the NFL players didn't get the best deal.)

Much was made of Portland owner Paul Allen's appearance in last week's mediated session. The suggestion was that he was there to send a message that owners were holding a hard line.

NBA sources, however, say it was nothing of the sort. In fact, they say, he was there at the invitation of the NBA's negotiators to watch Kessler. Allen was one of several owners who thought Stern and Silver had made players an overly generous offer of 50 percent of basketball-related income. The league's lead negotiators essentially replied: Go see for yourself. You think you can get Kessler to go for 47 percent? Good luck to you.

In the ongoing dance between Hunter and NBA agents -- many of whom feel Hunter is soft, risk-averse or ineffective -- Kessler has been seen as something of a shield for Hunter. If a tough lawyer such as that will go for Hunter's deal, who are the agents to complain?

But that shield has been out of action and not, sources insist, because he is in the doghouse.

Kessler is a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he handles many kinds of complex litigation beyond sports and chairs the global litigation department. That work has taken him to Russia for a few days, a period that happens to coincide with Stern and Hunter remembering how to laugh.

The joke making the rounds is that politically connected Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov ought to have Kessler detained there.

What's not a joke, however, is that Kessler has been absent just two days, and for better or for worse, as far as the players are concerned, already there's anticipation of the announcement NBA fans have been craving for four months.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/32927/three-reasons-for-the-new-mood

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Icon Derelict '52 Chevy Business Coupe is unassuming masterpiece

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Specialty

Ladies and gentleman, this is what SEMA should be about. Behold the latest Icon Derelict; a 1952 Chevrolet Deluxe Business Coupe hiding a full arsenal of modern engineering beneath over half a century of patina.

The vehicle uses a complete powder-coated Art Morrison chassis with a front independent suspension and a four-link rear. An all-aluminum, fuel-injected 6.2-liter General Motors LS3 V8 sits between the frame rails and cranks out 430 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 4L65E automatic transmission and a full set of six-piston brakes with anti-lock control ensures that the whole party can come to a stop in a timely fashion. Despite looking like junkyard relics, the wheels are actually custom CNC-machined pieces shod in ZR-rated BF Goodrich rubber.

If the Coupe's mechanicals and exterior aren't enough to flip your switches, take a peek indoors. Both seats have been recovered in a combination of wild-caught alligator and buffalo hides(!) that have been dyed to the same Hermes hue as John F. Kennedy's briefcase. The carpet is Rolls-Royce Wilton wool bound in buffalo as well, and an Aston Martin vintage mohair headliner finishes out the indoors. An array of tech is also tastefully hidden away as well, including Focal and Parrot audio components with Bluetooth capability.

This sort of execution is so far above and beyond the typical restomod and tuner fodder we typically see from the SEMA crowd that it serves as a breath of fresh air. If you like what you see, Icon says that the company can do the same for nearly any vehicle from the '30s to the '70s.

Gentlemen, start your imaginations. The Icon Derelict 1952 Chevrolet Business Coupe will be on display at this year's SEMA show.

Icon Derelict '52 Chevy Business Coupe is unassuming masterpiece originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/28/icon-derelict-52-chevy-business-coupe-is-unassuming-masterpiece/

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Toyota FT-86 Production Version Leaked

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2012 BMW S1000RR

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