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10/28/11


Traffic accidents involving pedestrians are all too common but once in a while, you get your archetypal "please hit me" scam artist that will try anything to get something from you or better yet, your insurance company.

And truth is, unless there's a witness or two around, you'll either waste or have a pretty hard time proving your innocence. On the other hand, if you've installed a dashboard mounted camera on your car, an accident con can turn a nightmare scenario into a rather enjoyable 30 second clip.

Enter the world of the one of the worst fraudsters we've ever seen in action. Period. According to the person that uploaded the video, the incident took place somewhere in Korea. You can watch it right after the break.

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Warning: Meet the Worst Accident Scam Artist in the World [Video]


The Alfa Romeo 75 is remembered as the last rear-wheel drive sedan to be produced by the Milanese brand. Yet, its claim to glory is much bigger than that as the 75 underpinned one the most bizarre Alfa Romeos to date: the SZ.

Initially presented as a Zagato concept at the 1987 Geneva Motor Show, the ES30 (Experimental Sports 3.0-liter), as was its internal designation, debuted in production form at the same show two years later as the SZ, which stands for Sports Zagato.

And it caused quite a commotion, thanks to its angular styling and angry looks. Some 25 years later, the SZ's exterior styling is still divisive, but nevertheless, it does stand out from the crowd…

It was available in one trim level in a red color with a dark-grey roof and tan leather interior – save for one example finished in black that was built exclusively for Andrea Zagato himself.

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Il Monstro: 1990 Alfa Romeo SZ with 22,400 miles goes Under the Hammer


The Model S saloon that was previewed earlier this month in Beta form, the upcoming performance version of the same model as well as the RAV-4 EV that it will be produced in cooperation with Toyota, are not the only plans Tesla CEO Elon Musk has in mind for the Silicon Valley-based brand.

The company is also working on an EV crossover based on the Model S while Musk recently told Autocar magazine that Telsa is also planning to launch a BMW 3-Series rival and an all-new Roadster in 2014.

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Tesla CEO Confirms Plans to Launch All-New Roadster in 2014


We can't see what reporter Alison Ariotti from Australia's Nine Network was wearing during this live TV broadcast, but the…package must have been interesting enough to distract the driver of the black Mazda CX-7 SUV who zoom-zoomed his attention from the road and on to the young lady and as a result, collided with a Mazda parked behind her.

So the lesson here folks is that if you happen to stumble upon a TV crew filming in the side of the road, please keep your eyes where they should be…

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Raw Video: Driver, Beware of the Spicy Newscaster…


The first examples of Audi's A1 e-tron gasoline-electric hybrid project car hit the streets of Munich today as the German company in cooperation with E.ON and the public utility Stadtwerke Munchen and Technise Universitat Muncher initiated the trial program.

Audi has provided a fleet of 20 extended-range A1 e-tron electric vehicles, while E.ON and SWM have installed charging infrastructure both within the city limits and in surrounding areas.

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Audi Launches A1 e-tron Trial Program in Munich


Saab's parent company Swedish Automobile N.V. [Swan] said on Friday that it has agreed to sell the company to China's Pang Da and Youngman.

If the deal goes through, the Chinese will own Sweden’s car industry bar Koenigsegg as Volvo was sold to Geely in 2009 – admittedly at the much higher price of US$2 billion dollars than the €100 million (US$141.7 million) Pang Da and Youngman are willing to pay for acquiring 100% of Saab Automobile and Saab GB shares.

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China's Pang Da and Youngman Agree to Buy Saab for €100 million and Save it from Bankruptcy

10/27/11


You may think that it's extremely difficult to flip over a heavy machine like a tank, but that's because you haven't seen these army guys in action. And yes, they managed the unthinkable while trying to place the vehicle on a special truck bed for transportation.

Watch the video for yourself right after the break.

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Army Fail: How to Flip Over a Tank


Ohio police officers were engaged in a high-speed chase earlier this month when 28-year-old Erin B. Holdsworth failed to stop after cops clocked her going 110mph (177km/h) along Route 422 in Bainbridge on October 11.

The young woman reached speeds of up to 128mph (206km/h) before police officers made use of stingers to puncture two of Holdsworth's tires and bring the chase to a stop.

And here's where the story takes a strange twist. Upon stopping her car on the side of the road, the young woman came out obviously drunk wearing nothing more than a…pair of sneakers and a G-string! The scene was captured by a dash-mounted police camera.

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Police Pursuit Drunk, Topless Gal in a G-String going 128MPH in Ohio [Video]


Earlier this week, Saab announced that it was terminating the deal with Chinese companies Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co., since their bridge loan that would help the Swedish automaker survive in the short term did not materialize in the agreed period.

Yet the two Chinese companies that provided only part of the €70 million (US$ 95.4 million) loan and which recently offered to buy 100% of Saab’s shares, say that the €240 million (US$340 million) July agreement is still on the table.

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China's Youngman and Pang Da Say Saab Deal is Still On

10/26/11


Have you ever heard about Audi's 360o design philosophy? Well, allow us to explain with an example. In its more recent incarnation, it goes something like this: the latest A4 [B8] provided the styling guidelines for the creation of the new 2011MY A8 which itself inspired the design of the new 2012MY A6, which has now become the inspiration for the updated A4…

So that probably gives you an idea about the styling changes for the 2013MY Audi A4 in both sedan and Avant forms as well as its S4 and A4 Allroad Quattro siblings.

In a similar fashion to the recently updated A5/S5 models, the refreshed A4s gain Audi's new six-point grille and sharper looking headlamps with LED daytime running lights that form a narrow band, redesigned front and rear bumpers, plus tweaked tail lights that reflect the shape of the head lights and come with LED strips.

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Audi Presents Facelifted Versions of 2013MY A4, A4 Allroad and S4 Models


Now that didn't take long, did it? No sooner than BMW revealed the sixth-generation of its 3-Series saloon and the first camouflaged prototypes of the coupe model have hit the streets of Germany to begin their final stages of testing.

For those of you confused with our title, unconfirmed reports citing insider sources claim that BMW is contemplating the use of odd numbers for its family models such as sedans and station wagons and even numbers for its sportier vehicles like the X6 and the two door version of the 3-Series, which may be named 4-Series.

BMW had toyed around with the idea in the past but it never came to fruition. We still don't know for sure if the next 3-Series Coupe will be renamed or not.

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First Spy Shots of 2013 BMW 3-Series Coupe or New 4-Series

10/25/11


As you probably should already know by now, not everything you see and read on Youtube is real. One recent example was a video showing a new Lexus IS F being crushed, and which many websites rushed to adopt the poster's unfounded claims that it was destroyed for street racing by California authorities.

Today, we stumbled upon two more clips, one allegedly showing a man cutting off a parking meter with a saw after receiving a ticket, and another with an Abrams tank destroying an Aston Martin coupe.

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Fake Videos of the Day: Tank Crashes Aston Martin & Mad Man Cuts Off Parking Meter

[2010 Honda Fit EV Study pictured above]

The 2012 CR-V won't be the only brand-new production model from Honda to make its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16th as the Japanese automaker announced that the 2013 Fit EV will also be displayed in final form.

Honda had presented a thinly disguised concept of the Fit EV exactly a year ago at the 2010 edition of the LA Show. The production variant of the pure-electric Fit will be closely modeled after last year's study and is expected to keep its lithium-ion battery and coaxial electric motor.

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Honda to Debut Production Versions of Pure-Electric Fit and 2012 CR-V in Los Angeles


A rescue attempt to save a Lexus ES300 that was on the verge of sinking into a lake in Russia had the opposite effect when the tow straps holding the car snapped off leading the Japanese model into the water.

We can’t confirm this, but the person who uploaded the video on Youtube says that the Lexus sedan was parked too close to the water and the driver couldn't get out.

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In Russia, Saving a Lexus ES300 Means Drowning it… [Video]

10/24/11


Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is upbeat about the way the automotive industry is heading, despite the fact that the economic crisis that threatens Europe is far from over.

In fact, during the recent launch of the electric versions of theRenault Fluence and Kangoo in Portugal last Friday, Ghosn predicted that 2012 will be a record year for car sales worldwide surpassing 2011's volumes.

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Carlos Ghosn Says 2012 will be a Record Sales Year, Bets Heavily on EVs


Most people tend to freak out after an accident with their cars even if there are no fatalities or injuries, but not Mr. Roberto Ricci, who had the misfortune of wrecking his prized Aston Martin Rapide sports saloon during a joy ride.

If you see Ricci's super cool reaction after the crash, you'd think that the Rapide suffered only a few minor scratches, when reality is that the car was brutally bashed / borderline repairable write-off.

The incident occurred in late July when Ricci, who is the founder and owner of RRD, makers of surfboards, windsurfs, sails and kites, took Dave White, editor of Mpora, for a quick ride in his Rapide after a guided tour of his company's facilities in Italy.

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Watch an Aston Martin Rapide Crash Filmed from the Inside


Over the past few months, Thailand has been hit with some of its worst floods in the past 50 years that have affected close to 3 million people leaving more than 300 people dead. Today, the floodwaters reached the outskirts of the country's capital city of Bangkok.

Many residents have already been warned to move to higher ground and secure their belongings, including their cars. Regarding their vehicles, the state and private sectors have provided safe spaces for around 70,000 cars, but that's a drop in the ocean of Bangkok's estimated 4.6 million vehicles.

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Bangkok Drivers Park Their Cars by the Thousands on Highways to Protect them from Floods [Video]


October has been a very bad month indeed for motorsport. Only one week after former IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon was killed in a 15-vehicle pileup at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, tragedy struck again, this time at the Moto GP race in Malaysia.

It was only the second round of the race at the Sepang track when Marco Simoncelli lost control of his Honda bike and fell on the tarmac. For unknown reasons, his helmet came off when he was struck by Colin Edwards on a Yamaha and compatriot Valentino Rossi on a Ducatti, both of which were very close and could not avoid the unlucky Italian rider.

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Tragedy Strikes MotoGP as Marco Simoncelli Dies in Sepang Race Accident [Video]


The next generation of the BMW Group's most important volume model, the brand-new 3-Series sedan, made its world premiere in Munich a fortnight ago ahead of its global sales launch in February of 2012.

Today, the Bavarian automaker announced the first details on the ad campaign for the new premium saloon that makes its debut online through BMW's websites and Facebook pages with print media and TV to follow at the beginning of February.

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"Sporting Passion" Theme Takes Center Role in BMW's Campaign for the New 3-Series Sedan


Not a day passes by without Some news from Saab. On Sunday, the parent company of Saab, Swedish Automobile N.V. (Swan), announced that, effective immediately, it terminates the subscription agreement of July 2011 with Pang Da and Youngman.

The Chinese companies were supposed to provide a bridge loan to help Saab proceed with the restructuring plan approved by the Swedish court. Ten days ago, the Swedish company announced that it received the first installment with the next expected on October 22.

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Saab’s Groundhog Day: Chinese Want 100%, Original Deal is Off but Talks Will Continue

10/21/11


Some of you may remember a video of a 1:4 scale R/C model truck pulling a Nissan SUV that we showed you back in April. However, at the time, we didn't know anything about the build. As it turns out, there is so much more than meets the eye with this amazing remote-controlled lorry.

First of all, it isn’t just another of those expensive toys you can buy online but a custom creation made by an Italian named Bordin Luca.

It all began when Luca saw a man driving a model truck on an online video. Being an avid fan of American trucks and especially the Peterbilt 359, Luca decided to build one for himself. And as so often happens in these stories, one thing lead to another and it became a larger than life project.

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Amazing Custom Built 1:4 Scale Peterbilt Radio Controlled Truck that can Haul a Real Car!


General Motors has been the market leader in China for the past six years, selling cars under the Baojung, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jiefang, Opel and Wuling brands.

On October 17, the Detroit maker it announced that it sold more than 2 million vehicles in the world’s largest car market since January 1st. This is the second consecutive year that GM manages to top the 2 million mark in China, only this time it achieved it a little earlier than 2010, when it happened on November 4.

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GM Sells More than 2 Million Vehicles in China for 2nd Year in a Row

10/20/11


Just yesterday, Fisker sold the first example of its Karma extended-range hybrid sedan after receiving the necessary EPA certification - though the mpg numbers weren't exactly what the company hoped for…

Despite the delay, Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder of the company, insists that the Karma will reach its sales target for 2011, which is a rather optimistic 7,000 units.

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Fisker Says Karma will Reach its 2011 Sales Target, Pushes Back Production of $50k Nina to Mid-2013


The dramatic Saab roller-coaster continues to painfully drag on with good and bad news for the brand. But let's take it in chronologically order.

This morning, Saab's parent company Swedish Automobile N.V. (Swan) said it has accepted new funding from U.S. private-equity group North Street Capital, which is interested in Spyker.

The equity firm is paying US$10 million for 2.39 million new shares Swan while also providing a further US$60 million as a loan that will be "collateralized by a first lien on certain assets of Saab Automobile as well as a second lien on the collateral as pledged to NDO".

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Saab Receives Funding from Spyker Buyer but not from Chinese Partners, Administrator Proposes to Terminate Reorganization


French carmaker Peugeot has released its third new model into the Chinese market in the last eighteen months, the 308 compact sedan, which made its debut at the at the Chengdu Motor Show in mid-September this year.

Manufactured locally in cooperation with Peugeot's Chinese partner Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the new 308 Sedan joins the carmaker's extended offerings in the C-segment that also include the 307 and 408 saloons.

Peugeot said that with the new launch, it intends to strengthen its presence within the very competitive category, with a full year sales target of 60,000 units.

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Peugeot Launches New 308 Sedan in China [47 Photos]

10/19/11


Even though Fisker delivered the first examples of its new Karma sedan last month, these were used purely as demo vehicles since Fisker’s extended-range plug-in hybrid hadn’t received the required Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification.

With this final hurdle now behind, Fisker announced today that it sold its first $97,000 Karma. “With receipt of EPA certification in hand, we have achieved a major milestone by recording the first sales of our groundbreaking Karma sedan”, said an exuberant Henrik Fisker who is the CEO and founder of the company.

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Fisker Karma Rated at just 52 MPGe by EPA, Records its First Sales


Figuratively speaking, there are many things one may expect to fall from the sky but somehow we didn't think a dirt bike would make the list. Up until now, that is.

Unluckily for this young lady that was out walking her dog along with a friend, a motorcycle did come crashing down on her, not from the sky but from several feet above the ground.

We don't know if this was a private dirt trail and the woman somehow wondered inside the path or if the biker was at fault for using the track. In any case, swoop down to watch the clip.

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Video: Beware of the Flying Dirt Bike


On Wednesday, Lancia made its new Thema sedan available in the European market.

The Italian firm's first full-size saloon model after the ill-fated Thesis was discontinued in 2009, is one of two models to emerge from the alliance between Lancia and Chrysler, the other one being the Town & Country-based Voyager MPV.

The Thema is in essence a Chrysler 300 wearing Lancia badges and as such, it was an easy and cheap solution for the Fiat Group to expand Lancia's range upwards without sinking valuable resources into the brand that was once famous for its achievements in the World Rally scene.

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New Lancia Thema Sedan Available in Europe [Gallery with 67 Photos]


Most people around the world know Holden for building the 2000s Monaro coupe and Commodore sedans but the Australian company that became a GM subsidiary in 1931 has a rich history that goes well beyond those two models.

In 1969, the Melbourne-headquartered automaker presented its first ever concept model, the Hurricane, codenamed RD 001. It was a futuristic research vehicle described by the company at the time as an experiment “to study design trend, propulsion systems and other long-range developments”.

Some four decades years after it captured the headlines at the 1969 Melbourne Motor Show, and Holden decided it was time to restore the historic concept back to its original condition and showcase it to the public once again.

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Holden Goes Back to the Future to Restore its First Concept Model, the 1969 Hurricane

10/18/11


It's a real pain in the you-know-what if you crash someone else's car let alone if you're a freelance writer that just ditched a $530k Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 that had been given to you for a test drive.

And that's exactly what happened to Thomas Glavinic, a writer that was helping out Austrian car magazine Autorevue with their annual supercar test.

We’ve already covered the incident extensively in previous posts, but today, Carscoop reader Raphael from Vienna pointed us to a new video from Autorevue that includes the scene of the Aventador crash that took place in Italy in late August.

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Video Footage from the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Crash in Italy