Autoblog

VIDEO: Australian Yaris ad gets banned for being raunchy

Noah Joseph — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, Australia, Humor

"Clean Getaways" - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Controversy's rearing its tawdry head Down Under as a Toyota film contest has got some laughing, others crying foul play. The Clever Film Competition solicited contestants to come up with 30-second commercial clips for the Toyota Yaris, awarding $7000 (well, Australian dollars anyway) to the winning entry. And while the rules stated that the entries cannot be "immoral" or "contain any obscene language," one contestant evidently felt the boundaries ought to be pushed a little. And the judges evidently agreed.

The winning entry - entitled "Clean Getaways" - portrays a young Yaris driver picking up his date and encountering her father at the door. The exchange between them is packed with more innuendo than a porn star's Lamborghini, and though Toyota's local spokesman says they're not distancing themselves from the clip, public outcry has resulted in it being pulled from the contest website. Fortunately, we've got it posted after the jump for your enjoyment... just don't watch it with the boss hovering around. Or the wife, for that matter. On second thought, better watch it when no one's around. But watch it just the same. Cheers to Mark and Oleg for the tips!

[Sources: news.com.au; Toyota via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Australian Yaris ad gets banned for being raunchy

VIDEO: Australian Yaris ad gets banned for being raunchy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Australian Transport Accident Commission celebrates 20 years of disturbing commercials

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Videos, Australia

Don't drink and drive - Click above to view the video after the jump

Years ago when we were in drivers ed watching either Blood on the Highway or Red Asphalt -- the two gore-filled negative education films from the early 1970s that tried to scare us stright -- the cheerleader seated in front of us cold passed out. Just flopped right on the floor. It had to have been the scene where the camera arrives on the scene of a motorcycle wreck and, well, let's just say the poor rider needed an new knee. But as blood and guts infused as those films were, they can't even hold an emergency room candle to the carnage taking place on Australian television.

This film is a "best of" from 20 years of Transport Accident Commission films. And man... Notice how we didn't pass out during drivers ed? We have an iron stomach. That said, this video gets to be a little much. There's just so much non-stop carnage... The video almost makes us care less about drinking and driving than it does the perils of watching blood-infused video clips. Almost.

Here's what our Aussie tipster Casey had to say about the video, "Celebrating' 20 years of TAC TV advertisements, this once-only three-minute clip was shown on all free-to-air TV networks once on December 10 2009. It's a collage of their work over the 20 years and the graphic scenes put to air. It's an excellent (and chilling) viewing." Agreed, you're going see high production values and even higher casualty rates. Watch the video - if you have the stomach for it - after the jump.

[Source: Colorbus]

Continue reading VIDEO: Australian Transport Accident Commission celebrates 20 years of disturbing commercials

VIDEO: Australian Transport Accident Commission celebrates 20 years of disturbing commercials originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Holden-based, RWD 2012 Chevy SS coming after all?

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet, Holden, Australia, Rumormill

Chevrolet Lumina SS (Middle East edition) - Click above for high-res image gallery

If it's Monday, there must be a big, rear-wheel drive Chevrolet four-door coming soon. Tuesday? We'll retract and deny everything. We know, we know. We also know we just reported that the next Chevy Impala will remain front-wheel drive - but check this out. We've been hearing rumors for some time now, that despite whatever Fritz Henderson has to say on the matter, a high-performance version of General Motors' Zeta platform that underpins the Pontiac G8 will live on as a Chevy SS model, either badged as a Caprice or (more likely) an Impala. And we're not talking the police special. As Maximum Bob has said, the G8 is "Kinda too good to waste." Needless to say, we totally agree.

An eagle-eye'd AB reader named Jim just caught the following on a Pontiac G8 forum:

"My dealer had sent off pictures to GM of the cable portion of the front seats belts rubbing against the plastic on the side of the front seats. In an email sent back to the dealer, GM says that they have no plans to solve what has already been built but going forward a correction is planned. The email continues: ...a fix is planned for MY11.5 Chevy Police Program and MY12 Chevy SS. The fix will involve a protective sleeve that covers the buckle and section of the buckle stem that rubs on the plastic trim."

How 'bout them apples? That might normally be a sliver of a sliver of a rumor, but it exactly what what we've heard independently from a reliable source - and it brings a great big smile to our face. Now, repeat after us, LS3 with six-speed manual, LS3 with six-speed manual, LS3 with six-speed manual... Thanks a million, Jim!

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Lumina SS (Middle East)

[Source: G8 Board]

Rumormill: Holden-based, RWD 2012 Chevy SS coming after all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parts Imitating Life: Sculptor uses car parts to make cars... and animals

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Australia, UK, Design/Style

James Corbett's car parts art - Click above for image gallery

One man's junk is... well, you know. Watching the shiny metal grommets roll through his auto recycling plant in Brisbane, Australia, James Corbett doesn't appear to know the word "junk" when it comes to cars. He takes all of those leftover bits and makes superbly detailed sculptures of mostly vintage racers and, of all things, animals. None of the parts are bent or altered to help make the pieces, either. Corbett even built a full-size car out of parts and stuck a flathead V8 in it, and he still takes it racing.

Corbett has an exhibit coming up in London this month and then takes his show to Palm Desert, CA next year. If you don't get a chance to see the real things, we suggest you have a well-worth-it look at the images in our gallery below.

Gallery: James Corbett's Car Parts Art

[Source: James Corbett via Pistonheads]

Parts Imitating Life: Sculptor uses car parts to make cars... and animals originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011

Chris Paukert — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Work, Ford, Australia, Specialty

In a surprise move, Ford has announced that it will pursue the development of an all-new Police Interceptor model. The move comes on the heels of General Motors' announcement that it plans to challenge the Crown Victoria's law enforcement dominance with its own heavy-duty Chevrolet Caprice sedan.

Details are slim, but Ford says the forthcoming PI will arrive in 2011 and it will sport durability, safety, and performance parameters that are superior to that of the Jurassic Panther-platform Crown Vic. Given the relatively tight timeframe and durability targets, we have to assume that the replacement cop car could be based on the rear-drive Australian-market Ford Falcon shown above. The Blue Oval promises that the car will be engineered and built in America, so it could also be an Ecoboost version of the Ford Taurus (as seen in the SHO), but front-drive cars have had trouble meeting the durability and cost requirements of police duty in the past, making this something of an open question. In an official release posted after the jump, Ford says it will disclose full vehicle specs in the first quarter of 2010, which should give enough time for both law enforcement and police vehicle equipment manufacturers to prepare for the changeover.

Ford says it presently shifts about 45,000 of the 60,000 police cars sold in the States each year, so it makes sense that Dearborn would not be willing to cede this market to Chevy's Caprice and the already established Dodge Charger.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011

BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naked Australians reportedly arrested at car wash

Noah Joseph — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:26:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Australia

Nudity? Car wash? Sounds pretty hot, right? That's what we thought too, until we read the full story.

According to reports from Down Under, a group of four men (two aged 19 and two aged 23) and their girlfriends pulled up on Sunday at the Smart Wash car wash in Biloela, Queensland, Australia. They paid for the service, left their cars outside, took off their clothes and soaped up in the station while their special lady friends snapped photos.

Police were called to the scene halfway through the "happening" and charged the men with indecent exposure and public nuisance - two charges which we just assumed didn't apply to Australians, whether at home or abroad. The four dudes are scheduled to explain themselves before the magistrate next month, but when you consider all that could've gone wrong with all those brushes and pressure washers in proximity to certain dangly bits, we'd think that would've been the least of their worries.

[Source: KCRA Sacramento | Image: Heather Faulkner/AFP/Getty]

Naked Australians reportedly arrested at car wash originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Australia to wage crushing war on 'monkey bikes'

Chris Shunk — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Australia, Motorcycle

Attention Australian mini bike riders: law enforcement is going all "iron fist" on your preferred method of transportation. The mini bikes, often referred to locally as "monkey bikes" are a big problem in South Australia, reportedly causing several deaths and numerous injuries. The bikes, which can reach speeds of 70 km/h (42 mph), are already outlawed, but now Drive is reporting that Attorney-General Michael Atkinson is amending the law to give law enforcement the authority to crush the bikes and charge fines of up to $5,000 AUD. That's a lot of coin to ride a bike that makes you look like a total dork.

Atkinson says the bikes look harmless, but "they are actually dangerous for riders, pedestrians, other vehicles on the road and other people using parks and open spaces." The primate bikes, which we don't believe are actually driven by monkeys (koalas, perhaps?), do not comply with Australian vehicle safety standards or design rules.

We've actually tried these mini bikes before, and while they're a lot of fun, we can see why they are dangerous. They're hard for other motorists to see, and we've noticed that a lot of parents letting their 10-15 year-old children ride them around the suburbs. Probably not a good idea.

[Source: Drive | Image: Monkeybike UK]

REPORT: Australia to wage crushing war on 'monkey bikes' originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Mad Max emerges from Thunderdome on Fury Road

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:40:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Australia, Celebrities

It costs too much money to make all those original Hollywood flops that no one pays to see, so new movie news these days is mostly a succession of "We're rebooting/remaking/doing a sequel for [insert any movie made before this year]." So even though Paranormal was shot for $10,000 and made $22 million last weekend, the big news is Mad Max is going the Rocky route, coming in for episode four: Mad Max: Fury Road.

For all of us who do want another hero and do want to know the way home, Mad Max probably won't be him or show us this time around. The project doesn't have studio backing yet, just the franchise's producer, $100 million, and a tentative production date of next year. Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation) and Charlize Theron (really?) are rumored to be tied to the project. Mad Max with a big budget and big stars sounds like a mad mess, but at least it will give us an overdue reason to shout "You can run... but you can't hide!" Hat tip to Richard.

[Source: Auto Focus | Image: Warner Bros.]

REPORT: Mad Max emerges from Thunderdome on Fury Road originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Right-hand drive Camaro available in Australia for a measly $128,500 USD

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Australia

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - click above image for hi-res gallery

For years and years, avid American car enthusiasts thought of a certain Holden as the Holy Grail. In hushed tones and with furtive looks, we let each other know that, yeah, the BMW E39 M5 is pretty dang sweet, but there's this Australian car... a four-door with a six-speed and a Corvette motor... and it's... dare we say it... better? However, it remained a piece of Automotive apocrypha not only because we couldn't have it, but because no one could remember the name (HSV GTS, of all the nonsensical, alphabet soup letter combos Holden could have selected).

We mention the legendary HSV GTS because Australian Camaro fans might now be experiencing what us muscle car-starved Yanks went through at the beginning of the decade -- withdrawal! Because not only are there are no right-hand drive Camaros (Aussies still insist on pretending they're British/Japanese), but the 2010 update to the original Mustang competitor is based almost totally on native Holden underpinnings. Ouch!

But fear not, Performax International has figured out how to move the steering wheel to the opposite side of the transmission tunnel and will sell those of you living in the Land Down Unda a right-hand drive Camaro SS for just $139,000 AUD. That's $128,500 U.S. American dollars to you and me. Which is... psychotic, says us. Especially considering that in America, a Camaro SS costs $33,745. But despite what we think, half a dozen customers have already placed orders with Performax International for a Aussie-spec'd Camaro.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

[Source: Carscoop]

Right-hand drive Camaro available in Australia for a measly $128,500 USD originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: New Toyota Prius ad channels Vishnu to explain hybrid tech

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:22:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, Australia

Australian Toyota Prius advertisement - Click above to watch the video after the break

What do you want from me... I've only got two hands?! Wouldn't we all be a bit more productive if we were blessed with another set of upper appendages, complete with opposable thumbs? Toyota apparently thinks so, and the Japanese automotive giant is using the point to prove that two drivetrains are better than one.

Of course, the two drivetrains in question belong to the new 2010 Toyota Prius, which mates an electric motor capable of powering the car by its lonesome (albeit briefly) and a small, efficient gas-burning 1.8-liter four cylinder internal combustion engine in one happy marriage to produce the perfect hybrid. Or something like that.

Click past the break to watch the advertisement for the new 2010 Prius in Australia. Oh, and Vishnu? Click here for an explanation of the title reference. Thanks for the tip, Mark C!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: New Toyota Prius ad channels Vishnu to explain hybrid tech

VIDEO: New Toyota Prius ad channels Vishnu to explain hybrid tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Australian racing fans limited to just 24 beers per day

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Australia

Bathurst 1000 fan enjoying a coldie during The Great Race

You know what's not aces? When you're just trying to drink a little amber fluid and watch the Bathurst 1000 and the man treats you like a total bogan. What business is it of his how many coldies you drink when it's time to hit the turps? This makes us so mad we could eat a trough lolly! No doubt a pommy bastard thunk this 'un up...

And that marks the end of our silly attempt to sound Australian. However, it does not end our amusement over the fact that Australian officials have set a 24-beer per day limit on fans attending the Bathurst 1000. As in, you are allowed to drink 24 beers, but not 25. Cause you know, there's a huge difference. Why are they enacting this draconian alcohol policy? To cut down on booze-related crime of course.

If you don't know, the Bathurst 1000 is known in the Land Down Under as "The Great Race." Only V8 Supercars are allowed to compete. These days in Australia V8 Supercars consist of either the Holden Commodore or the Ford Falcon. That's it. Thousands of blokes and sheilas turn up in the town of Bathurst to watch the cars run, and turns out they like drinking.

Says police assistant commissioner Alan Clarke, "This is one of the greatest motorsport events in Australia and for some it is a pilgrimage that they make every year... Every year thousands of race fans attend and enjoy the event and Police will not allow their safety to be compromised by a drunken few." So there you have it. Drink your 24 beers, keep your nose clean and you shouldn't have any trouble. Oh, if you drink low- or medium-strength beer, the cops will let you have up to 36. Sweet! Hat tip to Bumbeck.

[Source: Reuters | Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty]

REPORT: Australian racing fans limited to just 24 beers per day originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Zeta-based Chevy "G8" police car to be unveiled Monday

John Neff — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Pontiac, Holden, Police/Emergency, Australia

The Pontiac G8 has not deserved its lot in life, and despite the Australians trying to steal it back with the debut of two special edition Holdens that look awfully similar, this rear-wheel-drive sport sedan will find one way or another to stay on sale in the U.S. Unfortunately, its customers won't be the general public since General Motors, after a few crossed wires, has decided not to let the G8 live on as the Chevrolet Caprice. No, the G8's new audience will be the po-po, as in law enforcement.

We've been telling you about GM's plan to introduce a G8-based cop car for some time, and all evidence points to Monday as the cruiser's official debut at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in Denver, CO. While GM has not technically confirmed that the G8 will form the underpinnings of this new police package, the Zeta platform on which the G8 is based is the only RWD one large enough to accommodate a pair of officers and their collars. In other words, we don't expect GM to unveil a Kappa-based Pontiac Solstice police cruiser next week, as cool as that might be. So keep your eyes and ears peeled on Monday. The cops are coming and they'll be driving a G8.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd, Photo by Tom Worthington]

REPORT: Zeta-based Chevy "G8" police car to be unveiled Monday originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pontiac G8 resurfaces in Australia as a pair of special-edition Holdens

Noah Joseph — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:42:00 EST

Filed under: Pontiac, Holden, Australia

Holden VE Commodore SS V-Series Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Holden giveth, and Holden taketh away. While we're still mourning the departure of the Pontiac G8 here in the U.S., the General's Australian subsidiary - whose Commodore gave birth to the G8 in the first place - has just announced a pair of special editions that seem to take back what we've lost.

The Holden VE Commodore SS V-Series Special Edition - available in sedan, Sportwagon and Ute body-styles - ditches the Australian brand's usual grille in favor of a twin nostril front end with a splitter down low and a pair of hood scoops up top. Look familiar? It's a Pontiac G8 GT, only without the Pontiac emblem. They just wiped the arrowhead off with a tissue like it was an errant booger. There's also the...um, sophisticated-sounding International Special Edition that packs AUS $7,500 of optional equipment, including leather interior and 18-inch alloys, into the ~~Pontiac~~ Commodore with the 3.0-liter direct injection V6 and six-speed auto, a.k.a. the Pontiac G8 V6.

You can read more about the pair in the press release after the jump. But all you really need to know is that the prisoner of GM's war on spending wasn't put to death, it was just sent off to Australia until the parts supply runs out. Press release after the jump, arrowhead-free high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Holden VE Commodore SS V-Series Special Edition

[Source: Holden]

Continue reading Pontiac G8 resurfaces in Australia as a pair of special-edition Holdens

Pontiac G8 resurfaces in Australia as a pair of special-edition Holdens originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Toyota trucks - Nothing soft gets in

Dan Roth — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, Australia

Click above to view the video after the jump

Toyota made plenty of noise with the beefy commercials that launched the latest Tundra, but since then, it's been relatively quiet from the "Oh, what a feeling!" guys and gals.

Thankfully, there's Australia. For the AU market, Toyota's agency has whipped up a witty campaign that depicts our kind of land, and our kind of trucks. This "Nothing Soft Gets In" spot shows a particularly strict bunch of border patrol guards that dispose of poodles and disallow the tying of a sweater around one's neck. Awesome. Watching a bunch of Oz-market Toyota Prados being used for more than mall duty is equally entertaining, too. Check it out for yourself, after the jump.

[Source: Toyota via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Toyota trucks - Nothing soft gets in

VIDEO: Toyota trucks - Nothing soft gets in originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evo-lved 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander shows up Down Under

Alex Nunez — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Mitsubishi, Australia

2010 Mitsubishi Outlander - Click above image to view in high-res

When Mitsubishi showed off the Evo-schnozzed Outlander GT Prototype at the New York Auto Show last April, it was pretty obvious that what we were seeing was a lightly-"conceptified" version of the next production car. Well, that's officially been confirmed, as the next-generation Outlander made its debut in Australia last week. Yep, there's the gaping maw up front. Frankly, the Outlander looked fine to us before; this expansion of the Lancer Evo design language to the compact SUV seems forced and unnecessary. Oh well, it'll at least get people talking. Whether they say nice things is another matter. Between this and the arrival (finally) of the Lancer Sportback, perhaps Mitsu stores will see an uptick in much-needed foot traffic. The full rundown of changes to the new Outlander (at least in Aussie-spec) is in the lengthy press release pasted after the jump.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading Evo-lved 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander shows up Down Under

Evo-lved 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander shows up Down Under originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aussie Envy: HSV E Series 2 lineup unveiled

Alex Nunez — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Truck, Wagon, GM, Holden, Australia

The HSV E Series 2 lineup - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Just as wounds from the Pontiac G8 being ripped from us are beginning to scar over, HSV has torn them open anew by revealing version 2.0 of its Commodore-based E Series lineup. It's facelifts all around for the gang of Aussie stoplight brawlers, four of which - The GTS, Maloo R8, ClubSport R8 and ClubSport R8 Tourer - even get the erstwhile Poncho's twin-scoop hood. The more luxurious Senator Signature and long-wheelbase Grange models have smooth hoods and less overall ornamentation. Either one would have made a sublime performance Buick, but oh well...

The most extreme looker of the bunch is the range-topping HSV GTS (front and center), which rocks a vicious Fu-Manchu blackout treatment on its new front fascia. All of the cars get new wheels, LED running lights, and new treatments out back as well. Every HSV machine also has an LS3 V8 pumping out 317 kW (425 hp), except the GTS - its LS3 makes 325 kW (435 hp). To further drive home the point, 317 or 325 badging is prominently displayed on the back of the GTS, Maloo, and the two ClubSports so that other drivers have a better understanding of why their doors just got blown off. The Corvette's new launch control system is on every manual gearbox-equipped car, and a manual is standard equipment on all of them but the Grange, which is only sold with a six-speed auto. Finally, new "SV Enhanced" options such as upgraded wheels, bi-modal exhaust, and, in the case of the GTS, 6-pot front brakes let drivers trick things out even further.

It's basically a massive laundry list of good stuff we'll probably never ever see in the U.S. now that GM leadership has put a bullet into the whole North American Zeta sedan idea once and for all. Obviously, this rots. Follow the jump for the official HSV press release and have a gander at the new cars in the gallery below. The photos are all labeled so you know which car is which. That way you'll know precisely what it is that we're missing out on.

Gallery: HSV E Series 2 Lineup

[Source: HSV]

Continue reading Aussie Envy: HSV E Series 2 lineup unveiled

Aussie Envy: HSV E Series 2 lineup unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They Come From a Land Down Under: Australian V8 Supercars join in on the Forza 3 action

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Toys/Games, Australia

Forza Motorsport 3 Australian V8 Supercars screen shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Whatever kind of cars you're into, Forza 3 looks like it'll have you covered. The XBox 360 driving game from Turn 10 Studios is quickly emerging to be the best simulator yet, packed with four hundred cars from fifty automakers on a hundred different tracks.

We've recently brought you screen shots and gameplay video footage of some of the most tantalizing machinery under the sun on Forza's virtual circuits - from American muscle cars and sport-utes to Bugattis and Japanese Super GTs - and now Turn 10 has announced a partnership with race organizers Down Under to include Australian V8 Supercars into the game as well. The additional car selection boils down to Holden Commodore VEs and Ford Falcons in a variety of actual liveries, so if you can't make it half way around the world to see the Aussie touring cars go wheel to wheel, you'll soon be able to drive them (virtually) at home. Check out the fresh batch of screen shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Forza 3 Australian V8 Supercars screen shots

[Source: Forzacentral]

They Come From a Land Down Under: Australian V8 Supercars join in on the Forza 3 action originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Preproduction Chevrolet Camaro Convertibles spotted at plant

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Chevrolet, Australia

2010 Chevy Camaro Convertible -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Camaro5 forum member isszy caught shots of eight freshly minted Camaro convertibles in Australia. Spotted outside the Holden factory in Fisherman's bend, Melbourne, the poster said they all appeared to be left-hand-drive.

The tan-and-silver color combination isn't one we would have thought of - the black-roofed guy at the end is much more like it - but the roofline itself looks very good. The last we were informed by GM, the car should arrive next year as a 2011 model. Hat tip to Tim!

Gallery: Camaro Convertibles at the Melbourne Factory

[Source: GM Inside News]

Spy Shots: Preproduction Chevrolet Camaro Convertibles spotted at plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ultimate Crossover: Samoa's plan to switch to left-hand traffic sparks motorist unrest [w/VIDEO]

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Australia

Samoan traffic switches sides -- Click above to view the video after the jump

Samoa's prime minister has decided to do something for his constituents who want to buy cheap cars: swap driving from the right-hand side to the left-hand side. The reasoning behind the move is that Australia and New Zealand are Samoa's biggest trading partners, and driving in the same manner they do -- like the English -- will let Samoans buy cheaper cars from the antipodes. Intriguingly, the prime minister also said the switch will help Samoans avoid tsunamis.

It's not exactly a shock to find that more than a few Samoans aren't happy about it. A local attorney has formed a group called People Against Switching Sides, and he was able to get 30,000 petition signatures in a country with just 200,000 people. Samoa's roads are already dangerous, and his reasoning is that this will only mean more injured and killed citizenry, not to mention a huge bill.

The government wants to hear none of it, sticking to its September 7th changeover date and saying it will be a national holiday. If footage a bus full of people traveling the wrong way down a training road is any indication, though, our advice would be to stick to walking. You can watch a video on the reversing maneuver after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Reed!

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Continue reading The Ultimate Crossover: Samoa's plan to switch to left-hand traffic sparks motorist unrest [w/VIDEO]

The Ultimate Crossover: Samoa's plan to switch to left-hand traffic sparks motorist unrest [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It Ain't Easy Bein' Green: traffic din could be ruining the sex lives of frogs

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:17:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Australia

While the automobile's total impact on the environment remains up for discussion, it's apparently pretty clear that cars and frogs don't really mix. Well, not if you're a male frog trying to get your croak on, at least. Scientists in Melbourne have found that due to traffic and machinery, a male frog's call can't be heard at great distances by female frogs. That's cutting down on the amount of frog sex to be had, and that, in turn, is cutting down on the number of frogs.

In the worst case cited, the popplebonk frog can normally be heard more than a half a mile away when there's no noise. But around busy roads you can't hear the popplebonk more than 46 feet away. Scientists said that animals are adapting to the noise of traffic, such as British birds that sing at night instead of the day. Don't ever doubt what Kermit said: it ain't easy being green.

[Source: Google | Image: moffoys | Image License: CC 2.0]

It Ain't Easy Bein' Green: traffic din could be ruining the sex lives of frogs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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