Toyota's Hybrids Could Be Banned From The American Market

AutoBlog: TOYOTA'S HYBRIDS COULD BE BANNED FROM THE AMERICAN MARKET
  -by John McElroy

In a shocking development Toyota faces a lawsuit filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission that seeks to ban the import of all hybrids to the American market. Toyota is being sued by Paice LLC for patent infringement on its hybrid system.

Before you think this is just a frivolous lawsuit that has no standing whatsoever, consider the fact that Paice has already successfully sued Toyota on five counts of patent infringement, and won on three of them. In April of this year, Paice was awarded by the Federal district court in the Eastern District of Texas a future royalty of $98 for every Prius sold.

Toyota is appealing that verdict, but just to up the ante Paice decided to file its suit with the ITC and go for an all-out ban on all the hybrids the giant Japanese automaker brings into the U.S. market.

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First Drive: 2010 Nissan 370Z Nismo Simply Rocks

SWEET Ride!  Great article, keep reading.. -Gear6

AutoBlog: First Drive: 2010 Nissan 370Z Nismo simply rocks
  -by Jonny Lieberman

2010 Nissan 370Z Nismo :: Click Image to View Larger ::

There's no safe way to say it: this blogger just doesn't like the 2010 Nissan 370Z very much. Sure, it's a fine sporty car that goes about its business quickly and competently, but it just leaves me cold. Yes, it can hit 60 mph in 5 seconds, hold 0.99 g on a skid pad and get around a track faster than a Porsche Cayman, but it doesn't rocket to 60 mph in 5 seconds like Wile E. Coyote shot from a greased Acme canon. Nor does it tenaciously hold 0.99 g like a baby possum gripping onto mama during a lightning storm. And yeah, you guessed it, I'd much rather get there a second or two late in the mid-engined Porsche. Or, more appropriately, a 2010 Mustang GT. Long story short, the 370Z is a little dull.

I'm not just saying all this to be contrary or cute. I've personally logged over 1,500 miles in a couple different 370Zs and, to be honest, the experience wasn't much different than the more than 1,500 miles I've traveled in various Infiniti G37s. Not that there's anything wrong with the Infiniti, but the Z should be a sports car, not a luxury tourer. That's why it was such a breath of fresh air – both literal and otherwise – when we got our hands on the 370Z Roadster. It was like going from black and white to color. Finally, the new Z was fun, engaging – thrilling even. Trouble was, we knew the Nismo was coming and had that stuffy roof. Yeah, we'd go fast for a week, but I feared being ultimately underwhelmed. Well guess what? Not so with Nismo.

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VIDEO: Motor Trend's Best Driver's Car Competition offers a few surprises

AutoBlog: VIDEO: Motor Trend's Best Driver's Car Competition offers a few surprises

Over the years, our favorite magazines have had some spectacular comparison tests, with scores of test data and page after page of subjective text. Motor Trend has practically made a living with comparisons, and its newest feature pits 10 hot rides against one another to see which is the best driver's car. MT used tons of data, added subjective feedback from staff members and included track time at Laguna Seca with pro driver Randy Pobst.

If you receive Motor Trend at home or you check in over at its website, you've probably read the extensive article, but the magazine also produced a 14 minute video hosted by Editor at Large Arthur St. Antoine. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself. It's chock full of beautiful footage, 638 horsepower supercars drifting around and tire-ripping burnouts. How much more can you ask for?

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Revolving F1 Door: Lotus Back in F1, BMW Sauber Gets New Ownership

AutoBlog: Lotus back in F1, BMW Sauber gets new ownership

Lotus F1 racer Two major announcements came hot on the heels of one another on Tuesday that seem set to shake up the always turbulent Formula 1 series even further in 2010. First, Team Lotus will indeed be back on the starting grid next year to contest the constructors championship with a duo of drivers. Backing the effort is Malaysian automaker Proton, which owns Lotus, and the team will be headquartered at a purpose-built facility at Malaysia's Sepang International circuit.

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RIP: Automotive Racer and Designer Elio Zagato, 1921-2009

AutoBlog: RIP: Automotive racer and designer Elio Zagato, 1921-2009

Dr. Elio ZagatoThe automotive world lost one of its most cherished designers yesterday with the passing of Dr. Elio Zagato. The gentleman racer, son of the legendary Ugo Zagato and head of the eponymous design studio, was 88 years old.

Over the span of his career, Zagato pioneered such features as the signature double-bubble roof and the use of plexiglass windows to cut weight. Among his most legendary creations stand the Ferrari 250 GTZ, Maserati A6G and Aston Martin DB4 Zagato, to name just a few. Called "Zagatino" by Enzo Ferrari, the late Dr. Elio was an accomplished gentleman racer, competing with the likes of Fangio and Nuvolari to take 82 race wins and five GT championships. His contribution to the industry will surely be missed but fondly remembered. Details in the press release after the jump.

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Yes, That Is a Mirror-Finish Audi R8 5.2 V10

AutoBlog: Frankfurt 2009: Yes, that is a mirror-finish Audi R8 5.2 V10

Mirror-Finish Audi R8 :: Click to View Larger ::Oh how they laughed when we suggested chroming an Audi R8. Of course, our plan was to use a couple of rattle cans and a few rolls of blue tape to git er done. Right before screaming, "Hey y'all, watch this!" and launching the R8 off a cliff. But we're a bunch of crude Americans, not nearly as stylish as our European pals that don ties to take a shower. Regardless, Audi went ahead and pulled the shiny metal trigger.

The all Dubai'd-out R8 now joins the ranks of such notable taste-setters as the Bugatti Veyron Autostadt special edition, gold-mirror-finish Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, Chrome SLR, etc. Yeah, we're talking smack. Partly out of jealousy, partly out of thinking what kind of a royal jackass would drive around in a mirrored car? A Kanye West-sized one, we'd think.

Marussia B2 Breaks Cover, B1 Hybrid Shown in New Colors

AutoBlog: Frankfurt 2009: Marussia B2 breaks cover, B1 Hybrid shown in new colors

Marussia B2 and B1 Hybrid :: Click Image to View Larger ::When we hear the phrase "Russian Supercar" we initially think of either a turbocharged tank or something made from wallpaper, powered by fictional hubris yet somehow still finished in mirrored chrome. Any of which would come with his and hers full length mink coats. However, the two Marussia models present something of a dilemma to this way of thinking. They are not awful. In fact, viewed from a distance, there's much to like. Sure, up close they're a tad rough (check out the exposed screws, lumpen metal over the door hinges and Pep Boys reflectors), but they're really not bad. Which is good, if you can pardon our Orwellian wording.

Our real gripe, besides not knowing bupkis about what's under the hood (some sort of Renault/Nissan V6 coupled to electronic components from... somewhere), is that the designs are a bit derivative. Aggressive as all get out, certainly, but we've seen them before. The B1 has the stance of a Pagani Zonda, while the B2 is a mix of Apollo Gumpert and Aston Martin Rapide with a smattering of Lamborghini Reventon tossed in for flavor. But as Woody Allen said, "Always be original. But if you must steal, steal from the best." Marussia is (predictably) a little mum on the details, but we can assume the same mystery motor in the B1 powers the B2. Now, about those panel gaps...

BREAKING: Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds Leave Renault F1

AutoBlog: BREAKING: Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds leave Renault F1

Flavio Briatore might have wished that he had been a little kinder to client and former Renault F1 driver Nelson Piquet. After Piquet was sacked for non-performance following the Hungarian Grand Prix this year, he sought revenge by saying that Briatore and team engineering director Pat Symonds instructed him to crash during last year's Singapore GP. The crash, done correctly, would cause the safety car to come out, and that would give teammate Fernando Alonso the best chance of winning the race.

Piquet crashed, the safety car came out, and Alonso won the race. It's been reported that at least one driver thought the crash was suspect, and Williams' Patrick Head said Piquet confessed to a journalist after the race that he crashed on purpose. Piquet's motivation was to keep his Renault seat for 2009. Not having done that, he's got little left to lose... well, other than his career or the chance that any other team will hire him...

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Frankfurt 2009: Porsche Confirms Development of Electric Sportscar

AutoBlog: Frankfurt 2009: Porsche confirms development of electric sportscar

Ruf Greenster concept Quick trivia question: what automaker was the first to build a hybrid? Did you guess Honda or Toyota? Interestingly, a full 109 years ago, Professor Ferdinand Porsche built a fully functional hybrid automobile, though it was certainly a much different animal compared to the Prius and Insight hatchbacks of 2010. In any case, Porsche is looking to enter the hybrid and electric automobile market in a big way just as soon as battery technology will allow it.

Porsche's opening salvo in the eco-wars will be the full hybrid Cayenne and Panamera models, probably in late 2010 as 2011 models, but there's more to come. Speaking at a press conference at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Michael Macht, Porsche's recently-appointed president and CEO, says:

I am also convinced that one day Porsche will have an electric sports car in its line-up... We are therefore taking the first step in this direction with a full hybrid – in the Cayenne, the Panamera and maybe in the not too distant future also in a racing car or a production 911. Why not?

Click past the break for the official press release.

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Mazda MX-5 Superlight Makes Us Wonder How We'd Spend Our Other Two Wishes

AutoBlog: Frankfurt 2009: Mazda MX-5 Superlight makes us wonder how we'd spend our other twowishes

Mazda MX-5 Superlight concept If you're one of the many enthusiasts out there oohing and ahhing over the pair of pre-production Mini concepts that debuted in Frankfurt today, know that the BMW division isn't the only one here with a tempting speedster on display. Amidst all the exciting and pivotal new vehicle debuts at the show, Mazda took the wraps off the MX-5 Superlight Version.

Unfortunately it's just a show car, and it's not the first time Mazda's toyed with the idea (and us in the process), but the Superlight goes to show what an inventive mind and a skilled hand or two can do with the iconic Mazda roadster. Characterized by its windshield-less shape, the Superlight also features an exquisitely crafted cockpit of brushed aluminum and saddle brown leather, aluminum and carbon-fiber rolls hoops with integrated brake LEDs, an aluminum rearview mirror mounted on the hood, a wider track, dropped suspension and upgraded brakes.

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