cars

At long last, Google Maps has routes specifically for bikes.
With the click of a mouse, the new feature allows you to plot the best (and flattest!) ride from Point A to Point B. Several cities, including New York, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, have bike-specific mapping sites. But Google is rolling it out in 150 cities nationwide and announcing it Wednesday at the 10th Annual Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.
“This has been a top-requested feature from Google Maps users for the last couple years,” says Shannon Guymon, product manager for Google Maps. “There are over 50,000 signatures on a petition.”
The news thrilled bike advocates, who have for years been pushing — and petitioning — the search giant to include bike routes on Google Maps. No longer do they have to rely upon paper maps or open-source DIY map hacking or crazy-cool helmet-mounted heads up iPhones.
“This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding,” says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “We know people want to ride more, we know it’s good for people and communities when they do ride more — this makes it possible. It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting.”

Cyclists will have to map their victory lap from their desks, because Google’s cool mapping tool is available only on a computer for now.
“Making the bike-route tool available on Google Maps for mobile devices is a high priority,” Guymon says. But it’s a priority without a launch date.
To create the mapping tool, Google developed an algorithm that uses several inputs — including designated bike lanes or trails, topography and traffic signals — to determine the best route for riding. The map sends you around, not over, hills. But if you really want to tackle that Category 1 climb, you can click and drag the suggested route anywhere you like, just like you can with pedestrian or driving routes. Users can suggest changes or make corrections to routes using the ever-present “report a problem” feature on Google Maps.
Google kicked its bike-mapping effort into high gear in October when it started using improved datasets that provided more specific information about trails, street details and more granularity on college campuses. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy provided Google with information on 12,000 miles of bike trails nationwide, and the League of American Bicyclists helped gather data on bike lanes and so forth.
“We’ve got a five-person team in Seattle that has spent the majority of its time working on this project since October,” says Guymon.
To test the tool, bike-commuting Google employees vetted suggested routes against their own experience, pointing out discrepancies on routes or time allowances.
Google Maps for bikes has a unique look and feel. Bike trails are prime cycling turf — “They’re like the highways for cyclists,” Guymon says — so they’re indicated in dark green. Streets with dedicated bike lanes are light green. And streets that don’t have a bike lane but are still a decent route because of their topography, light traffic or other factors are indicated by dotted green lines.
Don’t go looking for turn-by-turn GPS-based navigation though. That feature remains strictly auto-centric.
Freelance reporter Mary Catherine O’Connor lives in San Francisco, with her dog, husband and three bikes.
Photo: Bikeportland.org/Flickr

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet
2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the truly hard-core Corvette fanatic who likes to spend weekends thrashing his or her car at the track, there is only one Corvette worthy of consideration: the Z06. However, thanks to the ZR1, the lightweight, normally aspirated 7.0-liter coupe is no longer the absolute quickest Vette, but it is felt to have the most responsive handling. What it doesn't have is the uber-cool carbon-ceramic brakes, carbon-fiber body panels and magnetic ride active damping system of its supercharged sibling. That can now be changed to past tense with the birth of the Z06 Carbon edition announced today by General Motors.

The Z06 Carbon was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of the Corvette at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when John Fitch and Briggs Cunningham won their class and finished eighth overall. The Carbon edition is essentially a Z06 with a ZR1 chassis and some of the carbon skin. When production starts this fall, only 500 examples will be made and they will only come in two colors, Inferno Orange and Supersonic Blue. All examples get black-painted wheels and a black interior upholstered in leather and suede. Follow the jump and we'll tell you more.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon
[Source: Chevrolet]Continue reading 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon slots in right below ZR12011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon slots in right below ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: SUV, Videos, Off-Road
StreetFire checks out the Icon FJ 4x4 - Click above to view the video after the jump

The vintage FJ Landcruiser tuners at Icon turn out highly detailed 4x4s with custom-designed suspensions comprised of top-shelf parts, powdercoated exteriors and German military convertible tops. We've sampled the firm's wares before and those details turn Icon vehicles into impressive - if spendy - SUVs: $79,000 gets you a look at the bottom of the barrel, more than $100,000 is needed for a taste of the cream. Are they worth it? StreetFire takes a look at three Icons, and along with our own Johnny Liberman and PickupTrucks.com's Mike Levine, renders the muddy verdict. Follow the jump for all the action.

[Source: StreetFire]Continue reading Video: Icon's ultimate 4x4s from another perspectiveVideo: Icon's ultimate 4x4s from another perspective originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Review: 2011 Jaguar XJ is indisputably British and not afraid of a storm
We endure the most powerful storm to ever hit France to sample the all-new Jaguar XJ. And it was totally worth it.

Rendered Speculation: Ford Taurus SHO wagon is the apple of our eye
We love wagons almost as much as we love pavement pummeling power. Meld the two together and you've got something special. Too bad this SHO five-door is just a glint in one designer's eye.

Video: Honda execs talk up historical link between CR-Z and CRX
The connection between the CRX and the CR-Z might be hard for enthusiasts to swallow, but Honda tries to tie the two together in a new promotional video.

Also of interest:

Mazda reportedly adding brake override systems to all future models
Video: San Diego 'runaway Prius' has media buzzing
Cadillac distancing itself from parent GM to elude bankruptcy stigma?
Report: BMW working on new FWD model below 1 Series
Video: Gran Turismo 5 "Nights" trailer has it all

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.9.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, GM, Toyota

Recently, General Motors has been offering special buying incentives specifically tailored to steer people away from Toyota and Lexus dealerships, and even get current Toyota owners out of their cars. And while most people look at this as just a clever marketing technique to promote other automakers in the wake of Toyota's recall wound, a group of dealers are none too happy about the marketing campaign. What's more, because the U.S. government currently owns a 60 percent stake in GM, Toyota dealers have made accusations that American taxpayer dollars are being used to fund these incentives.

The Toyota National Dealer Council, which represents approximately 1,250 Toyota dealers across the United States, claims that using taxpayer dollars for this purpose is "reckless, unfair and detrimental to the entire auto industry." And while we believe it's a completely rational argument for the TNDC to make, we must remember that no specific proof has been presented to completely prove their point. GM may be mostly owned by the U.S. government, but it's still an autonomous company, and no one can say for sure if its marketing decisions are, in any way, influenced by the officials in Washington, D.C. Hit the jump to read the entire TNDC press release.

[Source: Toyota National Dealer Council | Image: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images]Continue reading Toyota dealer group peeved over tax dollar use for GM incentives targeted at Toyota ownersToyota dealer group peeved over tax dollar use for GM incentives targeted at Toyota owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Audi
Audi R8 V10 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We already know that Audi plans to fit the standard R8's 420-hp, 4.2-liter V8 into its all-new Spyder variant early next year, and now comes word that at least one more version of the R8 is in the pipeline and that the R tronic sequential automatic might not be long for this world.

According to company insiders speaking with Car and Driver, the herky-jerky gearbox will likely be dispatched in favor of Audi's new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There's no word on the amount of torque the DCT can handle, but considering how much better the R8 V10 performed with the standard sequential tranny, we'd suspect that the dual-clutch setup will make its way onto the V8 models only. And if you're worried about the gated six-speed manual being nixed from the options list, don't be - it will continue to be available on all models.

C&D also reports that a sportier version of the R8, inspired by the LMS model, could be in the cards, packing more power (think: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera) and a not-so-insignificant weight reduction thanks to the liberal use of carbon fiber. Expect that to only be available on the V10 model and yes, a fully-electric version based on the original e-tron concept is supposedly on the way and due to arrive in a few year's time.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
[Source: Car and Driver]Report: Audi R8 to spawn sportier model, dual-clutch gearbox cometh originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Government/Legal

Is CARB backing down on its so-called "cool cars" regulation? On May 7, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will have to turn in its final draft of the controversial regulations, which calls for automakers to build cars and trucks with windows that prevent 45% of the sun's energy from entering a vehicle by 2014 and 60% by 2016. Vehicle manufacturers have argued that it will be expensive to meet the requirements, and other groups are complaining for their own reasons. Heck, there was initially concern that off-roaders might lose their beloved Jeep Wrangler altogether. Thank goodness they came to their senses.

While several different groups have significant concerns about the proposal, it looks like CARB might finally be listening to one group in particular - law enforcement. It seems that California's sheriffs, police chiefs and crime victim groups are calling for the plan to be amended... and CARB is actually listening.
According to The Detroit News, The California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association, Crime Victims United of California and other groups are concerned that the required window glazing needed to meet the new regulations will seriously degrade cell phone signals, as well as those from ankle monitoring bracelets. We wouldn't want to lose track of felons now, would we? The other big concern is that 911 calls might not get through if the window treatment prohibits a strong signal.
That seems to be sending CARB back to the drawing board, with suggestions coming that the plan will be revised before the May 7 deadline. As a refresher, the idea behind the "cool cars" regulation is to save gas and reduce emissions. Cooler cars reduce their air con use, and with California's overflowing freeways, that could mean a significant drop. In fact, CARB is predicting that the regulations will save 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2020 - the equivalent of parking 140,000 cars a year.
[Source: The Detroit News]Report: California to amend 'Cool Cars' legislation over... criminal activity? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Mercedes-Benz, Tata

Daimler has been hit hard by the weakening global demand for luxury automobiles, as evidenced by the German automaker's larger than expected 2009 losses and the company's decision to cut its dividend for the first time in 14 years. Automotive News reports that Daimler is looking to raise money to rebuild its business in developed regions by selling its 25.6 million shares of Tata Motors stock. The move would reportedly net the German automaker an estimated $429 million, four to seven percent below market value. Shares of Tata Motors stock are up 19 percent since February 26, so Daimler stands to earn some serious coin from the share sell off.
AN quotes Juergen Pieper at Metzler Equities as saying "we certainly now have as a priority turning around the mature markets and then China. This is certainly now a higher priority for Daimler than India." And while Daimler is selling, it appears that Tata isn't buying, stating that its collection of companies isn't interested in purchasing the shares. Daimler is looking to sell the stocks on the open market in block deals, which moves large amounts of stock at once.
Daimler's break from Tata will be likely be a clean one considering the two companies reportedly don't have any joint ventures or collaborative projects in the pipeline. Analysts reportedly don't foresee Daimler's sale of Tata shares affecting the Indian automaker's stock price.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Sascha Schuermann/AFP/Getty ImagesReport: Daimler dumping stake in Tata Motors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, SUV, Safety, Infiniti, Lexus, Toyota, Luxury, Off-Road

First the Oscars and now this! The envelope please! The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a bevy of scores for the Infiniti M, Lexus HS 250h and Toyota 4Runner and it was nothing but "Good" all around. The Infiniti and Toyota were tested for frontal offset and side impacts, with their "Good" score maintaining the scores of their predecessors. The Lexus scored a first-time Good" in the frontal offset test. You can get all the details on the most recent round of crash-testing here and scan the IIHS archives to see how the competition stacks up.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Infiniti M56
[Source: IIHS]IIHS releases latest round of safety scores for Infiniti M, Lexus HS and Toyota 4Runner originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

This weekend an antique seller in Atlanta will be auctioning what it claims to be the first ever “roadable aircraft.”
The antique was built in 1934 by Frank Skroback and at the very minimum provides proof that people have long dreamed of a car that can be flown like an airplane…or is it an airplane that can be driven like a car. The winner of the auction will receive extensive documentation including the patent on the design issued in 1921, as well as correspondence demonstrating Skroback’s attempt to sell his vehicle.
The Taylor Aerocar is the most famous and probably successful example of an aircraft that can be driven on the road. Though unlike the Aerocar, nobody can seem to find proof of Skroback’s vehicle ever taking flight. It looks like little more than a fuselage with six small wings attached. According to the auction house, the vehicle is 21 feet long and each wing has a seven foot span.
At a glance the wings look like they may come up a bit short in providing enough lift. But even if the wings could lift the stubby fuselage off the ground, a lack of any substantial vertical control surfaces would likely mean controlling this thing in flight would be tricky at best. There are some small rudder like appendages on the rear wings, but these hardly look big enough to provide any sort of directional stability.
No word on what the engine is up front. But with the the obvious drag and small wings, our guess is that it had better be deceivingly more powerful than it appears if this thing has any hope of even getting the tailwheel off the ground.
It’s safe to say the team over at Terrafugia have nothing to worry about in terms of somebody putting this thing into production and taking over the market.
Photo: Red Baron’s Antiques

Filed under: Hybrid, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota

In the wake of yesterday's "runaway Prius" in San Diego, Toyota says it's still working on a fix for the thousands of hybrids included in the 4.36 million vehicles recalled last November. The source of the unintended acceleration on these affected Prius models is the same as the other vehicles involved in the recall: A floor mat that gets jammed up against the throttle. Unfortunately for Toyota, the owner of yesterday's "runaway Prius" claims the floormat wasn't his car's problem.

Regardless, Toyota says that new, smaller pedals and redesigned floor mats are in the works for these vehicles, but modifications haven't begun because the automaker is still working on a more specific solution. Yeah, we're a bit confused as well.

Contrary to a report by the Wall Street Journal, a new recall isn't in the cards for the last-gen Prius and Toyota spokesperson Brian Lyons told The Detroit News that while he can't disclose exactly when this floormat fix will happen for affected Prius models or how the correction will be implemented, the changes will take place "sometime this year." Here's hoping it's sooner rather than later.

Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

[Sources: Detroit News, Wall Street Journal - Sub. Req.]Report: Toyota continues to work on floormat fix for 2004-09 Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Safety, Acura, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Rumormill
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Episode #169 of the Autoblog Podcast has arrived, and it's Chris, Sam, Alex, and Dan again this week. As usual, the Autoblog Garage starts us off, this time with a couple Suzuki Kizashis, a Ford Transit Connect, and the Cadillac SRX. The first topic for discussion are the latest developments in the ongoing Toyota Recall issue. The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon catches our fancy next, and we stay on the wagon tip to talk about the Acura TSX Wagon, which will debut at the New York International Auto Show. Honda's CR-Z is next, before we go big and talk about the 2011 Ford SuperDuty. Wrapping up on a sporting note, we offer totally uninformed commentary on the Carl Edwards NASCAR wreck before taking a few listener questions and calling this turkey done. Thanks for listening!

Direct fanmail to Podcast at Autoblog dot com, review the show in iTunes, fill out our survey or even leave us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget when podcast loneliness sets in. Thanks for listening!Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #169: Wagons and SuperDuty and NASCAR, Oh My!Autoblog Podcast #169: Wagons and SuperDuty and NASCAR, Oh My! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments