Bongo Ride

Land Rover previews a new seven seat Discovery

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<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbZIW6OC0vOBcBB9tEOZbEuuugCueM8Ou1o4n6pA0W4jDMgzw7KBxS56PooJyVbubuBz5VFfqpneIHHkVKNKcPAWC9d3awaKY72aXuSo87oHJJNME2LaYT54opoz9szjlNGk_OedQZIof/s1600/lr-discovery-sport-camo-05-90906-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Every automaker has its own way of revealing its new models. Some just 
pull the veil off the thing when it's ready, while others release hints 
and teasers leading up to the full reveal. Jaguar
 Land Rover seems to be taking a different approach, purposely releasing
 images of its new products wearing camouflaging body wraps before 
taking those wraps off at long last. That's the tactic it seems to be 
taking with the new XE sports sedan, as it is with the Range Rover Sport SVR, and now it's following a similar path with the upcoming new Discovery Sport.<br>

Land Rover previews a new seven seat Discovery

Every automaker has its own way of revealing its new models. Some just pull the veil off the thing when it's ready, while others rel...

6:50 PM

Dezi Nagaya, Toyota designer heads to Yamaha

LOS ANGELES -- Akihiro “Dezi” Nagaya, a key designer who brought more
 emboldened, emotional styling to Toyota and Lexus vehicles, has been 
named design general manager for affiliate Yamaha Motor Co.<br />
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<br />
Walking around any major international auto show, it was never hard 
to spot Nagaya. He was the guy with the confident gaze, the 
mad-scientist hair and the wardrobe seemingly borrowed from Keith 
Richards’ closet.
He also was the guy usually standing next to the coolest new Lexus or
 Toyota concept car, as befits the status of a chief designer. His work 
included the first- and third-generation Lexus LS, the second-generation
 Lexus GS and the second-generation Toyota Prius. And unlike some 
designers with thinner skin, Nagaya always was willing to banter about 
the plusses and minuses of a vehicle’s design.<br />

For most of the past decade, Nagaya, 53, has been a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20110926/OEM03/309269971/we-are-going-to-be-more-dynamic" target="_blank">leading design executive</a></strong></span>
 at Toyota Motor Corp. -- first as general manager of the Lexus brand 
planning department in Tokyo that created the “L-Finesse” styling 
language, and later as the chief designer for the global Toyota brand 
leading the movement for more passion and emotion in its vehicles.<br />
<br />
More recently, he was president of Tecno Art Research, a freelance 
design hub for outsourced Toyota projects, including the styling of the 
Lexus RC-F high-performance coupe.<br />

<br />
<strong>Other vehicles</strong><br />

Now, in a rare corporate-alliance move, Nagaya has made the move to 
Yamaha, effective July 1. That means he’ll be with a company that 
produces motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, wheelchairs, marine 
products and three- and four-wheeled mobility vehicles.<br />

In the motorcycling world, Yamaha already has some of the most 
progressive styling, in some cases giving the fabled Italian and German 
brands a run for their design dollar -- as seen with the VMAX, R1/R6 
superbikes and Star cruisers.<br />

But until three years ago, Yamaha didn’t really have an in-house 
design team. Most of its designs were outsourced to GK Design Group in 
Tokyo. Under the direction of Yamaha CEO Hiroyuki Yanagi, Yamaha Motor 
is powering up its own design efforts, with a strong thinker like Nagaya
 now running the shop.<br />

“GK Design has been working for Yamaha by contract for long, long 
time,” Nagaya wrote in an e-mail interview. “Yamaha thought the 
importance of design to be a core matter of the company’s existence, 
therefore they decided to make an in-house brain and development 
center.”<br />

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<br />
<strong>It’s a ‘transfer’</strong><br />

Here’s where it gets interesting: Rather than calling this a new gig, Nagaya calls his move a “transfer from Toyota.”<br />

Toyota has owned about 5 percent of Yamaha since 2000, and Yamaha 
bought a chunk of Toyota shares in return. Yamaha and Toyota have 
collaborated in the past on projects such as the 2000GT, MR2 and Celica 
sports cars and the more recent LFA exotic. And Yamaha is a key supplier
 in Toyota’s endurance-racing effort.<br />

Last November, Toyota and Yamaha unveiled an early collaboration for 
next-generation personal vehicles, displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show. 
And Yamaha said they want to further plunge into the four-wheeled 
vehicle market, by unveiling the “Motiv” concept.<br />

Said Nagaya: “Though Yamaha has never collaborated with Toyota in their styling work, now it may pop up someday soon.”<br />
<br />
Source:<a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20140711/OEM02/140719968/top-toyota-designer-heads-to-yamaha" target="_blank"> Autonews.com</a>

Dezi Nagaya, Toyota designer heads to Yamaha

LOS ANGELES -- Akihiro “Dezi” Nagaya, a key designer who brought more emboldened, emotional styling to Toyota and Lexus vehicles, has been ...

12:30 PM

Chevy Paid $560 Million to Sponsor Manchester United, and Now It's Pulling Out of Europe

Chevrolet’s desire to become a global brand via sponsorships with the 
English soccer clubs Manchester United and Liverpool has taken a turn 
now that General Motors has unexpectedly announced the brand’s 
withdrawal from Europe—this, even before Man U footballers have the 
chance to wear their <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10603087/Manchester-United-put-their-shirt-on-new-65-million-world-record-deal.html" target="_blank">Chevy logo-emblazoned jerseys</a>.<br>
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<div class="google_elide">
<br></div>

Chevy Paid $560 Million to Sponsor Manchester United, and Now It's Pulling Out of Europe

Chevrolet’s desire to become a global brand via sponsorships with the English soccer clubs Manchester United and Liverpool has taken a turn...

11:33 AM

IJUE MAZDA RX8 LEO

<div class="full-review loose-spacing">
        <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Most people know that Mazda builds sporty cars. But for 
driving enthusiasts, it's the company's history of building sports cars 
with lightweight rotary engines that sets it apart from the competition.
 The Mazda RX-8 was one of these, and was the only one with a four-door 
configuration.<br />

The heart of the Mazda RX-8 was its high-revving, 1.3-liter rotary 
engine. Because of the engine's compact size, engineers were able to 
mount it farther back in the RX-8's chassis, giving the car a coveted 
50/50 front/rear weight distribution. This, along with balanced 
suspension tuning, sharp steering and a svelte 3,000-pound curb weight, 
made the rear-wheel-drive RX-8 one of the best-handling cars ever made. <br />

Unfortunately, Mazda did little to keep the RX-8 competitive with 
other sport coupes as the years went on. This was particularly true in 
terms of power, fuel economy and acceleration. Sales dwindled, which 
made it less cost-effective for Mazda to upgrade the rotary engine so it
 could meet more stringent standards for air emissions. Mazda finally 
pulled the plug for 2012. As a used-car choice, though, the RX-8 still 
holds plenty of appeal.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />

<strong>Most Recent Mazda RX-8</strong><br />
 Produced from 2004 through 2011, the Mazda RX-8 was a four-seat sport 
coupe with a pair of rear-hinged doors that eased access to the 
surprisingly roomy rear seats. The RX-8 was powered by a 1.3-liter 
twin-rotor Wankel engine. Power output depended on the transmission 
choice. The version with a six-speed manual produced 232 horsepower at a
 stratospheric 9,000 rpm, propelling the RX-8 to 60 mph in about 7 
seconds flat. The six-speed automatic made 212 hp and had a redline of 
7,500 rpm. Either way, the RX-8's rotary delivered a paltry 152 
pound-feet of torque, which meant you had to keep the rotary on the boil
 to keep the car lively.<br />

Trim levels included Sport, Touring, Grand Touring and R3. Even the 
base car came well equipped, featuring 18-inch wheels, cruise control, a
 leather-wrapped steering wheel and a six-speaker CD stereo with an 
auxiliary audio jack. The Grand Touring got a limited-slip rear 
differential, automatic xenon headlights, a power driver seat with 
memory functions, heated seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate 
control, keyless ignition/entry, a Bose stereo, Bluetooth and a 
navigation system. The R3 was a high-performance variant that featured 
19-inch wheels, an aggressively tuned suspension, Recaro sport seats, 
exterior body modifications and some high-tech convenience features.<br />

Although the Mazda RX-8 looks like a race-tuned sports car, its 
demeanor on the road is considerably more docile. Its ample grip through
 corners and solid feedback through the steering wheel make it an 
absolute riot on a serpentine road, yet the car's compliant ride means 
that it won't beat you up on the daily commute. The rotary engine 
requires high engine speeds to make serious power, but the delivery is 
virtually vibration-free and noise levels are subdued. If you like a 
smooth engine in feel, sound and power delivery, the RX-8's is second to
 none.<br />

Inside the cabin, the RX-8's innovative two-person backseat and 
reverse-opening rear half-doors provide the sort of practicality no 
other sports car can match. Provided rear-seat passengers are of average
 size, those seated in the back will find supportive seating and ample 
room. Overall, the RX-8 is one of the best examples of a car that's both
 fun to drive and very livable on a day-to-day basis. Just be prepared 
to pay at the pump, as the high-revving rotary swills fuel like an SUV.<br />

Upon its debut for 2004, the Mazda RX-8 heralded the return of the 
rotary-powered sports car to the United States after a near decade-long 
hiatus. Styling was mostly unchanged throughout its run, although it 
received a slight refresh for 2008. Initially, the RX-8's automatic 
transmission had just four speeds; it was replaced by a 
better-performing six-speed unit (which featured shift paddles) for '06.
 The Shinka Package (Japanese for "evolution") was offered that year as 
well and included an aggressively tuned suspension, unique 18-inch 
wheels, leather/faux suede seating and a few other luxury niceties. To 
celebrate 40 years of Mazda's rotary engine in 2008, there was the 40th 
Anniversary Special Edition RX-8, which featured special gray paint, red
 leather seats, different 18-inch alloy wheels, a firmer suspension and 
the obligatory badges. That year also saw the navigation system 
restricted to the Grand Touring model.<br />

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The biggest changes came for 2009. The exterior was given a much 
wider grille along with some other more subtle changes. The interior 
also was updated with a revised center stack. The features list expanded
 at this time, too. The car featured 18-inch wheels at every trim level,
 and electronic convenience items like Bluetooth and an auxiliary audio 
jack were added to the options list. A much-improved touchscreen 
navigation system replaced the old pop-up unit controlled by 
console-mounted buttons. This was also the first year for the 
ultra-performance R3 variant. The following year saw the Touring model 
axed from the lineup.<br />

If you are looking for older years, visit our <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/?ps=used">used Mazda RX-8</a> page.<br />

For more on past Mazda RX-8 models, view our <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/history.html">Mazda RX-8 history</a> page.<br />

</div>

IJUE MAZDA RX8 LEO

Most people know that Mazda builds sporty cars. But for driving enthusiasts, it's the company's history of building spor...

4:33 PM

Toyota to start production of hydrogen vehicles in december

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3RraCwsS1MtqjPXiWdmNsb_Jzp-Oxj99VCN9Yo8XtOv1Vr0nJeZHBLyj97NOVOijbGJTZFrtXOvoSCfFXfLtaTh2NHonG8A_jMmB2FY4jLfvfpQuznPxje_UkgI2FBleMARRRzgTMo5U/s1600/rtx15lby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3RraCwsS1MtqjPXiWdmNsb_Jzp-Oxj99VCN9Yo8XtOv1Vr0nJeZHBLyj97NOVOijbGJTZFrtXOvoSCfFXfLtaTh2NHonG8A_jMmB2FY4jLfvfpQuznPxje_UkgI2FBleMARRRzgTMo5U/s1600/rtx15lby.jpg" width="640"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBsumbqW5-P5WT-m_ZCPRSBeOrpD_Gd54uVF8cQA-M5fnG4irRk6TE2nN4rXYTbEpOEGHV0XYCt3hTSRukR-lpUwy1Zqj4dxEjjHiO0MO7eVcwnQ93eaqrbDktAC6ETVDeN8UDYL-fpoG/s1600/03-toyota-hydrogen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will be in showrooms sooner than planned, the <i>Japan Times</i>
 reporting that production will commence in mid-December with the sedan 
following "by the end of this year." No reason was given for the new 
timeline; Toyota has been saying all along that we'd see it in 2015.<br>
<br>

Toyota to start production of hydrogen vehicles in december

Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will be in showrooms sooner than planned, the Japan Times reporting that production will commence ...

3:10 PM

Canadian Grand Prix guaranteed for another ten years

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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/f1/">Formula One</a> racing comes 
and goes from the United States, meandering as it has between locations 
like Austin, Indianapolis, Phoenix and Watkins Glen. But the one 
stalwart of grand prix racing on this continent has been the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/canadian+grand+prix/">Canadian Grand Prix</a>.
 Held with only three exceptions (in 1975, 1987 and 2009) since 1961, 
North American racing fans can (almost) always count on the Canadian 
Grand Prix to provide them with their F1 action. And that's not about to
 change any time soon.<br>

Canadian Grand Prix guaranteed for another ten years

Formula One racing comes and goes from the United States, meandering as it has between locations like Austin, Indianapolis, Phoenix a...

2:52 PM

ABOUT BRCC