After of all the speculation and rumors, NBC and BBC have officially confirmed the hosts of Top Gear America. It is finally official. Television and radio comedian Adam Carolla, champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust, and TV construction guru Eric Stromer, will lead NBC’s pilot of the international smash hit series “Top Gear.” The U.S. version of the hit franchise will mirror the UK show’s irreverent humor and camaraderie between the three presenters, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation and eccentric methods of testing cars that are produced by BBC Worldwide America.

The Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming Development and Specials, of NBC Entertainment, Craig Plestis said: “This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience,” “We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats.”

Paul Telegdy,The Executive Vice President, TV Sales and Content & Production, BBC Worldwide America said: “These three guys will get to drive the world’s most amazing cars, go on incredible road trips and blow stuff up.  It’s a dirty old job but someone has to do it…why didn’t I get the job?!”

“This is fantastic news - but how on earth you lot is going to do it on the wrong side of the road I’ve no idea.” said Jeremy Clarkson executive producer and host of the UK “Top Gear”.  

The expert editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com (www.kbb.com), the leading provider of new- and used-vehicle information, announce their picks for Kelley Blue Book’s 2008 Top 10 Best New Road Trip Vehicles.

Kbb.com Editorial Comments: 2008 Best New Road Trip Vehicles

 Audi S5
Combining a silky 354-horsepower V8 engine, impeccably tuned suspension and quattro all-wheel drive, the Audi S5 delivers high levels of both performance and comfort, along with the elegance to arrive in grand fashion.
 Bugatti Veyron
If the price of fuel has impacted your yacht time more than your driving habits, you might find the $1.5-million, 1,001-horsepower, 16-cylinder, quad-turbo, 250-mph Bugatti Veyron an ideal alternative the next time the jet is in the shop. Just keep in mind that at full speed, the Veyron burns through its 26-gallon fuel tank in about 12 minutes.
 Chevrolet Malibu
We recently drove six top-selling mid-size sedans in a back-to-back comparison test, and the remarkably quiet and comfortable Chevy Malibu handily outshined the competition on the highway. The first car in the category to combine a flexible six-speed automatic transmission with a gas-sipping four-cylinder engine, the Malibu is capable of an impressive 32 highway miles per gallon.
 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
While the Tahoe Hybrid’s highway fuel economy rating of 22 mpg is only 2 mpg better than that of its gas-only counterpart (the hybrid’s bigger advantage is in city driving), it’s nevertheless the most fuel-friendly full-size SUV on the road and provides seating for eight, plenty of cargo solutions and the ability to tow your boat to the lake.
 Dodge Grand Caravan
They say that getting there is half the fun. In the Dodge Grand Caravan, getting there can easily be all the fun. The Grand Caravan’s wide variety of entertainment options includes multiple DVD players, video game inputs, two overhead video screens, SIRIUS Satellite TV and radio as well as rearward-swiveling second row seats, all helping to transform the once humble minivan into a virtual party on wheels.
 Ford Flex
Due in dealerships this summer, Ford’s new full-size, three-row crossover will be turning heads from coast to coast all year, while treating occupants to cold drinks with its class-exclusive refrigerated console.
 Infiniti EX35
In addition to a plush, flexible interior, the EX35 offers a Lane Departure Prevention System that can help keep any driver — quite literally — in line. A small camera detects lane markers in front of the vehicle and, when inadvertent lane departure is detected, the system applies small amount of left or right brake force to nudge the vehicle back on course.
 MINI Cooper Clubman
With excellent fuel economy and a fun-loving attitude, the MINI Cooper has earned its way onto our list of top road trip cars for the second year in a row. The new Clubman offers more passenger and luggage space than the standard Cooper, making the largest member of the MINI family an even more ideal long-haul companion.
 Toyota Prius
The iconic Prius doesn’t just deliver the best highway mileage of virtually anything on four wheels; it also features a flexible hatchback design and enough interior volume to qualify as a mid-size vehicle.

Volkswagen Eos
The Volkswagen Eos is a sporty coupe that’s also a sexy convertible, thanks to a sleek, sophisticated retractable hardtop. This chameleon also has an exceptionally wide glass sunroof for when you want the open-air experience without getting that wind-swept look.

 

What kind of car are you driving?

It is almost everyone’s dream to own a flash car, but only the super wealthy can own the flashest. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you have the money and the opportunity, you will definitely spend a small fraction of it to place a few of these supercars in your garage.

All cars in this top are old and rare beauties, the newest one being the 1970 Ferrari 512S and the oldest and most weird one being the 1884 DeDion, Bouton et Trepardoux.

2007 Top 15 Most Expensive Cars

• $9.3 million - 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM
• $5.7 million - 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM
• $5.5 million - 1966 Shelby Cobra
• $4,950,000 - 1959 Ferrari 250 GT
• $4,510,000 - 1931 Bentley 4_-Liter
• $4,455,000 - 1959 Ferrari 250 GT
• $4,400,000 - 1935 Duesenberg SJ
• $3,740,000 - 1933 Delage D8S
• $3,564,000 - 1970 Ferrari 512S
• $3,520,000 - 1884 DeDion, Bouton et Trepardoux
• $3,267,000 - 1966 Ferrari 206 SP Dino
• $3,118,500 - 1953 Ferrari 340 MM
• $2,970,000 - 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Double Pullman
• $2,821,500 - 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione
• $2,819,000 - 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto

 

The honor for the most expensive car sold in 2007 falls to a 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM Testarossa which changed hands in May for a record $9.3 million, making it the most expensive Ferrari ever sold. Ferrari’s seemed quite popular this year as eight models are included in the “top 15”.

Celebrities are going green. There is Jessica Alba who is proud to have a Toyota Prius. And then Jay Leno comes with his BMW Hydrogen 7 — and that would be the same vehicle that actor Edward Norton would be driving. See, this actor has just received the keys to the luxury sedan which comes with quality parts and is powered by hydrogen. The vehicle’s headlights are sure going to be shedding light to wherever the actor may be going.

Aside from owning a new BMW Hydrogen 7, Norton has also become a member of a program — the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program. Through the program, popular figures in various fields are given a unit of the hydrogen-powered vehicle and the new owners could use the vehicle for whatever purpose. As with regards to receiving a new BMW Hydrogen 7, Norton states, “The excitement of this car to me is that it demonstrates what we’re capable of, and it inspires me to keep advocating for a more sustainable way of life.”

Although Norton is known as an award-winning actor, he has also gained fame as a person campaigning for the utilization of solar energy. He has already worked with solar producers as well as helped people start homes that are do not get power from the grid.

We’ll only count days before the ultimate night of the 2008 World Car awards takes place next month. The New York International Auto Show will host this year’s awarding ceremonies on March 20, 2008 and according to the Auto Channel, the top ten finalists for the most prominent honor, the World Car of the Year, has been announced yesterday. Prepare yourselves as the 2008 NYIAS takes off and unwraps the car covers off the competing vehicles!

Via secret balloting, the top ten finalists were selected by 47 panelists who are certified and renowned international automotive journalists. The judges based their selections on their experience with each contender as a measurement of their professional work. Members of the jury are composed of a balance representation from Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Other judges came from other parts of the world as well.

"Announcing the annual World Car of the Year awards at the New York show is a fitting finale to the auto show season that begins each fall with either the Paris or Frankfurt motor shows," said Gerry Malloy, the co-chair of WCOTY. "Next, it’s on to Tokyo in alternating years. The Detroit and Geneva shows take center stage early in the year. Finally, in March, the season reaches its exciting climax at the New York International Auto Show."

Here are the Top Ten World Car finalists in alphabetical order:

•     Audi A5 Coupe / Audi S5 Coupe
•     Audi R8
•     Cadillac CTS
•     Ford Mondeo
•     Ford S-Max
•     Mazda2 / Mazda Demio
•     Mercedes-Benz C-Class
•     Nissan Qashqai/Dualis
•     Nissan Skyline Coupe/Infiniti G37 Coupe
•     Volvo C30

The 2008 World Performance Car nominees are:

•     AMG Mercedes-Benz S 63
•     Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
•     Audi R8
•     Audi S5 Coupe
•     BMW M3
•     Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)
•     Maserati GranTurismo
•     Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series
•     Renault Clio F1 Team R27
•     Mercedes-Benz CL 63

As there are ten candidates for the 2008 World Green Car title:

•     BMW 118d with Efficient Dynamics
•     Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric
•     Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrids
•     Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
•     Lexus LS 600h L
•     Nissan Altima Hybrid
•     Saturn Aura Green Line
•     Saturn Vue Green Line
•     SmartForTwo cdi
•     Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI BlueMotion

The Geneva International Motor Show is a famous auto show wherein car manufacturers from all over the world try to show off the best of the vehicles in their range. In preparation for the upcoming auto event, Nissan has been prepping up three vehicles which would be set up for display for the very first time in the continent.

Riding on one of the company’s coolest wheels, Nissan has been prepping up the Nissan GT-R which Athlone Advertiser describes as the representation of “Nissan’s passion for cars and driving”. This would one of the three units and it would be coming with a new engine - a V6 twin turbo 3.8 liter that has the capacity to produce 480 bhp. The engine is mated to an advanced all wheel drive system.

Dynamism is one of the features that the Nissan GT-R has and experts who have seen the vehicle have declared that this vehicle is the right supercar that just literraly reflects the real Nissan philosophy in car making.

The number one provider of new- and used-vehicle information, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, showered recognitions this year. The latest awards announced recently are the Best New Family Vehicles for 2008. The Auto Channel reported that each qualifying vehicle was assessed in contrasting areas as space, safety and affordability after driving and reviewing several 2008 family cars for KKB.com. The group’s reliable editors stood as panelists and they were obliged to pick the winners for the said honors.   

The factors that were evaluated are following: resale value, fuel efficiency, competence and, most significantly, family-friendliness. Aside from the vehicle’s water pumps these aspects were highly considered by the panel of judges before coming up with the set of winners for this year.

"Each of the models on the kbb.com 2008 Best New Family Vehicles list represents the best package of what families really look for when choosing a new car; kid-friendly options combined with the value, safety and capabilities that parents require. As Americans spend more and more time in their vehicles each year, auto manufacturers are increasingly providing great family vehicles across multiple segments. In 2008, the three-row crossover vehicle has succeeded the wagon of the seventies, the minivan of the eighties and the SUV of the nineties as the quintessential family vehicle," says Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.

Kbb.com’s 2008 Best New Family Vehicles (not in order):

• 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 2008 Chevrolet Malibu           
• 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe           
• 2008 Mazda CX-9
• 2008 Saturn Outlook
• 2008 Ford Taurus X             
• 2008 Subaru Outback
• 2008 Honda Odyssey
• 2008 Toyota Highlander
• 2008 Hyundai Veracruz

That would be how much Ford would be investing so as to be able to build a new South African plant. According to Edmunds, the new facility would be in charge of manufacturing a new compact pickup as well as a small engine which runs on diesel.

The company did continue to disclose that the new truck would actually be replacing the Ford Ranger in the market however the latter would still be sold in the US. The new truck would be sold in all markets except for North America.

Right now, the facility is still in construction and Ford is estimating that production would be beginning by 2011.

Let’s have some Chinese philosophy lesson here.  Are you familiar with the yin and yang concept?  It is symbolized by a circle divided into two equal parts (I wish I could just draw it for you) - one is white the other, black.  Inside each fraction are two small circles, black on the white area and black on the white portion.  Hmm… Seems like an interesting idea to spice up Acura Legend headlights, isn’t it?  If you get what I mean.

According to wikipedia.org, yin and yang, also known as heaven and earth, represents two “primal opposing but complementary principles said to be found in all non-static objects and processes in the universe.”  Yin (dark) stands for water and earth while yang (light) signifies fire and air.

Reports from AutoChannel said that the yin and yang concept was the same idea that inspired Hyundai’s new i-Blue Fuel cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)’s exterior design.  This new hydrogen-powered, zero-emission car concept was introduced during the 100^th Chicago Auto Show that started yesterday.  It features Hyundai’s third generation fuel cell technology, the first step towards Hyundai’s vision of mass-producing hydrogen-powered cell vehicles in the next 10 years.  Fuel cell vehicles, as we all know is environment-friendly for its sole emission is water vapor.

The i-Blue, like the yin yang, is an epitome of balance between elegance and safety.  Square and circle were two geometric forms employed in its design giving it a rhombus-like shape.  Its fuel cell stack is placed underfloor instead of putting it at the engine compartment thus, creating an ideal 50-50 weight distribution for smooth driving for more than 370 miles with a maximum speed of more than 100 miles per hour. 

A 100 KW electric engine and fuel stack, fueled with compressed hydrogen stored in a 115-liter tank drives the i-Blue to run. Another appealing feature of this car is its full-surround camera system that enables the driver to see a virtual picture of the vehicle and the surroundings using its latest image processing techniques.   That promotes safe driving, doesn’t it?

Hyundai Motor Company is the sixth largest automaker worldwide.  It has been a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) for eight years now.