Rhys Millen Scores First Podium Finish for Hyundai Genesis Coupe

The main attraction at last weekend's Formula Drift event in Long Beach was the final bout between Ford driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Hyundai pilot Rhys Millen. Gitten Jr. got the upper hand this round in his 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT, but with the collection of considerable talent in the series, the Maryland native will have to work hard to defend his crown. The knockout series witnessed the competition whittle down to Gittin Jr., Millen, Tanner Foust, and Fredric Aasbo in the semi-finals. Foust, two-time Formula D champion, took third position in his 800-horsepower, NASCAR-powered Scion tC. Millen had a terrific showing for Hyundai,...

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Mercedes-Benz Dresses 2011 S63 AMG Like Classic 300SEL 6.8 AMG

Mercedes-Benz will be releasing its new 2011 S63 AMG this fall and has chosen to dress it up like the famed 300SEL 6.8 AMG endurance racer that once competed in the 24 Hours of Spa. In 1971, the 300SEL 6.8 AMG took to the track of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium to prove its mettle in that year's 24 Hours of Spa, and it performed admirably. Facing heavily favored racers including the Ford Capri RS, BMW 2800 CS, Chevrolet Camaro, Opel Commodore, and Alfa Romeo GTA, the 300SEL 6.8 AMG placed second after completing 308 laps around the scenic track, behind a Capri and ahead of a Camaro. The Mercedes recorded few mechanical issues but had to refuel...

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GM Recalling 1.5 Million Vehicles Due To Fire Risks

General Motors Co. is undergoing a massive recall of 1.5 million 2006-2009 model year vehicles to disable a heated washer fluid system that poses a potential fire risk. The recall, slated to begin on June 14, covers 18 models from the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer and Saturn brands. The heated washer fluid system was the subject of an August 2008 recall that included many of the same vehicles. Reports were that shorts in the system caused fires; a wire harness, which contained a fuse, was installed as a preventative measure. According to GM, however, the module’s internal thermal-protection device did not function properly and the...

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FEATURES: Eight Great Volkswagen-Italdesign Collaborations

The ink on the marriage license is still drying, but Volkswagen and Italdesign-Giugiaro -- which officially merged earlier this week -- are hardly strangers. In fact, the two firms have been courting one another for nearly four decades. Any Volkswagen nut will be happy to tell you that Italdesign founder and chief designer Giorgetto Giugiaro helped style the original Passat, Golf/Rabbit, and Scirocco, but we've delved a little further into the Italdesign archives to see how deep this relationship truly runs. We've rounded up eight great VW-Italdesign collaborations for you here -- while some are simply rolling sculpture, others have had a profound...

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Family Truckster Reborn: 2011 Honda Odyssey Revealed

Just under an hour ago, the 2011 Honda Odyssey was revealed to journalists via an online video presentation. Earlier this afternoon, Honda engineers explained the key features of the latest Odyssey, using the word "intuitive" to describe the changes that differentiate this model from its forebear. Few details were revealed about the Odyssey's driving dynamics in the presentation, but we know the Odyssey will retain a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, and achieve similar EPA fuel economy numbers to the current model. The engineers' presentation instead focused most on interior features, presumably for potential buyers with young children. Innovative...

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First Drive: 2011 Honda CR-Z

2011 Honda CR-Z – Click above for high-res image gallery Let's get this out of the way right now: the 2011 Honda CR-Z is not a CRX redux. To compare the two – no matter how much Honda may want to – is to misunderstand the former and besmirch the latter. No, the hybrid CR-Z is an entirely different beast. Despite its three-door shape and two-seat configuration, it has about as much in common with the O.G. hatch as a big-screen remake of your favorite childhood TV show. The basic components are there, but the whole concept has been throttled to within an inch of its life with high-tech gadgetry, odd casting decisions and a questionable...

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