Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Citroën, Design/Style

Premium hatchbacks are all the rage these days. But in case the diminutive city cars weren't fashionable enough already, their manufacturers have teamed up with an endless array of fashion houses to create even more stylish versions. Previous examples have included the Fiat 500 by Diesel, the Lancia Ypsilon by Versus and the successive annual Lifeball edition Minis created by the likes of Kenneth Cole, Versace and Agent Provocateur.

Citroën, for its part, recently teamed up with Yves St Laurent for a special one such collaboration, and having already launched the DS3 Design Competition, the French automaker has now brought Japanese fashion house Kenzo on board for another.

The Citroën DS3 by Kenzo features a unique multicolor retro pattern on both the roof and the interior upholstery, giving the stylish micro-hatch a distinctive design flourish. For better or worse, though, the Kenzo edition DS3 remains a unique one-off for the time being.

[Source: autoevolution]

Citroen DS3 by Kenzo is hipper by design originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released its third round of booster seat evaluations in which researchers examine how well child safety restraints work with existing seat belts. According to the IIHS, a child booster seat should put the lower portion of the seat belt across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt at mid-shoulder. Those booster seats that met these criteria were awarded a Best Bet or Good Bet rating depending on effectiveness. Those that didn't adequately reposition the seatbelts didn't receive any type of recommendation from the Institute.

Interestingly enough, the IIHS doesn't perform crash tests to evaluate booster seats. Instead, it says that it's the seatbelt fit that matters most of all, allowing the factory passenger restraints to do their work without causing injury to kids. For a full list of the IIHS Best and Good Bets, you can hit the jump and have a look at the full press release.

[Source: IIHS]

Continue reading IIHS rates 72 booster seats for belt fit

IIHS rates 72 booster seats for belt fit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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	Pruck this: Toyota Prius gets the El Camino treatment (and a plug-in powertrain) Where to begin?		Three governments, two worries: oil surpluses vs. peak oil We just might get both, given enough time.
	Lightweight Avion travels 1,478 miles on 12.4 gallons of diesel That's just 119 mpg.	Other news: Nissan releases U.S. tour dates for Leaf; schedule your drive time now Officially, Official: Chevrolet to unveil 2012 Aveo at Paris Motor Show BMW launches DontBlogAboutThis.com with "spy photos" of EfficientDynamics mule

AutoblogGreen for 09.09.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Minivan/Van, Honda, First Drive

Honda doesn't redefine the minivan, they strive to perfect it


Honda did something silly during the launch of its all-new 2011 Odyssey minivan. The automaker built a large autocross-type "track" in the parking lot of San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium and invited journalists to take its latest eight-passenger family hauler for hot laps. It was an interesting "fish out of water" introduction to Honda's fourth-generation people mover.

Designed, developed and manufactured in the United States, Honda considers the 2011 model an "American Odyssey." The domestic development team, owners of 46 Odysseys between them, labored to deliver a minivan with distinctive style, greater interior versatility and improved fuel economy. Did Honda build itself a worthy successor and how did it fare on the autocross?

Continue reading...



Photos copyright (C)2010 Michael Harley / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey

First Drive: 2011 Honda Odyssey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Subaru, Celebrities

As if his success in motocross and rally racing weren't enough, Travis Pastrana may be looking for still bigger mountains to climb. Mainly, Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, the tallest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 ft.

Autoblog reader Andrew Stowell caught up with Pastrana at the famed Mt. Washington Auto Road where the multi-medal X Games winner was reportedly scouting turns, making pace notes and filming some interviews for what should be a new YouTube sensation if he accomplishes this mission.

According to Stowell, Pastrana's plan is to break the Mt. Washington Auto Road record of six minutes and 42 seconds set in 1998 by Frank Sprongl driving an Audi Quattro (see Sprogl's run in full after the jump). Pastrana will supposedly be driving his X Games rally WRX STI, though when Stowell caught him he was behind the wheel of a stock WRX for practice.

Astute readers will remember my own tale of tackling the Auto Road this summer in Autoblog's long-term 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, which I accomplished in around 25 minutes amidst heavy tourist traffic. The eight-mile road is not for the faint of heart with over 100 turns. True, Pikes Peak is longer at 12.4 miles and turnier with 156 curves, but that famous stretch of Colorado road rises at an average incline of just 7 degrees. The Mt. Washington Auto Road reaches for the skies at a 12-degree angle, and the road is narrower too. So let's just say it's no drive in the park.

We're not exactly sure when Pastrana will possibly attempt a record run, or if in fact that's what he's doing there. Subaru of America told us that it's a Red Bull-sponsored stunt and they're not involved, and Red Bull Motorsports has yet to respond to our inquiries. Nevertheless, our man on the ground claims the attempt will happen on Thursday. We'll keep you updated when we find out how he did.

Continue reading Travis Pastrana spotted on Mt. Washington, record attempt in the works?

Travis Pastrana spotted on Mt. Washington, record attempt in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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