California is on its way to taking a ride with the autonomous car. By a vote of 37-0, the State Senate approved Senate Bill 1298 that begins to establish how guidelines on and oversight of self-driving vehicles will be handled. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Lexus moves to trademark spindle grille
Apparently the new Lexus spindle grille is here to stay. According to the Kaizen Factor blog, Toyota has filed numerous trademark applications in both the United States and Canada for various spindle grille designs. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Arrinera supercar born out of Polish Lamborghini replica?
If you thought it seemed a little odd that Poland – a country without much of a history of producing exportable cars – would suddenly come out with a high-performance supercar, well… we’re afraid you may be right. Because the latest reports out of the Eastern European country suggest that the Arrinera project is nothing more than a reclothed replicar. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Cadillac Escalade to get new lease on life in 2014
Known for unmitigated excess to some, the Cadillac Escalade embodies over-the-top transportation for oil barons and high-rolling hip-hop stars. The Detroit Bureau quotes an unknown senior Cadillac official saying, “We were finding that for everyone turned on by that image there were four (potential luxury buyers) who were [turned off].” Add in national gas prices flirting with $5 a gallon, and the Escalade seemed destined to join the flamboyant fins of the 1959 Eldorado. Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Chinese-market Land Rover Freelander and Range Rover Evoque to use Chery engines?
A couple of developments on the recent Jaguar/Land Rover joint venture are being reported in Chinese media based on a report in China’s Economic Daily News. The 130,000-capacity factory planned for Jiangsu is epected to mint its first vehicle in 2014, with numbers given for the breakdown so far as: 43,000 Land Rover Freelander 2s, 34,000 Range Rover Evoque models (called the Aurora in China) and, according to Google Translate, “the joint venture brand vehicles of 23,000 Jaguar sedan.” Funk Flex
Auto Talk: Renault Alpine A110-50 concept leaked ahead of Monaco debut
If Jesus had treated Lazarus’ resurrection like Renault has treated that of its Alpine brand, Lazarus would have politely requested, “Please, leave me alone.” In 2008, the Alpine’s return was rumored to come riding on the platform of the Nissan 370Z. In 2009 the revival was declared D.O.A along with the co-developed Nissan 200SX. In 2010 it was back on, the new Alpine to be based on the reputation-making Alpine A110 Berlinette. In January of this year there were still rumors but still no car, with scuttlebutt pegging a concept showing at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Funk Flex
