China's electric car

One of China's major privately owned automakers, Great Wall Motors, will work with a US company, CODA Automotive, to develop electric vehicles. According to the agreement, the car will be built at Great Wall Motors' plant in Baoding city of Hebei province, with the first model expected to come off the assembly line in the second quarter of 2014. "We will maintain a long-term cooperative partnership with CODA Automotive so we can offer leading electric vehicles amid a looming global energy and environmental crisis," said Wei Jianjun, board chairman of Great Wall Motors. CODA Automotive is a privately-owned company that designs, manufactures and sells electric vehicles and lithium-ion battery systems.

From the New York Daily News.

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Victoria Justice drive safe

Victoria Justice says that she is adding her voice to the 'Act Out Loud' campaign that encourages teen motorists to drive safe. She tweeted: "11 teens die in a car crash DAILY. Talking 2 the media about Act Out Loud 2day." She advises young people to stay safe by keeping away from the driving wheel, telling Us magazine: "I would encourage other kids to not rush out and get their licenses if they don't feel ready. Take it at your own pace. It doesn't make you a nerd . . . although I kind of feel like one for being 19 and not having my license!" But Victoria does have an idea of what kind of car she would like to own.

Victoria Justice, Ariana Grande in the backseat, and Elizabeth Gillies driving, in a scene from their show Victorious. Back in 2009 Justice wrote on her twitter: "Gahh! I want a Toyota prius soooo bad!!" And on not having her license because of her busy schedule: "It's soo depressing that all my friends have their license, and I don't even have my permit yet." Then in 2010 Victoria finally took a driving test: "You guys!!!!! About to take my drivers test, freakin out, wish me luck!!!"

Victoria Justice riding her electric scooter early this year. The Razor motorized scooter was a gift from Nickelodeon to all its stars; it's really meant for kids but 19-year old Victoria looks like she's enjoying herself. Justice tweeted: "Gonna go outside and ride my new electric scooter with my sister. #ThankYouNickelodeon."

She doesn't have a drivers license but a permit, and Victoria Justice stays safe by being driven to work by her mom or some other adult. "Driving home and my moms giving our driver Rudy her famous meat ball recipe. Rudy's the coolest, he sounds like Fred Flinstone hahaha." Another tweet reads: "Driving around the block about 20 times, listening to music in the car with my mom. It's kind of our nightly ritual..."

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Danica Patrick top ten Nascar

Under pressure to show results, Danica Patrick surprised critics with her first top ten finish in Nascar. In the Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 300, at Texas Motor Speedway, on April 14, 2012, Danica started 17th and was running 20th with 150 of 200 laps completed. She moved up to 13th with 11 laps remaining, saying later: "It's fun when your best spot on the track is at the end of the race. It was a bit slow going at times, but we kept at it and kept our heads down." There was a caution for oil on the track, and Patrick had a change of tires, after which the female driver showed some of her most aggressive driving to elbow into the top ten, finishing eighth at the end. "I definitely had the get-the-heck-out-of-my-way attitude because I knew it was time sensitive," Danica told Fox Sports. "I was charging forward and putting my nose where I didn't care if it fit. But that's kind of what you do. I'm realizing you have to just do a little more of that. Take advantage or be taken advantage of."



On her Twitter Patrick was pretty modest of her first top ten finish: "Good calls tonight, nice to have a solid finish for the @GoDaddy gang." And she tweeted about getting some hair and makeup pampering: "Getting my hair did and they have the race on for me! I can still feel the car when I watch." Danica has said in an interview with The Sport Bank: "I think something people don't know about me is how much I like being a girl when I'm outside of the racecar, and how much I like getting made up and doing photo shoots and things like that."

And on how important good nutrition and workouts are to a Nascar driver's body, Patrick says: "Whether it's carbohydrates or proteins, I'll leave that up to my trainer to figure that out. Also, focusing on hydration and rest, and making sure that, nutritionally, I'm putting the right thing into my body. As far as working out, I have a feeling the number of races will provide workouts of their own. But I'll keep working out like I normally do."

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Tesla electric car profit

Singer Miley Cyrus takes a ride in a Tesla Roadster electric car. The California based auto maker marketed the $109,000 Roadster as an electric sports car for celebrities and performance-car enthusiasts. Over the last four years it sold just 2,100 units. Research firm JD Power and Associates predicts that sales of electric cars will reach 36,000 in 2012 and grow to around 96,000 in 2015. That will still be less than 1 percent of total US vehicle sales. Tesla will turn a profit if it can capture a portion of this market.

In July the auto maker will roll out the Tesla Model S electric 5-door that is being developed at the company's plant in Fremont, California. The Tesla Model S has a starting price of $57,400 for a 160-mile single charge range while the 300-mile version will be priced for about $77,000. The affordable car has been produced with low capital costs. Tesla got a $465 million loan from the US government in 2009, under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. It also bought a auto plant from Toyota for just $42 million in 2010. The company is slush with funds and is planning another electric car, the Model X SUV crossover, for 2014. Tesla Motors also makes electric car technology, such as battery packs and chargers, for Daimler and Toyota. It is well placed to turn a profit in the electric car vehicles market.

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Toyota to standardize auto parts

Under the Toyota New Global Architecture, the automaker intends to standardize half its 4,000 to 5,000 major vehicle parts, including engines and transmissions, in particular for vehicles aimed at emerging markets. Toyota said the new system will standardize half of its major auto parts, reducing engineering costs by at least 30 percent, and enabling the parts to be used in different models regardless of vehicle size. Also behind the moves are stricter environmental regulations around the world. Nissan Motor Co. and Germany's Volkswagen AG are also taking similar steps. 80 percent of Nissan's vehicle parts will be standardized, up from the current 40 percent, the company said.

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Mercedes-Benz G-class female celebrities

Ashley Tisdale seen with her Mercedes-Benz G55 sports utility vehicle. The actress had said in a 2006 Seventeen interview that her dream car was a "silver Range Rover." Ashley has been seen driving another SUV from the Mercedes-Benz G-class series: the G500. Some other female celebrities who own this monstrous and expensive wagon:



Back when she was still pregnant, Hilary Duff spotted with her Mercedes-Benz G55. Hilary got her SUV as a gift from husband Mike Comrie, telling People in 2007: "I was planning on getting a big car and I drive a big car anyway, and I was just like, 'You know maybe I like the G-Wagen,' and then I was like, 'No, maybe I like the [Porsche] Cayenne....I opened the garage, and I was just like shocked, just standing there." Before her, with a big red bow on top, was a Mercedes-Benz G-class SUV priced at $100,000.

The Mercedes-Benz G Class is also called the Gelandewagen or G-Wagen; it's fuel economy is as low as 11 mpg in the city and 13 mpg on the highway. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranks it in the list of 12 least energy-efficient autos. The reason why female celebrities like this vehicle is its exclusivity; not too many people can afford to buy it or afford to use it. Another reason is that these girls probably feel safer in a big car, seeing as so many of them are such bad drivers! And a third reason is that female celebrities with their entourage of friends, dogs, and assistants, have a craving for spacious SUVs.



Emma Roberts with her Mercedes-Benz G500. In 2009 she got into an accident with her big SUV just after getting her driver's license. "I got in a really bad accident which was scary. But I'm now a much more cautious driver because of it.....Long story short, my car was in the shop for four or five months and that was sad. I had a big car too it was the scariest thing ever." On her twitter a shaky Emma Roberts posted: "yes thank god! Scary though. Now driving around in a Prius." Female celebrities can afford to buy and keep as many cars as they want!

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Amanda Bynes car accident arrest

Former Nickelodeon starlet Amanda Bynes leaving a West Hollywood Sheriff's Station after being released on April 6, 2012. Amanda was arrested on Friday at 3 am when she was trying to maneuver her SUV around a police car and accidentally hit the rear side of it. "There was minor paint transfer damage to both vehicles," the police statement explained. "Amanda Bynes was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and booked at West Hollywood Sheriff's Station." While everyone agrees that Bynes was driving an SUV, no one knows the auto brand. So what car was Amanda Bynes driving in this accident?

Some say it was a black BMW and others say it was a Range Rover. Amanda Bynes loves BMW and has owned a 2005 BMW X5 and a 2008 BMW X5. But recently she also got herself a gas guzzling, tall, and boxy sport-utility vehicle:


Amanda Bynes with her Mercedes-Benz G550. And this is not her first car accident. Amanda Bynes got into two car accidents with her used Honda Accord, one more accident with her 2005 BMW X5, and another accident in her 2008 BMW X5. "Ms. Bynes was driving a BMW when she made an unsafe turn and another car hit her. It was determined that she was at fault, but no crime was committed," said the police statement about her last BMW accident. This occasion with the SUV then is her first arrest. Amanda has been released on a $5,000 bail.

Amanda Bynes was born the same year as Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan. She had a good girl image and stayed away from the party scene until very recently, telling CosmoGirl in 2007:"I like to go dance and let off steam. But I won't do things that I would be ashamed for my mom to see." Bynes has been posting crazy messages on Twitter like: "Live fast die young bad girls do it well!" She has been spotted partying and has dyed her natural brown hair lilac, writing on Twitter: "In the salon all day yesterday getting my hair dyed light lilac."

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2012 New York Auto Show fuel economy

The 2012 Porsche Panamera hybrid was on display at the 2012 New York International Auto Show; it has a top speed of 167 miles per hour and a fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Other hybrid cars unveiled were the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, Kia’s Optima Hybrid, and the new Toyota Prius C which has a fuel economy of 53 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway. The Lexus ES 300h achieves a blended fuel-economy rating estimated at 40 mpg.

Another car with an impressive fuel economy, showcased at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, was the 2013 Nissan Altima which has a gas mileage of 38 mpg on the highway and 22mpg in the city. Also debuting was the 2014 Chevy Impala with a fuel economy of 35 mpg on the highway.

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Nina Dobrev Ian Somerhalder the Audi couple

Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev in a scene from their TV show The Vampire Diaries. The actors are a real life couple and they share a love for the same brand of cars:



Actor Ian Somerhalder arrives with Audi at the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Pier on February 25, 2012 in Santa Monica, California. The Eco-conscious actor promotes the use of hybrids and other non-polluting vehicles, and he's been a longtime Audi driver. Somerhalder currently drives the Audi Q7 TDI which uses clean diesel technology. He is first in line to get the German automaker's new Audi A3 e-tron Hybrid. Meanwhile Ian writes on his Twitter: "Im getting my asst&ISF secretary @theJram an Audi A3TDI 2morrow from my clean diesel brother @kfenn27."



Nina Dobrev driving her Audi S4 Cabriolet convertible. It was Ian who helped Nina Dobrev get her first car. In 2009 when Dobrev got The Vampire Diaries gig, she told Post City of buying an Audi S4 Cabriolet: "I just got this car, and I'm really excited about it! It's triple black — black in every way except there's a silver trim. It's my first car. I've never had a car before. I've always driven my mom's Toyota Corolla."

Then in 2011 Nina Dobrev upgraded to another brand from Audi, posting on her Twitter: "Swapping my convertible for heated seats; Hotlantas not so hott in the winter! Loving my new Audi."

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Danica Patrick under pressure

After a seven-year career in Indy 500, Danica Patrick switched to NASCAR nationwide racing and is under pressure to show results. Seen above in her No. 7 JR Motorsports GoDaddy Chevrolet last month. Danica won her only career IndyCar race in 2008 at Motegi, Japan, but as the first female racer to do so, is considered the most marketable driver in auto sports. After four races in NASCAR's second-level Nationwide Series Patrick has yet to secure a top-10 finish. During the Royal Purple 300 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, on March 25, Danica's Chevrolet suffered a damaged radiator earning the girl racer her first DNF (did not finish). "I didn't feel it; they said it was a very small piece of carbon fiber and it was, like, just sharp and just went straight through to the radiator."

On how she plans to tackle the pressure of expectations Danica told the LA Times: "I get frustrated with the results sometimes, but that doesn't completely represent what happened in the race." Patrick turned 30 last month and tweeted: "Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes yesterday! It was a great day and I am really looking forward to my 30's!" Danica Patrick won the favorite Female Athlete award at the 2012 Kids' Choice Awards, and tweeted: "What?!!! I won the kids choice award?! That is so awesome! I would love to get slimed sometime! Go green! Thanks kids for your votes!"



Danica Patrick does yoga to stay fit, here doing the popular yoga pose warrior 2. "Good morning! I am off to yoga, something peaceful of the thought......" she tweets. It's also a good way to stay mentally tough when you're under pressure. "I woke up wanting to do get back to a yoga more often. Its so helpful for my head!......and bod." 5'2" tall Danica Patrick drives the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG away from the racing track.

Danica told Mens Health: "I have a ML 63 SUV, a Mercedes SUV. It's pretty great. I like that car. I have a Lamborghini too, but I don't like driving that as much as I like driving the SUV. Because, I like to be able to drive where I want to, and the Lamborghini is so low that if you go through a dip in the road or over a speedbump, you have to be careful and go slow so you don't bottom out the nose. And it's not functional: There are no cup holders! I just think the SUV is more functional. I can get groceries in it, I can pick someone up from the airport in it, which are things I had to do in the Lamborghini, which aren't easy. I drive high-performane cars all the time, so I don't really need to get my thrills driving 80 miles per hour on the highway."

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