Initially we were going to bring you a teaser of our trip up to Logansport, Indiana on Thanksgiving (in case you weren't following the trip live) to check out the first ever officially licensed replicas of the 1966 Batmobile. However, as tends to happen with family holidays, everything went s(l)ideways. Now that the time is available, we've got a little something for you while we wrap up the full shebang.
Check back later in the week for the full story of how one man went from collegiate filmmaker to official Batmobile builder. Until then, enjoy a few pics below.

By Phil Alex

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Power to the People: BBR-Cosworth Supercharge Mazda MX-5 to 235HP

Owners of the latest generation MX-5 / Miata seeking more oomph from Mazda's best seller will be happy to know that BBR has joined forces with Cosworth Engineering to develop a supercharged conversion package for the 2.0-liter version. The BBR-Cosworth collaboration for the Mk3 2.0-litre MX-5 focuses around a fourth-generation Eaton MP62 supercharger mated to a Cosworth designed cast integral inlet manifold, which is said to be optimized for both performance and fuel economy - although we'd take the latter with a grain of salt.
In stock form, the MX-5's 2.0-liter naturally aspirated powerplant delivers 158-horsepower. After the implementation of the supercharger and Cosworth's inlet manifold, output is lifted to a dyno proven 235 bhp at 7130 rpm, with a healthy 190 lb.ft of torque available at 5260 rpm. That's an increase of 77 bhp and 51 lb.ft over the standard model.
The company said the fitted price for the BBR-Cosworth Mazda MX-5 Mk3 supercharger upgrade kit is set in Britain at £4,995 (approx. US$7,750). BBR added that it will also be supplying BBR-Cosworth kits for DIY fitting, complete with all options and full installation instructions, but the tuning house has not yet released pricing.

BBR–Cosworth Mazda MX-5 MK3 supercharger specification

• Cosworth Inlet manifold housing
• Eaton 4th generation MP62 Supercharger
• Intercooler (Air to water)
• High flow calibrated injectors
• High flow air box, with high flow air filter
• Competition high grade hoses and fixings throughout
• BBR Auxiliary Interceptor 2010 engine control unit (ECU) with 3-D mapping and MAP sensor
• BBR-Cosworth identification badges

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U.S. Government Buys 1 out of 4 Hybrid Models Produced by GM and Ford

Hybrid vehicles have been on sale for more than a decade now, but despite all the efforts, they have not yet won broad acceptance in the United States. Two years ago, President Obama’s administration set out to to simultaneously support auto workers and a national transition to fuel efficient technologies by heavily investing in a government fleet of hybrids. According to a report from Bloomberg, Uncle Sam bought almost one out of every four hybrid cars produced by Ford Motor and General Motors since President Obama took office in early 2009.
The outcome, though, wasn't what they would have wanted it to be, as hybrid sales remain on a downward slope for the third consecutive year. Nevertheless, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will continue to buy hybrid vehicles in the hope that the public will eventually follow suit.
“At some point, the reality is that for this technology to be accepted, it needs to be done without a government crutch,” said Jeff Schuster, director of forecasting at J.D. Power & Associates in Troy, Michigan. “But without a huge gas-price increase or further government demand, the natural demand just isn't to be there.”
In the first two years of the Obama administration, GSA bought some 14,584 hybrids, or about 10 percent of the 145,473 vehicles acquired by the agency the same period. In 2008, hybrids accounted for just 1 percent of total government fleet purchases. Most of the cars were bought from Ford and GM. The prices for these models ranged from $23,072 to $47,079, with the report claiming that the government paid an average of $5,281 less for the cars than dealerships sticker prices.
According to data acquired by the news agency, GSA purchased about 14 percent of Ford Escape hybrids and around 29 percent of all Ford Fusion hybrids manufactured since Obama took office. In the past two years, the U.S. government bought only 17 Prius models and 5 Honda Civic hybrids.
The eco-friendly fleet purchasing trend will continue in the future with the GSA announcing that it will add all-electric vehicles such as GM’s Chevy Volt to the government fleet. President Obama has set a goal of 1 million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015 and has committed more than $11 billion for this purpose.
A recent J.D. Power report said global sales of hybrids are expected to rise from 954,500 units this year to 5,2 million in 2020.

Source: Bloomberg / Businessweek

Official: 2012 Audi A6 Sedan Adopts A7 Styling and Gains 2.0TFSI Hybrid Engine [81 Photos]

Audi has (officially now) lifted the sheets of the all-new 2012 A6 that will take on the latest generations of BMW's 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz's E-Class executive sedans. The new A6 is set to make its market debut in early 2011 and will be available at launch with a variety of four-cylinder and V6 petrol and diesel engines, and later on, with a hybrid powertrain claimed to combine the power of a V6 with the fuel efficiency of a four-cylinder unit.
With Audi continuing its "one-style-fits-all" approach to design, there's not much to add about the car's exterior and interior works that hasn't already been said on our A7 Sportback posts. Even though the most accurate description of the new A6 is an A7 with a boot, we won't disagree with those of you waving the "larger A4" or "smaller A8" banner.
Moving on to the more technical aspects of the new A6, the sedan is 4.92 meters (16.14 ft) long and 1.87 meters (6.14 ft) wide, but just 1.46 meters (4.79 ft) high. It has a trunk capacity of 530-liter (18.72 cubic ft).
Audi says the aluminum components make up more than 20 percent of the body with all add-on parts, such as the front fenders, the engine hood, the rear hatch and the doors, as well as the bulkhead and the crossmember in the luggage compartment, all made of aluminum panels.
Underneath the body we meet an aluminum suspension with five control arms up front and, a self-tracking trapezoidal-link suspension at the rear, plus a redesigned power steering system with an electromechanical drive. As an option, buyers will be able to order an adaptive air suspension with controlled damping as well as a Dynamic steering system.
At launch, Audi will offer the 2012 A6 with a choice of five engines with the company claiming that fuel consumption throughout the range has decreased by up to 19 percent compared to the previous model.
The gasoline range includes two options, a 2.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 with 204HP and 280 Nm (206.52 lb-ft) of torque, and a 3.0-liter TFSI supercharged V6 delivering 300 hp and 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft).
The 204HP model completes the 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint in 7.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph). Average consumption in the EU cycle comes to 7.4 liters per 100 km (31.79 US mpg) with 172 g CO2 per km (276.81 g/mile).
The 3.0 TFSI sprints from standing to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds and reaches an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). It consumes on average 8.2 liters per 100 km (26.7 US mpg) and emits 190 g CO2 per km (305.78 g/mile).
There are three diesel options starting with a redeveloped 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI producing 177 hp and 380 Nm (280.27 lb-ft) of torque. In conjunction with a manual gearbox, it propels the A6 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.7 seconds, then on to a top speed of 228 km/h (141.67 mph). In the EU cycle, it requires 4.9 liters per 100 km (48 US mpg) and emits 129 g CO2 per km (207.61 g/mile).
Next up in the diesel family is the 3.0 TDI V6 with 204 hp and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) of torque. Paired with a multitronic transmission, it accelerates the A6 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.2 seconds and achieves a top speed of 240 km/h (149mph). Its average consumption is 5.2 liters per 100 km with a CO2 emissions level of 137 g per km (220.48 g/mile).
The top-of-the-line version of the 3.0 TDI churns out 245 hp and 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque allowing the A6 to hit the 100km/h mark in just 6.1 seconds, continuing on to a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155mph). On average, this diesel powerplant uses 6.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (39US mpg) and emits 158 g CO2 per km (254.28 g/mile).
Depending on the engine version, power is transferred to the front wheels or to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system through a manual six-speed gearbox, the continuously variable multitronic, or the brand-new, sporty S tronic.
Shortly after the arrival of the first batch of A6 models, the range will be expanded with the A6 hybrid, the firm's second hybrid model after the Q5 hybrid quattro. The A6 hybrid employs a parallel hybrid concept combining a 211 hp 2.0 TFSI with an electric motor that delivers 33 kW (45 hp) and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque. The electric motor sits directly behind the TFSI, occupying the space of the torque converter upstream of the modified 8-speed tiptronic that drives the front wheels.
The hybrid system's compact lithium-ion battery that provides 1.3 kWh of nominal power and generates 39 kW is stored under the luggage compartment.
Audi says the A6 hybrid can achieve speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph) purely on electricity, but not for very long as at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) the range in this mode is limited to 3 km. It can also operate with the combustion engine only or in hybrid mode.
In terms of performance, the A6 Hybrid accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.3 seconds and tops out at 238 km/h (148 mph), while returning an average fuel consumption of 6.2 liters per 100 km (37.9 US mpg) and a CO2 emissions level of 142 grams per km (228.53 g/mile).
A more practical Avant model (Audi talk for estates / station wagons), as well as more potent S6 and possibly an RS6 models will be gradually introduced into the range.
Further details including pricing and U.S. availability will be announced at a later date.

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