Nanananannanana...Preview of our 1966 Batmobile Trip in Indiana

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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Toyota to Voluntarily Fix 378,000 Prius Hybrids for Overheating Problems

Toyota's US division has issued what it describes as a "limited service campaign" (and not a recall…) on approximately 378,000 U.S-spec Prius hybrids from the 2004 and 2007 model years to resolve a potential problem with the water-pump that can cause the cars to overheat.

“The water pump is part of a system designed to cool the hybrid powertrain components and is separate from the engine cooling system” said John Hanson, Toyota Motor Sales National Manager of Environmental, Quality and Safety Communications. “A fault in the water pump can cause air bubbles to build up and disrupt the flow of coolant, which can lead to overheating”.

The company said an “on” check engine light can signal the problem. If the car is driven further the temperature of the hybrid components can reach a critical level and the vehicle will enter “fail-safe mode” to prevent damage.

Oddly enough, the Japanese automaker pointed out in a press statement that the issue is being treated as a "customer support campaign" and not a "recall" as the company "determined it is not a safety issue” and it “has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition."

Owners will be notified by mail in early December and Toyota dealers will replace the water-pump for free, as long as customers arrange for service before November 30, 2013. Clients who have had their water-pumps replaced because of this condition are going to be reimbursed.

For detailed information customers can call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371.

By Csaba Daradics

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

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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Find of the Day: 10 Famous Racing Driver Helmets up for Sale

Many car and motorcycle enthusiasts consider themselves to be far more skillful than your average drivers / riders. And true enough, some really are, constantly honing their skills during weekend track events. But the odds of an enthusiast becoming a Formula 1 World Champion are slimmer than winning a lottery ticket twice in a row.

Facing reality is never an easy task, but what can you do? Well, if your pocket can handle the cost, you can always keep your fantasy alive with some cool motorsports memorabilia like a famous driver’s racing helmet. Besides being a good investment, you’ll be the talk of the track day for sure. Check out our selection after the break, compiled from the extensive list found on The Memorabilia Experience (TME) sales site.

By Csaba Daradics

1. Emerson Fittipaldi - Price: $19,500

Used in the 1974 and 1975 Formula 1 championships, Fittipaldi's helmet is signed on the crown, and is accompanied by a picture of the Brazilian driver. Emmo was piloting the McLaren Ford M23 at that time.

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2. Kenny Roberts - Price: $5,000

The father of Kenny Roberts Jr. wore this helmet in 1972. The scars denoting heavy usage make it even more appealing. Roberts went on to become two-time winner of the AMA Grand National Championship in 1973 and 1974. He also won three consecutive 500cc World Championships, between 1978-1980, and three Daytona 200 races. This is the only father and son duo to have won the 500cc title.

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3. Jody Scheckter - Price: $15,000

This is the helmet that Jody Scheckter wore when he won his first Formula 1 race, the 1974 Swedish Grand Prix. Driving the Tyrrell Ford 007, he was also victorious in that year’s British GP. There are two Goodyear “flying feet” painted on the side, commemorating each victory.

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4. Gilles Villeneuve - Price: Upon request

Gilles Villeneuve helmets are extremely rare, as it’s said that he only used 15 during his entire Formula 1 career. He wore this example in 1979, while driving for Ferrari. Manufactured by Bell, it was showing signs of fatigue, so the original logos were reapplied and the chipped paint retouched. Now ain't that a shame...

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5. Mario Andretti - Price: $12,500

No, this is not Darth Vader’s racing apparel, but Mario Andretti’s Indy and possibly Formula 1 Simpson Bandit helmet, according to The Memorabilia Experience. It is signed, which makes it a good investment.

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6. Ayrton Senna - Price: Upon request

This is an original Shoei Quattro, worn during several races of the 1993 Formula 1 season. It’s numbered and bears authentic inspection stickers. On the top, it has four air vents that were only used in some races. The radio was removed, but there is evidence of where it was inside the helmet, says the seller. In 1993, Senna was driving the McLaren Ford MP4-8.

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7. Nigel Mansell - Price: $22,500

It seems that Nigel Mansell racing gear is also hard to find, so his fans should grab this Arai helmet while they can. Worn in 1991, it comes with the original metal breather tube. TME’s website states that Mansell himself confirmed that this is an original piece.

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8. Jimmy Vasser - Price: $6,495

Jimmy Vasser won Indy Car in 1996 driving for the Chip Ganassi Racing team, alongside Alex Zanardi. He was the last American to win the series, which later became Champ Car. For this alone, the signed and inscribed helmet could mean so much more for some fans. Comes complete with the radio transmitter.

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9. Valentino Rossi - Price: Upon request

Valentino Rossi is Moto GP’s Schumacher, only better. We say this in the light of the 8 World Championships he won, riding in three different classes. TME says Rossi helmets are also very rare. This one was made by AGV and features a special “sun and moon” graphic, alongside Valentino’s signature. The helmet was worn during late 1996 and then throughout most of 1997.

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10. Michael Schumacher - Price: $25,000

We couldn’t have left Schumacher out of our Top 10. Behold his 1998 Imola helmet, made by Bell. It is signed and the race date is written on the crown. If you’re curious: no, Schumacher didn’t win that race. He came second driving the Ferrari F300. Nevertheless, we’re pretty sure wealthy fans would be very happy to own the helmet.

Source: The Memorabilia Experience

VIDEO: New Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Launch Film

Now that Land Rover has unleashed most of the details surrounding its new Range Rover Evoque 5-door, the British company is turning its attention on promoting the crossover model to the social media. Beginning from Wednesday, December 1st, the automaker will share a new animated film of the five-door Evoque on its official social media pages including Facebook. For those curious enough (or bored...) to want to take a look, follow the break for the official clip.

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Mazda Logo Evolution through the Century - Plus 185 Historic Pictures

Mazda, the maker of cars such as the RX-7, RX-8 and MX-5/Miata, turned 90 this month. So what a better time to take a trip down memory lane and see how the Japanese company’s logo and cars evolved over the past century.

The first corporate logo dates back to 1936. It was registered as a trademark when Mazda began manufacturing its first three-wheeler. The name itself is a derivative from Ahura Mazda, the god of wisdom, intelligence and harmony in early Asian cultures. It also derives from the anglicized version of the founder’s name, Jujiro Matsuda.

At the same time, Mazda introduced a brand symbol, too, inspired by the emblem of its hometown, Hiroshima. It was basically a stylized triple “M”, as in “Mazda motor manufacturer”, and the wings on both sides represented “agility, speed and the ability to soar to new heights” – always according to the automaker.

In 1959, when Mazda began making passenger cars, a new “M” logo was introduced and used for the first time on the R360 coupe. This way, Mazda tried to emphasize that it was the beginning of a new era in the company’s history.

Sixteen years later, in 1975, Mazda totally revamped its corporate identity and launched the logotype which, after three and a half decades, is still a base element of the firm's visual identity.

This was accompanied in 1992 by a new brand symbol. Mazda says that the composition expressed the “dimensions of wings, sun and a circle of light” – whatever that meant. More importantly, it provided the base for the current logo, which followed in June 1997 and, in my opinion, it’s the best one yet.

Building on the same “M” theme, it also incorporated a “V” shape, standing for “growth and improvement”, which was Mazda’s way of saying that it had entered a new era once again. In 2002, the concept was refined with the “Zoom-Zoom” tagline, as Mazda started to concentrate on a new generation of cars, delivering more driving pleasure than before.

In 2008, Mazda came up with a new global visual identity, integrating the unchanged logo into a rectangle, called “dynamic wing”, and placing the “Zoom-Zoom” tagline at an angle. This composition wants to express the “bold, distinctive nature of Mazda”.

While the logo and corporate identity had few iterations over the 90-year period, Mazda’s line-up was much diversified and saw plenty of change, highlighted in the list below. Also, check out our 185 gallery to see some of the firm's cars throughout its 90 year history.

By Csaba Daradics

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