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Recharge Wrap-up: BlaBlaCar raises $100M, NASA launches CO2 satellite

BlaBlaCar, a ridesharing startup in Europe, has raised $100 million in a funding round led by Index Ventures. After recently growing to 12 countries and 8 million users, BlaBlaCar plans to us the funding for even more aggressive growth throughout Europe. The ridesharing service pairs drivers and passengers, allowing passengers to catch rides between cities while allowing drivers to save money on fuel on road trips. Drivers are not allowed to make a profit, and are only allowed to charge enough to break even after BlaBlaCar takes its percentage, to keep costs low for everyone involved. BlaBlaCar doesn't currently have plans to break into the US. Read more at The New York Times or at Gigaom. NASA has launched its Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 into space to keep track of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere. After being delayed on Tuesday, the Delta II rocket equipped with an instrument to measure CO2 launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 5:56 am on Wednesday. It is ultimately headed for a polar orbit to watch how CO2 levels rise and fall throughout the seasons, in part to try to figure out if the land and oceans will continue to be able to absorb half of carbon emissions. The mission will last two years, and should give further insight into climate change. Learn more in the video below, at NASA or at New York Times. Mazda is likely to release a plug-in version of its Mazda2 hatchback with a rotary range extender, reports Australian site Motoring. The electrified Mazda2, and any other future Mazda EVs and hybrids, will likely be limited to markets with government subsidies for such vehicles (which doesn't include Australia) says Mazda Australia Managing Director Martin Benders. "As the best possible fuel economy at an affordable price hybrid doesn't make sense, because the fuel economy gain isn't that great unless half of all sales are hybrid, which won't happen without big tax breaks like in the Netherlands," said Benders. That doesn't rule out the US, though. A prototype version of the range-extended Mazda2 featured a 0.33-liter rotary engine to provide power to the lithium-ion battery pack when depleted. A 2.6-gallon gas tank essentially doubled the electric Mazda2's driving range to 250 miles. Read more at Motoring. Zap plans on selling 1,000 Urbee EVs per month to SunRa for distribution in China.

2019 Mazda3 shows off factory bodykit, Miata gets a hardtop at Tokyo Auto Salon

The 2019 Mazda3 wasn't exactly lacking in the sporty style department when it was shown last month in L.A. But everyone, including Mazda, knows that doesn't mean it can't be even sportier. As such, the company is showing off a version of the new compact hatchback at Tokyo Auto Salon, a modified car and aftermarket parts show, with a body kit. It's a subtle one, consisting of a black front lip spoiler, black side skirts, and a longer, slightly upturned rear spoiler. Its low-key design fits in well with the Mazda3's taut, clean lines, and it makes the car look lower and more purposeful. The Mazda3 isn't the only car getting some love at the Tokyo Auto Salon. The company will display an MX-5 Miata with a removable hardtop made of carbon fiber. Now, you may remember that Mazda does offer a hardtop, but just for racing drivers. That top is a bit odd looking with a really high rear-end to clear motorsports-spec roll bars and cages. This top follows the lines of the roadster's soft top, looking much more sleek. Neither sets of parts here have been announced for production, but we wouldn't be surprised to see them show up as Mazda accessories. The Mazda3 body kit in particular seems a shoe-in, since the previous generation Mazda3 had a very similar appearance package available. The Miata top certainly seems as though it was designed with regular consumers in mind. Its future is less certain, though. For one thing, Mazda can point to the Miata RF if you want a solid roof. Then again, Mazda still offered a removable hardtop for conventional Miata roadsters even after the original power-retractable hardtop model was introduced. If it does come to market, though, expect it to be made from more affordable fiberglass and be painted in factory colors. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Driving a $500 junker in a 500-mile off-road rally race | 'The List' #0500

Jessi and Patrick have done some insane rally races on "The List," but in an effort to continually out-do themselves, this might be the craziest yet. It's called the Gambler 500, and the idea is that 2,000-plus participants take $500 cars and drive them 500 miles across Oregon, mostly off-road. It's a maniacal mishmash of cars with not enough doors, too many doors, airplane wings strapped to the tops, graffiti'd cartoons on the hoods, stuffed animals hanging out the windows — you get the idea. Our hosts start the race with an absolutely epic Mazda Miata sitting atop super swampers. It didn't have a top, but have no fear because it had a roll cage, so ... that's better? Unfortunately though, they didn't have time to customize the car fully to their liking before the race, so the first stop after the starting gun was naturally a garage sale for some knickknacks to give the car a little more flair. One of the defining aspects of the Gambler 500 is having the most obnoxious, bonkers car possible, and the old Miata needed a bit of a kick in the ass. Thankfully, the crew found the largest teddy bear in existence, strapped that bad boy to the roll cage, and they were on their way. There are a few routes you can choose to take in the Gambler 500, and our crew chose the most challenging, called "The Devil's Butthole." A hilarious name for an outrageously fun route, it's definitely not one that many Miatas have likely tackled. And therein lies the gamble: Will they make it to the end? As always, you'll have to watch the episode above to find out. If you liked the episode, don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube page and like our Facebook page for more exclusive content from "The List" and if you're interested in learning more about the Gambler 500 or even participating in the event, check out their official website or follow them on Facebook! Click here to find more episodes of "The List" Click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick Auto News Celebrities Weird Car News Mazda Convertible Special and Limited Editions The List Videos Original Video jessi combs patrick mcintyre