Speed Kings – Road & Track Exclusive

In case you missed this show down of the “speed kings” then here it is. Follow this link to Road and Track’s test of unbridled acceleration from a standing start to 200 mph. During the memorial day weekend these guys didn’t exactly bar-b-q but they had a BBQ on the asphalt at the Naval Air Station Lemoore in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

The cars included:

Lamborghini Murciélago	Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren	Ruf Rt 12
Lingenfelter Corvette	Bugatti Veyron 16.4	Hennessey Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Viper

Check it out at Road and Tracks website link here!

Cadillac Sporting it up – Sporty Caddy’s in the future

 

Cadillac has a rather “sporty” outlook into the future all incorporated into most of the new car lineup. From the infamous side gills/vents to the sporty front once-was bling bling grill they have revamped some of the old stogie bland caddy look we grew to know years ago.

Excerpt from AutoWeek:

FUTURE PRODUCT PLANS
2008
CTS restyled, re-engineered
STS refreshened

2009
CTS-V restyled, re-engineered
CTS wagon possible
XLR refreshening
BRX crossover likely

2010
CTS coupe expected
CTS sedan refreshening likely

2011
Small rwd sedan likely
Large rwd sedan possible
Rwd flagship sedan or coupe possible
SRX re-engineering, restyling possible

Cadillac is convinced it has found a winning formula: sporty handling rear-wheel-drive cars that can compete with European luxury sedans. Gone are the luxo-barges of old – at least in Cadillac’s car lineup.

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Americas Worst Traffic Traps

Source: Car Safety – Americas Worst Traffic Traps – AOL Autos

  

They have nicknames: “Hillside Strangler,” “Mixing Bowl,” “Spaghetti Junction” and “Orange Crush.”

They drive commuters crazy. They stall commerce. They waste fuel uselessly. And fixing them? Nothing doing. When you’re talking about America’s worst traffic traps — the highway bottlenecks that cause the most hours of delay per year — there’s been little to do but sit on someone’s bumper and complain.

In Pictures: America’s Worst Traffic Traps

Could it be changing? Last week, nine of America’s most congested cities were named semi-finalists for a federal program that will provide a total of $1.1 billion to fight traffic jams. The Department Of Transportation (DOT) will consider proposals for its Urban Partnership program from Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, New York City, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle, with plans to announce winners by mid-August.They have nicknames: “Hillside Strangler,” “Mixing Bowl,” “Spaghetti Junction” and “Orange Crush.”

They drive commuters crazy. They stall commerce. They waste fuel uselessly. And fixing them? Nothing doing. When you’re talking about America’s worst traffic traps — the highway bottlenecks that cause the most hours of delay per year — there’s been little to do but sit on someone’s bumper and complain.

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First test drive of Audi R8

See the R8 up close and personal for the first time as Tim Harvey gets his hands on Audi’s first supercar. Taking it for a spin around the track he finds out exactly how it handles. For more of this programme watch the Audi Channel at channel 884 on Sky or go to audi.co.uk

Put some smooth edges on that Box – 2008 Scion xB

2008 SCION XB AS-TESTED PRICE: $17,297 DRIVETRAIN: 2.4-liter I4; fwd, five-speed manual OUTPUT: 158 hp @ 6000 rpm, 162 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm CURB WEIGHT:Curb weight: 3020 lb FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 24/27 mpg OPTIONS: TRD sport muffler ($489); rear spoiler ($423); carpeted floor/ cargo mats ($155)

AutoWeek’s Take on the new 2008 Scion xB:

We can’t help but find the xB’s new styling rather humorous. If you look at it from the side, it’s as if Toyota just italicized the xB, slanting the whole box-wheels a bit.

We were concerned about how the much wider rear pillar would obstruct visibility (à la our long-term Toyota FJ Cruiser), but it didn’t bother us at all. Inside, we found the xB comfortable in every way, from the seating to the feeling of space around the driver’s seat and the visibility through all that glass. The position of the shifter felt good, and the clutch pedal, even with a ton of travel, felt very smooth and easy to operate. The manual itself made the vehicle feel more powerful than the numbers indicate, and the sticker price and fuel economy are fabulous. We would, however, prefer a more traditionally positioned instrument panel and not the center-mounted unit like this uses.

As for the interior, the first thing we noticed was that the Pioneer radio had buttons bigger than pea-size—perhaps not such a big deal to the target demographic, but those with older eyes will appreciate the change.

Speaking of which, many of the automotively spoiled and blasé young people we know (i.e., that target demographic) hate Scions, if for the simple fact that they hate being marketed to. In fact, most of the Scions we see around here are driven by middle-age folks; its utility and economy are hard to beat.

The xB is spacious, with plenty of room for long-legged passengers in the rear seats, though taller front-seat passengers may find their knees smacking the dash/glovebox. We found the rear cargo will swallow a couple of hundred dollars of grocery bags, and we like the wide-opening driver’s/passengers’ doors.

One nice touch we found: There’s a padded little holder right in the front of the center console, good for keeping cell phones or iPods from getting bumped around.

2008 Subaru WRX Test Drive Video

So you want the big news with the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX? It makes the same power but is lighter, roomier and still rips to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds.

This is a rare combination. These days, every new model weighs more than the one before, and manufacturers keep adding power to compensate. Subaru has done exactly the opposite. Through the same clever engineering that brought the WRX to the U.S. in the first place, the Japanese carmaker has minimized the weight of this more spacious, all-wheel-drive WRX to retain its head-snapping acceleration.

Enjoy the Video…

Porsche Panamera Recent Spy Shots

Article source: LeftLaneNews

For the first time ever, we’re able to get a really good look at Porsche’s upcoming Panamera supersedan, which is designed to compete with Mercedes’ CLS and Maserati’s Quattroporte. These latest spy photos, shot just hours ago, give us an almost perfect view of the Panamera

Now that we can finally see the car’s true sheetmetal, we can make out the 911-esque side window arc, and the large, elongated headlights that look a bit like those from the 996-era 911s, rather than the more oval lights in the current 911. We can also make out equally large taillights that stretch around to the car’s side. A hatchback-style trunk lid like that on the Cayman is very obvious in these photos, despite Porsche’s weak efforts to disguise it.

Previously, we’ve shown you images of Panamera prototypes with obviously fake wings. But now we can see the retractable Boxster/Cayman-style spoiler that is just below the backlight. We’re not sure what the orange lines are below the wing – they must be designed to make the rear windshield (and its defrosting elements) appear much larger than it is.

The Panamera is due for the 2010 model year with a launch at some point in 2009. We’re expecting three engines mounted under the front hood, likely to mirror the Cayenne SUV.

July 24th, 2007

July 10th, 2007

Chrysler Extends Warranty – Forever

FROM CHRYSLER: CLICK HERE 

INTRODUCING THE BEST WARRANTY COVERAGE IN THE BUSINESS.

The Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty is the first of its kind to be offered by any automaker. Ever. Because with this warranty, you’re covered, and it lasts as long as you own your vehicle.

OUR LIFETIME POWERTRAIN LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE ICING.

OUR VEHICLES ARE THE CAKE.

The big news is that this powertrain limited warranty applies to the vast majority of our great new Chrysler Vehicles.* If you ever dreamed about cruising around town in the unmistakable Chrysler 300, relax. You won’t be left stranded by a short-term powertrain warranty.

THE NEXT STEP IS SIMPLE. GET TO YOUR CHRYSLER DEALER TODAY.

The only difficult decision you have to make is picking which great vehicle you want. For more information, visit your local dealer.

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