Sunday, March 31, 2013
2014 Cadillac CTS to pack twin-turbo V6: Top engine option rated a 420 hp, uses 8-speed automatic
Shelby Raptor off-road pickup unveiled at New York auto show: More power for Ford's super truck
2011 Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Wallpaper Gallery
A very high performance hybrid.
Photo Gallery: 2011 Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid - High Resolution Wallpaper-Quality Photo Gallery - Automobile Magazine
We have to sort it out, says Red Bull's Marko of Vettel Formula One controversy in Malaysian Grand Prix
Source: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130325/F1/130329869?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=
Secondary Auto Financing
Source: http://www.christianet.com/autoloans/secondaryautofinancing.htm
Chrysler 200 dons Carhartt for New York auto show: 200 S Special Edition with interior designed by Carhartt will be on display at the show
On Driving an SSC and the Tuatara
Source: http://blogs.automobilemag.com/on-driving-an-ssc-and-the-tuatara-12045.html
2012 Honda CR-V Autofile SUV review: Honda's small crossover delivers exactly what buyers want
iRacer Profile: Dave Judson
It’s easy enough to think of Dave Judson as an IndyCar sim-racer. After all, he twice finished runner-up in the Division 2 standings of the iRacing.com IZDOD IndyCar Series – Oval (Fixed-Setup) in 2012, and in the top five in both the open and fixed setup IndyCar oval series in 2012 Season 3. And, with eight wins to his credit do far, 2013 S1 finds him trailing only friend/rival Tim Doyle in the IndyCar Oval (fixed) standings . . . and with four wins in the books so far, he’s P3 in the open setup IndyCars behind Martin Miller2 and Terry Matthiensen.
But pigeonholing the Mentor, Ohio native as “just” an IndyCar driver, would sell him short. Judson has earned a couple of Dayton Prototype class wins in the iRacing.com GRAND-AM Sports Car Series so far this season and, in January, he scored a worthy World Tour of iRacing “double” when he won his DP split in “2.4 Hours of Daytona” and took an overall Mustang class win in the “Roar Before the 2.4.” If only iRacing would get around to building the gone-but-not- forgotten Burke Lakefront Airport circuit, he’d be one happy Buckeye!
Q: How long have you been sim-racing?
A: I have been sim-racing for the last 2.5 years.
Q: What attracted you to iRacing?
A: My friend/fellow iRacer Eric Vanek kept telling me some good stories about truck races he had been doing at Talladega. I was intrigued so I looked into iRacing and saw how realistic it looked and I signed up and haven’t looked back!
Q: What are favorite iRacing cars/tracks?
A: I love racing the IndyCar on the oval side of things and the Daytona Prototype on the road side.
Q: What do you like most about iRacing?
A: The thing I like most is the competition with your rivals and the comradery between friends and teammates on the sim. Being able to race against real people all the time everytime on the service takes it just that extra step above the console games I used to play.
Q: What would you change about iRacing?
A: If I could change something about iRacing, I would change the Safety Rating system. I feel it’s too generous and it’s too easy to gain safety rating back by running time trails.
Q: How many hours a week do you spend on iRacing?
A: I probably spend about 10-15 hours a week on iRacing.
Q: Tell us about the paint schemes on your helmet/car(s).
A: I have two great supporters that I feature on my IndyCar, Tuffy Auto Center of Mentor, Ohio and a friend of mine’s charity bike ride “Spokes of Green.”
Q: What other sim-racing activities (Forza, Gran Turismo, rFactor, etc.) do you do?
A: I used to race Gran Turismo but after joining iRacing it just didn’t feel real enough and I haven’t really been on there since.
Spokes of Green and Tuffy Auto Center are two of Judson’s long-time supporters.
Q: What are your favorite video games?
A: My favorite video games are “old school” games for Sega Genesis like NHL ’95, Deion Sanders Prime Time Football and Road Rash 3.
Q: Do you do any real world racing? Has iRacing been of any benefit?
A: I unfortunately have never had to opportunity to do any real life racing.
Q: What is your most memorable iRacing moment?
A: I’d have to say that I have two most memorable moments. The first was winning the SoF race in the Indy Fixed Series this season with an outside pass in Turn 4 on the last lap at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Running the outside lane is usually an invitation to smack the wall coming out of 4 but somehow I made it work and was able to drag race Tim Doyle to the Yard of Bricks.
The second was winning the 16th Street League race at Michigan. It was the third of their Triple Crown races and to be able to win a full distance race against the talent that is in the series made it so memorable.
“Running the outside lane is usually an invitation to smack the wall coming out of 4 but somehow I made it work.”
Q: What is the iRacing moment you’d love to forget?
A: The moment I would love to forget was back a few years ago in the Indycar at Texas. My friends Eric Vanek (on pole) and Chuck Eisenbarth (starting P4) were in the race with me. I was starting second and I had forgotten to change my setup from a qualifying set to a race set. I didn’t figure that out until after the start of the race where I put the throttle down and the car unexpectedly jerked to the left and I took-out Eric and Chuck before we could even get to the line to start the race. Eric never lets me forget that I wrecked all of us!
Q: What car/track would you like to see iRacing add to the service?
A: If it was possible to add the Burke Lakefront Airport course in Cleveland, Ohio I would be a very happy man! Maybe that would encourage IndyCar to return to Cleveland!
Q: What person, living or dead do you most admire?
A: I admire Ayrton Senna the most. He always got the most out of his cars and was unrelenting in trying to be as fast as possible each time he was on track. I would like to think I have a little bit of that attitude on the virtual track. He was always so good at defeating alot of his competition mentally before even racing against them on track.
Judson matched Al Nagy’s record lap of 250.843 mph en route to this ‘screen shot finish” at Talladega.
Q: What’s your favorite real world racing series?
A: My favorite series is Formula 1. At this time I feel it has the best racing and the best competition among its competitors. A series where all the cars are not the same makes it that much more enjoyable to watch because the team with the best car and driver should be rewarded with the win.
Q: Name the title of the most recent book you read.
A: A Mechanic’s Tale by Steve Matchett.
Q: Name of your favorite movie/TV show?
A: My favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption and my favorite TV show is Seinfeld.
Q: How many of your close friends are iRacing members?
A: Three of my close friends are iRacing members. I have made a lot of friends on iRacing since I have joined. I really enjoy racing or just shooting the breeze with guys like Wil Vincent, Jon Porzuc, Brad Sanford and all my teammates at Banshee Autosport.
Q: Has competing with iRacers all around the world influenced your opinions/outlook on life/world events? How?
A: It has really made the world smaller for me, just because we’re countries or continents apart we all have the same passion for racing and the thrill of the competition.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/iracer-profile-dave-judson
Rolls-Royce Wraith makes U.S. debut at New York auto show: The "gentlemen's gran turismo" lands on our shores
Mecum schedule: 13 more auctions in 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Finishing Line - with Sebastian Vettel
More...
Go to the Formula 1 forum to discuss this story.
Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/formula-1-news/157737-finishing-line-sebastian-vettel.html
2013 Acura ILX 2.4
It's just a good little luxury car that you want to drive quickly.
Our own Evan McCausland wrote favorably about his first drive of the Acura ILX months ago, but to me his report was just white noise, and I had not been able to consider any aspect of the new small sedan other than its exterior styling, which I find uninspiring. So it was with low expectations that I slid behind the wheel of the ILX yesterday evening. What a pleasant surprise: the ILX drives incredibly well. It's easy to forget how nice it is to be in a proper little sport sedan with a really good manual gear shifter and nice clutch pedal takeup. All the right nuances are there.
Photo Gallery: 2013 Acura ILX 2.4 - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2013 Acura ILX 2.4 - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1209_2013_acura_ilx/index.html
2014 Chevy Camaro takes center stage in New York: Daytime TV show gets first look at restyled sports car
Online Refinancing Car Loans
Source: http://www.christianet.com/autoloans/refinancingacarloan.htm
First Look: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
The SRT crew gets busy on Chrysler's revamped flagship.
Sure, we like the all-new Chrysler 300 plenty. It's the best car of the newly updated stable of Chrysler Group offerings, and it has improved markedly over its predecessor. But that's not the version of the car that gets the blood boiling and the rubber burning. The new 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is, and it's coming soon to a Chrysler dealer near you after its debut at the 2011 New York auto show.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 - First Look - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1104_2012_chrysler_300_srt8_first_look/index.html
2012 BMW 335i sedan Autofile test review: BMW is still the midsize-sports-sedan benchmark
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2013 Lexus LS 460 AWD F Sport review notes: Still on the cushy side
Hey
Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/chit-chat/157741-hey.html
Driving the 2014 Shelby Focus ST: Herbie the Omni Bug goes like hell s'more
By: Sarahcharles
Importers.com is the world’s largest North American-based online B2B platform, dedicated to promoting trusted trade across the globe, with a particular focus on the G20 economies.
2011 Technology of the Year: Electric Propulsion
Clean, green, high-efficiency machines are finally ready for the road.
The skeptics insisted it would never happen, that electric cars couldn't compete with internal combustion a century ago, and -- until cheap, powerful, and dependable batteries arrive -- they never will.
2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - New Design Language
If looks could thrill.
We knew we were adding a dash of flash to our Four Seasons fleet when we took delivery of a Range Rover Evoque, but we did not expect our newly arrived Mazda CX-5 to turn just as many heads as the posh Range Rover.
Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Season Update - May 2012 - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Season Update - May 2012 - Automobile Magazine
The Dangers Of Driving With A Cold Or Flu
Source: http://thebestcarfinanceblog.co.uk/the-dangers-of-driving-with-a-cold-or-flu/
When the State DOT Stands in the Way of Local Progress
There should be a special term for the all-too-common phenomenon of a state DOT putting the kibosh on a promising local project. DOT-blocking! (Yes, it’s pronounced “dot-blocking.”)
Because of the Ohio Department of Transportation's over-the-top lane width requirements, there's "no room" for bike lanes on this road in Cleveland. The city may be forced to spend $2 million building an off-street path instead. Image: Angie Schmitt
And have we got a good DOT-blocking story for you today. Ohio Department of Transportation regulations are essentially making it impossible for Cleveland to act upon its recent, hard-won complete streets policy, reports Marc Lefkowitz at local blog Green City Blue Lake. On Twitter yesterday, Walkable City author Jeff Speck called this a “perfect example of how DOTs are the prime enemy of progress.”
Lefkowitz reports that ODOT’s design guidelines, coupled with its general refusal to grant exemptions, essentially force Cleveland to build highway-width traffic lanes through urban neighborhoods. And that means there’s no room for bikes.
A few early projects serve as examples, Lefkowitz explains:
A rule has been cited by ODOT that has removed bike lanes from the W. 65th Street plan, because it would narrow lanes to 10 or 11 feet rather than the standard issue 12 feet. [Here ODOT is adhering to its own design guide for state highways, which requires at least one 12 foot lane in each direction, wider even than the accepted national guide from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which itself can be considered overly rigid and old-fashioned]. With on-street parking, it is admittedly a challenge to fit a five-foot-wide bike lane on W. 65th Street [pictured above].
But FHWA has a guideline for bike lanes with on-street parking, if cities are really interested in having both. FHWA notes that narrowing lane widths is within road engineering standards, especially on streets that have moderate traffic. It’s why FHWA routinely sees cities apply for exemptions to these federal edicts. The Feds grant these exceptions because they recognize that in urban areas, the context of the street should hold greater value. Because they defer to cities that want to fulfill goals of calming traffic, improving safety and comfort for all users on the road.
What does that mean for W. 65 Street? A more common sense and more cost effective solution—bike lanes on the roadway—are being ruled out.
Here’s the really outrageous part: Because the city of Cleveland doesn’t think it can get the Ohio Department of Transportation to grant an exemption, it is planning to install an off-road trail instead, at great expense to this struggling city, Lefkowitz says:
It costs around $1 million per mile to build a bikeway. The stretch of West 65th Street from Denison to Detroit avenues under the plan is 2 miles, and with the city [policy limiting its total per-project investment in] Complete and Green Streets projects at $1 million, something will have to give.
So here’s the question that’s been gnawing at me: Why would the Ohio Department of Transportation, which is fast running out of money, require wider lane widths than the feds? Might it have something to do with the fact that this agency is literally headed by a former asphalt industry lobbyist?
Elsewhere on the Network today: Bike Portland reports there’s a bill in the Oregon legislature that would allow the state to spend gas tax revenues on bike projects. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign notes that car-oriented Staten Island is seeing its population stagnate, while walkable, transit-oriented Brooklyn is booming. And Human Transit wonders whether redistribution should be a goal of federal transit programs.
Source: http://streetsblog.net/2013/03/27/when-the-state-dot-stands-in-the-way-of-local-progress/
Friday, March 29, 2013
Car Loan Company
Source: http://www.christianet.com/autoloans/carloancompanies.htm
Mears and GEICO Team Quick Out of the Gate in 2013
Mooresville, NC (March 29, 2013) – Given the level of competition in NASCAR’s top two series’, it sometimes is a rarity for a driver to visit Victory Lane. Casey Mears has done it in both series and while his career has been blanketed with success, Mears has also met with frustration when his tenure at Ganassi Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing was cut short when the teams found themselves amid transition and change.
Fortunately for the Bakersfield, CA, native, he met team owner Bob Germain in 2010, a Florida auto dealer who has two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championships and was the new owner of a fledgling NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team that, at the time, was struggling to even make races. Mears was reeling from being out at a top NASCAR team, while Germain was figuring out how to build one. It would appear as though it was a match made in heaven… and it has been.
Since Mears and Germain united, the program has experienced significant growth each year and longtime sponsor GEICO has fully bought in. Recently, just prior to the 2013 Daytona 500, the insurance giant announced they would now be on-board full-time on the #13 Germain Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry for the next two seasons. Seemingly experiencing a surge of energy from the welcomed news, Germain Racing and Mears have shot out of the gate in 2013 and recorded Top 15 finishes in three of the first five races, including three in the last four weeks. Only incidental contact in Daytona where Mears’ #13 GECO Ford Fusion was hit unexpectedly on lap 33, and a heavy vibration in Las Vegas that sent him scrambling for pit road on lap 109, has hindered the team’s progress. If Mears was seeking redemption, it would appear as though he’s found it.
“I’ve been fortunate in my career to drive for some big teams and I learned a lot from those experiences and the great people I was surrounded by,” Mears said. “The situation at Germain is different because it’s a small team and I am included in every conversation and I appreciate the opportunity to have input on a daily basis. It’s like a family and we’ve been able to have continuity with our personnel since I’ve been here and that accounts for a lot when it comes to problem solving and becoming more competitive. We have a great group of people and they give 100% and put it all out there. I can’t thank GEICO, Ford and Bob Germain (team owner) enough for their belief and support of this team. I’m very excited about our program and the obvious progress we’ve made.”
To Mears point, the Germain team opted to test this week rather than enjoy an off-week that would have otherwise offered rest and relaxation. Mears and his GEICO team were the only NASCAR folks present when they tested ‘Little Rock’ on Wednesday in preparation for Martinsville.
While team owner Bob Germain sits comfortably with two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championships, it’s his current venture that is causing him excitement.
“We’re just a single car team that is working hard to get ahead in a series comprised of the best racecar drivers and teams in the world,” Germain said. “I love owning a team that has people with great character, passion and commitment. I don’t have to watch over these guys because they want to go to work, they want to be better and they fully commit to making it happen. Casey and the guys on the team really feed off of each other and I think we’re seeing how familial this team is and how strong our relationships are.” He continued, “We’ve enjoyed our relationship with Ford and they’ve been of great assistance in helping us get better. Our sponsor GEICO has been a great partner and it’s been fun to grow together and elevate the program one milestone at a time. It’s a dream come true to be competing at the Sprint Cup Series level and I’m fully committed to doing whatever it takes to continue our upward trajectory with GEICO by our side.”
To learn more about the GEICO Racing program, please visit: www.caseymearsracing.
You can also follow GEICO Racing on Twitter: www.twitter.com/
Please visit the Casey Mears Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/
Source: Player Management International, Inc., for GEICO Racing, Press Release
The article Mears and GEICO Team Quick Out of the Gate in 2013 is from Catchfence.
Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/sprintcup/03/29/mears-and-geico-team-quick-out-of-the-gate-in-2013/
Auto Car Loan
Source: http://www.christianet.com/autoloans/autocarloans.htm
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix winner Vettel knew he was wrong, says Red Bull boss Horner
Source: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130324/F1/130329892?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=
Cash Loans With Car As Collateral
Source: http://www.christianet.com/autoloans/cashloanswithcarascollateral.htm
NASCAR: Logano action not deliberate
Logano and Hamlin ended up fighting for victory at Fontana a week after clashes both on and off track at Bristol.
The pair made contact, with Hamlin hitting the wall head on and suffering an injury that will rule him out of at least five races.
In an television interview before the severity of Hamlin’s situation became apparent, Logano said “he probably shouldn’t have done what he did last week, so that’s what he gets.”
NASCAR chose to issue no penalties over the clash, and Darby said it was clear from how Logano and Hamlin were racing that it was a normal close fight for victory rather than anything malicious.
“They were side-by-side and everything that great competitors do,” he said.
“If somebody was of the mindset to retaliate, they probably would have been lined up nose to tail to start with and somebody would have drove into the other car and spun them around.
“This case is so far from the opposite that it never even crossed anybody’s mind that that was part of it.”
PITLANE BRAWL
Logano was also involved in a pitlane fracas with Tony Stewart in which the three-time champion angrily accused the Penske driver of blocking him.
No penalties were applied in this case either and Darby said NASCAR was happy for its drivers to voice their feelings in such a way.
“A few years ago, we backed away from micromanaging drivers’ emotions,” he said.
“You would hope in today’s world that if somebody didn’t win a race, they would be upset about it for whatever reason.
“A couple of drivers at the end of the race arguing a little bit doesn’t create a foul in our world today.
Darby also ruled out any NASCAR intervention in the sort of defensive driving Stewart was enraged over.
“Right now, I can tell you there are not any conversations internally inside NASCAR to look at blocking as the violation or penalty-type situation that some other forms of motorsports do,” he said.
“With Sprint Cup Series racing obviously being far above a lot of the other forms of racing as far as competitiveness goes, we are going to have close racing, and close side by side racing, and we are going to have close front to rear racing, and there’s a lot of that that’s just part of competition.
“I don’t think we need to jump in the middle of any of that and screw it up.”
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/nascar/nascar-logano-action-not-deliberate
2014 Buick Regal First Look
A fresh face.
The Buick Regal may bring plenty of European sophistication to Buick's line-up, but buyers have collectively shrugged their shoulders of late; the Regal is now outsold by its American sibling, the Verano. To stay fresh, the Regal needed an infusion of technology and a bit more style and technology, which would explain why the 2014 Regal offers all three.
Photo Gallery: 2014 Buick Regal First Look - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2014 Buick Regal First Look - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/new_york/2013/1303_2014_buick_regal/index.html
Hamlin diagnosed with back fracture
Hamlin and Logano were fighting for the lead at the final corner when contact pitched both men into the wall.
Hamlin made hit the inside barrier head-on, the impact such that all four wheels of his Joe Gibbs Toyota left the ground.
While he initially signalled that he was alright, once out of the car Hamlin had to be stretchered off the track. He was then airlifted to hospital.
Doctors confirmed on Monday that Hamlin has suffered a L1 compression fracture.
A team statement said he hopes to be released and fly home to North Carolina today, with further evaluations to follow later in the week.
There was no immediate word on how long Hamlin could be out, or whether surgery will be required.
Hamlin and Logano had clashed one week earlier at Bristol, with Logano convinced Hamlin cost him a shot at victory.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the Fontana crash, before the severity of Hamlin’s injury became clear, Logano said: “He probably shouldn’t have done what he did last week, so that’s what he gets.”
In the same race Logano was lambasted by Tony Stewart, who said the Penske man needed to ‘learn a lesson’ following his defensive driving at the race’s final restart.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/nascar/hamlin-diagnosed-with-back-fracture
Honda to Add 400 New Jobs in Canada
Online Car Loan Applications
Source: http://www.christianet.com/autoloans/onlinecarloanapplications.htm
Excitement Brewing at Talladega Superspeedway for Track’s Debut of Generation 6 Car in Aaron’s 499
And why not! Talladega leads the way in NASCAR in a number of categories with a host of records that puts the facility in a league of its own, where racing three and four wide on the high banks are the norm. The excitement surrounding the new Generation 6 car should be icing on the cake for the unpredictable 2.66-mile layout.
“Talladega is fun,” said Kyle Busch, NASCAR’s most recent winner as well as the 2008 Aaron’s 499 victor. “It certainly has its own aspect of challenges. I’m sure many drivers have led into the reasons of those, just with all the unknowns surrounding the place, but it’s exciting. It’s certainly its own form of racing and it’s almost its own form of motorsports. It’s Talladega and you never know what to expect.”
Some of the categories where Talladega separates itself from other venues include:
- · Most Lead Changes – 88, twice (TSS leads category in eight of the top 10 in history)
- · Most Leaders – 29 (TSS leads category in nine of the top 10 in history)
- · Closest Finish – 0.002 seconds (Tied with Darlington for closest ever)
- · NASCAR’s steepest (33 degrees) and biggest (2.66-miles) track
“You white-knuckle it, hold on tight,” says Jeff Gordon, a six-time winner at Talladega, including four in the Aaron’s 499. “If I am a fan, it is incredibly intense. It’s wide. It’s crazy. You’re going to see it. I mean, that literally is bumper cars at almost 200 mph.
“If I am a race fan, I want to see two and three-wide racing all day long, passing back and forth. I want to see guys shoving one another. Guys are going to be aggressive (at the end). They (fans) should be lined up out to the highway (to get into a race at Talladega Superspeedway).”
Joey Logano, who has been in contention to win this year on several occasions, is still chasing his first win at Talladega and knows the track’s Victory Lane is hallowed ground.
“I haven’t seen one predictable (race) at Talladega yet,” said Logano, whose best finish at TSS is third in the 2009 Aaron’s 499. “You like to think it’s predictable and you like to think you have a game plan – the game plan did come through that time, so that’s exciting. Crazy race.”
Maybe Carl Edwards, still chasing his first triumph at Talladega, puts it best: “I know what it is like for a fan to watch a race at Talladega. It is just spectacular.” And, it will be in May with Talladega’s debut of the Generation 6 car.
The most competitive racing in NASCAR combined with a mix of southern hospitality returns to Talladega Superspeedway May 3-5 for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend. Experience the excitement as the superstars of NASCAR attempt to tackle the high-banks of ‘DEGA at 200 mph. Secure your tickets at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or by calling 877-Go2-DEGA. This is more than a race…This is Talladega!
Source: Talladega Superspeedway, Press Release
The article Excitement Brewing at Talladega Superspeedway for Track’s Debut of Generation 6 Car in Aaron’s 499 is from Catchfence.
Jackie Stewart predicts competitive season for McLaren, supports F1 race at Bahrain
Source: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130323/F1/130329904?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=
2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Surprisingly Sporty
A crossover that's fun to drive.
Crossovers have become the white bread of the automotive market both for their ubiquity -- more than one out of every five vehicles sold last year -- and for the fact that they're more convenient than they are interesting or enjoyable.
Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Seasons Introduction - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Seasons Introduction - Automobile Magazine
SRT Unveils 2013 Dodge Charger SRT8 392 Appearance Package, Chrysler 300 SRT Concept
The 2013 New York auto show is ramping up in the frigid northeast, but on the other side of the country in California, things are hot at the annual Spring Festival, held for owners of LX-platform Chrysler models. (For those not in the know, those are the Dodge Challenger and Charger, as well as the Chrysler 300.) Things got even hotter, however, when SRT revealed an all-new 392 appearance package for the 2013 Dodge Charger SRT8 as well as a 300-based SRT concept.
Dodge Charger SRT8 392
The 392 moniker isn’t new—Dodge recently slapped it on the Challenger SRT8 for 2011 to create a special edition, later melding that car into the regular Challenger SRT8 lineup—and it’s a nod to the Chrysler’s 1950s 392 engines. (OK, so the SRT-specific 6.4-liter Hemi V-8′s displacement is actually 391 cubic inches, but what’s a little advantageous rounding among friends?) But this is the first time the 392 name has been applied to the Charger SRT8 sedan. Besides getting a 392 badge on each front fender, the limited-edition Charger’s hood bulge, roof, rear spoiler, and mirrors are painted black. The wheels are the same 20-inchers offered on the regular SRT8, but painted a black chrome finish, and there is a black stripe package that runs above the rocker panels.
The appearance kit will be available with five exterior paint colors: Bright White, Billet Silver, Plum Crazy, Hemi Orange, and TorRed. Mechanically, the Charger SRT8 is untouched, meaning it sports a 470-hp V-8 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Based on our testing, this combo is good for some impressive performance stats. Inside, there is a serialized plaque affixed to the dashboard showing which number the car is out of the 392 that will be built this year and next. Finally, for those lucky enough to get their hands on a Charger 392—SRT will start taking orders in April—the privilege will cost $2495 over the cost of a regular example. If the looks matter to you, the price won’t.
- Instrumented Test: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee
- Instrumented Test: 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
- Comparison Test: 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye vs. 2012 Ford Focus SE
Chrysler 300 SRT Concept
In addition to the Charger SRT8 392 package, SRT also debuted a Chrysler 300 SRT8–based concept car just for Spring Fest fans. The mean-looking 300 wears a non-metallic grayish-blue paint job, gets blacked-out trim, and black chrome wheels. According to Chrysler, the 300 SRT concept doesn’t preview any specific upcoming model or trim package, but merely was created as a treat for Spring Festival attendees. Still, we think it looks pretty bad-ass—or at least the front-end does. We just wish Chrysler had supplied a few more photos.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/awv_1l8DhNA/
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Subaru sees big fuel economy gains from 1st hybrid
Malaysia race quotes: Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg – 8th: “I feel quite well rewarded going home with four points after my first race of the season in a new team and with a new car. I am quite happy with how it went, especially at the start of the race when we were quite quick on the intermediates. But then I was stuck in traffic and couldn’t find my way past other drivers. I think eighth was well deserved, considering I had to fight and push a lot today. I think the potential is there, and now we have to work on a few details.”
Esteban Gutierrez – 12th: “P12 is an OK result, but Ideally we would have liked to finish in the points. At the end of the race we lost time because we stayed on the same set of tyres for too long. We tried to change the strategy and I did my best. That was all we could do at that stage. Overall the weekend is a step forward and we need to keep working and put everything together to achieve points.”
Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal: “We are happy about this result, because we had an unexpected difficult weekend. However, we were able to improve step by step. We now have a better understanding of those areas in which we have to improve. This will help us to exploit the full potenial of the car.”
Tom McCullough, Head of Track Engineering: “Both drivers handled the difficult intermediate condions at the beginning of the race well, and communicated well with the engineers on the pit wall to get the right tyres at the right time. It’s good to get the first points on the board. We’ve got a lot of good data to analyse, which will help us to be even stronger in Shanghai.”
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/malaysia-race-quotes-sauber
Denny Hamlin wins 13th career NASCAR Sprint Cup pole, third at Fontana
2011 Bentley Mulsanne Wallpaper Gallery
Bentley's newest sedan.
Photo Gallery: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne - High Resolution Wallpaper-Quality Photo Gallery - Automobile Magazine
2011 Automobile Magazine All-Stars
Ten of our favorite cars from ten different manufacturers, including some old favorites and some new surprises.
Automotive photography is an art, and longtime readers will remember that we have presented our annual All-Star winners in all manner of artistically inspired photos over the years. From a series of nighttime shots in 2003, to a sporting focus in 2004, to Hollywood sets in 2005, to Route 66 back in 2007, to last year's streets-of-San-Francisco theme, we've been there and done it all. Our photographers have shrink-wrapped a Mazda Miata, splattered paint on a Ferrari, and stretched the boundaries of Photoshop in search of the perfect image.
This year, wanting to do something different, creative director Kelly Murphy turned to talented young German illustrator Daniel Stolle to portray our ten All-Star recipients for 2011. Inspired by Matchbox toy cars, Stolle presents our diverse dream garage through the eyes of a child. "After all," he explains, "real cars are more or less toys for grown-ups." We can't argue with him on that. And what a toy box we have this year: ten vehicles from ten different manufacturers, with some old favorites and some new surprises. Step into our playroom with us, will you?
Photo Gallery: 2011 Automobile All-Stars - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/awards/1012_2011_automobile_all_stars/index.html
First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
Ah, the five-door hatchback: As popular in America as a Donizetti opera in Albuquerque, or charcuterie at your local White Castle.
Ah, the five-door hatchback: As popular in America as a Donizetti opera in Albuquerque, or charcuterie at your local White Castle. (Actually, a White Castle slider might be considered a form of charcuterie).
Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1206_2013_hyundai_elantra_gt/index.html
2013 Mazda CX-5 Sport review notes: We like small SUVs equipped with manuals
Mercedes hails Rosberg’s team spirit
The German was asked to hold ground behind Lewis Hamilton at Sepang in order to secure a three-four finish for the Brackley-based squad.
Hamilton admitted afterward that Rosberg had deserved his podium spot.
Wolff lauded Rosberg’s actions, particularly as he acknowledged that Rosberg had been unhappy with the team’s call.
“As a racing driver, deep inside him [Rosberg] is not happy about it,” Wolff told AUTOSPORT. “But he understands why that call was made.
“We are all grown ups and they are grown up. They are professional sportsmen and they understand that sometimes there can be a certain controversy in a certain situation.
“Obviously as a race driver you are not happy because you could have gone faster, but you also have to bear in mind that it is about the team also, and where the team came from.
“Imagine the two Red Bulls crashing; you look like an idiot and he looks like an idiot. So we took a conservative approach. Because of where we were last year, it was a good call.”
Wolff said he is sure there will be no lingering resentment after sitting down with both drivers and team principal Ross Brawn in the aftermath of the race.
“We have sorted it out after the race, Ross and I sat down with the drivers and there is no issue any more,” he explained.
“I am really happy that we don’t have this problem; that we have two team-mates who have a good relationship with each other; that we have a driver like Nico who has accepted a call that was not satisfying for him.
“We have no controversy in the team.”
Online Auto Financing
Source: http://www.christianet.com/autoloans/onlineautofinancing.htm
2012 Automobile Magazine All-Stars
The 2012 All Stars are our answers to the question: What's the best car?
Choosing The Winners
What's the best car? Everybody wants to know. It's a difficult question, really. There is no single best car. But when you drive as many different new vehicles as we do, people expect you to have an answer, and we do. The best new car introduced in the past year is our Automobile of the Year. For 2012, the winner is the Audi A7.
Photo Gallery: 2012 All-Stars - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 All-Stars - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/awards/1201_2012_all_stars/index.html
Best 'Popemobile' for Francis: Cars that should make their way into the Vatican fleet
Who are NASCAR's 20 most controversial drivers of all time?
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
2014 Kia Soul
Five years after the kicky, athletic-shoe-shaped Kia Soul hit the road running, it's signed up for a second run. Making its debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show, the 2014 Kia Soul has done more than absorb some of the cues from concept cars like Kia's cute Track'ster. It's moved to a new platform--the same one underpinning the new 2014...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCarConnection-CarReviews/~3/mL7wdoORQls/kia_soul_2014
First Look: Lamborghini Veneno
$3.9 million, 750 hp, 221 mph.
The connection between Lamborghini cars and dangerous fighting bulls extends beyond the raging bull emblem. The twelve-cylinder Aventador is named for a fearless Spanish bull that won an award in 1933; the Gallardo for a highly prized breed of fighting bull. Lamborghini's newest arrival, the limited-run Veneno that debuts publicly at the Geneva Motor Show, is also named for a strong, fast, and aggressive bull, one that in 1914 killed a Spanish matador. It’s a foreboding name for a car capable of 221 mph.
Photo Gallery: First Look: Lamborghini Veneno - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: First Look: Lamborghini Veneno - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/geneva/2013/1303_lamborghini_veneno_first_look/index.html
2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Back to Ann Arbor
An efficient but noisy engine.
After spending the summer on the East Coast, our CX-5 has made its way back to Michigan. However, absence may not have made our hearts grow fonder for the sky-blue Mazda.
Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Seasons Update - September 2012 - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Seasons Update - September 2012 - Automobile Magazine
Audi A1 Urban Sport : 1200 exemplaires
Commercialisée à 1200 unités sur le marché français, et donc avec le choix entre les deux motorisations déjà évoquées, cette A1 Urban Sport sera proposée en 3 portes ou Sportback. Elle reprend les équipements de la finition de milieu de gamme Ambiente mais en hérite de nouveaux.
La marque aux quatre anneaux de détailler qu’elle reçoit donc : projecteurs Xenon Plus, avec feux de jour à LED, et antibrouillards, feux arrière à LED, pack extérieur S line, jantes alliage 17″, peinture métallisée vernie, arches de pavillon et rétroviseurs en couleur contrastée (3 portes) ou pavillon et arches de toit en couleur contrastée (Sportback), pack esthétique noir, sortie d’échappement noire, entourage des diffuseurs d’air intérieur de la couleur de la carrosserie et accoudoir central avant.
Notons aussi que le choix extérieur s’articule autour des teintes rouge misano nacré, blanc glacier, argent glacier, noir fantôme. La citadine A1 Urban Sport s’affiche au ticket d’entrée de 20 070 € (1,2 TFSI) et 21 590 € (1,6 TDI) soit 2 000 € de plus que l’A1 dans sa finition Ambiente.
A lire également. Essai Audi A1 1.6 TDI : Vorsprung durch diesel et Essai Audi A1 Sportback : pas un centimètre de plus.
Source : Audi.
Crédit illustrations : Audi.
Source: http://www.leblogauto.com/2013/03/audi-a1-urban-sport-1200-exemplaires.html
2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI - All quiet on the Midwestern front.
January was a busy month for our Four Seasons Volkswagen Passat TDI.
January was a busy month for our Four Seasons Volkswagen Passat TDI. Not only did it return from an extended vacation in New York, but it also crested the 20,000-mile mark and went in for a VW-prescribed check-up at the dealer. February, however, was rather quiet.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI - Four Seasons Update - February 2013 - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI - Four Seasons Update - February 2013 - Automobile Magazine
Malaysia race quotes: Red Bull
Sebastian Vettel – 1st: “I messed up today. I would love to come up with a nice excuse as to why I did it, but I can’t. I can understand Mark’s frustration and the team not being happy with what I did today; I owe an explanation to him and the whole team. I will try to explain to them later.
“We talk about this situation happening many times and what we will do if and when it happens and normally it doesn’t, but today it did and I should have translated the call into action. I got the call and I ignored it.
“Mark and I are used to fighting each other when we’re close, but with the tyres how they are now, and not knowing how long they will last, it was an extremely big risk to ignore the call to stay second. We could have ended up finishing eighth or ninth after destroying the tyres in those two laps; I put myself above a team decision, which was wrong. I didn’t mean to and I apologise. I’m not happy I’ve won, I made a mistake and if I could undo it I would. It’s not easy right now and I owe apologies to Mark and the team.”
Mark Webber – 2nd: “I think Sebastian has respect for me and I have respect for him, but the situation today was not handled well. It’s hard to put your finger on it all now after the race; when we’re racing on the limit and pushing as hard as we can, then it’s the worst situation for a team. I am sure they are bricking themselves and know that things can go wrong.
“There’s a bit of history to this as well; my mind in the last 15 laps was thinking about a lot of things, but I was happy with the way I drove. I tried to isolate what happened at the end and we got something out of it today, but of course I’m not satisfied with the result. This puts heat on a few people and unfortunately there’s no rewind button.
“I know people want raw emotion from us after these situations and it’s there, but we need to remain cool. There’s three weeks until the next race, so time for us to work on things.”
Christian Horner – Team principal: “Before getting into anything else, it was a phenomenal team performance from the car and pit crew today with the pit crew recording fantastically fast stops. We recorded our fastest ever time on Mark’s second stop, which is possibly a new best-ever in the pitlane.
“Obviously there’s an awful lot of debate about what happened at the end of the race. Our position after that finial pitstop was all about managing the race until the end and conserving our tyres, getting the cars to the finish and achieving maximum points. Unfortunately drivers’ interests can sometimes come into conflict with the teams’.
“Sebastian decided to take things into his own hands today and race Mark, thankfully making a clean pass and switching the order to the flag. It’s frustrating. Formula One is both a team and an individual sport and sometimes there is a conflict between a driver’s desire and a team’s interest. What happened today is something that shouldn’t have happened. It’s something that Sebastian has apologised for and it’s something that we will discuss internally as a team.”
Thierry Salvi – Renault: “It was a tough race. I think we managed well with both engines and fuel consumption was under control throughout. It was easier to control temperatures due to it being wet at the start. I think the set-up we provided worked well. It was quite tight between both engines in the race and they were similar with engine performance.”