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"Let’s put that in perspective: racing an old VW Golf or Honda Civic once a month costs as much as buying a Nissan GT-R or Porsche Cayman S on a five-year loan."
Yikes! (But so worth it!) A primer on the true costs of getting started in club racing, here at Speed:Sports:Life. Enjoy!
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Remember how the Rabbit Cup cars of the early '80s would lift an inside rear wheel in tight corners? How the first imported '83 Volkswagen GTIs would dance around that tight road course in the commercials set to "Kleine GTI," the German version of the Ronnie and the Daytonas song? Sure, the original Rabbit GTI's live rear axle is long gone. Still, there's something in the character of the GTI that suggests an affordable, yet well-balanced hot hatch -- the original hot hatch -- that leaps about corners with an attitude defying and yet celebrating its front-wheel-drive.
Volkswagen's Mark V GTI recaptured that spirit, despite its independent rear suspension, after two generations of hot hatches that were well-mannered in their benign understeer too the point of feeling overweight and uninteresting. Good news, hot hatch fans. The Mark VI GTI on-sale this fall as a 2010 model, just like its immediate predecessor, does not feel overweight and it's not the least bit boring. While VW says it has reworked its front strut/rear multi-link suspension, it feels pretty much just like its predecessor, with much of the Mark V carried over but with new sheetmetal and a more refined interior. Mark V to Mark VI GTI, and its Golf basis are much like the difference between C5 and C6 Corvette. Dimensions are virtually unchanged, though all the sheetmetal below the daylight opening is new and slightly more angular, with wider taillamps and the right-side dual tailpipe moved to the right side of the underbody to make the GTI look lower and wider...Continued
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Somehow, it seems appropriate that “Weird Al” Yankovic is the first celebrity mention for the Model S, the family car that Tesla hopes to release in 2011.
“Just put a deposit down on a Tesla Model S. Yay, I get a new car in… 3 to 5 years!” wrote the composer of “Another One Rides the Bus,” “Eat It” and other modern classics wrote on his Twitter feed.
The Tesla Roadster, the $109,000 sports car, has already long been a status symbol among the elite. Owners include Dustin Hoffman, George Clooney, Sergey Brin and Sam Perry. (Sam let Oprah cry on him after the Obama election, so he’s sort of a drive-by celebrity, like Squeaky Fromme, but what the hell.)
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Everytime I see a new Challenger on the road I give it a thumbs up, it's such a great looking car . You just want to get in one and mash the pedal at every straightaway you see. Seeing one in modified form though is something I have yet to see so until then there is Mr. Leno's take on the new SRT-8 Challenger by Hurst.
Click here for Jay Leno's Garage Video
Hat tip to Luxvelocity
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SYDNEY (Hollywood Reporter) - Eric Bana's directorial debut "Love the Beast," documenting a quarter-century love affair with his 1974 Ford Falcon coupe, could easily be dismissed as a vanity project. Except that the immensely likable Australian actor seems incapable of conceit.
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Some bright spark has come up with a great idea for disused petrol stations – turn them into electric car charging centres!
That’s the plan of US firm Evoasis, which says the first of its sites could be open in London before the end of the year. But it told Auto Express that it’s also in talks with supermarket chain Tesco, with a view to adding charging points to its filling stations across the country.
Evoasis confirmed its first site is likely to be built near a major train station in the capital, such as Euston or Waterloo, while other earmarked locations include Canary Wharf and the centre of Soho. The firm claims that limited space could be overcome by installing a vertical parking system, which could be fitted to the side of a building.
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It appears as though GE Capital (GE) has invested in Tesla Motors, according to a leaked Car and Driver interview with CEO, Elon Musk.
We've raised around $40 million, and a bit of news that hasn't come out yet [is] General Electric is investing in Tesla. [GE Capital] will be the second-largest investor in this round, after me. Our business plan that we presented to investors gets us to profitability by the middle of this year, even if some negative stuff happens.
Coming hot on the heels of the unveling of Tesla's well-received Model S, this more good news for the struggling electric car company, but it doesn't mean the company is out of the woods at all.
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DETROIT - By Tuesday, General Motors Corp. will have to decide whether its struggling Hummer brand will die a quiet death or live on with a new owner.
The wounded automaker has told the federal government that it will make the decision to jettison or sell Hummer by the end of the first quarter as part of a plan to justify the government loans on which it is living.
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Hyundai is moving into the hybrid business quickly, with its first petrol-electric model expected to debut in South Korea this July and the U.S. by next year. Now, the carmaker’s American chief, John Krafcik, has revealed that management is considering building a more advanced plug-in hybrid sports car.
If given the go ahead, the vehicle would be based around the upcoming Blue-Will concept planned for next month’s Seoul Motor Show but no timeline has been suggested.
Krafcik went on to reveal that any production car based on the Blue-Will should "be a dedicated hybrid like the Prius and Insight", but unlike those cars it shouldn't be boring. He also told Automotive News that such a car has a “very good possibility” of coming to North America.
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Apparently, the recession is all in our heads. Hyundai motors has largely escaped the fate of its competitors in recent months, posting narrow sales losses or small sales gains each month while its competitors often saw sales slip by a third. Many analysts credit the automaker's unique Assurance Plus program for the success. The program allows buyers to return their new Hyundai, with no negative impact on their credit report, if they lose their income in the first year of ownership. In some circumstances, Hyundai will also make up to three payments on the buyer's behalf while the buyer searches for a new job.
So far, no one has taken advantage of the benefit.
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ADAC, Germany's and Europe's largest automobile club - something like the AAA in the USA- has released the latest crash test results for the Brilliance BS4 sedan and the outcome for BMW's Chinese partner is far from good. In fact, in the new crash test procedure that was performed under Euro NCAP's stricter rating scheme that takes into consideration safety systems such as electronic stability control (ESC) and seat belt reminders, the BS4 received a zero star rating. ADAC notes however that in the previous rating system, the BS4 would have been awarded with three stars. More Info
Complete YouTube video of crash test here: Crashtest Brilliance BS4
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BMW on Friday confirmed that it will debut a high-performance M version of the X6 crossover at the New York auto show in early April.
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Acura announced it will debut a prototype of the all-new ZDX luxury four-door sport coupe at the New York International Auto Show.
The prototype features striking coupe-like styling with the added benefit of a commanding presence and flexible utility to define a new luxury category.
“The ZDX prototype is unlike anything you have ever seen before from Acura,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president, Acura sales. “The prototype showcases a new level of luxury, style and refinement for Acura and speaks volumes towards our commitment to advancing the brand.”
The production version of the ZDX prototype will bring a new level of prestige to the Acura lineup when it arrives at dealerships this fall and offer the latest advancements in performance, technology and safety.
The ZDX prototype will be introduced at the New York International Auto Show on April 8, 2009 at 11:00 am in the Acura booth.
Source: Honda/Acura
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It was recently made public by Hamann that they currently have a body kit for their tuning program for the 2009 BMW 7-Series.
No details are yet available except that the kit comes with 22 inch wheels. A rear boot spoiler, a rear roof spoiler, four tailpipes and new side skirts compose the visual components.
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Assistant editor David Zenlea brings the IS-F out to New York, where contributor Jamie Kitman and I will spend several weeks with the car. Zenlea, who already has logged plenty of miles in the bright blue Lexus, traveled on the day of a major wind storm, which he was unaware of until he stepped out of the car to refuel and the door flew back in his face.
Although Zenlea comes away with even more respect for the IS-F, citing its "effortless acceleration and bullet-train-like high-speed stability" (which can find you at 120 mph when you thought you were doing 80), he prefers the return trip in the BMW 135i, despite its somewhat less awesome speediness.
Zenlea joins several others in criticizing the responsiveness of the eight-speed automatic - which does, after all, have to swap down several cogs in answer to a booted throttle. The gearbox might seem more responsive if you could just quickly slap it down a few ratios with the shift paddles without first having to move the gear lever out of drive.
Coming out of the 135i, which isn't exactly the most plush-riding car you can name, it's still a notable change to get into the IS-F, which feels far more stiffly sprung. The IS-F has a very busy ride, even over what appears to be smooth pavement.
Read More inside Automobile Magazine
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We just returned from a day in northern California testdriving the new Lexus RX 450h, and as you might expect, it's a rolling encyclopedia of new-car tech. We'll do our best to explain it all in thumbnails, but suffice to say, it's a capable and civilized alternative to your run-of-the-mill crossover rigs.
The heart of the RX is the time-proven Toyota 2GR 3.5L V-6 (a variant of which Lotus will be using next year on its GT4 Supersport race cars), which has been refined for this application with the addition of an EGR system for improved emissions and cooling, and an exhaust heat recovery system to aid in quicker heat-up times (i.e., cold-start conditions). The motor also runs an Atkinson-style combustion cycle (the power stroke is longer than the compression stroke), which helps to achieve greater fuel economy and thermal efficiencies at the expense of horsepower. How to remedy? In the RX's case, two ways.
First, the gas engine works in concert with Lexus Hybrid Drive, a battery-actuated hybrid system similar to Toyota's (Prius) Hybrid Synergy Drive. The Lexus system can be run for brief periods at high speeds as well as at idle (and during braking) to provide an extra power boost as needed, such as on steep inclines or for passing. In the new RX application, the battery can provide an extra 50 horses to the V-6's 245, resulting in 295 peak hp at 6,200 rpm. Second, the engine is mated to an electronic CVT transmission. We're not too keen on these "pointless" gearboxes, but we do know that they have fewer internals to break, are less expensive than a conventional slushbox, and can keep an engine revving in its "sweet spot" longer than fixed-gear transmissions. Add everything up and you arrive at an EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the highway, 28 city, from a V-6 powertrain that is amply powerful, frugal, and super-clean (SULEV-rated) in operation.
Read More at FourWheeler.com
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General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner is about to resign after eight years as the Obama administration prepares to decide on the automaker's request for additional government rescue loans, two people familiar with the matter said.
A senior Obama administration official told NBC's John Yang that Wagoner, 56, was asked to step down by the White House.
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These exclusive spy shots reveal a glimpse of the new Cadillac CTS Coupe undergoing testing in the US.
Despite the heavy camouflage, similarities with the concept revealed at the 2008 Detroit motor show are easily identifiable.
Primarily it seems to have maintained its unique integrated centre exhaust outlet, as well as a unique touch pad set-up in place of conventional door handles.
Read More at CarAdvice.com
DAWS concept - Click above for gallery
2009 BMW Alpina B7 Hot Cars
2009 BMW Alpina B7 Photo
2009 BMW Alpina B7 Wallpaper
Mitsubishi Eclipse Nice Auto Sports
Mitsubishi Eclipse Exotic Cars
Mitsubishi Eclipse Sports Cars |
Following a surprise appearance at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, General Motors announced the seven-seat Orlando concept would be making the transition to production model.
However, GM’s financial outlook has worsened since the Detroit show, forcing the Michigan-based automaker to indefinitely suspend the Orlando program.
The Orlando – which shares its Delta platform with the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze and Volt – was slated to begin rolling out GM’s Hamtramck plant just in time for the 2011 model year, but a UAW representative says those plans have been postponed indefinitely.
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The village of Schaumburg, Ill., installed a camera at Woodfield Mall last November to film cars that were running red lights, then used the footage to issue citations. Results were astonishing. The town issued $1 million in fines in just three months.
But drivers caught by the unforgiving enforcement -- which mainly snared those who didn't come to a full stop before turning right on red -- exploded in anger. Many vowed to stop shopping at the mall unless the camera was turned off. The village stopped monitoring right turns at the intersection in January.
Once a rarity, traffic cameras are filming away across the country. And they're not just focusing their sights on red-light runners. The latest technology includes cameras that keep tabs on highways to catch speeders in the act and infrared license-plate readers that nab ticket and tax scofflaws.
Drivers -- many accusing law enforcement of using spy tactics to trap unsuspecting citizens -- are fighting back with everything from pick axes to camera-blocking Santa Clauses
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This is no normal GT-R. It's Godzilla gone nuclear. Donning lightweight carbon-fiber body parts, no rear seats, GBP36,000-plus world-beating carbon-ceramic brakes, a high gear boost control, unique fixed Bilstein suspension, and ultra-high-performance 20-in. Rays rims and extra-grippy Bridgestone rubber, the new GT-R SpecV certainly looks a lot meaner than the stock GT-R. This coupe is without doubt the most radical roadgoing racer Japan has ever produced. Bar none.
Invited to drive the black beast at the Sendai Highland Raceway, development home of the GT-R in Japan, we rode north from Tokyo on the bullet train for two hours.
Arriving at the raceway, chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno greeted us with an animated konichiwa and hurried us into the briefing room for the lowdown on his baby.
Pumping out 478 hp, the SpecV's 3.8L V-6 twin turbo only gets 5 extra horses over the 2008 R35 model. While Mizuno claims the car will do 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 sec and the quarter mile in under 11.5, even with a revised VDC unit that he asks you to "leave on," he tells us his aim was not to add power but to take the car's handling to the next level. And, to tell the truth, the car feels no slower, if not marginally quicker out of the blocks with the VDC on...Continued
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Two issues came up enough in our time with the new 2009 A6 3.0T that we just have to address them both right up front. The first is likely a no-brainer for our community, but the letter "T" doesn't necessarily stand for "turbocharger." Decades of tradition may have you believing otherwise but, well, deal with it. Or walk away shaking your head in confusion, just as we've seen a number of people do in the past week. In Audi-speak, "T" is now simply an indicator of any forced induction--in this case that means a supercharger. Our second note: people hear the word "supercharger" and expect that the next step after buckling up is to secure their eyeballs to ensure they don't slide out through their ears under full acceleration. The 'charger's intent in the A6 is to bridge the gap between V6 economy and a V8 powerband, not to disfigure passengers. With that established, we can move on.
The changes for the '09 A6 aren't limited to the engine compartment or the addition of the new 3.0T model. The car also receives a number of subtle visual updates that keep Audi's segment leader modern and competitive. Like the A8, the A6 now wears a grille that isn't divided in half by an unattractive bumper bar, but instead uses one taller piece that pays homage to the legendary Auto Union Le Mans racers. We're told this generation of A6 was already close to being finalized when the move toward the single shield was adopted, so that's why it didn't happen until this mid-cycle refresh. It gives the front end an even more cohesive look, and the rest of the bumper too has been refined to give an aggressive, flowing appearance. That look is topped off by Audi's signature strips of LED driving lights, with six diodes residing in each headlight lens. They aren't as elegant as the shapelier units of the A5/S5 or R8, but they are distinctive....Continued
