0 comments Saturday, November 29, 2008



Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder convertible. Here is an excerpt from Road & Track with some of the newest details:

"The world debut of the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder at the Los Angeles Auto Show is designed to build on the success of the coupe version, which was launched in early 2008.

According to Lamborghini president and CEO Stephan Winkelmann, "With the Spyder, we are now unveiling a car that is quite simply a new dimension of the latest Gallardo range."

Underpinning the car is the same mechanical package of the coupe — a brawny V-10 engine that produces 560 bhp, delivered to all four wheels. In addition to delivering 40 more horsepower than the previous-generation Gallardo, the new generation model is also lighter, further improving the car's power-to-weight ratio. The drivetrain includes Lamborghini's e.gear automated manual that has an automatic mode or can be shifted manually via steering wheel-mounted paddles. Improvements to the e.gear transmission have reduced shift times by 40 percent.

Lamborghini claims a 0–100 km/h (62mph) acceleration of just 4.0 seconds and 0–200 km/h (124 mph) in 13.1. Top speed is listed at 201 mph.

Unlike the trend toward retractable hardtops, the Gallardo LP 540-4 Spyder employs a soft top that when in place, nicely integrates with the lines of the car. Although the styling is similar to the coupe's, the Spyder looks slightly more aggressive and muscular thanks to its more prominent haunches that house the convertible mechanism. The power top takes just 20 seconds to open or close. One unique feature of the top: The backlight functions as a wind blocker when the roof is stowed."

0 comments Friday, November 14, 2008

This video is over two weeks old now, an eternity in Internet time, but in case you haven't seen it, here is the best garage you will ever see.

0 comments Saturday, November 8, 2008









An excerpt from Road & Track:
"Lamborghini says the Estoque is more than just a roomy Maserati Quattroporte. The Estoque's front/mid-engine layout, all-wheel drive and low center of gravity virtually guarantee superb handling and ideal traction — they would be needed, given the car's 560-bhp Gallardo-based V-10, which makes for a top speed of 190 mph. There could be a turbocharged V-8 option, as well as a turbodiesel. Lamborghini chief engineer Maurizio Reggiani points out: 'Diesel and downsizing are very interesting topics. A mild hybrid could be possible, as well.'"

0 comments Saturday, November 1, 2008

Happy belated Halloween! To continue the spirit, here is an article about the top ten scariest looking cars of all time, including the Mercury Marauder, Buick GNX, and the infamous Rolls Royce Phantom Jonckheere.

Click here for the full article.

0 comments Friday, September 26, 2008

Honda fans, feast your eyes on the S3000 concept:



quoted from Raod & Track

"A typhoon of rumors has been swirling around Honda's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, about the company's next generation of sports cars. While we have already seen spy photos of the future NSX, we have not seen anything about the next-generation S2000. A source close to the company revealed that Honda is indeed in the process of building such a car, but wouldn't disclose specific details.

The OSM (Open Study Model) concept car definitely raised some eyebrows recently at the London show, but that car was just a convertible version of the CR-Z hybrid sports car shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. The OSM was penned by Honda's European design team, and our people tell us that the real S2000 successor will have much more influence and input from Japan. Also, the CR-Z and OSM have been engineered as front-engine/front-wheel-drive models, and the S2000 successor will no doubt be a rear-wheel-drive car. So apparently the OSM has nothing to do with the S2000 successor. Or does it...?

There's the possibility that the OSM may very well be a design study of the next S2000, wearing the veil of an open-top CR-Z to throw us off. There was also a sighting of a mysterious prototype sports car near Honda's R&D headquarters in Japan that seemed to share the OSM's proportions, yet looked completely different. Could this be another design study of the S2000? We think so, so we took pieces of that car, melded it with the OSM and came up with this image, a handsome car with an Audi R8-esque face, a long hood and a profile reminiscent of the current S2000.

As for what will go under the hood is still unclear. There have been rumors that Honda may equip the car with a V-6, perhaps a new 3.0-liter or the 3.5-liter in the Acura TL, thus the name S3000. In the U.S., this makes sense because it would give the car much more low-end torque (something we Americans love), not to mention improved smoothness and quietness for freeway driving.

With such an engine, you can expect power to be in the 280- to 300-bhp vicinity, enabling a 0–60 run in the sub-5-second range. The more probable choice is a 2.2- to 2.5-liter inline-4. Honda, which has traditionally shied away from big-displacement powerplants, may feel that a 4-cylinder engine makes more marketing sense in this age of high gasoline prices. There's also talk of a simple hybrid system.

Only those directly involved with the next-generation S2000 project know for sure what the car will be like. We'll know for sure in 2011, after Honda releases the NSX and CR-Z."

0 comments Sunday, August 17, 2008

Why would the cancellation of a car make headlines? Because we are talking about the beloved Toyota Supra.



The concept for the next gen Supra, shown above, will not make it into production unfortunately due to "the high mpg requirements in the US."

0 comments Sunday, June 29, 2008



You are looking at the new Ferrari California, which Ferrari claims to be "aimed at owners who desire a car which embodies everything the Prancing Horse represents in terms of sporty design and innovation, but also seek a car with greater versatility than ever."

To start, the California will feature a fully retractable roof, with the rear deck completely flat when the top is down. The 4.3L V-8 produces approximately 460 BHP, and features Ferrari's first dual-clutch gearbox which features 7 forward gears.

0 comments Monday, June 16, 2008

Here's the newest, small, RC-looking car from Toyota, called the Aygo.







This is only a concept at the moment, and not too much is known as of yet, except that it will be using Toyota's 1.8 VVT-i and with the addition of Toyota's Motorsport turbo kit, it will pack a whopping 200 horses and 240 NM of torque. Amazing numbers for such a small car. More info will be posted when it's released!

0 comments Wednesday, May 28, 2008

A few shots of the gorgeous new, supercharged Audi S5, based on the A5 model. More info and specs to come later.





0 comments Tuesday, May 20, 2008

For those of you who are fans of the new 2009 Acura TSX and are looking forward to the until now, very discreet next-gen 2009 TL, this is the first leaked specs. Excerpt from Leftlane News:

"As of late, dealer shows are proving to be a valuable source of insider information.

According to a source who attended the meeting, the 2009 Acura TL lineup will consist of two models: a base front-wheel drive car and an up-level all-wheel drive model. The front-driver will be powered by a 280 horsepower 3.5L V6 whereas the AWD model will receive its motivation from a 3.7L V6 producing 300 horsepower.

Despite boasting 300 horsepower and all-wheel drive, the range-topping model will not sport the Type-S nameplate. In fact, the source says that Acura will not offer a Type-S model, at least not in 2009 guise. It remains unclear if the performance model will eventually join the lineup.

Acura has promised us a new TL by the end of the year so a Los Angeles Auto Show reveal seems likely."

(Shot of the 2009 TSX)

0 comments Sunday, May 4, 2008









And the money shot:




Features
- Record sale into the Shelby Registry
- Shelby MSO and dash plaque
- Carroll Shelby engraved door handles
- Carroll Shelby etched left and right front headlight covers
- Roundels with 85 number decals
- Leather seating
- Hood wind diffusers
- CS GT40® numbered plaque
- CS GT40® side sill graphics
- Carroll Shelby signature floor and sill mats
- 85th Commemorative hood badge
- 85th Special Edition decal
- Available in right and left hand drive

0 comments Wednesday, April 23, 2008



"The car you see above, dubbed the M-Zero by its designer Mael Oberkampf, looks like spawn of a BMW M6 and Aston Martin DB9. Up front it's an all business BMW with a convincing set of "angry eye" headlights and a bit of snarl, but inspiration from Aston can be seen in the rear or by viewing the car in profile. Though the extra large wheels are a bit tunerrific for our tastes, the overall design wouldn't make a bad BMW at all. Not that the Munich-based brand needs any more high-performance coupes to sell alongside the 1 Series, 3 Series and 6 Series coupes, but if there were an open slot in the lineup, the M-Zero would fit nicely. There's no mention (at least in English) of what theoretical powerplant might be found beneath its bonnet, but we'd opt for the obvious and install the corporate workhorse 5.0L V10."
(quoted from Autoblog)

0 comments Saturday, April 12, 2008

According to Consumer Reports, overall, the best cars sold in the U.S. are made by Honda. I'm sure Toyota is devastated, although according to Consumer Reports' overall scores, Toyota's 75 is only 3 behind Honda's 78. Emerging from a sleeper position, Subaru surprisingly took the #3 spot with a rating of 72. In fact, only Honda and Subaru earned the honor of having all their cars making CR's Recommended List.



Read the full article here

0 comments Thursday, April 3, 2008

Just a quick update this time. If you love cars, you need to watch this video!

0 comments Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Credit goes to Motor Trend.




"A senior Nissan source has confirmed the company is studying the possibility of producing a high-performance four-door sedan based on the exotic Nissan GT-R hardware. The source suggested the car may be sold as an Infiniti.

Producing a four-door GT-R is certainly feasible, though it wouldn't be cheap. Although the GT-R coupe is based on Nissan's flexible FM (front midship) platform, it is what one analyst calls "a major deviation" from that platform's architecture, to the point where it's known internally as PM (premium midship).

The PM platform could be stretched to allow an extra set of doors and useable rear passenger space, while keeping the existing suspension pickup points, powertrain mountings, and other sheetmetal. This would enable the four-door to share a lot of the GT-R's mechanical hardware, including the 480-horsepower twin-turbo 3.8-liter VR38 V-6 engine, all wheel drive, and the rear-mounted six-speed DSG-style auto-clutch transmission.

However a sedan version would require a new bodyside, plus expensive revisions to the carbon fiber intensive front structure, so while Nissan could save some money through component sharing with the GT-R, it's likely that a sedan variant would cost $3000 to $5000 more. One alternative would be to make the car with a conventional steel body (it would add weight, but Nissan would want the GT-R coupe to remain its performance flagship anyway).



The drawings here are purely illustrative; it's unlikely Nissan would retain too many GT-R cues on an Infiniti-badged car. Nissan knows a four-door GT-R would have about as much credibility in Japan as a four-door Corvette would here in the U.S. Furthermore, American and European buyers likely would balk at the idea of paying $85,000 for a sedan with Nissan badges. Making the car an Infiniti could help solve both problems, and it would give the brand the halo vehicle it lacks.

A high-tech, high-performance Infiniti sedan also could serve as a halo car for the expansion of Nissan's luxury brand into Europe, China, Japan, and other world markets. After dithering for a decade or more, Toyota has finally made Lexus a global brand, and its new IS-F sedan signals an entry into the premium high-performance segment dominated by Mercedes-Benz's AMG and BMW's M cars.

The significance of both moves won't have been lost on Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn."

0 comments Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Well, this is a new one. Ford has been through this in the past, when cruise control on some of their F150's caused fires. Certain companies have been notorious for widespread recalls, from rollover danger to technical malfunctions. But honestly, who would have expected it from Acura? They recalled 273,000 2004-2008 Acura TLs recently. This is a quote:

"Apparently an issue with high temperatures under the hood can cause the power steering hose to degrade to the point that it could crack and leak fluid onto the catalytic converter. This could result in a fair amount of smoke, or, at worse, a fire."



So..if you own one, go get it checked out now! If you don't, bask in the glory that is your non-recalled car.

0 comments Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Just thought I'd share this amazing detail on a Jaguar.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=56439

It's a long post, but the pictures speak for themselves. Here are some pictures.
Before:


After:



0 comments Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Amazon Link

The disclaimer says it all: "Please note: this product is not intended for use while driving." I guess if you're looking for that pesky promotion that your co-worker keeps on getting, this is the gift that you get them! Just don't tell them the disclaimer. (I'm just kidding, please don't get any ideas).

The two most applied tags to the item:
ignorant (254)
garbage (184)

0 comments Tuesday, February 19, 2008

This was on eBay a while back. In case you missed it, someone was selling a sticker that would go on the roof to try to trick people into thinking you have a sunroof.

eBay auction

The original listing expired, so I can't show you all the funny Q&A's, but here's pictures and the transcript in case you missed it.





Question & Answer

Q: Do I get a discount in shipping if I buy 2? I want to put one on the roof and one on the inside of my car so when I look up a can pretend to be looking outside, also can you make one that simulates looking up at the stars I think chicks would really dig it or put a scary face on it so when People in my car look up the think there is somebody on the roof I think you have endless possibilities with this product. Thanks.
A: We give free shipping when you buy 3 or more.

Q: my car does not have an anti lock braking system - i am interested in an abs light for my dash - i cannot afford nor am i interested in the actual braking benefits of an abs system - i am solely interested in tricking people into thinking my car is safer than it is. do you or are you looking into prototyping this product - it seems like its up your alley.
A: We are working on new ideas, thank you.

Q: I honestly think this is the greatest product i've seen on ebay in a while. Honestly if i didn't have a sunroof i think i would buy two and make it look like my car was a T top..I think you should sell that as a seperate product as well....and if you do, give me a free one for the idea.
A: Thanks!

Q: I don't understand why someone would want the look without the functionality? Is this a gag to fool your friends?
A: We came with this idea, sometimes people just want to have the look of a sunroof, and can´t afford or don´t have the permission to make a hole to their/parent´s car.

Q: Do you have a holographic version so that if someone looks from a certain angle, the sunroof will look like it's open? Do you also have a sunroof visor that I can stick on to look like I have a real sunroof visor? Do you also sell controls that I can stick on the ceiling of the car so I can act like I have a sunroof controls? I'm curious, If I stick it on the hood of my car would this then be called sunhood? This is one of the best ideas I have ever heard of.
A: We are still working on having more products like this, at this moment we only have this self adhesive sunroof. You can put it in the hood if you want. Thank you

Q: What kind of tool would I use for cutting the whole? will it leak?
A: This sunroof is ornamental, it´s only a sticker with the shape of a sunroof that you put in your car´s roof and gives your car the look of a real sunroof, but you don´t make any holes to the car, and you can´t see through it. You don´t make any modifications to your car.

Q: So what type of motor does it take and how do i go by wiring it all up and locating the switch??
A: This sunroof is ornamental, it´s only a sticker with the shape of a sunroof that you put in your car´s roof and gives your car the look of a real sunroof, but you don´t make any holes to the car, and you can´t see through it. You don´t make any modifications to your car.

Q: How much would it cost for a shop to do the install on this sunroof on a 1994 Subaru Legacy L?
A: This is only a sunroof sticker that gives your car the look of a real sunroof. You can install it yourself, you don´t need to make holes in your car and you will not be able to see through it.

Q: Will I have to declare the addition of this modification to my insurance company and will it compromise the structural integrity of my car?
A: It doesn´t compromise the structural integrity of your car because it´s just a sticker with the shape of a sunroof that you put in your car´s roof.

Q: I would really love the open-roof experience of a sunroof. I'm very excited to see that this can give me that feeling without drilling holes. What a product! How does it work?
A: First you clean your car´s roof You select a place where you want you Selfadhesive sunroof to be, check for any bubbles . Remove the peripherical edge binding and press the molding frame against the car. As I told before, this self adhesive sunroof is just ornamental, and will give only the look of a sunroof.

Q: Will this work with my convertible?
A: If it has a solid top you can use it.

Q: can I get away with only buying one, for two cars... and switch which one I put it on depending on my mood?
A: Once you install the sunroof if you take it off, the sunroof won´t damage your car, but it will not be able to use on another car, this is for prevent burglars to steal it.

Q: Can this be put on other parts of the car, such as the hood or trunk lid, or do you have to put it on the roof? Does it fit all models? I have a Dodge Stratus right now, but I'm probably gonna get a Dodge Viper pretty soon.
A: Yes, you can put it on other parts of the car. If fits all models.

Q: How does the sun get thru the roof?
A: The sun won´t get thru the roof, because the self adhesive sunroof is a sticker that gives your car the look of a real sunroof, but you don´t make a hole to the car.

Q: Does this sunroof come with all of the installation tools necessary for proper install?
A: This sunroof is ornamental, it´s only a sticker that you put in your car´s roof and gives your the look of a sunroof, but you don´t make any holes to the car. It comes with step to step instructions, it´s very easy because you only have to put the sunroof sticker in the car.

Q: how much horsepower does this add?
A: The self adhesive sunroof doesn´t add any horsepower to the car.

Q: I would love to have a sunroof - is it guaranteed to be waterproof? do you have pictures from the inside of the car after install?
A: This sunroof is ornamental, it´s only a sticker in the car´s roof, and it´s waterproof and weatherproof, there´s no need to make holes on the car. From the inside the car will look the same since you´ll only be attaching the sticker sunroof in the carroof.

Q: What is this magnetic technology? so is it a sticker or a magnet?
A: It´s a magnet and a sticker so it can stick better to the car.

Q: Is this the kind of sunroof that slides back or only pops up?
A: This sunroof is only ornamental, it´s a sticker that gives your car the look of a real sunroof, but it doesn´t slides back or pops up.

Q: Does the product come with instructions on how to cut the hole in the car roof?
A: This sunroof is ornamental, it is only a layer of stickers that attaches to your car, without any holes and gives the car the appearance of a sunroof.

0 comments Thursday, February 14, 2008

It's kind of silly to have a new post with only one picture, but shots of the new 2009 Acura TSX are rare and hard to find and are in high demand right now, so here's another one. This is closer to what it will look like than the earlier concept models. Click for a bigger view.


0 comments Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Check out this video I just uploaded.

350Z vs Honda S2000 vs Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 vs M3

Posted 1 Hour Ago

Nissan 350Z vs Honda S2000 vs Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 vs BMW M3 vs Porsche Boxster. The end also shows a canyon race between an AE86 and a Skyline.



Seems to good to be true, but this vid delivers what the title says. Some of the top performance-oriented cars go head to head on a circuit. Nissan 350Z vs Honda S2000 vs Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 vs BMW M3 vs Porsche Boxster. Then, the end shows a canyon race between an AE86 and a Skyline.

0 comments Tuesday, February 12, 2008

I just found this article on Yahoo and I found it to be really amazing. This guy Frank Oresnik from Wisconsin has passed 1 million miles on his 1991 Chevy Silverado. Now, I'm assuming that his "regular maintenance" hasn't included rebuilt motors or motor swaps or any chassis rebuilds, or else this really isn't as monumental as it seems. On the other hand, I wonder what happened to the reading, as odometers only have 6 digits; stuck at 999,999 or reset to 000,000? Apparently GM and Shell Oil are also interested in buying it. Here's the original article:



On Yahoo

0 comments Thursday, February 7, 2008

Acura says, "RL represents the very best we have to offer in terms of engineering, technology, performance, luxury and safety." I'm pretty sure they left out "design" on purpose. Worse yet... "the face being shown on this car will spread to the rest of the lineup as the TL and TSX sedans are redesigned later this year." I guess this signals the end of innovative exteriors for Acura. Look at this picture and tell me that grille does not cause you to induce vomit!





0 comments Monday, February 4, 2008

In case you missed the Godfather inspired commercial..here it is

0 comments Thursday, January 31, 2008

I found this to be amazing. Very original, could even be considered creative. But talk is cheap, here are the pics and a vid.





Cosworth Engine






Just wow.

0 comments Friday, January 25, 2008

I know by now, everyone that's into cars has seen pictures of the new Nissan GT-R. But who cares! Could you really get tired of seeing this thing? Here's a few pictures of 3 different colors that the GT-R will come in:














Next is this 4-door Aston Martin. Quoted from Top Gear:
"The art of fourplay
Top Gear proudly presents an exclusive look at the new Aston Martin Rapide. It's the sexiest four-door we've seen.

...

At its most basic, the Rapide is a long-wheelbase DB9... but only in the same way a Vantage is a short wheelbase DB9. That is, in its heart and soul, not the same at all."








And last but certainly not least, the 2009 Acura TSX, concept of course.



Needless to say, 2008-2009 is going to be a great year for car enthusiasts.