SEMA 2010 Gran Turismo Award Winner

This year marked the 8th Annual Gran Turismo Awards at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) presented by Kazunori Yamauchi the creator of the renowned Gran Turismo video games.  This years Best in Show award went to Mark Stielow for his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and his car will be recreated by Polyphony Digital in the next installment of the Gran Turismo series.  This is a great honor and I would like to congradulate Mr. Stielow and look forword to taking his creation for a virtual test drive in the future.

Sources:  Internet, gran-turismo.com

Red Bull Wins in F1

The Red Bull Racing team has won their first F1 Constructors' Championship with 469 points after the recent Brazilian Grand Prix on Tuesday.  This is a great achievement as Red Bull only won their first Grand Prix last year at the hands of Sebastian Vettel.  One of the driving forces behind this great turn around was Red Bull Technical Chief Adrian Newey who has now won a Constructors' Championship with his third F1 team.  With only one race left this season at Abu Dhabi and both their drivers in the running for the Driver's Championship Red Bull truly have reason to celebrate.

Source:  Internet, Live Formula 1 Broadcast, Formula1.com

Korean Grand Prix

The inaugural Korean Grand Prix took place early this morning in Yeongam, South Jeolla, South Korea. The brand new track was just approved by the FIA on Oct. 12th as 'satisfactory' and is being promoted as the best track in Asia. The Korea International Circuit in its F1 configuration is roughly 3.5 miles long being composed of both permanent and temporary sections. This new circuit was built first with plans to build a city center around it later. The estimated cost of this project is 88 billion won or about 78.4 million dollars.

The race started in the rain behind the safety car with very low visibility and little to no grip. After only three laps behind the safety car the race was halted under a red flag due to unfavorable conditions. The main problem was that the track was not draining properly because of the new asphalt and oil on the track keeping the water from running off. The red flag was later lifted but the time during the suspension was still be added to the two hour time limit for Formula 1 races.

The race was resumed after almost an hour under a safety lap with a requirement of wet weather tires. With almost zero visibility the drivers were left with nothing more than their memory of a brand new track and the instruction of the their teams. The race went on with conditions slowly improving due to the cars being used to bail the water off the track.

The race was under a green flag on lap eighteen with all drivers going all out. In the very next lap championship points leader Mark Webber spun out and was clipped by Nico Rosberg taking both drivers out of the race and losing Webber valuable points. The race then continued under a series of mostly yellow laps with several retirements. Their were several odd tire choices with nearly every driver switching to intermediate tires instead of staying on the wets under caution of more rain.

After a race that required so much patience and containing an air of uncertainty it was finished after nearly three hours. The first to finish was former World Champion Fernando Alonso followed by another former champion Lewis Hamilton and in third was Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. This race was an uphill battle from the very start but when full on racing did get to happen it was a no holds bared competition. All things considered the first race at the Korea International Circuit has to be viewed as an event defined by patient waiting punctuated with brief instances of action.

Sources:  Internet, Formula1.com, Formual 1 live broadcast

Ferrari Is On Fire

Ferrari is on fire and not in a good way having recently announced a recall of the new 458 Italia super car.  It appears that the new prancing horse has been literally catching fire due to a faulty adhesive igniting when the engine runs hot.  There have been several reports of this happening and Ferrari is doing everything they can to fix the problem as rapidly as possible.  Ferrari has stated that they will replace the adhesive and if your 458 Italia has caught fire you will get a new one. 

Source:  Youtube, Ferrari

Fiat Returns To The US

Italian automaker Fiat is coming back to the States with its recent purchase of Chrysler last year. Fiat is bringing its current star the Fiat 500 (Fiat Cinquecento) over in December of this year with more to follow soon after. Fiat is looking to open 165 dealerships this year starting with existing Chrysler dealers. In order for a Chrysler dealer to get the rights for a Fiat dealership they must provide a separate showroom with enough room for three to four cars. If the Italians are triumphant in their return we may even see the Alpha Romeo nameplate as well.

The Fiat 500 has several variations that will be coming stateside next year including convertible, electric, and Abrath versions. Abrath is Fiat's in house tuner, think AMG at Mercedes-Benz, with a long history in racing and rallying. In Europe the 500 Abrath is one of the hottest hatches in a long time even beating out its rival the Mini Copper S.

The 500 Abrath is the sport option and you can opt for even more power with the esseesse (SS) package. The European Abrath SS puts out 25 hp more than the standard Abrath giving it 160 hp and 206 ft lbs of torque. The 500 Abrath SS goes from 0 to 60 in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 131 mph this is one quick little racer. I am truly looking forward to the return of this great brand and hope to get an up close look in the near future.

Source: Fiat

GM Public Offering

General Motors is filing IPO (Initial Public Offering) paperwork with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) with hopes of getting out from under majority government ownership.  After taking bailout money GM has given the U.S. government a 60.8% stake in ownership of the company.  Tesla Motors (TSLA)  was the first U.S. auto maker to offer a IPO earlier this year since Ford (F) in 1956.  GM are looking to raise somewhere between 15 to 20 billion from the IPO allowing them to reduce the government's majority stake.  The big question is to buy or not to buy?  The Ford Motor Co. is looking much healthier profit wise in the last quarter and they are paying back their debt without any bailouts.  General Motors is a fine company with a great history but they need to work on making sales in order for this stock offering to be the smart choice in the long run.

Source: General Motors

Test Drive: Nissan Cube 1.8 S

I recently got a chance to test drive the Nissan Cube. This five door city vehicle has quite a few things going for it with funky lopsided looks and plenty of space for four adults to sit comfortably. The Cube has been a best seller in Japan for years on the city car scene and a favorite of the those who want a car that stands out while still being practical. Nissan had a lot of time to perfect the Cube before bringing it to the U.S. market and this explains why it feels more refined than the Scion xB.

Nissan has done a great job on the practical side of things on the Cube. Visibility on the Cube is great with its wrap around rear window just over the driver's shoulder and a higher seating position than I was expecting giving you a clear view of the road. The cargo area is sufficient for most needs and you can fold down the rear seats for even more room. The 1.8 S comes equipped with a Bluetooth hands-free phone system and iPod interface with wheel mounted controls so it feels much more intuitive. There is such a great sense of space inside the Cube and the interior feels much more spacious than you would expect from such a small car.

The Cube I tested came equipped with the Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) and when mated to the 1.8 liter engine had sufficient power for a small car. The acceleration was adequate for a car its size and the ride was comfortable. The seats and suspension were quite good at evening out the bumps on all the road work I made a point of traveling through. The Cube's turning radius is very tight and well suited to city driving. So while you may not win any races between the lights you will arrive at your destination in comfort and with a bit of style.

The Cube is a great little runabout for the city dweller on the go. It's safe with a five star crash test rating and all the airbags you could ever need. Nissan have also made the Cube very economical with a fuel consumption rating of 27 in the city and 31 on the highway with many owners claiming a 33 mpg average. So if you are in the market for a small, safe, economical city car with plenty of space and character you may want to consider the Cube.

Sources: Internet, Nissan

Who's The Boss? Ford Has The Answer In 2012

Today the Ford Motor Company announced the return of the Boss 302 Mustang for the 2012 model year. The original Boss 302, like the one pictured above, was only produced form 1969 to 1970 so that Ford could compete in the SCCA Trans-Am series. The original Boss 302 is one of the most highly collectable and recognizable Mustangs ever made. With countless imitators in the form of clones made from 1970 fastbacks to enthutists own interpretations with modern Mustangs. The 2012 Boss 302 will be based on the well performing 2011 Mustang GT, but Ford is adamant that they have completely reworked it from front to back.

The new and greatly improved 2012 Boss 302 will be a limited production car with its own special edition track variant called the Boss 302 Laguna Seca. The Boss engine will produce 440 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque all the way to 155 mph. This new Boss 302 is also notable for being the first non-SVT engineered Mustang to produce more than 1.0g of lateral acceleration. With all that extra power Ford has given the Boss 302 bigger wheels, breaks, and adjustable suspension. You get five new suspension settings including soft, factory and even firm for track days. So you know the new Boss 302 has what it takes under the hood but will it turn any heads? I'm thinking yes.

Ford didn't skimp on looks giving the Boss 302 an infusion of DNA from its 1970 predecessor. On the Boss they have managed to keep the Trans-Am racer heritage alive with functional spoilers and in your face colors. Speaking of colors you can have it in retro sounding hues such as Competition Orange, Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat Metallic, and Race Red with a roof that only comes in black or white to match the C-stripe on the side. This is a wonderful looking car and you can bet that those lucky enough to get one will be out hunting Camaros on and off the track.

Sources: Internet, Ford

2011 Ford 5.0 Mustang GT vs. The World

At the Houston Auto Show earlier this year I was able to get a closer look at the new 2011 5.0 Mustang GT. This is the power plant that puts Ford back in the muscle car fight, with the Mustang's eternal rival the Camaro reborn, the horsepower race is on once again. Recently Ford Racing has added this new 5.0 liter engine to its online catalog with a suggested retail of $6999. The new engine was made for speed with an all aluminum block and a weight of only 444 lbs generating 412 hp. Owners of the previous 4.6 liter Mustang will be glad to know that the mounts on this engine will match those on your vehicle.  Ford has made slight revisions to the Mustang's styling but kept the retro looks that have served it so well.  There are even a few trim choices depending on if you get the standard GT or the GT Premium.  So lets see how this new pony stacks up against the competition.

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a truly beautiful machine that shows its heritage from the golden age of muscle. Whenever I see one in traffic I can't help but give it a second glance. The Challenger stays true to its roots by coming with a 6.1 HEMI V8 engine producing a massive 425 hp. The big Dodge has all the right ingredients for a true muscle car it would seem. There are unfortunately some let downs with the suspension being a bit to soft and the sheer size of the car hindering the power to weight ratio. Even with these hassles, I still like the Challenger which has managed to capture the attitude and appeal of the 60s and 70s today.

General Motors has brought back an icon with the Camaro and then given it high honors with the SS badge. I have to say the styling is certainly aggressive and edgy but it can't be called beautiful. It's as if Chevrolet was releasing a declaration of war rather than a car. The Super Sport is the only new Camaro to come with a V8 engine and it has the largest displacement of all three at 6.2 liters. In the power race Chevy and Dodge are neck and neck with almost identical engine output. However you get the impression that the Dodge is only a passing thought in the minds of Chevrolet engineers. The Camaro and Mustang have been mortal enemies since the 1960s and the stage is set for them to do battle once again.

Here are the stats:

Power
Ford Mustang 5.0 GT - 412 hp 390 lb-ft torque
Dodge Challenger 6.1 SRT8 - 425 hp 420 lb-ft torque
Chevy Carmaro 6.2 SS - 426 hp 420 lb-ft torque

MPG
Ford Mustang 5.0 GT – 17 city/26 hwy
Dodge Challenger 6.1 SRT8 – 13 city/19 hwy
Chevy Carmaro 6.2 SS – 16 city/25 hwy

Looking at the above figures you can see that Ford is doing more with less and this is against the competitions top offerings. If you were to throw a Shelby into the mix the others might just run home with their tails between their legs. I think Ford has hit a home run with this new engine and I am eager to see how the other players will react in the near future.  Ford has put their cards on the table now we just have to wait and see what Chevy has in store with the rumored Z28 Camaro and if Dodge's Challenger can rise to the occasion.

Sources: Internet, Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet

Build Your Own Hurst Special Edition Muscle Car

Hurst Performance based in Irvine, California will give owners of the latest muscle cars to hit the streets the chance to make their own Hurst special editions. The Hurst Garage will take Challengers, Mustangs, and Camaros using Hurst parts to create a car tailored to your taste. Creating your own Hurst special edition muscle car will include some nice touches such as a plaque on the dashboard and a certificate of authenticity. Hurst will also keep the VIN in their records for matters of pedigree.

Sources: Internet, Hurst

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce

This is the newest version of Lamborghini's top offering; the Murcielago. The Murcielago has been the daddy Lambo for years constantly looking down on it's little brother the Gallardo. In order to make this the most hardcore Lamborghini of them all they went back to an age old recipe (add power and lose weight). Lamborghini has recently stated that they are investing heavily in carbon fiber and it shows on the SV.  In order to achieve a 220 lbs weight loss the Murcielago was put on a strict diet of light weight materials with plenty of carbon fiber and strengthened by a tubular steel frame. The 6.5 liter V12 engine has been massaged to give an extra 30 horses over the previous model and gives the car a truly outstanding 670 hp and 487 ft-lbs of torque. With a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.2 seconds and top speed of 212 mph this is the Murcielago on steroids. When it comes to looks this car brings everything that makes a Lamborghini a Lamborghini. This car looks positively evil like Darth Vader on wheels. From every angle it is just stunning and with the optional “Aeropack Wing” it has the dual effect of creating even more downforce at speed while looking all the more menacing. This is the hottest Lambo on the market right now for good reason with the possible exception of the Gallardo Balboni, but as sibling rivalries go this is one I'm looking forward to.

Source: Lamborghini

An introduction

This site will be dedicated to offering news about automobiles of the present as well as the past and of the automotive industry as a whole.  I have been an avid car lover for most of my life and will do my best to give a unique view of the automotive world as an enthusiast of the highest order.

Note: All pictures on this blog have been either taken by me, from press kits in my possession, or the image hosting site Photobucket (sourced simply as Internet).