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).