Cars Amazing Stories

The BMW 3 series Touring

2012-02-01T03:48:00.001-08:00

The overall performance level of the Touring model in the BMW 3 series is fine, with an across-the-board standard maintained amongst all of the different engines available for this model. Although the petrol-run 318i is not the fastest engine, there is the choice of the 320i, the 318d and the 320d, in the four-cylinder range, if you are seeking an engine with a faster performance level. In the six-cylinder category there is the choice of the325i and the turbocharged 335i - for speed racers! There are also a variety of options
regarding the transmission, with the BMW 3 series Touring model, including manual and auto six-speed choices.

Like the Saloon models in the BMW 3 series range, the Touring editions are the represents the best on-the-road car in it’s field, with none of its competitors able to match the body control, surface traction and subtly responsive steering offered by the BMW 3 series Touring car. Furthermore, while the suspension is effective enough to ensure that you are conscious of changes to the road surface texture, it never makes the experience of driving the car an uncomfortable or unpleasant one. Overall the Touring model in the used BMW 3 series range offers a firm driving experience, especially on city roads, but a perfectly decent one.

The noise levels experienced when driving the BMW 3 series Touring model are minimal, making it an ideal vehicle for longer distance cruising. The diesel engines make more noise than the petrol ones, but the noise from the engine is largely restricted to that area of the car and is not particularly noticeable when riving. Like other models in the BMW 3 series range, the most noticeable sound is wind noise when the car is being driven at higher speed levels, although this is unlikely to be considered a major problem by many.

Chevy releases COPO Camaro concept drag racing featurette

2011-12-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

By John Neff

It seems you can't offer a pony car these days without also making available a full race-spec drag racing version. Ford was first with its Cobrajet, then came Dodge with the Mopar Challenger Drag Pak, and soon we'll have an offering from Chevy.

That car will be based on the COPO Camaro Concept, which debuted last month at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and whose name, COPO, harkens back to a time when sly dealers could order a Corvette-powered Camaro from the factory without the big wigs knowing. But unlike most concept cars, the COPO Camaro Concept is a rolling prototype for the production version that's to follow.

As such, engineers from General Motors have been working on the car's development for over three years, and today they released a video featurette showing the concept's first run out in the real world. According to the video, engineers ran the car all day long with a number of engine set ups and it "met or exceeded" all expectations.

Watch the video for yourself after the jump. Now all we need is some three-lane drag strips to see these straight line ponies face off at the same time.

Avoid escrow scams when buying a cheap used car

2011-09-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

There are a lots of scams to be on the look out for when you are buying a used car, making it advisable for people who are not particularly confident or experienced in this area to consider buying through a company such as Motors.co.uk, as they are able to undertake full background checks of all the private sellers and dealers who operate through them.

One of the most common scams involves setting up a fake, online escrow account. An escrow account is one in which a buyer can temporarily deposit their money until the deal has been completed and is intended to improve security for both buyer and seller by providing a neutral deposit account. The scam in this case involves the seller persuading the buyer to put the money into an escrow account suggested by them. This site will be designed to look completely convincing and legitimate, complete with contact details, but these will turn out to fake – making the seller impossible to trace and the buyer’s money impossible to find! Once you have fallen victim to such a scam, the only option available is to contact the police or the Trading Standards Authority.

Being asked to use an account suggested by the seller should automatically set alarm bells ringing in the mind of any buyer, even if the seller is an established used car dealer and the site seems genuine. This is where thorough background checks into the history of the seller are advisable, but difficult to accomplish for an individual buyer who is likely to have work and family commitments. Companies such as www.Motors.co.uk do such investigations into the sales history of those who use their site, on behalf of consumers, ensuring that both professional car dealers and individual sellers have no history of illegal behaviour.

2012 Bentley Continental GTC wafts onto stage

2011-09-15T03:31:00.000-07:00

By Noah Joseph

When one of Volkswagen's higher-end marques unveils a new version of one of its core products, you know one thing for certain: the debut is just the beginning. Because after the first new version rolls out, there will be a veritable landslide of variants to follow.

That's the case with the Porsche 911, that's the case with the Lamborghini Gallardo and that's certainly the case with the Bentley Continental. The GT coupe was the first to be updated, the Flying Spur sedan is sure to follow in due course, and we can presume to see Speed and even Supersport versions as well. But before they come along, the Crewe has official lifted the veil on the GTC drophead.

The convertible model follows the lead of the updated Continental GT, only with a folding fabric roof. That gives the 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 and all its 567 horsepower ample opportunity to fill the cabin with its silken rumble and gracefully tousle the hair of its occupants.

We'll be driving the new model within a couple of weeks, but in the meantime, this is our first look, so check it out from the Volkswagen Group pavilion here in Frankfurt in our gallery, or watch some B-roll after the jump.

ivers should be reminded that car insurance is not an optional extra

2011-08-25T02:11:00.000-07:00

For people wanting to drive a car in a public place, it is a legal requirement to have motor insurance and be able to produce an up to date Certificate of Insurance to be able to pay for car tax.

Anyone who does not have motor insurance in place when driving is committing a very serious offence, which will incur a fine, penalty points and may lead to the motorist being disqualified from driving.

The reason motor insurance is a legal requirement is because it protects other road users, as opposed to the driver of the insured vehicle. If you are involved in a road accident that was not your fault, would you not want the person responsible for the accident to be insured to cover your costs?

Young drivers represent a higher risk for insurance companies as they are involved in more accidents than any other age group, therefore, the cost of car insurance for younger people is much more expensive to reflect this. This is the same throughout Europe.

Young drivers can reduce the cost of their car insurance quote by joining a parent’s insurance as a named driver, which will allow them to establish a safety record, which will be beneficial when it comes to applying for their own insurance.

Choosing a car with a small engine will also help to keep costs down, as less powerful cars are cheaper to insure. Obviously driving carefully will always be the best way to keep insurance costs down.

Remember, car insurance is not an optional extra.

Jay Leno puts Jaguar XKR-S through its paces around the Nurburgring

2011-07-25T04:37:00.000-07:00

By Zach Bowman

Jaguar put Jay Leno behind the wheel of the company's newest heathen – the XKR-S – for a handful of quick laps around the fabled Nurburgring, and Leno, thankfully, brought along a production staff to record the occasion.

The comedian was able to squeeze in a few lead-follow laps with Sascha Bert on point and eventually worked his speed up to a best time of 8:41. Not too shabby for a guy who's used to putting along under steam power. It's clear from the clip that Leno holds the Nurburgring to be sacred ground.

Leno doesn't spend too much time pontificating on the merits of the XKR-S. While we're treated to plenty of great shots of the car dancing around the track and the sound of its vicious dual-exhaust, the clip is absent any real driving impressions. Still, that's just fine by us. We already know all about how the XKR-S performs. Click past the jump to check out the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage.

Woman valiantly defends BMW M5 against Vancouver rioters

2011-06-20T22:17:00.000-07:00

by Noah Joseph

Sure, Canadians might seem tame and pacifist. But not when it comes to hockey. Once the skates go on, the gloves come off. And that combative attitude has been known to spill over into the streets, particularly when the local team has been handed a tough defeat in a pivotal game. Like last week's seventh-round decider in the Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks.

After the Bruins (belated spoiler alert!) nabbed the title in the last game at Vancouver's home-turf Rogers Arena, local fans spilled into the streets in a riot you'd more likely expect to see in south-central LA. Disappointment turned into mob mentality as fans broke windows and lit dumpsters on fire. Which is a shame enough for the storefronts and sanitation workers, but for the love of God, people, leave cars out of it. Only they didn't.

As you'll see from the videos after the jump, rioters started overturning cars and lighting them on fire, leaving one girl to defend a BMW M5 (presumably her own) against the menacing hoards. She and a friend appear to have fought valiantly on behalf of one of Europe's finest pieces of engineering, but there's unfortunately little to be done in the face of disheartened – and inebriated – Canadian hockey fans.

Gumtree.com.au is a great resource for looking for second hand cars in Sydney and second hand cars in Melbourne. Also a great place for anything else you're after!

MEV rocks up with electric mini Hummer HX

2011-06-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

by Aaron Richardson

The 2008 Hummer HX concept was supposed to be General Motors' answer to the Jeep Wrangler. To put it mildly, that failed to materialize. General Motors killed Hummer as part of its bankruptcy-induced limb severing in 2009, before the HX could be brought to fruition as the H4, as had been rumored.

For those of you who wish the HX had indeed surfaced, we have some excellent news: My Electric Vehicle, or MEV, has appropriated the HX concept, added an electric drivetrain and created the MEV Hummer HX. The MEV HX is a fully electric golf cart resort vehicle, licensed by GM and sporting Hummer wheels and skid plates.

We're still trying to figure out if the MEV Hummer HX has any practical purpose, which could take some time. While we're doing that, feel free to hop the jump to see a video of the $16,000 electric Hummer knockoff in action.

Gumtree.co.nz is New Zealand's favourite classifieds with thousands of listings that can help you find a used car. If you're in Auckland and after a car, click here.

Red Bull drifts through downtown Atlanta

2011-05-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

by Jeremy Korzeniewski

According to the company's slogan, Red Bull is supposed to give you wings. Apparently, all it gives Rhys Millen and Ryan Tuerck is smoke... tire smoke that is, and lots of it.

The two drivers – Millen in his Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Tuerck in his Pontiac Solstice Coupe (may it rest in peace) – were flown out to the Georgian capitol to take part in the Red Bull Peachtree Drift Battle, which, as you may have guessed, takes place down Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta.

There's isn't really a winner to this staged race, except for perhaps all the innocent bystanders who got a much-needed injection of excitement into their routine daily commutes. See all the tire-smoking action in the video after the break.

New Smartbox tells insurers whether young motorists are taking risks

2011-04-20T03:27:00.000-07:00

Young drivers have been handed a lifeline by insurers with a new piece of technology that could reward them for safe driving with lower car insurance premiums.

At a time when the car insurance industry is reeling from the European Court of Justice ruling against gender being used in risk calculation, the Co-Operative Insurance has shaken things up further with the announcement of its new Young Drivers Policy, aimed at the 17-25 age range, which will use telematics – black box satellite technology – to monitor the young person’s driving behaviour and feed it back to the insurance company for them to then assess risk.

The Co-Op claims that this approach will save around 83 per cent of young drivers an average of £328 through what is being called ‘Pay-How-You-Drive’ technology, based on the GPS signals sent from a ‘Smartbox’ fitted to the car back to the insurers via a satellite feed.

Young drivers’ performance will be assessed every 90 days and they will receive a “safer driving discount” worth up to 11 per cent of the premium if they demonstrate sensible driving, on top of the regular No Claims Discount that will still apply.

The Smartbox will work by sending satellite signals with information about speed, braking and acceleration, cornering, and the time of day the journeys are made. If the driving turns out to be irresponsible then young drivers could see their annual premium increase by up to 15 per cent.

Young motorists will also be able to log into their unique 'Driving Dashboard' online to check how their driving has been rated against the four behavioural categories, with helpful advice offered on where they’re going wrong and how they can up their score for a lower premium. Each category will be colour coded and will be displayed in the form of a speed dial infographic, with green being good, amber good with errors, and red indicating bad driving.

Speculation is now circulating as to whether the ‘Pay-How-You-Drive’ method of calculating insurance premiums could be rolled out across all age groups to calm the storm that has been brewing around the ECJ ruling and the introduction of Continuous Insurance Enforcement that prevents cars from being uninsured even if they are off the road.

Graeme Trudgill, BIBA’s head of corporate affairs, has commented on the effects that will no doubt be felt by safer young drivers.

He said: "Male drivers under 21 are twice as likely to have an accident than a female under 21. The industry will have to change its model and effectively females will now pay a cross subsidy for males on their insurance premiums."

An article from moneysupermarket.com car insurance news, however, warns that young drivers who are not able to drive safely under the new scheme may face even higher premiums than those from other insurers.

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/opelblog/

BMW Concept M5 smiles for the camera

2011-04-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

by Noah Joseph

Excited for the arrival of the new BMW M5? Well, you should be – it's the quintessential high-performance sport sedan... the outgoing model was a something approaching a civilized supercar with four doors. But the wait is just about over.

Set to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show and then in 2012 production spec at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we've already had the chance to see the Concept M5 in Munich for a brief preview and photo session to join the batch of studio shots provided by the manufacturer. But if that weren't enough, BMW has released video footage of the M5 show car doing the roundy-round and even driving about a bit.

Speed pits minivan versus pickup in jet engine warfare

2011-03-21T05:24:00.000-07:00

by Aaron Richardson

There are two ways to do jet-powered vehicles. On one hand, you have the deliciously simple and effective method of strapping a used jet engine to a car or truck, and letting the thrust do the rest.

On the other, slightly more complicated side, you can attach a turbine to a shaft drive, translating the thrust to the rear wheels via a differential. Both are viable, albeit expensive, ways of adding jet propulsion to your car. But which is faster?

Speed took it upon itself to find out, pitting a thrust-powered Chevrolet S-10 against a shaft-driven Dodge Caravan. The Caravan uses a helicopter engine hooked to its rear wheels in conjunction with its standard gas engine up front. The truck relies solely on good, old-fashioned thrust.

Car Science: Jet Truck vs Minivan

1987 Pontiac Fiero GT looks like a Ferrari, helps you steal your neighbor's wife

2011-02-12T20:27:00.000-08:00

by Jeff Glucker

The Pontiac Fiero was produced from 1984 through 1988 and the "fired-up" GT version was introduced in 1985. Just one year before the car's demise, Pontiac slightly updated the Fiero front and rear, greatly improving its appearance to most late-'80s buyers in the process.

A video sales aid was produced to help dealers learn more about the Pontiac Fiero GT and the clip is pure, uncut 1987 packed into 6 minutes and 38 seconds. We won't spoil the entire clip but it features a nerdy Fiero owner, an 80's tough guy neighbor and that tough guy's jean-jacketed significant other.

"Just like a Ferrari? Pretty close."

Put on your acid wash jeans then click past the jump and take a trip back to a time when people confused Pontiacs for Ferraris. Poor guy in the Mazda RX-7 just didn't stand a chance... And now you know why hunting down dealer training materials is one of our favorite guilty pleasures.

Jeremy from Top Gear gets himself an iPad app

2011-01-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

by Jeff Glucker

Jeremy Clarkson has gone 21st century. The co-host of the BBC's Top Gear, along with publisher Penguin Books, has created an app for the iPad called iClarkson, and it features over 140 of his automotive reviews that were taken from his books Driven to Distraction and Don't Stop Me Now.

The app is styled to look like a study and is loaded with interactive features. Images of automobiles adorn the "walls", Clarkson's drum kit sits in the corner and many more surprises are in store for iPad users who pony up the $7.99 to buy iClarkson.

China's crazy double-decker side-by-side car transporter

2011-01-03T04:05:00.000-08:00

by Jeff Glucker

Need to carry multiple cars across a long distance in one shot? What if the amount of cars you want to carry exceeds the capacity for your standard automotive transport truck? China apparently has a solution, and it comes in the form of a dual-deck transporter, which is capable of carrying cars side-by-side on its upper load level.

This unconventional piece of heavy machinery was caught on film and it appears almost majestic in the way it rumbles down the road, but we're quite sure we don't want to be driving around it when it takes a corner with an excess of speed.

Flogging the Porsche 911 GT2 RS

2010-12-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

by Steven J. Ewing

It doesn't take much to set up a video like this. After all, why wouldn't you want to see even more footage of the 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS being flogged around a track? It's footage we can't seem to get enough of.

There's nothing like watching a 620-horsepower 911 doing what it does best out on a closed course, and we highly recommend that you take a five-and-a-half-minute break from whatever you're doing to watch the video

Russian PM Putin test drives F1 car

2010-11-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

Renault's Carlos Ghosn was recently in Russia to settle on purchasing a 50-percent stake in AvtoVaz, and it appears he brought along a Renault Formula 1 car for his pal Vladimir Putin to flog about. Once installed in the cockpit, Putin gets some instruction from a Renault engineer in French-accented English, then cranks the revs and runs it down what looks like a wet runway. There looked to be at least one spin involved, but considering how finicky F1 cars are to drive even for the paid professionals, it didn't look like a bad job. Follow the jump for the video. Hat tip to Duy P!

Ferrari World

2010-10-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

by Jeremy Korzeniewski

You may never get the chance to strap yourself behind the wheel of a real live Formula 1 racing car festooned with all manner of Prancing Horses. We feel your pain, but perhaps the next best thing would be a trip to Ferrari World, which just opened its doors to paying guests in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

If you're thinking that no theme park could possibly give you the kinds of thrills you'd get behind the wheel of the real thing, well, you might be right. That said, no street car ever produced in Maranello is capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in about two seconds flat, which is exactly what the roller coaster Formula Rossa puts its passengers through on its way to a 150-mile per hour top speed. That equals 1.7 Gs of acceleration force, by the way.

The exterior of the park is modeled after the side profile of a Ferrari GT, and the roof has a total surface area of 200,000 square meters (2,200,000 sq ft) with a perimeter of 2,200 meters (7,200 ft). One-hundred-sixty feet below that roof, which is festooned with the largest Prancing Horse ever created (see above), sits 86,000 square meters (930,000 sq ft) of floor space. That makes Ferrari World the largest indoor theme park on the planet.

Naturally, there will be other attractions for those looking for slightly less thrilling kinds of fun, including a plethora of movies (some in 3D), and a ride that takes you through the inner workings of a V12 engine. You can also drive a Ferrari 250 California Spyder though an exhibit that shows you the best that Italy has to offer while you let the kiddies have their kicks learning how to drive Junior Grand Prix race cars.

Finally, what Ferrari theme park would be complete without bevy of places to buy your officially licensed gear? Not to mention a slew of fine dining locales with which to fill your gullet? The price to get in is just 225 AED, a little over $60 U.S. Check out our high-res image gallery below and hit the jump for a behind-the-scenes video.

Get A Train Horn and Get Noticed!

2010-10-04T17:18:00.001-07:00

If you keep up with the auto industry at all you’ve probably noticed that the mighty train horn is becoming a popular accessory to put on your car or truck. These aftermarket devices are a sure way to get your ride to stand out in a crowd.

This all started by people actually taking horns off of locomotives and putting it on their trucks. These horns were extremely loud but in most cases were also fairly large, cumbersome, and not that nice to look at. So naturally some extremely smart person saw an opportunity and started building them specifically for cars and trucks. These new train horn kits are smaller, typically chrome, and much easier to install.

They are quickly becoming a craze. If you search youtube you’ll find video after video of people showing off their air horns. Often times the video will be of someone driving down a crowded street and just letting a long loud blast that startles everyone within 100 feet. While this is certainly not the most responsible use of a train horn it still kind of funny.

You have a couple options if you’re interested in buying a train horn kit. First you have to decide how much you want to spend. Typically they range anywhere from $299 to $499 but can go all the way up to almost $1500. Next you want to think about just how loud you want your train horn to be. The less expensive kits usually put out around 150dB and can give a 5 second blast while the large kits not only put out more decibels but can sometimes blast for up to 15 seconds. The louder kits are also larger so take that into consideration. You probably won’t be putting the big kit in your Honda civic.

So if you’re interested in learning more about train horn kits get over to http://trainhornsdelivered.com where Marc has a great selection you can choose from.

Codemasters provides another peek at F1 2010

2010-09-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

If you're looking for something to keep you thrillingly occupied while you wait (and wait, and wait...) for GT5 to arrive, the lights will go green on Codemasters' F1 2010 on September 21 in the U.S.

To make sure you're paying attention, the company has released a bit more footage of what wheel jockeys can expect: stunning laps around Singapore at night and Abu Dhabi at sunset. Follow the jump for the video and press release. GT5 is going to have to be really, really good...

AutoExpress pits Ford Focus RS against Porsche Boxster

2010-08-31T23:46:00.000-07:00

by Damon Lavrinc

When it comes to a German-American face-off, you could do a lot worse than pitting the BMW M3 against Ford's 5.0-liter V8 powered Mustang. How much worse? How about a comparison test between a base Porsche Boxster and Ford's turbocharged, torque-steering Focus RS.

Granted, the rationale for the shoot-out came down to cost. Across the pond both the Boxster and the Focus sticker for about the same amount. But that's about where the similarities end. Almost.

While the Focus channels over 300 horsepower to the front wheels, it also tips the scales 3,200 pounds. Compared to the 2,900-pound, 255-hp, rear-driven Boxster, Ford's hottest hatch comes off as rather portly, although both manage to run to 60 mph in under six seconds.

But beyond the stats and the all-too-important lap time, the real question is how best to spend your sports car money and which vehicle is the most entertaining to drive.

Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder

2010-08-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

by John Neff

One of the things we like most about Jay Leno, aside from being a hugely knowledgeable car guy, of course, is his access. Who else would Porsche pick for some private time in a hangar with its forthcoming hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder, during last week's festivities in Pebble Beach? Certainly not us. We waited by the phone, but sadly Porsche never rang.

Jay did get the call, however, and in addition to being allowed to place his all-denim outfit within inches of the 918 Spyder, he also got face time with Michael Mauer, Head of Design for Porsche. Jay didn't have total access, however, as Mauer shot down his request to open the hood and view the car's high-tech secret powertrain. Ah, well.

Follow the jump to hang with Leno as he learns more about the 918 Spyder straight from the designer's mouth.

Ezra Dyer tackles the Spectre 341 Challenge in a Porsche 911 Turbo

2010-07-22T17:13:00.000-07:00

by Damon Lavrinc

We didn't make it out to this year's Spectre 341 Challenge as time just wasn't on our side. Fortunately, we can live vicariously through a few of the participants, including Automobile scribe Ezra Dyer.

If you're not familiar with the event, it has roots dating back to the early seventies, when then-president of the Ferrari Owners Club of Southern California, Hans Tanner, organized a hill climb up Nevada Highway 341.

In the years since, the event has waxed and waned, but the purpose has remained the same: run up the 5.2-mile hill, tackle over 20 turns and scrape just north of 6,200 feet in a time of 3:41 – or less. Can Dyer do it in a Porsche 911 Turbo? Make the jump to find out and read more about the event (http://www.spectre341challenge.com/.

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Citroën Survolt takes to the track at Le Mans Classic

2010-07-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

by Jeremy Korzeniewski

We thought the Citroën Survolt Concept was pretty cool when we first saw it at the Geneva Motor Show. We think it's much, much cooler now, though. Why? Perhaps because the crazy French automaker has seen fit to make the all-electric machine into a real race car that will hit the track at the Le Mans Classic on July 10th.

The electric racecar sports a full tube frame with a carbon fiber body and a completely flat underbody... which is all well and good, but the real news comes from the powertrain. Dual electric motors push out 300 horsepower from zero to 5,000 RPM. But it's the torque of electric motors that really impresses, and the Survolt reportedly has enough of it to dispatch the run to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds.

Power comes from two lithium ion battery packs that weigh in at over 300 pounds each and offer 31 kilowatts of energy storage. The Citroën Survolt can manage 124 miles per charge, which can be performed in two hours with a specific charger or in 10 hours using a normal 220-volt outlet. Check out our image gallery below and hit the jump for a short video and the complete press release.

Hennessey slaps a pair of turbos on Ford's Raptor 6.2

2010-06-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

by Jonny Lieberman

Well of course they did. If John Hennessey is known for anything, it's strictly adhering to the "Needs more power!" motif. This guy could watch a shuttle launch and return to his lab plotting a third booster. So yes, Hennessey has slapped two turbochargers onto Ford's batty-yet-burly F150-mutant Raptor 6.2 and produced the VelociRaptor 600 and 800, two products that will nicely compliment the existing Hennessey VelociRaptor 500, a supercharged version of the Raptor 5.4.

Through the magic of forced induction, power grows from the 6.2-liter V8 Raptor's stock 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque to a slightly-goofy 602 hp and 622 lb-ft of twist in the V-Rap 600. Not enough for you? Hennessey either, which is why he's also selling the VelociRaptor 800. Get all the liquids out of your mouth now, as the engine stonks it up to the Texas-sized tune of 810 hp and 745 lb-ft of torque. Can we borrow an exclamation point?

We know what you're thinking -- the Bentley Mulsane's twin-turbo V8 makes 752 pound-feet of torque, besting the Hennessey 800 by seven pounds of twisting force. However, the Hennessey VelociRaptor 800 makes 305 more ponies than the British thoroughbred, weighs less (what doesn't?) and can keep up with the hounds no matter the fox hunt. That said, the Muslanne has a nicer interior. Think we're being silly? We are, because engines like this bend our minds a bit. Remember, 810 hp is nearly 100 hp more than a Ferrari 599XX.

But what if you already have a Raptor 6.2, want more power but don't want two turbochargers? Again, no problem, as Hennessey is also announcing the VelociRaptor 475, that through better breathing and some reprogramming, ups the big V8's output to 475 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. Dang. Watch the video after the jump.

2010 Chevy Camaro SS gets switched on hydraulics

2010-05-31T17:28:00.000-07:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

Chevrolet products are no strangers to hydraulics, but models that get the height-altering technology usually go by names like Impala or Caprice, not Camaro – and they are usually decades old, not 2010 models.

We say 'usually' because apparently an Arizona lad has gone and thrown some extra pistons underneath his gunmetal gray Camaro SS, and the result is a pony car that goes from limbo to lofty in a couple of secs. It nothing else, we can't help but think it'd make a great doppelganger Decepticon for Transformers 3. Follow the jump to check out the vid, but sadly, there's no three-wheel motion on display

The only way a Fiesta can beat a Lamborghini

2010-05-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

Spoiler alert: A Ford Fiesta cannot beat a Lamborghini Gallardo in a straight line. However, the "quick and nimble" Fiesta "that loves the tight corners" has a few superhero tricks of its own that lets it take down the Lambo in a fair... or not... fight. We'll call this The Turning Circle Takedown. Follow the jump for the all the gloves-off competition you can handle, and try not to ralph at the presentation or the outcome.

Underground Racing Lamborghini Gallardo shatters 250 MPH barrier in Texas Mile

2010-04-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

by Chris Shunk

The Texas Mile sounds like a totally kick ass event. You get one mile on flat, straight airport runway to go as fast as possible, with a half mile to bring your vehicle to a halt. This year's big winner was Richard Holt; the lucky owner of a fire-breathing, street legal twin turbo Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. The 1,000 horsepower super bull turned in an official time of 250.1 miles per hour, or fast enough to make even the most ardent of speed demons a bit leery. To make matters a bit more interesting, Holt drove his twin-turbo Gallardo for the first time ever during his first run on the track.

Hit the jump to watch Holt's pavement-scorching run. If you thought the Gallardo Superleggera looks fast standing still, wait to you see it passing the 250 mark. And Holt reportedly managed his Texas Mile record breaking run with the air conditioning on and the radio blasting. We can't think of a much better Sunday afternoon.

Crazy people create real-life third-person driving apparatus

2010-04-08T00:09:00.000-07:00

by Zach Bowman

At some point during the last seven years, Rooster Teeth went from making hilarious videos using Halo multiplayer and a little voice-over action to taking on questions Myth Busters-style. What kind of questions? Try, "What would it be like to drive a real-live F-150 in third-person?" The crew set up a fairly ingenious rig using a Canon 5d Mk II, an HDMI cable and a 15-inch monitor. Then they blacked out the entire green house and had two guinea pigs test subjects run a cone course. Did we mention they had to fight their way to the truck through two "Yakuza" armed with foam baseball bats?

The results are somewhat predictable, but hilarious none the less. Turns out it's just as hard to drive a real vehicle in the third person as it is in Grand Theft Auto. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself, though be warned, there's some NSFW elements, including a little language and a big blow-up doll.

BMW's Dirk Mϋller talks about hour 1

2010-03-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

by Sam Abuelsamid

The last 24 hours have been tough for Dirk Mϋller, one of the drivers of the BMW M3 GT2 in the American Le Mans Series. After setting the fastest GT2 time in qualifying on Friday for today's 12 Hours of Sebring, his time was disallowed because of an issue with his car during tech inspection. That meant the #90 car was pushed down to the 13th spot on the GT2 grid. To make matters worse, the #90 M3 smacked a wall during the morning warmup and missed the recon laps before the race.

As a result, Mϋller had to start the race from the pits after all the other cars pulled away. He spent the opening laps making his way through the crowd of GT Challenge Porsches before tackling the GT2 field. By the time hour one was over and he came in for the first pit stop, Mϋller was running fourth in GT2. Check out the video after the jump.

Standing water + train = car wash!

2010-03-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

by Alex Nunez

What happens when you combine a flooded underpass, a traffic-jammed overpass, and a passenger train in Buenos Aires, Argentina? You get a real-life Six Flags water attraction. Those people standing near the train tracks? They need towels. Hope everyone up on the road above had their windows closed. Follow the jump to watch.

Because the Ariel Atom really is a bit lardy, isn't it?

2010-02-23T00:46:00.000-08:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

Ah, those Aussies, they never quit, do they? Ten years in the making, a fellow by the name of Jon Crooke has developed the Hyper PRO Racer, a so-called "Superkart" delivering massive power and minimum weight. Using a Yamaha 450 WR four-stroke motorcycle engine that runs through a five-speed sequential gearbox, the Hyper PRO weighs just 352 pounds minus the weight of a person tucked into the cramped driving position. That isn't too much more than the enduro bike the engine is taken from.

The weight savings is courtesy of the superkart's spaceframe, which also acts as an FIA-approved roll cage. Instead of building a frame that accessories would be mounted to with brackets, the superkart's externals are mounted directly to a highly designed and minimalist chassis frame without additional hardware. Those externals include Ohlins aluminum-bodied race shocks, four-wheel cross-vented disc brakes with billet four-pot aluminum brake calipers.

The result, according to Hyper PRO, is a track runner that can lap a little faster than an Aussie racing car (not a V8 Supercar), a little slower than a GT Production car. But it beats them all for price: the track day Racer S is $29,500 Australian ($26,546 U.S.), the hillclimb Racer R is $35,500 ($31,947 U.S.). Follow the jump to check out video of the Hyper Pro Race in rather fast action, or have a slower look in the gallery below.

2011 Nissan Juke to get 1.6L gas-turbo-direct-injected I4

2010-02-12T17:32:00.000-08:00

by Sam Abuelsamid

When Nissan's new Juke compact crossover hits the streets later this year, it will be powered by the automaker's first gasoline-turbocharged-direct-injected (GTDI) engine. Following in the same technical path blazed by the Volkswagen Group, General Motors, Ford and others, the new engine uses the high-pressure injection system to execute multiple injection pulses for cleaner and more complete combustion. The variable cam phasing system operates independently on both the intake and exhaust camshafts, but the bottom line is this: An impressive 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque from a small displacement engine.

We don't know for sure if this new mill will come to the U.S.-market Juke, but we assume it will, likely paired with either a six-speed automatic transmission or one of Nissan's continuously variable transmissions. We also have no idea what kind of mileage the GTDI Juke will get, but it should be quite competitive. Check out the video after the jump to see it in action. A tip of the hat to Braun!

Cars.com shows off Super Bowl commercial early

2010-01-30T17:11:00.000-08:00

by Chris Shunk

It seems like only yesterday that Internet companies dominated the Super Bowl commercial water-cooler talk, but in fact it was a full decade ago. While most of those businesses are long gone, the few remaining Internet survivors like Go Daddy and Monster can be counted on for annual participation, and you can add Cars.com to that list, as the automotive research site has bought ad time during the Super Bowl for three consecutive years.

Cars.com's newest TV spot echoes the theme of last year's ad, which showed that even the smartest, best-prepared people in the world can use a little help when it comes to buying a new or used ride. This year's ad features a new lead, the eminently capable Timothy Richman: a guy who can put out fires with a rattle, ride a two-wheeler on the first try, take the bite out of jellyfish stings, deliver a breach tiger cub and predict the path of funnel clouds without a Doppler. But like so many folks, he gets anxious when he steps onto a car lot. Hit the jump to watch the one minute commercial for yourself. Wait, one minute? Who makes a one minute long commercial when a 30 second spot costs up to $3 million? Oh well, enjoy the sneak peek

First look at new Audi MMI with Google Earth integration

2010-01-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

Audi isn't the first to add Google to its in-car information offerings. It is, however, the first to add Google Earth and then tie that in to a suite of mobile tools that will make using your navigation system almost as easy and comprehensive as using your home computer.

In the latest incarnation of Audi's Multimedia Interface (MMI), Google Earth provides a bird's-eye view of the surroundings. Then you can zoom over the landscape, choose a city to investigate and pull up its Wikipedia page. When you know where you want to go, let your finger do the typing on the touchpad to enter your destination. Follow the jump for a video of the system in action. The new A8 just got a little bit sweeter.

More Honda HSV-010 track action from Suzuka

2009-12-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

by Damon Lavrinc

If you didn't get enough of last night's video and image onslaught of the Honda HSV-010 testing at Suzuka, we've got 20 more minutes of high-revving, carbon fiber cloaked SuperGT hotness below the fold.

Although Honda hasn't released any more details on its new GT500-bound racer, last week's open testing session had its fair share of lens-wielding onlookers, so we've included two more videos and a handful of high-res images to the gallery below. Make the jump to get another earful of the awesome 3.4-liter V8 shrieking down the straights and exploding out of the corners, but save your pleas to Honda to bring the HSV as the next NSX... it's ain't happening.

Created by Auto Insurance

That's a Wrap! Ferrari F430 Spider gets the vinyl treatment

2009-12-06T23:34:00.000-08:00

by Noah Joseph

It can't really be that simple, can it? Well, it seldom is. But experts in any given field tend to have a knack for making complex procedures look deceptively simple. Take this video, for example, from Creative FX. The British firm specializes in vinyl wraps, and they make it look all too easy.

Wraps are growing into a popular choice for exotic car owners looking to give their rides a new look. Rather than repainting the entire car, specialist shops like Creative FX apply what essentially amounts to giant decals. That's how most of the matte-finish cars we see – including this particular Ferrari F430 Spider – end up that way. You have to figure it'd be a very tricky operation. Follow the jump to watch the video and judge for yourself.

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Yes, the 2010 Audi S4 can drift

2009-11-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

by Damon Lavrinc

When we drove the 2010 Audi S4, we praised the sedan's trick electronic rear differential for its ability to shuffle torque between the rear wheels to give the sensation, if not the exact effect, of oversteer. Unfortunately, our track time was spent in an e-diffless model, so we didn't get to fully exploit its potential around Infineon. However, hot-shoe Ignacio Perez did just that at Spain's Jarama circuit.

After the jump you can watch Perez putting the new S4 into full-on drifts around the track with one nervous front seat passenger and his camera-wielding companion in tow. Although getting the S4 sideways isn't too difficult (we did it a few times in the standard model), you can see in the video that speed drops off precipitously at corner the exit. Regardless, modern-day Audis are no longer relentlessly pushing, nose-heavy beasts and, what's more, Perez was wagging his tail in an S4 Avant, the five-door version we can't get in the States... dammit.

Even if the Mercedes E-Class Wagon doesn't handle like a slot car, it can still handle slot cars

2009-11-10T21:49:00.000-08:00

by Jonny Lieberman

First of all, yes – this is pure Mercedes-Benz propaganda. We're fully aware of that fact. Second, despite it all, we're very jealous of what takes place in this video. In order to show off just how much junk you're able to fit inside the new E-Class Wagon -– or "Estate" in Mercedes parlance. How they settled on building a giant slot car track (or more precisely, sneaking it past the corporate money men) is beyond us, but we're glad they did.

So, how much junk? Quite a bit. Specifically, 1,275 pieces of track, including a section that snakes through the E-Class. All told, the track is over 400 meters long (about a quarter mile) and takes the 1/32 scale DTM cars four minutes and forty-seconds to complete. The track layout was designed beforehand on a computer because otherwise, well... they'd still be building it. Watch the full video after the jump.

Japanese market Gran Turismo PSP commercial is fantastic and revolting

2009-10-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

by Jonny Lieberman

Don't worry, this video is totally safe for work. But we're saying revolting because we can remember back years ago we watched Clint Eastwood's Pink Cadillac with a friend's father who happened to restore muscle cars for a living. Any who, as you might imagine the 1959 Cadillac gets pretty dinged up throughout the course of the film almost similar automotive pricing from dealers – fairly often, too. As such, my pal's dad was not only cringing at every dent, scrape and rumpled piece of metal, but actively screaming at the TV. Mostly stuff like this, "What not-nice-people! Why would they do such horrible things to such a wonderful, historic car?!?" More or less.

Now, we're not prudes. We like the destruction of cars. From the Jeremy Clarkson style (kill bad cars!) and the Ca$h For Clunker$ style (Kill ALL cars – hey, creative destruction is a valid economic theory) to 24 Hours of LeMons style (let's race dead cars! Er, kill that one car!). There's just something wonderful about smoking engines, twisted sheet metal and precious fluids spilled all over tarmac -- no matter what the car. That said, the video you're about to watch, well, it's a little hard to stomach. So, let's just call it mildly revolting. Also, we're supposed to mention something about damage rendering, or the lack there of, but, uh... Ready? Jump!

Renault launches new site dedicated to its upcoming EV lineup

2009-10-13T22:03:00.000-07:00

by Sam Abuelsamid

Renault has created a new website that is dedicated to promoting its upcoming model range of battery powered cars. The site is actually about more than just the Fluence, Kangoo, Zoe and Twizzy. It also offers explanations of how Renault hopes to make these cars mainstream and affordable. It appears from the information provided that Renault plans to sell all of its EVs without a battery pack. The energy storage system will all be leased separately with payments going to a chosen energy supplier. There will be the three options for replenishing the charge.

Europeans can use their standard 220V / 10-16A outlet to charge in 6-8 hours. A standardized fast charge connector is currently being developed among multiple automakers and utilities, and it should facilitate 20-30 minute charges with a 400 V / 36 A, three-phase source. Finally, Renault appears set to implement battery swap capabilities across its full lineup for three minute battery changes. Along with the main site there, Renault has also added a video blog that thus far contains a series of videos shot at the Frankfurt Motor Show debut of the ZEV lineup. You can check out one the videos after the jump.

Nat Geo airing Ultimate Factories on Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Camaro and Porsche

2009-10-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

by Jonny Lieberman

There's a reason cable is kicking so much network butt these days. No, not Deadliest Catch. Well, okay, Deadliest Catch and shows like the National Geographic Channel's Ultimate Factories. What is Ultimate Factories you ask? It's a show where a camera crew runs around the world checking out some really cool factories, that's what. Think Budweiser, Ikea and the place where they build M1 tanks. However, the show spends most of its time (and rightly so) on cars.

For example, we chose the Lamborghini picture as the lead for this post because A) that's the (drool) LP670-4 SV B) the Lambo factory episode already aired last week. From all accounts, it was super fantastic good, especially if you're into raging bulls. Missed it? Do not fear, however, as reruns are currently (re)running. But even if you missed the Lamborghini episode, there are some upcoming shows that will certainly pique your interest.

This Thursday, October 8, is the Rolls-Royce factory where Nat Geo explores the Rolls-Royce Phantom, a car that takes 450 hours to build. On October 15 they visit the Oshawa plant where the new Chevrolet Camaro is built. Unlike the largely hand-built Phantom, it takes 734 robots (plus a human or two) just 18 hours to build a Camaro, with one coming off the line every minutes. Check this out: every Camaro produced so far has an owner.

On October 22, Ultimate Factories visits Stuttgart to spend some time with the Porsche 911. Turns out that National Geographic is smarter than they look because the very next week – October 29 – they visit Bowling Green, Kentucky where the Corvette is made. Why smart? Would you want eleventy billion Corvette owners writing you hate mail all stating, "OMG. My C5 can smoke that Volkswagen. LOL?" Make the jump to watch some previews – including one with a guest appearance by our pal Valentino Balboni.

Lamborghini - Scissor Doors

Gran Turismo PSP ad at Laguna Seca is art imitating life imitating art. Or something.

2009-09-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

by Jonny Lieberman

In terms of tracks, we'd guess that while the Nürburgring gets the most press, Laguna Seca is number two. And with good reason, as Mazda's Raceway is fast, technical, beautiful and challenging. Plus, because the famed track's in Caramel, California, you get gorgeous, picture postcard weather for ten months of the year. If not more. Then, of course, there's the famous Corkscrew, and all of the hijinks that it ensures.

So large is Laguna's legend that Sony is now using to the track to sell its newly PSP ported version of Gran Turismo, the ever popular racing game. And as far as commercials go, this is one of the few we wish were a few minutes longer. The 'vert takes place on track at Laguna Seca where a Corvette ZR1 is chasing down a Ford GT and Nissan GT-R. And is that Tanner Foust? We think it is. Also, bonus points for whoever can identify the car the Blue Devil passes at the very beginning. Okay, we've stalled long enough. Make the jump to watch the video.

Buick takes another look at the small premium market with Avant Concept

2009-09-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Need further proof that the premium car market is looking to downsize? General Motors' latest entry on its recently launched Lab website is the Buick Avant, which the automaker developed to study the future of scaled down models for its upper-level brands.

Innovative ideas abound with the Buick Avant Concept, including doors that can both swing and slide open, a driver's seat that moves laterally to customize interior packaging, a luggage shelf that brings packages to you and a so-called micro pergola roof that can be either opaque or transparent depending on the driver's wishes.

All told, Buick came up with six exterior themes and four interior concepts that it hopes to get feedback on. Check out the image gallery below and click past the break to watch the video. Then, click here to let GM know what you think of its ideas for the small premium market.

Ken Block takes unsuspecting DiRT 2 players out on hot laps

2009-09-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

DiRT 2 had a coming out party in the UK and not only did Ken Block join the festivities, he decided to surprise some big-talking gamers with a couple of hot laps. If we could take anything from the demonstration, it's that Ken Block looks to be just as badass when driving on the other side of the car. Oh, and there's also the comedy – check out the guy who screams in silence and the other one who looks like he's practicing lamaze breathing. Follow the jump to see the vid.

Michael Schumacher gives us a walk around of the Ferrari 458 Italia

2009-09-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

The marketing team in Maranello has been putting in a lot of effort to keep the Internets drooling over Ferrari's newest creation, the 562 hp 458 Italia, with a steady flow of information hitting the web.

The newest piece of 458 propaganda comes in the form of the world's most famous Ferrari employee talking about why the new Italia kicks ass. Hit the jump to listen to Michael Schumacher go over the finer points of the all new 458 Italia. Brakes, suspension, F1-style seven-speed gearbox and driving experience are all covered in a mere 1:32, and we agree with Mr. Schumacher when he calls the 458 Italia "una bella machina."

Hear the angels sing: revving the Aston Martin One-77

2009-08-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

by Jonny Lieberman

On Friday we brought you our gushing reaction to the $1.8 million Aston Martin One-77. We were able to stick our snouts over, under and inside the vehicle and it's simply bonkers. Bonkers in the very best way possible. Just a reminder -- the carbon fiber frame also doubles as a feeder for the intake plenums. Ridiculous. Almost as cool: the way the 7.3-liter V12 rockets up its rev range. It's something you simply have to hear to understand. Luckily, we found some video of the reveal party that includes the sound and the fury. After the jump, fast forward to about the 5:00 mark. trust us, you won't believe your ears. There's also a second video, so you can check out some more 360-degree shots of the ultimate Aston.

McGriff, 81, reportedly becomes oldest driver to race NASCAR

2009-07-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

Herschel McGriff has been racing since the fifties, winning four NASCAR Cup races in 1954, and doing a few stints at Le Mans as well. In 2002, McGriff set a record for being the most chronologically advanced driver to run in a NASCAR-sanctioned event. Last weekend, he broke his own record.

Piloting a 2003 DEI Chevy, McGriff ran in the Camping West World Series at Portland International Raceway and came in 13th out of 28 drivers. And that's after starting at the back of the pack and a lap down because of a carburetor change after qualifying.

Said McGriff: "I did not want to go out there and flop around." Mission accomplished, Mr. McGriff... and well done at that. If he gets his way, he'll break his record again at the race in Tooele, Utah on August 1.

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

Amazing 1,500 fps video from the German Grand Prix

2009-07-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

by Chris Shunk

Formula 1 is wicked fast, yet in super slow motion at 1500 fps, it can be almost as fun to watch. After the jump are two videos that are definitely worth your time. The first video shows the massive amounts of stress exerted on the F1 cars as they barrel around corners. At 1500 fps, they almost look as if they could come apart at any moment.

The second video demonstrates the importance of technique on the circuit. The video is an overlayed comparison of the third sector approaches of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton during the Friday practice session at the German Grand Prix. Vettel was faster than Hamilton through the first two sectors, but Hamilton passed him with a textbook brake and acceleration at the third chicane. Good stuff. Follow the jump for your viewing pleasure. Thanks to AC for providing us the original video after we inadvertently overwhelmed the servers at Axis of Oversteer!

Bloody Rare: One-of-a-kind Pagani Zonda PS

2009-06-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

by Noah Joseph

You can't always get what you want. That's the reality of life, especially when you're talking about the ultra-exclusive Pagani Zonda. One buyer in England, reported to go by the name Peter Saywell, apparently wanted to get his hands on the limited-edition Zonda Cinque, but after all five sold out, he commissioned the factory in Modena to create the special one-off you see here.

Instantly discernible from other Zondas by its unique paint job and four-abreast tailpipes, the Zonda PS reportedly packs a 650 hp version of the Mercedes AMG V12 powering its stablemates – some fifty horses more than the Zonda F but a little shy of the Cinque and track-bound R versions – driving through the sequential transmission developed for the Zonda's highly anticipated successor. With its exclusive specifications, the Zonda PS will be worth even more than other versions of the Pagani supercar, which are already trading well over their list prices on the open market. Check out the images in the gallery below and follow the jump for a pair of videos courtesy of LMTV.fr and Top Speed.

Top Gear: The Stig, revealed

2009-06-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Like the Sith revealing themselves to the Jedi, the Stig has revealed himself to Top Gear's live studio audience. Maybe. Follow the jump to watch.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport enters production

2009-06-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

by Noah Joseph

The marque's faithful (read: the obscenely wealthy) have been waiting a long time for a convertible Bugatti. The last time a roadster rolled out of Molsheim was in the company's heyday before WWII, and despite our teenage fantasies, no roofless EB110 ever materialized from the Romano Artioli era. But after over a half century's wait, Bugatti has officially returned to the world of open-air motoring.

The most exclusive of exclusive automakers came to Pebble Beach last year with the Veyron Grand Sport, and auctioned off the first example for a whopping $2.19 million. Now the targa-topped Veyron is officially beginning its production run, with deliveries to commence in July. If you're one of those who's been waiting for the opportunity, good economy or bad, you'd better act quickly: Bugatti is only making 150 examples of the world's fastest roadster, with the first 50 units going to existing Veyron owners. Asking price, before the inevitable succession of special editions, is nearly $2 million, which ought to make your eyes water even more than the air kissing your face at 224 mph. Check out the details in the press release after the jump and the fresh crop of high-res images added to the gallery below.

Gotham Dream Cars announces Legends Dream Car Tour

2009-05-18T01:42:00.001-07:00

by Drew Phillips

It's fantastic enough to get to drive a Lamborghini - any Lamborghini. Be it a Gallardo, Murcielago, Diablo, Countach, whatever... you won't have to ask us twice if we want to get behind the wheel. Gotham Dream Cars, an exotic car rental company based in New York, is making driving some of Italy's finest supercars even more enticing. They have announced the Legends Dream Car Tour, in which a handful of of people willing to part with $1495.00 get to pilot five different Lamborghinis during a half-day of driving. But wait, there's more! As a bonus, each participant will also get to experience riding shotgun with Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini's legendary test driver. The tour is only scheduled for two days in June, so those who are interested better sign up before the slots are filled. More details in the press release after the jump, where we've also stuck the classic Top Gear clip of Valentino taking Clarkson for a spin in the Diablo VT.

Sultan of Michigan's car collection is one of nicest we've ever seen

2009-03-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

by Chris Paukert

We've been through a lot of great car collections and museums over the years, but even we have to admit that we've never seen a private collection like this. Assembled by a shadowy figure known only as "The Sultan of Michigan," this cache has something for car enthusiasts of most every stripe, although the focus is clearly on vintage and present-day muscle and Eighties-and-up supercars. Truck enthusiasts, vintage foreign guys and brass car enthusiasts will largely have to look elsewhere, but it's a magnificent collection, with the most flabbergasting thing being that it appears to be up-to-the-minute current.

The whereabouts and ownership of the collection are two things that the owner prefers to keep private – we actually have confirmation on both, but prefer to respect privacies. What we can confirm is that this treasure trove is, in fact, located in Michigan, which is both heartening (to know that such wealth and mechanical beauty still exists in the state) and somewhat confounding (as the area lacks truly great winding roads on which to exploit much of the machinery). In either case, the collection is generally kept under wraps, although periodically we understand that the owner invites in selected parties to share in the gorgeousness. Some of the folks at MidwestSSC.com are obviously part of the 'inner circle' judging by the video and this photo gallery. Follow the jump to take the tour for yourself. Thanks to Andrew Weber for use of his video, and we appreciate the tips, Justin and Evan!

Turkish man miraculously survives train-truck-pedestrian collision

2009-03-11T01:13:00.001-07:00

by Noah Joseph

Every once in a while there comes along a story that's so incredible you really have to see it to believe it. Fortunately, the magic of the intertubes and some newfangled site called YouTube makes that possible with news of a potentially horrifying crash in Turkey.

Local trucker Cem Tokac was standing in the truck yard when a tractor-trailer passed beside him, evidently oblivious to the train about to T-bone the double truck right into the blindsided bystander. The train strikes the truck, the truck strikes Tokac and he looks like he's down for the count, but amazingly escapes with only relatively minor cuts and bruises from what could easily have been a fatal incident. The event was caught on two closed-circuit television cameras on site, so follow the jump to watch the video and see for yourself.

Fisker runs commercials in L.A. before Oscars

2009-02-24T23:19:00.000-08:00

by Jonathon Ramsey

The Fisker Karma is on its way, and Henrik Fisker wants the world to know about it. The company bought two one-minute spots during the Oscars telecast, and they happened to play just before two of the evening's most hyped celebs did their turns on the crimson shag. You don't learn much about the car during the spot, and frankly it looks a little like something that should be Spike TV late at night, but hey, the word is out. Follow the jump to see it for yourself.

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Gallery:Detroit 2009: 2010 Fisker Karma

Goodyear Polyglas - Because so much chauvinism is riding on your tires

2009-02-16T16:57:00.000-08:00

by Noah Joseph

Let's face it: Driving can be a scary ordeal. Particularly at night, in the city, with construction detours and spooky lights... when you're a Seventies housewife! At least, that's what Goodyear had to say in this commercial, aired during the first Monday Night Football game in 1970. What made sense nearly four decades ago is good for a laugh today, so make sure the missus is in the kitchen and that the boss lady ain't around before you hit the jump. Female readers may want to get a big ol' grain of salt ready, and remember: When a woman's at the wheel, Polyglas means more than mileage. Thanks for the tip, Robin!

The Black Stig is back?

2009-02-05T22:32:00.000-08:00

by:Damon Lavrinc

Top Gear and the BBC have had plenty of fun with the supposed outing of the Stig as Ben Collins. After the initial report surfaced, the Top Gear website released a half-dozen posts claiming the Stig was everyone from Graham Hill to Barack Obama. Now, in an apparent attempt to keep the viral hype machine chugging along, a new video has surfaced showing the original Black Stig emerging from the watery depths, pausing for a moment and then running a slalom through the nearby pier's uprights.

The video (posted after the break) has a watermark of the website blackstigback.com, which is parked by the UK domain company Easily Limited. At this point, there's nothing on the page, but expect that to be rectified as inbound links go through the roof.

A press release from the Beeb says, "Until now, the original Stig from BBC Top Gear was thought to have been killed back in 2003, when he drove a modified Jaguar XJS off the end of HMS Invincible aircraft carrier at 109mph. The nation was shocked that the Stig was dead. However, recent footage has been found on YouTube showing that he miraculously survived." The release goes on to say, "How he survived, nobody knows. Some believe he used the nitrous octane equipment from the Jag to breathe. Some believe he can communicate with dolphins and they cared for him. Has he returned because he can sense White Stig has had his identity exposed?"

We'd expect this whole mess to be addressed during the next season of Top Gear this June, and we're hoping for a Hot Lap Death Match involving the two Stigs and one Pagani Zonda R.

Car Accidents

2009-01-24T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is a one wacky car accident happened somewhere around the world . . . This is just to remind car owners, drivers and other vehicle users to be more careful in driving, we are more prone to this, people tends to forget safe precaution and self-discipline when it comes to this.

There are too many remedies that can happen because of those simply things. Life is ruined, death and injuries worst may cause to serious problems to our body like be laid in bed for the rest of your life. Its like, you are a live but rather wish to die than suffer and feel hurt and remembering the crucial event the rest of his/her life.

Wish that everybody may become or careful in driving, always keep in mind the things that may happen if you don't follow safety precautions and most important, self-discipline.

Tuner creates 1000-horsepower Porsche 911... with bolt-ons.

2009-01-10T06:34:00.000-08:00

by Drew Phillips

Most stock components in a production car can only be pushed so far. Keep adding horsepower and torque, and eventually...well, something is going to break. Some people, however, are all about exploring the limits. Take Tym Switzer, for example. His tuning company, Switzer Performance Innovation of Oberlin, Ohio has come up with a bolt-on tuning package for the Porsche 997 911 Turbo that offers Bugatti Veyron aping performance. So, how much power can the stock internals in Stuttgart's 3.8-liter flat-6 take? Apparently, quite a lot.

The shop has recorded 850 horsepower and 727 lb-ft of torque on the rolling dyno, equating to over 1000 horsepower at the crank. Real world performance should be mind boggling, with the car reportedly reaching 60 miles-per-hour in the mid two second range, blowing through the 1/4 mile in just 9.79 seconds at 146 mph. Pricing looks to be just as fierce, with the Sledgehammer package retailing for $49,990. While that's a lot of coin for a suite of bolt-ons, the performance would appear to speak for itself. Videos of both the dyno run and the 1/4 mile pass can be viewed after the jump as well as SPI's official press release.

Gallery: SPI SLEDGEHAMMER

Ford Racing tests FR500CJ "Cobra Jet" Mustang

2008-12-28T05:54:00.000-08:00

by Dan Roth

Back in the first Ponycar era, a Ford Mustang packed with a Cobra Jet V8 was a mighty drag strip warrior. Better still was the Super Cobra Jet, augmenting the CJ's enhanced breathing with a stouter lower end. Either way, a 428-powered Mustang would tear off elapsed times in the high 13s - still fast today. Since the current Mustang is a headlong dive into nostalgia, it stands to reason that Ford's working up a new Cobra Jet and eyeing drag racing domination yet again. We have no details other than a video after the jump that shows an obviously tweaked Mustang making a quarter mile run at Milan Dragway in Michigan, but the actual car will be coming to SEMA very soon, so Ford Racing is likely making sure that nothing blows up once the package is offered for sale. We've sent in our resume for the job of drag-race test driver; shoot, you don't even have to steer!

Tires | Cars

2010 Chevrolet : Equinox debuts with direct injection

2008-12-21T02:40:00.000-08:00

by Sam Abuelsamid

Now that General Motors will be getting a cash infusion to stay in business at least through January, the automaker plans to unveil some new products at next month's Detroit Auto Show. The first one we can show you is the second-generation 2010 Chevy Equinox. You might recognize the greenhouse from spy photos we published earlier this year in which which the CUV was misidentified as the Cadillac BRX. While the Equinox gets a complete re-skin for 2010, the new CUV's dimensions are within an inch of the current model in all directions.

The Equinox remains a unibody crossover with either front- or all-wheel drive and the same basic suspension layout as before. The platform is an evolution of the current Theta architecture shared with the Saturn Vue. The Equinox's new styling looks more contemporary with prominent wheel arches and the obligatory Chevy twin-port grille. Inside, a new dual cockpit setup looks very similar to the one in the larger Traverse. As expected of any new model these days, the full array of USB audio, Bluetooth and DVD entertainment systems are also now available. Read about the new engines powering the Equinox after the jump.

The center console bin in the new 2010 Equinox is exceptionally deep, being able to swallow a 15-inch laptop with ease. While the new cockpit layout is attractive with fewer visible seams than the larger Traverse, the pre-production model was saw in person had cheap-looking hard plastics covering the dash. Chevrolet officials promised that production models coming in May would look much better, although hard plastic will apparently still be the order of the day.

A more robust body structure along with a number of other enhancements should make the cabin a quieter place. Triple-sealed doors, laminated acoustical glass and a drag coefficient reduced from 0.42 to 0.36 should make wind noise significantly lower than before. The doors now extend down into the rocker panels (just like the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS) making step-in easier. The kids in back can also slide their seat fore and aft up to eight inches and recline their seatbacks, as well. An optional DVD entertainment system incorporates two screens that flip up from the seatbacks. In addition, these can be individually controlled so one kid can watch DVDs and the other can play video games.

The current Equinox had an all V6 engine lineup including a pushrod 3.4L that traces its lineage back to the original 1980 Chevy Citation. Existing Equinox Sport models use the 3.6L twin-cam "high-feature" V6 that appears in so many GM products today. Both of these engines have been replaced with new engines that have similar power but are considerably more fuel efficient.

The entry engine for the 2010 Equinox is a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder now offered for the first time in normally aspirated and direct-injected form. With 182 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque running through a new 6-speed automatic transaxle, this model will be the fuel efficiency champ of the lineup.The front-drive four-banger should get 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. That's a huge increase over the 17/24 mpg values of the old engine. Unfortunately, while the new base engine's power output virtually matches the old 3.4L, torque is down significantly so towing capacity has dropped from 3,500 lbs to just 1,500 lbs.

Those who need the full 3,500 lbs of towing grunt will opt for the new 3.0L V6. Like the four-cylinder, this one is direct-injected to the tune of 255 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque. Those figures are down a bit from the 264/250 of the old 3.6L, but again the payoff is improved fuel efficiency. Also helping efficiency on both models is electric power steering that no longer saps engine power.

No word yet from GM on whether or when either a mild or two-mode hybrid system might be stuffed in the new Equinox to improve mileage further. The new DI four and six-speed automatic combined with the second-generation lithium battery mild hybrid system might even approach the mileage of the Ford Escape hybrid, but hybrids were the one subject no one at GM wanted to officially comment on.

The Equinox shares its platform with the Saturn Vue. With the distinct possibility that Saturn could be euthanized, the two-mode hybrid system from that model would need a new home. Judging by the "no comment on future products" responses that were accompanied by smiles, it seems likely that a hybrid (either next-gen mild or two-mode) will join the Equinox lineup sooner rather than later.

MINI creates amazing 3D ad using your webcam [w/VIDEO]

2008-12-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

by Chris Shunk

MINI is proving to be somewhat recession-proof, with 43% and 56% increases over the past two dreadful sales months. The marque is also keeping up its cred as a clever marketeer, with a new print campaign that can make a 3D MINI appear on your computer screen. The specially-designed MINI ad is able to interact with your webcam using technology called Augmented Reality. Simply log onto the URL printed on the ad, follow the instructions (in German), and voila! You have a realistic 3D model of the new MINI Convertible. To turn the 3D model or zoom it in or out, simply move the actual ad in front of your webcam. It takes a bit of processing power, so it helps to have a relatively modern computer. Follow the jump to view video of the interactive ad, and if you want to try it for yourself, print one out and surf to the special website. Thanks for the tip, Cory!

2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme: 'True Grit - Epic Feats of Endurance'

2008-12-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

by Frank Filipponio

The Earl of March has announced that the theme of the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS) will be "True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance." Think monumental drive and determination from motor racing legends like Jackie Stewart, who won the 1968 German Grand Prix with a broken wrist. That sort of thing. The Festival will take place July 3-5 and hopefully we'll be there to cover it for all of you. The 1.16-mile hillclimb is always a delight, with some of the most famous drivers in motorsports history driving the cars (and bikes) that made them household names.

The 2009 FoS will also celebrate 100 years of Bugatti, Audi and Morgan, 60 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Motorcycle World Championship, 50 years of Mini and the Daytona Speedway, and the 40th anniversary of Jackie Stewart and Matra's dominant pairing. Like last year, festival attendees will also get to see another edition of the Cartier 'Style et Luxe' mini concours d'elegance, the BP Ultimate FoS-TECH technology pavilion, the Forest Rally Stage and the Junior Festival of Speed. We can't wait.