January 2012 ~ Dreaming Cars

The Dodge Viper is Coming Back....Sorta

Since Viper production was halted approximately a year and ahalf ago, America has been without a standout muscle car. Stateside muscle carenthusiasts have been as lost as a senior citizen trying to operate anavigation system. Well, there is now a light at the end of thetunnel. Dodge just made an announcementthat will ease those motor enthusiast worries. No longer will they feel as directionless as a navigation system missingits SD card.

The Viper is indeed actually coming back, but it will not bea Dodge. It will be an SRT Product. This is the second brand since the Fiattakeover that has been splintered off from the Dodge name. The first was Ram Trucks. It is an interesting move to separate Dodge,Ram Trucks, and now SRT from each other. I’m not quite sure what they are trying to accomplish. It could be a dumb and we could look back ina few years and ask ourselves, “what were they thinking?” or we could look backand think, “what a smart move?” Either way, I am just happy the car thatepitomized American muscle in the last decade will be back on the prowl, orshould I say, “slithering back on the streets.” Come on, you knew there was no way I would get through this whole thingwithout a bad snake joke.

Another great benefit of this announcement is that it willbe sending people back to work; 150 people to be exact. The SRT Viper will be made in the ConnerPlant in Detroit, Michigan. According toDodge’s press release, the jobs were first offered to current Chrysler hourlyemployees who previously worked at the plant. The first Viper is expected to roll out the doors in late 2012 as 2013 models.

Lingenfelter Opens His Car Collection to the Public

There are a rare number of car collectors in the world who can actually handle the magnitude of keeping cars in great condition. Cars are just like art, if they sit for a long time they will deteriorate. The Turbo seals will dry out and the supercharger gaskets will fall apart just due to moisture in the air. Ken Lingenfelter is a man who knows how to do just that and his collection span the whole range of cars from Pontiac to Ferrari. Recently Lingenfelter opened his collection to the public to view, it is a seriously amazing sight and only $15 to get in.

The Doors open up to a virtual warehouse of the most amazing cars on the planet. Lingenfelter is the son of a General motors executive and has dedicated his life to collecting the most beautiful machines on the planet. The collection includes a number of exotics, just a few examples are an Enzo, Bugatti Veyron, Alfa 8C, Ferrari 599 GTB and even a BMW Z8 just to name a few. Lingenfelter is not only about the supercars though, he has a collection of classic and new muscle cars that would make any man weak in the knees.

All of the cars are kept in a temperature and the humidity controlled warehouse. Each is also subject to monthly inspections and cleaned on a regular basis to keep them in tip top shape. What has to be the best part of the collection are the concept cars and limited production cars too. Lingenfelter has 4 of the original 2010 Camaro concept cars as well as a Lamborghini Reventon the 12^th ever built. This amazing collection is in Michigan and if you are in the area and you’re a motor head…it’s worth the trip.

The First Lamborghini Aventador Sets Down in the United States

Some of the most iconic cars in the world have the least visibility to the public, on the streets that is. Cars like the McLaren F1 from the 90s and not the Bugatti Veyron are good examples. They may be some of the most famous cars ever built have you ever seen one in person or driving down the street in your town. The answer is probably no, these turbocharger and supercharger equipped monsters exist in a world of super luxury. A world that unfortunately most of us will never experience but we can all dream. Lamborghini recently released a new dream machine into the wild…the Aventador.

The Aventador is a new model from the iconic car builder packing a 700 HP punch to hurl the driver to 62 MPH is 2.9 seconds. Amazingly this car is being sold in the good ole US of A where safety regulations usually keep us from getting the really fun stuff. Things like the Nissan Skyline GTR and Pagani Zonda are great examples of the cars we miss out on here in the colonies. This time though those super rich folks here won’t be deprived like they usually are, huge houses and Dom Perignon flowing like water but something was missing. Well not anymore because the first Aventador has landed in the states and anyone with $400K can snatch one up…well plus the registration fee. A fee that will hit the $100,000 mark on this one but hey it’s a small price to pay (not really) for quality.

In the world of Wally 118 mega yachts and gold plated toilets there is a new toy and I can’t wait to see one on the road. Well maybe there will be one in my drive way…alright off to buy some lottery tickets.

With all the New Sports Cars Coming for 2012 Which is Best?

Over the last few years the heard of new sports cars in the lower price range had become kind or thin. While the supercar world has exploded with lots of cars with a supercharger or turbochargers the rest of us had to make do with a 350z or nothing. In 2010 that all changed with the release for the Genesis Coupe from Hyundai of all companies. Now Toyota and Subaru have come together to give us the FT-86 which will be sold as the Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ. Mazda was also nice enough to bless us with the new Miata which is much better than it looks.

With all these new choices rejuvenating the sports car market and all in just about the same price tag which one is best? The way I am looking at this is only front engine rear wheel drive cars count. Not interested in the AWD Evo or STi since they are 4 door rally cars not sports cars. If the price range is mid 20K up to 32K the list is really limited to about 5 models. Yeah there are lots of used cars that can be purchased that fall to that price range after a few years but that also means the repair bills are still in line for a $60K car.

The 370Z tops the list in price sitting right at the $35K Mark and boasts the most impressive HP and maybe the highest trim level. The genesis falls into the range at the bottom price wise but it is a new comer and not many people trust that the quality is there in the long run. Honestly who can blame them since Hyundai has been making kinda low quality cars for years. The Miata is an amazing little car but it does carry quite the stereotype for the driver. Won’t mention what that stereotype for the sake of PC-ness, none the less it is a very capable little sports car. The problem is most of the major players have pulled out of the sports car race leaving the smaller companies to pick up the slack.

Toyota and Subaru combine forces to get the FT086 off the ground which seems to be all the rage but no one here is the states has really had any butt in seat time with it. Not only has no one logged seat time but no one knows the real price either.

This brings us back to the original question, which is…what is the one to buy? Well the Genesis is an amazing car but when someone asks what you drive…well it’s still a Hyundai. The 370Z is amazing but it is pricey and falls into almost the highest insurance class there, just below supercars. While the Miata is a bit small and completely impractical plus there is that other thing. The best way to look at this is, with the economy still in the toilet it may be a few years before the sports car rears its head again. So let us all just get Forza and enjoy some Xbox bliss…hell it’s safer anyway.

The Truth About Auto Parts

During auto repairs it is one of those times when all logic goes out the window. It doesn't matter if it be your wheel bearing assembly, wheel hub assembly or even the turbo we all get a little out of whack when our car is not working. Car repairs are usually not something we have planned on and they end up costing a lot more than we expect.

Nowadays the first place we head for finding auto parts is the internet but what seems like a good deal may not be so good in the long run. Dealerships make the statement "no aftermarket parts will work no matter what you do" this of course is a lie. There are plenty of good aftermarket parts that are great replacement parts from many companies out there. Many times the dealership themselves will be selling parts that are considered aftermarket. All auto parts have a failure rate associated with them...from new OEM and aftermarket to Remanufactured parts they all have risks. Every part has a certain % of the parts that will fail no matter who does the install. That said there are steps that can be taken to avoid failures not related to this percentage.

Having replacement parts installed properly is a huge factor in the life of the part. While your mechanic down the street may be a good guy and your friend you have known of many years, it does not mean he knows every repair. Over the past decade alone the technology in vehicles has gone from being so basic that a child could build them to the point that a rocket scientist would have to take a step back. While your mechanic may have been working on cars for 30 years think of what a 1981 Buick really has in common with a 2012 Mercedez Benz.

The quality of an installed part plays a huge impact on the life of the part but it is not the only factor. Most parts now are built in Asia including many OEM parts and a lot of people will say "that's cheap Chinese crap" but the truth is you can buy cheap or quality from anywhere. What a part buyer will need to pay attention to is the quality standards of the seller and the quality of the installer. If a turbo is installed incorrectly or all the prep work is not does not matter if the unit is the best that Borg Warner has to offer it will fail. DO the research and read the reviews of a part or a company, if they sell cheaply made parts then they wont be around long.

In House Tuning Companies, are They Worth It?

Everyone knows the major players in the automotive world but what about their tuning houses? They make parts as small as a mass air flow sensor to a complete turbocharger or supercharger set up. A tuning house is a company that modifies vehicles for a specific purpose. An in-house tuning is a company that works with a specific brand exclusively such as AMG for Mercedes Benz.

Most of the time a few small upgrades are not a huge investment with a car but is it worth it to buy the completely reworked car or do the upgraded that are desired individually. There are many factors to consider when it comes to purchasing these kind of upgrades not the smallest of which is the money. A great example of this is the mighty Honda Civic which comes in lots of configurations the top of which is called the Mugen edition. Now Mugen is a company that specifically makes performance parts for Honda's and they make some great ones at that. On the other hand a fully loaded Civic SI would set a person back about 23 grand...pricey for a civic. It is not that bad for the performance that one can get compared to that of the base model Civic. The Mugen Civic though would set someone back close to 33 thousand dollars which is 10 grand for a body kit, special wheels, a paint job and not much else.

So where should the line be drawn, the fact of the matter is that for all the gear heads out there modifying their cars is a way of life, a costly one. Any serious modification will almost instantly void the warranty on a vehicle and there for lower the resale significantly. So for this we have in-house tuners, they are able to give the performance that we all want while still keeping things under warranty. Not to mention in California it will keep the emissions man off your back. So in the end the Mugen is a good deal but sometimes the ends don't seem to justify the means. There is a company called Brabus and they specialize in Mercedes benz, they are the ultimate expression of automotive crazy. For example they will take a 2005 Mercedes SL600 and add $45K worth of modifications to it and consider it a lightly modified car. A few times a year they will sell a Merc that has close to a half a million dollars worth of modifications without even breaking a sweat. The amount of money that is spent to create a custom high end ride is truly insane but still it has to be said that their cars are some of the more stunning on the road today.

So is tuning worth it? in short...YES! ever penny is worth it if you are a motor head.

Who Says the Muscle Car is Dead

Over the past few years the steep incline in gas prices has just about killed the big SUV market. No one wants to roll into a gas station and see a bill for $200 in that price window. Even if you have a state of the art car radio with a car navigation system that directs you to the cheapest gas in town. This trend has now even followed suit with trucks, while the truck may be a staple in American society the sheer price of gas has knocked sales down to an all-time low. There is one type of car that would not lay down and give in to the trend of the auto industry. These are the muscle cars, the cars with huge V8 engines just because they can.

Muscle cars are the cars that people buy, not because they want a car to get from A to B but because they want a muscle car. The idea of a muscle car is simple, big car and even bigger motor. In the last few years many of the classic muscle car name plates have seen a rebirth into modern models. The muscle car is designed to get the driver there in style and have that sound that will rumble the earth around them. 2012 may be the last year of the muscle car though, in 2014 most of the current models will roll out with smaller lighter bodies and smaller motors too. While the smaller motors will be turbo and make plenty of power it just won’t be the same. The new mustang is set to be about 3/4^th the size of the current range and sport a twin turbo V6 in the GT models. Now from seeing the Nissan GTR which makes 500Hp from a V6 we all know it can be done but it just seems wrong for the muscle car.

There are a few positives that will come from this new idea of the muscle car, one is safety. With smaller lighter cars there is less energy released in a crash hence less danger and of course better fuel economy. Another factor that will hopefully come into play is restoration and maybe those people who can’t buy a muscle car at the dealer anymore will set their minds on restoration. Let’s hope because seeing a rusted from of a classic in a junk yard is kinda sad.

I Wanta, The F&M Evantra

Do you happen tohave a trip planned to Tuscany anytime soon? If so, go ahead and add another destination to your Navigation System. Enter in the town of Pontedera to your listof stops and pay a visit to F&M Automotive. While you are there you may want to purchase a new ride, lose yourNavigation Unit and got lost on the Italian roads, because F&M has producedsomething to rival the other Italian greats.

Look out Ferrari,Lamborghini and Vespa, there is a new Italian indulgence entering the arena.Faralli & Mozzanti, better known as F&M, have unleashed theEvantra. The Northern Italian Company hasoutdone themselves with this handmade creation. The car boasts a 3.5-litre flat-six engine that comes in either a 329hp naturallyaspirated version, or a high performance twin-turbocharged 587hp version. The high performance version can go from zeroto 62mph in 3.7 seconds. By the way, italso looks remarkable.

This project wasfirst known as “Mugello,” but later changed to Evantra. Evatnra is the name of an Italian goddess ofimmortality. With the dangerous speeds that you can reach in the Evantra youbetter hope that you are indeed immortal.

F&M will onlymanufacture five of these bad boys a year and the first one will roll out inabout six months. They have not mentioned anything about pricing yet, althoughI’m sure that it won’t be cheap. You mayjust have to hang on to that rental Fiat with the navigation system.

What Does a 5 Star Crash Test Rating Really Mean

Recently the Fait 500 has been getting a lot of press due to the 3 star rating given by the NHTSA but 4 Star by the IIHS. The Fiat really is an unusual car for the US using some new age tech in the power steering rack and power steering pump not to mention the rest of the car. The issue is that these two organizations use similar tests but they are different enough to reveal some serious issues.

Crash tests are designed to do just what they say. They test the ability of a vehicle to take a big hit at certain speeds. The problem with this is that it does not give the total results that are needed to know how a vehicle will react in a real world crash. The placement of a crash in the car is what will really dictate how the safety features. The NHTSA and IIHS are both trusted to test vehicles but just the placement and the speeds used in the tests. In the case of the Fiat 500 it is more about the height of the barrier than anything else, at a low point the little fiat does fine but when higher it causes massive damage.

The issue with this small height change is that this car is meant for the US, and we all know that the US loves their SUVs. Not only do we love them but we are not willing to give them up even when gas hits $4 a gallon. They have high front bumpers and very heavy weight behind them, so for the car world it makes very dangerous conditions. A crash test rating may be 5 star but from a vehicle that is the sale height, a much higher one will impact in an area that is mainly glass. This means there is next to no protection at all for the driver. The main thing to realize about crash tests is they can only tell us so much and it is up to all of us to keep the roads safe. Keep driving distractions like cell phones out of our hands, vehicular safety is only as good as the accident that can be avoided. The best crash safety is the crash you never have.

The Small Customer Car Craze Started a Long Time Ago

Throughout the ages man has strived to define himself as an individual. Cave drawings, elaborate hair styles, huge watches there are all a way to say “look at me” in new and unique ways. Car trends through the years have changed but the feel is the same it’s all about making something truly unique and truly yours. This is not just about putting some fancy parts or changing out the steering racks and power steering pump when there is a recall. Customer cars are all about what the owners want and how the car makes them feel. The same idea of making your loin cloth out of some dangerous animal can be applied to the car scene. Something that took a long time to build or is unique will always stand out in a crowd.

It is a little known truth that the Japanese and euro tuning market has been alive and well long before the Honda crazy hit the US. In the US the car market was dominated by large American cars for a long period of time and anyone running a small engine was considered to be a bit limp wristed in what they drove. There was no way that a car with a 4 cylinder could be a performance car in any way. In Europe on the other hand the trend was already in full swing with tuning houses and private individuals dropping some serious coin to make their rides unique and much faster.

The trend of going wider and making the cars “footprint” larger has been a tried and true practice for years. These pics are just a few of the examples of the crazy ideas that people had in the 80s and 90s before the small car crazy hit here. There are so many examples of what the gear heads of the past had in mind and what lead to the looks of modern cars. As a car guy it is obvious to me and probably to you that styles created by custom cars is always a big influence in the car of the future.

The Deadly Smartphone

You may have just replaced your Wheel Hubs or Bearing Assembly. Maybe you put on new tires, windshield wipers, or new headlights.After all, we’re approaching winter quickly and in many places that means toughdriving conditions such as icy roads and darker nights. Even after suchmaintenance there may still be something compromising your safety whiledriving, and according to the NTSB, it’s your cell phone.

I’m definitely guilty of having used my cell phone whiledriving whether it was to answer a call, send a quick text message, or check anincoming email while sitting in traffic. It’s actually kind of hard to avoidwith today’s smart phones. They buzz in your pocket every time someone makes a commenton Facebook, every time CNN posts a new story, and at random times throughoutthe day if you’ve made the mistake of teaching your mom how to text. However, Ido agree that as they get more and more sophisticated, they get more and moredangerous to use while driving. The NTSB revealed that at any given moment,about 13.5 MILLION drivers are on hand-held phones. This past year alone about3,000 people died in the U.S. due to such distractions, and the NTSB is callingfor a nationwide ban on using cell phones to any degree while driving. And yes,this includes hands-free devices.

We’ll have to wait and see what this recommendation bringsas the NTSB doesn’t actually have the authority to pass the law themselves.Many people think this would be just another way our government is over-abusingtheir right of control, while others think this is a reasonable measure. Shouldthere be a compromise considering how many people use their phones for directions and other features? What about Pandora! And is talking to someone through a hands-freedevice any different than talking to someone in your back seat? I guess we will all find out shortly. What do youthink?

BlogAutoParts Car of the Week

This week the car of the week is not as much a individuals car but a modified factory car that you can go out and buy yourself. Well you can go out and buy one if you have the estimated $350K it is going to cost. It is the Maserati Gran Sport S in the Super Black Edition from tuning house Anderson Germany. The car this is based on the Maserati Gran Sport which houses an in car navigation system and car stereo that can rival a concert hall but also has lots of other amazing tidbits.

The car has been taken to the black, so to speak. A full carbon fiber body kit has been added not only to accent the car but also to lighten the whole vehicle to increase the performance. Since less weight is always the way to faster acceleration and better handling. Along with the lightening treatment the car has received a few motor tweaks to up the power and a lower stance to increase the aggressive look of the car.

Next Anderson took on the look of the body and did a masterful job of making it look menacing. Blacking out everything they could get their hands on, the head lights and tail lamps got the blacked out treatment as well at the entire body was sprayed with a silky flat black paint job. Carbon fiber accents were left unpainted to give that aggressive racy look and a set of huge 21 inch wheels were added and you guessed it they are black. The rear tires of the car have now swollen to 295 and this helps cope with the 492 rampaging horses coming from the engine.

The Pagani Huayra makes other super cars look juvenile

Each car make on the planet has a specific purpose, they all want to sell their cars and make money. Not every company goes about this the same way. When someone like Ford creates a car they build it for function so the steering rack or steering gear box are all there to “work” but not to make the driver passionate. Small car companies are usually more interested in creating a driving experience that inspires the driver to feel passion for the car or for driving. Companies such as Ferrari and Lotus are more about the way a driver feels then about mass producing a cheap hatchback for the general public. Even Ferrari and Lotus have quotas to meet and huge companies to satisfy. Pagani on the other hand is a completely different type of company they are built around one man’s dream.

Horatio Pagani set out years ago to make a car that was his dream and the idea was simple. Make the fastest car they could possible build and who cares how much it cost. The car had to look good and make the driver feel like a 12 year old boy staring at a poster of a supercar on his wall. The first car that was built was called the Zonda which quickly took the top spot on most people dream car list…that includes my own. After about a decade the Zonda’s production run has come to an end and while that is sad it means there is a new model that is ready to make us all green with envy.

Over the last few years Pagani has been upgrading and testing higher and higher performance parts in their track versions of the Zonda all for the purpose of installing these exact parts in their new street car. A year ago we got the first few glimpses of what they were planning and what a shockingly beautiful creation it is now that it has come into full view. This new car is called the Huayra and if you are having trouble saying it, it sounds like this “why-ra”. This car was built from conception to production all on the vision of Horatio and has now finally hit the streets of the USA but only for a test drive with Jay Leno in the passenger seat. It will be another year before any of us can get behind the controls. Of course to get behind the wheel the size of the check you will have to write will be bigger than the mega mansion you will live in. There is no way to soften the blow…its 1.5 million dollars. It is a small price to pay for the most exciting car that has ever been built for the streets and even better…the US streets.

Costco Just Got Even Better

>As if I needed another reason to love Costco, they are now offeringa 15% discount on auto parts such as turbochargers, alternators, and more totheir members. Their relationship with the auto industry, however, is not a newone as they have been offering purchase-discounts with participatingdealerships for years. This new discount allows members to not only receive 15%off new parts, but also on labor and accessories.

Costco, the sole reason I have about 500 zip-lock bags andan excessive amount of other household items, has about 2,500 participatingdealerships in their auto program. Of these 2,500 dealerships, 50% are currentlyparticipating in the promotion while the other 50% are expected to be by theend of 2012. This is not only a greatincentive for Costco members, but also gives these dealerships access to Costco’s44 million members. Costco sold 250,000 vehicles in its auto program in 2010alone, many of which were used and will be in need of such services in thefuture.

Next time you’re at Costco snacking at all of the samplestations, take a second to learn more about your participating local dealers totake advantage of these savings. If you’re not already a Costco member and willbe in need of any vehicle service in the future, the savings will probably more thanpay for the $55 annual membership. Who doesn’t love getting six months ofgrocery shopping done in an hour?

Lotus Steps Up To the Big Boys

This year Lotus has stepped into the ring with a bunch of new competitors for the big boys out there like Ferrari and Porsche. The New Lotus Esprit is the main focus of the trash talking that lotus has been doing. This new model uses an all new V8 sourced from Lotus itself, a 570HP V8 at that. This new car will use an amazing steering rack instead of a steering gearbox that adjust depending on the speed of the car. Besides having a power plant that will rocket the car to 60 in that low 3 second range the new Esprit also looks great as well.

Lotus has set their sites on the Ferrari 458 and the McLaren MP4-12C who are direct head to head competitors. Not to mention that they both are built to be race cars and only hit the streets after the race versions had shown what they have. Now that is not to say that lotus does not have a racing background because that would be ridiculous to say. Lotus started as a race team and they are very very successful and have just begun fielding a racing team. What I am saying is that the Esprit as not had enough public track time to really be able to back up any trash talking that the CEO may be talking.

The old Esprit was a monster of a car but not exactly the fastest thing around. When the Esprit was hitting the track it was competing against cars like the Lamborghini Diablo SV and cars of that nature. Now cars have really stepped up their game since the new McLaren has been built to be the best handling car ever built. Now that is one hell of a statement but if anyone can do it I believe that McLaren can do it. To be honest no matter which car is the fastest, I would love to have any of them. I would be partial to the McLaren just because it is very understated and looks like it may not grab every cops attention from here to Japan.

This Year’s Monterey was Something Amazing to Behold

There are car shows and then there are CAR SHOWS, Monterey is the latter. This show it the crème de la crème of the automotive world. We are not talking about Ponitiac fuel pump and fuel injector units here. This is a no hold barred brawl of the most beautiful and amazing car that the world has ever seen. As an example there were a number of cars carrying price tags so high that even Steve Jobs might think twice. Yeah lets be honest it wouldn’t phase him to buy one but still 2.6 Million dollars for one car is quite the asking price.

One such insane car is the new SSC Tuatara which is the latest offering from the Shelby company and the word bespoke is used a number of times when this car is mentioned. This car is a space age material covered high speed monster that will be a contender for the fasted production car on the planet for sure. The Tuatara features a 7.0L turbo charged motor creating more than 1300 HP and is looking to not only top the 270MPH barrier but also capture the fastest time for a production car around the Nurburgring. The best part about this car is it looks like something out a movie based years in the future and yes it is the car in the main image of this blog.

Bugatti had one of the more interesting cars that has been shown in many years but not for the reason you may think. This particular car is in fact a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport that has been custom built with porcelain worked right into the pain and while not everyone may agree with the styling of the car it can be said it is quite stunning to behold even if it is just in high def pictures. One last think about the car it has clear tail lamps and cops love to pull people over for clear tail lamps. Over 2 million for a car and a top speed of over 260MPH and you get stopped for something that trivial. Just saying it would be funny.

If anyone who could not get into the show it-self was feeling left out there was really no need, the parking lot of the even was any car guys dream. Just in a few short minutes walking around the grass lot that was the parking many Porsche carrers GTs and Lamborghinis can be seen. Enough Ferraris, Rolls Royce and Bentlys to make Rodeo drive loot like the poor house and even a Veyron or 2 all making me think why pay for a ticket. The other thought in my head is what do these people do for a living and how nice it must be to have that kind of speed at your finger tips …well toe tips.

Gymkhana 4 Hits the Internet to Show US What’s What!

It seems like every time Ken block gets behind the wheel of a car, carnage seems to follow. Not to say that is a bad thing, this is a man who can push the turbo in a turbocharger equipped car to the limit. In this new installment of the of Gymkhana he shows off a more Hollywood side of insane driving. Driving through walls and dealing with giant gorrillas and even Jaws makes an appearance.

The car used for all this mayhem is a 2011 Ford Festiva, now that may sound like a recipe for disaster. There is one major thing to consider with this Festiva…and that is that it has been built specifically for this type of driving. The vehicle has been built for drifting and not only is it pushed to over 400HP it also sports a light weight wait frame that would make a Lamborghini Superleggera jealous. On top of all that the car is outfitted with a 4WD set up and it has been wide-bodied to boot.

Ken Block himself considered one of the best drift/rally drivers in the world is a master of car control and every video in this series proves it. What is so great about this series of videos is that they not only admit to being completely about advertising the products but they are an internet sensation. Basically the videos show what can be down with a completely built drift car and an amazing ability to control a vehicle at ridiculous speeds. Our hat is off to Ken Block and his team for creating yet another video that will keep us entertained for years to come.

Have Gas Prices had an Effect on Gear Heads of the World

It seems like nothing is cheap these days, from power steering rack and steering gear box units to packs of gum. Everything costs so much, I don’t want to sound like an old timer but I do remember a time when a dollar bought a gallon of gas. Back in the day we used to cruise in my 83 Buick with the windows down and the “system” up, I put that in quotes cause the stereo in it was a joke. We felt great just having a car but then testosterone started flowing and the need for speed had begun. It is not just me a whole generation of kids got their first Honda and thought hmmmm, I wonder if it can go faster. So I did like everyone else my age, swapped the engine to the B18C5R (Type R motor) and then eventually turbocharged the car.

In the pursuit of speed my friends and I built 240s with V8’s and skyline motors. We built Mr2’s that could blow the doors off Ferraris like they were KIAs but in the end we have all settled into more economical cars as we aged. When I look back I kinda feel bad for the motor head growing up now, $5 for a gallon of gas has to make it a bit rough. I mean when I was doing this 10 years ago we could run to the pump get $10 bucks and race all night (legally…of course).

So is there a whole generation who is going to lose out on the quest for speed, the short answer is no. We all thirst for the thrill, be it from speed or other sources and we will always find it. The new generation of gear heads will have to learn the new technologies like electric motor s and hybrid powertrains. So the car nut of the future will have to be a little more tech savy but let’s be honest, they already are smart phones, tablets, IPhones they know it all.

Automotive Styling Do’s and Don’ts

Automotive styling is a tricky beast to tame, the fact of the matter is cars have to be designed to lure the masses and not the specific style of its builder. While parts like the tail light or headlight assembly dictate the “face” of the vehicle there are many other aspects to consider that make a car attractive.

There are some great examples of how headlights can look great but still the car design is a failure. The Pontiac Aztec is a great example of this, the headlamps look like they would be right at home on a sports car but they have been placed on what would turn out to be probably the ugliest car that has ever been released to the public. On the other hand there are cars that have terrible headlamps but for some reason they look great anyway. A great example of this is the new SLS by Mercedes if you look at the parts they don’t look good but once they are all put together it just works and you cant really explain why.

Car design is a major factor in what car people will buy, a few years ago Honda released the civic hatchback SI. It was met with weak sales and Honda took that as the public did not want a sporty version of the Civic. They missed the major factor ….it was really ugly and it doesn’t matter how good a car is if it’s not nice to look at. The fact of the matter a car must look the way people want it to. If you are building a mid-size sedan the car can look kinda bland cause to most “it’s just a car” but if you are building a sports car it must have curves and angles that give the car an aggressive look. They say cars represent their owners and their owners don’t want to drive a car that makes them feel ugly or boring.

Another Amazing 24 Hour LeMans is in the Books

This year’s race was one of the most spectacular in recent memory from the introduction of new models to just completely insane crashes. Audi still stands tall on the podium but it was rough ride to get there. The manufacturer had introduced their new R18 TDI Proto Type car this year and while very…very fast it seemed to have an issue staying on the road, losing 2 of the 3 cars during the race. These cars use new super-efficient turbochargers and radiator fan units attached to newly designed cooling units to attain the power they need.

In the first few laps of the race one of the Audi drivers seems to have been a bit over enthusiastic and tried to cut and inside line resulting in a collision with a Ferrari and sending them both off the track. While the Ferrari was able to be repaired, the pure speed the audi was traveling sent it into the barrier. Pieces of the car rained down like a sudden spring sun shower that had people running for cover. A few hours later the second R18 ate it after miss-judging a pass. The rear tire ended up in the rough sending the car careening across the track into the wall, resulting in a glorious explosion of carbon fiber and rubber.

At the end of the day though there was only one story that topped the LeMans news boards and that was the battle between Peugeot and Audi that came down to a 15 second gap that the Peugeot teams could not close up. A 15 second gap is the tightest racing that has ever been recorded at leMans and also amazing. The one remaining Audi was able to hold off all four of the Peugeot prototype cars that were hot on its tail. When the flag went down it was an all Audi and Michelin an amazing victory for both companies. It was also an awesome event to watch…even if you did pass out 8 hours into the race.

My Car is Having Tracking Problems

Driving a vehicle in traffic can be a stressful time, not only are there distractions and other drivers but if your vehicle is not driving straight it can be down right scary. Many people and mechanics will instantly blame the steering gearbox or steering rack but this may not always be the case.

If a vehicle is not driving straight when the steering wheel is at center there can be a huge number of reasons. Not only can the steering be out of alignment but the whole vehicle may be as well. This can be caused by an impact on the road with debris or maybe pot hole. Sometimes even after a repair or a modification the alignment may be off from where it should be.

The reason that a vehicle will track incorrectly is because all 4 tires are no longer facing the same direction as they did originally. This can cause the vehicle to pull when driving or it can even cause a condition known as "catapillaring" which is when the direction of travel is not quite the same as the angel of the vehicle. There are some simple fixes for this condition but sometimes it is not so easy. If the issue was caused by a simple alignment issue it will take a mechanic about an hour to fix it. If there is something more than car may need some serious work to get back to proper operation.

Are Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars, Clarity for the Future

There are many alternative fuels hitting the market some of which are more interesting than others. Vehicles using a fuel pump that pushes grain alcohol or car using electric generators attached to the wheel hub bearing but not all of these ideas will succeed. Most new technology will fall by the waist side and be over shadowed by others. The hydrogen initiative is one of the ideas that will most likely see a lot more attention in the next decade. Not only is hydrogen clean to the environment but it also means that the only byproduct of a vehicle powered by hydrogen is water and we can all use more of that.

In the attempt to get more efficient cars on the road many car companies and technology rims have tried hydrogen fuel cell cars with varying degrees of success. Honda has had one of the most “in the news” version of this car which is called the Clarity which is basically a civic but under the bonnet it houses a secret. A hydrogen fuel cell power plant that can be fueled just like a gasoline motor but the emissions are leaner than the air in the city where the testing is being done…LA.

While this car may be the future in some people’s eyes others think the electric car movement others see the complete electric car as the way to go. Electric cars are a great idea in principal but the truth is their range is limited and it takes a good amount of time for the batteries to recharge. Anyone who has an EV will tell you that they must have a second car to take them on longer trips which kinda defeats the purpose. Hydrogen may just be the way to go but it is a bit too soon to know, also even the clarity has a $600 a month lease payment…a bit too steep for a Honda that is not an NSX Type-R.

Buying a Car Modified by a Previous Owner

We all see cars that have been modified by their owners and now they are hitting the street with a for sale sign on it. Cars with a custom supercharger or turbocharger that has been installed to add power or lowered suspension to add that custom look. What may seem like a great buy at first can turn into a money pit and a huge headache.

There are plenty of tuner companies that sell tuned versions of cars like custom shops and other tuning houses but they all stand behind their work. What we are looking at is the tuned car that has been modified by someone in their garage and lets be honest not everyone does every install correctly. There are a few things to look for when purchasing a modified used car. The first step is to meet the previous owner, if they are a 50 year old man who is a car enthusiast and modified his BMW with all Dinan accessories you will probably be ok. Now on the other hand if the person selling the car is a 19 year old with a low budget and a thirst for speed than probably want to skip it.

Aftermarket performance parts are just like everything else and that is to say "ya get what ya pay for", cheap ebay parts are just that. Parts that have been built and tested with quality are more expensive not only because the look cool but the cost of building and testing them is high. Cheap parts are usually a low cost version of a quality part which means that materials are not as good and the build quality is lacking. Low build quality means reduced performance and shorter life of the part. The other factor to consider is the "cutting corners" of a cheap car build. Younger owners then to be do it yourselfers and they may not know how to do the installs correctly so all work down on a potential purchase will have to be looked over.

A modified car can be a great purchase especially if the car already has a bunch of modifications that are on the "To Do" list. It can be hard to resist the draw of a car that already has the parts you want. In the long run it may be better to pass and buy the basic car and add the parts yourself just cause you know it has been done right.

The International Superstars Racing Series

In 2004 the world saw the birth of the superstars racing series. This is a series that does not allow turbochargers or superchargers but is based all on big V8 engines. Not only V8 engines but GT cars that are 2 or four door with rear wheel drive. This year has seen something which not many believed could happen…Maserati has won with the Quattroporte.

It’s not a huge feet for any car to win a racing series but the cars that are here have always been the tops. Cars like the BMW M3 and Jaguar XFR are track built monsters made to crust the lap times and the opposition. The Quattroporte is more of a relaxed sports car but it has proven that it has what it takes.

The Quattroporte EVO is a widebody….very widebody version of the normal car that can be seen on the street and has been tuned to for the life at the track. This series is where GT car manufacturers can test and prove their “metal” as it is. The likes of BMW, Porsche, Audi and even Chrysler with the 300C they all put their best foot forward in this primarily Italian racing series. This series has been expanding its locations for the last few years and it has to be said when Road America is finished it would be nice to see it there.

Concept Cars a Plenty in Frankfurt

Every year there are a host of car shows and events where manufacturers show off their new creations and new ideas. From components like car radio units and car navigation system units to complete concept vehicles the Frankfurt motor show has always been a haven for the automotive ideas of the world. It’s not just cars like the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale that take center stage in this arena. Cars like the Ford Festiva ST are huge crowd pleasers because of their real world attainability.

This year was no different with Ford, Subaru, Fisker and many others throwing down some amazing ideas. Ford showed off their Focus and Festiva ST model’s which are both set for a global release…that means we will actually be able to have them here in the states. This is a big announcement since the US never gets the fun models of cars…type R, Old School Nissan GTR, even the old focus St none of them ever saw US shores, well legally anyway.

One of the most stunning models is the Jaguar C-X16 which is slated for production for the 2013 model year and has to be one of the best looking cars ever built. The great thing about this car …yep it is set to go head to head with the Porsche Cayman so the price won’t be out of this world. Sadly for the US market the Focus ST wagon will not hit our shores so we will have to make do with the Cadillac CTS-V wagon and its petty 600HP. Porsche showed off their new 911 but it is hard to tell the new one from the old, as opposed to KIA who dropped the GT concept on an unsuspecting public. The GT concept is KIAs fist RWD platform and if it comes out looking like the concept it will be a huge head turner. There was also a 1000+HP electric super car that was teased but not that much is known about it yet. For a full list of all the action cars and events at the show hit up Google and look for the Frankfurt auto show then sit back and enjoy the glory.