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The latest high-performance creation from Hennessey Peformance Engineering (HPE) is so quick that OnStar was alerted by a recent acceleration test. In a video , posted by AutoBlog , a Cadillac CTS-V700 billed as a “four-door ZR-1” ran the quarter-mile in 11.07 seconds at 128 mph. In doing so, the musclebound CTS-V pulled .99 g, enough to alert OnStar that something beyond the norm for a production car was going on. A great nod to the performance accomplishment, an OnStar operator calls the car after the run and the driver reports all is fine. (Learn how OnStar works .) The CTS-V700 with 20-inch drag radials claims a 10.9 second quarter-mile time at 129 mph. It blasts 0-60 mph in just 3.1 mph, reaching a 211 mph top speed. The V700 package includes: Four-inch cold-air induction system Supercharger pulley and snout upgrade Engine management software upgrade Long tube 1 7/8-inch stainless-steel headers Three-inch stainless mid pipes High-flow catalytic converters Intercooler heat exchanger system upgrade V700 camshaft upgrade V700 high-flow cylinder heads 160-degree thermostat Hennessey embroidered head rests Serial numbered dash and engine plaques Should that transformation sound too...
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It's every car guy's dream: To hit the highway on the ultimate road trip with dear old Dad, exploring the country in the Ford Mustang musclecar they built together....
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Just a year ago, there was very little legislation regulating hands-free and text-free use while driving. At the time, most of the legislation limiting the use of handheld devices while driving was limited to novice drivers, or bus drivers, and only a handful of states deemed it a ticketable offense. Currently, according to http://handsfreeinfo.com/ only a handful of states require hands-free cellphone use, but more than a dozen states have taken action against driving and text messaging, some in conjunction with handheld cell phone bans. On January 1, 2009, California was the first to enact a no-texting law; Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia enacted texting laws in July 2009, and now 14 states restrict texting while driving. Recently, Utah and New Hampshire also adopted new limits on distracted driving. Additionally, more than 20 states restrict minor or novice drivers from using handheld devices while driving. In the meantime, if common sense isn't enough to make you put your device down and drive, here's a British public service video that's graphic enough to encourage you to just leave the device at home before you even get into your car. Remember those "Red Asphalt"...
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Forty years ago, my own mother was killed by a drunk driver. She was the first car off a green light when the other driver sped through a red light and tee-boned her car, killing her instantly, leaving my father a widow and her four children without a mother. ...
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It's the week ending May 15, and lots of automotive antics have been going on across the internets. We've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. We hope you survived the week better than some of the folks we read about in the auto blogs this week, and hope you'll enjoy the short treat at the end. Can you guess what they're talking about over at allaboutprius.com ? Hint: It might have something to do with Toyota's popular hybrid vehicle. In this case, their top story indicates the Toyota Prius has become the latest vehicle in which so-called "sudden acceleration" is alleged. According to the article "like every other vehicle accused of speeding up without warning, no conclusive evidence of a systematic or repeatable problem has been uncovered--despite dramatic photos of wrecked Priuses, and even one of a Prius in a rushing river." Check it out to read their arguments, which irrefutably prove "Given the history of 'sudden acceleration,' the lack of any provable defect, and the predictable number of complaints, it's hard to conclude that there's any...
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Car-crushing fans, Activision has announced its latest monster truck video game title, Monster Jam: Urban Assault . This title for the DS, PS2, PSP, and Wii breaks the trucks out of the typical arena setting to wreak havoc in city settings. Players will be able to conduct urban assault in popular trucks, such as Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Monster Mutt, El Toro Loco, and Blue Thunder. Newer trucks such as Air Ford A-10, Stone Crusher, and Backwards Bob are also represented. For purists, Monster Jam: Urban Assault will still offer stadium racing and stadium freestyle competitions with game play much improved over the original game. Mini games have also been added, including ones brand new to the franchise like Monster Jump, Truck Trickster, Skee Ball, and Air Strike. The game ships late October, in time for Halloween and the holiday season.
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Ford has added a new contender to its ever-expanding family of crossovers, which already includes the recently renamed Taurus X (formerly Freestyle) and the new-for-’07 Ford Edge . Set to go on sale this summer, the full-size Flex lives up to its name for its completely customizable nature. Low-slung and long, Flex mixes old school station wagon lines with new-age features like seven-passenger seating, an interior refrigerator, Ford’s SYNC in-vehicle communications and entertainment system, interior “mood lighting,” plenty of safety features, 18-inch wheels standard, and optional white or silver roofs. Ford is hoping to sell 100,000 units. Pricing for a base Flex SE will start at $28,995, while the all-wheel-drive Flex Limited begins at $37,255. A 3.5-liter, 260-hp V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission powers the Flex for a good balance of performance and fuel economy, although actual EPA numbers are yet to be determined. As distinctive in design, yet completely different from the new, more angular Flex, Ford’s curvaceous, midsize Edge crossover is also powered by the same award-winning engine. Introduced in ‘06 as a 2007 model, the 2008 Ford Edge gets several new options this...
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Gran Turismo has always proven to be a killer app for Sony, an essential competitive advantage for the PlayStation systems. The PS3 is finally about to get its due with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue , the fifth installment of the world's best-selling racing franchise. This partial game with 70 cars is now available on Blu-ray disc, with a bonus behind-the-scenes video called “Beyond the Apex.” Tomorrow, PS3 owners will be able to download the game. Both versions cost $39.99. No other automotive video game franchise has had the impact of Gran Turismo. With a leading-edge graphics and ever-evolving physics engine, each generation of the GT series has brought enthusiasts closer to a true driving simulation, putting them behind the controller of the world’s greatest machines. Having distributed 48 million units worldwide, the GT’s living room impact is undeniable. Even automakers acknowledge its role in the real world, notably pushing the sales of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX in the United States. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue introduces new modes to the series, including support for up to 16 players head-to-head racing offline and online, complete with race events and...
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For those who remember the “ Speed Racer ” cartoon from childhood, or perhaps are leaving the imported Japanese classic with your own children, the latest trailer released by Warner Brothers should quicken your pulse. While the colorful, CGI-filled film looks a far step removed from the simplistic animation in the original TV series, the latest trailer reveals many cues and characters that are immediately recognizable. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the film is the creative team behind it: writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the “The Matrix” trilogy, with Joel Silver producing. These three last worked together on “V for Vendetta.” The film stars Emile Hirsch (“Alpha Dog”) as Speed, Christina Ricci (“Black Snake Moan”) as Trixie, Matthew Fox (TV’s “Lost”) as Racer X, Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”) as Mom Racer, and John Goodman (“Evan Almighty”) as a well-cast Pops Racer. This live-action film is scheduled for release on May 9, 2008. Take a look at the trailers , and let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, read the experiences of our own speed racer in “ Top speed testing. ”
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