autoMedia Auto News Blog : Classic

SEMA: Lingenfelter Trans Am Concept

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:50:00 GMT

Respected tuning house Lingenfelter Performance Engineering ( LPE ) unveiled a back-to-the-future muscle car with its T/A concept at the 2009 SEMA show . Certain to turn heads, the reborn Trans Am applies classic Pontiac cues to a 2010 Camaro , then cranks up the volume with abundant performance upgrades. The result is a clear example of what could have been, where it not for the auto industry crisis . Inspired by the 1969 original, the exterior makeover features a new front fascia with custom headlamps, grille, and turn signals. The car's fender has a functional side extractor scoop and the rear quarter has a leading edge wheel flair. The rear corners of the car have been extended nearly four inches and are finished with a wrapped down stand-up spoiler. Custom-created taillight housings complete the body work. The rolling stock is custom 20-inch honeycomb wheels wrapping in 275/40ZR20 front and 315/35ZR20 rear Nitto tires. Inside, the cockpit is dressed with bright blue woven vinyl seat inserts and metal turned instrument panel accents. As with any LPE project, there is serious underhood alchemy with the T/A concept. The engine is built around a custom Racing Head Service (RHS...(read more)

autoMedia CARnival 9-18-09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:01:00 GMT

It's the week ending September 18, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. The Frankfurt Motor Show was the main focus online this week, with exotic alternative fuel concept vehicles such as the the Audi e-tron, Peugeot Globule shapeshifting electric car, Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS, and the Volkswagen E-Up and L1 arnering a fair amount of attention. More traditional vehicles, such as the Ford C-Max compact crossover,
Lexus 600h, Mini Cooper Coupe Concept, next-gen Toyota LandCruiser, 2010 Aston Martin Rapide,
2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and even an 800-hp Brabus E V12, also gathered headlines. Take your pick, the smorgasbord of vehicles at Frankfurt truly offered something for every automotive taste.

We can always count on Jalopnik for the most unusual tidbit each week. Yes, we can. So, how about a gallery demonstrating the types of the automobiles found parked at everyone's favorite world's largest retailer. No, these are not art cars: they are the cars of WalMart.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety celebrated its 50th anniversary by crashing a modern Chevy Malibu into 1959 Bel Air. The intent of the crash was intended to demonstrate how the leaps and bounds taken in automotive design contribute to passenger safety. Autoblog has an interesting assessment of the video, and while it's sad to see the demise of a perfectly lovely classic car, it's even sadder to see what happened to its crash-test-dummy driver. And as usual, the readers' comments are quite interesting as well.

The Holden Commodore enjoyed a brief run as the Pontiac G8 in the United States, but that came to an end with the demise of Pontiac this summer. Although GM has denied plans to sell a rebadged Commodore as a Chevrolet to U.S. consumers, the automaker might have a new set of customers: American police departments. Apparently, according to LeftLaneNews, General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson recently confirmed in an Australian media interview, rumors saying a Commodore police cruiser could be destined for America.

Jay Leno should be nicknamed "The Regurgitator," because you just can't keep that man down! After leaving "The Tonight Show," Leno has recently reappeared in a new primetime talkshow format, and with him he brings his interest in specialty automobiles. AutoBlogGreen has info on Jay's Green Car Challenge, which puts celebrities behind the wheel of an electric Ford Focus competing for best possible lap times.

President Obama made the headlines at Consumer Reports in a blog about his recent visit to a General Motors factory in Ohio. While there, the POTUS unveiled new regulations for fuel economy: By 2012 new cars and trucks must average 29.2 mpg, but those targets will increase to average 35.5 mpg by 2016. Apparently, according to research at CR, "more than 80 percent of Americans said fuel economy was the most important factor in choosing a new car."

Have you ever taken a good close look at the collection of automotive gadgets found in those onboard airline product catalogs? Just because most of us really CAN live without animated hitch critters doesn't mean we can't still secretly wish for them! AskPatty reviews the Delta Airlines "Skymiles" catalog, and discovers some practical devices meant to make life in and with your car more convenient.

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Papa John finds his Camaro: Free Pizza to Camaro Owners

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:10:00 GMT

It's the kind of story from which dreams are made: A young entrepreneur sells his prized Bumblebee-striped black-and-gold 1971 1/2 Chevy Camaro Z28 to begin a small business. More than 25 years later, the company has become a flourishing nationwide pizza chain, and the now-successful businessman uses it as a search platform to help him find the car he once cherished. After finding said vehicle, the businessman pays the owner of the vehicle $250,000 and repays his loyal customers with free pizza.

Now back to reality: To celebrate being reunited with the dream car of his youth, Papa John's Pizza will give a free large one-topping pizza to any Camaro owner who visits a store on Wednesday, August 26th. That's today: one free one-topping pizza per Camaro, and one Camaro per visit.

While spending the summer of 2009 traveling across country to celebrate his pizza company's 25th anniversary, John Schnatter kept his eyes peeled in hopes of finding the beloved 1971 1/2 Z28 Camaro he sold to help his dad's tavern stay afloat and ultimately launch Papa John's Pizza Company. The search was chronicled online at www.papasroadtrip.com, where thousands of pizza-loving people logged on to offer tips on how to find the car.

"The Camaro represents what I gave up to start Papa John's," said Schnatter. "Words cannot capture the emotions I am feeling in getting back that part of my history. I didn't have much back then, but for my business dreams to come true, I had to part with the one true asset I had to my name, and even then, there were no promises of success. I never gave up hope that someday I would get that car back."

Jeff Robinson had owned the car since 2004 but had modified it slightly for various races and car shows. The vehicle had even been featured in November 2006 Popular Hot Rodding Magazine and earned several awards. Thankfully, he had retained most of the original body parts including the hood, rims and tires. "When I realized this was Papa John's Camaro, I immediately wanted to get him his car back."

Robinson, who had previously heard about the contest from a friend in Cincinnati, learned that he in fact might have Schnatter's car. The family who originally purchased the car in 1983 from Schnatter heard about the contest while watching an interview with him during the Washington-Baltimore preseason football game on August 13. They began searching for details online and ultimately connected with Matt Hardigree, associate editor of Jalopnik.com. Hardigree met Schnatter during his Road Trip stop in Houston in May and investigated the details himself before finally connecting Papa John's with the family and ultimately to Jeff Robinson. Robinson is now $250,000 richer, and at long last, Schnatter's beloved Camaro is going home to Papa.

"The foundation of Papa John's was built on my decision to sell the Camaro, and while it may not appear to be a huge sacrifice to some, it represents my roots in this business. And, perhaps it can serve as proof to others that hard decisions today can pay off for you later, if you're willing to believe in what you are doing. I'm extremely grateful for the success of Papa John's, and really wanted this critical piece of our history back."

Dontcha just love a happy ending? Now go hop into your Camaro and drive off to your local Papa John's Pizzeria for your free Pizza!

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor

autoMedia CARnival 8/14/09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:33:00 GMT

It's the week ending August 14, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. This weekend is one of the biggest weekends of the year for car fans, with the Wooodward Avenue Dream cruise in Detroit, and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey. No matter whether you prefer classic American musclecars or the most beautiful and rarest historic automobiles these two events are certain to indulge your wildest automotive fantasies.

AutoBlog has more than a few stories on the West Coast's Pebble Beach activities so take your pick: You can choose to check out this 2010 Morgan Aero SuperSport, peruse the debut of the new Porsche Panamera or wish for a woodie from the Nick Alexander Woodie Collection.

The New York Times has several features on Woodward, including a happy, sentimental feature on a true love story that began more than 50 years ago in a Ford Model A on Woodward Avenue, a gastronomical observation on participation in the nostalgic event, as well as an economical observation of the event's financial importance.

At the beginning of the week, General Motors announced the EPA has created a new methodology for evaluating electric vehicles and proclaimed its upcoming Chevy Volt would be rated at a stunning 230 mpg. The rating seems so difficult to believe that The Detroit Bureau calls the new EPA Mileage standard bogus, but the smart folks over at Consumer Reports break its economy down into numbers and figures that make more sense. Or cents. Whatever.

Porsche gets a second mention in this week's carnival, this time in a series of articles at Jalopnik about the truth or falsehood of the rumored Cayman Shooting Brake. Based on such supporting evidence as a screen cap supposedly snapped from the yet-unreleased Forza 3 for Xbox 360 and a "leaked" photo showing the vehicle being prepped for its anticipated Frankfurt Motor Show reveal, it was ultimately discovered to be a going-away hoax from the-website-formerly-known-as-Top Gear USA. Awesome prank! Jalopnik got pwned!

This week's Greenlings column over at AutoblogGreen explains why today's gasolines include ethanol, and explains whether your car needs any modifications to use this ethanol-infused gasoline.

LeftLane News has two stories on the new BMW ActiveHybrid cars released this week. The first report covered the upcoming X6 ActiveHybrid sports activity coupe, set to reach dealers by the end of 2009. Powered by a gasoline twin-turbo V-8 and two electric motors, the X6 hybrid promises acceleration to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and a total of 480 horsepower. In addition to that one, they also share details of the new top-of-the-range ActiveHybrid 7 hybrid sedan. Powered by a three-phase electric motor and a twin turbo V-8, the ActiveHybrid 7 will crank out a combined 455 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque. Word on the street says these hybrid versions will improve economy by 15 to 20 percent.

As the extra $2 billion 'cash for clunkers' extension settles in with lawmakers, Motor Trend reports many dealers are still waiting for their rebate money from the original CARS plan. Apparently one Toyota dealer in Southern California has 450 unpaid claims totaling $1.9 million. Another in North Carolina has only received $26,000 of his $319,000 unpaid claims.

So, do you enjoy the broad variety of headlines and automotive websites here in our weekly carnival? If this still doesn't provide a broad enough selection of car content, then you should check out autos.alltop.com: They've got links to more than a hundred automotive websites, and list the five most recent headlines at each. So whether you're looking for auto & transportation press releases from PR Newswire, the most popular auto items at Digg.com, and anything in between, autos.alltop.com is the place to go when you've got too much time on your hands, and an insatiable appetite for car news.

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

autoMedia CARnival 8/7/09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

It's the week ending August 7, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. The biggest news this week continues to be discussion of Obama's Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program, as websites discussed the outcome of the program's first week, as well as plans for its next installment.

Thanks to AutoBlogGreen for the latest update clarifying the mysterious status of the Car Allowance Rebate System legislation, telling us it looks set to continue for at least another month. Apparently, the Senate confirmed the House's $2 billion funding of the incredibly popular program yesterday in a 60-37 vote, Obama is expected to sign it into law soon, and the money should last through Labor Day. Note: If you're considering making a purchase based on CARS rebates, don't delay, as it's not expected to be extended again.

A report at Edmunds Auto Observer, which was heavily based on information obtained from a Hyundai press release, states that these new purchases could result in a 59-percent fuel economy improvement between the new and old vehicle of the early clunker trades. In fact, according to their report, Hyundai estimates individual fuel consumption will decrease by 275 gallons per year, reducing fuel costs by nearly $680 annually at current gas prices. According to Hyundai's calculations, this first round of trade-ins could potentially decrease annual fuel consumption across the U.S. by 69 million gallons, reducing spending by a total of nearly $170 million on gasoline and cutting CO2 emissions by more than 600,000 metric tons.

A deluge of car shoppers purchased nearly 185,000 vehicles within the first week of activity: Consumer Reports shared data showing what participating consumers were trading in and then buying with their rebate dollars. As expected, the vehicles most often cashed in are popular SUVs and pickup trucks, with small and midsized sedans dominating the new-car purchases. They also include lists of the top vehicles purchased (Toyota Corolla was the number one most purchased car) and the top ten vehicles traded in (Ford Explorer 4WD wins that dubious honor).

With nearly all gas-electric hybrid cars qualifying for the Cash for Clunkers vouchers, hybrid sales in July grew to 3.55 percent of the new car market--its largest market share ever. According to HybrdCars.com, new car dealers sold 35,429 hybrids, with more than half of the sales coming from the Toyota Prius. Hybrid sales jumped by 35 percent in July compared with last month and a year ago--while sales of conventional new vehicles rose 15.4 percent for the month and were down 13 percent from July 2008.

Finally, there's been lots of greenwashing on this subject, but Bill Basore over at AutomotiveTraveler has the courage to explain, in painful detail, all the reasons why the Cash for Clunkers program is bad. While many consumer and industry insiders may quietly agree with him, nobody has written anything that so clearly explains why it's so clearly bad. Plus, all the videos demonstrating how they disable what appear to be perfectly reliable cars are just tragically sad.

Sick of Cash for Clunkers news? Okay, let's move along....
We already know those snarky guys over at Jalopnik love cars. They love movies, too. Would it surprise you to hear they also love movies about cars? Well, we all know there are some really great car flicks out there, as well as some really pathetic car flicks. Click this link to view Jalopnik's list of 12 of the greatest car flicks of all time. Or click this link to view their list of 12 of the worst.

If you're one of those folks who's always on the move, check out this article at The Detroit Bureau explaining a new generation of wireless technology that provides Internet access via cellular data networks for devices in a moving vehicle. With in-car internet service like this, your kids may soon start asking, "Already?" rather than, "Are we there yet."

Automotive journalists drive a lot of cars. And since most of that time is spent sitting in the driver's seat, certain things tend to annoy them more than others. AutoBlog has compiled a slideshow of interior annoyances, gripes, and grievances. Not everyone will agree with all the choices, but some of them are especially problematic. What do you think?

I hate to report it myself, so I'll let the folks at MotorTrend.com say it: The Chevy Camaro got a 4-star crash test rating in front driver and passenger tests. :( Now that the NHTSA put the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro through four crash tests, the Mustang has another minor selling point over its main rival: Compared to the Mustang coupe's five stars all around, the Camaro only received five stars for the side driver and rollover tests. According to the article, the Camaro continues to outsell the Mustang, and in July, 7113 Camaros were sold to 6686 Mustangs.

The 15th Annual Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise is taking place next weekend! Are you going? Whether you'll be there or not, you'll want to check out this collection of billboards that Chevrolet has commissioned to be displayed in the Detroit area as part of the festivities. Happy Cruising!

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

autoMedia CARnival 7-25-09: This week in the auto blogs.

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:44:00 GMT

It's the week ending July 25, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. News this week was slow (for a change), with no monumental announcements regarding the state of the automotive industry.

Probably the most popular news item of the week was the announcement by General Motors that they would be releasing a special Transformers edition of the Camaro. Yep. Available on Rally Yellow LT and SS models, the $995 Transformers package is intended to emulate the Bumblebee character from the Transformer movies and features special Autobot badging but no additional performance upgrades. This savory tidbit ran at Left Lane News, USNews, Jalopnik, Motor Trend, The Detroit Bureau, and even here at autoMedia.com.

Jim Cherry, the national classic car examiner knows that for some true car fans, life won't be complete without a vintage car key to the highway. His guide to novices buying a vintage car is founded on solid advice: Do your research! Knowledge is power. And that power will protect you from making expensive mistakes. But he admonishes one additional fact: it's nearly always cheaper to buy a car someone else has restored than restore it yourself.

General Motors made news last week by bringing Bob Lutz out of retirement to supervise all creative elements of products and customer relationships. Well, according to autoblog.com, his first act is to move current North American design head Brian Nesbitt into a new and very different role as the general manager of the Cadillac division. Among his responsibilities in his present design role at GM, Nesbitt oversaw the Cadillac CTS Coupe and SportWagon projects. He officially takes the reins at Caddy on August 1.

Jalopnik has moved from reporting on cars to fashion, with news about a new line of Cadillac-branded products for men. Apparently, as part of the brand's 100th anniversary in 2009, a Dubai-based cosmetic company will be producing a line of cosmetics for men that will include a cologne, aftershave, deodorant, and hair and body wash each scented with grapefruit, chamomile, geraniums, tarragon, cinnamon, sweet spice, and incense.

Generally well-received by the automotive press, Hyundai's new Genesis has recently garnered top marks from J.D. Power and Associates in its Vehicle Launch Index. According to The Car Connection, the Vehicle Launch Index offers a kind of holistic assessment of the vehicle, measuring how well it performs for the manufacturer, the dealer, and the customer. Joining the Genesis in the Index's top five are the 2009 Ford F150, the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, the 2009 Nissan Maxima, and the 2009 Subaru Forester. In all, twelve vehicles managed to beat the industry average, including seven other models from Ford, Dodge, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, and Volkswagen.

Not quite sure how they're getting away with it, but The Detroit Bureau reports that Chrysler Group will offer to double the government's new Cash-for-Clunkers subsidy, meaning incentives of up to $9,000 on "eligible" Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep products.

Ford revealed plans this week for higher fuel efficiency across its 2010 lineup, promising its new vehicle lineup will improve fuel economy by about 20 percent compared to 2005 levels. The company is also committing to at least four new electrified vehicles on the road in the US by 2012, including a full battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid, and new conventional hybrids, according to a report from hybridcars.com.

It's big news that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) withheld research revealing the risks of driving while operating a cell phone. Apparently, according to ConsumerReports.org, "The report details the need for more laws and restrictions on cell phone use by drivers. NHTSA specifically recommends that those behind the wheel not use any device, except in an emergency. They also note that laws that forbid the use of hand-held phones are not effective, don't address the problem, and that it may actually imply that hands-free phones are safe." Wowzer! Put your cell phone down and drive!

Motor Trend took a week-long roadtrip in a Euro-spec Ford Fiesta, covering 2550 miles and burning 80 gallons of gas - that's an average just shy of 32 miles per gallon! And, all while loaded down with two staff members, their personal effects, and a bunch of camera gear. Click this link to read about their road-trip adventures, or click this link to read about the month-long coast-to-coast adventures of Fiesta Agent Danny Grozdich, here at automedia.com

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

Aging Population Means More Blue Hair in the Fastlane

admin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:56:00 GMT

It isn’t just you. The entire American population is aging, with a dramatic shift toward more seniors as Baby Boomers coast into their gray years. This will create myriad social challenges, as service needs and consumer demands move the economy. In the next 20 years, the 65-plus set will set its ranks swell from 39 million to 69 million. And with that transition, that group will jump from representing 15 percent of motorists to 25 percent.

States are wrestling with how to test and monitor these drivers, striving for the delicate balance between ensuring greater public safety and not stifling freedom in the golden years. Some states currently do not require retesting once a person is issued their initial driver’s license. About 18 states require the elderly to renew their licenses more frequently and two necessitate road tests.

The powerful AARP continues to challenge efforts to impose tighter monitoring and requirements for older drivers, despite a number of dramatic car accidents that have made the national news of late.

Regardless of which side the age line you fall on, it is clear that we will need to address this population shift nationally and locally. While it is a sensitive issue, it is important to be proactive in guiding older family members to drive safely within their abilities. For some, it may mean restricting driving to daylight hours and off-peak hours. For others, there may be tough conversations about turning over the keys.

What is clear, there will be more cars clogging the fastlane with their turn signals on in the years ahead. And automakers would be wise to consciously go after the needs for this swelling demographic, rather than continue to aim younger.

Also read:
Senior Drivers - The Dilemma of When to Stop Driving
At-home Test For Senior or Elderly Drivers

Man in the Rearview Mirror: Michael Jackson’s Cars

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:24:00 GMT

The world lost a legendary entertainer with Michael Jackson’s passing. He leaves behind a music catalog that will be familiar for decades, a home that was more like a theme park, three sad children, a mountain of bills, and a fleet of cars. While his last ride was in a Ford E-Series ambulance, he rolled in style on his better days, with gilded limos and an opulent tour bus.

FoxNews.com discovered in papers from his 2000 divorce from Debbie Rowe that Jackson at the time owned 75 cars, including Roll Royces and a fire truck. Clearly, selling 61 million albums in the United States alone creates a deep car fund.

His eclectic car collection was to be auctioned off with the Neverland Ranch to help pay his massive debt, thought the sale never happened. AutoTrader UK has a slide show with several of his cars, including gold-trimmed limos, two-level tour bus, police motorcycle, conversion van, and primer-gray GMC SUV.

Perhaps the strangest thing with this collection is that it isn’t more exciting.

Collectors take note: It is safe to assume that Jackson’s vehicles will be offered for sale eventually.

If you had Jackson’s earnings, what would your car collection look like?

Sneak Peek: 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:23:00 GMT

Chevrolet has pushed the Corvette to its highest levels of performance, comfort, and quality with the C6. The base car stands tall against anything in the storied five decade history. Then there is the mighty 505-hp Z06 and downright exotic 638-hp ZR-1. And now, Chevy will resurrect another legendary moniker: Grand Sport.

Grand Sport history
Back in the Sixties, the Ford-powered Shelby Cobra was just beginning to dominate road-course racing. In retaliation, GM engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov took the then-new Corvette Sting Ray and whacked 1,000 pounds off the car, throwing everything that didn't contribute to speed into the dumpster. He employed a tubular chassis with aluminum reinforcements, and was rewarded with the Grand Sport, a Corvette that quickly proved to be a Mongoose capable of eating a Cobra—alive. Even though there were plans for 100 more Grand Sports, GM management scrapped the program, and the five originals disappeared from the track, melting into private hands.

Learn more about classic Corvette Grand Sports and how to build your own replica.

Modern Grand Sports
Last seen in 1996 to mark the close to the fourth-generation Corvette, the Grand Sport name denoted special C4s fitted with a more powerful, 330-hp LT4 V-8, rear wheel arch lips, bold white stripe running bumper to bumper, and red front fender hash marks. A total of 1,000 were made.

For 2010, the Grand Sport is a special edition, though doesn’t carry the enviable power boost its predecessor did. The ’10 Grand Sport will feature the familiar, and laudable, LS3 V-8 with 430 horsepower and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission. An optional two-mode exhaust system elevates the power ratings to 436 horses.

Street and track performance is enhanced with the Z51 suspension package, bundling wider wheels and tires; revised shock, stabilizer bar and spring specifications; and specific gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of 1.0 g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60 mph acceleration compared against standard LS3-powered models. Braking is improved with Z06-sized discs, with six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers at the rear. Functional brake ducts deliver extra cool air for these pizza-sized discs.

The exterior is distinguished with wider front and rear fenders, Z06-style front splitter, rear spoiler, unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels, and obligatory badging. Unlike the C4 edition, the latest Grand Sport will be offered in all current Corvette colors. An available Heritage package adds iconic front fender hash marks offered in four colors, as well as two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery.

The Grand Sport can be ordered with 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim packages, too.

Read our Chevrolet Corvette and Corvette Z06 reviews, and research Corvette coupes and convertibles in the new car buyer’s guide.

Happy 45th Anniversary Ford Mustang!

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:15:00 GMT

April 17th marks the 45th anniversary of the iconic Ford Mustang. For 45 years, the Mustang has been an American icon, embodying youth, performance, and freedom. To celebrate, Ford and the Mustang Club of America are commemorating the historical event this weekend with a four-day celebration at the Barber Motorsports Park. The event is expected to draw more than 2,500 Mustang enthusiasts and their beloved steeds, as well as hundreds of thousands of spectators.

For those pony car enthusiasts who can’t attend, rest assured there are local events scheduled across the country for celebrating the famous Ford. Plus, from the comfort of your computer, you can browse through our Mustang reviews and historical features, starting with our review of the all-new, and mighty impressive, 2010 Ford Mustang. As you'll see from the list, and the passion of the stories, autoMedia has long loved the Mustang and welcomes any opportunity to get behind the wheel, spin the tires, and recapture our youth.

2010 Ford Mustang
Full steed ahead

2008 Ford Mustang GT
Purebred performance

2007 Ford Mustang GT
Steed demon

2006 Ford Mustang GT
Pony expressionism

2005 Ford Mustang GT Coupe
Quarter horse

2004 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
More than just a fair-weather friend

2004 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra
Supercharger Gives Cobra Power It Deserves

2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1
1969 heritage lives in 2003 Mustang Mach 1

2003 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
Full-tilt al fresco

2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra
Supercharger Gives Cobra Power It Deserves

2002 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
More than just a Fair-Weather Friend

Ford Mustang: 1979-1993
Quick like a fox, but even faster

Ford Mustang: 1967-1973
The Mustang kicks back

CARS Act - Cash for Clunks Redux

admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:06:00 GMT

The so-called “Cars for Clunkers” initiatives have be on the table and off as Congress wrestles to find ways to restart the automotive market. It is back on, with a more patriotic slant that may give it the momentum needed to pass. The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act gives consumer purchase incentives for turning in vehicles that are eight years or older to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles or to obtain a transit voucher.

"The CARS Act will achieve many goals: consumers will finally get a break to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles; we will all benefit from a reduction of CO2; and the auto industry will get a jumpstart to spur sales," said Representative Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) "This legislation will help consumers, stimulate our economy, improve our environment, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and help our domestic auto and related industries, upon which millions of American families depend upon for employment."

The proposed legislation would provide consumers a $3,000 to $5,000 incentive to buy more fuel-efficient cars, trucks or use mass transit. The bill would apply to the purchase of just vehicles assembled in North America and that cost less than $35,000, with a 27 mpg highway threshold for those built in the United States and a higher 30 mpg requirement for those built in Canada or Mexico. The traded-in vehicle would be scrapped.

Germany has a similar program in place. Sutton points out that while the American market saw sales drop precipitously in February, Germany saw a 21 percent increase compared against the same month last year. It sounds like a promising measure, but we hope current and future classic models are not recycled prematurely, taking cars and parts off the market before their time.

Learn about the previous Cash for Clunkers proposal and what happened to it. And learn how to restore a car, classic or otherwise.

Retro Cool: 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic

admin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:23:00 GMT

No question, the chief appeal for the new wave of muscle coupes is nostalgia. The Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Mustang all play it to the hilt, as the modern embodiment of boyhood performance fantasies. Given a slight head start, Dodge will kick its retro fix up a notch with a new “R/T Classic” package.

A high-powered time capsule, the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic features dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes, 'Challenger' fender badging in classic script, large 20-inch polished-chrome heritage wheels with all-season performance tires (OK, that’s not really retro), classic egg-crate grille with heritage 'R/T' badge, body-color rear spoiler, and chromed fuel-filler door.

Based on the powerful 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, the Classic features the updated 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine with 376 horsepower. When paired with the Tremec six-speed manual transmission, the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic features the performance-minded Track Pak's precision-shift "pistol-grip" shifter, bright pedals, stability control with defeatable traction control, Hill Start Assist (HSA), four-wheel disc performance braking system, and an anti-spin 3.92:1 differential. When paired with the automatic transmission, the engine includes the fuel-saving multi-displacement system (MDS) allowing Dodge Challenger R/T Classic to operate economically on four cylinders, or produce 372 horsepower on all eight.

This potent Mopar will be available in Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, Bright Silver Metallic, Stone White, and three Dodge heritage colors-Hemi Orange, TorRed, and B5 Blue.

Pricing starts at $34,005 (including $725 destination) and the R/T Classic is available for ordering now at Dodge dealerships nationwide, with production starting in February.

Read our 2009 Dodge Challenger review, and research the Challenger in the 2009 new car buyer’s guide.

Official: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro – 422 hp!

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:45:00 GMT

The wait is over, Chevrolet has revealed the official details about the 2010 Camaro, and it is even more exciting than our preview report revealed. Let’s cut to the chase; the base engine is a 300-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with 273 lb.-ft. of torque. Despite the heady output, this all-aluminum “high-feature” V-6 runs on regular gasoline. As the fourth-generation Camaro drove into the history books, the LS1 V-8 in the Z28 produced 305 horsepower (though admittedly with much more torque), making the new LT and LS trim levels hardly seem like the sacrifice buying a base Camaro once was.

The SS has been the performance model, and the moniker returns with a 6.2-liter V-8. When paired with a six-speed manual transmission, the SS is fitted an LS3 V-8 churning out 422 horsepower and 408 lb.-ft. of torque. Choose the six-speed automatic transmission and the SS is stuffed with an L99 V-8 featuring fuel-saving cylinder deactivation and a hint less grunt at 400 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque.

Chevrolet cites 26 mpg highway for the V-6 and 23 mpg highway for the V-8. City figures were not released.

Despite the prodigious horsepower, the Camaro promises to be both agile and well-mannered thanks to the Holden-derived rear-wheel-drive architecture. Front and rear independent suspensions are mounted to the rigid chassis, including a multi-link strut arrangement in the front with a direct-acting stabilizer bar and a double ball-joint configuration. The rear features a unique “4.5-link” rear suspension that is double-isolated from the chassis for a smoother driving experience.

The LS and LT models receive an FE2 (sport) suspension, while the SS receives the FE3 (performance) suspension, including a lower ride height. Each is tuned to match the performance capabilities of their respective powertrains, as are their wheel-and-tire combinations, with 18-, 19-, and 20-inch variations.

Behind those massive wheels are ABS-fitted discs at all corners. The LS and LT models use single-piston calipers, while the SS models apply four-piston Brembo units to larger rotors. The standard electronic stability control system includes traction control and can help keep the musclecar on the intended path. The SS features a Competitive/Sport mode that is adjustable for spirited driving. The SS with a manual transmission is aided by a Launch Control feature that promises quicker, more consistent takeoffs. Should things go terribly wrong, all Camaros boast six standard air bags, including head curtain side-impact air bags and front seat-mounted side air bags.

If you want an even more dramatic appearance, an RS package can dress up the LT and SS models with HID headlamps with integrated halo rings, spoiler, specific taillamps, and 20-inch wheels.

Much like the exterior design, the interior draws inspiration from vintage Camaros and brings classic elements such as deep-recessed instruments into the 21st century. At first glance, it has a retro feel, though the features are decidedly modern with available ambient light package, Bluetooth connectivity, Boston Acoustic audio system, heated leather-appointed seats, OnStar, and XM satellite radio. All told, it is an inviting place to do a musclecar’s mischievous business.

Looking like a 1969 Camaro reborn, this modern Chevrolet classic throws down the gauntlet, promising an exciting showdown with the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang.

Sales begin in the first quarter of 2009.

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Pricing, Performance

admin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:03:00 GMT

When we last reported on the imminent birth of the next legendary Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, we spilled the core horsepower and torque figures. Now, we’ve got more numbers to share, and again, they are big.

First off, the ZR1 price starts at $103,300. And yes, that does include destination charges, though not the $1,700 gas-guzzler tax.

There is a single, $10,000 option package that adds power-adjustable, heated and leather-trimmed sport seats (embroidered with the ZR1 logo); side air bags; Bose premium audio system; navigation system; Bluetooth connectivity; power telescoping steering column; and leather-wrapped interior available in four colors. While we can appreciate some performance purists may want to hold off on the nav system, really, at $100,000-plus, we’d expect side air bags to be standard.

The lone a la carte option is chrome wheels at $2,000.

Another big figure is the top speed at 205 mph, making it the fastest Corvette ever produced and ranking it among the world's finest super cars.

In the small number category, Chevrolet claims:

0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds
0-100 mph in 7.0 seconds
Quarter-mile time of 11.3 seconds at 131 mph
14 mpg city / 20 mpg highway

Compared against the mighty Corvette Z06, the ZR1 is 0.3-second quicker and its the 0-100-mph performance is nearly a full second quicker at 7 seconds vs. the Z06's 7.9 seconds.

A technical marvel and musclebound lust machine, the new ZR1 is the Corvette king of the hill. All hail the king!

Research the Chevrolet Corvette coupe and convertible in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries.

Saleen Gurney Signature Edition Mustang on Sale

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:16:00 GMT

At the 2008 New York auto show, the Saleen booth overflowed with news and excitement, with both the S5S Raptor supercar concept (the first ground-up vehicle to be conceived by the new Saleen management team) and Gurney Signature Edition Mustang. Just a few short weeks later and the Gurney Mustang is on sale at Saleen dealers.

This latest Saleen tribute to a legend follows on the Parnelli Jones pony car with 300 special-edition coupes honoring rival Dan Gurney. Dressed to resemble the 1969 Trans Am series Mustang, the Gurney Mustang features a supercharged 465-horsepower, 281-cubic-inch engine, commanded by a short-throw shifter, and routing power through a 3.73:1 rear axle.

The chassis is fortified with a specially tuned Racecraft suspension, generation-II Watts-link rear end, and Pirelli Corsa tires. This is the first application of the suspension combination on a Saleen vehicle, and it received the personal stamp of approval from Dan Gurney himself.

Inside, the cabin features two-tone seats that feature either blue or red Alcantara inserts, plus obligatory badging.

In honor of Gurney’s “All American Racer” persona the cars will be offered in only three colors: Torch Red, Performance White, and Vista Blue. One hundred of each color will be made with contrasting color graphics and interiors, and a set of “#2” roundels to truly relive the Gurney experience.

The finishing touch: Dan Gurney’s signature on the center of the dash. Cool machine, indeed. And, it is a future collectible.

Research 2008 Ford Mustangs in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries. Read our 2008 Ford Mustang GT review.