Race Car Talk

U.S. Senate Designates July 13th Collector Car Appreciation Day

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

If you collect or restore cars as a hobby, you already know that the government isn’t always your friend. Each passing year seems to bring new regulations and restrictions, despite the fact that the car hobby pumps a significant amount of money into the economy, on a local, state and national level. Not everyone in Washington, D.C. wants you…

Source: MotorAuthority

Apple Patents An In-Car Remote Control

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 +0000

When it comes to hands-free infotainment solutions, automakers aren’t the only ones looking to make both the government and consumers happy. Now Apple has joined the fray, with a novel approach to adding steering-wheel-mounted controls. As the diagram shows, Apple’s solution is a steering-wheel mounted clickwheel (as used on the iPod…

Source: MotorAuthority

Mansory Enzos-up the Ferrari 458 Spider [w/ Video]

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:29:59 +0000

To us, it seems like every tuned vehicle Mansory releases is more subdued and tasteful than the last one. The company seems to have outgrown its cornea-melting-colors and scoops-for-the-sake-of-scoops phase, while still churning out cars and SUVs that won’t be mistaken for their factory standard brethren. Mansory has gotten, dare we say it, respectable. And sure to make the company even more respectable is its treatment for the Ferrari 458 Spider, dubbed the 458 Spider Monaco Edition. Of course, since the newest al fresco Ferrari is so amazing right out of the wrapper, tuners can’t get away with bolting on a new set of wheels, sticking a K&N filter in the airbox and call it a day. No, they have to go the extra mile, and Mansory has certainly done that. read more

Source: Sub5zero.com

Andretti Sports Marketing And Race On LLC Get Baltimore OK

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Michael Andretti has a lot on his plate, running an IZOD IndyCar Series team, a squad in the Firestone Indy Lights Championship, Star Mazda and USF2000 series. He also promotes the Toronto INDYCAR race, Milwaukee IndyFest and now has signed on as co-promoter of the 2012 Grand Prix of Baltimore. Andretti Sports Marketing is working with Race On LLC…

Read Article @ MotorAuthority

Slow-Selling 2012 Lexus HS 250h Hybrid Killed, Very Softly

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Beware, green luxury shoppers: If you like the Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan, get one now—and you might even score the rare discount on a Lexus. Lexus has confirmed that the HS 250h is no more. And it’s evidence that even Lexus can make product missteps, and that not every hybrid that Toyota or Lexus rolls out is destined to be a sales success…

Read Article @ MotorAuthority

2012 Smart Fortwo Review

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:38:47 +0000

Likes Attention-grabbing style; fits in spaces others can’t; surprisingly accommodating interior; zippy around-town handling. Dislikes Ill-suited for highway travel; rough shifting gearbox; awkward floor-pivot brake pedal; pricey as compared to bigger subcompacts. Introduction 2012 Smart Fortwo with its small nature offers excellent maneuverability in the city and on road, its outstanding fuel economy makes it a great commuter vehicle. With its unpleasant highway ride, lack of refinement and rough transmission, the Fortwo is one of the least desirable vehicles in the market. There are quite a lot of other models in the market we would suggest as a small city car. Open your eyes to something new: the all-new Smart Fortwo with an array of new colors such as the first ever matt finish, 2 new soft top colors for the Convertible and a 3rd color variant for tridion safety cell provide you with even greater scope to put together your very own Fortwo. The new body panel plus package with side skirts and aprons in body panel color lends the next-gen a colorful new look, which exudes even higher quality. Three new alloy wheel designs and the stunning LED daytime driving lamps round off the profile of new Smart Fortwo. Unsurprisingly, there is a lot to discover on the inside too. On the following pages, you can read about all the thrilling new features of Fortwo and certainly, check them out for yourself at your local smart centre. The Smart Fortwo is basically a 2-seater rear-engined city vehicle developed, designed and launched by Smart GmbH at Paris Auto Show in the year 1998 as Smart City Coupe. At present, the Fortwo is in its 2nd generation and the name refers to its seating capacity. In the year 2008, the automaker introduced its all-electric concept, the Fortwo Ed. The Fortwo comes standard with an automated manual gearbox without a clutch pedal, 5-speed for the 2nd generation and 6-speed for the 1st. Input from optional steering column mounted paddle shifters and floor-mounted shifter controls sequential automated transmission and a servo operated clutch. The vehicle might be driven in automatic mode, although the shift points are not that smooth unlike the conventional automatic gearbox. In shift paddle mode, the operator controls shift points but can’t adjust or feather the clutch’s speed. LED daytime driving lamps: see and be seen with these stylish daytime driving lamps and are offered as an option for all equipment lines in the 1st quarter of 2011. LED daytime driving lamps, new alloy wheels, new cabrio soft top colors and bodypanel plus package: it’s never been easier to define your own driving style. The beauty of matching and mixing in this way is which you really can’t go wrong. Especially in city traffic, it is crucial that you be able to see everything going on around you. The sizeable windows of Smart Fortwo make sure outstanding 360° visibility. It’s a more practical and safer way to go. In an otherwise complicated life, straightforwardness is to be cherished. The…

Source: Automotive Craze

Peter Sauber Releases 1/3 Stake In F1 Team

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Nothing lasts forever; that’s an axiom Peter Sauber, team principal and president of the board of directors of Sauber Group companies has realized. To that effect, Sauber has taken the step to transfer a third of the stake in the Sauber Group to CEO Monisha Kaltenborn, thereby effecting continuity within the companies. Sauber will retain the…

Read Article @ MotorAuthority

On The Ethics Of Driving Stick Shifts, Or, Answering Stupid Questions

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:48:00 +0000

This week Salon’s David Sirota wrote an apologetic, mealy-mouthed bit of automotive-themed self-loathing asking if it’s ethical to drive a manual-transmission car even if it gets poorer gas mileage than an automatic or dual-clutch transmission. While the answers among the automotive press have largely come down on the side of the stick-shift…

Source: MotorAuthority

GSC Stealth Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG [w/ Video]

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:34:20 +0000

The Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG is a four-door tour de force right off the showroom floor. The 5.5L twin-turbo V8 kicks out 518hp and 516 lb.-ft of torque (or 550hp and 590 lb.-ft if you order the AMG Performance Package) and blasts it to 60 mph in a claimed 4.4 seconds. And thanks to the combination of the low, coupe-like roofline and the AMG styling bits, this musclebound Mercedes looks as fast as it is. What’s not to like about that? Well, one possible qualm would be that there isn’t much AMG will do to differentiate one CLS63 AMG from another, other than colors and wheel styles, of course. So what’s the individualist buyer to do? Talk to the aftermarket, of course! And the latest tuner to give the new hot CLS its special touch is German Special Customs, or GSC for short. read more

Source: Sub5zero.com

Guy Fieri To Drive Indianapolis 500 Chevy Corvette ZR1 Pace Car

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Indianapolis Motor Speedway chose Guy Fieri, best-selling author and host of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” to be the honorary Pace Car driver for the 96th Indianapolis 500 on May 27. In this position, Fieri drives the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Pace Car to lead the field of 33 drivers to the green flag to start the 200-lap contest…

Read Article @ MotorAuthority