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Today on Ask.cars.com, you assistance a car shopper who owns a GMC Yukon (and two vast dogs) to find a brand new crossover. On MotherProof.com, review a latest car review of a 2011 Volvo C70. Finally, take a poll at PickupTrucks.com as well as discuss it us your a one preferred heavy-duty pickup.

  • Which Midsize SUVs Have a Most Cargo Space Behind a Rear Passenger Seats? (Ask.carscom)
  • MotherProof.com Reviews a 2011 Volvo C70 (MotherProof.com)
  • What's Your Favorite Heavy-Duty Truck? (PickupTrucks.com)




Rattner Says GM IPO Comes After the Midterm Elections

GM Renaissance Center

When General Motors Chairman Ed Whitacre started pulling for an primary public charity of a automaker bailed out by a sovereign supervision final year, a association was anticipating to emanate batch before a midterm elections. A headlines story we wrote for a September imitation emanate questioned a timing. 

Was GM ready for an IPO after only dual profitable buliding (possibly three, by a time of issuance)? More importantly, would a domestic recoil opposite such a baldfaced domestic scheme obviate any domestic advantage a Obama administration dialect expects from announcing a supervision is no longer a company's majority shareholder?

Most headlines outlets right away describe a imminent IPO as coming "before a finish of a year."

And a argumentative former Automotive Task Force chief, Steven Rattner, told me in an interview about his brand new book Wednesday which GM will not emanate a IPO until after a midterms. 

"The sovereign supervision wants to sell a shares during a satisfactory price," Rattner says.

No disbelief a Obama administration's Treasury dialect is backing away from a potential domestic backlash. Instead, President Obama uses a GM as well as Chrysler bailouts as dual examples of nascent economic successes. Compared with much of a rest of a economy, GM as well as Chrysler a leaned down automakers, with many of their debts wiped out in bankruptcies are seeking comparatively good.

Why am we wasting any intense ink upon Rattner, a owner of a equity firm Quadrangle? Last April, Quadrangle staid dual suits with a New York Attorney General's Office over charges it made kickbacks to state early retirement officials in return for remunerative contracts. Quadrangle had to pay a sum of $12 million in fines, as well as disavowed Rattner's actions. By June, a Securities as well as Exchange Commission was seeking to club Rattner from trading privileges for three years.

Like you, I'm shocked to read of intrigue in a private equity biz. we can't describe during all to a former publisher who left a rag commercial operation to make billions of dollars in a investment biz. This is an automotive Web site, though, as well as Rattner's insider's entrance to GM as well as Chrysler is estimable of any automobile journalist's envy.

What's a sincerity of Rattner's brand new book, "Overhaul"? If Ron Bloom, Rattner's successor as ATF chief, as well as may be Rick Wagoner, Fritz Henderson, Bob Lutz, Jim Press as well as Sergio Marchionne wrote their own books, we'd have a nice, "Rashomon"-like picture of a U.S. automobile industry's lowest of low points. Don't run down to your bookstores to place orders, except for may be a Lutz book.

As for Rattner's "Overhaul," it came in a mail minutes before my scheduled phone interview, so an in-depth examination is forthcoming. I'll be certain to cut as well as pulp a Quadrangle paragraph upon tip of in preparation for it.

Bloomberg quotes "two people familiar with a matter" which GM will try to lift $8 billion to $10 billion in a late '10 IPO, which is approaching to reduce a government's 61.8-percent stake below 50 percent. The Treasury dialect longed for to lift more upon a approach to recouping a $49.5 billion it invested in GM, Bloomberg says, as well as GM as well as investment banks had considered perplexing to lift $16 billion. And Treasury's special examiner general, Neil Barofsky, said GM batch contingency sell for $133.78 per share for a supervision to break even, Reuters reports.

Rattner is bullish upon GM in a future being able to pay off "most," though probably not all, of a $49.5 billion. He's flattering bullish upon a association "after dual buliding of poignant distinction in a really vexed market."

GM is barbarous for a layers of government as well as bureaucracy, a sort of heft which nearly grounded a association in 1992 amidst a many mediocre lineup in a history, as well as finally brought it down final year. 

"I consider (GM culture) has come a really long way," a man who dismissed Rick Wagoner says. "Ed has changed a lot of tip managers, infrequently changing them twice to get it right," including brand new post-bankruptcy hires as well as GM's lifers.

"I have heard which underneath Whitacre, a speed as well as style of decision-making has changed dramatically. I've had sufficient knowledge with companies to know how much disproportion a single or dual people during a tip can make a difference."

Rattner says a devise was not for GM to use Fritz Henderson as a bankruptcy CEO, however. 

"When we pitched Fritz, it was with a goal which he would be there permanently. The house motionless it wasn't working.

"Having 4 CEOs in twenty months or thereabout is not ideal for a company."

Rattner likes Ed Whitacre (GM chairman, who is timid during a finish of a year) as well as Dan Akerson (Whitacre's deputy as CEO, as well as later, as chairman) for their toughness, their competitiveness, but wishes a GM house (which a Task Force picked in summer '09) didn't have to replace a single with a other.

"In retrospect, may be it would have been improved if a house had towering Dan during a beginning of a year," he says.

Could which a single potential book author (not his first, after all), Bob Lutz, get along improved with Akerson than he did with Whitacre? Probably not. My early impression of Akerson is which as with Whitacre, there's not sufficient room for his ego as well as Maximum Bob's in GM's Renaissance Center.


How Will We Handle 2 Billion Cars?

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It took rounded off 100 years for a billion cars to stock a world, though in only a subsequent 10 years, which number is expected to double. Two Billion Cars, written by highbrow Daniel Sperling along with with process researcher Deborah Gordon, examines how a universe can house this fast liquid of new drivers as well as vehicles as well as what policies should be enacted to lessen a environmental as well as appetite confidence impact.

Sperling belongs to an chosen group of process wonks who have additionally appeared upon The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In addition to penning Two Billion Cars, hes a highbrow of engineering as well as environmental science as well as process during a University of California during Davis as well as a first director of UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies.

KickingTires spoke with Sperling about a stream policies as well as a challenges a universe continues to face given a books announcement in 2009.

KickingTires: What is a state of a automobile courtesy right right divided after a past two violent years?

Dan Sperling: It is a single of a largest industries in a world, as well as it was starting to turn full of health sooner or later. I want to stay divided from commenting upon any automaker in particular, though theres a bigger picture during work here. For instance, GM is making lots of income in China. The picture of a automobile courtesy is still changing as we speak.

KT: How do innovative, new vehicles similar to a Chevy Volt as well as a Nissan Leaf strike you? Do these represent a beginnings of a shift we talk about in your book?

DS: These advanced battery vehicles have been only a tiny partial of a business. They have been most some-more critical from a luminous radiance perspective since they have been starting to lose income for a long time. But theyre environment a stage. Gasoline-electric variety have been starting to turn a most bigger partial of a brew since of a new assertive fuel manage to buy standards. The ability [of automakers] to deliver some-more efficient vehicle technology is a key to meeting these 2016 standards. Clearly, variety will fool around a large purpose in which transformation.

KT: While hybrids, plug-ins, electric vehicles as well as fuel-efficient small cars may be good for us (like eating our broccoli), they certainly dont sell in large numbers compared with traditional midsize cars as well as SUVs. These vehicles have additionally seen sales miscarry given gas prices fell behind significantly from $4 per gallon. How do we reconcile American consumer view with your topic which U.S. automobile enlightenment as well as love of gas-guzzling vehicles must change?

DS: A integrate of things have been starting upon with this. Theres a shift associated to demographics as well as a shift associated to general attitudes as well as behavior. The baby boomer generation went proceed beyond having to only ride kids around, as well as they longed for to have a sporty vehicles which could still house family demands. That was a big partial of a SUV market. As a baby boomers get older, which demand, as well as a direct for pickup trucks, will lessen. The younger generation is reduction interested in cars than in a past. The automobile is not a symbol it used to be. Young people have been some-more absorbed with digital technology than they have been with cars. Think about something similar to a iPad: Now being in a vehicle as well as not being obliged for pushing is some-more appealing. Car enlightenment has reached a zenith as a love affair. On tip of that, we have policy. The sovereign supervision as well as California have been leading a proceed with assertive fuel manage to buy as well as greenhouse gas standards whilst automobile companies have been underneath pressure to meet them. These two forces have been leading to a transformation.

KT: If youre scold about a citation of a automobile industry, what can consumers say, KickingTires readers design to see upon fool around lots by a year 2020?

DS: Theyre starting to see a lot some-more hybrids, a little some-more diesels as well as overall vehicles which have been far some-more efficient. By 2020, well even begin seeing fuel-cell cars. Vehicles will turn a little not as big though right now, regulations have been footprint-based, so theres not most inducement to downsize vehicles. The inducement is for weight reduction as well as efficiency.

KT: What purpose can consumers fool around in changing automobile enlightenment specifically, consumers which have to drive?

DS: The new EPA labels have been a great example; consumers should compensate courtesy to that. Consumers can even come out forward only by shopping a four-cylinder vehicle instead of a six-cylinder. People regularly come out proceed forward only by shopping a reduction powerful vehicle. Forget about appetite confidence as well as meridian change. Even if we set those reasons aside, pure economics means a improved to buy fuel-efficient [models]. Youre additionally promulgation a signal to automobile companies by choosing by casting votes with your dollar. Its critical to think about what automobile we really need. Are we shopping something which can go off-road since we have a single or two trips to a plateau any year? Then a the make a difference of appetite confidence or meridian change, whichever emanate worries we more.

KT: Grade a Obama administration department as well as a stream Congress upon a automotive as well as transportation policies so far.

DS: Actually, a the single thing a done a best is traffic with cars. They merit an A upon cars by adopting a California CAFE standards, as well as [President Barack Obama] told EPA to pierce forward to adopt some-more assertive standards for 2025. Theyre additionally pursuing standards for heavy-duty trucks as well as working upon electric vehicles with a lot of grants as well as loan guarantees. So upon vehicles, an A. On fuel low-carbon fuels, specifically they havent done most with which or in conditions of restraining how most pushing there is. California upheld a law to revoke pushing as well as land-use sprawl.

KT: Is which something we could see a sovereign supervision enacting for a entire country?

DS: Definitely. The California Air Resources Board will adopt targets for all cities to revoke pushing as well as land use, as well as a version of a California law has been in a breeze of a transportation bill thats been kicking around Congress. Eventually, which proceed will have it in to law as well as sovereign regulation. Its only a make a difference of when.

KT: If we were king for a day, what is a the single process we would exercise concerning newcomer cars as well as trucks?

DS: Id similar to to see standards put in place for heavy-duty trucks, a CO tax, a feebate module revenue neutral, where we have a price for gas guzzlers as well as a rebate for fuel-efficient vehicles as well as a low-carbon fuel standard. There is no a single silver bullet. We need a portfolio of policies only similar to a portfolio of technologies.

KT: The tone of your book is very optimistic which with a little process changes, a universe can find a proceed to house 2 billion cars. What happens if governments, automakers as well as consumers refuse to adopt these changes or pierce too slowly?

DS: There have been starting to be changes. Its only a make a difference of how fast it happens. In any scenario, bad things have been starting to happen. Things have been starting to get worse, in conditions of universe oil supply as well as meridian change. The challenge is to have sure those bad things have been reduction bad, as well as they dont turn catastrophic.


Holy Trinity: Fiesta Takes on Nurburgring, Autobahn, Stelvio Pass

Fiesta upon a Nurburgring

What a day for a petrolhead. It's a holy trinity: laps of a mythological Nurburgring Nordschleife, afterwards onto a autobahn network, where in most places there is no speed limit. For a initial as well as usually time upon a debate we're able to take a Fiestas to their maximum speed. At a end of a day we'll arrive during Italy's implausible Stelvio Pass. There have been most passes in between Austria, Switzerland, as well as Italy, though couple of have been as thespian as a Stelvio.

Fiesta during a Nurburgring

But initial you have been during a Nurburgring. This extraordinary lane was built in 1927 to promote commercial operation in what was a deprived area. Today a Nurburgring is used by countless car companies as a exam track, as well as multiform have engineering as well as exam centers upon an industrial estate within earshot of a circuit.

The circuit is amazing, circuitous by a Eifel Mountains with a shift of elevation of 1,000 feet as well as 174 corners. What's some-more implausible than a circuit itself is a actuality which it is classed as a fee road, as well as which members of a public can expostulate it for around $30 a lap.  

For 'Ring novices, a Fiestas have been perfect. Excellent as well as predicted handling, chassis balance, strong brakes, as well as plenty of performance. Many go to a Nurburgring in really fast cars as well as let unrestrained take over -- often with unsatisfactory results. This is not a circuit which you can sense in a single lap, even if you've played it most times upon a mechanism game.

Fiesta upon a autobahn

Everyone who drives a Nurburgring has their favorite section. The attention-focusing dump downhill to a territory called a Fuchsrohre, or Foxhole, perhaps. It is motoring's answer to a rollercoaster. The highway falls divided steeply as well as there is a succession of corners which you can take in a straight line. By a bottom of a Foxhole you have been travelling flattering quickly. Others love a singular Karussel, a tight, roughly hairpin banked corner. Entering it is a weird sensation as a car feels roughly similar to it is upon its side.

There is hardly any time for redeem from a warn of a Karussel prior to you're into a deeply wooded territory of a track. You have been now some-more than median turn a track. It is twisty here, as well as similar to in most places around a 'Ring, there is not most room for error. This is not similar to a modern grand prix circuit with large expanses of run-off areas. Fall off a highway here, as well as steel will be bent.

The final Formula One competition was held upon a aged Nurburgring (the new Nurburgring F1 circuit adjoins a aged circuit) in 1976, a year Niki Lauda had his burning accident.

Fiesta during a Stelvio Pass

There have been still races held upon a aged Nurburgring, though a singular feature of a place is which anyone can expostulate around a lane as well as experience a disturb of a single of a world's most challenging competition circuits. There is nowhere similar to it.

Our expostulate around a Nurburgring was substantially about a most fun you can have in a car. Best of all, you managed a couple of laps of a lane which three times F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart christened a "Green Hell" though any incidents. But a petrolhead dream day is far from over. Now we're withdrawal a Eifel Mountains as well as heading south, virtually a length of Germany to a Alps as well as onto a Stelvio pass.

It involves, of course, pushing upon Germany's famous speed-limit-free autobahns. Actually, that's not strictly true, because there have been sections of a autobahns where there is a limit. Typically, for example, there is a extent when you have been flitting a junction because obviously it would be rather dangerous to have accelerating trade entrance onto a motorway with cars bearing down upon them during Warp Factor 5. Watch out for roadwork as well as proxy restrictions, too. 

Fiesta in a mountains

But aside from these caveats, there have been hundreds of miles of autobahn where you can expostulate flat out perfectly legally. You'll find which trade is a most limiting factor, though you given you have around 370 miles of autobahn pushing forward of us, you will have plenty of opportunity to let a Fiestas' 1.6-liter Duratec engines make full use of each final horse.

Soon sufficient there is a prolonged gap in a trade forward of us with no cars until a horizon. Better still, we're during a tip of a downhill section. Flat out in fifth gear, revs rising. The Fiesta is surprisingly quiet with hardly any breeze noise as you pass by 75 mph, a magic 'ton' in imperial terms. We in a future reach 124 miles per hour in a Fiesta. That's fast sufficient for a really large excellent in most countries of a world, though not Germany. Interestingly, you rarely see people pushing a lot faster than which even in most faster cars. After all, you can cranky a country flattering quickly during which pace if a trade lets you.

There have been most passes in a Alps. The Brenner, Simplon, St. Bernard, as well as others, though they all pale in more aged to a Stelvio Pass -- if you love driving, which is. The Stelvio is a second-highest paved pass in a whole of a Alps, as well as a top in a eastern Alps. At a crest, as you pass a couple of hotels as well as present shops, you have been just past 9,000-feet on top of sea level.

Getting a little coffee

On your approach to a tip you will expostulate around 48 hairpins, all of them possibly taken in initial or second gear. Apart from a two Fiestas, outward a hotel have been a gaggle of interesting cars, multiform carrying British number plates. Such is a reputation of a Stelvio which car enthusiasts bottom entire holidays around it. 

But a pleasure of a Stelvio is not just in a driving; it is a natural beauty of a place. Today there is not a cloud in a sky. Snow caps a top peaks; perfect faces as well as mounds of rock debris have been widespread everywhere. It is a reminder of man's sparseness as well as proxy existence in a world. 

One expostulate up a Stelvio is not enough, as once during a tip you can't resist starting behind down as well as pushing up again as well as again...oh, hell, as well as again.





Toyota Settles Lawsuit in Infamous Crash

In what is largely considered a starting point of Toyotas stop nightmare of a past year, a automaker has settled a lawsuit with kin of an off-duty California Highway Patrol military officer who was killed, along with his wife, his 13-year-old daughter as well as his brother, when his loaner Lexus ES 350 raced during speeds up to 120 mph upon a California freeway. The crash occurred in Aug 2009.

The 911 call from which incident focused an heated spotlight upon a emanate of unintended increase in speed in Toyota vehicles. However, recent reports from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have suggested which most alternative reported cases of unintended increase in speed were a result of motorist error.

Toyota declined to say how much a settlement was for. The automaker removed nearly 8 million vehicles for accelerator issues, covering both loose floormats as well as stranded pedals.

Toyota Settles Over California Deaths (New York Times)

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

2011 Honda Odyssey
This week, a three-month reign of a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee at a top of a most-read reviews list is over. Its been usurped by a 2011 Honda Odyssey, which goes on sale later this month. The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta examination joins a draft at No. 3, displacing a 2010 Subaru Forester (No. 4). This weeks new entries kicked off a 2011 Honda CR-Z as well as 2010 Honda CR-V from a Top 10.

1. 2011 Honda Odyssey
2. 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
3. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
4. 2010 Subaru Forester
5. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
6. 2011 Hyundai Sonata
7. 2010 Subaru Outback
8. 2011 Subaru WRX STi
9. 2011 Ford Mustang
10.2011 Kia Sorento


This Week's Most-Read Stories

By far, the weeks most-read story was our photo more aged in between the modern-day Mercedes-Benz supercar as well as its 56-year-old counterpart. Chryslers big announcements of the Chrysler Sebring name change 2011 Chrysler 200 as well as 2011 enhancements to the Town & Country made Nos. 2 as well as 3, respectively. Our full examination of the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta garnered enough attention to have it to No. 4 on our most-read list. Finally, our monthly checkup on the most popular as well as slowest-selling cars comes in during No. 5.

1. 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG vs. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
2. 2011 Chrysler 200: First Look
3.2011 Chrysler Town & Country: First Look
4.Cars.com Reviews the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
5.Movers as well as Losers: August 2010


Today's News From the Cars.com Family

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Today on Ask.cars.com, find out if a Toyota Camry or Avalon is a better fit for someone who wants both a best gas mileage as well as durability. Over during PickupTrucks.com, you again direct you to a ultimate developments per Jeeps re-emergence in a pickup truck market after a near 20-year hiatus. Finally, check out MotherProof.com to review a ultimate vehicle review of a 2010 Hyundai Tucson.

  • Should we buy a Toyota Camry or Toyota Avalon? (Ask.cars.com)
  • Sources Say: Jeep Pickup Truck Coming for 2012 (PickupTrucks.com)
  • MotherProof.com Reviews a 2010 Hyundai Tucson (MotherProof.com)

Forget NASCAR, Its Time For The New Trans-Am

Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Shelby GT500, as good as Dodge Challenger

It's a sleepy aged cliche: "Win upon Sunday, Sell upon Monday." But it's still, during a very elemental level, what drives automakers to outlay poignant sums of money to take part in top level engine sport around a world.

Sure, a small of a links have been flattering tenuous -- Mercedes-Benz engineers do not actually build Michael Schumacher's grand prix car, as good as a usually thing a Peugeot 908 HDi Le Mans competition horse has in common with anything you'll find in any Peugeot showroom is which its engine runs upon diesel. But either it's F1, or sports automobile racing, or a World Rally Championship, it's flattering clear which automakers have been involved, as good as which if they win, they're expecting which nice, warm winner's glow to add a small flicker to their brands.

So why, exactly, would Detroit worry spending a dime upon NASCAR these days?

Watch any NASCAR competition upon TV, as good as you're told a name of a driver, a array of his car, who a sponsor is, as good as even who a team owner as good as crew chief is, prior to you'll be told either he's driving a Ford or a Chevy or a Dodge. It's a same from a pundits upon a endless pre- as good as post-race shows. we usually checked NASCAR.com's home page as good as couldn't find a singular automaker mentioned. Nor could we find Ford, Chevy or Dodge between a 50 headlines listed upon a Sprint Cup News Archive page. In fact, you're hard-pressed to even find a design of a automobile upon a NASCAR Web site's categorical alighting pages.

NASCAR field

Basically, NASCAR treats cars similar to a NFL treats football cleats.
 
Modern NASCAR's amorphous, unknown counterpart cars do not help; a usually way to discuss it a Ford from a Chevy from a Dodge is to see what headlight, grille as good as pinned token decals it is carrying. we used to adore NASCAR when a cars looked similar to a ones we could buy, with genuine steel grilles as good as bumpers, as good as a engine capacity painted in hulk numbers upon a hood. Back then, NASCAR racing meant something for a automobile guy. Now it's usually "entertainment."

There's nothing wrong with that. NASCAR does a great job of turning upon a playground for its fans. But I've not long ago heard a integrate of Motown insiders wonder aloud exactly what a good of their companies' involvement in NASCAR was these days. Where's a aged "Win upon Sunday, Sell upon Monday" leverage? If a code of automobile leading a competition ranks fifth or sixth in a commentators' call-out list; if we do not see a your car's code even referred to upon a NASCAR.com home page unless we buy an advertisement, what's a indicate of spending millions to be in a game?

Especially as NASCAR need not be a usually diversion in locale for American automakers anymore.

The rebirth as good as reinvention of America's iconic ponycars -- Camaro, Challenger as good as Mustang -- over a past integrate of years has those same insiders wondering either a time competence be right to move behind another blast from a past: Trans-Am.

In Trans-Am's golden era, many particularly from 1968 to 1972, we had Boss 302 Mustangs racing Z/28 Camaros as good as AAR Cudas, as good as Javelins as good as Pontiacs as good as Challengers; it was thrilling, wheel-to-wheel stuff, as good as a cars -- along with drivers similar to Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Mark Donohue as good as Dan Gurney -- were a heroes. Though a array with a same name is still run by a SCCA, a "real" Trans-Am petered out for a variety of reasons, not a slightest of which was Detroit ceasing to build genuine ponycars.

But Detroit's ponycars have been back, as good as behind with them is a basis for a modern Trans-Am array which captures a suggestion of a iconic original, as good as gives Detroit a genuine reason to go racing. And a pass to creation it a runaway success? Ensuring a competition cars demeanour as tighten as probable to a highway cars, with competition tuned versions of a prolongation engines under a hood. And have 'em loud; gut-rumbling, rolling V-8 rumble loud.

Now prior to a Mustang fanboys start groan which a 5.0-liter Mustang competence give away a poignant value upon a lane to a 6.2-liter Camaro or a 6.1-liter Challenger, remember which a Mustang's lighter as good as a new DOHC V-8 is expected to rev a lot harder than either of its big-banger pushrod rivals, setting up a intensity for classic David-vs-Goliath battles upon a track. And besides, things similar to spec engine government "black boxes" (supplied by a competition organizers, as is a case in F1), smallest weight limits, carry out tires, as good as a dozen alternative rule tweaks could be in use to keep all a contenders competitive.

To keep costs down, all 3 cars could run a same race-spec six-speed primer transmissions, a same race-spec stop package, as good as a host of alternative matching simple competition components. Exotic materials such as CO fiber would be banned. The circle as good as tire package would be a same for all three, as good as modification to a circle wells would be allowed to safeguard they fit inside a existent fenders. Modifications to things similar to suspension pickup points would be particularly controlled. Aero mods would be restricted to comparatively modest front air dams as good as back wings.

Australia V8 Supercars

In fact, most of a simple template for a New Trans-Am already exists -- Australia's V8 Supercars series, where Holden as good as Ford sedans which demeanour a lot similar to a Commodore as good as Falcon sedans a Aussie fans drive to a lane have been duking it out for decades. If we haven't seen V8 Supercars in action, check out this promo clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6v1TA3EdeE

Now, usually suppose Camaros, Challengers as good as Mustangs duelling similar to which during Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway, Watkins Glen, Infineon Raceway, Road America. It could happen. And thanks to NASCAR's commodity racecar racing, it may not even be which hard to convince Detroit it's value supporting.

I consider it's a no-brainer. But what do we think? If sufficient of we want to see it, a New Trans-Am transformation could start right here...


Through Ian's Lens: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG vs. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

MB_SLS_vs_MB_300SL
What do we do when you're given entrance to a brand new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar for an afternoon of photography in Chicago? Well, we motionless to pair it with a single of a prettiest cars ever built, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. How does a brand new SLS AMG review to a classic Benz racecar pattern from a '50s? It holds a own. Barely.

Designed to be visually subtle, a SLS AMG can go neglected when parked or rolling by. The prolonged metal cover as well as small gill-like vents have been understated, as well as a car's back pattern is utterly unimpressive. Swooping taillights as well as in few instances small badges upon a backside appear to roughly be an afterthought, but they're small for a reason. The SLS doesnt wish to squeeze your courtesy until a ready. When we open a modern gull-wing doors, a interior's red leather as well as carbon essential element lurch gleams in a sunlight; begin a engine, as well as only then will everyone upon a retard wish to know your name.

Aesthetically, a SLS AMG is a subtle tip of a top to a 300 SL, as well as for a most part, a SLS stands upon a own pattern merits. Those merits only occur to be inside a car, underneath a metal cover as well as bellowing out a exhaust pipes when we lay upon a gas.

Click upon any print below to bring up a larger print art studio we can browse.


Porsche 911 Turbo: Don't Dismiss this Sleeper

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Los Angeles is a singular place. Replete with contrary cultures, epic traffic, as well as unconstrained culinary delights, L.A. is a single of a few locations upon Earth where a 500-horsepower, zero-to-sixty-in-three-seconds-flat, $150,000 Porsche 911 Turbo is dismissed as only an additional glossy automobile in an ocean of gleaming, high-roller sheetmetal.

Some may consider this materialisation unfortunate -- we dont. As only an additional Porsche, a 911 Turbos currency increases threefold in my book. Its relations anonymity can be explained, of course. After 40 a little years, a 911s iconic form has been inbred into renouned culture, as well as a Turbo has become something of a sophisticated sleeper since of it.  This is a automobile which can stomp only about any automobile this side of a Veyron, nonetheless it hardly draws some-more than a flitting peek upon L.A.s streets. Despite a low profile, there are a little who assimilate a Turbos pointed cues -- a voluptuous rump, a optional forged center close wheels, gaping rear intakes/outlets, singular front clip, etc. They do double-takes as well as ask me how fast it is when we stop during internal gas station.

2010-porsche-911-turbo-front-three-quarters

Once in a bucket, a entire space hugs my every dimension similar to a Hugo Boss Black suit; a an airy, stylish, nonetheless never confining cabin. Soft tanned hide as well as plush Alcantara wrap all facades neatly. The understanding seats mollycoddle as well as reason upon a curviest of challenging back roads; theyre only as comfortable in Friday gridlock, too. Visibility in all directions is mostly unobstructed.

Whooaaa! Feels similar to a warrior jet! exclaims my uncle as we as hammer a Turbo by a gates of a sharp six-speed gearbox. He knows jets well -- his attribute with speed was fostered during a 33-year career as a U.S. Air Force ace. Hes done sonic booms in a sky some-more times than we can imagine. Indeed, Porsches latest Turbo is probably a closest Ill ever get to making a road-going bang of my own with this wingless people-rocket built specifically for sweat-free 198 mph runs. In every gear, as well as during nearly any speed, a twin-snail 3.8-liter flat-six remains eager to rotate a sticky 19-inch rubber (though, there is a smallest lurch of turbo lag). we have never gifted velocity so refined, so effortless.

I conclude a automobile even some-more when emptying my transport filled with groceries. Theres sufficient room for shopping bags, carryon-sized luggage, as well as most importantly, my striking, stiletto-wearing womanlike passenger. For powder-carvers, a Turbo even includes ski shelve mounting points. Hows which for versatility? This is a automobile which can be driven every day but hassle or hesitation -- try you do which in a 911 GT3 or GT2 RS. Sure, a nose may be low, but it doesnt find speed bump crests as mostly as, say, a Corvette ZR1 or Audi R8 5.2. And we could caring reduction if valets dont open a doors wide-eyed as well as slack-jawed, prickly to joyride it around a block.

The Porsche Turbo wasnt born with a Ferrari 458s Adriana Lima-esque seductiveness, as well as it lacks a Lamborghini Gallardos imposing Decepticon-like character -- so what. It shines with a self-assured policy as well as livability a Italian stallions cant presumably emulate, as well as with a common personality thats no doubt highly tasteful for those seeking literally fly underneath a radar. People in L.A. can tag it plain, boring, uneventful. Ill stick with brilliant.


2011 Chrysler Town & Country: First Look

2011chryslertownandcountry

Chrysler revealed a bit some-more of its arriving 2011 Town & Country minivan than a Sebring-replacing 200 sedan we detailed earlier. Like a 200, this brand new Town & Country will go upon sale by a finish of 2010 as well as facilities a slightly updated exterior as well as a some-more severely revamped interior.

We get to see glimpses of which interior in a images below, together with an all-new instrument cluster, steering wheel as well as dash-mounted shifter which all look to live up to Chryslers claim which a interior is beautifully crafted. Of course, we need to see it in chairman to make a last call, though all a voiced upgrades sound similar to theyre some-more poignant than only a midcycle modernise to keep sales upon pace.

Chryslers brand new 3.6-liter V-6 engine will be standard upon all 2011 Town & Country vans, replacing two different V-6s from a prior model.

The association additionally promises some-more standard features, together with blind spot monitoring as well as back cross-path detection upon all models. The familiar Stow n Go seating system additionally gets an update. Chrysler says a seats themselves are some-more gentle a ones in a current indication are definitely upon a stiff side as well as easier to fold.

Options similar to Sirius Backseat TV as well as FLO TV, which weve detailed extensively, will still be offering for 2011.