Stock Car Racer: Scott Speed - Speed Freak

NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers come in three basic flavors: You've got the good ol' boys, who never met a piece of syntax they couldn't mangle. You've got the corporate shills, who never met a product they couldn't hawk. And then there's Scott Speed, the open-wheel refugee with the name - and backstory - that's almost too good to be true.

[Via: Automobilemag ]
[Tag: ]

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR- Four Seasons Update - January 2009

Our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has logged 16,289 miles during its six months in the Automobile Magazine test fleet. Predictably, staffers spent some time lamenting the Evo's SST transmission and keep wishing for a six-speed manual (as we usually do when we have a test vehicle with a DSG-style transmission). But when the snow started falling, Marc Noordeloos found a few kind words; "I've finally found a driving environment where I like the EVO's dual-clutch gearbox; 'rallying' through the snow." The rapid shifts allow the engine to stay in the sweet spot of its powerband and allow a driver to concentrate on the road.Evos are supposed to be good for work and play, but Jason Cammisa found the Evo to be a less than desirable travel companion on a recent trek to Pittsburg; "highway cruising range (200 miles) is unacceptable, and it's made possible by horrendous, disgusting, and inexcusable fuel consumption." Jason recorded about 16.3 mpg and he was mostly cruising on the highway for 715 miles. We don't mind the ridiculous fuel consumption during extended bouts of drifting and playing on gravel roads, but it's almost laughable to think of taking the Evo on an extended trip with such a short range.Though the Evo has largely been trouble-free, we managed to damage a wheel and discovered a replacement for the stock wheel cost $950. Hey, Mitsubishi dealers have to make their money somewhere. There have also been reports of the radio/navigation unit not displaying anything for up to 15 minutes on extremely cold days. No other vehicles in our fleet had this problem with touch-screen displays.Nobody argues about the ride quality, handling, or wonderful Recaro seats, but the radio, fuel consumption, and small trunk make the Evo far from perfect. If you're in the mood for a spirited drive this is your car. Those looking to mix work with pleasure find the car to be too hardcore for everyday life and, ironically, a bit too soft when compared with the previous Evos if you really want to hammer on it. Check back at automobilemag.com next month to see what we do with the Evo and if our opinion of the car changes.

[Via: Automobilemag ]
[Tag: ]

Johnson Controls rolls out re3 plug-in concept vehicle

You may not be seeing the car itself roll off an assembly line anytime soon, but Johnson Controls is hoping that some of parts in its new plug-in concept vehicle will eventually find their way into a few production vehicles. The car, dubbed the re3, made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show this week, and packs a whole slew of gadgetry, including an "extended cluster" with a 7-inch touchscreen, a seat-wing armrest and controller that moves some of the controls away from the dash, and a lithium-ion battery pack that makes use of "active cooling" and is able to be tucked in between the two front seats. Johnson Controls also says that the car makes use of renewable materials throughout and, supposedly, it can seat five people relatively comfortably. No word on any interest from automakers just yet, but you can get a closer look at it courtesy of autoblog at the link below.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: concept, concept car, concept vehicle, ConceptCar, ConceptVehicle, johnson controls, JohnsonControls, plug-in, re3 ]

MAM debuts ZR1 wheels for earlier Corvettes

Mid-America has put C4, C5, and C6 Corvette owners twenty spokes closer to owning a ZR1. Anyone with a '97-'09 Vette can order the wheels in paired sizes in Chrome, Hyper Silver, Painted Black, and Black Chrome. They're $500 per pair and will ship in the New Year. Could be worth the wait for the Vette owner who (thinks he or she) has everything. You can read all about them in the press release after the jump and start your order with "Dear Santa..."
PRESS RELEASE
Reproduction C6 ZR1 Corvette Wheels
EFFINGHAM, IL (December, 2008) - Want the ZR1 look without the ZR1 price? Now you can get the most anticipated reproduction wheel in history for your C4, C5, or C6 Corvette! Mid America Motorworks is offering exact ZR1 Reproduction Wheels for all 1988-2009 Corvettes. These twenty-spoke wheels are available in Chrome, Hyper Silver, Painted Black, and Black Chrome. The ZR1 Reproduction Wheels will come with a limited lifetime warranty and will be available to ship in January/February 2009. Make sure to reserve your set early because the initial shipment will contain limited quantities. Make your C4, C5, or C6 stand out from the crowd and order your Reproduction ZR1 Wheels today at www.mamotorworks.com/corvette?frame=1.8914.
Sold as a pair.
17" x 8.5" +49 Offset: 1988-1996 Front & Rear,
1997-2004 Front
18" x 8.5" +56 Offset: 1997-2004 Rear,
2005-2009 Rear
18" x 9.5" +40 Offset: 2006-2009 C6 Z06 Front
18" x 9.5" +57 Offset: 1997-2004 Rear,
2005-2009 Rear
19" x 10" +56 Offset: 1997-2004 Rear
19" x 10" +79 Offset: 2005-2009 Rear
[Via: Mid America Motorworks ] [Tag: aftermarket, c4, c5, c6, corvette, corvette zr1, corvette zr1 wheels, CorvetteZr1, CorvetteZr1Wheels, mid america motorworks, MidAmericaMotorworks, wheels, zr1 wheels, Zr1Wheels ]

2008 November Auto Sales

The frozen consumer credit markets all but shut down auto sales in October, and despite Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's dumping of hundreds of billions of dollars into banks' coffers, lending did not ease significantly in November, so auto sales remained on ice. A second factor that might have dampened consumers' enthusiasm for new-car shopping is the fact that more than half a million Americans lost their jobs last month.It's no surprise, then, that auto sales continued to flat-line. Adding considerably to the automotive gloom was the omnipresent background noise caused by the Detroit Three auto chiefs begging Congress for emergency loans. That makes it seem like Detroit alone is in the ditch, but as far as November goes, the American automakers have got plenty of company:(all figures compare November 2008 sales with November 2007)
Chrysler -47%
GM -41%
Ford -31%
Toyota -34%
Nissan -42%
Honda -32%
Mazda -31%
Hyundai/Kia -39%
Volkswagen Group -22%
BMW Group (including Mini) -27%
Mercedes-Benz (including Smart) -30%One thing that was clear in all the chatter about Detroit's dire straits is that America's automakers would not be in their current predicament if they were only willing to make the small, fuel-efficient cars Americans want. The problem with that analysis is that, in November at least, with gas prices drifting below $2 a gallon, Americans didn't really want small, fuel-efficient cars anymore.A look at the 10 best-selling models in November reveals a far more traditional lineup than the topsy-turvy world of last May, when Americans all but left their SUVs idling by the side of the road as they ran to dealerships demanding something - anything - that would rescue them from the pain of $100 fill-ups:May 2008

1. Honda Civic
2. Toyota Corolla/Matrix
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda Accord
5. Ford F-series
6. Chevrolet Silverado
7. Nissan Altima
8. Ford Focus
9. Chevrolet Cobalt
10. Chevrolet Impala

November 2008

1. Ford F-series
2. Chevrolet Silverado
3. Toyota Camry
4. Toyota Corolla/Matrix
5. Honda Civic
6. Honda Accord
7. Dodge Ram
8. Chevrolet Impala
9. Honda CR-V
10. Nissan Altima

It may surprise many media pundits to see how sales of the fuel-efficient favorites from the fervid, $4-a-gallon days last spring and summer have swooned in November. (And these drops are versus one year ago; they'd be much steeper compared to the inflated levels of May and June.)Toyota Prius -48% (the gold standard stumbles)
Toyota Corolla/Matrix -13%
Toyota Yaris -17%
Scion (all) -45%
Honda Civic -30%
Honda Fit -8%
VW Rabbit -44%
Nissan Versa -18%
Nissan Sentra -39%
Ford Focus -38%
Chevrolet Aveo -36%
Chevrolet Cobalt -54%
Pontiac Vibe -14%
Kia Spectra -33%
Hyundai Accent -11%Where's the bright spot? There is one - one pinpoint of sunshine in an otherwise leaden gray sky. The single, smiley-faced bright spot was Mini. Mini (+43%) was the lone nameplate whose November sales were ahead of last year's. Although Mini was aided by the addition of the Clubman, posting any kind of sales increase in this environment has got to be considered an accomplishment.[Source: Automotive News]
[Via: Automobilemag ] [Tag: ]

Lotus powersliding into the hybrid car market

If you want to make a car handle -- and handle well -- you call Lotus. Just ask Tesla; without the help of the gearheads in Hethel, the US's hottest electric vehicle would probably still be just a concept. Perhaps dissatisfied with the relatively minimal PR love it's been receiving from the Tesla relationship, lotus has announced plans to develop its own battery-powered car. However, unlike the all-electric Roadster, this new offering will include a Volt-like supplementary fuel-burning engine to add a bit more range and, one would figure, rather a lot more mass. That's not exactly good news for those who worship the Lotus mantra of "to add speed, add lightness," but at this point we don't have any idea about what the thing will weigh, cost, or indeed look like. If all goes according to plan we should get some answers when those international automotive powerhouses who are still alive bum a ride to the Geneva Auto Show in March.
[Via: Autoblog ] [Tag: electric car, ElectricCar, ev, hybrid, hybrid car, HybridCar, lotus ]