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2009 Infiniti M

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:47:55 +0000

Infiniti’s mid-size sedan, the M, has been around for quite some time, but it’s still one of our favorite luxury sport sedans. We lived with an M45 for a full year, and not once did it require repairs. Even those in the office who didn’t initially understand the M45’s place in the automotive world came away from the test in awe of how good this Japanese BMW-fighter really is.

For 2009, the M is available in four trim levels, as detailed below.

The M35
The M35 is the entry-level M, and it comes with a V-6 engine and rear-wheel drive. Last year’s 275-hp VQ35 V-6 engine has been replaced with the HR (high-revving) version of the VQ. Displacing the same 3.5 liters, the VQ35HR produces 303 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission (up from last year’s five-speed), so the M35 now feels as fast as its V-8-powered big brother. In fact, it only produces 22 less hp, and with the benefits of two additional gears in its transmission, it might even be quicker than the M45. The additional power comes at no extra fuel cost; in fact, thanks to the extra gears in the transmission, EPA fuel economy improves from 16/23 to 17/25.

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2009 Mercedes Benz CLS550

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:46:36 +0000

As I drove home in the CLS last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jaguar’s XF. The Mercedes has a dramatic presence that the XF is missing. I don’t find the CLS gorgeous - especially the headlights - but it does stand out in the crowd. What a great concept Mercedes has. Build the E-Class for the more traditional Benz buyer and the CLS for the person who wants a bit more style. Unfortunately, the CLS doesn’t drive as well as the Jaguar. The Mercedes V-8 is very strong but the seven-speed automatic is slow to downshift. I also find the air suspension really disconnects the driver from road. It is too floaty and I don’t like constantly having to toggle the suspension switch to try to contain body motions. In the end, I wish the XF was more dramatic like the CLS but that the Mercedes drove as well as the Jaguar.

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LSE Range Rover Sport Coupe to debut at SEMA

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:45:35 +0000

For all those who thought the BMW X6 SUV/Coupe was brilliant, here’s the next step. With the help of some customization from LSE Design, an U.K. based tuner, the Range Rover Sport was transformed from a 4-door SUV into a coupe. The 2009 LSE Range Rover Sport Coupe will be built in a limited edition of just 200 units, each priced at $250,000. According to the manufacturer only 50 units will be produced for the U.S. so you’d better start saving some money.

Although the car is cool, this isn’t exactly an original idea considering the Range Rover Sport is based on the Range Stormer concept and Land Rover is possibly putting the LRX into production.

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Video: 9ff GTurbo1000 based on the Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RS

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:44:34 +0000

The Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RS is already a fast car, but when the guys over at 9ff decided to transform it in a 9ff GTurbo1000, the results are pretty cool.

Adding a two turbos boosted power to 950 hp (from an original 415). Now the car can sprint from 0 to 186 mph in just 18.1 seconds, which means that is quicker than the Koenigsegg CCX and with just 1.4 seconds slower than the Bugatti Veyron. The 9ff team likely started with the non-turbo GT3 as a base instead of the already boosted GT2 because of the weight savings of the RS model.

As great as this all looks, couldn’t they have done something to make engine sound less like a farm tractor?

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Neil Young’s Eco-Lincoln

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:43:27 +0000

Obviously, that’s Neil Young.

To me, Neil Young is one of these guys that’s cool because he skirts the edge of disaster in a lot of ways. He’s Canadian, for one … and a Canadian MUSICIAN for two (I don’t need to go into the sonic & thematic failings of Canadian bands like Loverboy, do I?) … and folk music? That stuff was scary - it almost caught on!

Anyway, despite all these handicaps, he somehow manages to make it work.

He is also, it turns out, a bit of a gearhead. And not surprisingly, and eco-gearhead.

viz. the car he’s turning into a hybrid: A 1959 Lincoln.

Class!

The only thing that would have made it better was if he was blues guy from Choctaw with a nickname like “Sweet” or “Bukka” or “Muddy”.

But more than anything, he points the way forward, because I ask you, one gearhead to another, what’s wrong with green cars?

Answer: They’re boring!

They are the automotive equivalent of Pat Boone.

And a 1959 Lincoln, a car you dock rather than park, is not the automotive equivalent of Pat Boone. It’s more like John Lee hooker.

With the coming (OK, now) downturn in the world economy, think of the retro-fit opportunities!

Imagine a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, black with chrome artillery wheels, oxblood interior and series hybrid drivetrain running on bio-juice.

You cruise down Fillmore in that?

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Chevrolet will unveil four customized Camaro at SEMA

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:42:09 +0000

Chevrolet will unveil four customized Camaro at the SEMA Show: the Camaro LS7 Concept powered by the GM’s Performance Parts LS7 crate engine that delivers more than 500 hp; Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept – customized to Dale Jr.’s style; Camaro Black Concept – a sinister-looking exercise in bold design and the Camaro GS Racecar Concept – an homage to a road racing legend.

The Camaro LS7 Concept is powered by a LS7 crate engine using a high-performance replacement camshaft from GM Performance Parts and now producing more than 550 hp. The concept also features a wet-sump oiling system; six-speed manual with a GM Performance Parts Hurst shifter; Brembo four-wheel disc brake package; lowered ride height; custom 20-inch wheels, driveshaft safety loop, GM Performance Parts exhaust system.

The Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept is based on the new Camaro SS that uses the standard 6.2L V-8, but modified to use E85 and mated to a six-speed manual transmission. On the exterior the concept features a gray-over-white paint scheme, 21-inch, five-spoke wheels.

The Camaro GS Racecar Concept is inspired by the legendary Trans Am road racing series from the 1969. The GS Concept features the race-ready suspension, reinforced chassis and drivetrain conform to the specifications required of racecars certified for the series.

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Chrysler Circling The Drain?

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:39:29 +0000

Uh-oh! Big time UH-OH!!!:

Report: GM Turned down by Government

From the NY Times: U.S. Rejects G.M.’s Call for Help in a Merger

The Treasury Department has turned down a request by General Motors for up to $10 billion to help finance the automaker’s possible merger with Chrysler … the Bush administration will now shift its focus to speeding up the $25 billion loan program for fuel-efficient vehicles approved by Congress in September and administered by the Energy Department.

Well, that’s essentially that as far as Chyrsler’s future is concerned.

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The New Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:37:59 +0000

With every increase in the price of gas, up goes the sales numbers for smaller SUVs, small trucks, crossovers, and sedans. Naturally, every automaker tries to cater to the market in need, so we’ve seen countless concepts and production versions of these small “crossover” SUV coming to market.

Next in line is The new Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class. Aiming for a younger, “hipper” crowd, the new GLK-Class will sit below the M-Class in the lineup, and start at around $43,000. For sale in Canada starting in January 2009, Mercedes describes the GLK-Class as “uncharacteristic of the typical Mercedes-Benz,” appealing to “young, progressive, ambitious, eclectic individuals who desire a car that allows them to express their love for trendy style, luxury, and unconventional yet active lifestyles.”

Seeing as how it made its debut in the movie Sex and the City, you can tell who they’re aiming for in the new SUV. It also has a whole slew of direct competitors: Infiniti EX, Acura RDX, BMW X3, Volkswagen Tiguan, Land Rover LR2/Freelander, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Saab 9-4X, and Cadillac BRX. Good luck GLK!

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2009 Breckland Biera - Part Corvette, Part Saturn Sky

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:36:26 +0000

Low-volume specialty automaker Breckland (the same guys that made the awesome Tommy Kaira ZZ) are beginning to deliver their new Biera this month. Starting with the GM Kappa platform used in the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, Breckland dropped in the 400 horsepower 6 liter V8 used in the Chevy Corvette.

The handbuilt-in-UK roadster was redesigned all over, and amplifies the aggressive styling of the Solstice and Sky. I can even see a little bit of Ferrari 355 meets Tesla Roadster in the rear styling:

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Affordable halo cars: make it beautiful, make it right

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:31:20 +0000

A halo car is one that will revive a brand. It gives new direction, and while it may not be the car that was sold to the consumer, it’s the reason he/she came into the dealership. It goes with the idea that while you may not be able to afford an Audi R8, it may remind you that an A4 is in your price range. Bob Lutz calls it “shock therapy” for an automotive brand.

In times of slower auto sales, a budget-minded halo car is a great thing to have. Companies want a car that’s cool enough to be a poster is on a kid’s wall and affordable enough to be in dad and mom’s driveway. Great examples are cars such as Honda’s S2000 or the reborn Fiat 500.

So as times begin to get tough, the consumer may be on the fortunate end of seeing a few budget-minded halo cars rushed into production. Yes, the car companies are cash strapped, but there are a few good auto executives out there who know that to sell a car it must be distinctive. In hopes of a few good surprises this auto show season, let’s take a look at two affordable halo cars that did work and two that didn’t work.

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