NSX Perfection

I’ve always loved the NSX, and while it is still highly regarded in certain circles, it’s often looked at as overpriced, underpowered, dated and so on. With a lifespan of 14 years where it went relatively unchanged while others caught up and surpassed it (at least, on paper), it’s an understandable view. While the NSX remains a phenomenal car in factory form (it quickly and deservedly earned the moniker of “the everyday supercar”), it only gets better when put in the right hands and, in my opinion, is one of the very best platforms to come from any manufacturer. That’s why a car like this 700+hp widebody ‘94 NSX just makes me all warm and fuzzy. When I first met the owner and saw the car in unfinished form, I immediately wanted to shoot it. Fast forward two and half years later and this is the results of that shoot. Check out the full article, more photos and the rest of the issue at Desert-Motors Magazine.

Related posts:

• Aston Martin DB9 New Pics
• As Gas Prices Drop, Interest in SUVs Returns
• 50 Vanity Plates That Slipped By The DMV [Novelties]
• The 30 Cheapest New Cars For 2008-2009 [And By "Cheapest" We Mean "Nothing We Usually Mean"]
• Video: Check out the All-New 2008 Honda Accord Coupe and Sedan in Action

Related posts:

• I didn’t find much… The car first ran at Indy in 1938 with ...
• 2008 Honda Accord Coupe Gets Accessorized...UGLY!
• Video: VOD Cars Presents Ferrari CS Tunnel Runs
• 2008 Honda Accord Interior Spy Photos...These are the Best Yet!
• Geneva 09': Aston Martin One-77 Details Revealed in Technical Showcase

Chevy Camaro Convertible Delayed and Z28 Canceled

The 2010 Chevy Camaro is finally starting to roll off the production line, but there are rumors that two of the hotly anticipated variants are in jeopardy.

The Detroit Bureau is reporting that the Camaro convertible and Z28 variants are being delayed and may eventually be canceled due to the budget crisis hitting GM and its many suppliers. The main issue with the Camaro convertible has to do with the collapse of the German company that was supposed to supply it. It was originally planned that the convertible would launch about a year after the coupe, but since GM now has to seek a new supplier, the convertible could be delayed even further.

As for the Z28, it may just cost too much to produce according to Gene Stefanyshyn, Camaro’s Vehicle Line Executive. Stefanyshyn estimated that it would cost GM approximately $50 million to bring it to market. The Z28 would have featured well over 500 horsepower and would have been the halo car for the Camaro lineup.

Related posts:

• Even The Dutch Heard About Joe The Plumber [Ad Watch]
• GM's Troy Clarke E-Mails Employees To Beg Congress For Money [Financiapocalypse]

Related posts:

• Scion is “United by Individuality” to be Distinctive
• Murilee's Down On The Street Favorites For 2008 [Down On The Street]
• PCH, Presidential Ride Edition: Nixon Cadillac Fleetwood or De Gaulle Citroën DS? [Project Car Hell]
• It's Graverobber Project Car Hell Tirade Friday! [Project Car Hell]
• Updates: Abandoned Cit, Tremulis’s flying saucer, H&N’s signage, Fiat factory in P’kpsee, Lloyd engine

2010 Lincoln MKT will start at $44,995; EcoBoost, AWD add five grand

Filed under: Car Buying, Detroit Auto Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Lincoln

Click above for live, high-res images of the new 2010 Lincoln MKT

Ford just announced pricing on the 2010 Lincoln MKT we saw earlier this week at the Detroit Auto Show. The Ford Flex's big brother will go on sale this summer for a starting price of $44,995 with the base V6 and front-wheel-drive. EcoBoost and all-wheel drive together add five grand to that total, so prices for the premium model start at $49,995. You can get AWD by itself though, along with the base 3.7L, at $46,990. While all MKTs will come with tons of standard features, the company is also offering a few options.

For instance, the Elite Package will be available for $5,000, which includes a bowl of alphabet soup with things like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning with Brake Support (gives the driver a "head-up" warning on the windshield), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Cross Traffic Alert (BLIS for backing out of a parking space), Voice-activated Navigation, and a power-opening Panoramic Vista Roof. Stand-alone options will include Active-Park Assist (literally "steers" the MKT into a parallel parking spot while the driver controls the throttle and brakes), 20-inch polished wheels, a DVD system with dual headrest-mounted LCDs, second-row buckets that are heated and cooled, a second-row console-mounted refrigerator, and class III trailer-towing capability.

A fully loaded 355-hp EcoBoost AWD MKT should come in around $55,000, or a few thousand less than a similarly equipped Audi Q7. The Lincoln promises better fuel economy, more interior space and some features you can't even get on the Audi, like the Active-Park Assist. There's a full press release after the jump and our gallery of the MKT from Detroit available by clicking any image below.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Lincoln MKT live

Live photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 2010 Lincoln MKT will start at $44,995; EcoBoost, AWD add five grand

2010 Lincoln MKT will start at $44,995; EcoBoost, AWD add five grand originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 |  | 

Related posts:

• Audi RS5: More spy shots!
• Audi TT: The rebooTT
• Audi TT: A 550 bhp mod by HPA
• The Mini-Cayenne Porsche Roxster SUV will Be Based on the Upcoming Audi Q5
• Audi A5: Spotted in California

Related posts:

• Hyundai i90
• The time for housekeeping has come for General Motors.
• 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid
• Honda has at least figured out the production problem.
• The better news about this all-electric van is that it also runs on power ...

Hyundai is Awesome. Even Honda Admits It!

Remember when Hyundai was a joke?

When Japanese automakers entered the U.S. market, they changed the very fabric of the American auto industry. The cars they offered were small, inexpensive and quickly built a reputation for reliability that exists to this day.

Toyota, Honda and Nissan happily took market share away from the U.S. automakers and never looked back.

Today though, the Japanese are forced to glance backwards because South Korean automaker Hyundai is storming forward and steadily taking customers away; just as Japanese companies did to the U.S. automakers.

The irony comes full circle with this quote from Honda CEO Takanobu Ito:

Hyundai is awesome. They are undoubtedly a threat because their products are cheap, and the quality is improving.

To say Hyundai’s quality is “improving” is like saying the Pittsburgh Steelers are Super Bowl contenders. Hyundai isn’t improving, the company has improved to the point where I believe it could build a better Honda than Honda does.

Toyota’s chief even went so far as to say that his company is “grasping for salvation” and is in the final stages of corporate decline.

While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, Nissan’s senior vice-president Shiro Nakamura compared the whole situation to food by saying,

We have to offer the equivalents of sushi, tempura and kaiseki to compete against Korean barbecue.

I think what he was trying say, in a really weird way, is that Japanese automakers need to find a way to make sure consumers see the value in paying more for Japanese cars. I’m not sure that’s a winning proposition, as this Great Recession will only motivate more buyers to look for long-term value and reliability.

That’s an equation Hyundai has a very firm grasp on.

Will Hyundai continue its rise and overcome Japanese automakers? I think Mazda and Nissan are more at-risk than Toyota or Honda, but what do you think?

-tgriffith

Share this post:

Related posts:

• Tesla Roadster Goes to Production!
• Detroit 09' Preview: 2010 Cadillac SRX Gets Throughly Reworked
• Lexus LF-A Supercar Cancelled?
• New Pricing Of $9,990 Makes 2009 Nissan Versa Cheapest New Car In USA [2009 Nissan Versa]
• 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor: First Ride [Jalopnik Reviews]

Related posts:

• Lexus LF-Xh Hybrid SUV Concept Unveiled
• Lexus Delays LF-A and GS-F but Other Vehicles Are on the Way
• Buick Ties Lexus for Top Spot in J.D. Power Dependability Study!
• Neiman Marcus Lexus IS-F Unveiled...Yay Christmas is Almost Here
• 2012 Lexus GS-F Will Have a V10 With Over 500 Horsepower to Take on the M5

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Sales Are "Simply Smoking"

The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe has been one of highly anticipated cars for this year. With a choice of a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder or a 300+ hp 3.8L V6 and standard RWD the Genesis Coupe has a lot of enthusiast appeal. According to Hyundai USA CEO John Krafcik early sales are "simply smoking."

According to Krafcik early sales of the Genesis Coupe have been better than the luxurious Genesis sedan, with significantly less marketing. The 2.0T have just begun to hit dealerships, so its too early to see what the product split will be like. But among the 3.8L models, over 50% leaving the lots are the Grand Touring models. The Grand Touring model starts at $28,250 with a manual transmission and $29,750 with an automatic gearbox (including a $750 destination fee).

It will be interesting to see what happens when the $24,000 performance-tuned 2.0T R-Spec model starts arriving. The entry-level 2.0T starts at $22,000.

Related posts:

• New FinalGear T-Shirts Now Available In Our Store!
• 2010 Kia Soul For The US Market Revealed [2010 Kia Soul]
• Please, Don’t Ban Texting While Driving!
• “Environment, Shmironment”, Says Middle Eastern Man
• Painted Lips: Yes or No?

Related posts:

• VIDEO: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Hits the Track
• SIA Flashback – Service With a Smile
• Mini Cooper: Fun-to-drive Hatchback
• 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Unveiled Before the LA Auto Show
• Corporate espionage, lawsuits, public outcry – the dark side of private traffic enforcement

The Baddest Jeep Forward Control Truck in the World on eBay

We have to thank BangShift.com forum member (and college chum!) Paul Lafayette for the tip on this bonus eBay Pick of the Week. We believe this to be the most off-road-capable Jeep Forward Control truck ever. It has been battle tested as a competitor in the hellacious Four Wheeler Magazine Top Truck Challenge. The Four Wheeler site says this rig had more reader votes than any other “by a wide margin.”

See the eBay ad here.

We don’t know how the truck fared in that competition, but we can say that this thing has all the parts and pieces to make it an unstoppable force on nearly any terrain thrown before it. There’s planty of power on tap with a 520hp (modern) LS6 mill. There’s plenty of axle strength with Dana 60 units front and back, and there’s more than decent ground clearance with big 44-inch Swampers on all four corners.

We like the part where the seller tells potential buyers that the truck is road legal and passed the state inspection in New York, but he wouldn’t recommend the truck as a daily driver. We think it would be the perfect whip to take to drop the kids off at school with. They’d need to throw a rope ladder down to get out, but the soccer moms in their mini-vans wouldn’t know what to make of this big fellow.

We searched high and low for video, but failed to unearth any. Note that, in the photo below, it’s climbing a wall at a coin-op car wash.

Related posts:

• Cash for clunkers runs out of money; gov’t gonna throw more money at it. Who would’ve guessed?
• SIA Flashback – Tanks for the Memory
• Got one in – first Hemmings cruise-in of the year
• Hemmings Find of the Day: the truck from TV’s “The Highwayman”
• 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor: First Ride [Jalopnik Reviews]

Related posts:

• Jeep Makes Massive Jump!
• Jeep Gladiator: The 2009 Wrangler-based Truck
• The Hybrid Jeep EV, An Electric Wrangler Prototype
• Jeep Commander Dead After '09?
• Jeep JT Pickup Spy Photos...Is Jeep Working on a Wrangler-Based Truck?

Vauxhall Dials Up Speed With Astra VRX 888

Vauxhall Astra VRX 888

If you’ve ever felt that GM has failed to reach its full potential with American consumers (I almost laughed when I typed that), you will likely feel validated in that belief to learn about the British performance version of the Saturn Astra.  The Vauxhaull Astra VXR has added a few numbers to both it’s name and horsepower courtesy of Triple Eight Engineering.

VRX 888

Beyond the special body treatment, differences between this speed demon and the factory diesel version are most significantly achieved by retuning the engine to develop 50 more horses.  Other uprades include a lowered and stiffened suspension, larger front disc brakes, four-piston calipers and special 18-inch black alloys wheels and tires.  0-60 mph is estimated to take 6.5 seconds in the VRX 888 with a top speed of more than 140mph.  Perhaps most impressive is the fuel economy which is estimated as close to 50 mpg in normal highway driving and certainly in the 40 mpg in the city.  Additionally, owners of gas versions of the VRX can not only benefit from the brake and suspension upgrades previously mentioned for the diesel, but get in on the power increase as well via an exhaust package by the aftermarket company Remus and/or a specially tuned Triple Eight ECU that coaxes an extra 48 horsepower from the Astra’s normal 2 liter engine. In total, Triple Eight is able to bring the total power of the gas burner to a jaw dropping 305 hp!

Although Triple Eight will only make 100 of these vehicles, nearly every component will be available for owners to upgrade their Vauxhall at special dealerships in Britain.  It would be refreshing if GM would foster the same relationship over here that it has developed in other parts of the world to revitalize a degree of excitement that it is surely lacking in entry-level vehicles.  While everyone froths at the mouth over the Volt and the fuel efficiency that is the centerpiece of its worth, the VRX tuned by Triple Eight proves what is capable with existing technology and cars already on the road.  One can only hope that more enterprising person(s) will continue to take it upon themselves to disprove the notion that vehicle gas mileage and performance are mutually exclusive in new cars.

Related posts:

• The 30 Cheapest New Cars For 2008-2009 [And By "Cheapest" We Mean "Nothing We Usually Mean"]
• 2009 North American Car Of The Year Nominees
• Penske Abruptly Calls Off Deal to Acquire Saturn
• “Grease to Greece” Ralliers Eco Trip From London To Athens, Fueled Entirely By Cooking Oils
• Next-Generation Volvo XC90 has Been Cancelled...RIP XC90

Related posts:

• The car is powered by a 3.6L engine and is offered with optional all wheel ...
• As Bentley enters the eco-friendly scene, it does it in a big way with ...
• Looking Back: December 2006
• 2008 Chevy Equinox Sport Revealed
• GM asks Congress to kickstart its heart with ambitious plan

Geneva 09' Preview: 2010 Volvo S80 Gets a Small Facelift

Volvo has announced the changes to the 2010 S80, which gets updated styling, an enhanced interior and new diesel engines for Europe.

The 2010 S80 will feature three new diesel engines, the 2.4D, D5 and the low CO2-emitting DRIVE. In the US the S80 features a 235 hp 3.2L six-cyl, a 281 hp turbocharged 3.0L six-cyl or a 311hp 4.4L V8. The turbocharged six and V8 come standard with AWD.

The exterior of the S80 gets an updated grille with a larger Volvo emblem, and chrome on the lower fascia, side skirts and underneath the taillights. Inside there is a new steering wheel and updated gauges.

Related posts:

• Cars, Coffee, Crazy to get up this early…but it’s worth it!
• But what did it take to make the new Volvo Trucks dealer in Verona, Italy ...
• Land Rover Landie Concept Crossover Slightly Revealed
• Inflatable Cars: Seriously This has to be efficient
• From Royal Blue to Green: the Queen retrofits her Bentleys to run on bio-fuel

Related posts:

• Ford to make $2.3 Billion Sale of Jaguar/Land Rover to Tata Official Today
• Extended Warranties for Your Car: Worth Buying?
• Original lunar rover tire helps with next gen development
• Tata Wastes No Time: Land Rover LRX and Jaguar Sportscar Get the Go-Ahead!
• Tata Officially Buys Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford for $2.3 Billion!

Cadillac CTS Coupe Delayed Until Summer of 2010

GM was supposed to release the much anticipated Cadillac CTS Coupe this summer, but it looks like the coupe has been delayed a year until the summer of 2010.

The change is plans is most likely due to GM's current economic condition. Cadillac's director of communications cited "changes to the overall portfolio" as the reason for the delay.

Cadillac is still moving forward with the launch of the CTS wagon this spring and the new SRX crossover this summer.

Related posts:

• Notice anything different around here? Welcome to the new AutoblogGreen
• Man Blames Erratic Driving On Spilled Beer, Arresting Officer Nobly Suppresses Urge To Beat Him
• The Most Exciting Cars of 2010: Camaro? Mustang? Nope!
• Corvette’s “Blue Devil” will officially be badged as the next ZR1
• Electricity and Incest at the Detroit Show

Related posts:

• Cadillac XLR
• VIDEO: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V Hits the Track
• Detroit 2009: 2010 Cadillac SRX live [w/VIDEO]
• GM's Latest Incentives
• Steve McQueen's stolen Cadillac recovered

2009 North American Car Of The Year Nominees

2009 Car of the Year Nominee: Dodge Challenger

In January of next year the North American Car and Truck of the Year winners will be announced during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  The process that leads to that decision began last week with the release of the first round of 26 finalists.  Not suprisingly, vehicles from the crossover segment of the industry dominate this year’s list.

Since its inception in 1994, the winners of this prestigious award are chosen by a jury of 47 automotive journalists.  The path to the finals begins with a listing of all eligible vehicles, which in terms of this award means new or substantial modified existing models.  Earlier this month, jurors reviewed the entire list and picked the vehicles they thought deserved additional consideration on the next ballot. They were asked to limit their list to 10 cars and 10 trucks but are told to give the benefit of the doubt to vehicles they have not yet driven, which means their list may exceed 10 each.  Prior to the December 3rd deadline jurors send that ballot in to be tallied and the top three that emerge from that vote from each category are again voted on.  Finally, the winners are announced in January in Detroit.

In contrast to the long list of crossovers on both the truck and car lists, the only true pickups to make the cut this year are the Dodge Ram and Ford F-150.  A single SUV, the Kia Borrego is also a finalist.  Because the very nature of a “crossover” is a vehicle that has at least partial characteristics of both a car and a truck the process is a bit more complicated for this year.

A few of the more performance oriented front-runners for the award this year include the twin-turbo BMW 1-series, Nissan’s GT-R, the Dodge Challenger and the supercharged Cadillac CTS-V.  Whether the current economic and environmental climates have an impact on the voting will be interesting to see.  The full list of nominees is listed below.

2009 North American Car of the Year candidates

• Audi A4
• BMW 1-series
• Cadillac CTS-V
• Dodge Challenger
• Ford Flex
• Honda Fit
• Hyundai Genesis
• Jaguar XF
• Lincoln MKS
• Mazda6
• Nissan GT-R
• Pontiac G8
• Toyota Venza
• Volkswagen Jetta TDI

2009 North American Truck of the Year Candidates

• BMW X6
• Chevrolet Traverse
• Dodge Ram
• Ford F-150
• Honda Pilot
• Infiniti FX35/50
• Kia Borrego
• Mercedes ML320 BlueTEC
• Nissan Murano
• Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid
• Subaru Forester
• Volkswagen Tiguan

Last year’s winners of the Car and Truck of the year were the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2008 Mazda CX-9.

Related posts:

• Cash for clunkers runs out of money; gov’t gonna throw more money at it. Who would’ve guessed?
• What Would You Build For SEMA? [Question Of The Day]
• "Ultimate" Nürburgring T-Shirt Forgets Hottest Part [Novelties]
• Home Brewed Enginuity
• Tax breaks for Tesla, Model S sedan to get 225 miles, cost $60k

Related posts:

• Kia Sorento No. 1 on our Top 10 Cash-Back List
• 2006 L.A. Auto Show: 2007 Kia Rondo
• New York 2008: Kia Koup Concept Sparks Interest
• 2007 Chicago Auto Show: Kia Rondo SX Concept
• The 2009 Kia Soul: The Gamer’s Wet Dream

Scuderia Ferrari unveils the new F60

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

Click above to view the new Scuderia Ferrari F60 in high resolution

Most years it's more of the same. All the constructors in the FIA Formula One World Championship unveil their cars, and for the most part they look the incredibly similar to the ones they had last year. Big whoop. But every so often, the technical regulations are shaken up a little and the cars come out looking entirely different. This is one of those years -- say "hello" to the Scuderia Ferrari F60.

The most substantial changes have been made to the aerodynamic formula, which has dictated a bigger front wing and a much narrower rear aerofoila. F1 has also moved back to slick tires, while underneath the more streamlined bodywork Ferrari has fitted the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) developed together with Magneti-Marelli, along with the new carbon-encased seven-speed sequential gearbox with limited slip differential.

Ferrari has opted to call this the F60, eschewing the typical numbering system that would have labeled it the F2009 while highlighting the fact that this will be the 60th season of Formula One - in which Ferrari is the only team to have competed in each and every one. Due to weather conditions, the official live unveiling of the F60 was moved from the company's on-site Fiorano test track to its Mugello circuit, where Felipe Massa will test drive it for the first time. Check it out for yourself in the gallery below, and see all the details at f60.ferrariworld.com.

Gallery: Scuderia Ferrari F60

Scuderia Ferrari unveils the new F60 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read |  |  | 

Related posts:

• Vader
• 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Unveiled at Pebble Beach
• SIA Flashback – Call Me A Cab!
• Burning Man’s Expressionist HUMMER Inspires Pity For Unwashed, Uninspired Masses
• eBay Find of the Day: The Electric Powered 1980 Commutacar

Related posts:

• Three Weeks to Midnight
• Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Video Commercial
• AutoblogGreen for 01.06.09
• German solar energy company offers to buy Opel from GM
• GM Looks To Sell ACDelco, Raise $15 Billion Through Year-End 2009 [They Need The Dues]

Detroit 2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI [w/VIDEO]

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Supercars, Audi

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI

Audi always seems to have something great in store for us at the Detroit Auto Show every year, and in addition to the Sportback Concept, the long-awaited R8 V10 5.2 FSI made its official world debut at this year's show. With the 5.2L V10 plucked from the Gallardo LP560-4 mounted amidships, the new R8 now packs 525 horsepower and 391 lb-ft torque. Exterior styling has been subtly updated and includes all-LED headlights, wide side sills, revised matte aluminum exhaust tips, and new 19-inch 10-spoke wheels. More details on Audi's new flagship are in the press release after the jump as well as a video of the car's debut here in Motown.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI

Gallery: 2010 Audi R8 V10

Live Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI [w/VIDEO]

Detroit 2009: Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 |  | 

Related posts:

• Audi RS5: More spy shots!
• Audi TT: A 550 bhp mod by HPA
• Audi A5: Spotted in California
• Audi S8: Watch how Robert De Niro tries to sell it!
• As part of the LA Auto Show , the 2008 LA Design Challenge competition ...

Related posts:

• Audi A4 Quattro: All Roads And Beyond
• Responsibly Restrained 2009 Audi S5
• Geneva 2008: Audi’s Q7 V12 TDI Looks Show Quaility and Showroom Ready!
• Audi Integrates the iPhone on Most of its Vehicles
• Audi Delays the Launch of New Crossovers Until 2009