Discussion of matters in the automotive industry and in car culture. Our opinions on what is going on, manufacturer’s products, etc
This week Audi announced the details on their new A8 Hybrid. It will be powered by the same system as the hybrid Q5: the 2.0T with an electric motor. This setup makes 245hp and 345ft/lbs of torque. While this is “decent” we must not forget that the A8 is in fact the flagship Audi model, so it is not good enough. Continue reading Audi’s A8 Hybrid is doing it wrong
The Crossfire was probably one of the more visible results of the DaimlerChrysler conglomerate. Born as a concept around 2002, it garnered immediate applause among the automotive faithful for being a strikingly beautiful car with the potential to break Chrysler into an entirely new market. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6
These specifications found on all cars, but many people don’t really know what they mean, even if they know what sorts of numbers constitute a lot or a little. There is a very detailed answer for defining each of these terms but this is Cars 101 so we will keep it simple and applicable to what most people can recognize. Continue reading Cars 101: Horsepower vs. Torque
Smart has been operating here in the US of A for about 3 years now, and they seem to be the perfect example of an automotive fad. While it’s been successful in Europe, I’m not quite sure that it’s been a big hit in the States, and I have reason to believe that the car is flawed in more ways than one–and the market itself hasn’t been helping, either. Continue reading Is Smart really so “Smart”? I’m not thinking so.
Before the Nissan Skyline GT-R, there was the Toyota 2000GT, widely regarded to be the first truly collectable Japanese car, and one of the first true Japanese supercars. Toyota, up until that point, was widely considered to be the producer of rather dull, basic automobiles. When the 2000GT hit the streets, though, the notion of Japanese cars being “boring” was shattered. Continue reading Obscure Auto: Toyota 2000GT
Ford has made some great improvements over the past few years, however they have still not gotten it through their heads that Lincoln, their “luxury” division, is in need of a serious overhaul. Ford killed the Mercury brand last year, a great move in my opinion because Mercury was 100% pointless in the market. Lincoln is in a similar situation though, a luxury brand that doesn’t have many relevant cars. The auto industry is rapidly globalizing, and with that comes standards in each segment, as of right now Lincoln meets none of them in the luxury segment. Continue reading Why Lincoln is in serious trouble
Cruise control has been around since the Sixties, but it has evolved as the car around it has evolved. It’s useful for long, punishing drives, such as one I took just yesterday from northern New Jersey to Long Beach Island. That said, there are some times when it’s useful, and others when it should be avoided. Continue reading Cars 101: Cruise Control
This epic monster is a very special supercar called the Mega Track. It is basically a supercar taken to an entirely different level in that it is off road capable. Back in the mid ‘90s there was nothing else like it, and today there isn’t either. Continue reading Obscure Auto: Mega Track
Back when Nissan stopped selling the original Z-car in 1996 in the USA, enthusiasts were infuriated. The Z was introduced around 1970, and immediately became the “Japanese Mustang” for its low price, well-matched engine, and balanced handling. Nissan enlarged it over the years until the 300ZX hit the streets in 1990, when it was a wide, tech-packed sports coupe, with some aspects that were a bit ahead of its time. When sales faltered, however, Nissan couldn’t afford to keep building them. But, in 2002, they performed a ritual on the grave, and the ghost came back to life. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Nissan 350Z
There is talk now at Mazda, as in the past, about discontinuing development of rotary engines for use in production cars. At this point the only model to still use a rotary is RX8, which will cease production after this year. However, the rotary power plant has been the staple of Mazda’s flagship RX sports cars all along, so there is a bit of identity issue at play here as well. Continue reading Retiring the Rotary?
It would likely seem “too good to be true” if someone told you about a car that can get a hybrid-rivaling 40MPG, while still being able to go 0-60 in about 5 seconds flat. It isn’t though, because the BMW 335d will do just that while giving you everything you would expect from a normal Bimmer. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: BMW 335d
Anyone knows that saving gas saves money. Of course, those of us who have hybrids are occasionally so obsessed with it that they will do whatever is necessary to keep their MPG up and their costs down. Here’s a couple of ways to bring up your gas mileage without a lot of extra work. Continue reading Cars 101: Hypermiling
Mind Over Motor 