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Down On The Street Bonus Edition
Down On The Street Bonus Edition
I Feel Gassy
Car And Driver Editor Csaba Csere Deflates Obama's Tires, Huffs McCain's Tailpipe
Car und Driver Editor-und-Chief Csaba Csere spent a few moments in front of the camera yesterday rebutting the hot political non-issue of "tire pressure" fuel savings. Let's be clear here, we happen to agree with Csaba that Obama's numbers may not be fully accurate. But interjecting and glossing over ANWR without discussion while trying to "deflate Obama's tire pressure theory," is the kind of equal-handedness that makes us think Csaba should stick to the manual print press and stay out of the national energy debate. But, if Csaba wants to get into the ring, then by all means. In fact, we've got a question for him. Considering the U.S. Energy Information Administration tells us "the main impact...on the amount of oil actually recovered from ANWR is likely to occur after 2030...", will his magazine still be in print when all that gasoline finally gets to the market? While we wait patiently for an answer, hit the jump to see Csaba in action. More »
2010 Buick LaCrosse
These grainy photos are the first uncamouflaged look we've gotten at the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse. The LaCrosse appears to be getting a very modern update, leaving virtually everything from the last model behind. Large, single-unit headlights are complimented by a very recognizable Buick grille. The LaCrosse interior is drastically remodeled and definitely looks to be benefiting from GM's renewed focus on interior design, with a large LCD screen, stylishly sculpted center stack, and a new breed of steering wheel-mounted controls we haven't seen before. Car and Driver has a set of in-plant images with enough detail to give you the initial impression. [CarAndDriver]
2010 Buick LaCrosse Caught With Its Camo Down
These grainy photos are the first uncamouflaged look we've gotten at the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse. The LaCrosse appears to be getting a very modern update, leaving virtually everything from the last model behind. Large, single-unit headlights are complimented by a very recognizable Buick grille. The LaCrosse interior is drastically remodeled and definitely looks to be benefiting from GM's renewed focus on interior design, with a large LCD screen, stylishly sculpted center stack, and a new breed of steering wheel-mounted controls we haven't seen before. Car and Driver has a set of in-plant images with enough detail to give you the initial impression. [CarAndDriver]
2:56 PM on Fri Aug 8 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
365 views,
7 comments
Latest by Meat Farley: Beats the 99 Ford Taurus look of the current model. more »
Retro
Celebrate The Olympics With A 1972 Ford Mustang Sprint
With the Olympics kicking off, let's rewind to 1972 and take a look at some special "Sprint" edition Fords built to commemorate both the XX Olympiad in Munich, Germany and the XI Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan. The Sprint option was an appearance package on the '72 Pinto, Maverick, and Mustang. Of course, with the Soviet Union claiming first place in the medal count in both Munich and Sapporo (the US placed 2nd and 5th respectively), and that whole "Munich Massacre" thing, the '72 Olympics weren't exactly the best games to commemorate. But then, with the Pinto's explosive reputation, it brings a whole new definition to the Olympic Torch.
Novelties
Credit is due to Nike for creating a vehicle that makes us suddenly care about the AST Dew Tour. Built on an armored amphibious military truck platform — we think a variation of the XM410 — the vehicle combines a 1970's camper with a mobile skate park. There are multiple unique features on this truck for the extreme athlete, including rails for extreme grinding, speakers for pumping out extreme music, a quarter-pipe for extreme skateboarding and a BBQ gallery for extreme BBQing. Despite the "extremeness" of the vehicle, this has the makings of an excellent Post-Apocalytpic Survival Vehicle for Tony Hawk. Now what to call it? Details below the jump:
More »
Nike Needs A Name For Their Armored AmphiCamper
Credit is due to Nike for creating a vehicle that makes us suddenly care about the AST Dew Tour. Built on an armored amphibious military truck platform — we think a variation of the XM410 — the vehicle combines a 1970's camper with a mobile skate park. There are multiple unique features on this truck for the extreme athlete, including rails for extreme grinding, speakers for pumping out extreme music, a quarter-pipe for extreme skateboarding and a BBQ gallery for extreme BBQing. Despite the "extremeness" of the vehicle, this has the makings of an excellent Post-Apocalytpic Survival Vehicle for Tony Hawk. Now what to call it? Details below the jump:More »
Junkyard Find
1976 Capri II Wants You To Know It's Not A Mercury, Even As It Awaits Crushing
While Lincoln-Mercury dealers sold the European-made Ford Capri in North America, the cars themselves had no marque. Just to make things more confusing, Ford branded the later Fox Mustang-clone and Mazda 323-based Capris with Mercury emblems. Anyway, none of that matters for this car, which I spotted in an East Bay wrecking yard last weekend, because it has a date with the cold jaws that will get it ready for another spin of the steel-reincarnation wheel.
Novelties
Jaguar XJS-C, The Car For Small Town Closeted Gay Voyeurs
We're really starting to like Stick Shift, Vanity Fair's weekly gay car blog. It explains to us the intricacies and variations of the gay psyche in a language we can understand: cars. Take, for instance, that really nice middle-aged guy who runs the local antiques shop. He's always inviting you and your teenage friends over to get high and he lives alone in a big old house that he can't quite afford to keep up. Which is kind of like his car: An old Jaguar XJS convertible. It's got tears in the top, the motor that raises it blew out years ago and the interior smells like mold mixed with Calvin Klein Obsession. He thinks it makes him look like the kind of upper class English man that calls himself The Major, when in reality it makes him look like someone living a lifestyle they can't quite manage. Everyone knows a disaster is looming (in the car's case, it'll require a new engine; in The Major's, an out-of-state move) except for the eternally optimistic owner. [Stick Shift]
2011 Saturn Astra
2010 Opel Astra Setting Sail For Somewhere
This 2010 Opel Astra looks to be strapped down and ready to ship out. Maybe it's on its way to America, where we'll know it as the 2011 Saturn Astra. Wherever it's going, expect the likes of the new 2009 VW Golf, and other 5-door hatchbacks to take notice. Of course, they'll also have station wagon, 3-door, and convertible versions of the Astra too, though we're not sure all those variations will make it over as Saturns. [autoblog.nl]
1:20 PM on Fri Aug 8 2008
By Mark Arnold
268 views,
10 comments
Latest by abgwin: @philibuster: dig it (snap, snap). what did i do with those bongos? no, i realized i used the wrong "bated" but there's no edit button, so i'm eternally wrong now. more »
2008 Dodge Challenger
SMS Supercharger Boosts Hemi Horsepower By 45% In Challenger, Charger
SMS, Steve Saleen's new operation, wants to sell 2005-09 Mopar Hemi owners a supercharger that the company claims can bump underhood horsepower by as much as 45%. The SMS 296 supercharger has some unique features, including an internal intercooler and a low profile, letting the blower sit between the cylinder banks and fit entirely under the hood. Obviously, we can't verify any of the company's output claims, but if they'd send us a Challenger so-equipped, we'd be happy to amend this post with full test results. Steve? Anyone? Full release with specs after the jump.More »
Industry News
Louisiana Asking Detroit For Jobs; Detroit: "Sorry, Fresh Out"
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and Shreveport mayor Cedric Glover will be visiting the Motor City August 15 in an effort to save jobs at a Shreveport GM plant. GM Shreveport builds mid-size pickup trucks including the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, along with the Hummer H3 SUV, all three of which have seen sales steadily decline in the past six months. General Motors last week announced the loss of Shreveport's second shift, apparently prompting the local gub'ment to take what has to be the humiliating step of coming to Detroit to beg for jobs. More »
Cannonball Run Europe
Brabus Smart ForTwo Defeats 39 Supercars, Wins Cannonball Run Europe
A Smart ForTwo has defeated a field of 39 supercars to win Cannonball Run Europe. The rally, which distinguishes itself from events like the Gumball 3000 with its relatively cheap entry fee of $10,000 and emphasis on a sensible average speed (in this case 61 MPH) offered the perfect opportunity for a small, fuel efficient car to win. Driver David Ward said,"The downfall of the bigger cars was that they were forced to stop so often, so while they kept overtaking us, we eventually went past them at the next petrol station when they needed to fill up again...we kept at a decent speed and still averaged around 35 miles per gallon."More »
In Brief
Harley completes acquisition of MV Agusta, appoints Matt Levatich managing director
FROM HELL FOR LEATHER: Harley-Davidson completed its purchase of MV Agusta this morning, paying $108 million for the storied Italian motorcycle maker. That figure includes $69 million paid to erase MV’s debts and includes the Cagiva brand. More »
Video Games
Georgia Teens Firebomb Three Cars, Blame Grand Theft Auto
One of three teenagers arrested in Milton, Georgia after firebombing two Mercedes and a Honda Accord mentioned learning how to make Molotov Cocktails from the video game Grand Theft Auto. Obviously, the local police chief then went on the expected blustering, red-faced tirade on violent video games. Makes sense, because the information on how to make a Molotov cocktail can't be found anywhere else. Though we don't imagine that violent video games help, nor do we support firebombing cars, we think that blame more than likely rests primarily with the parents. Also, whatever store sold teenage boys rags, lantern fuel and glass bottles of Sprite. [WSBTV via Kotaku]
Question of the Day
How Long Is Too Long To Charge An Electric Car?
News that 200 electric car quick charge stations are to be installed in Japan introduced us to the concept of a "quick charge" of 5 minutes for 25 miles or 10 minutes for a whopping 37 miles of range. Of course, there's really no definition for what a "quick charge" is. The G-Wiz takes six hours to charge and it goes 40 miles. The Lightning GT claims 200 miles on a 10-minute charge, but we haven't seen it in action. Given that an average car will go around 300 miles after a five-minute fill-up, are we willing to wait that long to go a twelfth of the distance? How long is too long to wait at the pump-plug?
classic ad watch
Now With Dynamic Aerodynamics: 1987 Toyota Celica
This ad might not be quite as painfully 80s as the Cocaine Factory '85 Duster Ad, but it's getting there. 1987 was the year the Celica was "improved" by going to front-wheel-drive and shedding the old funky angular look in favor of a more focus-group-friendly (i.e., bland) appearance. The Phil Collins-esque theme song fits this car the way profits from missile sales to Iran fit the Contras' financial needs! More »
Pebble Beach
Hertz To Auction 25 Shelby Mustang GT-H Convertibles At Monterey Kruse Auction
Only 500 2007 Shelby GT-H Convertibles were made for Hertz's Rent-a-Racer fleet, but if you want one, 25 of them will be for sale at next week's Kruse auction in Monterey. True, you could probably build your own by bolting on a few parts to a standard GT Mustang Convertible, but if you're convinced a GT-H driven some of the hardest miles known to man by a series of cement-footed Ford fan-boy tourists will have some level of future "value," then by all means, head on over to the Auction. Sure, you'll have to pay $100 to get in the door plus a 10% commission on the car, but with so many of the yellow-and-black Mustangs under one roof, you may end up with a steal. (Hat tip to Buckster!)[Kruse]
Offbeat News
Granny Arrested For Driving Around With Kid On Roof Of Car
A 54-year-old Florida grandmother has been arrested after onlookers called the fuzz on her for driving around a parking lot with a her three year old granddaughter riding on the roof of the car. Brenda Bouschet said she was holding onto the little girl's leg the whole while just letting her have a bit of fun. Maybe if the tyke wasn't so little we'd find her car head-start surfing lessons a lot more amusing. That being said, we're still unsure whether this woman is crazy as hell, or the most hilarious / lunatic / awesome grandma ever. [FoxNews]
Alternative Energy
