Archive for October, 2009
A new crate engine coming to SEMA from GM Performance Parts
GM Performance Parts released this teaser video about a new crate motor coming to SEMA 2009. I look forward to seeing it in person next week!
PickupTrucks.com puts the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor against the Dodge Ram Power Wagon!
Another terrific piece of writing by the guys over at PickupTrucks.com has me wanting more. Their comparison of these two mighty trucks is a truly amazing piece, not unlike the trucks themselves. While their missions are different, the two trucks are both impressive in their own right. For the 4 part story, as well as tons of great photos of the trucks, head on over to PickupTrucks.com.
(Image source: PickupTrucks.com)
As if we don’t have enough distractions in the car, modern technology has decided to add another. Chrysler was the first to roll it out in some of their vehicles, followed by VW, and now GM is jumping on the in-car broadband wagon. GM has announced that they will be offering Autonet mobile routers for the low, low, low cost of $500 (dealer installed) or you can order the kit yourself. Service starts at the monthly rate of $29 a month for 1 GB of service or you can opt for the 5 GB service for what I assume is a greater amount. For more details, head on over to Autoblog.
(Image source: cnet)
Other Ford cars besides the Mustang will be featured at SEMA too!
The Mustang seems to get all of the attention at most car shows, but there are other Ford vehicles that receive customizing too! Cars like the new 2010 Taurus SHO, Fusion and F-150 are also popular this year as you can see in the galleries at Autoblog or Jalopnik.
(Image source: Jalopnik)
Ford promises more custom Mustangs at SEMA than you can shake a stick at!
A number of different tuner firms have laid their hands on the 2010 Mustang and turned out with varying results. Those results will be shown at this years SEMA convention in Las Vegas from November 3rd-6th. My personal favorite is pictured above, from 3dCarbon. If you click on over to Autoblog, you can see the others, from Galpin Auto Sports, Steeda, H&R Springs and many more. Let us know in the comments which one you like best and I will get pictures of it when I am at SEMA!
(Image source: Jalopnik)
Inside Line reviews the Raptor, and they actually like it!
Inside Line had the chance to take a 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor into the desert on their own and they liked the truck so much, they said, “Honestly, the Raptor’s chassis so far exceeds the abilities of any other vehicle sold today that it should be given an award.” How interesting, seeing as the Raptor was just named Texas Truck of the Year!
2010 Taurus SHO vs. the 2009 Infinity G37…may the least practical car win!
Edmunds Inside Line has decided to pit the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO against the 2009 Infinity G37 sedan. To get right down to it, the Infinity won the test based on 0-60, quarter mile, skid pad and braking performance. Right where most people really decide a 5 passenger sedan purchase…riiight. The SHO features more power, AWD, which was not on the Infinity in this test, heated AND cooled front seats (plus heated rear seats,) 20 inch wheels to the 17′s on the G37, plus many other features not even available on the Infinity. Then they go on to say about the lack of the $995 Performance Package available on the SHO,
“It would’ve been nice had Ford included all these performance features on its “premium performance sedan,” especially one headed for a track test.”
Yea it would have been nice if Ford had given them a SHO with the Performance Package for this test, but it wasn’t available yet. So Inside Line decides to knock Ford for not having a new optional package ready in time for their test? Maybe they should have waited a few more weeks for the package to become available and then run their test.
They state that the two cars have a wheelbase that’s within 1 inch of each other, and then complain about how heavy the Taurus is compared to the Infinity. Maybe it has something to do with the Taurus being almost 7 inches wider, 16 inches longer, having nearly 4 inches more rear seat leg room, 2 inches more shoulder room front and rear, and the extra 6.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, accessible not with a pass-through like on the Infinity, but seat backs that fold down nearly flat. Yea, those are numbers no one cares about when they buy a 5 passenger sedan. Customers who buy these cars still care about a fun ride, but they also want something that’s practical. If you want a sports car, get a Mustang/370Z. Alright, enough of this garbage, my hair is turning white fast enough as it is…
GM recently had the chance to purchase a larger stake of Daewoo and it decided to act upon this offer, upping its stake in the Korean car maker from 50.9% to 70.1%. Not surprising considering that GM Daewoo sold over 1.9 million cars last year, not to mention it sold more cars with Daewoo in China than it sold in the U.S. For more details, head on over to the Detroit News.
(Image source: The Auto Channel)
Hennessy receives a call from OnStar after pulling 0.99g’s in CTS-V
The video above shows a Hennessy tuned CTS-V with 700 horsepower pulling 0.99g’s of acceleration as it takes off to run the quarter mile. It’s an impressive feat for such a heavy vehicle, but that’s not even the most shocking part of the video. The car took off so hard, it set off some of the built in OnStar telemetry equipment, prompting a call from one of OnStar’s operators. In other words, this car takes off like you got hit in the rear…
That’s right folks, the challenge was thrown by Bob Lutz for anyone to step up who thought they (and their car) could beat Lutz himself in a race in a CTS-V. Well the cars range from a BMW M3, to a Jaguar XFR, and a few other nice ones in between. Hopefully the race takes place soon, all the hype is killing me! For more, head on over to Autoblog or Cadillac Notes.
