New 305 Horsepower Mustang is Short Two Cylinders

    I wrote previously about the 2011 Mustang coming with all new powertrains to go head to head with the Chevrolet Camaro. The majority of the devout Mustang followers will often scoff at the idea of driving anything but the eight cylinder GT which has been for good reason. The last generation V6 Mustang was, in short, pathetic. Power numbers were down and the sound of the tired 4.0 liter resembled a lawn tractor when under full throttle. Needless to say, the time for its replacement has been long overdue. 

     

        Not a moment too late we are treated to an all new engine and transmission combination that may cause a few GT fans to raise an eyebrow. Ford has replaced its tired six cylinder for a new 3.7 liter V6 capable of putting out 305 horsepower and 280 lb. ft. of torque. Even better is the increased fuel economy which puts it at 30 mpg on the highway when combined with the six speed automatic. A long way from the previous 24 mpg seen from the 4.0 liter dinosaur. For those of you not impressed it is also interesting to note that Ford is the only auto manufacturer on the planet who can offer 30 mpg with over 300 horsepower. Put that in the attractive and capable Mustang and success can't be too far behind.

  

   Expect the new V6, along with its 7,000 RPM redline to hit dealer lots this summer. Mustang GT fans will have to be patient as Ford is set to announce its new V8 at the Detroit auto show January 11th. As for me? I don't care if the new V8 puts out 500 horsepower and does 0-60 mph in four seconds flat. My more sensible side tells me that the V6 is going to be plenty fast to satisfy me and efficient enough to convince my soon to be wife that is is "economical" to own.

Toyota's Problem

Over the past several months I cannot help but notice the frequent news stories popping up in regards to Toyota's quality. If you were to ask me five years ago who built the most reliable cars in the world I would have likely answered "Why Toyota of course". These days, I am not able to confidently say this. How could such a thing happen? I have my theory...

As Toyota worked to become the worlds largest auto maker it seemed to forget why it was successful in the first place. Let's face it. It was not styling or driving dynamics that won over the hearts of America as very few people can say that they think Toyota has the most exciting vehicles on the road. The king of vanilla automobiles made its headway in sales by delivering quality vehicles at reasonable prices. Not a bad formula for success in my book. Now when you look at Toyota you see overpriced vehicles with serious quality issues. The high prices worked for a while when Toyota had its solid reputation but as that has slipped, so have their sales.

This is where Toyota fans ultimately start screaming that their Corolla lasted a hundred years and the Ford or Chevy they bought lasted 1 month before spontaneously catching fire in a Wendy's drive through. The problem with this theory is that things can and always will change. Just as Dave Thomas's fast food restaurant went through its bankruptcy and emerged anew Toyota has become a different company as have Ford and General Motors (although GM needed a bankruptcy while Ford avoided it). As Toyota focused on selling more volume the folks in Detroit have looked at things much differently. GM and Ford are downsizing and reducing their volume. This, they believe, allows them to produce better product at higher quality. The strategy as I see it today, is working. Ford has been climbing the charts in customer satisfaction and quality for the past several years and in many instances has surpassed Toyota and Honda. Not far behind is GM as its new offerings are proving themselves. Toyota on the other hand keeps getting hammered with recalls such as its recent issue with spontaneous acceleration and rusting truck frames. Lest not we forget the current Tundra which in its first year of life had everything from faulty camshafts, transmissions, to tailgates falling off.

What happened to Toyota? A lot of things actually. To put it as simply as possible the real issue is a lack of focus and becoming out of touch with consumer demands. Now where does that sound familiar? Maybe they should have called the big three in Detroit so that they could learn from their mistakes.

The Official Shotgun Rule Book

It is a game that I remember fondly from my childhood. Growing up with three brothers, the passenger seat of our Dodge Colt was highly sought after. This especially became true when we all reached a height of over 6' 3". What we did not know is the act of calling "Shotgun" came from the days before automobiles when the passenger in a covered wagon would act as a guard from bandits and thieves. The game has evolved over the years and has indeed caused some confusion which is where Joshua Pearson, Thomas Reuter, and William Henderson come in. They have compiled a book that is full of all the official shotgun rules and regulations so that never again will an argument (or thrown shoe) from the back seat slow your ride. They are calling the book "This year's Tickle Me Elmo" which sounds important indeed. The link below will bring you to the official website of the Official Shotgun Rulebook.

http://www.shotgunrules.com/

That existed? Toyota 2000GT

As I was perusing the corners of the web today I came across the unthinkable. A 1960's sports car I had not seen nor even heard of. Being your typical car guy I can rattle off the go fast cars produced in the late 1960's and early 1970's without breaking a sweat. You have your Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, Charger, Challenger in the pure American arena. From across the pond you have your Porsche 911, a Ferrari or two, and of course the beautiful Jaguar E-Type. What is less known is a little entry from Toyota by the name of the 2000GT. A little gem from 1967 that I would love to have my hands on today.

Stylistically it resembles the Jaguar E-Type in my eyes. The roadster from Toyota is complete with the round shape and long hood you would commonly associate with the Jaguar. In overall design when comparing the two I have to give it to Toyota. Everything about it flows much better from bumper to bumper. The shape of the rear is an especial improvement as it looks much more masculine and refined.

Under the hood of the 2000GT rests a 2.0 liter straight-six sourced from Toyota's Crown sedan. The engine was sent to Yamaha motors who would then convert it from a single to a dual overhead cam setup and tune it to put out a claimed 150 horsepower. This was impressive to say the least for a 2.0 liter engine in 1967 and would propel the car to a said top speed of 135 mph. In comparison, a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette with a 327 cubic inch V8 under the hood was said to max out at 130 mph.

The Toyota 2000GT was a rather exclusive vehicle as only a little over 300 were produced from 1967-1970. Further research indicates that its biggest media moment was an appearance in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. As exclusive as it was, I am glad the little gem did not evade me forever. Now all I need is about $200,000 dollars to go purchase one.

Take that Tata: Ford unviels $650 car

Some of you may have heard about the Indian auto manufacturer Tata who is selling the worlds least expensive automobile. It would seem the Ford Motor Company does not want to be outdone and has released a direct competitor to help American's through these troubled economic times. Watch the video below to view the "Onion Networks" full coverage.

Ford Unveils New Car For Cash-Strapped Buyers: The 1993 Taurus

Hmmm. Perhaps consider buying a Schwinn.

I'll Take my Challenger in Pink.

While I was out and about in downtown St. Louis last weekend I came across a vehicle that immediately peaked my interest. Backed into a parking spot at a high class hotel was the all new Dodge Challenger. Let's be honest, the car is a looker, but, it has been on the market long enough to where I don't jump for joy at its sight. This particular Challenger, however, was special. Its custom pink paint job glistened in the sunlight as did its custom billet grill. I couldn't help but notice the detailed pin striping and custom "ram" emblem on the hood. All of these elements, while not my style, can be forgiven. After all, Barbie deserves a car too. It was then that I realized what I had really stumbled upon.

The back end looked different. It was wider and meaner than a typical Challenger. Could this cute pink car be hiding racing slicks? Now that is a sleeper if there ever was one. I slowly walked around the car in sheer anticipation when my mouth hit the floor. What I saw was perhaps one of the greatest demonstrations of form over function. Why anyone in their right mind would want to do this to a vehicle is beside me and this is coming from a guy who moments ago was hoping to see slicks on a street car. Enough words, sometimes a picture just tells it all.

You gotta love the pink steamroller rear wheel. How many inches do you think is under there?

I'm going to guess 30...

Who would drive such a thing? That I do not know, but, I would absolutely love to find out...

Trend: Small cars, Big Luxury

At this past years North American International Auto show in Detroit the Ford Motor Company's Lincoln brand displayed a radically different concept that gained the attention of automotive journalists worldwide. This concept was not fueled by recycled atomic waste nor could it fly. What was so interesting was its aim to shatter the American car buyers expectation of luxury.

The Concept was named simply "C' after its C-segment size. For those unfamiliar with this jargon, the size in comparable to the Ford Focus. This vehicle, however, is no Focus as it is loaded with technology, goodies, and dramatic styling. While its exterior looks are not a home run in my opinion, the idea of a small luxury car from a brand that is known for selling cars that should be equipped with bow and stern lights is evidence that times are changing.

In rebuttal to the Lincoln's C concept, General Motors released a teaser for a small Buick that seems to go toe to toe with the pint sized Lincoln. While Lincoln's concept was on display and tangible, Buick's is merely a drawing and a dream. Even still, it looks good and could potentially be a hit if the decide to build it. Perhaps my favorite feature is the glass roof that can become opaque at the flip of a switch. Check out the full video below.

So what do you think? Will Americans accept small luxury vehicles or continue to demand the land yachts we are accustomed to today?

Rumor: New 2011 Mustang powertrains

So, for the third straight month the Chevrolet Camaro has taken the sales crown from Ford's Mustang. The two cars are very similar in cost and styled remarkably well. They even perform nearly identical on the track. The one thing the Mustang is lacking is bragging rights in the horsepower game.

The 3.6 liter V6 Camaro pumps out an impressive 304 horsepower all while delivering 29 mpg on the highway. On paper, the power output suggests the V6 Camaro can hold its own against the V8 Mustang GT. It does well for itself, but, is not necessarily the better car. The problem with the Camaro is weight. The Mustang weighs in over 200 pounds less than its bow-tie competition and it shows. The V6 power output may look impressive on the Camaro, but, the extra weight certainly hinders performance. Still, the Camaro offers superb styling and fuel economy at an affordable price and the public seems to prefer it in both V6 and V8 editions over the Mustang for the past 3 months.

Now for Ford's answer to this problem. While the body and interior of its pony car received a slew of improvements for 2010, the engine bay, was left relatively unchanged. With another year of development time under its belt, it appears Ford is ready to blast back with its new 3.7 liter V6 with horsepower said to be in the 315 range. This conveniently beats the Camaro V6 output and with the Mustangs lighter weight, will undoubtedly prove superior at the track. These cars are vastly about bragging rights after all. Before the V8 GT crowd gets their panties in a bunch they will be glad to know Ford will also offer a 5.0 liter V8 easily capable of exceeding 400 horses. The last time a 5.0 resided in a Mustang was 1995 and the 2011 motor, while same in displacement, is completely new from the ground up. This is part of the new V8 program by Ford which is also debuting its 6.2 liter V8 in the F-150 this fall.

So if the rumors are true it looks as if the 2011 Mustang will be armed and ready to go head to head against the Camaro. A very interesting development indeed considering even with the "old school" live rear axle and small V8 Car & Driver still picked the 2010 Mustang over the new Challenger and Camaro. The new motors should do very well for Ford. Still, no official word on the exact engine and transmission combinations. All that is known is they will be updated and will certainly rock.

As of now the twin turbo eco-boost V6 looks to be on hold for the 2011 Mustang. This, as with the above details, are still subject to change. Let's hope for our sakes Ford offers the eco-boost in the Mustang ASAP.

Kia Spoofs General Motors Advertising

Over the past several months we have been hearing a lot about the automotive bailout and most recently the bankruptcy of General Motors. When the news came of the government assisted reorganization of GM the marketing guru's put together a little piece in attempt to change what was and arguably still is a negative public perception of the 100 year old company. It is essentially a piece that states "oops, we screwed up, not all our fault, please don't hate us, and buy our cars". They say this while displaying numerous patriotic images of American ingenuity and GM heritage video. It certainly makes you feel as if GM is serious about fixing itself and makes you feel darn good to be an American at the same time. Remind me to hire this ad agency for when I run for president in 2020 (write me in). Of course, such an ad is designed to promote the US auto company while making folks feel a little guilty and perhaps treasonous if they purchase a vehicle that is not American.

Kia recently released an ad that has been playing online and is set to play in movie theatres across the country that pokes fun at GM's little advertisement. The ad is promoting the new Kia Forte, a formidable vehicle, and definitely caught my attention. It features similar tone of voice, music, images, and mood. Something tells me Kia wants to start an ad war to drum up publicity for its new small car.

So is this genius marketing or a low blow by the Korean competitor? Take a look for yourself and tell me what you think.

GM Reinvention

Kia Forte

Transformers! Amigos in Disguise

So if you are one of those people who worry about what Halloween costume you will wear months before the holiday look no further. This video displays an awesome Bumblebee outfit from the movie Transformers. I was impressed with the advanced CGI and special effects in Michael Bay's film but this blew me away! Apparently this was done as a promotion by a Chevrolet dealership in Mexico. Watch the video below and be prepared to think "how can I do that". Like the movies or not it is safe to say these amigos have got some talent.

If God drove a Car...

So the guy upstairs is likely not in immediate need of four wheeled transport. Some people in this world envy that and I am sure he is quite content with his situation. Perhaps something that could even make the almighty drool with envy, however, is the new Aston Martin One-77. It is the most beautiful, awe striking, intimidating vehicle I have ever seen. The design is a magnificent blend of form and function. From its air intakes integrated into the bumper and frame to its long, low, and aggressive stance. This thing is almost as beautiful as the stars above (but I would never take that away from him).

Coming in at 1.25 million USD, the hand built One-77 is certainly exclusive enough for even the finest of customers as it is the most expensive new car ever save for the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport which came in at 2.2 million. Still, I would take the Aston Martin over the Veyron any day as it is simply that awe inspiring.

Beneath the hood (which happens to be gold plated underneath for heat control) rests a 7.3 liter V12 that is said to put out over 750 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque. This should be more than enough to hit 60 mph in under 3 seconds. The power to roast any Lamborghini or Ferrari currently in production today? Check! The power to bend space and time? Maybe.

Of course, this being an Aston Martin, the fit and finish is impeccable inside and out as attention to detail is clear. The interior is two tone done right and has been set up to truly make the driver feel as if they are in a cockpit rather than a car. A luxurious cockpit which I am sure promises to offer all the amenities you would expect in a fine automobile.

Yes I do imagine the big guy would be quite pleased driving this car. While it may not have the power to create lightning, it certainly can bring the thunder. (Kashiga Kashiga)

If you would like to hear a bit of that thunder just play the video below and if you listen closely you may just hear the choir of angels.

Memories of Old Blue: Brake Check

Old Blue. An uncreative yet totally deserving nickname of my first ride. A 1975 Ford F-100 with a bullet proof 300 cube straight six. While the drivetrain may have been bullet proof, the brakes, had seen better days.

I always heard stories of peoples brakes going out and I often wondered what they did when such a horrific event happened. What would I do? I used to think it would be wise to throw the vehicle into park. Upon gaining greater mechanical knowledge I learned two things about this philosophy. 1) Most vehicles today have a nifty feature that prohibit this to prevent complete idiots from blowing apart their transmission. 2) I did not want to test whether or not my vehicle had this feature in fear of becoming one of those idiots and blowing apart my transmission. Another logical way to deal with such even would be to throw the emergency brake. That is why it exists right?

So of course the next part of the story has to be when my brakes failed. I was sitting in traffic in my high school parking lot when my brake pedal completely hit the floor and my truck started surging forward. My truck, mind you, idled like it had a high performance camshaft in it. If you cannot imagine the sound think of a dragster at the starting line sounding like it is either about to die or blast off. The funny thing about my truck was that it did not have any such camshaft installed. It simply was run down and idled rough. This makes it even more entertaining when you have no brakes as the rough idle will pull the vehicle forward at a comical intermittent pace at idle.

As I sat in the traffic jam with my truck rocking back and forth I began pumping my brakes feverishly to stop the big truck. I then stretched my foot out to hit the E-Brake when I remembered the flaw with my second plan shall my brakes ever fail. The emergency brake in my truck had not worked since the day I bought it. I then resorted to getting out of the lot by switching my truck between neutral and drive all while pumping up my brakes to save any pressure I might have left.

Two miles later I somehow made it home without plowing into anyone or running the 3 stop signs between school and the house. A replaced master cylinder later and I was stopping like a champ. I was truly blessed that day for losing them when I did. Had I been doing 35 mph on a busy road I would have been in serious trouble.

Hate to Love it but Kia has got SOUL!

Who would have thought people would have the desire to drive a vehicle that is essentially a box on wheels? After Scion brought the little xB to America in 2004 it seems every automaker is following suit with a little box of their own. Nissan recently released the funky Cube and now Kia has the SOUL. Of all the "box cars" I have to say the new Kia has really grown on me.

From a pure design perspective it works. The side profile draws you in instantly as the rake is reversed from the norm. This "reverse wedge" design has always appealed to me as I loved the effect it had on the redesigned 2002 Ford Thunderbird. While it may look like an aerodynamic nightmare, the SOUL is no slouch in the wind tunnel as it still achieves up to 31 mpg on the highway.

Perhaps my favorite angle of the SOUL is from the rear. The wide rear pillars and vertical tail lights make room for a rear hatch devoid of any extra lights or panels that are not needed. The simple design reminds me of a bank vault which is strong, safe, and somewhere many of us will never be in. What could be more exciting than that?

On the inside everything seems to be laid out in a very functional manner. For a car that starts at just a hair over $13,000 the interior will make you feel as if you spent much more. Like its exterior, it is a funky yet functional design which can be optioned out with all the tech goodies you would expect in a car today. Not to say that it is the nicest interior in the world because it most certainly is not. What I am saying is that unlike many other economy cars it does not feel like you have been thrown into the penalty box when you slide behind the wheel.

The get up and go factor is delivered via a 1.6 liter or 2.0 liter 4 cylinder. While neither will pin you to the back of the seat from brute acceleration they are adequate for daily driving. That being said the 2.0 liter may be a better bet for those who would like to pass a semi on the interstate without feeling the need to say an Our Father and Three Hail Mary's.

Kia has amazed me over the past 10 years in continually improving its products. The more unique models introduced such as the Soul the better for business. Efficient, high quality, affordable vehicles that don't make you yawn when you see them on the road? Maybe a few other automakers should take note of this strategy as it seems to sell cars.

What were they thinking?

When I heard Nissan was coming out with a competitor to the Scion Xb "box car" I was interested. Perhaps this design revolution of putting four wheels on a brick was taking off. I personally have driven both generations of the Scion Xb and while not my favorite, I must admit is a pretty good little car with ample interior room if you can get past the odd styling.

Nissan announced a few years back it would bring the Cube to the US as it was previously popular in foreign markets. The Cube starts at a hair under $14,000 and offers a lot of standard safety features, tech goodies, and "unique" styling all while delivering 30 mpg on the highway. Of course, when I say unique styling, I mean hideous. I am all for creative design but when I look at the Cube I don't know how anyone can think it is attractive. Nissan has definitely taken things too far as the Cube looks like a poorly made toy car. If the exterior hurts your eyes, don't fret. Slide behind the wheel and take a gander at the optional shag carpet dash and all your worries will go away...

Styling is subjective. What do you think?

Chevy Volt: 230 MPG!

For those of you have been living under a rock for the past year let me catch you up. In 2007, General Motors unveiled a concept vehicle by the name of Chevrolet Volt that promised to change the automotive world forever. It uses both gas and electricity to propel itself, yet, is not like your typical hybrid. Your typical hybrid has a battery pack on board that is charged by the engine and to a certain extent braking. The Chevrolet Volt can be charged in these ways as well, but, that is where the similarities end.

According to Chevrolet, 75% of U.S. citizens commuting needs can be met by the Volt without using a single drop of gas. How you might ask? The Volt is actually what is know as a "plug in hybrid". Park your car overnight, plug it into a wall outlet, and you will be able to drive up to 40 miles using the lithium-ion battery pack alone. Should you exceed the 40 mile range a small gas engine will switch on charging the battery to keep you going. The gasoline engine actually never powers the wheels in this car making the proper term for it a generator as it is simply generating electricity.

So where did 230 miles per gallon come from? That number, which GM has been teasing over the past week via Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook, is a result of the EPA deciding on a standard test for measuring plug in vehicles' efficiency. As you can imagine, GM may be the first to the plug in party, but certainly not the last requiring the EPA to set up a standard quick. While the specifics of the test were not mentioned as of yet, the results for "real world city driving" were a spectacular 230 miles to a single gallon of gas. If that number does not sell a car I don't know what will.

The Volt is scheduled for production as a 2011 model, likely entering showrooms in late 2010. It's price tag is said to come in around $40,000 and looks to offer all the normal creature comforts you would expect in an automobile. The only difference you will notice is a much smaller bill at the gas pump.

Chevrolet Volt concept displayed at the 2007 North American International Auto Show

Memories of "Old Blue"

We all have that special memory. For some it may be joyful, others horror. For me it is a mixture of the two. When I was 15 years old I purchased my first vehicle. It was big, loud, smelly, and most everyone agreed ugly. To me it was a thing of beauty. Something I had worked hard for and something that could take me anywhere I wanted to go (like gas pump to gas pump). This first vehicle was a 1975 Ford F-100. It had a 300 cubic inch inline-6 and a whole lot of "charm". Shortly after its purchase the rusty old floor boards and cab mounts were replaced and a much needed power steering pump installed. I was king of the world all while doing 0-60 in about 15 seconds as these beasts were never known for speed. This minor detail was a huge comfort to my mother I'm sure.

For the most part I left the trucks internals fairly stock in its first year under my ownership save for the removal of the glass-pack muffler and the addition of a proper Flowmaster exhaust. Some would say this brought the truck down from a 10 to an 8 on the "redneck scale". Nothing made me smile more than pulling into my high school parking lot with all the kids driving their "2 fast 2 furious" rides staring me down. Turns out my trucks exhaust note was drowning out the sound of their Folger's coffee-can exhaust which they all claimed added "like 30 horsepower bro". Sure they had fuel injection, airbags, and brakes (more on that another day). But I was driving something truly unique. It was something I worked hard for and no one could convince me it was not "cool". Sometimes I wish I could go back and tell my 16 year old self I never was, and never will be "cool", but I suppose that would have ruined all the fun.

So tell me. What was your first ride?

Memory lane: What happened to Lincoln?

Sorting through old pictures from the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit I came across a concept I had forgotten. Cobo hall was full of spectacular vehicles on that cold and rainy day yet the Lincoln MkR was perhaps my favorite. It is positively one of the most handsome concepts to wear a Lincoln badge, ever. So why is it that in 2009 we are not seeing anything like this on the road?



Lincoln has been in a constant identity crisis since the 1970's as it has never truly settled on what kind of car brand it would like to be. Originally, it was meant to be the best of the best that the Ford Motor Company had to offer. It was supposed to mean something when you drove a Lincoln much like it does when you drive a BMW or Mercedes today. Lincoln then fell into the trap of rebadging base Ford vehicles while offering little more than its logo, grill, and trim pieces to differentiate between say its Lincoln Town Car from a Ford Crown Victoria.



Fast forward to 2007 where Lincoln made an attempt to change things by showing off what its idea of the new Lincoln would become. If every Lincoln had the attitude and passion behind the MkR the masses would surely forget the past mistakes and buy like crazy. The concept had a powerful twin turbo motor which, in credit to the Ford Motor Company, has made it under the hood of the Lincoln MkS sedan. The MkS, mind you, is presumably what the MkR was supposed to be. While the engine made it, the original and exciting exterior design seems to have been lost in translation. Sure the new Lincoln MkS looks fine and is a good performing car. Unfortunately, so is the Ford Taurus which shares the same platform and costs a lot less. If the Ford Motor Company wants me to shell the extra cash for the Lincoln logo they need to wake up and realize that the only way to achieve this is to make a better product for their "luxury" brand. GM has figured it out with Cadillac as is evident by the new CTS. Why not Lincoln?












2009 Lincoln MkS

Which would you rather drive?

Is Tesla for real?

Over the last several years I have been following what was a small Silicon Valley start up whose intent and purpose is to bring electric vehicles to the masses. In the past, many of these ventures have yielded vehicles that are extremely over priced with little or no hope of ever competing with today's automobiles. It was Tesla's duty to break the world free of the thought that electric cars could be nothing more than over priced or over sized golf-carts which could not be driven over 30 miles. I am often reminded of Chrysler's GEM cars when I think of why the public has such a hard time taking EV's seriously.

Tesla seemed to hit it out of the park on paper. While its $100,000 price tag seems high to most of us, this is an attractive price for a high performance roadster capable of reaching 60 mph in less than four seconds with the ability to travel over 240 miles on electricity alone. Building a car that has never been built before is hard and expensive work. This is the first company to seriously commit to using Li-Ion batteries (the advanced cells found in you laptop and cell phone) to power the wheels as previously it was thought it could never be done at an affordable price. Tesla knew that its car could soon replace the Prius as the "green" vehicle to be seen in and the high price tag was just what they needed to raise cash for future vehicle design.

With the first car in production, Tesla wasted little time teasing its future vehicle. The recently revealed Tesla Model S promises to deliver a maximum 300 mile range and achieve 60 mph in under six seconds. What's even better is that it looks fantastic, seats at least four adults, and will start at an estimated base price of $49,900 pending a tax credit worth $7,500 from Uncle Sam. Other notable technology includes "quick charge" which charges the battery to nearly capacity in about 45 minutes. This feature allows the Model S to carry the family on cross country road trips without stopping overnight for a re-charge.

It would seem this little EV company has a lot going for it these days. It has a hot little sports car on the market that can outrun most super cars and a large sedan due in 2011 that looks to appeal to both greenies and everyday drivers alike. The future does look bright for Tesla and they are not shy about telling the world the next step for the company. Following the Model S will be a smaller car with the same range capabilities and a target price of around $30,000. If Tesla can live up to these claims, the large auto giants of the world will have been shown up by a little EV company out of California. It seems I am not the only one to take notice as Daimler has rushed to get a piece of the action.

Goodbye Diesel?

A recent report by pickuptrucks.com has got my attention as of late. It turns out they have uncovered a future engine program that could potentially put an end to the need for diesel engines. The reason we use diesel in the states is primarily to power large trucks as the high power output enables them to do more work at higher efficiency. Recently, America has learned from our neighbors across the pond (Europe) and started to adopt the idea of using small diesels with efficiency in mind for cars. The TDI Volkswagen Jetta gets 42 mpg highway for example. The "problem" with diesel engines is that the EPA and many "green minded" folk do not particularly like the emissions they spew from the tailpipe and thus extremely expensive and complicated smog reducing equipment must be installed on every vehicle. So complicated that they sometimes roll off the assembly line with hilarious results as witnessed by Ford's "thermic event" issue. (Don't worry, if you pass by on of these on the road your paint should be safe as the problem has been solved.)

The future engine is code named "Bobcat" and it is essentially Ford's new 5.0 liter V8 with twin turbos, direct injection, and direct ethanol injection. The last part of injecting ethanol into the cylinders is what should grab your attention, as without it, the motor is nothing more than an eco-boost V8. With all crazy tech jargon aside, the end result is a huge power output from a relatively small engine. The current 6.4 liter diesel V8 from Ford produces a whopping 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The 5.0 liter gas V8 with the new ethanol injection tech is said to be able to produce over 500 hp and 750 lb-ft of torque. All of this power with higher fuel efficiency and no need for expensive emissions equipment that modern diesels require. The real question in my mind, however, is that if they can do this with a big V8, why not put it in a smaller 1.5 liter 4-cylinder. I wouldn't mind driving a car that puts out over 200 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque all while getting 40 mpg on the highway. Especially if the only extra work for me is to fill a small ethanol tank every so often. Sounds like too good of an idea for anyone on the engine program not to consider.

Camaro Outsells Mustang for Second Month

We all know the story. Bow-tie boys razz blue oval boys over which brand is better. My F-150 can out tow your Silverado and vice-versa. For the last several years, however, a critical debate has been missing. 2002 marked what would be the final year of the Camaro. After 35 years of continuous production it simply could not keep up in the sales department when compared to the Ford Mustang. The reasons for this are many. I personally like to credit Ford with producing a less expensive and more attractive pony car. Let's be honest, a muscle car should not look like a Dodge Stratus from any distance. Even with its dull looks, the Camaro at the time arguably was the better car. It had a much stronger engine lineup and suspension in comparison to the Mustang. Unfortunately, for Chevrolet and Camaro fans world-wide, the people chose the Mustang.



After seven years the Camaro is finally back on the roads. This is a positive for both Mustang and Camaro drivers as both cars will certainly get better from the increased competition. Pick or choose which car looks the best today. Both are 1960's inspired, a throwback to the glory years in muscle car history. The current model year Camaro undoubtedly has the better engine lineup with its 304 horse V-6 and 426 horse V8 compared to the Mustangs pathetic 210 horse V6 and smooth yet long in the tooth 315 horse V8. With killer looks and plenty of "go" it is no wonder the Camaro has outsold the Mustang for the past two months. The question is how long will it last? Perhaps the arrival of an all new engine lineup in the Ford Mustang for the 2011 model year will tilt sales back to Ford? I argue that sales will begin to swing in the Mustang's favor by September as the initial die hard Camaro fans will have their vehicles nestled in their garage.



July Camaro sales = 9,320










July Mustang sales = 7,113