Saturday, July 31, 2010

CTS-V Vs. RS5 Vs. M3

Motor Trend compares the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Audi RS5 and BMW M3 Coupe

Friday, July 30, 2010

Car Wallpaper Series I

Some car wallpaper for you guys to use. Dimensions in 1280x800.

California, 911, LP560, Viper
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8C
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Mugen Si
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S2000
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GT-R
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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Jay Leno's Garage: Porsche GT3

Jay Leno and Justin Bell talk about the GT3, Justin test drives the GT3 and visits Patrick Long at the ALMS race at Laguna Seca.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Toyota FT-86 Set to Launch Nov. 2011



The FT-86 is set to launch next year Nov. 2011, contrary to popular belief that Toyota put it on hold or were scrapping it all together. I for one am really excited about this car. A Toyota.....

During a press conference related to the new G performance division, Toyota revealed that the FT-86 model’s development is going according to plan, as 7Tune reports.

This means that the long-awaited car will be released ahead of the media reports-suggested date (2013), being set to hit the market in November next year.

In addition to that, Toyota has confirmed the all-important element that can make the difference between a history books vehicle and just another go-fast coupe: the pricing. The new car will come with a wide range of prices, depending on its spec. The middle-of-the-pack FT-86 will set you back about $29,000. This means that an entry-level version will be available for around $20,000, making the car affordable for a vast public that hasn’t got a strong financial background to support the desire for a sportscar.

Toyota is also offering enthusiasts a huge relief, as the company said that the coupe will not include any hybrid technology, staying true to the sports car spirit. Tree-huggers will be pleased too, as Toyota is currently also working on a hybrid performance vehicle.

As for the car’s design, this will remain virtually unchanged (is it just us, or is it raining good news?). To be more precise, the Japanese automotive producer made it clear that the coupe could use new parts (this refers to items like modified body panels) but it will keep its overall shape.


quoted article

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 5

Top Gear, episode 5 released.

Amazing episode after what seemed to be a somewhat disappointing season.
- Captain Slow attempts to become Captain Fast in the Veyron SS
- Hammond drives the new Touareg in the Arctic Circle
- Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz drive the Reasonably Priced car.
- Great segment on Ayrton Senna

download here on 720p

or go to finalgear.com

Monday, July 26, 2010

2010 German Grand Prix



Massa should have won.

Race Report

Results
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts
1 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 67 1:27:38.864 2 25
2 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 67 +4.1 secs 3 18
3 5 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 67 +5.1 secs 1 15
4 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 67 +26.8 secs 6 12
5 1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 67 +29.4 secs 5 10
6 6 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 67 +43.6 secs 4 8
7 11 Robert Kubica Renault 66 +1 Lap 7 6
8 4 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 66 +1 Lap 9 4
9 3 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 66 +1 Lap 11 2
10 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault 66 +1 Lap 13 1
11 23 Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari 66 +1 Lap 12
12 9 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 66 +1 Lap 8
13 10 Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 66 +1 Lap 10
14 22 Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari 66 +1 Lap 14
15 17 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 66 +1 Lap 15
16 15 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 65 +2 Laps 21
17 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 65 +2 Laps 19
18 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 64 +3 Laps 23
19 21 Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth 63 +4 Laps 20
Ret 19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 56 Accident damage 18
Ret 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 50 Suspension 24
Ret 20 Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 19 Mechanical 22
Ret 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 3 Gearbox 17
Ret 16 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1 Accident damage 16

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Back to the Future?

Subaru decides to bring back the iconic Sti sedan for 2011
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autoblog does a review
By most accounts, something went awry while Subaru was baking the last generation Impreza WRX STI. Maybe someone slipped in an extra cup of civility or forgot to add enough dashes of hardcore, but what was once little more than a thinly-disguised rally stage escapee had come out of the oven a little weaker than its predecessor. Subaru itself diplomatically admits that the priorities for the last generation STI were somewhat different from the 2011 model. The company stripped the line down to just the five-door hatchback in 2008, stressing functionality over style, and the whole recipe simply felt less focused than what we had come to expect from Japan's all-wheel drive hero.

But that was then, and this is now. The company assures us that for 2011, we can expect a return to the fundamentals that helped establish the STI as a force to be reckoned with. Though the drivetrain remains unchanged, a slew of suspension adjustments and a lower stance have given the STI the ability to hoover up tarmac and gravel stages indiscriminately once again. It isn't a completely new generation – more like a much needed do-over – but the changes are enough to make the 2011 model instantly recognizable from behind the wheel.

If that's not enough to convince you, allow us to direct your attention to the rear of the resurrected four-door body style, dominated once again by the kind of spoiler that could double as a civil engineering exercise. Yeah, baby. The STI is back, and on more than just a wing and a prayer.

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read full article here

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Tesla Roadster mocks others



hint: look at the license plate

Monday, July 19, 2010

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 4



- Jeremy compares the Audi R8 Spyder against the 911 turbo convertible
- Jeremy, James and Hammond go caravaning
- The Stig still hates Rubens and gets paid in porn.

download here in 720p

or go to finalgear.com

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The Forgotten Ferrari F50


original article on jalopnik

It’s got an F1-sourced V-12. It’s rarer than an F40 or an Enzo. So why is the F50 the unloved middle child in Ferrari’s line of hypercars?

I just can’t put my finger on it. Some say it’s simply not as hard-core as the F40 was. The lunatics! Sure, it doesn’t have the punch-you-in-the-face-‘till-your-nose-bleeds twin-turbo V8 of its predecessor. Instead, Maranello put a V-12 in it, developed from the company's 1990 641 F1 car. In fact, the Italians sourced most of the F50 from that car. (The rest is probably from a Fiat Ducato.) Some also say it just wasn’t as advanced for its time as the Enzo in 2002. Wrong again. Everything Ferrari knew in the first half of the ‘90s is in the F50. And they knew quite a lot.

Soft? Compared to what? A group of Hellfire rockets aimed at your kitchen table?

I’m starting to blame Pininfarina. Maybe it’s simply the fact that the F50 is not as pretty as the F40 or the Enzo. Like me, the F40 turns 23 this year. But while I’m gaining weight due to intense beer consumption, the F40 remains slim, light, and beautiful. Like Sophia Loren, it's aging very well.

How about the Enzo? It took me about a year to understand it after it came out, but time has passed. Believe it or not, the Enzo is eight years old. Hard to believe, as it was so ahead of its time. If it was introduced this year, no one would be complaining about the design. The Enzo is like a bottle of vodka. It just doesn’t, you know, go off.

The F50 is almost four times as rare as the F40. Only 349 were ever made, which makes it even rarer than the Enzo. Yet a good one won’t cost you more than an F40 in similar condition. So is it really just the looks? Must be. What else?

In their February 2004 issue, the staff of Evo magazine voted the F50 the best Ferrari supercar in their 288 GTO vs. F40 vs. F50 vs. Enzo group test. The F50 has even made it to seventh place on the magazine's Top 100 Driver’s Cars list. Again, way ahead of the F40 or the Enzo.

It must be a fantastic car. No question about it. What's wrong with it? Nothing.

Don't like it? Give me yours. Really. It's no trouble. If you want, you can even pay me to take it off your hands.

BullRun Rally 2010: Day 4

Day 4 of the BullRun Rally

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

BullRun Rally 2010: Days 1-3

Matt Farah and the Smoking Tire Team go on the BullRun Rally 2010. They have already started their journey. Days 1-3 have already been posted.

Day 1




Watch Day 2

Watch Day 3


New Sections Added

I have added new, About the Editor and Car Wallpaper sections in the navbar below the title. I hope I am slowly improving this blog for the better and will continue to post updates on anything related to cars as often as I can. New sections will later be added.

Eimantas

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 3



Another great episode by the Top Gear crew.
- Jeremy, James and Hammond compare the Maserati Quattroporte, Aston Martine Rapide and Porsche Panamera Turbo
- Rubens Barrichello and Rupert Grint stop by for a visit.
- Hammond compares the new Camaro SS to the new Merc E63 AMG.


or go to finalgear.com to get other versions or episodes

Monday, July 12, 2010

2010 British Grand Prix



Kobayashi continues to amaze and Webber does not back down.

1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1h24:38.200
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 1.360
3. Rosberg Mercedes + 21.307
4. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 21.986
5. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 31.456
6. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 32.171
7. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 36.734
8. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 40.932
9. Schumacher Mercedes + 41.599
10. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth + 42.012
11. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes + 42.459
12. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 47.627
13. Petrov Renault + 59.374
14. Alonso Ferrari + 1:02.385
15. Massa Ferrari + 1:07.489
16. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth + 1 lap
17. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 1 lap
19. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
20. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps

DNF
Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 45
De la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 30
Kubica Renault 20
Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 10

full article on autosport

911 Speedster on the way?





from autoexpress.co.uk

TALK about a speed hump! A leaked document detailing Porsche’s product plans until the end of 2012 has revealed that the 911 Speedster is set to make a comeback. And our exclusive image shows how the style-
conscious two-seater could look.

Following hot on the heels of other recent retro-inspired special editions, such as the 911 Sport Classic and Boxster Spyder, the Speedster resurrects a legendary name not seen since the early Nineties. That model was the 964 Speedster which appeared in 1989 – a low-roof cabrio with unusual rear bodywork inspired by the
356 Speedster of the Fifties. Exactly 936 examples were built in standard and wide-body styles – a relatively short production run – and the modern incarnation will be an even rarer beast. Only 100 units will be produced, making it one of the most exclusive and distinctive Porsches ever to turn a wheel.

As you can see from our picture, the classic Speedster silhouette will be retained, albeit with a modern twist. The cut-down windscreen and wider bodywork add to the 911’s already low-slung appearance, while the oversize rear humps give the Speedster its signature shape and ensure it’s strictly a two-seater. Much like the Boxster Spyder’s tent-like canvas roof, a semi-permanent fabric hood is likely to be available – hence the red hoops you can see protruding from the bodywork.

Power will come from the same 3.8-litre flat-six as is used in the 911 Sport Classic. It’s based on the Carrera S unit, but engineers will liberate an extra 17bhp to take peak power to 402bhp. Performance-wise, expect the Speedster to live up to its name: 0-62mph will take around 4.5 seconds while a maximum of 190mph is possible. Rear-wheel drive and a limited-slip differential will ensure traditional Porsche handling, too.

However, exclusivity, excitement and a slice of the marque’s heritage won’t come cheap. Our sources say the Speedster is likely to nudge £200,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

And it’s not the only limited-edition model that Porsche is cooking up. A wide-bodied GTS version of the 911 is also due to go on sale next year. Featuring the Speedster’s more powerful 402bhp engine, it will come in both coupĂ© and cabriolet variants costing around £80,000 and £90,000 respectively.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Gran Turismo 5, Coming in November

The wait is finally over, Gran Turismo will finally be released in November. This may well be the most anticipated racing game ever. November 2, 2010 is the date.



Taken from NY Times Article
Yes, there’s another Gran Turismo 5 trailer. But the good news this time is that it also comes with a firm release date.

At the E3 Expo gaming convention in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sony announced that the latest version of its popular driving simulator series, Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation 3, will hit stores in North America on Nov. 2.

“GT5 has long been one of the industry’s long anticipated titles,” said Jack Tretton, president and chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, at a news conference. “And we’re finally about to get our hands on Polyphony’s masterpiece.”

It has been five years since the release of Gran Turismo 4, an eternity in the video game life cycle. There have been release dates announced before. Last fall, Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the series and president of Polyphony, which develops the game for Sony, said Gran Turismo 5 would be released this March, but then Sony in January announced a delay.

At E3, Sony has gone as far as providing pricing details on a limited collector’s edition of Gran Turismo 5, to be released alongside a standard edition. The collector’s edition will cost $99.95 and come with a 300-page booklet and a 1:43 scale diecast model of a 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V with the Gran Turismo livery.

Gran Turismo is one of the best-selling games for PlayStation, with more than 55 million units sold worldwide since it was first released in 1997.

In addition to the new platform — Gran Turismo 4 was made for the PlayStation 2 — the new version will feature more than 950 cars and include night racing. The latest E3 trailer also offered a few surprises, including a virtual version of the test track used in the popular British television series “Top Gear” and glimpses of the Formula One racing driver Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing.

Gran Turismo 5 is also one of several games that Sony has tapped for 3-D. In April, Taku Imasaki, the United States producer for the Gran Turismo series, spoke to GamerLive.tv about the new feature.

“This is the first time we’re implementing the 3-D feature in Gran Turismo,” Mr. Imasaki said. “For me, it adds more depth, obviously, to the visuals, so you can anticipate more on the next turn or curve, so you can therefore drive better and strategize your driving lines better.”


Gran Turismo site

Monday, July 5, 2010

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 2




The Porsche Boxster Spyder gives James May a "fizzling feeling." A new episode of Top Gear was just released. Just watched it, a lot better than the first episode and includes a "trackday car" challenge which is worth watching.

You can get it here in 720p.

or go to finalgear.com for the SD or 1080i version.