Speed Blogger

Chevrolet Camaro

The latest of the reincarnated American muscle cars, the Chevy Camaro dispenses with the 1990s-era cheese-ball styling in favor of a muscular homage to the 1966 original. The Camaro has two engine options and five styles, ranging from the 306-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 LS ($22,680) to the top-of-the-line 426-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 2SS ($33,745).

Both engines are impressive, but the V8, which can be had for as little as $30,745 in the 1SS, is without a doubt the current champ of the horsepower-per-dollar competition. And unlike muscle cars of yore, the Camaro can actually hold itself together in the twists and turns, and has a sporty, high-tech interior that no longer screams



Dodge Challenger

The arrival of the Chevy Camaro has tempered the buzz about the Dodge Challenger in recent months, but the Challenger is evidence that parent company Chrysler can still build one hell of a muscle car. The top-end SRT8, at $43,655 is a bit pricey to be included in this article, and the 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 base-trim SE ($23,460) is, believe it or not, a bit weak for a modern muscle car with its zero-to-60-mph time of around eight seconds. But the midrange R/T version is a reasonable $31,585 and comes with a heavy-duty 372-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8, powerful enough to hit 60 mph in less than six seconds. When it comes to style, the Challenger is retro-cool on the outside, but bland as dry toast on the inside. Still, this may be the most exciting (if not the last) muscle car out of the Dodge brand for the foreseeable future, since Chrysler's new owner, Fiat, may not be as interested in big, heavy, V8 rumblers like this one.

Nissan 370Z

Consider this: A Porsche Cayman has a 265-horsepower 2.9-liter 6-cylinder engine, does zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and costs $51,400. A Nissan 370Z has a 332-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, does zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and starts at $29,930.

The Porsche's engine is obviously more efficient, but we're willing to rile the Stuttgart purists and say that the Z gives you Porsche-like performance at a 20 grand discount. Plus, the Z offers an optional SynchroRev Match manual tranny that blips the revs for smooth downshifts at speed and an angry-looking exterior that will scare the lederhosen off of most German yuppie speedsters.

Subaru Impreza

Subaru's rally-bred Impreza WRX has always been a noisy, undisciplined tin can of a car, but its raw athleticism has always turned what would be drawbacks in any other vehicle into virtues. The current iteration somehow seems a bit less visceral; the hood scoops and spoilers are still there, but are less egregiously in your face. The WRX's mechanics have not been tamed; this is still a tremendously powerful and capable car. The $25,995 base hatchback has a 265-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and Subaru's grippy, symmetrical all-wheel-drive[LINK to AWD article] system. A bump up to the $34,995 STI variant ups the output of the turbo 2.5 engine to 305 horses and throws in Brembo brakes and a driver-controlled center differential to distribute power between the front and rear wheels. Still, at 35 large, you start longing for a bit more refinement on the inside.


BMW 1 Series
Think of it as the weird little sibling to the more popular and well-known BMW 3-Series. The BMW 1-Series is essentially four vehicles (two coupes, two convertibles) running two versions of the same engine (a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder; one version is turbocharged, the other isn't). The only one that can be defined as "cheap" speed with a straight face is the nonturbocharged 230-horse 128i Coupe, which costs $29,000. Like all 1-Series cars, it is built with many of the same structural bits and pieces as the larger 3-Series, but it definitely has the look and feel of a smaller car, with steering and handling that are tight as a drum and an engine that is smooth and confident. The weirdness comes from the vehicle's oddball exterior — the last vestiges of the controversial styling of BMW's now-retired designer Christopher Bangle — with a bubble top and sheet-metal creases that have their own bizarre logic. The view from the outside is love-it-or-hate-it, but the feeling behind the wheel is likely to be unanimously positive.


Honda Civic

The Civic has a long history with the 4-cylinder mini-hot-rod crowd; the cheap, easy-to-modify compact cars have been favorites of the fast-and-furious crowd for years. And for those who want a little hotness without swapping out parts, Honda offers the factory tuner Civic Si (the coupe starts at $22,055; the sedan starts at $200 more). With its 197-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, the Si isn't too fast off the line, but the engine starts delivering rewards in the high rpm range. Plus, the Si is an incredible bargain, and it holds onto corners like a champ, so pointing it at some twisties instead of an interstate will slap a smile on your frugal face.
Source:MSN.com

The 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe will go on sale in the U.S. for $132,800, with the Cabriolet costing $143,800. Sales for the two models will begin on January 30, with test drives at dealerships beginning this week.

Those prices are up from 2009 model year pricing, when the 911 Turbo Coupe cost $130k, and the drop-top retailed for $140,700.

As a coupe, the 911 Turbo can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds when using the PDK seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 500-horsepower flat-six boxer engine generates up to 516 ft-lb of torque, and gets the two models to a 194 mph top speed. Fuel economy is up, with the 911 Turbo getting 17 mpg in the city, and 25 mpg highway.
Source:WorldCarFans

BMW has confirmed that an Activehybrid concept model of the new 2011 5 Series (F10) will appear at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. European sales are expected to begin shortly thereafter but there is currently no confirmation as to whether the US, a hybrid hotbed, is on the list or not.

Another version not likely to reach US dealerships is the Touring (station wagon). Figures show that fewer than 1,000 previous E60 generation 5 Series Touring models were sold in America last year.

"I don't think we will sell it because in the past, station wagons have not sold well," said Klaus Draeger, BMW AG board member for Research and Development. The addition of the quirky 5 Series Gran Turismo has also thrown a spanner in the works for a buying public that is exposed to an ever-increasing choice of models.

Initially only the 535i and 550i will be available at launch in June. The former has a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six engine worth 225kW (306hp) and 400Nm. The 550i boasts a twin turbo V8 pushing out 300kW (408hp) and 600Nm of torque.

Price increases over the old car are probably inevitable but if they do occur they will be kept to a miminum because of the hard-hit market, according to a BMW executive.

Source: worldcarfans.com

Nissan Motorsports International (NISMO) has announced that it has signed a deal with two teams for the FIA GT1 World Championship series in which the R35 GT-R will compete in 2010.

The R35 GT-R will be raced by the Sumo Power GT team from the UK as well as the Swiss Racing Team. Further details, such as the driver lineup, will be released later on.

The GT-R is a rear-wheel drive GT1 racer and comes with a naturally aspirated 5.6-liter VK56DE V8 engine tuned to 600 hp and 650 Nm of torque. It is fitted with a 6-speed transmission from Ricardo by way of a carbon triple-plate clutch and grips the ground with 18-inch x 13-inch forged wheels by Rays.

NISMO released the photos published here along with the press release.

Nissan's participation in FIA GT1 racing has been in the works for some time. Last year it tested the GT-R in several GT1 races. Now, they seem ready for the real competition.

Source: World Car Fans

British racing and sports car builder Ginetta has introduced its newest car, the Ginetta G40. The 850-kilogram car uses a 1.8-liter Zetec engine from Ford that typically produces about 150 horsepower.

However, the engine was reportedly modified, and the exact specs were not released by Ginetta.

Introduced at Autosport International in Birmingham, England, the G40 is optimized for racing. It has crash zones at the front and back, side impact bars, and a roll cage the company claims is "50 times stronger than minimum 2009 FIA homologation regulations."

"We debuted both the G50 and the G50Z at the exhibition and I'm delighted that Autosport visitors have had the first ever glimpse of Ginetta's stunning new car," said Ginetta chair Lawrence Tomlinson. "The G40 is the most versatile road and race car on the market today - with safety features that exceed all FIA regulations."

The Ginetta G40 will be produced in an initial run of 26 units. The car will retail for £24,950.

Source: World Car Fans

Revenge says it will be powered by a 400-horsepower Hp2g Hybrid engine that runs on E85 plus "its own recharge energy" and will feature "magnetically driven pistons," netting the supercar an alleged 100 mpg at the pumps. Oh, and it'll be available late this year for $190,000 in "American and European markets." If you're not into the top-secret engine scene, you can have your Revenge (no pun) with Ford or Chevrolet power. The car will use General Motors' 631-horsepower V8 (as found in the Corvette ZR-1) as well as a 605-horsepower crate engine courtesy of Ford and Roush Industries.

Regardless of your engine choice, you can pick either a conventional 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed sequential paddle shift from Master Shift, and your supercar will have either a 3.7:1 rear end or a 3.5:1 unit, which company President and CEO Peter Collorafi says will propel the car to a top speed of 240 mph. Oh, and the car will run purely on unicorn dreams and be capable of space travel. OK, that last part wasn't true (just our way of saying, "What?"). But is any of this?

The body is carbon fiber, and the doors, hood and trunk are made from aluminum. Despite that, the new supercar weighs a portly 3,500 pounds. The supercar does in fact feature Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. Those stoppers will be nestled behind massive 20-by-9-inch and 20-by-12-inch black chrome aluminum wheels, which are in turn wrapped with 255/35R20 and 305/35R20 rubber.

Source: MSN

Chevrolet is supplying the Indianapolis 500 with a 2010 Camaro SS as a pace car. Unveiled ahead of the 2010 event which is taking place at the Brickyard on May 30, the Inferno Orange metallic muscle car will mark the sixth time a Camaro has paced the 100 year-old 500 since its debut in 1967.

"We've enjoyed a great partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the years," said Jim Campbell, General Manager, Chevrolet, "and are proud to once again have the privilege of pacing the Indianapolis 500 in a Camaro."

It comes with a stock 6.2-litre V8 engine making 400hp. Accessories include an all-new front grille insert that Chevrolet plans to offer as a future Camaro accessory, 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo badges on front fenders, amber lens tail lamps, and 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo painted on the doors and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests.

"Chevrolet has done it again with the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS Pace Car, it is simply beautiful," said Jeff Belskus, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation. "The car's tribute to ‘500' history and its sports car feel will be a big hit with our fans, and it will look great leading the Indianapolis 500 field on Race Day."

The successful new Camaro has been selling around 6,000 units per month for the past six months.



Source: General Motors via World Car Fans