zoomvroom Car Reviews

Tougher Than Tough

In 1946, Mercedes-Benz hired several American engineers that designed the DUKW (or DUCK) trucks to build a truck that could be worked for agriculture.  They were more than happy to.  The Unimog was born.  It was originally designed to give power take-off to large forestry saws and equipment and/or large pieces of farm machinery.  It had permanent 4WD capability, equal size wheels.  This, coupled with portal axles, allowed the Unimog to travel along horrible, bombed-out roads at speeds that are still considered insane.  Due to their portal axles, their ground clearance was about 26-30 inches off the ground – stock!  Their flexible frame acts as part of the suspension.  All of this makes it just about the worst choice for a tow rig.  Yet, it still does its job very well.  Because of its unique build structure, Unimogs can easily climb boulders 1 meter high.  

Newer models can have the pedals, steering wheel, and instrument cluster moved from the left side to the right side in the field.  This allows workers to conveniently “pass the wheel to their coworkers – provided the vehicle is at a stop!”

The Unimog can be built in up to 40 different combinations!  Some of these can be a small gasoline-power engine unit that is a short wheelbase unit (common for delivery or construction) to a 40-foot, 300-horsepower monster!

Just about every military uses the Unimog – even the U.S. Marines.  Semper Fi.  Back to militaries.  Many militaries use at least one type of Unimog.  Civilians use them, as well.  Many disaster relief organizations have large fleets of Unimogs.  The Red Cross uses about 4,000 Unimogs.  Fire departments, hazardous-material transporters, utility companies, and equipment carriers.  Their capability to operate in almost any situation makes them ideal for this.  One place where you can see Unimogs is at McMurdo Station, where they bring supplies, give power, and even build!  Unimogs can easily be fitted with a backhoe, front loader, a dump bed, and even cranes.  Even the Governator has one – a 2012 U1300 diesel Unimog registered in California!

In North America, Unimogs haven’t been the most popular truck.  Part of the reason is that smog requirements for large purpose-built trucks are much different in Germany than the U.S.  Some of it also can be given to the lack of enthusiasts.  Many Unimogs that you see in North America have been imported, or were sold by the Case Corporation in the 1970s.

Unimogs are very successful in motorsport competitions – especially desert rallys.  They have won the Truck Class several times in the 1980s in the Paris-Dakar rally.  They have also won by accident – multiple times!  Their main purpose is to provide support for cars and/or motorcycles racing in the desert.

Just two years ago, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a wild Unimog concept.  It looked crazy.  But,  Mercedes-Benz said that some of that styling would make it into the new Unimog.  Some did.  The new Unimog has some of the futuristic styling, which is skillfully blended into the macho sheet metal.

Some of the new equipment that comes with the new Unimog is smart.  For example, the cab has been completely redesigned.  Now, drivers can see almost 200 degrees – in any direction!  New work and power systems allow the Unimog to be even more adept at everything it does.  The hydraulics have been redesigned from scratch.  They can now push, pull, lift, and do many more tasks.  One really neat feature about the new Unimog is the synergetic traction drive that allows the driver to change from manual mode in the transmission to hydrostatic mode while on the go.  Most trucks with features like that need to be at a complete stop for that to happen.  The biggest changes, however, are from the new engines.

The most potent engine is a massive 7.7 liter diesel that cranks out a monstrous 354 horsepower and a Herculean 885 lb-ft of torque.  Many of the engines offered on the new Unimog circulate gasses to comply with emissions standards in many countries.

This truck is not one to be messed with.  If you are in a Ford F150 SVT Raptor in the desert, and you see a Unimog, don’t challenge the driver to a race.  The Unimog will win.  By far.  It will also win rock-crawling competitions against Jeep Wranglers, mud pit contests against jacked-up pickups.  All of this will look effortless.  That’s what happens when you’ve got 57 years of experience behind you.

zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews

Retromania!

For those of you who reminisce about the days of old, when the spectacular Ford Bronco, Chevy Blazer, and Jeep CJ5 ruled the road, fear not!   You can stop worrying about these new crossovers that dominate the market.  There are still purpose-built SUV’s out there like the Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover LR4, etc.  However, if you want a hunk of classic iron, you may need to pay a bit more.  I have ranked 8 classic SUV’s that were built to drive anywhere.  I have included current market prices, and some information about them.

  1. 1960-1984 Toyota Land Cruiser.  While the Land Cruiser has gained weight, features, and technology, it still has that sense of purpose.  You can find one anywhere from Cape Town to your neighbor’s driveway.  That’s how popular the Land Cruiser was in its first iteration in the U.S.  According to Hagerty Car Insurance, the price of classic Land Cruisers has tripled in the past five years.  The current market value for a first-generation Land Cruiser will run you about $31,000.  
  2. 1958-1971 Land Rover Series II.  For almost 10 years, a Land Rover Series II was the first motorized vehicle 60% of the world had ever seen.  These old Land Rovers are so capable that no modification is usually needed/wanted.  Land Rover owners like their Land Rovers stock.  A Land Rover Series II will set you back $26,500, at current market value.
  3. 1966-1977 Ford Bronco.  Ford’s first SUV is an amazing vehicle.  It is extremely capable, yet it is able to be driven daily.  The Bronco was unique for Ford – it didn’t share ANY basic engineering/parts with any other Ford.  Those of you who own one of these old Bronco’s know how hard it used to be to get parts for these Bronco’s.  Currently, a 1966-1977 Bronco is valued at $25,250.  Not too bad, especially for something so capable and cool.
  4. 1971-1985 Land Rover Series III.  The Land Rover Series III is a much more evolved version of the Series II (look above for some information!).  They closely resemble the Series II, but DO NOT get them mixed up!  Collector values for the Series III have jumped 50% in the past three years!  The estimated value for a Land Rover Series III is $22,000.
  5. 1961-1980 International Scout.  Appreciated for its technical simplicity and overall charm, the 1961-1980 International Scout is widely regarded as America’s Land Rover Series II.  The International Scout was originally introduced as a commercial pickup before turning into what is now called an SUV.  The estimated market value is now $19,900.
  6. 1963-1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.  A precursor to the modern-day luxury SUV, like the Lexus LX460, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer was targeting those who needed more space than a CJ5, but needed the capability of a Jeep.  It sold in spades.  You can get one in iffy condition for relatively little money, but some sell for far more than the $15,750 that is the current market value.
  7. 1954-1986 Jeep CJ.  Before it became the Jeep Wrangler, it was called the Jeep CJ (Civillian Jeep).  While the original CJ5 was prone to tipping, due to its short wheelbase and high center of gravity, the CJ7 was longer – and more stable.  You can buy one for $15,450.
  8. 1969-1972 Chevrolet Blazer K-5.  The Chevrolet Blazer was based off the rugged C/K-10 pickups offered by Chevrolet and GMC.  It was built to compete with the Ford Bronco.  But, it quickly took the sales lead, thanks to creature comforts like air conditioning and a comfortable interior.  Plus, it had the same off-road capabilities as the Ford Bronco.  The Blazer is relatively affordable, with a market value of $14,400.

These are all great, relatively affordable SUVs.  If you have enough money to buy one, I recommend starting here.

zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews, The History of Autos

Questioning Cars? Don’t Question the Lamborghini Pregunta!

Many consider IT to be one of the last cars built by Lamborghini before Volkswagen bought them in 1999.  It’s now up for sale.  I’ll save you the suspense, and tell you what it is.  Car nuts like me will know what it is by the end of the first sentence.  For those of you who don’t know, the Lamborghini Pregunta was the last Lamborghini built before the Volkswagen Group took over the iconic car company in 1999.  I know, you guessed it.  Perhaps it had something to do with my transparent post title…  If you want a Pregunta, be sure to cough up 1.6 million Euros (about $2.1 million USD).

The French Exotic car dealer, Autodrome, is selling the car.  Autodrome claims that they bought the car directly from the coachbuilder who built the car in late 1998.

“Pregunta,” Spanish for “Question,” was born during an extremely turbulent time for Lamborghini.  In 1994, Chrysler had owned Lamborghini for about 9 years.  Chrysler decided that they wanted to sell the iconic company.  They did.  Megatech Group bo0ught Lamborghini.  For a year.  It was then sold to Tommy Suharto, the son of the former Indonesian president.  By 1998, Suharto was going through a large financial crisis.  Lamborghini was up for sale.  Again.  Audi stepped in and saved the day.  However, the Pregunta was born before the official handover took place.

The Pregunta was based off of the legendary Diablo, but it used rear-wheel-drive instead of all-wheel-drive.  This meant that the Pregunta was a handful to drive.  I guess that it would be, with 530 horsepower being directed to the rear wheels.  All of that gave the Pregunta a supposed top speed of 207 mph.  Inspiration for the still-controversial design came from Formula 1 and the booming aerospace industry.  It had then-new technologies like carbon-fiber construction, optical fiber lighting, and rearward-facing cameras instead of mirrors.

If you pine for a Lamborghini from the days when Lamborghini wasn’t part of the massive Volkswagen Group, the Pregunta might just be the ticket to finishing off your collection – that is, if money isn’t an issue.  It won’t be when my readers start pledging a bit more than $1.22…I think we all know who I’m talking about, right?

zoomvroom Car Reviews

Is the Jaguar F-Type Finally the Replacement for the E-Type?

This is undeniably one of the most amazing Jaguars to come out of Jaguar’s doors since the iconic E-Type ended production in 1974.  It doesn’t have the sweeping, bullet-like lines of the E-Type (Enzo Ferrari once called it the most beautiful car in the world!), but it does bring memories (fond, and not-so-fond) to owners and E-Type lovers.  Jaguar head of design, Sir Ian Callum said that the F-Type cannot top the E-Type.  It’s not nearly as iconic, beautiful, and it’s brand-new.  Basically, he tells Jaguar faithful to suck it up and get over it.  Plus, 40 years separate the Jaguar E-Type from the F-Type.  Yes, there were two stillborn attempts at an F-Type before.  They failed.  Is it possible that there will never be a successor to the E-Type?  Not now, at least.  The driving force behind the F-Type was Ratan Tata (the owner of Jaguar), founder, CEO, and owner of Tata Motorcars.  He owns an E-Type, and was insisting that a replacement be built.  Jaguar obliged.  Probably because they didn’t want to have to rebuild his E-Type every year or so (E-Types are notorious for being lemons).

The Jaguar F-Type is shorter and chunkier than other Jaguars.  Take an XK, shorten it by about a foot or so, and you’ve got a vague idea of the F-Type.  It’s about as wide as a Camaro ZL1 (greater width gives better weight distribution, balance, and room), but just over a foot shorter.  It’s low.  Like XKR-S GT low.  That’s about 1.55 inches off the ground in certain models!  There are hints of the E-Type all over.  The rear bumper?  It kinda disappears, letting you oggle the twin center tailpipes (like an E-Type), the taillights are thin, wrap-around style, with big circles in them for the brake lights (again, E-Type).

Remember those twin tailpipes?  They are for V6 models only.  Yep, a V6 Jag.  Who’d think?  The smart Jaguar engineers who gave a 3.0 liter-V6 340 horsepower!  They built a 3.0 liter V6 from scratch, gave it almost 250 horsepower, and slapped a supercharger on it.  The F-Type S version of the V6 gets an even more ridiculous 380 horsepower.  While that’s not as scary as the Nissan GT-R’s 545, it’s plenty to move this Brit along in a hurry.  For those wishing for a V8 can get one.  The V8 is the standard-issue Jaguar/Land Rover supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that has been detuned to a still-ridiculous 495 horsepower.

All F-Types send their power to the rear wheels via an 8-speed Quickshift transmission (that’s what it’s been named by Jaguar…Don’t ask!).  It’s quick, and it has no trouble in manual mode!  Yay for hoonage!

Like all new cars sold in the West, there are so many features on the F-Type that I could fall asleep just listing half of them!  There’s a few that are noteworthy:  The hood is enormous, tilts forward, piece of aluminum that encases the engine.  With the hood open, there isn’t that much to look at.  There’s simply a massive engine cover made out of plastic.  Lovely.

Jaguar says that when there are two passengers in the car, the weight distribution is 50-50.  Unloaded, it’s 52-48.  Impressive for something that weighs 3500 pounds.

In my opinion, there isn’t anything to criticize except the tiny trunk.  7.1 cubic inches is what one typically would find on a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.  If you want a $70,000 two-seat convertible, the Jaguar F-Type might just be the ticket.

Despite it’s rather modest specs, the Jaguar F-Type is NOT a car you want to race your Mustang against on a winding canyon road.  The F-Type will leave you so far behind in the dust that it’s almost funny.  It’s fast – 5.1 seconds to 60, according to Jaguar, but it corners like a Formula 1 car.  It flings itself into a corner with so much gusto that you’ll be gripping the steering wheel!  With the top down, you’ll likely be grinning like a madman.  Why?  The exhaust pops, cracks, growls, snaps, and burbles so much when you downshift it might scare pedestrians…

As good a car as the $70,000 ‘base’ F-Type is, the $81,000 V6-powered monster is the way to go.  It gives you 40 extra horsepower that aren’t really needed, 19-inch wheels, big brakes, and a plethora of items one might expect to find on car three times as expensive.  Plus, it will reach 60 in a scant 4.8 seconds.  And, Jaguar says that the transmission is still being worked on for improved shift times, and better launches.  All the better for the inner hooligan in all of us.

When you sit in the $92,000 V8-powered F-Type V-8 S you will immediately know that this trim level is a wholly different car.  When you dump 110 horsepower onto a relatively short chassis, you’ve got a handful.  This car erupts from a stop so violently that you’ll think that 4.2 seconds must be incorrect.  I know this may be a bad analogy, but it explains the different versions.  The ‘base’ F-Type is like driving a Ford Mustang GT Premium.  The S version is like driving the Ford Mustang Boss 302.  The V-8 S is like a combination between the Mustang Boss 302 version and the GT500 version.  It’s a well-handling hot rod.  Flooring the throttle will result in quite possibly the loudest blast of noise that you’ll ever hear from a British car.  It bellows, roars, screams, rumbles, cracks, and hums – all at the same time.  Then, you’ll be thrown back into your seat, the tires will squeal, and you’ll lay tire tracks for hundreds of feet.

This is it.  It’s not what E-Type lovers wanted, but it’s so much better than the styling.  It’s quite possibly one of the best British cars of the 21st Century.  How about so far?  I’ll let you decide…

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Does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 Have the Guts and Glory for America?

Remember those $30,000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sport Coupes that were super chintzy and slow from the early 2000’s?  Mercedes-Benz is diving back into that pool with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250.

This new Mercedes-Benz is based on the equally jaw-dropping Euro-spec A-Class hatchback.  But, us Americans like our sedans with graceful, elegant lines.  So, Mercedes-Benz took the A-Class and turned it into a lovely small sedan.  Of course, when something makes your knees weak when you see it should tell anybody over 6 feet that they won’t want to be in the backseat!  According to Motor Trend‘s Frank Markus, the headliner scraped his head, and the rear seat wasn’t super comfortable.  I guess that nothing’s for everybody…If you want a CLA250 with the as-advertised $30,000 base price, let me know.  Such tempting options as a self-parking feature, a panoramic sunroof, Distronic radar cruise control, a Harman/Kardon Logic 7 audio system, COMAND navigation, and all-wheel-drive all bring the price up to a more expensive $38,000, which is on par with the larger C250.

If you want a cheap German car that seats five and looks good, this isn’t the horrible C-Class Sport Coupe that would lure the innocent into showrooms.  In fact, this car aims to bring a lot of younger people into showrooms, where they can get a relatively affordable car that immediately gives them more social status than a Toyota Camry.

Inside the CLA250, the interior is every bit as luxurious as the S-Class, which is a very good thing.  The instruments and vent registers could have been pulled out of the SLS supercar, and vinyl is standard.  Mercedes-Benz says that the MB Tex vinyl will pass for leather to the casual observer, and cowhide is optional.  Since us Americans LOVE our sport seats, sport seats are standard.  These seats offer plenty of support for any frame (Mercedes-Benz had people of different sizes and heights drive and give feedback.  The engine gives a gleeful snarl when it’s nearing redline, and it is quiet at all other times.  Plus, the 208 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque help move this sub-3300-pound car around with no problem.  Part of that could be the excellent 7-speed automatic that is so smooth it could be mistaken for a CVT half of the time.  That’s probably due to the twin clutches and paddle shifters.

One would think that torque steer would be an issue with such large amounts of torque on hand, but think again!  That’s amazing considering that there isn’t a complicated steering setup, just a simple one.  It could be magic, or the electric-assist steering that will allegedly compensate for extreme road crowns and crosswinds.  It also applies corrective steering if the driver hasn’t mastered steering into a skid.  I’m thinking that this just might be the perfect car for somebody who is very close to getting his driver’s license…

Because France keeps it’s roads micro detailed to the point where there aren’t any bumps except for speed bumps, but ride quality is very controlled and nice.  And this is with the sport suspension that will initially be offered on U.S. spec cars.  It’ll be interesting to see if Mercedes-Benz has the guts to put the optional 18-inch wheels on the sporty suspension.  If not, expect to see the standard 17-inch wheels that look equally classy.

In terms of tires, the Continental ContiSportContact F5’s do a pretty good job of planting the car on the road, but you can hear the tires trumpeting their limit, so don’t be surprised!  If you don’t like trumpeting tires, you can opt for Eagle F1 run-flat tires, which  will only orchestrate their limit!

Motor Trend‘s Frank Markus went into the press launch thinking that the CLA250 was aimed squarely at the Volkswagen CC, but it’s not.  The CC feels more grown-up and conservative, and the CLA feels more like a GTI in it’s driving dynamics, with interior fit and finish that rivals the Hyundai Genesis.  What I’m sure all of you are dying to know is if the CLA250 is worth buying over the BMW 320i, Volvo S60, Cadillac ATS, and Audi A4.    My personal opinion is that the CLA will hang on with those, and possibly be the car that sends BMW back to the drawing board.  I doubt that will happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if BMW updated the 320i to make it drive more like the CLA to get more sales.

The CLA250 is what could be a breakthrough for Mercedes-Benz.  It’s a lot nicer than the C-Class Sport Coupes of yore, and it looks way better than many of it’s competitors.  It reminds me of the Mercedes-Benz 190e.  The 190e helped Mercedes-Benz reach other markets and younger people, and I’m thinking that the young people driving the Volkswagen GTI will be wanting to get a CLA as their next car.  It’s a far superior car than the Jetta GLI, and it drives more like the GTI than the GLI.  Sure, the CLA isn’t for everybody, but it’s about as close as it gets.  And, this might just happen if Volkswagen isn’t careful.  In the comment section of a Motor Trend article starring the CLA250 and what information they had a month ago, everybody was saying that Mercedes-Benz hit a home run with this car.  It’s the same size as a Ford Fusion, it looks similar, it’s got social status, Mercedes-Benz is known to be reliable, and it’s a nice car.  If you go onto the Ford website and take a Fusion Titanium, it will cost about $37,000, which is pretty darn close to a loaded CLA.  It would be interesting to see how well the CLA places against the Fusion, and some other loaded family sedans.  You can oggle at the CLA at the link so graciously provided by Mercedes-Benz.  http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/benz/innovation/future/model-2014_CLA

By the way, I am expecting you faithful readers to pitch together somewhere between $30,000 and $38,000 to buy me a brand-new CLA250 when it comes to our shores in May…I won’t be happy if there isn’t a 2014 CLA in my driveway…  Really, would you expect me to say something different!?

 

zoomvroom Car Reviews

Fifty-Fifty!

Fifty years ago, Ferdinand Porsche created the iconic Porsche 911.  Last year, he died of undisclosed causes at age 76.  In commemoration of the 911’s 50th birthday, you can buy two new Porsche 911’s after their debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

What we know about the new 911’s debuting is minimal:  We know that one debut will be the 911 GT3 Cup race car.  This car will replace the Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 hybrid in the IMSA, ALMS, and GT3 races around the world.  The 911 GT3 Cup features a more powerful version of the 3.8 liter flat-six cylinder engine common in the 911, Boxster, and Cayman lineup.  This engine will make a hearty 460 horsepower, which is routed to the wheels through a sequentially shifted 6-speed transmission.  You’d better be on the waiting list, or have a lot of money because only 2400 units will be made worldwide!

We don’t know what the other 911 debut will be, but Porsche tells Motor Trend and the world that the new 911 variant will be a true “world premiere” of a new 991-series based 911.  If I had to take a hypothesis, I would have to guess that it would be a 911 Turbo or GT3.  Motor Trend snapped photos of both:  While on an Epic Drives episode, Senior Features Editor, Jonny Lieberman caught some photos of a 911 Turbo prototype filling up  at a gas station in Sweden.  Another staffer got a picture of the 911 GT3 prototype lapping the Nurburgring with the iconic “whale tale.”  What I can guess for the 911 Turbo is that it will have a twin-turbocharged  flat-six cylinder engine making somewhere in the neighborhood of 550 horsepower.  It is likely that it will also have all-wheel-drive, and Porsche’s PDK seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.  The 911 GT3 will likely have rear-wheel-drive, Porsche’s new seven-speed manual, and a naturally aspirated flat-six cylinder engine making about 450 horsepower.

I can’t wait to see the world premiere of whatever new 911 variant debuts at Geneva 2013.  See you there!

zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews

Insanity. Redefined.

Insanity:  The condition of being insane; a derangement of the mind. We all know that Mercedes-Benz’ AMG tuning division has turned out some pretty radical cars.  Some of the examples include the original AMG Hammer, SL65 AMG Black Series, and others.  We also know that they make amazing cars like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series.  It is afine example of a stunning car.  What we don’t know is, well, not a lot. AMG recently showed a video of it’s newest, craziest creation.  Ever.  What is it’s name?  The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6X6.  Why 6X6?  Because it has 6 wheels!  It has similar performance to the G63 AMG, but has Unimog-inspired off-road parts that will send any other off-road-worthy vehicle running back to the drawing board. In addition the the extra axle, you get about 10 more inches of ground clearance (18.1 inches versus 8.4), and more looks.  Part of this is thanks to the Unimog-style portal axles, which are half shafts that enter the top of the wheels, rather than the center, and these axles are geared all the way down to the wheel hubs.  Plus, it has Mercedes-Benz’ 7-speed automatic that transfers the 529 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque to all six wheels. Inside, the interior basically looks the same, just more luxurious.  It has diamond-stitched seats, individual climate control, and MBZ’s latest infotainment system.  If you want one, and are in Europe, prepare to give AMG at least $400,000 for one unit.  AMG is still trying to figure out how much they should charge us Americans.  You’d better place an order quickly, as the annual production run will be about 20-30 units! Judging from the video shown below, no off-road prowess is given up.  It seems the opposite, as shown by the driver hooning it around the Saudi Arabian sand dunes.  Plus, it will turn far more heads than a normal G63 AMG!  Enjoy, and pine for one!  If you want to sell the house to buy one of these, you can, but make sure you buy one for me (Hint, Hint!)! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM500XrjxZw

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The Beasts’ Brawl!

A dream come true…an invitation to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to watch some seriously fast cars race around.  Who wouldn’t want to go?  I REALLY wanted to go, so I went.  With my dad (who also REALLY wanted to go!).  So we went.  If only you could be so lucky…One of the many items on my automotive bucket list is to meet Randy Pobst.  I met him, and I can cross another item off my list (it never ends…)…

Just over a month ago, Motor Trend‘s Senior Features Editor, Jonny Lieberman, invited me and my dad out to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  For what?  To watch a 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 face off against the 2013 SRT Viper GTS.  To be there by about 10:00 AM, we had to wake up at 4:00 AM.  It was worth it, though.  When we arrived, Motor Trend‘s hired racer, Randy Pobst, was warming up the Vette.  What a nice way to start off the morning, don’t you think?  The ZR1 was a bit on the cold side too, so it wasn’t super loud.  Yet.  Randy was taking it slow – “warming up” in Randy’ eyes is a steady 130 mph, as the track was still cold. Words don’t do justice to how nice both these cars look and sound!  We sat around and talked for most of the morning with the lovely sound of the ZR1 blasting around the track at ridiculously high speeds.  Both cars were black cherry with black racing stripes on a black interior.  Well, the Corvette had a grey and black interior that certainly wouldn’t be very comfortable for a six-hour blast back down to Los Angeles.  While these cars are fast, nice cars to drive, they really aren’t meant for drives up and down the state.  Jonny, and Scott (Motor Trend‘s Road Test Editor) had to drive both cars up to Laguna Seca, and down to Los Angeles.  Jonny had driven the ZR1 to Laguna Seca, and he said that it got very hot in the interior.  Why?  Think 6.2 liters of V8, supercharged to the tune of 638 horsepower!  The engine is so big that it made anything below his knees start to get hot and sweaty.  Yuck.  Scott was lucky enough to drive the Viper up.  He said that it was very loud (at one point, he was listening to the radio, and he had to turn the volume all the way up to just barely hear it.  Plus, it’s bluetooth system wouldn’t sync to his brand-new iPhone!), AND it was uncomfortable.  Anything below his knees got very hot, and his left leg got really hot from being so close to the exhaust pipe!  He couldn’t wait to take the Corvette back down!  The photo crew was taking about a billion pictures of the Viper and the Polestar Volvo S60 (see future blog post).  The technical crew was in a corner of the garage (their choice, I’m pretty sure…) analyzing data of the ZR1 as it was lapping the track.  Idling in the shade of an outbuilding was an ambulance (standard procedure for all Motor Trend articles, a little bird told me).  Throughout the day, various people from the track came to gawk at the cars.  As Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca borders a regional park with a bike path, many bicyclists were riding up to the top of the hill to get a bird’s-eye view of the ZR1 flying around the track.  Awesome! At about noon, pizza was delivered and devoured by the starving camera crew (photographers CAN move fast!).  Jonny’s boss, Ron Kiino (the Executive Editor) called the pizza parlor for more pizza.  Unfortunately, all the Motor Trend staff were busy, so my dad HAD TO (yeah, right) go get the pizza.  Ron graciously let him take his 2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLi to go fetch the pizza.  My dad drove out of the 30-acre parking lot like, well, a guy in a Volkswagen Jetta GLi.  To get to Laguna Seca, one has to go driving on a pretty curvy road.  My dad had some fun with the GLi (brakes WERE used, Ron!) on the road, but thoughtfully declined to do so when returning with quite a few boxes of pizza.  The pizza was good, but it was even better to eat it while listening to Randy drive the Viper around Laguna Seca as fast as he dared.  Randy may be an amazing driver, but he was scared to get a 1:35 lap around Laguna Seca in the Viper.  Why?  At one point, he was going along one of the two straights at Laguna Seca, which leads to a sharp turn and dip at around 150 mph.  He didn’t have time to downshift or brake, so he went flying over the dip and hurtled into the turn.  He wasn’t sure what was going to happen.  What happened was he nearly spun, but was able to wrangle the car into a drift.  Impressive.  What was more impressive is that he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, and gave it a lesson on how to drive around a racetrack.  Really well done.  Randy also had to be reminded multiple time not to touch the doorsill of the Viper (he likes getting in and out of a car that way), as the tailpipe exits right by the door.  It makes the interior REALLY hot, and it gets very noisy inside the cabin.

Next up on the agenda was basking in the sun and talking to various people like the managing director of Polestar, Hans Bääth, and the fleet technical manager of the Prietive Group, Ryan Minor.  Hans, Ryan, my dad and I had a wonderful time talking about the Polestar S60.  What did we talk about?  The history of Polestar and Volvos, and just about everything related to Polestar and the S60.  Awesome. Then, the Polestar had a chance to go out onto the track.  While 508 horsepower is weak compared to the 640 horsepower put out by the mighty Viper, it’s still more than enough to move the Polestar 60 around Laguna Seca for a 1:41.26 lap.  If you see a regular S60 driving along, you know that it won’t go nearly that fast around Laguna Seca.  But, if you see a blue S60 with big exhaust pipes and big wheels with fat tires, you can rest assured that whatever you’re driving is about to be smoked.  Anyways, Randy came off of the same hill that he almost spun in the Viper, landed at 120 mph, and lost all power to the rear wheels (the car is AWD).  He then, er, limped in at 100.  He wasn’t happy.  Nobody was.  It was amazing to listen to Randy tell the Polestar techs how the front left wheel was spinning 10% faster than the front right wheel.  Somehow, he was able to calculate this while simultaneously knowing that the AWD system had failed, all while going 120 mph.  If I could do all of those calculations, I would never get a speeding ticket or get into an accident…The Polestar techs jacked up the car, one went under and checked out the AWD system while the other was checking out the engine.  They don’t know what happened, but they took it for a few laps, and it was fine.  Randy jumped back in and banged out a 1:40 flat.  Two times in a row.  It had a nice sound.  You know how turbos make the engine sound like a boat engine?  This engine sounded like it was ready to blast around the Nurburgring – at full speed. As soon as Randy got out, he said it was a challenge to drive around Laguna Seca near the car’s limits.  It kept understeering when he needed it to oversteer, and it leaned a lot in the corners.  He said that it’s the type of car that you can comfortably drive at 8/10 of the car’s limit, but take it up to 9/10, and you’ll wish you didn’t.  For those of you who don’t know what 8/10’s of the limit of a car is, it’s 8/10’s of the technical limits of the car.  There really aren’t many other ways to describe it.  The feeling is nice, especially when the car is comfortable like this one is.  Otherwise, it can be boring, or scary.  Hans, if you just read that, when can I become a test driver for Polestar?

The next beast of a car up on the agenda was the Volkswagen Golf R.  With a powerful 256 horsepower, 2.0 liter turbocharged engine wedged under the small hood, it made a lot of nice sounds.  It was slower than the others, but that could be a variety of reasons.  Power is definitely one of them, handling is another, and speed is yet another.  But, it was pretty darn fast for something it’s size.  If you think about it, many of it’s competitors couldn’t go that fast at Laguna Seca without drifting and understeering all over the place (I’m talking to you, Subaru STI, Ford Focus ST).

I just have one thing to say to the whole Motor Trend crew:  THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!  It was an amazing experience! And to all my faithful readers, feel free to tell me which car you think should win, and why.  If you have any experiences with a Corvette ZR1, Polestar Volvo S60, Volkswagen Golf R, or a SRT Viper GTS Launch Edition, you can tell us in the comment section.  It’s okay, I want to know your experiences!  Thanks again, Motor Trend!  It was an awe-inspiring experience!

zoomvroom Car Reviews

Seen One of These Lately?

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One of my faithful subscribers happens to be family, and snapped a picture of this wonderful 2004? Porsche Carrera GT near his house last week.  I’ll give you some background information on the famous Porsche Carrera GT, okay?  In 1997, Porsche decided to build a car that would dominate endurance races.  It had a powerful 5.7 liter V10 that pumped out a massive 750 horsepower.  It weighed a mere 2700 pounds.  Unfortunately, the FIA passed new rules stating that cars racing the 24 hours of the Nurburgring had to be racing versions of a production car.  Porsche had already invested almost 1 billion dollars on the car, and didn’t want to lose any money on it. What did they do?  They made it road-legal.  It was the fastest car of it’s day, and is still one of the fastest production cars to lap the Nurburgring, with a time of 7:57.39.  Porsche saved a lot of weight by making the engine block out of carbon fiber.  That took almost 300 pounds off the weight of the car.  When NHTSA wanted to rate the car, Porsche had not started producing their carbon-fiber chassis’.  Porsche sent a car with a racing chassis to NHTSA, where the safety tests were performed.  The results were astonishing – the car was so safe that it scored 92% on all of the tests.  Porsche then sent a carbon-fiber chassis a couple of years later, and found that it was still safe, just 10% less.  The Porsche Carrera GT could hit 205 mph, and go at that speed for over an hour before it needed new tires and a refueling.  Oh, and it cost $440,000 new.  Now, you can expect to find a “cheap” one for $400,000.  The more expensive ones can go for almost $800,000.  It’s a price well-deserved, though.  The driving experience is second to none, and it is one of the few cars that can hit 200 miles an hour with a stock manual transmission.

Check back Friday when I describe one of the best days of my auto journalism career? Life?

zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info, The History of Autos, World News

The Last of It’s Breed.

Ford’s Mustang has just received it’s last major update.  I’ll give you a short (ish) list of all the major updates of this generation of the Mustang.

2003:  Two concept cars are shown at every major auto show across the country, with much hype.

2005:  The Fifth-generation Mustang is unveiled at the North American International Auto Show.  It has a 210-horsepower 4.0 liter V6 with 240 lb-ft of torque.  The other engine is a 4.6 liter, 300-horsepower, 320 lb-ft V8.  Either of these engines can be had in a convertible body style or a coupe body style.  The available transmissions are a Tremec five-speed manual, or a Ford-built five-speed automatic.

2006:  The Pony Package is available for the V6 Mustang only.  It includes:  an upgraded suspension derived from the GT, 17-inch wheels with wider, nicer tires (also from the GT), a rear deck spoiler, unique door striping and emblems, and a unique grille design with fog lamps.  The GT-based Shelby GT-H is tuned by Shelby North America to have 319 horsepower and almost 350 lb-ft of torque.  The GT-H is only available for rent through Hertz.  It is a nod to the 1966 “Rent-A-Racer” program, where one could rent a Shelby GT350H for the day.  500 are made in 2006.  Two years later, another run of 500 was tuned.

2007:  Ford Custom Accessories introduces a new model at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The V6 Appearance Package has a lot going for it (it is now considered a collector’s car).  The equipment that comes with it is:  a chrome billet-style upper grille, body-color side scoops, a black satin front lip spoiler, GT hood scoop (not functional), bright rolled exhaust tips, black satin hood stripe, unique decklid spoiler applique, GT black satin decklid applique, upgraded black floor mats, and 18-inch premium polished aluminum wheels.  Ford introduces a GT California Special that hearkens back to the 1968 Mustang GT California Special.  The package is now considered a collector’s item.  The package adds non-functional side scoops, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, and unique vinyl striping.

In 2008, Ford re-introduced the Bullitt model, after a seven-year hiatus.  It was available in Dark Highland Green or Midnight Black paint.  The Bullitt model was so reminiscent of the car used in the 1968 Steve McQueen movie, Bullitt, that the aging McQueen bought one.  Peter Egan of Car & Driver owned one until 2011.

The 2009 model year for the Mustang was certainly exciting.  The Mustang turned 45, so Ford came out with a special 45th Anniversary Edition.  It had the same functional equipment as the GT model but came with a lot more.  This model came with special badging of a Mustang colt.  It also had a hood scoop, rear spoiler, the Ambient Lighting Package and special 17 inch polished aluminum wheels.  Also, the Iacocca Silver 45th Edition was introduced.  45 custom units were built.  They have custom bodies built by Gaffaglio Family Metalcrafters of Southern California, but retain the stock running gear from the GT.  Lee Iacocca was given unit one of forty-five.  One unit was sold for $352,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction.

The 2010 GT receives an update to it’s engine, bringing 15 much-needed horsepower and more torque.  The transmissions remain unchanged, but the AdvanceTrac stability control system is now standard.  It has a new Sport Mode that allows for more spirited driving.  Nothing new for the V6, except for the AdvanceTrac updates.  Also, there is a new Track Pack gives the car a sportier edge.  It includes larger brake pads (front and rear), Pirelli summer tires, stabilizer bars and rear control towers from the GT500, a recalibrated AdvanceTrac stability control system, and an aggressive 3.73:1 rear axle ratio with carbon fiber plates in the differential.

2011:  Desperately in need of a major update, the Mustang is taken into the stable for new guts.  It receives two new engines:  a 305-horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque Duratec V6 engine.  The GT finally gets a true 5.0 liter engine.  The 4951 cc engine pumps out a hearty 412 horsepower and an impressive 390 lb-ft of torque.  The transmissions are now a Getrag six-speed manual, and a new six-speed automatic.  Badging on the new models is not as much as before.  One of the ways to tell a GT from a V6 model is to check just ahead of the doors.  If a V8, it will have a “5.0” badge.  V6 models have none.

2012:  Not much has happened yet for the Mustang, but there are some highlights:  The historic Boss 302 is back in action!  Built for road racing, the “base” Boss 302 is bloody fast.  It seats four, has a six-speed manual transmission, has 444 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque (down 10 lb-ft on the GT), and has Pirelli P-Zero summer tires.  The Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition is truly THE car that Chevy and Mopar should be chasing.  It has the same amount of horsepower and torque as the “base” 302, but loses it’s rear seat.  IF you are wanting a fast car for SCCA racing, check out the Laguna Seca.  It is more expensive, but a lot more fun than a Mazda Miata…Initially, only 750 units were going to be built, but now it is in regular production.

2013 (model year):  All models have unique “blacked-out” taillights that blend in better to the car when not in use.  The GT models also get functional heat extractors and fog lamps in the grille.  Plus, GT models get an extra eight horsepower, bringing the total to 420 horsepower.  Torque remains the same.  The new GT Premium model is the last major update for the fifth-generation of the Mustang.  One can easily call it the “Boss for a Smaller Budget.”  Why?  HID (high-intensity-discharge) headlights, a new front look with those cool new heat extractors, Ford’s cool new Track Apps (tracking track times, fuel economy, stuff like that), scalloped taillights, and those eight more rearing-to-go horses.  Since this pony is truly the last of it’s breed, enjoy the powerful engine, cheaper price than the Boss 302 and GT500 while you can.  One can expect to see resale values of the 2013 GT Premium shoot up in the next few years.  You can see my idea of a perfect GT Premium with the attached link.  Please send in your idea of a perfect GT Premium – I’d like to see it!  http://bp3.ford.com/2013-Ford-Mustang?branding=1&lang=en#/MakeItYours/Config%5B%7CFord%7CMustang%7C2013%7C1%7C1.%7C401A.P8C..HD…8R3Z-63132A08-AC.~YZKAA.59G.44X.GT.COU.PRE.51S.55R.%5D

Oh, and the GT Premium comes in the convertible bodystyle!  Double VROOM!