New car info – Page 3 – The Unmuffled Auto News

August 19, 2014 zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews, Gifts for the Car Enthusiast, Humor, New car info

Bad Boys: Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Vs. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chevrolet’s had the 5th-generation Camaro ZL1 out for a couple of model years now, and it’s only real muscle car competition was the now-defunct Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The GT500 is now out of production, as the 2015 Mustang will go into production soon. Dodge’s heavy Challenger SRT8 is a great car for cruising the boulevards and highways of America, it’s just not a handling muscle car like the ZL1. The ZL1 is meant to be a car that you can take to your local track day without a trailer, win, and drive home. Dodge desperately needed a competitor to the ZL1, so they rolled out the awesome Challenger Hellcat. The Hellcat is the most powerful stock American V8 ever. It makes a thundering, throaty, screaming, 707 horsepower. That’s right. However, a dyno test by Motor Trend showed that the Hellcat actually makes more than that. Back to that later. The Hellcat is meant to be a car that you can drive to your local drag strip, win against other bone-stock cars, and drive home.

The Camaro uses a detuned LS9 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that pumps out 580 horsepower. It puts the power down to the ground through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Plus, you can get it as a convertible, which would eliminate most of the visibility issues associated with the 5th-generation Camaro coupe. While the Camaro may make far less horsepower than the Challenger Hellcat, it makes up for it in a trick suspension and 400 fewer pounds than the Challenger Hellcat. Sometimes less is more. Besides, the Camaro beat the 662-horsepower Mustang GT500 in it’s last shootout.

The Challenger uses an all-new 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 that pumps out a claimed 707 horsepower. It puts all of those raging ponies down to the ground through either a six-speed manual or a quick-shifting 8-speed automatic adapted from the ZF 8-speed slushbox found in many cars nowadays. It also comes with a trick suspension adapted from the Viper, and a variety of cool driving modes (like Valet Mode, which lowers the horsepower to 300, limits the revs to 4,000 RPM, and turns all of the nannies on). Plus, it comes with more street appeal than just about any other new car on the market. Well, with the exception of the Pagani Huayra…

If you want to kill them with consistency in the acceleration department, go for the ZL1. It thunders to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. It then goes on to slaughter the 1/4 mile in a stonking fast 12.2 seconds at 116.6 mph. Whatever way you look at it, that’s pretty fast. Enter the Hellcat. It makes the Camaro feel slow. That’s not surprising. What makes it’s times even more impressive is the fact that it puts 707+ horsepower down to the ground through relatively skinny 275 millimeter-width tires. Granted, the tires are Pirelli P Zeroes, but that’s a lot of power going to the ground through not very much tire. This, of course, makes the Hellcat a difficult one to launch. Even with launch control enabled, the Hellcat’s best 0-60 run was “just” 3.7 seconds to 60 mph. It’s probably best to launch the Hellcat in 2nd gear, as that much power can get the Hellcat up to speed quickly, plus it eliminates a time-sapping gearshift. It then goes on to absolutely embarrass the ZL1 in the 1/4 mile by doing a crazy-fast 11.7 second at 125.4 mph run. That trap speed won’t only embarrass a Camaro ZL1 owner – it will embarrass a Porsche 911 Turbo S AND a Nissan GT-R Nismo in the 1/4 mile. America for the win.

Then, you go onto a skid pad. This is where the intended functions of these two cars show. The Camaro ZL1 pulled 0.99 G’s on the skidpad. This is probably thanks to the cool Delphi magnetic shocks, and the quick steering in the ZL1. While the ZL1 may behave like a sports car, the Hellcat doesn’t. As Motor Trend‘s Scott Evans put it, “The Challenger handles just like a Challenger. Understeer into the corner, oversteer out.” The Hellcat may handle like a boat, but it sticks. Just ask the 0.94 G’s pulled on the skidpad. The Challenger may not be the best choice for corner carving on a tight, windy race track, but it will put to shame many well-tuned drift cars as it shreds its skinny rear tires.

I literally couldn’t stop laughing when I heard this, but it’s 100% true. Motor Trend‘s Kim Reynolds said that the Camaro felt like something developed by Infiniti’s Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team or McLaren’s Formula 1 team. The Hellcat, on the opposite side of the spectrum, “feels like it was developed by HOT ROD’s Freiburger and Finnegan.”

Should you choose to road-trip either of these two cars, invite me or some friends along! The Camaro has visibility akin to a solitary confinement prison cell at Abu Grahib, but it’s V8 hums along, the cool shocks absorb anything any road can throw at it, and it’s got a great sound system. The Challenger Hellcat is THE ultimate road trip car. I’ve heard that it’s ride is a bit busier, but it keeps you more alert than the quiet, subdued Camaro ZL1. It’s seats are something that you’ll want in your living room. The supercharged Hellcat Hemi has an absolutely demonic supercharger whine when you step on it – batten the hatches when the Hellcat comes to town! The 8-speed automatic transmission is found in almost every new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram/SRT product these days, and it is more beefed up in the Challenger Hellcat to handle the crazy power numbers. The Hellcat’s engine note when you step on it sounds like somebody supercharged Roadkill’s Blasphemi 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air gasser. It sounds absolutely spectacular. The best part is, Dodge has released a Hellcat Hemi engine note ringtone.

Inside, the Challenger is definitely the car of choice. Aside from the crazy powerful engine and the sinister sheetmetal that looks straight out of 1970, the Challenger is really quite the ticket to being comfortable. It’s got one of the best interiors in the segment, which it has had since day 1, an intuitive infotainment system, an even better Boston Acoustics sound system, plenty of room for five adults, and a stunningly low entry price of $60,995. Then, the Camaro ZL1 enters the room. Sure, it’s got Alcantara all over the bloody cabin, and snug, comfortable Recaro bucket seats, but you can tell Chevy cared more about what was under the hood. Dodge didn’t have to try very hard to update the cabin in the Challenger. If you can’t swing $60,995, no worries. Chevy has a great Camaro ZL1 with your name on it for just $57,650.

While these two cars have traded blows in straight lines, in the curves, and elsewhere, street appeal is definitely part of what muscle cars are all about. In a nutshell, the Camaro looks like just another Camaro with big black wheels and a vented hood, while the Challenger looks like it just stepped out of the Trans-Am racing series. It just looks like pure evil.

This is America. Just like basketball (and many other ball sports), there are NO ties. There are only winners and losers. In my humble opinion, the Challenger Hellcat will always come out on top. It’s got a focus on power, presence, and straight-line performance define what a muscle car is supposed to be. It shows that the boys over at Dodge know how to make a world-class muscle car after years and years of being pushed around by Ford and Chevy. While I like the ZL1 as a capable and well-balanced sports car, it just doesn’t really seem like as good of a muscle car of the Challenger Hellcat. Like the muscle cars of the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Challenger Hellcat is built to dominate the streets with some serious power under the beautifully sculpted hood. The Hellcat proves to me that the ultimate muscle car wasn’t built in the 1960’s or 1970’s – it is now, and here to stay.

Now for the dyno results. The Challenger Hellcat is rated by the SAE (Society of American Engineers) at 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque at the crank. Dodge is lying through their teeth. This engine is almost as powerful as an engine in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. The Hellcat Challenger puts down 635 horsepower and 591 pound-feet of torque at the wheels. Factor in a 12% driveline loss (automatics are getting more and more efficient every year), and the Challenger Hellcat makes about 722 horsepower and 672 pound-feet of torque at the crank. Both of those are more than advertised. Some other cool things about the Challenger Hellcat: When Motor Trend did their dyno test at K&N Air Filter’s Riverside, CA dyno shop, the Hellcat was the fastest car ever strapped down to the massive rollers there. The speedometer topped out at 202 mph, but the Hellcat accelerated to 225 mph, which is the fastest the dyno can possibly go there. While the Hellcat will never, ever get up to 225 mph stock (a brick goes through the air better), it’s cool to know that the SRT team of engineers didn’t bother fitting a speed limiter to the car. Not only is it the fastest, but it’s also the hottest. The Hellcat took five industrial fans pointed at it to keep it cool for it’s dyno pull. An interesting fact to know about the Hellcat is that it will suck all of the air out of a 10 X 13 foot room in just one minute at full throttle. It will also drain all 19 gallons of it’s fuel tank in a minute at full throttle.

Now on to the Camaro ZL1. The ZL1 makes only 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of SAE-rated torque. The car that Motor Trend tested made just 472 horsepower and 482 pound-feet of torque at the wheels. K&N noted that that’s about 20 fewer horsepower than they are used to seeing from a stock Camaro ZL1. Assuming a 10% driveline loss for the Camaro, it’s making a still-impressive 524 horsepower and 536 pound-feet at the crank. That’s almost 60 horsepower than rated.

Why did the Hellcat need five industrial fans pointed at it? Well, the Hellcat needs a LOT of air to operate optimally, and superchargers throw off lots of heat. This 2.9-liter supercharger shoves 11.9 pounds of boost into the engine. This supercharger is common in tuned muscle cars, and it’s not uncommon to see more boost out of it. However, I just think that the Hellcat’s engine can’t easily make more power before it presses the self-destruct button. It’s like the Nissan GT-R, where the engine has been tuned so much that Motor Trend found in a test last year that the engine kept loosing 5 pounds of boost from the two massive turbos. That’s a lot of boost, so you’ve got to wonder if engines this powerful are tuned to within an inch of their life.

What about the ZL1? Was it a dud car, or has GM just been radically overrating their engines? Who knows? Dyno results range anywhere from far more than what the manufacturer says to far below. It depends on the dyno itself, the way the car is strapped down, if it has enough air going into the engine, the temperature of the air, and what gear the car is in. There are literally thousands of different factors in dynoing a car. It probably wasn’t in Motor Trend’s best interest to dyno two powerful cars with heat-making superchargers in the end of a SoCal summer in Riverside. While Dodge does say that the Hellcat will last 20 minutes in 100 degree heat at a track and get consistent results, one has to wonder if the Challenger can really last that long without overheating. Time will tell (pardon the pun) the reliability of this powerful engine.

The engine technology in the Hellcat Hemi goes back to 2002. That’s a really long time for a cylinder head design to be around in one basic form or another. Granted, that design works – really well, but Ford and Chevy have definitely stepped up their engine game. The Mustang GT500 used an aluminum block, which took off 100 pounds off of the front of an already-heavy car, and a bunch of other really cutting-edge engine technology. Chevy’s LS9 and LSA V8’s are really beasts of engines, but obviously not in the ZL1 dynoed by Motor Trend. The Hellcat engine block was originally going to be aluminum, but was vetoed at the 11th hour by a Dodge executive. It’s a shame. The aluminum engine block would have shaved at least 100 pounds off of the front of a nose-heavy car, bringing it’s curb weight down to about 4350 pounds or so, which would be almost 100 pounds heavier than the also-chubby Camaro.

When it comes to transmissions, the ZF 8-speed automatic is the best transmission in a muscle car now. Chevy’s six-speed automatic doesn’t like to downshift, even when told to. Ford didn’t offer an automatic transmission in the GT500, but it used a TREMEC TR6060 six-speed manual. This is a great six-speed manual. It’s used by Ford, Chevy, and Dodge. It’s also common in road-racing cars. It’s beefy, reliable, and has good gearing for almost any engine. The fact is, the Hellcat with the 8-speed ZF transmission is probably the best combination. It’s going to be hard for even an experienced driver of a manual transmission to put 635 horsepower and 591 pound-feet of torque down to the ground. That’s why Dodge offers 3 power settings – 300 horsepower, 500 horsepower, and 700+ horsepower. In daily driving, the most power anybody will ever really need is 150 horsepower and about 200 pound-feet of torque. Plus, the Hellcat with the automatic transmission will get 24 mpg on the highway. The Camaro only gets 21. The Mustang only got 22.

If you get a Hellcat, please, please, pretty please, let me know! I will feature you on my blog, but ONLY if you either take me for a ride, or let me drive it! If you do either of these, I will interview you, take wonderful pictures, and wax poetic about being in a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat for the rest of my life.

July 8, 2014 zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews, New car info

The Twenty Best Cars for Summer!

Summer is a great time of the year. Should you happen to live near the beach or somewhere where you can cool off, go there! Enjoy summer! That’s what I’ve been doing! Have fun! Anyhow, I have compiled a list of the top twenty cars for summer. Some of these cars are great for tearing up your favorite isolated canyon road. Others are great for getting to that one remote spot that your Porsche 911 just can’t go. Others are great for driving long distances. Some of those cruisers have big, loud V8’s so you can take opportunity of every inch of open highway and tunnel. Some of these cars are convertibles, others are, well, I shouldn’t spoil it for you!

Jeep Wrangler: The Jeep Wrangler is a staple of summer. Should you live near a beach where you can drive on the beach, nothing beats driving a Jeep with the top down, the windows down, and listening to your favorite music. Nothing, absolutely nothing can beat the feel of a Jeep in it’s environment. The Wrangler can be ordered as a two-door Jeep, or a four-door Jeep, if you need that extra space. It’s got truly staggering off-road capability, timeless looks, and a thriving aftermarket. Plus, there are many models of the Wrangler with varying price ranges for everybody! Plus, you can’t buy a Jeep and leave it stock. It’s just not what the Wrangler was intended for.
Buick Enclave/Chevy Traverse/GMC Acadia: Either of these three GM Lambda-class crossovers is an amazing SUV for a family. They get decent mileage considering their intended function, have plenty of space for everybody, have one of the best rides out there, and have powerful engines! We own a 2013 Enclave, and, man, I LOVE it! It’s got all of the bells and whistles that I could ever imagine, and then some! It’s spectacular on long road trips or doing light off-roading. It just soaks up the bumps and is unfazed by anything. It’s got superb visibility, and a bunch of safety nannies like blind-spot monitoring for those times when you just can’t see in that one spot, and got plenty of space and gadgets for every single person inside it’s sumptuous cabin. I just can’t say enough good things about the Enclave! If you’re on more of a budget, look at the Chevy Traverse. The Acadia has much more truck-like looks, and is thus more intimidating when it comes up on your six. That’s not to say that the Enclave isn’t. It’s got a big ol’ honkin’ chrome grille that looks like it’s itching to eat small animals. The one caveat that my dad has about it so far is the fact that a panel on the door gets dented easily on long road trips. Other than that, I couldn’t want anything more out of the Enclave. A job well done, GM.
Dodge Challenger/Dodge Charger/Chrysler 300: Chrysler/Dodge’s fullsize sedans and coupe are big, cushy cars that have been substantially updated. The Challenger is great for those who want classic American looks, and a bunch of street appeal. The Charger is good for those who need the extra rear seat space. The 300 is good for those who crave that extra bit of luxury. If you opt for the Challenger, any of the available models are fun cars, but if you road trip a lot, get the Challenger R/T with the 5.7 liter HEMI V8 and the six-speed manual. If you don’t drive stick, don’t worry – the superb 8-speed automatic is there for you! With the Charger, get the Charger SRT8 – it’s a sleeper! It does look intimidating, but the SRT8 model can scoot on the straightaways and the corners! None of the Chrysler/Dodge cars are battleships in the corners, but the SRT8 models have a tweaked suspension and a potent 392 cubic-inch HEMI V8 (6.4 liters). Get the Chrysler 300S for looks and comfort. It gets rid of or blacks out most of the chrome that the 300 is known for, which makes it absolutely intimidating and beautiful. The white paint is the best option for the 300S – it makes the blacked-out chrome stand out! Plus, it comes with the powerful 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and the sweet 8-speed automatic. Even the Challenger is able to swallow two large coolers, a duffel bag, and at least one small suitcase. The backseat is large enough to take two full-size adults with ease, with three in a pinch.
Ram 1500 EcoDiesel: As if the Ram 1500 wasn’t a good enough truck to start off with, Ram decided to put a small diesel engine into the popular Ram 1500. Not only is this a good idea, but it’s a good choice for those who haul or tow a lot, but don’t want to have to step up to a massive 2500-series pickup. Plus, diesel engines are great for road tripping. The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is the only half-ton pickup on the market with a diesel engine. There are plenty of options available for the Ram 1500, many of which can send the price rocketing up well past $50,000. It only comes as a crew cab with a six-foot bed or a five-foot bed, with 2WD or 4WD. It comes with an 8-speed automatic standard, so you never have to worry about surfing that tsunami of torque. If all of that wasn’t good enough for you, think about this – the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel was Motor Trend’s 2014 Truck of the Year. It’s a repeat winner, as it won the 2013 TOTY as well.
Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG: AMG is and always has been known for making radically fast, fun cars with gobs of power. With emissions regulations tightening every year, automakers are increasingly turning to turbochargers for performance and fuel economy. The SL63 AMG has two massive turbochargers that make it an absolutely fun monster to drive, according to the grapevine. Plus, who wouldn’t want to be swaddled in some of the finest leather on the market, along with the latest technology? The SL63 looks absolutely evil and menacing in the triple black color, especially after sunset. Even though it only seats two people, why not take a friend or the spouse, or even one of your kids (or your kid) out on a long, scenic drive. The SL63 is great for high-speed cruising, but it can hold it’s own in the twisties.
Ford F150 SVT Raptor: If you’re an outdoorsy person who likes to take a lot of stuff with you when you go camping. The Raptor is basically an off-road racing machine for the street. It’s a big truck, though, but that doesn’t diminish the amount of fun you can have with this truck. It’s the vehicle that I would take to get to my beach house right on the beach in Hawaii! Or anywhere, for that matter. It seats six, so it’s perfect to take the family or a few friends anywhere you want to go. Think of it as a Jeep for those who need space.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: The Corvette Stingray is one of the most praised new sports cars out on the market. It’s finally America’s sports car. It’s also finally a true sports car. It has a seven-speed manual, and for 2015, an 8-speed automatic. It comes as either a convertible or a coupe with a targa top. It may only seat two people, but that’s what a sports car is supposed to seat! It’s got an engine note somewhere in between the thumping roar of a diesel V8 and the shriek of a NASCAR V8. It’s beautiful sounding. Plus, it comes in many beautiful colors, and the green color makes it look like it came from Italy. It’s a good car to take a road trip in, especially with the comfortable sport seats. You no longer are uncomfortable when you get out of a Corvette.
Ram 2500 Power Wagon: The Ram 2500 Power Wagon is basically the pickup that Jeep should have built. It may be big, but that just means that you can take more stuff! It’s got the burly 392 HEMI V8 (a slightly detuned version, but the same engine in all of the SRT products), 4WD, a beefy Aisin 6-speed automatic, and Dana-style locking axles front and rear. Oh, and it’s got a pretty nice interior for a truck that is meant to take you dirty places. This is the truck that I would use as a getaway truck when the apocalypse hits. It also comes in some pretty cool colors like red with cool white graphics. Think of it as a heavier-duty Ford F150 SVT Raptor.
Jeep Grand Cherokee: Any version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is amazing, but the version with the EcoDiesel V6 or the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is amazing. Either of these engines are great for highway cruising, and both get decent, if not good fuel economy. It’s got a bladder-busting 700+ miles of range with the diesel, which more than makes up for the high cost of diesel today. The SRT8 version has the 392 HEMI V8, AWD, sport seats, and handles like a barrel full of fun. It’s also passed Jeep’s rigorous off-road tests with flying colors, thanks to the standard air suspension. Well, maybe not flying colors, but it passed.
Cadillac CTS VSport: It’s got an efficient, yet quick twin-turbocharged engine, a 6-speed automatic transmission, available AWD for those who need the grip in the snowbelt, heated/cooled/ventilated leather seats, amazing color choices, and, is, quite simply, one of the best cars that one can buy. While it may be a couple of years before we see a 3rd-generation CTS-V, the CTS VSport will easily tide us over. Plus, it looks absolutely gorgeous in any color or setting.
Ford F350 Platinum: This is probably one of the most luxurious trucks that one can go out and buy. It comes standard with leather, navigation, heated front seats, mirrors, and even optional heated rear seats! It comes with either a powerful 6.2-liter V8 or a thundering 6.7-liter “Scorpion” diesel V8 making 800 pound-feet of torque! My dream F350 Platinum would be a 4X4 Crew Cab in red with the diesel, and just about every option available! Why sacrifice for less luxury? Plus, you can tow up to 30,000 pounds in sumptuous comfort!
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: With a howling, screaming, yelling 662 horsepower out of an amazing-sounding 5.8-liter supercharged V8, the Shelby GT500 is the S197-generation Mustang to get. Ford claims a top speed of 200+ mph, Motor Trend has seen 197 mph and still pulling, so I see no better way to find out the top speed than to take the GT500 to the Autobahn and see what it can really do! Or, take it to legendary NASCAR superspeedways like Daytona International Speedway or Talladega International Superspeedway. Or, take it to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and check it out there. Better yet, take it to all three! Or, you can simply tour Route 66 in it.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: I recently had the chance to drive a Sprinter, and, surprisingly, it was astonishingly easy and fun to drive! It was a 12-seater van with a big air-conditioning unit on top, and the smaller 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel. Truth be told, I’d get it the same way, as there really isn’t any need for the bigger 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6. The four-cylinder engine gives it plenty of oomph, and according to the owner, it gets up to speed quickly, even with a bunch of people in the back. The smaller engine gets up to 25 mpg on the highway, as well, so fill-ups are far and few between. It’s got amazing visibility, thanks to the short, sloping hood and the gigantic greenhouse. The one downside is that the sliding door is on the passenger side only, and looks like a guillotine coming towards you when it’s going downhill.
Mazda MX-5 Miata: The Mazda Miata is a cute little roadster meant to put the biggest smile ever on the driver and passenger! It’s formula is simple and has been proven true for decades. It’s got a manual transmission, light weight, a fuel-efficient, relatively powerful four-cylinder engine, two seats, and enough bells and whistles to keep you satisfied. Plus it gives you and everybody who sees one a big, goofy grin. You can’t beat that! The Miata is just instantly likeable and fun. It’s a hoot to drive on a track, but driving it hard on a road with a lot of straight areas will not get you up to 150 mph. It’s the curvy parts of the road where the Miata will embarrass many cars triple it’s price. Plus, it’s extremely affordable, comes with a lot of inexpensive options, and is reliable. Why mess with that? British roadsters from the 1960’s and 1970’s had that formula except for reliability in spades. It’s what made them so popular.
Cadillac ATS: The Cadillac ATS isn’t Cadillac’s flagship. It doesn’t need to be. But, it was Cadillac’s second best-selling car last year to the Escalade. It’s the most affordable new Cadillac, and to this day, driving a Cadillac means success. It starts off at around $34,000, so it’s in reach of a lot of folks. The model that I would want is a 2.0T with the Technology and Luxury packages. That’s all that I would really need. Should you want more, Cadillac is more than happy to sell you more expensive options.
Ferrari FF: It’s the first Ferrari ever with AWD, so you can travel in the snow, do light off-roading (gravel roads and the like), and take three passengers in comfort and beauty. It’s got a V12 making 651 horsepower, a quick-shifting 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, and Ferrari’s Haldex-based AWD system. One of the few downsides is that you are heading into unknown territory because of the AWD system. Another downside is that the infotainment system is based off of an already-dated Chrysler system from circa 2011. If you can live with the FF’s faults, it’s a great car. But, that’s true about any car.
Dodge Durango: This midsize SUV is quite possibly one of the best vehicles ever for a road trip. It simply pushes any road imperfection back down into the road. It can seat up to 8 people comfortably and still carry a good deal of luggage. It comes with two powerful engines; a 3.6-liter “Pentastar” V6 or a 5.7-liter HEMI V8. Either of these engines are extremely good, reliable, economical engines, but I think that the best engine is the Pentastar V6, as it provides enough power for freeway driving, city driving, hilly driving, and towing. If you tow a lot, go with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, otherwise, stick with the Pentastar V6.
Bentley Continental GT V8 S: Bentley made a massive resurgence in 2006 with the new Continental GT. Since then, it has morphed into the Toyota Camry of Beverly Hills. It now has a powerful W12 engine or a powerful V8 engine. The W12 engine is great, but it adds a lot of weight to the front, and drinks gas like beer on a Friday night. The V8 is a fabulous engine that doesn’t sacrifice too much performance getting the 5,000+ pound Continental GT V8 S up to speed. Plus, it comes with an amazing 8-speed automatic. Since the V8 is far lighter than the W12, it makes the car handle much better. It shaves almost 250 pounds from the engine difference alone. Overall, weight savings are close to 500 pounds, so the Continental GT V8 S is obviously the weapon of choice for track days or windy roads. It’s got a cushy ride when cruising, so you’ll get there in comfort. Then, you can unleash the twin-turbocharged fury that is the GT V8 S.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible: This is the most powerful Chevrolet Camaro convertible ever. It makes 580 horsepower from it’s supercharged LSA engine, which is just a detuned version of the 638-horsepower LS9 motor found in the beastly C6 Corvette ZR1. It’s got either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Getting the convertible eliminates the bunker-like visibility that the Camaro coupe is known for, plus you get a nice tan driving a convertible. It has some pretty big, cool wheels, an exhaust note that sounds like it belongs to a Top Fuel Funny Car, and looks that are pretty amazing, if I say so myself.
Honda Accord Hybrid: This is Honda’s second attempt at building an Accord Hybrid. So far, it seems to be more successful than Honda’s first attempt from 2005-2006. It’s got decent power, plenty of inexpensive, good options, and a base price that is affordable to many. I’m sure that it is a good interstate cruiser because it has a powerful four-cylinder engine with Honda’s VTEC technology, a CVT, and an electric motor that helps boost power when the gas pedal gets pushed in more than 50%. I’m also positive that it’s good around town, because the gas engine doesn’t kick in until you’re going above 35 mph. It’s got a range close to 650 miles, so you’ll have to go to the bathroom before the car needs to get filled up.

June 10, 2014 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info, World News

The Ferrari LaFerrari is a Dream Come True…for a Lucky Few!

It should be worth mentioning to you that copious amounts of drool may ensue while reading this article. If you’re a numbers junkie, read ahead. If you’re an experience junkie, read ahead. If you’re a looks person, read ahead. Well, you got it. There’s something for everybody in this car, and this article! The 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari is the most powerful production Ferrari ever made. Yipe. It’s also the first hybrid Ferrari ever made. Yowza. It’s carbon-fiber tub (where the driver and passenger sit) is made from the same carbon fiber as the frighteningly fast Ferrari F1 cars, and it’s formed by the same team that makes the F1 cars. Wow. It’s name translates to “The Ferrari.” As emissions regulations around the world get harder, supercar manufacturers are forced to turn to alternative different forms of power. McLaren’s powerful P1 hypercar uses two turbochargers, an electric motor, and an already powerful 3.8-liter V8. Stuttgart fired back with an equally impressive salvo that is the 918 Spyder, which uses an insanely powerful naturally aspirated V8 with two electric motors. The LaFerrari is just as, if not more impressive. It’s pretty darn hard to beat a Ferrari V12 for power, reliability, and sound. All three of said cars are spiritual and literal successors to simply amazing hypercars from about 10-15 years ago. The P1 is the successor to the legendary McLaren F1 of the late 1990’s. The 918 replaces the controversial Carrera GT, the car that Paul Walker and Roger Rodas died in late last year. The LaFerrari replaces the stunning Enzo, named for Enzo Ferrari, the founder of Ferrari. But, we aren’t going to be talking THAT much about the LaFerrari’s rivals. The seats are bolted directly to the carbon fiber tub, which means that they are not adjustable. Ferrari tailors seat padding for each and every customer and their passenger. A small lever does move the pedals fore and aft. The flat-bottomed steering wheel adapted from the Ferrari 458 Italia Speciale telescopes and moves up and down. The LCD screen that is the speedometer and tachometer has a 9000 RPM redline, but the engine will briefly go to 9250 RPM. The V12 engine is pulled from the F12 Berlinetta, which means that it displaces 6.3 liters, and puts out a shriek like nothing of this world. It trades low-end power for a higher redline (the F12 stops revving at 8250 RPM, and the LaFerrari stops revving at 9000). It also makes 58 more horsepower (731 versus 789). The 161-horsepower electric motor that is bolted to the back of the equally fabulous seven-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission kicks in at low speeds and when the engine hits redline. There is no EV mode, as Ferrari estimates that the range from the batteries is under 6 miles, and Ferrari has no plans of adding more batteries or EV range. With a combined 950 horsepower, this car is more far more powerful than the 903-horsepower P1 or the 887-horsepower 918 Spyder. This means that the Launch button looks pretty dang tantalizing. Ferrari claims 0-60 in under 3 seconds, but won’t allow any major automotive media publications to gather data. A nice touch is the small plaque at the bottom of the steering wheel, which allows owners to put whatever they want onto it. The steering should be quick, as Ferrari says that the steering wheel will turn just under two turns lock-to-lock. That’s on par with an F1 car. Yet another Ferrari first is the electromechanical steering. That basically means that an electric motor boosts the steering in addition to the power booster. The rear wing moves up and down, yet Ferrari claims that it shouldn’t impede driver rearview visibility too terribly much. The flaps at the front of the hood lift up when the brakes are applied. Combine those two flaps with the rear wing, and the car can generate up to 800 pounds of downforce at 125 mph. The LaFerrari also has an active exhaust system. This means that there is a series of flaps inside of the mufflers to mute the noise when you’re not digging into the throttle. When you get into the throttle, the valves stay open for more noise. Another bonus – the electric motor’s high-pitched whine is drowned out by the wail of the V12! Yet another added bonus is the fact that every single piece of electronics in the LaFerrari don’t interfere with the driver, which means that the driver can drive as fast as they want to (on a track!) without having to fight all of the nannies. That’s a problem with most new cars. Give a driver a car with nannies that they have to fight, and it can lead to a horrible driving experience.

May 2, 2014 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info, Tech Talk, The auto dictionary. Look it up here!, World News

Dodge Revives Classic Shaker Hoods and Scat Packs!

While it’s been a couple of months since the 2014 SEMA show in Las Vegas, I only recently heard about the legendary Shaker Hoods and Scat Packs returning to Mopar!

Since the 2014 Dodge Challenger looks like it’s 1970 ancestor, it seems fitting that the Challenger should have the legendary Shaker Hood. Like the original Challenger, the 2014 Challenger can also be fitted with a hood that has the air scoop directly attached to the engine. This Shaker Hood isn’t just a useless piece of retro jewelry, either. It provides cooling air to the thirsty HEMI engine under that beautiful hood.

What makes the Shaker Hood even more accessible to enthusiasts who want a 2014 Challenger is the fact that it comes as its own special model! It’s called the 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker, and it comes with it’s unique graphics, a period-correct Satin Black Shaker Hood, plus the optional Super Track Pack performance package and a few other cosmetic changes. It also comes with a spectacular creamsicle-orange color that is a must!

Also returning for 2014 is the Scat Pack. The last time the Scat Pack was seen on the 1968 Challenger, Charger, and Dart. Back then, it was called the “Scat Pack Club” package, and it collectively referred to all of the performance models, and it also encouraged camaraderie among enthusiasts and owners. This time around, however, Dodge is using the moniker as a performance package for, you guessed it, the Dart, Charger, and Challenger.

Each Scat Pack package is available in three stages, with each stage offering additional performance enhancements for the mighty 5.7-liter HEMI V8 on the Charger and Challenger and the turbocharged 2.4-liter four cylinder on the Dart.

These performance enhancements include enhanced ECU tuning, and freer-flowing intake and exhaust systems. The V8 cars come with more serious modifications: Not only do they come with what’s mentioned above, but they get new Iskendarian camshafts, and ported-and-polished cylinder heads – in the upper levels. The Dart has to make do with brake and suspension enhancements. All three Scat Pack cars come with cool graphics and custom interiors done up with Katzkin leather.

The Challenger R/T Shaker and the Scat Pack Challenger, Charger, and Dart will arrive in dealers by mid-May 2014.

April 25, 2014 zoomvroom New car info, The History of Autos, World News

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Black Bess Headed to Beijing Auto Show

Bugatti’s recently gotten into the habit of making special-edition Veyrons. The special-edition Veyrons are a six-part series of limited-edition Veyrons offered to the public. The one I am talking about, “Black Bess,” is installment number five in the series.

The “Black Bess” Veyron pays homage to the Bugatti Type 18 “Black Bess.” Like the original Type 18 Black Bess, the new Veyron Black Bess is painted black with gold accents throughout the exterior. I’ve got to say it looks pretty darn good. Some of these gold accents, believe it or not, like the grille and rear badge, are made out of legitimate 24-karat gold!

Inside the Veyron Black Bess, it’s got beige leather seats, contrasting brown leather trim, and a red steering wheel. All three of those are homages to the original Type 18 Black Bess. The inspiration for the Veyron Black Bess is notable everywhere, especially on the interior door panels, which feature hand-painted scenes of the Type 18 Black Bess in action. Each of the six Veyron Black Bess’s will feature different artwork to ensure that no two are alike.

As for the Type 18 Black Bess, it got it’s name from it’s original owner, French aviation pioneer, Roland Garros, who named it after a British race horse of the era. The Bugatti Type 18 was one of the original supercars. It had a 5.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine making around 100 horsepower. That gave it a 100 mph top speed, and all seven Type 18’s had (or still have) an impressive racing pedigree.

The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Legends Black Bess made it’s debut at the 2014 Beijing International Auto Show alongside the original Black Bess on April 21.

April 11, 2014 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info

A Lincoln Town Car for the Modern Day

Fans of Ford’s Panther platform will no doubt cry “blasphemy” and a whole other host of names. Haters gonna hate. If you’re a Panther fan, keep it to yourself and read this blog post, or come back next Tuesday.

Not only does the Hyundai Equus Ultimate serve as Hyundai’s flagship, it also costs as much as a premium midsize sedan like the 2014 Cadillac CTS. I’m not suggesting a comparison – the CTS is in a completely different league than the Equus. While Hyundai’s execution of a fullsize flagship sedan is good, it’s not quite as good as the Lexus LS460, Mercedes-Benz S550, and BMW 750i/Li. It’s just that you can’t really build a value-oriented flagship and expect it to compete against manufacturers that have at least 25 years of practice. It’s the equivalent of In-n-Out going completely vegan. You just don’t expect it to be good.

Panther platform enthusiasts will be quick to point out that the 12.3-18.3 inch-shorter Equus doesn’t have body-on-frame construction. The Equus DOES, however, have a 2.7-inch longer wheelbase than ANY Panther platform car. Like the Town Car, the Equus is styled much more conservatively than the love-it-or-hate-it Cadillac XTS and bulbous Lincoln MKS. The Equus has a roomy, comfortable interior filled with amenities and options that the Lincoln Town Car never offered. It’s also rear-wheel-drive, and it’s got a smooth, very powerful V8 shared with the Hyundai Genesis. It’s the only modern car to have clear Lincoln Town Car DNA in it. It’s obvious who Hyundai is trying to attract.

Rear seat passengers can now individually control the infotainment system, look up restaurants on the go, and even enter destinations while moving. All 2014 Equus models get a standard three-zone climate control system (driver, passenger, rear passengers) standard. Ultimate models now seat five people instead of four. Very few of its competitors offer four seats instead of five in top-of-the-line models. Ultimate models also come with cruise control with a unique 0 mph stop-start function, front, rear, and multi-view cameras. It also comes with a proximity key that turns the exterior and interior lights on and off, as well as unfolding the side mirrors. The doors automatically close a la minivan, and power lumbar support for rear outboard passengers.

For those drivers who want to have performance, fear not. The engine is a 429-horsepower 5.0-liter V8. The front bushings are completely new. As for the Sport and Tour modes, they have been revised for improved ride and handling, respectively.

Because its cabin is so insulated, and its powertrain is so smooth, the optional heads-up display is justifiable. Since the suspension is engineered for comfort, lots of brake dive and body roll make it less than ideal for back road barnstorming. It also probably diminishes driver confidence on the street, especially in the city.

While the Equus isn’t quite up to par with the Lexus LS460 in terms of interior quality, it has a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with separate lumbar controls. The front passenger seat has 10 ways to make you more comfortable. Outboard rear seats have four ways and lumbar. Like the S-Class, the Equus has many of its front and rear switches conveniently located high on the doors.

Up until the end of the 2013 model year, the Equus Ultimate only sat four people. It had a massage function for the driver and the right rear passenger (where many passengers sit). The 2014 model offers seating for five people, but no massaging seats. The 2014 model also has controls for the: Infotainment system, rear climate control, and rear seats on the fold-down center armrest in the rear seat. A “Relax” button moves and tilts the front passenger seat forward before reclining the rear passenger seat. The “Return” button returns both seats to their previous positions. Now that both rear seats recline, the available power footrest is no more.

Like the Lincoln Town Car, the Hyundai Equus Ultimate offers full-size space and all of the luxury touches one would expect in a flagship. Another similar thing between these two vehicles designed for those like to be chauffeured around – neither lives up to the standard set by the Lexus LS460, Mercedes-Benz S550, and BMW 750i/Li. While the value-oriented Equus can be compared to a modern Lincoln Town Car, it does have something that the big Lincoln never had – a 429-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 and 8-speed automatic transmission. In my mind, the Hyundai Equus picks up right where the Lincoln Town Car left off. Now, the one thing that Hyundai has left – the monumental task of convincing everybody the virtues of a bargain-priced flagship sedan.

February 18, 2014 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info, Out N' About, Road Trips, World News

What One Sees on the Road

After a successful surgery and a minor hiccup, I am back on the road to recovery! This means that I will start publishing every Tuesday and Friday! This should make everybody happy, right? I know that it makes me happy! I’ve got plenty of captivating and funny posts just itching to be published.

While on the road to get to the hospital with my parents, I spotted something most people won’t see…ever. No, it wasn’t a Pagani Huayra (I wish!). It was a car transporter carrying 12 brand-new Ford Interceptor Utilities destined for, you guessed it, the California Highway Patrol! It was one of the most amazing, cool things I’ve ever seen! I just needed to share the pictures I took with you! I hope that you enjoy them!

These are just two of the twelve 2014 Ford Interceptor Utilities on this car transporter!

All of the Interceptor Utilities were destined for the CHP!

I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of all 12 of the Interceptor Utilities. We were simply too close to get a picture of all 12 :( — I’m sorry I didn’t get a picture of all 12 of the Interceptor Utilities. We were simply too close to get a picture of all 12 😦

I will give you some information on the Ford Interceptor Utility. It’s a pretty cool vehicle. The Ford Interceptor Utility is based off of the Ford Explorer SUV, but that’s about where the similarities end. The Ford Interceptor Utility comes standard with FWD, but sales show that an overwhelming majority of buyers buy the Interceptor Utility with AWD. The standard engine is the 3.7-liter, 305 horsepower V6 from the Mustang. The Explorer is a porky vehicle, but with the high-revving, powerful V6 from the Mustang, the Interceptor is no slouch. 60 mph comes up in 6.4 seconds, while 100 mph comes up in 14 seconds. That’s with the Interceptor Utility loaded with all of the gear required by the CHP! A six-speed automatic is the only transmission available. The other engine option for the Interceptor Utility is a 2.0-liter four cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine making 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. This engine has seen service in everything from the Taurus to the civilian Explorer to the Focus ST to the Escape. It’s a durable engine that feels like a V6, and it gets decent mpg in the nearly-5,000 pound Explorer. This engine was also named one of Ward’s Ten Best Engines for 2013. That’s a pretty lofty achievement for Ford. The other engine, the sweet spot in my mind, is the 3.5 liter, twin turbo EcoBoost engine borrowed from the F-150. This is one powerful engine, and it’s been proven to be barrels of fun. It sees service in everything from the Flex to the Taurus to the F-150 to the Explorer. It propels the portly Interceptor Utility to 60 mph in a scant 5.7 seconds. It’s the most popular engine with the CHP, Texas State Patrol, and the Michigan State Patrol.

Don’t forget what the Crown Victoria’s headlights look like. The CHP bought 329 in 2011 before it’s production ended, and they will likely be in service until at least 2016.

I hope that you laughed yourselves silly over Roadkill. Let me know what your favorite episode of Roadkill was!

January 19, 2014 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info, World News

The 12 Stunning Detroit International Auto Show Debuts!

The Detroit International Auto Show always has a lot of cool new debuts. As one might expect, a LOT of new American metal debuts there. But, foreign cars are also starting to be debuted at Detroit more and more. Enjoy my top 12 debuts

2015 Ford F150: With the majority of the 2015 Ford F150 made out of aluminum, the 2015 Ford F150 lost almost 700 pounds. In terms of design, Ford clearly heard the raving about the Atlas Concept. The 2015 F150 looks almost exactly like the Atlas! In terms of engines, Ford’s taken the liberty of making smaller, more powerful engines the norm for the F150. The base engine is a 3.5-liter V6 (the same one residing under the hood of the Explorer). Ford also dropped the thirsty 6.2-liter V8 from the lineup. The only available V8 is the splendid 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 shared with the Mustang. The 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 stays, but the EcoBoost has a smaller EcoBoost sister engine. The smaller EcoBoost engine displaces a seemingly small 2.7 liters, yet makes as much power as the outgoing 3.7-liter V6. All four engines will be mated to Ford’s six-speed automatic, but don’t be surprised to see the 10-speed automatic being co-developed with GM come into the mix sometime soon. I can’t wait to see the 2015 F150 in person!
2015 Chrysler 200: Chrysler’s been hit hard the last five or six years. First, it’s bankruptcy. Then, it’s being bought out completely by Fiat, then it’s just about every model coming out of the Auburn Hills factory being blasted with hate mail from every single automotive magazine in the U.S. Chrysler’s trying to make up that image. The design of the 2015 Chrysler 200 is simply stunning. Based on the Dodge Dart’s platform, the 2015 Chrysler 200 will be instantly recognizable to anybody who has seen a 2013 Dodge Dart. Chrysler’s trying to make the 200 easier to live with. It’s got standard pass-through storage, better ergonomics, and most things in the cabin are electronic. The 9-speed automatic that is used in the Jeep Cherokee will be standard across the line. A 2.4-liter TigerShark 4-cylinder engine borrowed from the Dodge Dart is standard. The step-up engine is a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. I don’t know about you, but Chrysler just might be able to make an extremely competitive car in an extremely competitive segment.
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe: Cadillac’s seen a massive resurgence in past years. The 2008 CTS won Motor Trend’s 2008 Car of the Year trophy, and the 2013 ATS and 2014 CTS have both been praised for their good looks and fun-to-drive factors. Just about everything is shared with the ATS sedan. That’s a good thing. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine has 295-lb-ft of torque available at 3000 RPM. Amazingly, the ATS coupe is said to weigh just 45 more pounds than the ATS sedan. Cadillac’s even partnered with AT&T, Verizon, and T Mobile to ensure that the ATS Coupe has 4G LTE hotspot connectivity.
2015 BMW M3/M4: BMW’s become obsessed with turbocharged engines. Not only do they offer more performance, but they reduce weight and give better fuel economy. The 2015 M3/M4 have a twin-turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine that makes somewhere in the neighborhood of 425 horsepower. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual (score for the purists), and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission borrowed from the M5 is optional. BMW says that they cut 175 pounds compared to the E90 generation M3, so the 2015 M3/M4 should weigh about as much as an E46 M3. The M3/M4 look extremely aggressive. The front ends have massive air intakes, a bulging power-rise hood, and a wider front and rear track compared to the standard 3/4 Series models.
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZO6: The 2015 ZO6 makes 625 horsepower (13 less than the ZR-1), and it has an 8-speed automatic transmission that shifts faster than a Porsche PDK transmission. Chevy’s offering THREE aerodynamics packages borrowed from the C7.R race car, and it has the seven-speed manual transmission from the regular Stingray standard. GM says that the 2015 ZO6 shattered course records at the Milford proving grounds on its FIRST time at the track!
2015 Ford Mustang: Since I’ve already covered the 2015 Ford Mustang, I won’t spend too terribly much time on the 2015 Mustang. Ford won’t answer many questions about the 2015 Mustang, which means that they’re still working on it. Whatever. It looks great, and I expect it to handle much better, as it’s been redesigned from the ground up!
2014 Porsche 911 Targa: Finally, Porsche’s come out with the return of the iconic 911 Targa. The 911 Targa doesn’t have the sliding top like previous Targas. The Porsche 911 Targa is sure to bring back fond memories for many. Because it’s a Porsche, expect to be set back at least $100,000 for a Targa 4S. I can’t wait to see the 2014 911 Targa in person!
2015 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: Subaru has made it’s reputation for making pocket rockets. The 2015 WRX gave some hope for enthusiasts. It’s equally at home rocketing down a gravel road or zooming around a track. The STI improves on that. It makes 305 horsepower (it uses the same engine as the previous generation), but it looks a whole lot better than the previous generation. It looks more like a DTM race car combined with a WRC rally car. Subie won’t tell ANYBODY how much the STI will weigh. That’s a shame, because previous Subaru WRX STI’s have been plump.
Kia GT4 Stinger Concept: I think that I can safely agree with everybody here that Kia seriously needs to stop making amazing-looking concept cars until it decides to build them. The GT4 Stinger has four seats, a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual. Naturally, one’s mind drifts towards the Subaru BR-Z and Scion FR-S, the natural competitors to the GT4 Stinger. Before Kia shoves this car into some secret bunker at the 38th Parallel, they need to build this car. The engine is essentially a depowered version of the 400-horsepower engine used in the Pirelli World Challenge Optimas. Kia, are you reading my thoughts? If you are, BUILD THIS CAR!
Toyota FT-1 Concept: Toyota’s trying to appeal to enthusiasts. The last car that did that? The Supra. Toyota’s FT-1 looks stunning, and it’s even available in Gran Turismo 6! Toyota won’t tell what’s under the hood. We all know that the Supra engine is dead. Lexus is experimenting with high-powered 5.0-liter V8s in the IS F, and I could easily see the IS F’s engine under the hood of this stunning concept. Even if Toyota doesn’t build this car, it still shows what future Toyota styling might look like.
Volvo XC Concept Coupe: Volvo’s made it’s living with industry-leading safety advances, but safety doesn’t sell millions of cars. So, Volvo’s started cranking out extremely promising concept cars. Considering that Plug-in Hybrid is etched into the fenders, it’s obvious that the XC Concept Coupe is definitely a hybrid. Volvo stresses the fact that the XC Concept Coupe has “rich XC Heritage.” Considering Volvo’s been making SUV’s since 1997, one could agree that the XC Concept Coupe would look stellar as a shooting brake.
Audi A8 L Security: Some fullsize luxury sedan buyers want theirs to be bulletproof. Audi’s joined the fight against gunfight victims with the A8 L Security. The A8 L Security is beefed up to an extreme. It takes 450 man-hours to make all of the bulletproof components for the A8 L Security. It is able to withstand sub-caliber machine gun fire, and buyers can even opt for an emergency exit system that blows the hinges off the doors, as well as a fire suppression system and an emergency fresh-air system. The extra weight will substantially hamper performance, but the driver and passengers can get out of a sticky situation safer.

On a separate note, I have to go in for surgery next week. During my time in the hospital, I will not have access to a computer, and I probably won’t be up to publishing anyways! I don’t know how long I will be out for, but keep yourselves entertained with the Motor Trend Youtube Channel! My favorite show is Roadkill. I think you’ll enjoy it just as much as I do. You can start watching the videos now at http://www.youtube.com/user/MotorTrend

January 4, 2014 zoomvroom New car info, The auto dictionary. Look it up here!, The History of Autos, World News

The Highly Anticipated 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Will Cost $75,000!

For me, the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro will always hold a special place in my heart. Maybe it was the 2006 Camaro Concept that I saw many moons ago. Maybe it was the 1969 COPO Camaro I saw at the Sonoma Raceway Dragstrip at the summertime Wednesday Drags (I highly recommend going there – admission is $10 for spectators, and $25 gets you a place to drag race your vehicle from 4-10 PM! Also, Top the Cop is cool [$25 for students allows high-school students to drag race cops in full uniform and squad cars!]). Maybe it was Hot Rod Magazine’s 1967 Crusher Camaro. Whatever it was, I feel a sense of longing and lust for the Camaro. Every car has it’s own faults. For the Camaro, it’s the fact that you’ve got about as much visibility as a military bunker. The terrible gas mileage in performance-oriented models doesn’t help, either. Whatever. Chevrolet offers a Camaro for every enthusiast and every budget. The base V6 Camaro is a pretty good deal. It’s got a sweet 312-horsepower V6 that gets pretty good fuel economy ratings for something it’s size. The Camaro SS takes it up another notch. It makes 426 horsepower with the manual transmission (the only way to drive a Camaro!) from a slightly detuned Corvette LS3 engine. For those who like the car to shift for itself, you’ll have to deal with a mere 400 horsepower! The ZL1 takes the Camaro to a whole new level of performance. It makes 580 horsepower from a detuned LS9 engine (from the beloved C6 Corvette ZR1), and it makes the same amount of horsepower with both a manual transmission or an automatic transmission. This is a true bruiser. The Z/28 makes 500 horsepower from the splendid 7.0-liter V8 previously found in the Corvette ZO6. When Chevy announced that they were bringing back the storied Z/28 name, I felt that Chevy would finally do it right again. Let me give you history on the Z/28 package/model in the Camaro.

The first-generation Camaro Z/28 debuted in 1967. It came around because Chevrolet wanted to start dominating the SCCA Trans-Am series. The Shelby GT350 Mustang team was simply leaving bits and pieces of Chevy’s pride at American road courses all over the country. Chevy was infuriated. Thus came along the Z/28. The SCCA Trans-Am series required that all cars had an engine displacement of 305 cubic inches or less. Chevy’s smallest Camaro V8 was the 327-cubic inch V8. The next-smallest V8 that Chevy had was the 283-cubic inch V8. By putting the 283 parts on the 327, Chevy created a 302-cubic inch V8. It was officially rated at 290 horsepower, but dynomometer tests showed the car easily made 350 horsepower. Racing versions made at least 450 horsepower. The 1967-1969 Camaro Z/28 came with the 302-cubic inch engine, a Muncie M21 transmission, J56 heavy-duty front disc brakes, along with racing-spec rear drum brakes. Positraction was highly recommended.

The second-generation Camaro Z/28 (1970-1974) had much more handsome styling, more power, and better everything. There were some significant differences with the new Camaro Z/28. First of all, the LT-1 350-cubic inch V8 was essentially a Corvette LT-1 with 10 less horsepower (360 vs. 370). The reason that the stock Z/28 came with the LT-1 is because the SCCA Trans-Am series allowed for engines to be destroked. Another big mechanical change was the availability of an automatic transmission in the Z/28. Appearance and sales went off a cliff with the federally-mandated aluminum bumpers with rubber strips. To avert everybody’s eyes from the ugly bumpers, Chevy made gigantic Z/28 decals and a big power bulge hood. It worked. Sales went back up. Also, airline passengers could spot a Z/28 from 20,000 feet in the air. Chevy was so disappointed with what happened with the Z/28 that they discontinued the Z/28 until 1977.

1977 was still the second-generation Camaro, and it marked the rebirth of a legendary car. The 1977 Camaro Z/28 still had the big bumpers, but they were body-colored. The 1977 Z/28 made a weak 185 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque from an emissions-choked 350 cubic-inch V8. The emphasis was on handling, not outright acceleration like previous Z/28’s. The hood scoops found on the 1979 Z/28 became fully functional in 1980. Chevrolet added a cold-air intake to the Z/28. Power jumped up from 175 horsepower to 190 horsepower. California was the loser on this deal. They had to deal with a 165-horsepower 305 cubic-inch V8. Poor Californians.

The 1982 Chevrolet Camaro was the 3rd-generation Camaro. The Z/28 still had an emphasis on handling, which was a good thing. The 305 cranked out all of 145 horsepower. The 165-horsepower 350 cubic-inch V8 wasn’t going to win any drag races, either. When the Camaro Z/28 was chosen as the 1982 Indianapolis 500 Official Pace Car. Chevrolet was so happy that they built 6,360 Camaro Z/28 Commemorative Editions. All 6,360 Commemorative Edition Z/28s were blue and silver with Indy 500 graphics. 1983 helped out the Z/28. A five-speed manual became standard equipment for the first time. Chevrolet somehow managed to squeak out 190 horsepower from the 305 cubic-inch V8. Booyah. The Z/28 got exciting with the introduction of the 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 IROC-Z. Fuel injection kicked carburetors out from the Camaro for good. Chevrolet’s engineers tuned the port fuel injection system in the Z/28 get 215 horsepower from the 305 cubic-inch V8. The 1987 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Z/28 IROC-Z got the 350 cubic-inch V8 again (Chevy dropped the engine from the Camaro Z/28 lineup in 1984). It was rated at 220 horsepower, and was only available in IROC-Z Z/28’s. From 1988-1990, there was no Camaro Z/28. In 1991, Chevrolet dropped the IROC-Z, as Dodge took over the IROC series. So, the Z/28 came back. 1992 marked the end of the 3rd generation Camaro. It was also the 25th anniversary of the Camaro. Chevy gave the Camaro new (in my eyes, better) looks with the Heritage Appearance Package.

2014 marked the return of the storied Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. Powered by a 500-horsepower, 7.0-liter V8 (the same engine found in the Chevrolet Corvette ZO6), the Z/28 isn’t all about handling like its ancestors. It has a Tremec six-speed manual, a limited-slip differential with helical gears, carbon-ceramic brakes, Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires, forged 19-inch alloy wheels, Recaro seats, and a 300-pound weight advantage over the portly 4,120 pound Camaro ZL1. In addition to all of that, it is one of the first production cars in the world to have race-proven, spool valve adjustable suspension dampers, which allow engineers or mechanics to adjust the suspension to use four-way damping control. Stiffer spring rates and higher bushing rates allow for higher cornering speeds. Much of the development testing for the 2014 Camaro Z/28 was done at the Nürburgring, where the 2014 Camaro Z/28 posted an astonishing 7:37.47 in the rain! Even though it has 500 horsepower going to the ground through rear-wheel-drive, it still beat cars that were built to go around the Nürburgring, like the Type 991 Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Audi R8 V10 Plus. While $75,000 is expensive, you get a lot of car for the money. Plus, those in Audi R8s will scoff at you…until they eat your burnt hydrocarbons!

Sales will start near the end of January, 2014. The first deliveries to customers will begin in April. The very first 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, with the VIN #0001, will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, Arizona Auction taking place on January 18, 2014. I can’t wait to see the new Camaro Z/28! How about you?

Enjoy the video of the 2014 Camaro Z/28 giving a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca a run for its money…and customers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv8I-gqc6sc

Also enjoy the pictures of every generation of Camaro Z/28! I have also attached pictures of vintage Camaro’s that dominated tracks during their time!

December 24, 2013 zoomvroom New car info, The auto dictionary. Look it up here!, World News

A Great Feature, on What Will Surely Be a Great Car!

While Ford hasn’t announced the special feature that will be on their upcoming 2015 Mustang, sources at Ford, along with speculation among us auto enthusiasts is bringing us to believe that the 2015 Ford Mustang’s special feature will be burnout control. Yep, burnout control. Ford, we can do perfectly good burnouts on our own, without a special computer for it! Signed, auto enthusiasts around the world.

I’m sure that the burnout control feature, which has been confirmed by sources at Ford, will have the option of being fully disabled, just like traction control. Ford won’t give any clues as to how the burnout control feature will work, but here are some ideas of how it may work:

A line lock on the front brakes (think NASCAR or F1 style), while simultaneously disabling traction control
Taking the rev limiter off to get the engine speed up high enough for the perfect clutch dump, and then turning the rear tires into history!
Holding the engine at a certain RPM for a matter of seconds before having the driver dump the clutch

Think of it as launch control for burnouts! Speaking of launch control, it will be on the 2015 Mustang as well! That way, you can do the perfect burnout and then do the perfect 1/4 mile. Who wouldn’t like that?

In addition to burnout control, you can expect to see a long list of high tech, exciting new features on the 2015 Mustang, including:

Independent rear suspension
Adaptive cruise control
Blind spot monitoring
Front independent suspension
Upgraded valves, cam, and cylinder heads
New intake manifold
2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
Standard 6-speed manual transmission (score for the purists!)
Paddle shifters for the 6-speed automatic transmission
Driver-adjustable stability
Driver-adjustable steering
Driver-adjustable throttle and transmission calibration
Launch control
SYNC with MyFord Touch
Shaker Pro Audio system (previously optional on Mustang GT with Tech Package)
Blind-spot monitoring
Cross-traffic alert
Better ergonomics
Nicer leather
More supportive seats
Better styling inside and out!

All of that put together in a stylish, tidy package will do wonders with new buyers and purists of the Ford Mustang. Oh, did I mention that the 2015 Mustang’s launch coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang? All 2015 Ford Mustangs will have a Ford Mustang badge, as well as “Mustang, since 1965.” Life just doesn’t get much better than that! Have a Merry Christmas!