June 11, 2013 zoomvroom Car Culture, Humor, World News

Truly, Only in Dubai!

I’m sure most of you know of this already, but the, er, unfortunate, uneducated soul on CNN a few weeks ago called the latest addition to the Dubai Police Force the Lamborghini AvenTadoor. Not the Aventadoor, the AvenTadoor. Sounds like something out of Star Wars, right? Well, let’s try and forgive her (I can’t, but somebody might…)…Anyhow, the Dubai Police Force is just itching to pull some of those Saudi Midsize Hooners (YouTube “Saudi Midsize Hooners” to see what I’m talking about!)!

It’s true. The Dubai Police Force has gone and done it. They went out and bought a Lamborghini Aventadoor LP 700-4. While it has a top speed of 217 mph, don’t expect for them to go cruising around at those speeds while eating donuts (or whatever Middle-Eastern cops eat by the ton)! The Aventadoor is going to be used to deter owners of high-powered supercars and/or promote tourist areas in Dubai. This probably means that there are going to be pictures of friends in Dubai. Sitting in the car that you wish you drive next to some Saudi Arabian cop who’s the same size as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but who cares, anyways?

While no changes have been made mechanically to the car (it’s so powerful and cop-ready that it doesn’t need to have any mechanical upgrades), there are some regulatory changes made to the interior. Inside, there is an advanced video monitoring system, a GPS data logger, a radar gun, and other necessary police equipment. A set of flashing lights has been added to the roof that’s less than 3 feet off of the ground!

This is not the first time that a Lamborghini has been enlisted for police duty. The first Lamborghini to be used for police service was a 2008 Gallardo LP 560-4 that was bought by the Italian State Police.

Until now, the fastest police car in the Middle East was a 2011 Nissan GT-R used by the Abu Dhabi police force. Now, they’ve got a Lamborghini Aventadoor, a Chevrolet Camaro SS, a Ferrari FF, and a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302. Those are some spoiled cops!

December 30, 2012December 30, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture, Out N' About

Out ‘N About In Sonoma County

I am going easy on you, what with the holiday rush. So, here’s a picture heavy/text light post. Look at what great cars I get to see as I go about my daily life.

The photos of the Datsun pickup are of our mechanic’s 1973 Datsun 1/4 ton that he inherited from his grandfather.

It’s a pretty cool truck with a nice leather interior. It’s got American Racing Torqthrust wheels that give it a shiny aftertaste. It’s a nice little hauler/daily driver!

A couple of weeks ago, my mom was driving by a smoke shop and happened to see this lovely 1930s Cadillac. I like the Chevy Aveo trying to look cool in the picture!In Santa Rosa, CA, there is an avid fire truck collector/restorer. I happened to be driving by and there was an early Ward LaFrance fire truck from the 1960s! They don’t get much nicer than this one!

We also saw a lovely 1942 Ford Tudor Convertible (I know that they didn’t make any Tudor convertibles, but the owner seems to think so…)

While volunteering for community service at an event at John Ash & Co, I happened to see this lovely 1952 Chevy delivery van. It’s driven most days, from what I’ve heard. Go to the event in style and have a lot of space left over! Booyah!

My mom snapped the pictures of this lovely Ford Ranchero when she was at “work.”

Yet another beauty we saw was this pristine 1960 Chevrolet Impala wagon.

For those of you who enjoy old Ford pickups, this one’s for you. My mom and I were going to pick my sister up and we saw this beautiful old Ford F-2 from around 1955 driving along. From what I could see, it’s used a lot.

When my dad and I were at a regatta, we saw quite a few lovely old trucks. I’ll start off with this old Dodge rat rod. I’ve seen it a lot, but it’s usually being driven too fast for me to take a picture! It’s pretty cool.

We also saw this ancient Chevy Cameo pickup from Oregon. It’s loaded with a lot of miscellaneous items, but it’s a hard-working old pickup that earns it’s oil changes.

While there, we also happened to see this period-correct Ford F-1 ice cream truck. The owner was raking in the cash, and the truck got a lot of thumbs-up!

The El Camino peeking its nose into the picture with the ice cream truck is driven daily, and looks amazing. It was marketed as a truck that drove like a car. This one is from the late 1970s, and is all original!

I hope that you had a bountiful holiday season, and wish you a happy New Year. Since New Year’s day is on a Tuesday, I’m going to take a mini-vacation from the blog, and will be back next week. Thanks for being such loyal and wonderful readers. You can look forward to more interesting and wonderful posts in 2013. I happen to have a FABULOUS one up my sleeve! Stay tuned.

Happy New Year!

November 20, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info, Road Trips

Making A Grand Entrance, or Getting to Thanksgiving in Style

As you know, Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season with a full belly. At least 80% of all Americans travel for the holiday. I know that those who are traveling by road will be traveling the crowded interstates. For those taking the back roads, I’ve put together a list of ten cars that have at least 400 horsepower and seat four people comfortably. Tell me which one you’d like to take.

Audi S8: The 2013 Audi S8 has 520 horsepower, yet it isn’t a car that is 6000 pounds and fast in a straight line like a Rolls. Instead, it weighs 4400 pounds. With Audi’s signature Quattro AWD system, the S8 will go where a Rolls would never think of going. Do you know of any full-size sedans other than the S8 than can get to 60 in 3.5 seconds? Plus, the interior will enclose you in Alacantara and leather sourced from the finest tanneries in the world. Not a bad way to travel…
Bentley Mulsanne: Would you like to make an even grander entrance than the S8? If you do, take the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne. A 505 horsepower 6.75 liter, twin turbo V8 powers the massive Bentley to a heart-stopping 4.8 seconds to 60. It might not be as fast as the S8, but it will look better at speed. All four of you and your lucky friends will be enshrouded in pillowy, massaging seats that have leather.
Cadillac CTS-V Wagon: The Caddy is one of the more powerful cars here, yet one of the first choices for a back-road blast. The CTS-V Wagon is fast, with a top speed of 190 mph (governed!), and it will carry turkeys, luggage, and plenty of eggnog and brew for Thanksgiving without breaking a sweat. Plus, it will look like you are having a blast. Which you WILL be, right?
Dodge Charger SRT-8: The Charger has long held a soft spot in my big car heart. It’s fast, it makes a statement, and it’s loud. What’s not to love? Plus, the SRT-8 can be purchased for under $50,000! 60 mph comes up in a show-stopping 4.3 seconds. This makes it the large family-oriented performance car of the century!
Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec: The Hyundai is the first Korean performance sedan. It competes with the Mercedes-Benz E550, yet offers almost as much room as a MBZ S-Class. It may be smaller than the gigantic Equus, but it’s MUCH more fun to drive. Plus, it will get people asking what it is. Some will think it’s a Lexus, others will think is a Mercedes. Tell them it’s a Hyundai, and take some photos for me!
Jaguar XJL Supercharged: The 470 horsepower, 5.0 liter engine is powerful enough to move this big boy. Fast. The interior is even nicer than the engine. There is a suede-like material that Jag used for the headliner that is very soft and nice. The engine is so powerful that you can load up the trunk and have your friends in the back stretched out. What’s not to love?
Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged: The Range Rover Supercharged has a 510 horsepower engine that is basically the same one you’ll find in the XJL Supercharged. This powerful engine will take the nearly 5000-pound SUV to 60 in a mere 5.2 seconds. Plus, it will haul all your gear wherever you want it. You can quite literally load up the shotguns and go hunting wild turkeys in the Rockies. Plus, it’s got a very similar interior to the XJL Supercharged. Not bad for an SUV that costs almost $120,000.
Mercedes-Benz GL550: The GL wowed the 2013 Motor Trend SUV of the Year judges so much that they named it SUV of the year. It’s the first MBZ to win that title since 2001. The GL550 doles out globs of torque and 429 horsepower. It’s powerful, fast, quiet, AND it will follow the Range Rover Supercharged. For a while. The Designo interior rivals that of the luxurious S-Class, with comfortable leather seats that seat seven. Plus, you can take all your gear in the back and still have room. It’s bigger than an Escalade, yet smaller than a Navigator EL.
Porsche Panamera GTS: The powerful Panamera GTS will haul four people in relative comfort, thanks to it’s leather-covered Recaro seats. It has AWD and 430 horsepower. It’s like the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, with two more doors! And a rumbling V8! Plus, it will get 24.5 mpg on the highway! VROOOOOOOOM!
Tesla Model S Signature Performance Edition: The 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year deserves to be on this list. Why? It’s extremely powerful electric motor produces 416 horsepower at the wheels. This means that it’s there as soon as you start it. It might not have the range of the Mulsanne or the Panamera, but it will make the most amazing entrance ever. It carries almost as much as a Chevy Equinox, plus it has 285 miles of range! Plus, you can get to 60 in jolting 4.0 seconds! This is one silent VROOOOOOOOOOOM!

Have fun daydreaming about what could be, when you’re stuck on the interstate wishing you’d taken the backroads. These cars may not be ‘The Family’s New Car’, but they definitely have serious style! P.S. Do you have any cars that have at least 400 horsepower and seat four comfortably? I’m sure you do…

November 3, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info

The Family’s New Car – What Will it Be?

So many people have been driving their old cars. The economy, ya know. Well, the old cars need CPR (or most likely, a quick and painless retirement). I decided to research options. So here you are, a comparison, and contrast, of the: Toyota Prius Plug-In, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the Chevrolet Volt. I thought that this topic would interest you, so this post is going to be a bit longer than usual.

Toyota Prius Plug In: The Toyota Prius plug-in is virtually indistinguishable from a normal Prius. The only way one can tell the Prius Plug-In apart from a regular Prius are the silver paint on the mirrors, door handles, and tailgate, the car looks the same. Of course, the blue-and-white PLUG-IN HYBRID stickers help. There is also a cutout in the left fender that houses the outlet for the charging cord. In terms of the inside, there are only a few PLUG-IN HYBRID stickers and logos. The cargo floor is also a couple of inches higher, due to the larger battery pack. From the driver’s seat, the car is virtually the same as a regular Prius. The only differences are the fact that the battery pack is much heavier (it is made out of lithium-ion). The car will take a tortoise-like 11.3 seconds to reach 60. In three hours (from a 110-volt current), the car will be completely charged. However, if you have a 220-volt current, you will be on your way in an hour and a half. If you drive like a senior, you can get 13 miles of range before the car starts the normal hybrid cycle of a Toyota Prius. If you drive faster, the range will subsequently go down. Quickly. You can go up to 62 in full electric mode, but that will drain the battery within minutes. Accelerating to freeway speed or going up a hill will bring a moan that sounds like Leo when he’s tired from the engine. Car & Driver gingerly drove the car in the city and were sustained by pure electric power 39% of the time, and got an average of 56 mpg neatly displayed on the navigation screen. However, there are limited dealers that are authorized to sell the Prius Plug-In, so be sure to contact dealers near you. The Toyota Prius Plug-In that I configured on the Toyota website came into a grand total of $33,208 (including an $850 destination charge/shipping tax).

Toyota Camry Hybrid: The Toyota Camry Hybrid has crisper handling than the basic Camry. The Camry Hybrid has a larger trunk than the previous generation (a gain of 2.5 cubic inches to 13.1 cubic inches) and the right side of the rear seat is now the only side that can accommodate long objects. Passenger space has increased to 102.7 inches from 101.4 inches. Toyota has trimmed about 220 pounds from the previous Camry Hybrid, thanks to the use of high-strength steel. The low-rolling-resistance tires and a slicker drag coefficient of 0.27 makes the Camry Hybrid more fuel-efficient and faster. The three “optitron” dials in the car’s multi-information display show: mileage, range, and very important energy flow. In uplevel XLE models, a leather interior and an infotainment system will run you $1160. The eco setting accessed through the multi-information display will significantly inhibit throttle openings and will lower the air-conditioning power consumption to a dull roar. When in pure electric mode, one can travel 1.6 miles below 25 mph. While the Camry Hybrid won’t win a drag race against a Mustang, it will win a drag race against the basic Camry. The Camry Hybrid rockets to 60 mph in a monumental 7.3 seconds! The Camry Hybrid will brake shorter and sooner than the previous generation Camry Hybrid. Stops have been measured at 178 feet, compared to the older Camry Hybrid’s 200. Also, the new electric braking system is so smooth that you won’t feel queasy, even if you stomp on the brake pedal. There is not enough lateral support in the front seats during hard cornering. There is more rear-seat room, thanks to the car’s redesign and the center console and front seatbacks being redesigned. This is especially better for the passenger in the center seat. The Camry Hybrid LE that I configured on the Toyota website came into a grand total of $27,033. That includes the $850 destination charge/shipping tax, which puts the car on par with the Chevrolet Volt (in terms of pricing).

Chevrolet Volt: Changes in the battery pack in the Chevrolet Volt have made the car’s range go up to 38 miles in pure electric mode. The EPA fuel economy for the car has gone up to 98 mpg. The larger battery pack means that the charging time from a 120-volt current will snap up 10.5 hours of charging time. With a 240-volt current, that time is dramatically reduced to 4.25 hours. Any Chevrolet Volt sold in California will automatically come with a low-emissions package that will make it legal to drive in the carpool lane with only one person. For many owners, work is just within reach of the electric range, so they can charge the car at work and come home without ever turning on the gas generator engine. When owners DO use the gas generator engine, the cost is usually less than $100 a month. This is mainly because of the massive amounts of technology stored in the Volt. The regenerative braking system can eke about 8 more miles of range into the car. The car will give owners neck-snapping performance in sport mode, and very little acceleration in eco mode. The Volt that I configured on the Chevrolet website was $42,720, but of you add in the $10,000 discount on the Volt, the Volt will run you a mere $22,720. Add in the $7,500 tax rebate and the Volt will run you $25,220.

The Kia Optima Hybrid is a hybrid family sedan that competes (ish) with the Camry Hybrid. It has a lot of bang for the buck, but it has surprisingly bad fuel economy for something with a hybrid logo. The Optima Hybrid is stylish, fun to drive, relatively fast, and did I mention that it will cause traffic jams because of its looks? It only costs a mere $26,000 base price!

Here’s where the fun begins! Comparing and contrasting the three cars won’t be easy. I never thought it would be. The Prius won’t win a beauty contest. That goes to the Volt. In terms of range, the Volt wins again. In terms of being family-friendly, hats off to the Camry Hybrid. In terms of technology, the Prius Plug-In and the Volt are tied. The Volt wins the performance criteria. In terms of utility, the Prius Plug-In wins again. In terms of pricing, the Volt is REALLY trying to end up in your driveway. The Camry Hybrid is REALLY good at making it into your driveway. The Prius Plug-In has the potential to sell as well as the conventional Prius. Which car would I recommend to my parents, or their friends? I would recommend the Volt to them, as it is the most efficient, fun to drive, and has a good deal of storage space. Plus, it wins the beauty contest (in my eyes). It also comes with leather at no added cost, an HOV sticker, and a REALLY cool sound system. Oh, and did I mention that it was the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year!. My second choice? The Camry Hybrid. In years to come, the Camry Hybrid will be easy to find parts for, and it should last us a very long time. Plus, it’s still family-friendly and it’s a winning formula that’s been proven many times over. It’s also got crisp handling (a much-needed improvement for Toyota), and it has over 600 miles of range. Why wouldn’t I recommend the Prius Plug-In to them? Well, it’s not as fun to drive (important), it looks like it came out of Star Trek, and only certain dealers can service it. That’s a BIG, BIG problem. The Optima Hybrid lags behind the others in everything but looks.

September 23, 2012 zoomvroom Out N' About

Out ‘N About!

As I promised, here are two classic rides from my neck of the woods:

I know that the Pontiac convertible is a 1962 Tempest Convertible. It has the big ol’ 389 cubic-inch V8 and the automatic slushbox transmission.

I do not know what year the lovely Ford F1 is, but I do know that it is the first generation of the Ford F-Series.

August 25, 2012 zoomvroom The History of Autos, World News

One of the World’s Oldest Luxury Automobile Makers is 110 (and two days)!

Happy Birthday to you, Cadillac! 110 years and two days ago, Cadillac was formed by Henry Leland. Henry Leland took the remnants of the Henry Ford Company, and started Cadillac. 110 years and two days later, Cadillac is still very much a part of the luxury automobile industry. In honor of the 110th anniversary of Caddy, here is a list of the top five coolest Cadillacs from Motor Trend. After that, I will add about one or two to the list. Feel free to comment with your favorite Caddy. I can’t wait to see what your favorites are!

1937 Cadillac Phaeton model 5859 — Look up classic beauty in the dictionary, and you’ll see an image of the custom-built 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood V-16 shown here. The Phaeton model 5859 was built by coachbuilder Fran Roxas who relied on the original blueprints of Cadillac designer John Hampshire. The original sketches of the powerful V-16 car served as inspiration for the Ciel concept car.

1937 Cadillac Phaeton model 5859

1949 Cadillac— The 1949 Cadillac was a major step forward for the company, as the outgoing car’s ancient L-head V-8 was replaced by a flathead V-8 that put out 10 more horsepower (160 versus 150). The new engine was about 200 pounds lighter, revved higher, and got better fuel mileage. The Cadillac was also named as Motor Trend’s very first Car of the Year!

1949 Cadillac Series 62 Club Coupe

1959 Cadillac Eldorado — This beauty incorporated new styling, with sharp and massive tailfins that have gone down in automotive history. Its twin-bullet taillights, and jewel-like grille added to its appeal, and let’s not forget its name translates to “the golden one” in Spanish.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible

Cadillac Ciel concept — The Cadillac Ciel is just a concept, but it’s still one of the most gorgeous cars we’ve ever seen wearing the brand’s logo.

The Ciel concept stunned spectators at Pebble Beach last year with its effortless combination of strong retro themes with Cadillac’s current design language. The four-door convertible wears rear-hinged “suicide” doors, and is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6 liter V-6 mated to a hybrid all-wheel-drive drivetrain producing an estimated 425 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.

Cadillac CTS-V (second generation) — Where do we even begin? The CTS-V is fast, has a wonderfully composed chassis, and looks like a million bucks on the road. How do we know? We had a CTS-V in our garage for a year, and nearly everyone who got seat time with the beast fell in love.

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Here’s my list of MY favorite Cadillacs:

2003 Cadillac CTS: The 2003 Caddy CTS was a game-changer for Cadillac. This was one of Cadillac’s darkest days, and the CTS is really what saved Cadillac from becoming limos. It was the first sporty Cadillac since the mid-50’s. This is a beautiful car that deserves a lot of recognition. Over 300,000 were sold before production ended for the first generation in 2008.

2003 Cadillac CTS

Cadillac Escalade: All three generations. The Cadillac Escalade was introduced for the 1999 model year in response to the Lincoln Navigator, the Mercedes-Benz ML320/350/500, and the Lexus RX300. The first generation didn’t sell well. The second generation sold very well. Money was looser than it is now. People bought Escalades because they could. The third generation is currently the best-selling Cadillac of the 21st Century. According to the National Highway Loss Administration, the Cadillac Escalade is the most-stolen vehicle in the U.S.

1999 Cadillac Escalade

P.S. Google Images is always a good place to find nice pictures of a Caddy that you want to attach for the comment.

August 19, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews, The History of Autos

The Two Italian Space Ships from the 80s Face Off Again!

I’m sorry that I didn’t post on Friday. I’ve been fighting an ear infection, and I had high school orientation. I hope this post garners forgiveness from your kind and sympathetic hearts… Match of the 80’s, Lamborghini versus Ferrari. Let’s all take take a nostalgic trip.

Drawn in 1970 by the infamous designer, Marcello Gandini, the man who penned the now-infamous Lamborghini Muira and Lancia Stratos, the Lamborghini Countach was a radical departure from what Ferruccio Lamborghini would have imagined.

First shown to the world at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the Countach wowed the breath out of just about everybody there. The Countach’s design still takes one’s breath away, when lucky enough to view one. It’s amazing how far the borders of reality are. The Countach pushes them until you remember it’s a car, not a ride to space.

Of course, I’ll have to start somewhere on the Countach. How about the name? The name is actually a quite vulgar Piedmontese expression when a man sees an attractive woman. Countach is actually pronounced coontash. It quite literally means “What a piece of a@%!” Some rumors say that Nuccio Bertone of the design studio walked in and said, “Countach!”

Let’s see what we’ve reviewed. We’ve reviewed the unearthly design, the right-out-of-South Park-name,and now we’ll move on to Satan’s orchestra of an engine and exhaust. If you own a Countach, you could quite possibly put up posters throughout town, and charge a good deal of money to let various strangers listen to you start the Countach from a cold start. All it takes is a simple twist of the key, and then that massive 5.2 liter V12 bangs, rumbles, roars, sets off car alarms, and does other destructive-sounding sounds as it gets all the way up to 3000 rpm in less than two minutes.

The Countach is as much fun to drive as it is to admire. But, beware of the clutch that will requires at least 50 pounds of pressure to move, and the steering is almost as hard to navigate, requiring just about 35 pounds of pressure to manhandle the steering wheel to the left or the right.

On the other hand, the Ferrari Testarossa is a much more civilized car that will keep pace with the much louder Countach (if you lose the Countach while in the Testarossa, you’ll definitely hear it!). Motor Trend’s Senior Editor, Jonny Lieberman found the 1993 512 Testarossa to be a much more fun car than the larger-than-life Countach. Why? Because the Ferrari is faster, it shifted better, it rode better, it turned into corners better, and in just about every way that a car can separate itself from it’s competitors, the prancing horse pranced away from the bellowing, rumbling, raging bull. Don’t put Lamborghini down. The Countach is certainly a good car. It’s just not a great car to drive. The monstrously extroverted Countach feels primitive and much older than the Testarossa. It’s amazing how much two supercars can feel so different. That’s what five years will do to you.

For Jonny and those of you who had posters of the Countach, it’s a score for you. But, for my generation (and any other generation), it’s a score for both of the cars. I’d take either of them. Just throw me the keys, a driver’s license, insurance papers, and anything else needed, and you won’t see me for a while.

P.S. the Countach and Testarossa are MUCH safer than a Morgan!

August 15, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info

Lots of Cute, Tons of Fun, and a Gigantic Smile in the New Morgan 3 Wheeler!

It has two cylinders. No doors. No frills. A curb weight about 1200 pounds. Lots of zoom, and some vroom. But, is three wheels taking weight reduction a bit too far? Nope. From 1919 to 1950, the British automaker, Morgan produced over 9 MILLION units. About ten or eleven years ago, Pete Larsen, who works at Liberty Motors in Seattle, basically designed a three wheeler by himself. Charles Morgan, who is the grandson of Morgan’s founder, HFS Morgan, heard of Pete’s creation, bought one, and took it to the factory. Ten years later, the iconic Morgan 3 Wheeler is back.

This car is not meant to be a track day warrior. Nay, it is meant to be a car where the driver is involved, mesmerized, and captured (dare I say it, captivated) by the charm of the car at sane speeds on normal roads. The 80 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque are sent to the rear wheel by a five-speed manual transmission taken from a Mazda Miata.

Getting into the car itself deserves a paragraph of its own, so read up…To get into the car while it is running, I recommend the driver enter the car by getting into the passenger seat (on the left side), climbing over the unnaturally high center console (while avoiding the gearshift lever – ouch), and plunking oneself into the drivers seat. It’s as simple as that…

The one thing that may surprise you is the lack of electronic nannies. This car is old school. And proud of it. Going down a road at 60 mph will feel like you are going 100. With the smell of hot oil, rubber screeching on pavement (the back end LOVES to swing out), and the wind in your face, life couldn’t be better. The steering is rack-and-pinion, and to turn the wheel, you must keep your right elbow hanging out of the car. However, it is a lot of fun!

The car only costs a mere $50,000. Can I buy one, Mom?…

August 10, 2012 zoomvroom World News

Is This a Hint of What Will Come?

I’m not sure if you’ve seen the latest batches of pictures that Porsche recently released of the 918 prototype, you were likely scratching your head. Why? Because Porsche initially painted this forthcoming supercar in a bland black-and-white paint pattern based upon the historic Martini Racing colors. Well that color experiment went belly up. Porsche repainted. Check out the Martini Racing inspired color choice. Here is a sneak peek, and you’re in some very good luck…

Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini Racing Colors

This photo was taken by a Porsche photographer at the Nürburgring racetrack, where it was doing many grueling laps. Porsche has been pretty much mum about releasing technical information about the 918 recently. Us car enthusiasts can only wait until September 18, 2013 (9/18!), when Porsche will release this lovely car. Here’s to hoping that Porsche will do what Ford did with the GT: Replicate the old factory racing livery colors on the production 918.

P.S. Is it just me, or does this possibly herald a new era of Porsche competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans? I encourage you to watch the Steve McQueen movie, Le Mans. I also encourage you to remember the following thought; I’d LOVE for my loyal subscribers to buy me one when it comes out (it is expected to go for approximately $1.4)… I don’t want to disappoint you by not showing you a picture of one of the historic Porsche 917’s:

August 4, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info

All Looks, No Power in the 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe.

The Edmund’s Senior Editor, Erin Riches has a bit of a funny story to tell: “Hey, that’s a beautiful BMW. It’s new, isn’t it?” asks a man in a Pujols jersey getting out of a Range Rover.

“Yes, it’s a 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe. Goes on sale in a few weeks.”

“Looks great,” he says before taking his wife’s hand as they stroll toward Angel Stadium. Fifty feet later, we hear him say, “Honey, look, that’s the Porsche I was telling you about – the Panorama.”

That’s where Erin’s story ends. I’m sure you’re dying to know why I’ve included this story. I’ll tell you. The PANAMERA is NOT called the Panorama! Oops!

But, back to the BMW. Some people can get confused about the bulbous Panamera, but this is the first time in a long time that somebody has called a BMW beautiful. Erin is relieved that he didn’t ask about the way it drives. Why? There really isn’t a set-in-stone answer to that. Erin likes the smooth, powerful, and rev-happy turbocharged six-cylinder engines that are found throughout the BMW line (except for the new 3 Series). But, the 315 horsepower, 330 lb-ft of torque 3.0 liter turbocharged inline six cylinder engine feels very unresponsive unless you keep the car in Sport Mode all the time (recommended). Even with Sport Mode on, the car doesn’t have very much low-end grunt. You’d think it would be the opposite, with those 330 lb-ft of torque coming into full play at 1,400 rpm. If you want a Gran Coupe, wait until the 650i Gran Coupe comes out, as it will have the bigger and more powerful 4.4 liter, twin turbocharged V8 that cranks out a beefy 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. That bigger engine may give the chunky Gran Coupe some more VROOM!

If you already have a Gran Coupe, I’m sure that you are all too aware of the sluggish acceleration. 60 mph comes up in an extremely slow 5.7 seconds (5.4 if you allow one foot of rollout on the dragstrip). The quarter mile isn’t any better, coming up in an unremarkable 14.2 seconds at 95 mph. The smaller BMW 535i is as fast, and is smaller by at least 500 pounds. The V6 Porsche Panamera gets to 60 in 5.8 seconds, but is faster in the quarter mile, at 14 seconds flat at 98.4 mph. All the other competitors beat it to 60 and the quarter, but don’t look as nice… But, the 640i Gran Coupe is best in braking, taking a mere 110 feet to get to a complete halt from 70 mph.

I have some words of wisdom for potential buyers and the folks over at BMW: Retune the chassis, so it doesn’t make the car drive as oddly as it does, and bring the 650i Gran Coupe over ASAP! Potential buyers should most definitely wait until the 650i Gran Coupe comes out. I guess I’ll wait. I only have a year and a bit.