Recent Comments:
Chevrolet Camaro SS laps the 'Ring in... 8:20 {Autoblog}
Jul 22nd 2008 7:31PM L99 has cylinder deactivation which only works with an automatic transmission. It requires a different cam profile so that when it's in 4-cylinder mode, it doesn't feel like a V8 with half its cylinders missing--vibration and sound-wise that is. Traditionally automatics lose more efficiency through the torque converter, but in this case, AFM will compensate. For the manual, the gear ratios are much farther apart to allow top gear highway cruising to bring up the MPGs. Hopefully it can squeeze by without a gas guzzler tax.
Chevrolet Camaro SS laps the 'Ring in... 8:20 {Autoblog}
Jul 22nd 2008 7:07PM Same response:
You guys don't know what you're talking about. The Lotus Exige S model that was bested by the Camaro SS has a supercharger and 240 hp in a lightweight purpose-build-for-the-track chassis. It goes 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, which is almost certainly faster than the Camaro:
http://www.fastestlaps.com/car4838184d82382.html
The Exige also tops out at 151.9mph, so it's unlikely the Camaro would even gain much advantage on the longest of straights either.
Face it, the suspension can handle if it is anywhere near as fast around a track as something with those specs, let alone faster than it by 3 seconds while hauling nearly twice the weight and offering twice the seats.
Chevrolet Camaro SS laps the 'Ring in... 8:20 {Autoblog}
Jul 22nd 2008 6:58PM You guys don't know what you're talking about. The Lotus Exige S model that was bested by the Camaro SS has a supercharger and 240 hp in a lightweight purpose-build-for-the-track chassis. It goes 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, which is almost certainly faster than the Camaro:
http://www.fastestlaps.com/car4838184d82382.html
The Exige also tops out at 151.9mph, so it's unlikely the Camaro would even gain much advantage on the longest of straights either.
Face it, the suspension can handle if it is anywhere near as fast around a track as something with those specs, let alone faster than it by 3 seconds while hauling nearly twice the weight and offering twice the seats.
One MPG is not enough: Automakers desperate to make a gallon go further {Autoblog}
Jul 22nd 2008 10:34AM "I want my MPG" is already the Toyota tagline as of at least a year ago. They composed a whole song for the commercials and everything. (I really hope Dire Straits and Sting got compensated well for that one.)
VIDEO: Audi's "The Art of Performance" {Autoblog}
Jul 17th 2008 4:15PM Funny that in 4 videos about a performance car set to music, there is absolutely no driving. I was hoping for some nice dynamic maneuvers synced up to great driving music. The orchestra is great, the technology is interesting, but put them together, and you just have a bunch of repeating gizmo noises over orchestral music. Not exciting.
Rumormill: Acura NSX, RL to get V10 with cylinder deactivation? {Autoblog}
Jul 15th 2008 2:16PM The Accord V6 has cylinder deactivation to drop from 6-to-4-to-3. However, the one V6 Accord model (Accord Coupe EX-L V6) which offers a manual transmission won't work with cylinder deactivation. An auto is required to allow enough predictability to operate VCM.
This would indicate the NSX replacement will be a clutchless manual only, flappy-paddle affair like the GT-R or worst case scenario (shudder) an automatic.
VIDEO: Garage419 split-screens the ZR-1 and GT-R 'Ring laps {Autoblog}
Jul 11th 2008 1:57PM A few things I noticed:
1) The biggest difference is inside the cars. Watch the arm in the ZR1 compared to the driver of the GT-R. The Vette seems to be much smoother where the GT-R seems to bounce its way through the whole track, which occasionally hurts its times by unsettling it through corners and making the steering inputs more saw-like and jerky. This may also be driving style, but we know the GT-R is best when driven like a large rally car with plenty of heavy-handed inputs.
2) Conventional wisdom says that American cars handle the straights best, while a competitor from Europe or in this case, Japan, will do a better job of the corners. However, if you actually WATCH the video, you'll see this is not the case. The ZR1 picks up most of its time through the corners, not the straights. It is only on the tightest, most hair pinned corners where the Vette can only just breathe on the throttle where the GT-R can manhandle the situation with AWD faster. On the straights, the GT-R holds its own well enough that on another forum a member synced up the longest of them and because they were so dead even, was calling BS on Nissan's part for a ringer where all tests show that the GT-R is slower than even a Z06 especially when it approaching the top end.
3) The Vette occasionally steps out requiring the driver to catch the rear end, but not as much as many were predicting with this much power. Conversely, for the people claiming the GT-R looked like it sailed right through, it's bouncing on the edge of adhesion the whole way, frequently requiring doses of opposite lock whenever significant bumps unsettle the chassis.
4) The Vette is still $30K more expensive, gets worse fuel economy, has no back seat and all for only 3 seconds improvement. The Vette is more attractive, sounds better, and doesn't have an interior which looks like Pimp My Ride fabbed a Playstation into the dash. The GT-R is more unique (no $40K models that look like it), has more gadgets, and works in inclement weather too. The Vette's trunk is twice the size of the GT-R's. This could go on forever...
Speed cameras in Arizona nab driver 22 times in 45 days {Autoblog}
Jun 26th 2008 11:10PM @ Early Apex:
You make some good, sound arguments. Part of what you said, though, is exactly what I was talking about:
"Racing and drunk-driving were nightly events."
In this case, a police sobriety checkpoint would be a more effective deterrent. Not all drunk drivers speed. And if you are drunk, and know there are cameras, you can drive more slowly to avoid being caught while still weaving across lanes and having poor reaction times. Street racing would also be deterred by a police presence. If the dangers you object to are drunk drivers and reckless behavior like weaving through traffic at a high rate of speed, than laws should focus on those things. Driving quickly does not always equal driving recklessly. That is what I am trying to get across. And conversely, driving slowly does not necessarily mean a safe driver.
Speed cameras in Arizona nab driver 22 times in 45 days {Autoblog}
Jun 26th 2008 4:04PM You know what's really bad? How she killed all of those people speeding like that. Seriously, all those accidents she caused, the financial damages and loss of human life are humbling.
Except she didn't do any of that. All she did was drive quickly. If the speeds at which she chose to travel were so dangerous, than wouldn't 22 cases under one camera (surely indicating a consistent habit of speeding elsewhere) have yielded some carnage by now?
If we're going to be so preemptive that we're going to fine people for doing dangerous things which never actually happen, then we should be handing out tickets to everyone who has a license.
Fine people for cutting others off in traffic, fine them for slamming on their brakes in the middle of the road for no reason, fine them for obstruction of traffic, weaving through traffic, tailgating, failing to merge properly, not stopping for pedestrians, not following signals at lights, having a vehicle unfit for the road, all things that directly affect other drivers. There are much more important laws that get overlooked as speeding seems to be the only thing traffic cops care about. If we weren't so obsessed with it, people might actually be able to regulate themselves! Imagine that!
Spy Shots: Jeep SRT8 freshening? {Autoblog}
Jun 24th 2008 10:50PM Thank God they got rid of the double round headlights. They really didn't fit on the Grand Cherokee with everything else being so angular and chiseled. How about a 2-mode hybrid? Think they might be testing that with the 5.7L Hemi?
