Autoblog

The scholars over at Automobile magazine have handed out their "Funky Ergonomics Awards" this year. As expected, BMW's iDrive and 7 Series interior (shown above) remains their favorite pincushion. Rightly so. Their list includes convenience keys that are downright inconvenient, window switches that are out of reach, touchscreens that are dangerously slow to respond, all center-of-the-dashboard mounted instrument clusters, complicated navigation systems, reverse-action manu-matic transmissions, and dimly lit interiors.

While we generally agree with their list, our own ergonomic pet peeves include spinning seat adjusters mounted inaccessibly outboard (yeah, by the doors), cruise control stalks hidden out-of-sight by the wheel itself, and manual modes for old-fashioned "slushbox" automatic trannies. Oh yeah, the list goes on and on...

[Source: Automobile]

Click above to view the Gallardo LP560-4 in hi-res

Take it from your friendly neighborhood Autoblog, writing about cars is great. But building a car is something else entirely, especially when the car in question is an Italian exotic. That's what Automobile magazine's West Coast editor Jason Cammisa found out when he was invited to Sant'Agata to lend a hand with the assembly of the first production example of the new Gallardo LP560-4, which Lamborghini unveiled at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

The story is featured in the magazine's May issue, and its website is featuring a four-part video series documenting Cammisa's experience. View part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 by clicking on the links, and check out our high-resolution gallery of LP560-4 images by clicking on the thumbnails below.

[Source: Automobile via The Car Connection]

Lexus is billing the IS-F as "Everything you thought we weren't," and the potential is certainly there. The engine bay is filled with 5 liters of 4-valve V8 putting out 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet of torque. The Minilite-esque wheels hide a Brembo braking system with six piston front calipers and cross-drilled rotors 14.2 inches in diameter. The sill extensions wrap up the front fenders to form a styling detail reminiscent of extractor vents, and the rest of the body has been tweaked in the wind tunnel to improve high speed aerodynamics. It all sounds good when you read the spec sheet, and the car does at least look aggressive . What everyone's dying to know, though, is "has Lexus done it this time?" Automobile magazine had the same burning curiosity, and they just also happened to have an IS-F sitting in their lot.

In no time, they headed over to their local Dynojet. The result? Well, they're a little disappointed, and they're calling the torque delivery peaky. Looking at the dyno graph, we're not sure we'd agree entirely with that assessment. There's at least 225 lb-feet at the wheels from 1,800 rpm, topping out at 318 lb-ft. First, let's point out that 15 percent torque loss through a drivetrain including an eight speed automatic is pretty phenomenal. Secondly, the torque curve is pretty fat below the peak. What is surprising to everyone, though, is the way the power drops off precipitously on the other side of the 5,200 rpm peak. You'd think an engine with 4-cams and Yamaha-designed cylinder heads would be a revver. Of course, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics and these dyno results are sure to kick up some debate. What still remains to be seen is how the entire package works when pitted against its bogeyed competition. For that, we must still wait.

[Source: Automobile, photo: Automobile]

PRIMEDIA Inc., the parent publishing company that's responsible for Motor Trend, along with other enthusiast mags like Automobile and Hot Rod, have announced that it's "exploring the sale" of its Enthusiast Media division. While the sale price will probably be more than the going rate for a subscription to MT, one has to wonder if the division isn't being sold because the value of print media is falling faster by the second. The Enthusiast Media division is comprised of 90 websites, however, including Automotive.com (and Equine.com, w00t!), along with over 70 dead tree editions and 65 events, so the next potential owner will have quite the media empire on its hands. Hmm... perhaps AOL, our own corporate media overlord, is looking for another asset to add to the warchest. Could you even imagine, Autoblog and Motor Trend under the same roof? The mind reels.

In a somewhat odd aside, the news of PRIMEDIA shedding its Enthusiast Media division comes shortly after it was announced the company was aquiring VerticalScope, Inc., publisher of such titles as Modified, Modified Luxury and Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Being purchased by PRIMEDIA is the holy grail for small, independant publishing houses like VerticalScope. I should know, I used to work for one that competed directly with Modified on the newsstands, but was passed over by the benevolent purchasing power of PRIMEDIA. Congrats to my old nemesis and its producers at VerticalScope, who are likely sipping Pina Coladas on a beach somewhere right about now.

[Source: The Auto Channel, Jalopnik]

As is the custom, Automobile Magazine is the last of the big four, which also includes Motor Trend, Car and Driver and Road & Track, to drop its February issue on the public. On account of this, the smallest paperback of the four hasn't drawn the ire of the internet for breaking any embargoes yet. Thus, we're happy to pass news along to you of Automobile's Car of the Year, which for 2007 is the Volkswagen GTI. Automobile calls the GTI "the right car for our times" based on the fact that it's fun to drive, has lots of utility and can still return 30 mpg on the highway. The magazine's editorial staff was so convinced of the GTI's "Of The Year" status that the voting was unanimous in its favor.

Automobile also crowned a few more "Of The Year" winners, including the Aston Martin V8 Vantage for Design of the Year, Roger Penske for Man of the Year and Electronic Stability Control for Technology of the Year.

Follow the Read link to view Automobile's press release that provides deeper insight into the editors' choices.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]