Autoblog

VIDEO: Godzilla vs. Super Snake: MT pits Nissan vs. Shelby in amusingly epic battle

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford, Nissan

Super Snake vs. Godzilla - click above to watch the video

Recently, we ran a little poll in which we asked which car would you prefer: A Nissan GT-R or a Ford Shelby Mustang GT500? The results - which aren't too surprising - had just over two thirds of you rooting and tooting for Godzilla. And that's all fine. However, someone pointed out that the contest should have been between Godzilla and the new Shelby Super Snake. Well guess what?

Thankfully, Motor Trend has totally obliged you. In this video, the 412-horsepower and 393 pound-feet of torque (at the wheels, people, at the wheels) Nissan GT-R takes on the 635 hp and 581 lb-ft of torque Shelby GT500 Super Snake do the quarter-mile. The results? We're going to make you jump to find out, but we aren't surprised. At all. But then again, we've driven both cars (in fact, this appears to be the exact 2010 GT-R we drove). We will however say hats off to our buddy Ed Loh at MT for making such a fun video. Click here to watch it. Thanks to Pete for the tip!

Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan GT-R

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Shelby Super Snake

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading VIDEO: Godzilla vs. Super Snake: MT pits Nissan vs. Shelby in amusingly epic battle

VIDEO: Godzilla vs. Super Snake: MT pits Nissan vs. Shelby in amusingly epic battle originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Infiniti still mulling production Essence coupe

Chris Shunk — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Infiniti, Luxury

Infiniti Essence Concept - click above for high-res image gallery

When we first laid eyes on Infiniti's Essence concept at this year's Geneva Motor Show, we were, quite frankly, smitten by its voluptuous lines. We apparently weren't alone, as Infiniti exec Ben Poore has reportedly told Motor Trend that reaction to the concept was "phenomenal." When the Essence was unveiled, Infiniti told the audience at Geneva that the vehicle was concept-only and that future vehicles would be influenced by its stunning design. We were a bit disappointed by that news, because, of course, the world can never have too many stunning twin-turbo V6 hybrid coupes capable of a combined 592 brake horsepower.

But while we were let down by Infiniti's initial decision on Essence, we're at least encouraged by the fact that Poore recently told MT that that the concept is "only a show piece... for now." Could that mean that we could have a production vehicle based off of the Essence in the future? We hope so. Will it have a twin-turbo 3.7-liter V6 with a lithium-ion backed disc-shaped electric motor? Perhaps not, but we wouldn't exactly be disappointed if it did.

Gallery: Infiniti Essence Concept

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Infiniti Essence

[Source: Motor Trend]

REPORT: Infiniti still mulling production Essence coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of the Year award

John Neff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Ford

2010 Ford Fusion Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the first time ever, Motor Trend announced the winner of its annual Car of the Year award this afternoon live via webcast. Though the field of 23 contenders was highly competitive this year (follow the jump for a complete list), we guessed immediately that the winner was a Ford as soon as the webcast came online. How'd we know? The fact they were broadcasting the announcement from Ford World Headquarters in Detroit was a not-so-subtle clue. The Fusion, Taurus and Mustang were all in the running, but it was Ford's redesigned mid-size sedan, the Fusion, that took home the coveted Golden Calipers.

In retrospect, the choice is a solid one and not all that surprising. The Fusion was extensively reworked for the 2010 model year and features a new exterior design, new models and new powertrains. Ford offers a four-cylinder model, two strong V6 options and a full-on parallel hybrid variant, which means buyers should have no trouble finding a Fusion that fits their needs. And indeed they have, as the Fusion has already broken its own yearly sales record - with two months left to go.

Like MT, we're big fans of the Fusion here at Autoblog, and even have high hopes that one day it could be the domestic car that knocks the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord from atop their perches as the best selling cars in the States. That said, this Ford still has a long way to go. Toyota has sold nearly twice as many Camry models as the Fusion so far this year, and the Accord and Nissan Altima are still flashing their taillights at Ford's CoTY winner. It's not just demand, as Ford doesn't even have the production capacity at the moment to match Camry sales, and it doesn't help that the Mercury Milan siphons off a few potential Fusion customers, as well.

Nevertheless, this is less about what the Fusion could be in the future than what it is today: the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Congrats to Ford and the Fusion team.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Sport

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion SE 6MT

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of the Year award

Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru a historic two-timer as Outback wins Motor Trend SUV of the Year award

Chris Paukert — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Subaru

2010 Subaru Outback - Click above for high-res image gallery

Subaru is a historic two-timer. For the second year in a row, the Japanese company has claimed Motor Trend magazine's coveted Golden Calipers for its SUV of the Year award - the first time any automaker has managed to do so. The company's new-for-2010 Outback has evidently picked up where last year's Forester left off, and we understand why - it's a dynamite all-around package.

The lifted Legacy did face some stiff competition, including vehicles we've enjoyed driving recently - players like the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Lincoln MKT, and Mercedes-Benz GLK. But from where we sit, the Subie's most formidable opposition for the award were all premium priced offerings, and the Outback is a more affordable jack-of-all-trades with few compromises - especially now that Subaru's engineers have seen fit to let out the back seat a bit. In any case, you can check out the official press release after the jump or read our review of the Outback by clicking here.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Subaru Outback

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Subaru a historic two-timer as Outback wins Motor Trend SUV of the Year award

Subaru a historic two-timer as Outback wins Motor Trend SUV of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #148 with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports

Dan Roth — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Tokyo Motor Show, Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Honda, Tokyo Auto Salon

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

For Episode #148 of the Autoblog Podcast, Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports managing editor for autos, fills Sam's chair and mulls some timely topics with Chris and Dan. First up is the wheels coming off Penske's deal to take on the Saturn brand. Honda's CRZ concept, holding great promise in its CRX-like bodywork, comes under scrutiny next, before talk turns to the Chevrolet Caprice police vehicle. There's a tire discussion in there somewhere that takes the 'cast on a tangent, and the Audi E-Tron surfaces briefly before we touch on some Buff Book tricks: The Motor Trend and Automobile effort 6 vs. 8, and Car & Driver's fun with Photoshop. As always, we wrap with some questions as we ride off into the sunset. Thanks for listening, drop us more fodder at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, and let us know how we're doing by adding a review at the iTunes page and filling out our survey. As always, when you get lonely for Weblogs, Inc, check out what the guys at Engadget and Joystiq are doing on their shows, and we'll see you back here next week!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #148 with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports

Autoblog Podcast #148 with Jon Linkov from Consumer Reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lincoln MKS EcoBoost earns second place in 6versus8.com showdown, should we care?

John Neff — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Lincoln, Luxury

Click above to watch videos after the jump

Car magazines do crazy things for money these days. Case in point: Automobile Magazine (and co-testers from sister mag Motor Trend) got roped into an interesting comparison test that you will not be reading in the latest issue. Why? The whole thing lives at 6versus8.com, a domain set up just to host this single comparison test that highlights the result of Lincoln's bet that its V6-powered MKS EcoBoost can beat some of the best naturally aspirated V8-powered sedans from Europe.

The test pits the 2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost against the Jaguar XF, Mercedes-Benz E550, BMW 550i and Maserati Quattroporte. As you might imagine, the test has to be un-leveled a bit for the MKS EcoBoost to stand a chance. The challenge is a 3.76-mile hill climb up Colorado's Loveland Pass... at 11,900 feet above sea level. Ah, there it is. The MKS EcoBoost makes the least horsepower and is the second heaviest car in this group, but at these elevations, the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 will maintain its power level while the naturally aspirated V8 engines gasp for breath.

Pike's Peak champion Rod Millen was hired to drive, the Colorado State Patrol closed off Route 6 in 30-minute intervals for each car's run and a top notch film crew with a helicopter was hired to document the proceedings. Long story short, the grand production produced five videos (you can view them at 6versus8.com or after the jump) in which we see the Lincoln MKS EcoBoost claim second place behind the BMW 550i, though it did nab honors for the highest top speed during the hill climb.

So... back to the original point we were making. It seems to us that this is less editorial than advertorial. Automobile and Motor Trend say they rented the other vehicles for this test because, honestly, would you loan your sedan for a comparison test that was clearly tilted in your opponent's favor? And what did the magazines get in return? From what we can see, two double-page spreads in the current issue of Automobile (and perhaps MT) that we're guessing cost more than enough to cover the price of producing this elaborate "comparison test". And why does it not appear in the magazine itself? Probably because Automobile and Motor Trend don't think it's editorial either.

Follow the jump to watch all five videos for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments.

[Source: 6versus8.com]

Continue reading Lincoln MKS EcoBoost earns second place in 6versus8.com showdown, should we care?

Lincoln MKS EcoBoost earns second place in 6versus8.com showdown, should we care? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Motor Trend's Best Driver's Car Competition offers a few surprises

Chris Shunk — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Over the years, our favorite magazines have had some spectacular comparison tests, with scores of test data and page after page of subjective text. Motor Trend has practically made a living with comparisons, and its newest feature pits 10 hot rides against one another to see which is the best driver's car. MT used tons of data, added subjective feedback from staff members and included track time at Laguna Seca with pro driver Randy Pobst.

If you receive Motor Trend at home or you check in over at its website, you've probably read the extensive article, but the magazine also produced a 14 minute video hosted by Editor at Large Arthur St. Antoine. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself. It's chock full of beautiful footage, 638 horsepower supercars drifting around and tire-ripping burnouts. How much more can you ask for?

[Source: YouTube via Motor Trend]

Continue reading VIDEO: Motor Trend's Best Driver's Car Competition offers a few surprises

VIDEO: Motor Trend's Best Driver's Car Competition offers a few surprises originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Genesis Sedan - The most awarded car of 2009?

Chris Shunk — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai

2009 Hyundai Genesis 4.6L V8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

When the Hyundai Genesis Sedan hit the scene, it was hard to know exactly what to think of the handsome-if-anonymous looking luxury intender. After all, Hyundai hadn't ever had a presence in our luxury car market, and attributes like rear-wheel drive and V8 engines weren't exactly a Hyundai staple. Over the past year, however, the Genesis' well-judged appointments and recession-friendly pricing Genesis Sedan won us over, and our contemporaries in the motoring press seem to feel the same way.

Hyundai says that the Genesis Sedan's considerable trophy case makes it the most awarded car of 2009 - and since we have no methodology by which to cross-checking such a high-falutin' claim (scientific or otherwise) we're going to give the Korean automaker the benefit of the doubt. The Hyundai Genesis Sedan began 2009 as the North American Car Of The Year and the well-heeled sedan has continued to build momentum with an impressive 21 awards. Among the Genesis Sedan's many honors are nods from Motor Trend (America's Top 40 New Cars), Cars.com, J.D. Power, NADAGuides, and AutoPacific.

Heck, the Genesis' 375 horsepower Tau 4.6-liter V8 also made Wards Automotive's 10 Best Engines list, and after putting down nearly 2,000 miles in just such a beast earlier this month, AB executive editor Paukert concurs, praising the eight's smooth power delivery and impressive mileage. Despite a packed cabin and trunk and plenty of mountain driving and high-speed cruising, our man averaged 26.1 MPG on a circuitous route from Michigan to North Carolina - fully 1.1 MPG better than the EPA says to expect on the freeway. He also praised the car's acheless seats and pleasing Lexicon audio system as excellent long-distance travel partners.

Hit the jump to read the press release listing the Genny's awards cache. What follows is a proud parent brag-fest, but when you get it right like Hyundai appears to have done with its Genesis Sedan, perhaps a little self-promoting is merited. Maybe now they'll see fit to finally take credit for it by putting a "Hyundai" badge somewhere on the car, eh?

Gallery: Hyundai Genesis 4.6L V8

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai Genesis Sedan - The most awarded car of 2009?

Hyundai Genesis Sedan - The most awarded car of 2009? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend gets all techy, picks their top 10 favorite driver's cars

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Etc.

In a truly heroic effort that's not only daunting in scope but utterly jealousy-inducing in execution, the hot shoes at Motor Trend have once again teamed up with pro-racer and 24 Hours of Daytona winner Randy Pobst to put ten of the hottest performance cars currently on sale up against each other at Laguna Seca to determine which is best. Last year, the winner was given the title of "Best Handling Car," though this year they are switching the name to "Best Driver's Car." That works.

Without getting too much into the metrics they used (it's an eighteen page article), MT went with a combination of outright speed, braking performance, lateral acceleration data and subjective seat of the pants driving impressions (plus Pobst's excellent feedback) to rank all ten cars in order. Without giving away the winner, we will say that we enthusiastically agree with their findings.

Cases in point: Chevy Camaro SS is dead last. The BMW 135i is second to dead last. The world-beating Corvette ZR1 ends up one place behind the truly superlative Shelby GT500 and the uber 'Stang isn't even the top American car. Meanwhile, the plucky little Mazda MX-5 Miata finishes higher up than all the cars we just mentioned -- including the mystery Yank tank. In fact, the only gripe we have is that last year's third place car -- the Mazda RX-8 R3 - wasn't brought back for a second go round. No one's perfect. That said, you should consider this article a must read. We have, twice.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Motor Trend gets all techy, picks their top 10 favorite driver's cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: On board with Marcus Gronholm's Ford Fiesta at Pikes Peak

Chris Paukert — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Specialty, Off-Road

Ford Fiesta RallyCross "Peak Performance" - click above to watch video after the jump

As an homage to rallying's legendary Climb Dance video, the blokes at Motor Trend have teamed up with Ford and Marcus Gronholm to concoct a gorgeous new short film chronicling the rally champion's 2009 ascent of Pikes Peak in the Blue Oval's new Fiesta RallyCross. In the interest of clarity, this is not the same car that crashed earlier in practice - that was the #5 car of Andrea Ericksson, this is Gronholm's #3 - a car that looks to have made it to the top just fine, thank you.

Check out the 9+ minute Peak Performance film after the jump, with its breathtaking footage from various in and on-car cameras, it's a high-definition gem with great audio. Just for fun, we've also included its inspiration, the original Climb Dance film of Ari Vatanen's 1988 record-breaking Pikes Peak Hill Climb run in his Peugeot 405. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: On board with Marcus Gronholm's Ford Fiesta at Pikes Peak

VIDEO: On board with Marcus Gronholm's Ford Fiesta at Pikes Peak originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Kia Amanti making switch to Genesis RWD platform?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Kia, Rumormill, South Korea

From its divisive baroque styling to its status as the court jester of the rental car circuit, the Kia Amanti has so far lived a less than charmed life. The Amanti's tough luck story could change in a big hurry, however, if a new story from Motor Trend is true. MT is reporting that the Amanti is will be going rear-wheel drive as soon as late 2011 on a smaller version of the Hyundai Genesis Sedan platform.

Since Kia is more value-oriented as a brand than Hyundai, most expect the new Amanti to be a few thousand dollars cheaper than the Genesis Sedan. The current Amanti has a lofty starting price of $26,045, but boatloads of incentives are needed to move them off dealer lots.

Motor Trend speculates that the 375-hp Tau V8 engine probably won't make its way under the hood of the next Amanti, with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and the 3.8-liter V6 being the more likely powertrains. We're thinking that a range of four- and six-cylinder engines would be sufficient, especially when considering tough new fuel economy laws scheduled for 2011 and beyond.

We do have one question, however. With such a radical rethink apparently in store and not having a great deal of brand equity tied up in the Amanti brand, wouldn't Kia be better off finding a new name? They haven't seemed too reluctant to change model names in recent years when bringing out new models, so perhaps they'll consider a change in designations.

Either way, with its hip and stylish Soul, the surprisingly competent Optima, along with the pretty new Forte and Koup models, Kia's lineup has gotten a radical overhaul for the better. If the next-gen Amanti is anywhere near as good as Hyundai's Genesis Sedan, the competition should keep a very close eye on boys from South Korea.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Rumormill: Kia Amanti making switch to Genesis RWD platform? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: S197 Ford Mustang could have had independent rear suspension for $100 per car

Drew Phillips — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Technology, Ford, Earnings/Financials, Rumormill

It seems that any discussion about a modern Ford Mustang inevitably turns into a debate about its solid rear axle. While Ford has done an incredible job of optimizing the pony car's suspension, many still find it unacceptable that such an antiquated technology is used on a modern day performance car. Motor Trend boss Angus MacKenzie, however, says that the S197 Mustang platform almost received an independent rear suspension a while back - and for a lot less than you might think.

According to MacKenzie, the 2005 Mustang was set to get an independent suspension shared with the BA-series Falcon sedan built in Australia. Even when it was decided that the two cars would use different platforms, Ford designers set about designing an independent suspension specific to the Mustang. So why did it still end up with a solid rear axle? According to MacKenzie, product development executive Phil Martens convinced Bill Ford Jr. that they could save $100 per car if they dropped the IRS and went with the solid axle. For all of you non drag-racing types that wish the Mustang had an independently suspended rear, this news probably makes you sick to the stomach.

But wait... there's more! MacKenzie's sources say that the cost of sorting out the current Mustang's suspension actually cost $98 more per car than the IRS that could have gone in the car. Like Angus, we love the current Mustang but have to wonder if it could have been that much better.

[Source: Motor Trend]

REPORT: S197 Ford Mustang could have had independent rear suspension for $100 per car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan GT-R wins 2009 One Lap of America

Chris Paukert — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Nissan, Porsche

2009 One Lap of America - Click above for a high-res image gallery

For the first time in the modern incarnation of One Lap of America, a Japanese car has claimed the top spot. After a grueling 3,400+ mile, nine racetrack odyssey around the United States, veteran "Lap Dog" Steve Rankins and "Lap Puppy" Will Taylor captured the overall trophy in their 2009 Nissan GT-R this weekend. The victory marks the first for a Nippon car since the event's 1986 running, when rallyist Karl Chevalier's Toyota Celica beat out fellow racer John Buffum's Audi 5000S wagon. OloA's timing and scoring procedures were markedly different at that point, however, as from 1985 to 1991, One Lap was essentially a time-speed-distance (TSD) rally.

With five-time defending champion Mark Davia and Drew Wikstrom taking the year off in their Porsche 911 Turbo, a new winner was assured, but for quite a while, it looked like another Stuttgart powerhouse would take the podium, as the 996 GT2 of Peter Lier and Ian Stewart held down the top position for much of the event. In the end, the consistency of the #3 Team Cannonball GT-R outlasted all comers - including the green #2 GT-R of Derek Whitis, Tom Long and Mark Pombo, which fell by the wayside when it was beset by gremlins (faulty boost controller pushing the ECU into limp mode, overheating, etc.). Along the way, the #3 GT-R was a consistent performer all week long, setting OloA's best-ever wet skidpad performance, a tidy 0.953g and winning events at Turfway Park, Talladega Grand Prix Raceway, Daytona International Raceway, Carolina Motorsports Park, and the BMW Performance Center. While stockpiling that many victories may make this year's race sound like a walk-off, tight competition from Lier and Stewart's 996 GT2 and the aforementioned #2 GT-R meant that the issue was in doubt almost until the very end.

Check out the high-res gallery below for more shots from this year's event, the full results here, and comprehensive wrap-up coverage courtesy of Motor Trend here.

Gallery: 2009 One Lap of America - Wrapup

[Sources: One Lap of America; Motor Trend]

Nissan GT-R wins 2009 One Lap of America originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Lap of America 2009 - The flag drops...

Chris Paukert — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

2009 One Lap of America - Day 1 - Click above for a hi-res gallery

Greetings from Joliet, Illinois, home of the Autobahn Country Club. We're on board with Brock Yates' One Lap of America, one of America's toughest motorsports challenges. Over the course of eight days, 63 drivers of all talent and experience levels will take to a range of motorsports facilities across the country in a wide variety of machinery. There's something for everyone here, from mainstream American performance iron (a passel of Chevrolet Corvettes and Camaros, along with a Mustang or two) to niche exotics (Ultima, Lotus Exige) to Japanese cars (including a nifty Mitsubishi Galant VR4), a gaggle of Porsches, and more BMW M cars than you can shake a stick at. Heck, there's even a GMC Jimmy, a stunning Nissan Altima Hybrid SEMA entrant and a Fifties rat rod.

In truth, we One Lappers assembled yesterday in breezy, chilly South Bend, Indiana at Tire Rack's massive facilities. The competitors met up to receive a driver's meeting, technical inspection, and a full slate of sponsorship decals, along with the usual final tunings and bench racing sessions. The actual racing didn't start until earlier this morning, however, where the competitors made use of the retail giant's 200-foot skidpad - with the sprinklers on. You can read all about what happened over Motor Trend (they're one of the event's main sponsors), but suffice it to say that one of the two Nissan GT-R entrants (not pictured) at this year's event stunned the assembled throngs by recording 0.953G, a handsome figure considering the soaked tarmac.

This year, competitors will travel some 3,265 miles between today and next Saturday before circling back to South Bend next Saturday. Along the way, the racers will take part in an autocross event at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, then roll to Greenbrier, Tennessee to take on the Highland Rim Speedway oval. After that, it's off to Alabama's Talladega Gran Prix on Monday, with a long haul (over 600 miles) down to Florida's legendary Sebring International Raceway. After that, it's time for a bracket drag racing session at Gainesville Raceway, and then on to Daytona International Speedway. Come Thursday, there's a tidy 440 mile run to Kershaw, South Carolina, home of Carolina Motor Sports Park, and from there, the racers slip over to BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg. Doubtlessly looking a bit worse for the wear, the survivors will then motor 560+ miles to Pennsylvania's Beaverun Motorsports Complex. The bedraggled racers then make the final 240-mile transit back to South Bend for a final (hopefully) dry skidpad event and a final banquet and trophy award ceremony.

With just 60+ cars in the field this year (as opposed to the 80+ vehicles in years past), it's clearly a down year in terms of attendance - a development readily attributable to the economy (it's admittedly hard to ignore to overlook the substantial cost associated with mounting an entry). However, there are some ace new competitors here and a lot of interesting machinery. Further, with the absence of five-time reigning champion Mark Davia and his Porsche 996 twin-turbo (whose wife is expecting), there's sure to be a new winner this year.

Full Disclosure: Yours truly is part of one of the two timing and scoring crews (I have been participating as such since 1999), so while I will do my best to bring AB'ers closer to the action, as a crew member, I will only attend a bit more than half of the events as we hopscotch the country in order to get ahead of the competitors and prepare the timing equipment and post the scores ahead of their arrival. As such, it is recommended that you check out Motor Trend and the official One Lap Of America website for the rules and the latest updates on the races.

Well, the cars on the false grid are set to go green, so I'm gone... until next time, please check out the massive gallery of 70+ high-res images below featuring most of the competitors.

Gallery: 2009 One Lap of America - Tire Rack & Autobahn

One Lap of America 2009 - The flag drops... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 May 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car and Driver tallies 10 most embarrassing auto award winners

Chris Shunk — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST

Each and every year, the major auto buff mags roll out their "best of" lists. Car of the Year, 10 Best, All-Stars - each publication has a different formula for picking the best of the best, and while we don't like every choice, most are spot-on. There are, however, times when we see a pick and wonder what the editors were drinking when they made their decision. Car and Driver, which has admittedly made its fair share of mistakes, has come up with a list of the 10 worst auto award winners of all time, and we thought it would be fun to share.

A quick look through C&D's bottom 10 shows some serious stinkers. The 1997 Chevy Malibu? The 1983 Renault Alliance? Ouch. How about the 1981 Chevy Citation? Hit the read link below to check out Car and Driver's bottom 10. While you're over there, check out the discrepancy between 10 Best winners and Motor Trend CotY winners. MT made the list six times, while C&D entered the hall of shame with three entries. Then again, C&D were the ones who made the list. Interestingly, they somehow also managed to ignore entries like the 1989 Dodge Colt, the 1994 Eagle Vision, and the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville, but they did ding the Merkur XR4Ti, a pretty entertaining (if odd and poor selling) driver's coupe. Hmmm...

[Source: Car and Driver]

Car and Driver tallies 10 most embarrassing auto award winners originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend getting into the used car business?

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Maintenance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Lifestyle

Motor Trend is lending its name and brand to a certified used car program at Planet Honda in Union, New Jersey. The program is actually "powered by" EasyCare, a company that provides a suite of contract services like maintenance and repair warranties and GAP insurance to new owners. (EasyCare was a Motor Trend "Best Buy" last year.) Formerly called APCO, EasyCare was until last year a Ford subsidiary. As a private company, it still oversees the certified used car programs for Land Rover, Volvo, Mazda and Jaguar, and works with 3,000 dealerships in the U.S.

Planet Honda - a three-time Honda Excellence Award winner - has been named a Motor Trend Certified Advantage Dealership. That means it has a vehicle certification program approved by MT and provides "a noticeably better buying and ownership experience." Now, not only does Planet Honda guarantee the quality of the vehicle, but buyers will also get other EasyCare services like paintless dent removal and 24/7 concierge service with the car.

There are three MT Certified Advantage dealerships as of now, and probably more on the way. Sounds like a fine idea; after all, if you have the brand equity, no reason not to cash in on use it. If this does well for them, we just hope they don't pull a Ferrari and keep squeezing the licensing teat until every possible appliance has been sprayed with the Motor Trend logo. You can read the press release on the program after the jump.

Continue reading Motor Trend getting into the used car business?

Motor Trend getting into the used car business? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend releases annual industry Power List

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

A lot has changed for automakers in the last year, not the least of which would be General Motors. Just last year, GM CEO Rick Wagoner managed to grab the top spot on Motor Trend's list of most powerful people in the automotive world. As you might imagine, it's tough at the top and a bankruptcy that was barely avoided thanks to a set of last-minute, low-interest loans from the Feds has, not surprisingly, prompted MT to move Wagoner down from his perch as numero uno. In fact, Wagoner has fallen completely out of the top 25 and been lapped by Ford's Alan Mulally and even Bob Lutz, Ed Welburn and Tom Stephens - all men who report up to Wagoner. Ouch. Chrysler execs are also conspicuously absent from MT's latest Power List of People Who Matter. Wondering who managed to make the cut? There are the usual suspects, such as Carlos Ghosn and Takeo Fukui, along with a few others that you might not expect to see. We don't want to spoil it all for you, though, so click here to see the whole shebang.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Motor Trend releases annual industry Power List originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Ford F-150 named Motor Trend Truck of the Year

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

Realistically, Motor Trend had two choices when it came time to pick its Truck of the Year for 2009. On one hand, Ford's redesigned F-150 has been the best seller in America for, well... decades, and offers tireless capabilities and hundreds of possible configurations at an affordable price. It's never been better. On the other hand, the latest Dodge Ram, also redesigned for 2009, features that truck's characteristically macho styling turned up to 11 and gets the segment's first-ever set of coil-overs propping up the rear axle. It too has never been better.

The other two contenders were the Suzuki Equator, which is really nothing more than a rebadged Nissan Frontier (not that it's a bad truck, mind you) and the HUMMER H3T, which is a perfectly fine vehicle that's cursed with a currently-hated nameplate and a reputation for a major thirst for fuel. As you can tell from the headline, the Blue Oval's truck emerged the winner after a process that Motor Trend describes as the closest vote in history.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading 2009 Ford F-150 named Motor Trend Truck of the Year

2009 Ford F-150 named Motor Trend Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Drag race between ZR1, 599, GT-R and GT2

Chris Shunk — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet, Nissan, Porsche, Ferrari

Click above to view video after the jump

If we came up with a list of our top "Best Day EVER" scenarios, we're pretty sure a straight-line race between the Corvette ZR1, Ferrari 599 GTB, Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 GT2 would be close to the top of our list. The scribes at Motor Trend were able to live that dream, but they threw us a bone by recording the supercar showdown for the world to see. Follow the jump to see the 638-hp ZR1 take on some of the best street metal from Italy, Germany, and Japan. We watched the video four times, if only to note the stark difference between the launches and finishes of four distinctly different supercars. And just for fun, write down your projected 1-4 finish and let us know how you fared in the post-jump comment section. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Drag race between ZR1, 599, GT-R and GT2

VIDEO: Drag race between ZR1, 599, GT-R and GT2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend reveals COTY contenders

Chris Tutor — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

Motor Trend says on its blog that they are busily putting 17 new or newly redesigned cars through an "exhaustive evaluation process" that will result in 10 finalists for their Car of the Year award. With cars like the BMW 1 Series, Nissan GT-R, Audi A4, Acura TSX and Pontiac G8, we'd have a hard time choosing five more. Wildcards are the Hyundai Genesis, the Mazda6, the Volkswagen CC and the Dodge Challenger.

They'll be competing with the Acura TL, Honda Fit, Jaguar XF, Lincoln MKS, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Corolla, and the Toyota Matrix.

As a member of the Armchair COTY Comittee, which ones are on your top ten? Is the GT-R a shoe-in or will the Challenger win on pure musclecar charisma? The magazine will announce the winner in its January issue.

[Source: Motor Trend Blog]

Motor Trend reveals COTY contenders originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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