Click above for a high-res pic of the S54B32

Bid farewell to BMW's legendary M inline-six originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The dyno run video is posted after the jump.

Gallery: Supra powered Volvo

Continue reading Boxy, but quick - twin-turbo Supra engined Volvo 244

Boxy, but quick - twin-turbo Supra engined Volvo 244 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When Bentley wants to open a new showroom, they don't do it by half measures. In honor of Istanbul, Turkey's first Bentley dealer on the Bosporus, the marque is putting on a 2,500-mile rally from London to Turkey. Called the Bentley Calista Rally -- because it ends at the Calista Luxury Resort in Belek -- seven Bentley Speed Sixes and seven Bentley 4.5-liters will make the trek across The Continent.

The participants are invited members of the Benjafield's Racing Club, which was founded by Bentley Boy Dudley Benjafield. Back when W.O. Bentley was making what Ettore Bugatti called "the world's fastest lorries," the group of men who were winning races like the 24 Hours of LeMans and beating trains from Calais to London were called the Bentley Boys. In that spirit and in their honor, the ten-country Calista Rally will combine some of the world's most wonderful engines with some of Europe's most wonderful destinations. We're sure Walter Owen would be proud.

[Source: Winding Road]

Vintage Bentleys rally Europe right originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2007 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Subaru launched the 2008 Legacy and Outback models at the Detroit show, and while it's largely business as usual for the all-wheel-drive duo, there are a few revisions that the Subie fans amongst our readership might find interesting.

After its kid brother, the Impreza, has gotten a new face time and time again, the Legacy and Outback have now gotten their turn under the knife. Sheetmetal up front is the biggest change for 2008. The Legacy gets a new, bigger, chromed-up grille; restyled bumpers front and rear with shorter overhangs; and new headlights and taillights. The Outback gets a bigger, more upright and rugged-looking grille, plus restyled fenders, restyled hood and new wheels. Stability control will be offered on more models, and a tire pressure monitoring system becomes standard. Both models also get some revised features inside.

The 2008 model year also marks the debut of the range-topping Legacy 3.0 R, transplanting the 3-liter DOHC 245-hp Flat-6 engine that's already under the hood in its Outback sister car. Paddle-shifters for the 5-speed auto are also new, and the car bobs and weaves on a Bilstein suspension setup. And while it may not have the clout of a premium German badge, the 3.0 R makes a compelling case against the usual suspects from Europe.

Follow the jump for the full press releases, and click here or on the image above for our gallery of high-resolution images from the studio and the Detroit show floor.

Continue reading Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Subaru Legacy and Outback

Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Subaru Legacy and Outback originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With the defective transmission finally removed from our Impala SS, it's time to tear it down to inspect for damage and replace any components that are deemed defective.

Although we usually shy away from messing with automatic transmissions, manuals are usually simple enough to be serviced with a normal assortment of hand tools and perhaps a trip or two to the local rental store. Follow along as we break down our T56 into its constituent components.

Continue reading Autoblog Maintenance 301: Transmission R&R, Part II

Autoblog Maintenance 301: Transmission R&R, Part II originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Jul 2006 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Several of our readers have been requesting tech topics of a higher level of complexity, and so we went and broke a transmission just so we could show you how to fix it. OK, that's not quite how things went; the Tremec/BWA T56 six-speed manual in our '96 Impala SS started making some seriously bad noises during an autocross event last year, and we're finally getting around to doing something about it.

In the first part of this series, we're going to demonstrate the steps necessary to liberate the transmission from its confines. We'll then go through the disassembly process, at which point we'll be able to show the various parts that allow a modern manual transmission to function. Finally, we'll find and fix the problem, and get our car back on the road.

Continue reading Autoblog Maintenance 301: Transmission R&R, Part I

Autoblog Maintenance 301: Transmission R&R, Part I originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jul 2006 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.