Have you ever hopped in your car, only to discover it wasn't yours? When I was in college, I jumped into a Honda that wasn't mine, and my Mom just did the same thing yesterday with her Hyundai. Funny stuff. Anyway, here's the news:
Even though there were screams of protest from Porsche purists upon its release, the Cayenne has been a financial boon for the company. So it makes sense to make a crossover. Right? Check out these shots of it testing at the Ring. AutoExpress
Given that SUVs are selling for peanuts, it's not a huge surprise that Korean manufacturers Kia and Hyundai are dropping plans to introduce a pickup. With gas prices climbing steadily, they'll probably want to keep making all the small cars they can. Automotive News
If your GPS is good enough, getting lost is already a thing of the past. But now you can even download the positions of traffic cameras and known speed traps, so it might just keep you from getting popped for speeding. Pretty cool. Wired
Motorcycle riders in Louisiana will no longer have to wear helmets, as the law is being repealed. The really interesting thing about this story? It says that less than half of states require them. In a nanny state like the US, I'd figure that number would be higher. KFDM News
There's an old joke here in Seattle that begins: "What do you call a sunny day after two days of rain?" The punchline? Monday. But the weather over the weekend was actually pretty nice, which made the wet commute into work almost bearable. Anyway, here's the news:
Tata Motors just bought Jag and Land Rover, but apparently the company still has some cash burning a hole in it's pocket. Rumors are swirling that it might pick up Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta. Autoblog
On Behind the Music, Billy Idol related how he got busted cheating on his wife after she heard one of his phone calls over their baby monitor. So Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking justifiably hit the ceiling when he found one in his hotel room ahead of a meeting with VW's board. Jalopnik
The new Ford Focus ST is set to go on sale in the UK on May 1st, and with 224 horsepower, it should be a blast to drive. Why doesn't the Blue Oval offer cool stuff like that over here? CarScoop
Of course, we don't want to see everything in the UK make it to our shores. Motorists across the pond can't be too happy about the wireless speed cameras being tested. Auto Express
Well, ok, Hamburg isn't right round the corner for most of you, but in case you are planning a trip to Germany, you shouldn't miss a chance to visit our brand-new ''Prototyp'' exhibition (and while you're at it, you could also drop by one of our Chromjuwelen Motor Shows). To call this place a museum would be wrong. Prototyp is more a treasure collection of German engineering--especially Porsche engineering--with the 356, 597 Hunting Car and 906 Carrera 6, just to name a few. To give you a quick impression of the ''pre-opening'' event, I've included a ton of pics after the jump.
I’ve been collecting photos of Rauh-Welt cars over the past few months as I hold out for this mega-post. Why? Because the cars they build are simply the epitome of hard core JDM wangan style. They’re a bit retro in a cool way like AE86s and S13s, but there is something so amazingly hardcore about these old-school 911s that even the meanest Hachi or Silvia would have a hard time squaring up to them without being laughed off stage.
Having visited Tokyo’s wangan on a few occasions I already know first hand the feeling of fear that seeing a modified 911 in my rear mirror brings. The air cooled engines are loud as hell when modified with straight through exhausts and these cars carry the nastiest widebody stance of any car out there. In a sense cars like these are the pioneers of the popular widebody style that we all love now.
Granted I am speaking in nostalgic terms, whereas these cars I’m about to feature are modern built cars, with a late 80s/early 90s ultra aggressive wangan style. What you’re about to see is some of the most incredibly hardcore wheel fitments ever. Some of the most hardcore GT wings ever. And generally speaking, some of the most hardcore battle worn cars ever coming out of Japan. And yes, the base car itself is not JDM. Get over it, JDM tuning is a world wide movement and can apply to nearly any car. If you dont know, now you know...
First, marvel in what I consider the most aggressive wheel fitment I’ve ever seen in my life. More...
No turbos, superchargers, or turbonators! Instead, simple 90s engineering throughout. Four cylinders, great platform, and lots of blood, sweat, and... nah... no tears here. The last of Porsche's four cylinder, water cooled, front engined machines.
It would be a long drive out to Buttonwillow from Philly, but it would be cool if Pablo got invited and could make it! Want to learn more about the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge? Check out cardomain.com/grm!
Kelly Blue Book, "The Trusted Source," has awarded Porsche top honors with "Best Exterior Design" in the "Sports Car/Convertible" category, which takes its whole lineup into consideration. A few grumblers around the office, notably John, are kind of wondering what other cars they even looked at. Actually, John kind of freaked out a little bit on behalf of the F430, but Sean countered that he'd buy two Porsches before he'd buy a Ferrari. I think the whole thing's a little silly, because anything that can't rear-end my Eagle at less than 5mph without destroying itself (like a certain Boxter did) shouldn't be getting top honors for anything. In any case, everyone's calmed down now, for the most part. What about you lot? Based on exterior looks alone, what current "Sports Car/Convertible" do you feel should be the top dog?
While everybody talks about "green cars," Jens Broedersdorff and Uwe Koenzen built one. Sure, converting a 1967 Porsche 912 into an electric-powered car will probably confound a lot of people. A range of 90km won't distinguish this Porsche as a long distance cruiser, but doing burnouts without engine sounds is definitely different. I think it's cool. What do you think?
This is a clip from Jeremy Clarkson's Supercar Showdown, where the Stig, driving a 997 GT3, is pitted against Sabine Schmitz, behind the wheel of Audi's R8. Schmitz is know for driving the M5 "ring taxi" around Germany's famed Nürburgring track, and in this segment, she makes the Top Gear ace earn his money. Unlike most of battles showcased on the TV show, the two drivers actually race each other—not just the clock—and the result is beyond awesome. Enjoy.
You might remember the Wartburg ''Zonen Zombie'' project, where some German custom culture nuts started to hot rod a Wartburg 311. This project is typical of the new ''East'' movement in Germany. Especially in East Germany, where you see more and more slammed, shaved and chopped jalopies popping up, with either glamorous paint jobs or a more vintage rat look.
Even more popular than the Wartburgs are the Trabants. Gone are the days where you could score these cars easily. While those two-stroke rides were once denounced as ''Rennpappen'' (''race cardboards''), they are now one of the most popular cars to hot rod. If you're luck enough to own one, I have the perfect tool for you: the TrabiCustomizer. Simply choose your model and do a digital sketch before you pull out your angle grinder. And if you're more into air cooled stuff, try out the fabulous Bug-/Bus-/Type 3-/Porsche-Selcta.
New York was a blast, but I still feel pretty wiped out. Good thing I have a couple of days at home before I head to Detroit for the start of the DUB tour. Anyway, here's the news:
Looks like Honda finally going to bring Acura into the UK. Since Infiniti and Lexus have been there for years, you have to wonder why the company was dragging their feet. Hey, better late than never. Auto Express
The strike at American Axle is still underway, and while the management is asking employees to accept benefit and pay cuts of up to 50%—yup, 50%—the just gave the head honcho a million dollar raise. Classy. Auto Observer
BMW just won the 2008 World Green Car award, but like so many other killer rides, it won't be available in the US. What's the deal guys? Wired
There are still two years to go until 2010, but it looks like automotive folks are already starting to talk about "Car of the Decade." I have to admit, the fact that the Porsche's Cayenne is being floated caught me by surprise. The New York Times
Just when John was finally getting to like Porsche, they go and cook up something like this. Actually, it's unlikely that Ivan Volkov's design is as of yet an official Porsche concept car, and considering the backlash the company faced over the Cayenne, it's unlikely that they'd push something this boxy and pufferfish-looking to production. Volkov's website refers vaguely to the vehicle's two-part construction, and in some renderings, the Traveler appears to have an integrated trailer module that's able to pop out for towing, though it's unclear where the third set of wheels is hiding. All in all, it's one big WTF, and the AutoMotto story about the car isn't coherent enough to answer many of our questions. Enjoy the pics, though!
I guess I've just been asleep at the wheel—or not watching enough TV—but I had no idea one of my favorite songwriters is doing music for Volvo. Stephin Merritt is the uber-genius behind the Magnetic Fields, and he sings an interpretation of "Wheels on the Bus" in this ad for the XC. While there are plenty of idiots out there howling about how terrible this is, personally, I like it when musicians make money. Here's the news:
Due to mounting debts, the Pininfarina family could lose control of the design house which bears their name. Now, I acknowledge that even really rich people can go broke, but I still can't say I understand it. Any way you cut it, this is sad. World Car Fans
The credit crunch happening across the country is starting to have an effect on classic car prices. Of course, whether this is tragic or great depends on whether you want to buy or sell. Winding Road
A fire at a Chrysler plant in Ontario has temporarily stopped production. Ok, first a fire at Porsche, and now this? Wow. It's only a matter of time before the Ferrari and Lambo factories go off like Roman candles. Automotive News
The American Family Association has ended its boycott of Ford. But don't worry, I'm sure the group will find another way to promote its agenda of intolerance and bigotry. Detroit News
