Driving Sports

Dodge Launches Challenger - Driving Sports Takes a Hot Lap

Chrysler today celebrated the production launch of one of the industry's most highly anticipated vehicles -- the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. A full line-up of Challengers will follow in the 2009 model-year. Consumer interest in the Dodge Challenger has been some of the highest seen at Chrysler.

Driving Sports had a chance to get behind the wheel of the new Challenger SRT8 at Laguna Seca a couple weeks ago, and we were thrilled with the power and handling - far from creating a brutish, heavy throwback muscle car, Dodge and SRT have delivered a car with fantastic power, light steering feel, and predictable sporty handling. The manual transmission is smooth and fast, and helps make the new Challenger a joy to drive. If you've wanted one of the new generation of muscle cars and you're a Mopar fan, you have got to check out the Challenger SRT8.

V6-Powered Miata is Awesome

Yesterday we did a photoshoot for our Miata Magazine, Forever MX-5, of this unique and very awesome V6-powered Miata.

Sure, there are V8 conversions out there, but they're simply ridiculous. Keeping "reasonable" with a Mazda-sourced V6 creates a car that is true to the essence of the Miata, but kicks performance to a new realm: 180whp in a featherweight car with fat tires. And yes, this car can handle. I may even go so far to call it brilliant.

Click the jump to see the video, and go subscribe to Forever MX-5 Magazine to read all the details in the Summer 2008 issue.

Our Garage: Ryan's 2007 Legacy GT

Subaru makes some fast factory cars. Specifically, its rally-bred STI is known for a 300hp fire-breathing mill and excellent road-handling capabilities.  However, as much as I like speed, I prefer to have something a little less “racer boy” for my daily driver. I like the feel of Subaru’s boxer motors and the driver ergonomics, I also happen to run a Subaru magazine, so it only made sense that I looked elsewhere in the ‘roo family when selecting a car for my own. In the end I chose a model with styling and an interior I could live with every day: a 2007 Subaru Legacy GT.

Stock, the Legacy GT has a 243-hp (crank estimate) turbocharged motor that shares many components with the STI. Though, unlike the STI, you can get leather, a moonroof and body styling that doesn’t look like it was an afterthought. In fact, I’d say the 2007-08 Legacy is one of the better-looking cars on the road today.

Of course, given my occupation, this car didn’t stay stock long. Shortly after break-in we started the first phase of changes in the “need for speed” category. This included a larger turbo, fatter top-mount intercooler and a Perrin turbo-back exhaust system.  All the parts were tuned using an ECUTek reflash and netted a tidy 280hp at the wheels

I ran that config for a good year and was pretty happy with the overall performance: the 18G Blouch/TDC Turbo spooled fast and had enough scoot for the occasional track day or Time Attack race. The Achilles heel was the top end. Power came fast, but didn’t stick around, making long straight-aways on the track my nemesis. Also, in hot conditions, such as I faced at the 2007 Tuner Shootout in Nevada, the top-mount intercooler just couldn’t keep temperatures at bay.

Endura-Tech now shipping 350z coilovers

I recently had the pleasure to drive a Nissan NISMO 350z at Laguna Seca Raceway. What a world of difference a little suspension tuning does for the Z. Now, our good friends at Endura-Tech have a new coilover for Z owners who want a little more than what the factory setup offers.

I've personally run Endura-Tech units on both my track Subaru 2.5RS and my highly-modded Subaru Legacy GT street car and can recommend them very highly. Quality products and an intelligent approach to each and every application. Enough gushing from me, read the short PR after the jump for more details.

Tomorrow's Big Cat - 2009 Jaguar XF

Last week we drove the ultra-luxurious Jaguar XJ Super V8 sedan and enjoyed it. The XJ is a great car but at a sticker price of about $95,000 it’s more than a bit out of reach for most people. But Jaguar followed up that superlative ride with their brand new and ultra-hot XF Coupe. With a sticker price of $62,200, it’s still what the industry calls an “aspirational vehicle,” but it’s still $30-large cheaper than the sedan, and you get all the best stuff carried over from the XJ.

The XF features the same supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine with 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, mated with the same excellent 6-speed automatic transmission. The tranny features paddle shifters on the steering wheel and a “Sport” mode that shifts for speed better than most people can manage. The car is rear wheel drive, which is great for sporty driving, and that’s what you can expect from the XF.

SUV with Soul - Mazda CX-9

Seven-passenger capability has always been the mark of the “big” car. I recently wrote a profile on a gentleman who is restoring a 1946 Packard seven passenger sedan, and asked the opinion of a suburban housewife and SUV fanatic about the seven passenger Land Rover LR3.  Seven passengers seems to be a magic number - maybe because it’s room for one U.S.-standard nuclear family plus one pair of grandparents, or two adults and a basketball team. Who knows?

As a Mazda enthusiast, I was interested to drive the CX-9 for a few days in California’s fabulous central coast region. I’d never driven the CX-9 before, and was curious to see if Mazda’s “Always the soul of a sports car” slogan held true even in the biggest vehicle they offer.

Rule Brittania - Jaguar XJ Super V8

There really is something special about a Jaguar. The XJ (originally named for eXperimental Jaguar) has been produced for 40 years with substantially the same body lines, and it remains a popular choice in the luxury market.  More than half the cars Jaguar has ever built - over 800,000 units - have been XJ models. The 2008 XJ is the seventh generation of the car according to Jaguar’s method of calculation, and the 2008 XJ Super V8 is without a doubt the most powerful and luxurious offering in XJ history.

This year, you can get your XJ with a normally aspirated 310 horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine, or the Super V8, pulling over 400 horsepower and 408 pound-feet of torque from a supercharged 4.2-liter V8. That’s some serious grunt for a supposedly sedate British luxury car!

Sync Your Ride!

Lincoln Navigator owners wishing they had Ford's industry-exclusive SYNC in-vehicle communications system, need wish no more.

Ford has introduced an affordable, dealer-installed SYNC accessory kit that allows select 2008 Navigator and Navigator L customers to enjoy Ford's voice-activated communications system. SYNC works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players.

Ford first introduced the Microsoft-powered SYNC system on the 2008 Ford Focus. And 11 other 2008 vehicles soon followed, including the Ford Edge, Taurus, and the Lincoln MKX and Lincoln MKZ. As part of Ford's aggressive migration plan, SYNC will be offered on nearly every 2009 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle.

Gitting sideways at Prodrive UK

Just before Christmas I was running a series from my trip to Rally GB in 2007. I've dusted the files off and have one more from that series to share. This was the visit to the Prodrive test track in Warwickshire.

I had a chance to drive a Type UK 2007 STI and a Group-N WRC car on the high-speed course (my first time in a right-hand drive), plus I had a little fun on the ice simulator. Prodrive has one of only two such simulators in the UK.

Thanks to Subaru of America for hookup us up. Enjoy the video, just after the jump.

Saleen Offers 302 Crate Engines

For the first time ever, Saleen will begin selling its high performance 302 cubic inch (5.0L) premium crate engines through its Speedlab Aftermarket Division. The engine will be available in either short block or long block varieties to satisfy the most seasoned of engine builders and power enthusiasts.

Saleen offers the same OEM quality, durability and precision-built engines used today in Saleen built performance vehicles. The legendary 302 engine has already made its rightful return to the performance stage in Saleen product offerings such as the Parnelli Jones Edition, Heritage Series, and the new 25th Anniversary Sterling Edition. Consumers now have the opportunity to upgrade their existing vehicle with a high performance Saleen 302 crate engine.

Pombo Takes First VW TDI Cup - Series Sponsors Announced

Rising star Mark Pombo won the first Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup race on Sunday at VIRginia International Raceway.  With a best lap time of 2:15.686, Pombo, 25, from Duluth, GA., raced against 28 other up-and-coming drivers to secure his win in the race.

“Winning the first race of the Jetta TDI Cup is definitely a highlight of my racing career so far,” said Pombo.  “It’s a competitive field of racers, with each of the drivers at the top of their game.  I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this win without the support of the Volkswagen cup series team and Cates Engineering.”

Suzuki SX4 To Offer Standard Nav Under $16K

Suzuki showed off their fun SX4 hatchback last week at the Western Automotive Journalist's "Media Days" event, and then today announced the addition of a fully integrated standard navigation system to the 2009 SX4. The company's offering marks the first time a new vehicle under $16,000 will include navigation as a standard feature. The GPS navigation system will be included as standard equipment on both the four-door SX4 Sport and front-wheel-drive version of the five-door SX4 Crossover, propelling the 2009 SX4 to the front of the compact segment as the personal technology leader.

Western Automotive Journalists Gather For "Media Days" At Laguna Seca

The Western Automotive Journalists organization gathered this week in beautiful Monterey, Calif. to test drive the 2008 sports and luxury car field from virtually every automaker doing business in North America. Journalists from up and down the west coast arrived to test the full fleet of 2008 cars on the winding mountain roads of Carmel Valley and at speed on the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Yes, that's the new Nissan GT-R parked next to the NISMO Edition 350Z in the photo to the right. Yes, they're as good as you think they are.

Events such as this serve a number of purposes, including a rare chance for side-by-side tests of comparable cars from different automakers, and also to allow a relaxed atmosphere to talk shop with the manufacturer representatives. But I wouldn't lie to you and tell you it was anything like working - this event is big-time fun.

New Handheld GPS Offers Real-Life View

Satellite Navigation takes a technological leap forward today with the launch of the G280 and G800 from NDrive. Boasting the world's first photo mapping system, the G280 and G800 feature real life photo images instead of the traditional 1D/3D maps found on other devices. The new G280 and G800 take navigation to the next level - but unfortunately, it only works in England at the moment. But if it's on the market there, you can bet it'll be here in the states shortly.

Supercar Life Expands Options for Hot Rides

Supercar Life, the first adventure lifestyle company to offer drives of exotic cars on racetracks, is expanding its program lineup to appeal to hard core driving enthusiasts as well as to those who prefer to travel first class.

Supercar Life's new Track Package ($4,990) includes a full day piloting $1.5-million worth of supercars on premier tracks around the country. The Luxury Package ($5,690), formerly the only option, adds top-shelf accommodations, gourmet dinner and VIP ground transportation. Details and registration can be found at www.supercarlife.com or by calling 1.877.420.0090.