Driving Sports

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.

US Postal Service Issues Classic Car Stamps

The United States Postal Service is issuing a new line of stamps commemorating classic rides of the 50s. The new first class stamps show some serious lead sleds of the Big Three in their glory days - when no tailfin was too garish and chrome showed the world who was boss.

The "50s Fins and Chrome" 42-cent First-Class stamps go on sale Oct. 3, and feature paintings by renowned automobile illustrator Art. M. Fitzpatrick--a '57 Chrysler 300C, '57 Lincoln Premiere, '57 Pontiac Safari, '57 Studebaker Golden Hawk and a '59 Cadillac Eldorado. The stamps were modeled after cars still on the road today.

Modesto Worst in U.S. For Car Theft

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported today that the Modesto, CA, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the highest per capita rate for vehicle thefts in the nation in 2007.

For 2007, the ten MSAs with the highest vehicle theft rates are:

  1.   Modesto, CA
  2.   Las Vegas/Paradise, NV
  3.   San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos, CA
  4.   Stockton, CA
  5.   San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, CA
  6.   Laredo, TX
  7.   Albuquerque, NM
  8.   Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, AZ
  9.   Yakima, WA
  10.  Tucson, AZ

Xtreme Motorsports Announces Electric Sand Car

Xtreme Motorsports of California announced that it has completed the engineering & manufacturing plans for the industry's first completely electric sandcar.

With the ever-rising concerns by California Air Resource Board (CARB) of new emissions laws within the sandcar industry and the growing concern about future climate change, Xtreme Motorsports has completed the engineering and production plans for the first "Zero Emissions Sandcar" (ZES). Utilizing the latest in motor & controller technology from Azure Dynamics, a leader in providing solutions for the electric car industry, along with advanced Lithium Ion battery technology from AEVehicles, these new Sandcars are the most exciting line of vehicles for the consumer we have put out to date.

Subaru Launches New Emotional Marketing Plan

Subaru of America today announced a new marketing campaign based on the strong emotional bond Subaru owners have with their vehicles. The campaign, developed by the company's brand agency, Carmichael Lynch, features print, TV and digital media components.

Two key research-based insights led to the campaign: the first was that while most consumers have heard of Subaru and believe it to be a good product, 60 percent have no strong emotional opinion or attachment to the brand. The second was that Subaru owners are known for their outspoken passion and love for the brand, and this applied across all models around the country.

Mazda Reveals Revised Mazda6 for '09

Mazda today revealed the all-new Mazda6 and confirmed that North American sales will start in late summer 2008.

Specifically developed for North America, the all-new Mazda6 inherits and evolves the sporty styling and superb driving performance of the first generation Mazda6. The North American model features a larger body and greater engine displacement to meet the particular demands of the North American market. Handling and comfort were also optimized for North American road conditions.

Versa-tile Nissan Hatchback

Economy cars just aren’t what they used to be. Time was, an economy car - and particularly a hatchback - was a ticket to a miserable driving experience. They were underpowered, uncomfortable, and generally ill-handling. About the only redeeming characteristic of an econo-box was good gas mileage.

But that’s yesterday’s news. Today’s economy cars are peppy, comfortable, and include all the creature comforts that used to define upscale luxury cars. Witness the 2008 Nissan Versa hatchback. For a base price of $13,450, you get a 122 horsepower 127 pound-feet 1.8-liter DOHC engine, air conditioning, a nice CD stereo, 4-way adjustable driver’s seat, tilt wheel, and a complete set of side curtain and forward impact air bags. You have your choice of 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions at no extra charge.

2008 Olympus Rally

April 19-20 2008, Pomeroy, Wash.

We’re only three events into the 2008 Rally America series, with six events yet to run, but I’ll go out on a limb and predict that this is the year Ken Block and co-driver Alessandro Gelsomino win the Rally America national championship. After two years in the shadow of teammates Travis Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom, Block and Gelsomino have won two of the first three events in dominating fashion.

“I’m definitely going to try for the championship. This year, we’ve got a plan,” remarked Block at the Olympus podium ceremony.

Whatever that plan is, it’s working very nicely. Block won 7 of the 16 Olympus stages outright and finished second on 4 more. On the 5 remaining stages, a quirk in the Rally America championship rules created a tie with up to 17 other competitors.

Messing with our Head

It's been a while since posting an update on the Time Attack Miata Project, simply because there's been nothing to report.

Several weeks ago the head was removed and shipped down to Delta Cam for some cleaning and spiffing.

Halfway into the job we stopped by to get some details about the process of cleaning up a Miata head. Click the jump to see Rob working his magic in a short video -- you might just learn something.

Big Luxury - Land Rover LR3 Reviewed

Land Rover is the gold standard for luxury SUVs.  From its top-of-the-line Range Rovers down to the compact and punchy LR2, if you want an import SUV that will impress, you need a Rover.  They’ve got all the luxury features anyone could want, and they’re very capable off-road, so whether you’re cruising the town in style or hitting the outback, you can do it all in a Rover.

You may have heard that Land Rover has been sold to an Indian automaker, and that’s true. Tata of India has purchased both Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford, but Tata’s management has declared that the two iconic English brands will remain independent, and the dealer network in America will be retained. So don’t look for sweeping changes at Land Rover anytime soon.

Subaru and Toyota RWD Coupe Rumors Confirmed

Rumors of a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota to produce a hot RWD sport coupe have been confirmed. The world's largest automaker will increase its investment in Subaru from about 8% to about 16% and in return, Subaru will provide a 1.8 or 2.0-liter boxer engine in both normally-aspirated and turbocharged variants to the new dual-badged sports car.

So far, only concept drawings have been leaked from the two automakers, but the word on the grapevine is that the new car will retail for about $16,000 (USD) and be available only in a RWD configuration.

But if Toyota and Subaru join forces to bring out a hot  RWD sport compact well under $20K, it's a fair bet that they'll have the market leader in the segment right out of the gate. Stay tuned for more information as it happens.   

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Released!

Sony announced today the North American release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue exclusively for PLAYSTATION3. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is the fifth installment of the word's best-selling racing franchise and an intense precursor to Gran Turismo 5. This latest entry to the racing series that has shipped over 48 million units worldwide*, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue continues to blur the line between driving simulation and reality on PS3, featuring 1080p High Definition graphics, advanced vehicle design and precise driving physics. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue releases on Blu-ray Disc to retailers today and will be available via download on PLAYSTATION Store at 12:01 AM EDT on April 17. The BD version will include an exclusive behind-the-scenes HD video feature called "Beyond the Apex," offering an intimate look at the franchise's history. Both versions are available for $39.99 SRP.

Mopar Signs Lux in World Challenge GT

Cindi Lux and Mopar announced today the addition of the veteran female road racer to Team Mopar for the 2008 race season. Lux, the 1999 American Le Mans Series Women's Global GT Series Champion, will represent the parts division of Chrysler in the highly competitive, road car-based Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) World Challenge GT Series. NayKid Racing will enter the Lux Performance Group, LLC prepared and managed No. 2 Mopar Dodge Viper Competition Coupe starting at the April 20 Grand Prix of Long Beach (Calif.). The Long Beach event marks the first race of the 2008 SPEED World Challenge season for the Aloha, Oregon resident.

"Being part of the Mopar racing family holds more of significance for me personally due to my family heritage. My grandfather started our family Chrysler dealership back in 1925 and it is still running strong today. I have many memories as a kid sweeping our parts department on weekends with all of those Mopar parts surrounding me. And now I get the opportunity to represent Mopar on the race track. That is awesome. Our team has worked so hard over the winter months on our Vipers and I can't wait to hit the track at Long Beach. What a great place to debut our new paint scheme and partnership," Lux says.

NOPI Drag Racing Season Kicks Off in Florida

The NOPI drag racing series kicked its 2008 season into high gear with a recent national race at Moroso Motorsports Park in West Palm Beach, Florida. Moroso has been long known to host great events for and this weekend was no different. Spectators from all across the country and Canada came out to enjoy the weekend, with well over 16,000 in attendance. This is the second largest crowd Moroso has ever had for an event.

There was great participation all around, not only in spectator attendance but with competitors as well. NOPI had 350 car show entrants, 163 drag competitors and 24 drifters. The racing action was top notch all weekend, which set the mood for the atmosphere. NOPI Motorsports has surely set the tone for the 2008 season!

Turbo upgrade tips for Subarus

If you're a WRX, STI or Legacy GT owner, the need for speed inevitably leads to a bump in boost -- courtesy of a turbo upgrade. Now, this isn't an easy install, but for those inclined, Sean Sexton from Rallitek Performance (Portland, Ore.) shares a couple tricks of the trade with Subiesport Magazine that will cut your wrenching time by a significant measure.

Click here for all the action!

To Infiniti and Beyond - 2008 EX35 Reviewed

The Infiniti EX35 is the latest Crossover SUV from Nissan. Crossovers have been one of the largest and most successful automotive market segments of the last few years. The Crossover revolution has been so complete that automakers have rushed to claim that their same old SUVs are really crossovers, and have been all along.

Technically,  a Crossover SUV is - well, to tell the truth, there is no technical definition for a Crossover. It’s a marketing term. But in general, a Crossover is an SUV-style body placed on an automobile chassis platform. A Crossover should drive more like a car than a truck, and that’s about it for the rules. 

Atlantic Racing Series Announces 2008 Schedule

In the five weeks since open-wheel unification was announced, officials from the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda have been hard at work on several fronts, including shoring up its schedule for the 35th Anniversary season in 2008.

Those efforts bore fruit today as Atlantic Championship Managing Director Vicki O’Connor unveiled an 11-race schedule at a news conference to confirm the return of the series to the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres—one of Canada’s most beloved events and a historic venue for Atlantic racing—after a five-year absence. The Atlantic Championship will headline activities in Trois-Rivieres on Sunday, August 17 for the first time since the 2003 season, when A.J. Allmendinger claimed the victory en route to his series championship.

Chrysler Takes it to the Streets

Moving on all fronts to re-engage its customers, Chrysler LLC launches a corporate campaign on April 14 with the theme line “If you can dream it, we can build it.” The campaign begins a dialogue with America about the Company’s culture and passion for delivering on customers’ dreams.

“Great companies are driven by a deep sense of who they are and their core values. We realigned our values and put the customer at the core of everything we do,” said Jim Press, Vice Chairman and President, Chrysler LLC. “We are driven to deliver the realization of their dreams through products that they are passionate about owning and driving. And we are poised to do it better, and in a way that no other company can.”

VW Announces TDI Cup Drivers

Thirty up-and-coming drivers to launch new environmentally responsible race series

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today the selection of 30 drivers to compete in the all-new Jetta TDI Cup series. The drivers were chosen at a driver selection event April 3-6 at the Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz.

“We’re offering a unique opportunity for some of the best and brightest drivers to get their start in a factory-backed racing series,” said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Through an exhausting driver evaluation process, we looked at a variety of factors including driving ability and potential, media and communication skills and overall fit, to choose the 30 best drivers to help promote Volkswagen and the introduction of our all-new 50-state clean diesel Jetta TDI, and ultimately themselves.”

Bomarito Signs for Atlantic Season

Mathiasen Motorsports announced today that they have signed Jonathan Bomarito to drive the #26 Swift for the 2008 Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda.  This partnership comes on the heels of their impressive performance at the final pre-season testing session at MSR Houston, in which the team ran the fastest lap in three of the four sessions and clocked an overall fast lap over a half second quicker than the next competitor.

“From the moment Jonathan and the team met at MSR Houston throughout the test it was obvious that driver and team had great chemistry.  Jonathan was able to provide tremendous feedback on the car, which allowed for positive changes throughout the test session. We feel very fortunate that circumstances fell into place that allowed us the opportunity to bring a very talented driver like Jonathan to our team” said team owners Ray and Leslie Mathiasen.

Be The First Guy On Your Block To Drive 800 MPH!

The biggest one-day sporting event of 2008 may well be the breaking of the Land Speed Record by the North American Eagle (NAE), a group of Canadians and Americans working together for a common goal; creating a 50,000 horsepower car that will travel faster than the speed of sound. This huge event will inspire people all over the world and re-ignite the spirit of every American and Canadian.

NAE is currently searching North America for a young man or woman that wants to be trained by veteran land speed racing driver and NAE co-owner, Ed Shadle, to be the fastest person on earth. NAE is seeking a person with experience in high-speed motorsports as well as experience being on camera and with speaking to large audiences.

SpeedSource Fifth at Homestead-Miami Rolex Race

Homestead-Miami Speedway - At the team's home track, SpeedSource put the victory of Daytona behind them and focused on last Saturday's Gainsco Grand Prix of Miami for the Rolex Sports Car Series. In this DP-GT combined race, traffic and yellow flags set the tone for the day. From fourth on the GT grid, the No. 70 Mazdaspeed/Castrol Syntec GT RX-8 felt the impact of the traffic, taking a bump at the start that lost the rotary powerhouse 5 positions on the first lap. Hearing the news of the incident, team owner and driver Sylvain Tremblay just shook his head. The race would take everything Tremblay and veteran driver Nick Ham could give.

$110/bbl Oil Making the Market for Alternative Fuels

At DrivingSports, we think that as long as a car is fast and fun to drive, we don't really care if it runs on gasoline, diesel, alcohol, nitromethane, or sunshine and daisies. With oil pushing $110 a barrel and a gallon of gas retailing at about $3.30, Americans are now spending more than 5% of their annual incomes (or about $135 per month) on filling up their tanks. That's up from 3% in 2004 and 4% in 2005.

Clearly, something is going to have to change if we want to continue to enjoy our cars - and we have no plans to buy a bus pass anytime soon. For years the case for more fuel efficient vehicles was held back by the supposed cost to manufacturers while the case for alternative fueled vehicles held little appeal to a market happy with gasoline. But as a recent report shows, that's all changing right now. In fact, according to a new study published this week by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, three quarters (74%) of American consumers are ready for alternative fuel vehicles.

Chick Cars and Guy Cars - It's True!

InsureMe, an insurance referral service, recently announced results of research to determine if the stereotypes relating to automobiles hold up to empirical rigor. The findings were surprising.

"In a word, yes," said Peter Deusterman, InsureMe's in-house statistician. "They hold up much better than I would've predicted."

InsureMe is a web-based service that helps people obtain auto insurance. In the process it collects consumer information, including car ownership data. While all information is anonymous, it is occasionally studied to note certain trends.

"If you tell me you drive a car that's made in Italy, I can tell you how many X chromosomes you have," said Deusterman with a smile. "One." Deusterman asserted he can tell you with reasonable, statistical confidence. According to the data, 86 percent of people seeking insurance quotes for Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis in the past 13 months were men.

(Ed. Note: Yeah, OK, I have 4 Alfa Romeos, I plead guilty to being a guy!)