Driving Sports

Fisker Performing Track Testing in SoCal

Fisker Automotive, Inc. and Quantum Technologies announced today they are performing initial vehicle testing and fine tuning the battery software management system for the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid production car. These initial test track developments are taking place in Southern California.

Three Fisker Karma prototypes have been built, and are currently undergoing testing for the electric powertrain developed by Quantum Technologies. Concurrently, the Fisker Automotive engineering team is working on crash test simulation. Further validation and certification on the vehicles will be performed over the coming months.

Ford Focuses on American Idol

We figure it's about the only reason to tune in to Idol any more: Ford debuted the new Focus  coupe  for the 2009 model year Wednesday on  "American Idol." This marks the first time Ford has ever revealed a new product on prime time television. "Focus is the little car that delivers in a big way for customers, with 35 mpg fuel economy, cool features including SYNC, a fun drive, strong quality and the right price," said John Felice, Ford Division group marketing manager. "We thought the 'American Idol' debut would be a new way for customers to see the upgrades for themselves."

Speed Racer is Fun - But Not Great

Speed Racer was kind of goofy when it was a low-budget cartoon import from Japan. It had its endearing qualities, but no one took it very seriously. Later, it was popular on retro items from T-shirts to lunchboxes, with key fobs being especially popular.

So along come the Wachowski brothers (of The Matrix fame) and they set out to do a high-budget, SFX extravaganza of the original cartoon - and it's still kind of goofy. I played hooky today and went to see the matinee - it's worth $7 for a car guy, but if I'd paid weekend prices and stood in line, I'd feel shortchanged.

So, the good points - the special effects are dazzling. The producers clearly love their oversaturated colors and they spent big big bucks on rendering. The movie doesn't take itself too seriously, in stark contrast with other spin-off movies from low-budget cartoons - this could have been another Judge Dredd, but mercifully it's not.

Our Garage: Jeff's 1959 MGA

The wonderful thing about the automotive hobby is that it can be anything you like. Check out Ryan's Legacy for an example of the new and groovy, powerful and comfortable ride. But there's also the option of working with a much older car. My 1959 MGA will have its 50th birthday next year, and it's still as fun as the day it rolled off the line in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England.

Restoring or updating an old car gets you right to the heart of what it means to be a car guy. With a classic, you can't plug in a laptop and claim 50 wheel horsepower in an afternoon. But you will get a sense of the driving experience that put sports cars into our souls. And - this is key - chicks dig old sports cars. I can park my vintage MG next to a line of the hottest tuner rides in town and which car do you think gets the attention?

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.

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

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.”

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.

$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!)

New Benz Roadster To Feature Bitchin' Harmon-Kardon Stereo

Mercedes has announced that the “Harman Kardon® Discrete Logic 7® Sound System” will be delivered in the new Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, to offer top quality tunes with the vario-roof up or down.

Carefully chosen technical components in combination with innovative technologies and precise sound tuning by the Harman Kardon acoustics specialists deliver an authentic surround experience in the Mercedes-Benz high-end roadster. “The new SL-Class offers a spacious and enveloping sound field for every passenger with superior dynamic range and the ability to deliver the subtle details of both normal stereo and modern 5.1 recordings, perfectly matching the premium character of luxury models,” emphasizes Stephanie Sauter, Harman Kardon Global Brand & Product Marketing Manager.

Moov Out! New Portable GPS Coming April 1

Mio Technology, a supplier of personal GPS navigation devices, announced the Mio Moov product family -- four new personal navigation devices with a fresh user interface. This is the first set of Mio Technology products to incorporate software developed internally, using design and content proficiencies from the recently-acquired Navman. Mio Moov 200, 210, 300 and 310 emphasize straightforward navigation and provide an excellent value that makes quality GPS attainable for many consumers.

Ferrari Rolls Out New 612 Scaglietti

Ferrari officially premieres today in North America the 2008 612 Scaglietti, the model used to inaugurate the new One-to-One Personalization Program of the Company. Ferrari intends to allow every client to fully personalize this flagship model, courtesy of a wide array of new content as well as the options available through the Carrozzeria Scaglietti Programme. In fact, a special dedicated "atelier" area has been set up at the factory, where clients can put together their own bespoke 612 Scaglietti accessory by accessory, detail by detail. In exactly the same way as they would at an haute couture fashion house, owners can choose details and materials they want for their car in consultation with the Ferrari experts who will actually build it to their exact specifications and tastes.

Dodge Challenger Unveiled - Way Cool!

Today at the New York International Auto Show, Chrysler LLC unveiled its full 2009 Dodge Challenger model lineup. Pricing will start in the low $20’s.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger merges the best American muscle-car characteristics — unmistakable design, world-class handling, powerful engines and technology — to delight driving enthusiasts across several generations.

New Lens Technology Makes Better Driving Shades

Drivewear, a lens technology developed by Younger Optics specifically for driving, provides a precise balance between protection against glare and the amount of light which reaches the eye with the necessary visual information to maximize the driving task, even behind the windshield of a car.

"The average American spends more than 15 hours or 300 miles driving each week," said David Rips, president and CEO, Younger Optics. "Drivewear was created for them -- to make a long commute safer and more enjoyable due to less eye strain and fatigue."

Recession Fears Take Toll on Auto Buying

With more than 250 million automobiles, Americans can be said to be among the most "car-oriented" people in the world; home to nearly one out of every three passenger vehicles, the United States has long been known as the single most important auto market in the world.

But that may be changing now, as the economy hits the skids and record numbers of American consumers are foregoing automobile purchases for the foreseeable future.

In fact, according to a March poll conducted by TechnoMetrica's AutoView (the company's automotive research division), demand for new automobiles among American consumers hit a new 14-month low, forcing their Auto Purchase Outlook Index down an unheard of 23 points, or 26%, to reach 65.6 (vs. 88.8 in February).

Black is the new Black

CarMax, Inc. the nation's largest retailer of used cars, reports the color black has topped the list as the most popular color for vehicle searches conducted on carmax.com in February.

"We find color choice is a very important consideration for customers when car shopping," said Mark Simmons, Purchasing Manager in San Diego, California. "I am not surprised that black tops the list. The color black looks good on nearly every make and model."

Used car shoppers' top five color choices for online searches in February were:      

  Color Choice : Percent of Searches

  1.  Black: 36%
  2.  White: 17%
  3.  Blue: 11%
  4.  Red: 10%
  5.  Silver: 9%

Other colors of interest to online shoppers included gray (6%), green (4%) and yellow (2%).

Ford Celebrates 100 Years of the Model T

The car that put the world on wheels, the Ford Model T, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008 and Ford is planning a year-long series of celebrations to honor the iconic vehicle.

Celebrations will officially commence at the 2008 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Amelia Island, Fla., March 7-9.  Ford has many other regional events in the works for a year filled with celebrations, including a special Model T display at the West Coast’s largest Ford enthusiast car show - the Fabulous Fords Forever! event at Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Park in Anaheim, Calif., on Apr. 20th.  In July, Ford Motor Company will be the title sponsor of the Model T Ford Club of America’s “T Party 2008” that will be held in Richmond, Ind.   

Earn Big Money by Letting Strangers Park at Your House

ParkatmyHouse.com (http://www.parktmyhouse.com/), a successful British-based website designed to connect drivers with open parking spaces, announced today that it will launch the service in the United States. The site is run by Anthony Eskinazi, a 24-year old entrepreneur from London, England, whose modern innovation has changed the way people find parking.

By connecting people who want to rent out or sell their under utilized parking spaces with those who are looking for convenient and cheap parking, ParkatmyHouse offers a marriage made in heaven - convenient parking in exchange for hard cash.

Perhaps a home-based detailing business is an extra opportunity?

Armin's New Addition

Ahhh, the new STI.  Most people tend to be on the fence about how it looks, but I was sold on the hatchback with wide fenders from the instant I saw it.  As of Sunday, January 27th, I became the proud owner of a new 2008 Subaru WRX STI in Lightning Red.

This car is a rather stark contrast to my 02 WRX and 02 M3.  It's almost as if Subaru took the refinement of the BMW and put it into the more hardcore shell of the old bugeye.  Without any hint of turbo lag, the power comes on very smooth, the clutch feels great and easy to get used to, and the handling, while a bit softer than my M3, still handles the corners very well without being too harsh over bumps, highway expansion joints, or potholes.  On top of that, I'm very happy that I decided to go with the Lightning Red.  Dark Gray Metallic was may first choice, but after waiting a bit too long for it and seeing the red in person, I knew the red was for me. 

As of right now, I've nicknamed her "Blaze," with an alternate name of "The Crimson Knight."  I already have pretty extensive plans for the car, so she won't be staying stock for too long.  New wheels are definitely in order, as are new seats.  I'm not the skinniest guy in the world, but these stock seats have pretty much no bolsters and are pretty uncomfortable on my 25-mile daily commute.  As the mods start happening, I'll definitely keep DrivingSports readers abreast of the situation.

 

Auto Industry Flashes the Green at Winter Auto Shows

Every year at the various Auto Shows around America, representatives of the big three U.S. automakers give a short presentation to the local media about their new cars.  Two years ago, the talk was all about big - bigger cars and SUVs with bigger engines than the year before. This year, the trend is mostly in the other direction, and you’ll be able to see the difference at this winter's Auto Shows.

Back in November, I went to the Los Angeles Auto Show to get an early look at the 2009 prototypes and concept cars. Every manufacturer at the L.A. Auto Show wanted to talk about green. Not just the color of money, but about alternative fuels, hybrid engines, and clean transportation.

Taking it off the streets

Since the horseless carriage was first invented, no doubt it did not take long for people to start seeing whose was faster than another.  It's the competitive spirit that we as humans have inside, which of course does not just pertain to cars.  This spirit is what fuels those of us who love to watch sanctioned racing, modify our cars for performance, or go out to local tracks and events to enjoy driving fast in a safe and legal manner.  On the other hand, it's the same spirit that also gives us the adrenaline rush to speed and perhaps even race another car on the highway or local side streets.

Before I go much further, let me preface the rest of this blog with the fact that I am no angel by any means.  I've had my share of run-ins with local authorities, and without going into too much detail, I've been through enough to realize the consequences of my actions.  That said, I think that gives me a good place to stand on when in regards to my opinions on street racing and how to combat it.  Anyway, it's very easy for someone to have absolutely no remorse for a street racer.  Not only do they break the law, but they also put innocent people at risk, contribute to higher insurance rates for all drivers as a whole, and make all car enthusiasts look bad to the media and authorities.  Nationwide, people lose their lives in accidents involving street racing, and no matter how you look at it, the loss of life is tragic.  The problem is there, very apparent and often seen in the media, which frames it as being a problem of epidemic proportions.  In no way am I playing down the problem, but there a few things that I feel should be pointed out.