Archive for May, 2010
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback – Long Name, Sweet Car
Back in the first golden age of sports cars during the 1950s and 60s, automakers had a habit of producing their sports cars in a basic version, a super-duper hot rod version, and then a kind of in-between version. The in-between car was often idiosyncratic and nearly always reflected the factory design team’s conception of [...]
Suzuki Kizashi Tops Customer Satisfaction List
In its first 5 months on the market, the Suzuki Kizashi has won significant praise from the automotive media and now has come out with the highest total overall satisfaction among all new purchased or leased vehicles sold in the United States. That’s according to AutoPacific’s 14th annual Vehicle Safety Awards (VSA), based on research [...]
Cool Book – “Merchants of Speed” by Paul D. Smith
Merchants of Speed – The Men Who Built America’s Performance Industry
by Paul D. Smith
Motorbooks International, Minneapolis Minnesota, 2009
240 pages, 250 b/w photos
List price: $40
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-3567-3
One of the many cultural developments that accompanied the end of the Great Depression and the second World War was the rising interest (some might say craze) for automotive performance that [...]
2010 MAZDASPEED3 – Still The Hottest Hatch
I was one of the first journalists in the world to drive the original MAZDASPEED3 back in 2007, and it was a classic case of love at first sight. “This is your next Mazda,” is what I wrote at the time. In the years since then, I’ve never found a reason to revise that opinion. [...]
Indy 500 Champ Teams Up With Mazda To Benefit Shelter Animals
Twenty five years ago this month, Danny Sullivan solidified his place in motorsports history with his famous “spin and win” in the 1985 Indy 500. This past weekend, Danny competed in another race, this one on behalf of his favorite non-profit. On Sunday, Danny drove in the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup race [...]
Top Gear GT-R, Oregon Trail 2010
This week, we visit with a GT-R addict, and then it’s off to the foothills of Mount Hood for the 2010 Oregon Trail Rally, Round 4 of the Rally America Championship Series.
Moab Roadtrip 2010 Gallery
For an upcoming show, producer Ryan Douthit and cameraman Chris Miller spend four days in a Suzuki Kizashi, driving from Seattle to Moab and back again. While there, they also filmed the 2010 Miatas at Moab meet and took in some mountain biking on the world-famous Slickrock bike trail.
Zenkai Time Attack, 2010 Suzuki SX4
Introducing the Zenkai Time Attack team and hired hotfoot Thomas Smith. Plus, a review of the 2010 Suzuki SX4 Sportback: Time, it seems, has not cast favor on this little car.
2010 Olympus Rally
Exclusive coverage of the 2010 Olympus Rally — Round 3 of the Rally America Series Championship. Features Ken Block, Travis Pastrana, Antoine L’Estage, Dave Mirra and others battling in the forests of Washington State.
2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI Could be the Right Car for Summer
The 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI diesel occupies a special place in the automotive market right now. It’s less expensive than its Audi brethren, and yet it uses the same 2.0-liter turbocharged clean diesel engine as the A3. Right now the Germans are the only folks selling diesels in passenger cars, but you can bet [...]
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