Countach vs. Stingray: Real?

Last week Carscoop posted a Japanese commercial for Gran Turismo PSP, which very convincingly shows an '88 Lambo trading paint with a '69 'Vette. There seems to be some debate about how "real" the video is, but there is no debate at all that it is awesome:

Vehicle Event Detected

You hear the one about the Hennessey CTS-V that pulled so hard off the line that OnStar thought it was in an accident?

Apparently .99g is enough to get a helpful and concerned OnStar operator to give you a ring. I wonder if the airbags could be tricked in the same manner...

A rear-drive V8 Chevy sedan? Yes, please!

Ah, crap:

The good news: GM has announced that it will bring the Australian-built Zeta sedan platform back to the U.S.

The bad news: It's fleet-only. Specifically, it's a police cruiser.

Autoblog has the details and press release. Play nice, kids.

And Then There Were Five

At last count, there were a total of six McLaren F1s in the US, at least until this past Monday. Jalopnik has the full story and another photo, but the important math is 6 + fire = 5.

Photo and video via Carscoop

Edwards Finishes Talladega on Foot

Carl Edwards is known for the backflips he does after winning NASCAR races, but he flipped under completely different circumstances on the last lap of Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega:



Nudged by eventual winner Brad Keselowski, Edwards got upside-down into the catch fence along the front straight, throwing debris into the crowd and injuring eight fans. Edwards climbed out of his car and finished the race on foot.

Jag is Back!

Largely absent from big-league racing since the demise of the Trans-Am series after the 2005 season, Jaguar is set to make a return to sports car competition later this summer. Rocketsports racing, still headed up by the venerable Paul Gentilozzi, has announced it will enter a new Jaguar XK-R in the GT2 class of the American LeMans Series mid-season in an effort to prepare for a full 2010 campaign. The Jag will join the already impressive entry list including Ferrari F430 GTs, Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs, BMW E92 M3s, a Panoz Eperante, Chevy Corvettes, a Ford GT, and a Dodge Viper, making for some of the most diverse racing anywhere in the world.



More information on the Rocketsports Racing Jaguar XK-R entry can be found at RocketSportsRacing.com.

Ruf CTR Yellowbird

Recently a lot of attention has been paid to Nuerburgring lap times, with Nissan, Chevy, and Dodge posting incredible numbers. Between the raw speed and the incredible engine notes, the videos of these hot laps are breathtaking as they display not only sheer velocity, but the required poise of both car and driver.

At least, poise would appear to be required. Poise, stability, razor-sharp handling, a helmet... All apparent requirements. Unless you're the driver of the car that kicked off the Nuerburgring lap time craze back in 1987: the Ruf CTR Yellowbird. "Breathtaking" doesn't begin to describe this classic in-car footage:

Who We Are - LymanSS

Once the founder of a performance parts business, LymanSS currently maintains an impressive stable including among others a Cadillac, an electric Honda Fit, and multiple Corvettes.

Who We Are - Kevin

When he's not driving his Camaro around California, Kevin's automotive attention is focused on the UAW, nearby auto shows, and planning out a drag car.

Who We Are - GregC

GregC has gone from one icon to another, trading his Jeep Wrangler for a Ford Mustang, and the Mustang for a Taurus SHO, to get himself around suburban Massachusetts.

Who We Are - Frank

Frank's Lotus Elise is a departure from the long list of criminally-underrated American cars he's owned previously. He is based in San Francisco, where he is continually frustrated by the uninformed choices of the drivers around him.

Who We Are - Cope

Growing up in a Ford family, Cope recently traded his beloved (but beleaguered) Mustang for a Subaru BRZ, and has rediscovered the joy of driving sideways. Cope has spent time in both Boston and Los Angeles driving fast, following motorsports, and searching for empty stretches of pavement.

Speeding Ticket Insurance

There are many good reasons to avoid speeding tickets, from the insurance premium increase to the fact that you'll probably end up late for whatever you were speeding to get to. The ticket fine itself is painful even if it's not ultimately the biggest concern, and Terrence Boyd wants to help. Boyd's insurance company, which apparently does not have a web presence, is offering a policy to cover you against fines associated with speeding tickets.

The NY Times, Autoblog, and others have brought up a few good points to consider before signing up, including the fact that the company, Ticket Insurance, does not go to court to contest the tickets, does not deal with insurance company points or premiums, and can't guard against getting your licence revoked. However, for anyone looking to take some of the sting out of an unpleasant experience, Ticket Insurance might be worth a look.

Rental Bliss: 2007 Chevy HHR LS

Chevy says HHR stands for Heritage High Roof and is a throwback to the Nomad or car-based Suburban. I say there are two succinct ways of describing the HHR: "Chevy's clone of the PT Cruiser" or "a Cobalt wagon".

The HHR's exterior styling is all over the place. Here's what I think happened. Some committee or focus group came up with three distinct design themes: "clone a PT Cruiser," "resurrect the Nomad," and "Cobalt-sized Tahoe." Then an executive told a junior designer: give me something that's all three of those at once or you're fired. The result is a Frankenstein, and it's ugly.

The interior treatments are decent for an economy car. Most of the pieces are standard, utilitarian, inoffensive GM parts. There are a few nice touches that give the interior a touch of personality. Like the 09 Malibu it has a two-tone dash reminiscent of a Tri-Five Chevy. Also like the new Malibu, there are Chevy emblems embossed all over the place. The gauges use a handsome retro font and chromed needles. The doorpulls are large chrome circles, which is a little gimmicky but adds some character.

Interior ergonomics are good; the controls are laid out conveniently and visibility is excellent. The HHR uses an upright seating position as you'd find in a CUV, which adds substantial legroom and makes the rear seats servicable for adults. Chevy chose to finish the cargo area in hard plastic, which looks chintzier than carpet but is substantially more durable and easier to clean.

The HHR shares the Delta platform and 2.2L Ecotec I4 with the Cobalt, and drives much the same, which in this case is a compliment. Both cars' dynamics are tuned appropriately for their role as family cars. The suspension stays smooth on the highway or over bumps, yet is firm enough to feel poised on the highway and contain body roll within reasonable limits. The electric power steering box is on the numb side, but not offensively so. Acceleration was always adequate, and the car logged respectable fuel economy. It's not a sports car by any stretch of the imagination, but it never made me gnash my teeth either. Like the Cobalt, the HHR is available with a Sport package that improves power and handling, and an all-out Super Sport (SS) trim.

I am an unabashed fan of wagons. They combine the handling and economy of a sedan with the space and utility of a CUV. The HHR is no exception. Underneath the ugly exterior is an all-around good car with no serious faults. It even has some semblence of personality, a scarce commodity among modern value-oriented cars. It's a pity it's hideous. This thing could be a home run with an exterior refresh.

Where to Go from the Bailout

A bailout is shaping up. GM, Chrysler, and Ford will all be capable of receiving funds from the US Government. These loans are coming from tax payers' pockets: Mine, yours, and the guy's next to you. Instead of complaining about why we should bail out the Big 3, now it is the time to look at the Big 3 as an investment. This is our tax money; you want it back? Then the Big 3 need to succeed in a 'new' market.

Yes, this is a new market. Toyota, Honda, BMW, and others have been chipping away at the American auto industry for years. Now the Big 3 have fallen behind, and yes they made some of their own issues: poor quality, low MPG, and other issues. However, this is a new market and GM, Ford, and Chrysler are making some of the best cars in the world now. They are building better, more reliable cars with higher gas mileage. So I ask the taxpayers to stop complaining and start getting behind your fellow Americans and their companies.

GM Facts And Fiction

GM has launched a website at http://gmfactsandfiction.com/ that seeks to dispel the myth that a collapse of the U.S. auto industry would only affect Michigan and other mid-west states. The site is well-constructed and is a useful resource for both those looking for more information about the impact an auto industry collapse could have on the entire U.S. economy, as well as those looking to try to help in some way.

The site includes a video that is heavy on numbers, although most of them are so large that they may be difficult to absorb. The message is clear: a collapse of the U.S. auto industry would be a significant blow to the health of the economy as a whole, although as the site and video are clearly commissioned by GM it may be difficult to sell the data as unbiased and accurate.

Common opinions regarding the actual effect of the possible demise of the U.S. auto industry, as well as the popularity of the various bailout plans circulating Washington span a wide range, and accurate information is difficult to come by. This site represents an attempt by an auto manufacturer to speak directly to the general public in an attempt to inform us about the severity of the situation as seen by GM. It will be interesting to see if Ford or Chrysler follow with similar efforts, and even more interesting to see if they have any effect.

Dependability

So once again its time for me to come out and explain to everyone the slim margin of automotive dependability. Lexus takes the top spot again, makes sense because that's what your paying for. But wait shouldn't the Toyota brand be #2? No. Mercury takes #2 this year. Followed by Cadillac. Wait I thought American cars were trash. Nope most American brands actually sit above the industry average. The other key thing to note is that even the best cars have 1.2 problems. The average is 2 problems per car. And there are only 2 brands that hit the 3 problem per car territory. Does it really make sense to pay top dollar for a brand when the margin of dependability is so slim? A Toyota has 1.59 problems per car and Chevy has 2.39 problems. Sounds like either way I'm still going to the shop for some warranty work.

Rental Bliss: 2008 Dodge Magnum SXT

During a recent trip to Baltimore, I was able to spend time behind the wheel of a rented 2008 Dodge Magnum SXT. Attracted by its aggressive appearance and apparent utility, I had dubbed it one of my favorite cars long before actually getting any seat time.

One of the first things I noticed was the short greenhouse and wide pillars, although proper adjustment of the seat, steering wheel (with tilt and telescope), and mirrors solved any visibility problems and resulted in a rather cliche feeling of tank-like security.

The interior was nicer than expected, with tasteful chrome lines breaking up the dark grey plastic interior. The controls for the satellite radio and climate controls felt good and not cheap. I had no trouble figuring out how to work either although some of the passengers had some slight trouble. The dashboard was easy to read and was uneventful without being dull, and there was enough space for four people and a weekend's-worth of luggage for each. As gimmicky as it may sound to some, having the hinge for the liftgate so far forward is an effective way to enlarge the rear cargo opening and makes loading bulky cargo easier.

Once underway, I was pleasantly surprised by the grunt of the 3.5 liter V6. It was able to hustle the Magnum up to highway speed without delay, although the relationship between my right foot and the rear wheels wasn't quite as direct as I prefer. The Magnum is very stable at speed, and wind noise was less intrusive than I expected given the blunt front end. Looking in the rear-view mirror gave the impression of staring into a tunnel, and the Magnum's road manners did nothing to dispel the impression that this is a long vehicle; not particularly unwieldy, but definitely occupying a sizable chunk of road.

Shod with all-season tires there wasn't an abundance of grip, although I was never wanting for brakes and, with one exception, I was never in a position to even determine which end of the wagon would slide first. Once in the upper rev range the engine sounds like it means business, and the transmission shifts before the grunt becomes a buzz.

Driving in and around Baltimore, I found myself either on the highway or in the city. Following a rain shower one afternoon, I decided to switch off the Electronic Stability Program to see if it had a noticeable effect. Much to my chagrin, while turning left through an intersection, and while going rather slowly, the back end of the Magnum came around with surprising ease under power. It was easy to catch, and easy to prevent at the next turn, but I nonetheless switched the apparently-quite-effective ESP back on.

My overall impression of the Magnum was decidedly positive and I am discouraged by Dodge's decision to axe the wagon from their lineup, however that was not an opinion shared by those I was with. There were aesthetic remarks ranging from simply "ugly" to the more descriptive "looks like a hearse!" More significantly, there were usability complaints about the aforementioned greenhouse: One driver complained that not enough light came into the cabin, and two proclaimed they "couldn't see a thing" because of the pillars, long hood, and distant rear. I was able to solve those issues through careful adjustment of the cockpit, but your results may vary.

If I Ran Project Genesis

Chrysler has undertaken Project Genesis, an ominous-sounding plan to merge all its brands into a single cohesive product line. It hopes to elminate rebadging and coerce all its dealers to become combined Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealerships.

This naturally leads to two questions:

• what role and image should each brand take?
• which models should be kept, and which should be killed?

Here is what I would do if I were Chrysler King for a day.

Chrysler: mainstream, volume cars and minivans.

• 100: subcompact sedan/hatchback, built by Nissan instead of the Dodge Hornet
  
• 200: midsize sedan; current Sebring, overhauled to resemble the 300 and actually be competitive. Keep the sedan and convertible and add a wagon trim.
• 300: flagship large sedan, as is
• PT Cruiser: compact crossover, based on current Caliber/Compass
• Town & Country: minivan, as is.
  

Dodge: macho trucks and muscle cars.

• Caliber: compact, economical unibody pickup, like the ones from the 1980s. Current Caliber transformed to a two-door with an open pickup bed.
• Ram: full size pickup, as is
• Charger: 4 door muscle car, as is
• Challenger: 2 door muscle car, as is

Jeep: rugged SUVs, exclusively.

• Wrangler: compact offroad SUV, as is
• Liberty/Cherokee: midsize SUV, as is
• Grand Cherokee: large SUV, as is

Retire: Avenger, current Caliber, Grand Caravan, Journey, Dakota, Durango, Nitro, Magnum, Sprinter, Sebring, current PT Cruiser, Pacifica, Aspen, Crossfire, Patriot, Compass, Commander.

Plymouth: revived to be exclusively fleet sales.

• Initially, rename all the retired models to Plymouths and sell them as rental-only vehicles until it becomes more economical to retool their factories for the surviving models.
• As the old models are phased out, replace them with a barebones Plymouth Aspen/Duster/Fury/Voyager corresponding to the Chrysler 100/200/300/T&C, still for fleet sales only.

Engines:

• keep the GEMA naturally aspirated 1.8L and 2.4L for smaller cars
• keep the 2.4L high output turbo (285 hp) for an AWD SRT4, based on the Chrysler 200 and targeting the WRX and Evo
• make a low pressure turbo I4, around 210 hp, to replace V6s in cars
• standardize on the old 3.8L as the only truck/jeep/minivan V6.
• keep the HEMI V8 in various tunes for the Ram, larger cars, and Grand Cherokee
• Develop a 6 cylinder HEMI as a new truck/jeep/minivan V6. Then engine R&D can be focused on only two engine families, the GEMA I4s and HEMIs

This is a what I'd do with current and in-development products, which is substantially different from a dream lineup given limitless resources. Each market segment ends up with only one product which stands a fighting chance.

What would you do?

Nardelli's long lost twin

Has anyone else noticed the uncanny resemblance between Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli and Mr. Twinkacetti, the boss of Larry and Balki on Perfect Strangers? Or for that matter, the similarities in their approach to retail management?