Dear Cadillac – Enough With The ‘Green Hell’ Ads: Video

We get it: Cadillac wants the world to know that its new ATS compact sedan is as good as a BMW 3-Series sedan. We’ll reserve judgement until we actually get a chance to drive an ATS (preferably back-to-back with a comparable, 2012 BMW 3-Series), but we sincerely hope that Cadillac doesn’t pull a bait-and-switch on us. The 3-Series line includes a lot of different models, so if you’re emphasizing the “sport sedan” characteristics of the ATS, it’s only fair to throw down against the new 3-Series Sport Line, with the variable sport steering and the adaptive M suspension.

And while we’re complaining, enough with using the “Green Hell” Nürburgring Nordschleife reference in every single ad. That horse has been flogged to death; in fact, it’s been flogged to death, buried, dug up, flogged some more and then buried again. It’s clear: you tested the ATS on one of the world’s most challenging racetracks to fine-tune the suspension, chassis, throttle and brake settings. That should yield a sedan with impressive handling, but we won’t know until we drive one.

We’ve got some concerns about the 270-horsepower turbo four that Cadillac is using in the ATS, too. We’ve driven the engine in Buick Regal GS trim, and to be honest, it wasn’t that impressive. Granted, the ATS is a lighter car, and its rear-drive platform will certainly improve handling. Still, we can’t help but think that Cadillac is setting some unreasonable expectations of the new ATS before the car even hits the streets.

If it’s as good as you’re telling us, finding buyers won’t be a problem. If it isn’t, all the “Green Hell” references in the world won’t help to move inventory.

2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe Introduced at Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show has many surprises this year including a new 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe to compete with other Asian compact coupes on the market. It doesn’t take much brain power to realize that Hyundai has taken aim on rivals such as the Honda Civic Coupe when you look at the design of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe alone.

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Ford Shows Topless Mustang Shelby GT500 In Chicago

If you like a little extra velocity with your sun-in-the-face, wind-in-your hair convertible experience, here’s some good news: Ford is showing its Mustang Shelby GT500 ragtop at this week’s Chicago Auto Show. Like its hardtop sibling, the drop-top Shelby comes packing a blown 5.8-liter V-8, good for some 650 horsepower. To translate that into real-world performance, the new Shelby convertible can lap the legendary Sebring circuit nearly three-and-a-half seconds quicker than the model it replaces. Read more…

2013 Nissan 370Z Previewed Before Chicago Auto Show w/ Video

The Nissan Z has been a thriving Japanese 2-seater sports coupe for many years. The latest 370Z, over the course of its generation, has received subtle styling updates making it better and better. For 2013, the Nissan 370Z receives a refreshed front fascia taking it back to somewhat of the 350Z’s style only integrating daytime running LED lights and a few more curves. Together, the new front-end design is welcomed aspect of the 2013 model especially since the 370Z’s outgoing front bumper with its fangs was not well received by some enthusiasts.

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Can Classic Muscle Car’s Handle, Too? Matt Farah Finds Out: Video

It’s human nature to look at the past with rose-colored glasses, and remember (incorrectly) how good things “used to be.” Take muscle cars, for example: most of us remember them as being stupid fast and punishing to drive, while today’s equivalents somehow seem more docile and user-friendly. In reality, however, today’s muscle cars and pony cars can (generally) kick the crap out of the stuff built four decades ago. Read more…

Video: Side-By-Side Toyota 86 Epic Drift Battle Action

Ever since the final conception of the new Toyota 86, aka Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ, tuners and true automotive enthusiasts have placed their crosshairs on this new inexpensive sports car waiting to see what it is truly capable of. It is no doubt that the new “86”, FR-S or BRZ has quite a bit of potential for tuners, but what about those who are serious about drifting?

The new Scion FR-S, Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ were designed with the heart of the infamous AE86 Corolla at hand. Because of that, there should be no problem when it comes to going sideways in the new Toyota sports car even in stock form, as the video below demonstrates. The guys taking the Toyota 86 sideways take it a step further by drifting side-by-side another Toyota 86 in this epic drifting battle video below. Enjoy!

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Fisker Lays Off Workers, Attempts To Renegotiate DoE Loans

Extended-range-electric-luxury-sedan builder Fisker appears to have hit a speed bump on the road to success. Faced with back-to-back recalls on its Karma sedan and running short of funding, the start-up automaker was forced to lay off employees and contractors in both California and Delaware. Fisker would also like to renegotiate the terms of loans from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), in order to access additional funding previously committed. Read more…

Honda Gets You Ready For The New NSX: Video

The original Honda NSX, produced from 1990 to 2005, was a truly remarkable car. Intended as a supercar you could drive on a daily basis (a remarkable concept in 1990), the mid-engine, rear drive NSX was a near-ideal blend of horsepower and handling. While the original cars only made 270 horsepower, an all-aluminum body kept the weight below 3,000 pounds. Like all mid-engine, rear drive cars, the NSX could get tail-happy in a corner if pushed hard by an inexperienced driver, and it didn’t take long for insurance companies to start raising rates on the NSX to astronomical levels. Read more…