Ferrari 599XX and 599 GTB HGTE To Be Showcased at Geneva Motor Show
February 27, 2009 by Larry
Filed under Auto Show, Automotive, Featured, Ferrari
The upcoming Geneva Motor Show next week will lack a few manufacturers but have some stunning introductions including a few from Ferrari. Ferrari will be taking the wraps off of the Ferrari 599XX and 599 GTB HGTE. If the 599XX reminds you of the FXX name then you may be onto something. The 599XX will be a tricked-out version of the Ferrari 599 GTB incorporating some of the latest technologies and engineering that Ferrari has to offer.
Some of the tricks may be those used on the race track and on street cars but it will be something fresh and new. Although I cannot agree that the 599 is a looker when you compare it to other Ferraris or even it’s cousin, the Maserati. Below is a sneak preview image from Ferrari. Will you be a fan of the Ferrari 599XX or Ferrari GTB HGTE? If so then you probably won’t be able to get one unless you have owned several other Ferraris. Remember the program that Ferrari had if you wanted to purchase an Enzo? Yea, Ferrari says NO unless you are truly “loyal” and you have to have a few of these Italian horses in your garage already to even be considered to be put on the list for a 599XX.
[source: Ferrari]
Four Ways to Save on Your Car in a Recession
February 26, 2009 by Chris
Filed under Automotive, Automotive Help, Featured, Technical
With the economy still going bad with no immediate promise of recuperation in the next few months, a lot of people are finding the need to be more frugal in their spending decisions. Cutting costs and saving money seem to be more important than ever as people are losing their jobs or are now faced with financial uncertainty in the next few months. One of the challenges motorists face today is how they can be wiser in expenses that involve their vehicles. Cars are a necessary commodity for us to get around effectively. And since replacing our current rides prove to be an unrealistic thing in the road ahead, one must learn the necessary skills to keep their cars in top shape without having to spend more. The following are practical ways one can be frugal on common situations where motoring expense cannot be avoided.
Tesla Model S Uncovered Images – Sort Of
February 25, 2009 by Malcolm
Filed under Automotive, Electric, Featured, Tesla
The guys at Autopia have a great imagination just as other gear-heads who post off-the-wall automotive stuff online. A new rendering of the Tesla S has taken it to a new level. They have rendered what the Tesla S may actually look like found in their post, “Behold the Tesla Model S“.
They basically took a combination of a few teaser images that have already been circulating over the internet on various automotive sites and automotive blogs. If you ask me, it looks pretty convincing and I am willing to bet the actual Tesla Model S to look very similar to the photoshop job below. Can we call it a photoshop job? Is that still the correct lingo?
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Test Drive
February 25, 2009 by Harvey
Filed under Automotive, Featured, Jeep, Test Drives
2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 Test Drive – “A Jeep with an Attitude”
The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is not for the ‘faint at heart’. It is a bold, powerful sport utility vehicle that will solidly plant you into your seatback and will make you pay for the fun and excitement of driving it since it only achieves 11mpg/city and 14mpg/highway.
Today’s driving thrills don’t come cheap so it is a factor that you will have to make before purchasing the vehicle. On the plus side, with a base price of just $42,500.00, it is much less expensive than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S listed for $124,000.00, or the Supercharged Range Rover listed for $95,000.00, both of which get about the same gas mileage.
President Obama Vows Not to Walk Away From Auto Industry
February 25, 2009 by Larry
Filed under Automotive, Featured, News
One of the highlights of the delivery that President Obama gave to the joint session of congress was a vow not to walk away from the automotive industry. The tone seemed directed at the American infrastructure of the automotive industry which directly includes the suffering Big 3.
The points that were brought out by autonews and others in the automotive industry were the positive inspirational parts of the speech saying, “We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.” Then later a specific address was directed towards the automotive industry having an obvious effect on the economy where the President said, “As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices. But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.”
200MPH Club: The Benchmark Has Been Set – Can You Keep Up?
February 24, 2009 by Larry
Filed under Automotive, Bentley, Dodge, Events, Featured, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, Saleen
Supercars are now part of a new club in my opinion. Whether you agree with me or not, a new benchmark as has been set for performance cars to be called a “supercar”. The 200mph mark seems almost like a standard if a car wants to be in the once-sacred “supercar status”. I realize many supercars only reach speeds just shy of 200mph but when you consider the over-all performance of some vehicles and the astonishing capabilities, you might as-well welcome them to the 200mph club. With a few (pricy) bolt-ons or ECU programming you may be able to add another 10 to 20 mph to the top speed of many supercars anyway.
Our good friend, Chris Grosser, set out to Ochopee, Florida at a rented 2 mile long aviation runway just recently. The goal was to achieve top speed (in a supercar) during a series of runs in a controlled environment. I am not sure of anything that is more fun other than blasting down flat-out on a runway in a supercar. Below is the excerpt from Chris’s new blog. I encourage you to check out some of his professional photography shots if you have the time.
Image Gallery and excerpt from Chris Grosser’s site below…
iPhone, iPhone 3G & 3GS Treadz Case: Trick Out Your iPhone With a Car Tire Case
February 22, 2009 by Malcolm
Filed under Automotive, Featured
The Apple iPhone can do a number of things including take you for a test drive in a new Audi or measure the performance of your vehicle with the G-tac application. Now you can gain some serious traction with your own treadz iPhone case which has an authentic tire tread design (tire tread pattern). This is an ideal must-have item for all automotive enthusiasts or what we like to call them, Automotive Addicts! iFrogs, a innovator of iPhone and iPod cases and accessories, has a few automotive enthusiast items including the Treadz case for your iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS among other automotive-esq add-ons for your favorite ever-so-popular iPod or iPhone device. We loved the treadz design so much we had to get one at a discounted 20% off of the regular price which is still being offered.
Next time you whip out your iPhone to make a call, update your facebook status or just check your email, everyone will know you are an automotive enthusiast because they will think you are playing with a flat tire. Who else would do such a thing?
- Link to or purchase the iPhone 1st generation iFrogz Treadz Case
- Link to or purchase the iPhone 3G iPhone 3GS iFrogz Treadz Case
Thanks to our network partner iPod-Addicts.com for the tip.
Check out some of the images of the newest iPhone Treadz Case from iFrogs.
Saab To Leave GM and File for Bankruptcy Protection
February 20, 2009 by Larry
Filed under Automotive, News, Saab
At the time of GM’s (General Motors) woes in the suffering economy they are looking to out some of the makes including that of the Swedish connection, Saab. Saab looks to be on their own again and filing for bankruptcy protection. Saab seeks $1 billion to be self-financing while they reorganize. They will still have some support from GM during the reorganization which leaves us with the question: will the newer Saabs be based off of the same (GM) platforms or will they have more deep-rooted Swedish roots?
Below is an excerpt from autonews on the full story…
