Archive for the 'Auto' Category

Custom Car Builder, Boyd Coddington, Dead At 63

I have to be honest…I may be a car guy, but if it weren’t for the show “American Hot Rod”, I wouldn’t have really appreciated Boyd Coddington’s rides. I knew the name. I knew it mainly for his wheels. But once I saw the show, I really began to realize that his designs were brassy and intrepid (not to be confused with the fugly car), and influenced other builders and manufacturers alike. The Hawaiian shirt, perfectly Flowbee‘d beard, and his testy attitude were always a kick to watch.

Coddington also surrounded himself with talent. Alumni from his shop include Jesse James and Chip Foose, who went on to open their own shops and star in reality TV shows.

Coddington twice won the Daimler-Chrysler Design Excellence Award and he was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, the National Rod & Custom Museum Hall of Fame and the Route 66 Wall of Fame.

Courtesy — Jeff Wilson, Associated Press

Here are a few of the cars he created and influenced over the years:

1965 Mustang GT Fastback

1936 Delahaye

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air (aka, “Chezoom”)

1946 Cadillac Cadzilla for Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top

See more of Boyd Coddington’s cars at BoydCoddington.com

Popularity: 30% [?]

Ford Will Drop 9,000…Then Add 26,000

Ford (NYSE: F) may eliminate another 9,000 U.S. factory jobs via buyouts and early-retirement offers. The company’s initial goal was to cut 8,000 jobs, but according to an article on Bloomberg.com, Ford won’t limit the number who leave if more than the target range of 8,000 to 9,000 opt for the offers. If Ford reaches its goal of eliminating 8,000 jobs, it will have cut 44% of its North American hourly jobs in three years.

Courtesy Autoblog.com

The good news? Ford will turn around and add 26,000 libs to its lineup. What happened to the whole “green” thing? The Alton Manufacturing F-650 XUV features a Caterpillar 7.2L C7 ACERT engine, hardwood floors, a few big screens, and triple train horns. And just to be sure you can make it around the block at least 3 times, it includes a 45-gallon fuel tank…all for about $200k. Somebody call Shaq! For those of you that don’t have $200k in dispoable income, do what my friend, Eddie, did. Buy a diesel Excursion, lift it, throw some 22s on that b!+c#, add some drop screens, and your own train horn (which is alot of fun, BTW)…and voila!

Popularity: 21% [?]

Chrysler’s reGenesis Means Fewer Models & Dealerships

Jeep needs a turnover as well

Former “big three” cohort Chrysler will try to dodge (pun intended) disaster by carving out about half of its models as well as decrease its network of dealerships.

Shrinking the number of dealers will be difficult, however, because of laws in all the states protecting those businesses, analysts said. If Chrysler, with about 3,600 dealers, wants to move quickly, it likely will have to offer financial incentives.

Over the years, the automaker and its U.S. rivals, General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM) and Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F), have tried to shrink their dealer numbers, often facing great resistance. However, analysts said some dealers may be more receptive now, given the weak U.S. economy, if the offers are generous.

Reuters

Forbes recently crowned five Chrysler cars as “Automotive Turkeys” on its list of 10 Poorest Performing Cars for 2007. Those models included Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Liberty, Dodge Caliber, and Dodge Magnum. Factors included number of recalls, high depreciation, and NHTSA ratings below four stars. Not to mention they’re all ugly, so…um…that’s probably why also. In addition to the elimination of models — some of which are ineffectually duplicated and rebadged models — Project Genesis calls for the introduction of new, competitive models. The dealerships will likely be consolidated to include all three nameplates under one roof.

If I was a betting man, I’d go all in on the idea that Kirk Kerkorian and Carlos Ghosn will both be involved in preparing a gameplan that includes Chrysler LLC.

Large popcorn please…no butter.

A “fire sale” may not be enough.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Detailer Rocks!

As I flip through the latest edition of Road & Track, I come across an ad for Meguiars® Ultimate Quik Detailer®. Ultimate. As in better than regular Quik Detailer. I already use Meguiar’s products, so my curiosity was piqued.

I use Quik Detailer after every wash to take care of any places I may have missed. I also use it as a “lubricant” when I clean my paint with a clay bar…once a year. Well, there were two phrases that stood out in the ad (pay attention marketing researchers). The product was described as using “Hydrophobic Polymer Technology“, and they suggest that the “water beads like crazy“. Scared of water? I had to see this for myself.

I ventured off to the nearest auto parts store in search of this uber spray-on detailer. No dice. I went to 3 other stores…with no avail. It took almost 2 weeks before it surfaced in the stores. Last weekend, I applied it for the first time. I almost sprayed my car down to see the super beading action, but I refrained. This weekend when I pre-rinsed my car, I witnessed that which should not be seen by car detailers…or anyone.

Keep in mind that it was time to apply wax to my car. Water did not bead like this before I applied the Ultimate Quik Detailer. I was amazed. Right now, the gale force winds and rain from Tropical Depression Erin are putting the ultimate test on this ultimate detailer. So far, the stuff works. More beads than at Mardi Gras. I highly recommend you try this stuff.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Test Drive: 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe

“Sample” cars will be used to lure buyers.

A couple of words best describe the 2008 G37 Coupe: seductive, thrilling…and “WOW” comes to mind as well. Gunn Infiniti in San Antonio received it’s first car a few days ago, so I decided to stop by and have a look. The photo is the actual window sticker with the word “SAMPLE” printed across it, and there are no prices listed.

I was immediately greeted by salesman, Adam Castillo. Adam’s knowledge of this car juxtaposed the credentials of the owner’s manual, and his sales pitch was about as thorough as any magazine review of the car with one exception in his favor: this would be a hands-on tutorial. He was quick to point out how the name was different from its “G35″ predecessor. If you’re not car saavy, the “G37″ moniker represents the larger engine (i.e. 3.5-liter vs 3.7-liter). And even if you already knew that like I did, you may not know what else the name signifies. In addition to added displacement comes Infiniti’s Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) technology. This innovation allows the car to take advantage of the car’s power at every point of the powerband while maintaining optimal fuel economy and reduced emissions. Add to that a redesigned exhaust and intake…the result is 330 horsepower and 270 lb/ft of torque, which is about 20 more horses and 2 more lb/ft of yank. With that said, current G35 Coupe drivers may not notice a huge difference.

Although the car looks similar to the G35, Infiniti claims all new body panels.

What they will notice are all of the techno-geek features such as the touch screen nav system. The system includes XM® NavTraffic, which displays real-time traffic information to enhance your GPS. While San Antonio does not yet feature real-time traffic flow data, that capability is available for those communities that do, which equals 24 of 79 XM® markets in the U.S. and Canada. The “SAMPLE” also featured RearView Monitor and an available 11-speaker Infiniti “Studio on Wheels”â„¢ by Bose® audio system, three-way door speaker arrays with 10-inch door-mounted woofers. The 20GB system splits storage equally devoting 9.3 gigs of the hard drive to the car’s music storage. It even has a compact flash drive slot.

Put the Auto in “DS” mode for some F1 fun.

“I’ve seen enough. Get me some keys, Adam!”

It’s a miracle I even paid any attention to Adam’s presentation. As I slid into the seats, I couldn’t help but imagine driving this car down a track. I rudely began tugging on the magnesium paddle shifters and making engine noises. No doubt Adam was distracted by my giddiness; he immediately suggest I press the brake and push the Auto Start button. Suddenly the G37 was alive, and the sound it emitted was hypnotic. Responding to my delighted gaze, Adam exclaimed, “Wait until you open it up”. How can I pass up that offer?

My Maxima SE features a sport shift that allows me to up and downshift as I please. However, as it pegs the redline, it automatically shifts into the next gear. The G37 does not. So, on my first attempt at “opening it up”, I repeatedly nailed the 2nd gear rev limiter. After apologizing profusely to Adam, I didn’t hesitate to try again. As the five-speed automatic transmission neared its 7500 rpm redline, I tugged on the right paddle…a couple of times. And he was right…the car sounds tons better than the previous model. Very nice.

After gettting that out of my system, I decided to test out the automatic cruise control feature. When engaged, you can preset your desired speed…no acceleration necessary…and let the car do its thing. In the photo above, you’ll notice what looks like an infrared sensor in the front air dam. The G37 Coupe will slow down as you approach cars in front of you, and can apply up to 30% braking if necessary. There are three distance levels you can choose.

Steering response is great partially due to the 4-wheel active steering system. The car feels sure-footed in the bends. And the Akebono brakes worked great with virtually no fade in the pedal. That estimation is good from about 75 mph. With 4-piston calipers and 14.0-inch rotors in front, and 2-piston calipers on 13.8-in rotors in the rear, I think it’s safe to say this thing has ample stopping power beyond that.

The 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is available in three trim levels: G37 Coupe, G37 Coupe Journey and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT. The car I drove was the Journey model with the Sport package. If you’re in the San Antonio area, go see Adam Castillo at Gunn Infiniti or schedule an appointment with him at (210) 824-1272. A $500 deposit will ensure you get one this month…provided the one you want matches a model already ordered by the dealership.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Must See Drifting Video

My son is becoming quite the car nut…just like his father. While I’m not a fan of drifting, I took some time to create a truncated version of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift so he can watch the cars race around. Anyway, here’s another video I show him over and over again…and again after that. This guy “drifts” around 2 people…and I would not want to be one of those people. This guy has amazing control of the car. Just thought it was a pretty cool vid.

The Driving Master - Derrich.com
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Popularity: 5% [?]

Top Gear: Stig Tops Zonda In a Koenigsegg CCX

Third time is a charm. After nearly destroying a Koenigsegg CCX in his second attempt around the track (see 04:43), the Stig gets another chance to get the fastest track time ever on Top Gear…with the help of a new spoiler.

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Photos courtesy of Koenigsegg.com.

CCX stands for Competition Coupe X. The CCX commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC prototype, which was rolled out in 1996.

The straight line performance of the CCX is just as impressive. The 4.7-liter twin-supercharged V8 engine belts out 806 bhp @ 6900 RPM and 678 ft/lb of torque. This car shoots from 0-60 in about 3.2 seconds (2 tenths quicker than a Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640). And you’ll blow the doors off of just about anything in a quarter mile sprint — Koenigsegg proposes that the CCX is capable of a 9.9-second run @ 146 mph, although I have yet to see this happen. It is also expected to reach a top speed of 245 mph. But don’t assume that power is its only discrimination. The body and chassis are one piece…all made of light-weight carbon fiber (as seen below). The car’s weight can be decreased even further with optional light-weight carbon fiber wheels and ceramic brakes.

Semi monocoque made of pre-impregnated carbonfibre and honeycomb (Koenigsegg.com).

At $650,000, the 2007 Koenigsegg CCX is about half the price of a Bugatti Veyron. The really good news is that there is an additional 50 mm in headroom, making the CCX the most spacious super car on the market. Koenigsegg believes to have found a niche by enabling really tall drivers to fit well inside the car, still with its highest point only 1120mm above the tarmac. Well, considering I’m a little over 6′5″, I shouldn’t have problem. Now if I can just figure out how to pay for one.

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Popularity: 13% [?]

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