5.0 Litre Eater

The Ford Mustang has played a large role in shaping American muscle car heritage since 1964, when it first rolled out of Dearborn, Michigan. From that time on the Mustang had gone through major changes in terms of styling and performance. Whether it had the tire-smoking power of the Cobra or the economical gas mileage of the V6, the Mustang always made a statement with every new model produced. One particular aspect of past and, now soon to be present, Mustangs was the ever-famous 5.0 litre V8.

The 2011 model Mustang GT will be powered by a revamped version of the old 5.0 litre V8 that was last used in the 90's model Mustang GTs. The new V8 will produce nearly 416bhp and 390 torque which are not small numbers by any calculation! Note: Ford has yet to release the 0 to 60 time. However, the real question on everyones mind is how the new Stang will stack up against its famed rival, the Chevrolet Camaro SS. In the past, the Mustang GT usually came up short in terms of overall performance but made up for it by sporting a fresher look and nicer interior. With the launch of the new Camaro, Chevrolet has truly produced one of the most attractive vehicles ever to be labeled American muscle. The SS packs one hell of a punch with its 426bhp V8 that is accompanied with nearly 400 pounds of torque.

Now in terms of horsepower, the two cars are not that far apart, however, when comparing the overall engine size, the Chevy may be in a league all of its own. The Camaro's V8 is a 6.2 litre which surpasses both Toyota's iForce V8 (5.7 litre) and Dodge's Hemi V8 (5.7 litre) that are found in there full-size pick-up trucks! Now some enthusiasts would say that given the small difference in horsepower, 10 to be exact, the cars will perform about the same. This may be true to some extent but you cannot tell me that the extra 1.2 litres found in the Chevy are simply left on the side of the road somewhere. You will truly feel that extra 1.2 litres when burning-out from traffic light to traffic light or showing your, ever-appreciating, neighbors how many doughnuts you can do on the street in front of your house. Maybe Ford has finally pushed hard enough to bring the new 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 up to the Camaros SS's level. However, isn't it nice to know that you have a few more litres on the Stang ready to race you to the next traffic light?

BMW E46 M3

I want to take the time to give recognition to a automobile that will forever hold a place in the history of touring cars, the BMW E46 M3. Not only is this my all-time favorite car it is also one of the most well respected touring cars ever made. The E46 M3 was in production from 2001 to 2006 and was the most popular selling M in the history of BMW's existence (BMWUSA). Over the course of the cars existence there was the standard hardtop and convertible models as well as a GTR and CSL model as well. The most popular of all the models was, of course, the hardtop. This was also the last model M3 that can strictly as a coupe, unlike the E92 M3, which has a four door model. The E46 model certainly embodies everything that a pure bread luxury-sports car is and always will be.

The body design of the E46 grew from the E36 body design, found on all M3s made from 1992 to 1999. The overall shape of the E36 model was a bit boxy from the front to the rear. The boxy shape of the E36 was scrapped in 2000 and the release of the E46 model had critics raving. The front end shared the same circular headlights as the E36, but were now encased in a rounded rectangular housing; this helped accent the vehicles lines. Along with the redesigned headlights, the fenders were flared to give the car a wider looking stance front to back. One significant redesign found on the E46 was the addition of the chrome side grilles which complimented the 19" optional chrome wheels (available with the sport package). Moving toward the rear of the car, the taillights were tweak a bit but still retained the classic Bimmer look. To conclude our tour of the exterior we must mention the most recognizable aspect of the E46 M3, the quad tailpipes located at the center of the bumper. The E36 model sported the generic dual tailpipes offset to the left but the E46 had been given twice the amount of pipes and the location of them made for a very F1-style design. In fact, the center-set design of the E46 M3's tailpipes was so popular that it was carried on to the new E92 model M. Note: the interior remained basically the same for the exception of a optional navigation in-dash navigation system.

The E36 M3 made for a nice track car and was also the first M3 to be powered by a six-cylinder (BimmerWorld). The tradition was renewed in the E46 model, which had a very similar inline-six that had been tuned to produce 333bhp with 269 torque. The overall handling and engine performance helped the E46 M3 finally make a name for BMW's M line, winning countless awards over the time of its production. The engine mated with a six speed manual transmission, or the less popular SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox), made for a smooth ride around town but was easily capable of tacking down nearly anything it faced on the track. The naturally aspirated engine found in the E46 was one of the best engines ever made in terms of the size to power ratio and is capable of sustaining nearly 1000bhp. Not that it is at all necessary, but a vast range of after market performance parts are available for the E46 model from a range of manufacturers.

In conclusion, the BMW E46 M3 has been put through the paces time in and time out and has passed with flying colors. Even though the model has not been produced since 2006, the car is still one of the most sought after sports cars on the market today and still turns heads when cruising down the street. Whether you plan on tracking the car or just using it as your daily driver, the E46 M3 will behave nothing short of touring-car royalty.

Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Circa 2007, when Mercedes remodeled their ever-famous S class, they may have built the most attractive super sedan on the market. With its eye-catching looks, smooth ride, and over-the-top interior styling, the car was almost perfect... The real issue, besides the outrageous price tag, was the V8 or V12 gas-guzzling monsters that resided under the hoods of a majority of the S classes. After seeing all of the beautiful lines on the exterior of the car and experiencing the luxury of the interior, any practical person would still say that averaging about 18 mpg (that's the V8) is horrendous considering the price of gas is not going to drop anytime in the near future. Hearing a load of grief from countless enviro-friendly consumers, Mercedes may have finally come up with an automobile that will silence their voices; the new 2010 S400 Hybrid.

The new S400 may look nearly identical to the S550 inside and out but is certainly worlds apart. The S400 will not be powered by the enormous V8 found in the S550 but by a less powerful but a whole lot more fuel efficient, V6 Hybrid. There is nothing screwy about the V6s internals because it is built and runs just the same as any other V6, however, it is mated with an electric motor. The fact that the engine has not been tampered with in order to somehow fit another electric motor or ion battery inside should be a relief to those who are skeptical of new technology. The electric engine is powered by a lithium-ion battery and is truly the first of its kind. The pair produces upwards of 295bhp accompanied by 284 torque, no small numbers indeed! Now it must be said that the overall performance of the S400 is in no way comparable to the S550's V8, however, it does pack quite a punch when you put your foot down.

The new hybrid design in the S400 actually restores energy when you stop at a traffic like or stop sign due the engines "stop-start system" (MBUSA). This adds to the already impressive gas mileage achieved by the V6. The average mpg for the S400 is an astonishing 22.5 mpg; very impressive given the overall size and weight of the vehicle. Now yo may think that high gas mileage equals miserably slow 0 to 60, the Merc does it in a respectable 7.2 seconds. Another interesting spec to note is that the hybrid technology found in the S400 is the first to use a lithium-ion battery as its powertrain. Times certainly are changing and Mercedes seems to be headed down the right track with this new automobile. If you recall what I had said earlier about the only real issue with the S class Mercs is the terrible gas mileage; problem solved! It is also important to mention that the vehicle's MSRP is $87,950; just a small price to pay on the way to environmental cleanliness. On a final note, the car is truly a work or art in the sense that you can still get a ritzy Benz and help save the environment too, but don't think they wont make you pay for it!

Leno Camaro

For as long as muscle cars have existed the powerful V8s hiding under the hoods have made a name all for themselves in terms of overall horsepower and torque...and poor gas mileage. This holds true for the new Chevrolet Camaro SS, with its 426bhp engine producing nearly 400 torque. The SS, being the most powerful trim level for the new Camaro, averages about 19 mpg which isn't all that bad considering all that power. But in contrast to the SS model, the LS and LT model, which are powered by V6s, average an astonishing 23 mpg! Even if you decide to be a bit more mindful of the economy and purchase a V6 powered Camaro you wont be disappointed with the overall performance considering both the LS and LT models have 304bhp and 273 pounds of torque. Now I'm certainly not saying that driving the V6 is more of a thrill than the eight cylinder, however, the overall handling of the V6 dominates that of the V8. The two extra cylinders found in the eight add significantly more weight to the front of the care which causes a few handling issues; in fact the V6 out performs the V8 in many handling tests (Edmunds). So the real question is do you prefer overall power or overall handling; or what if you could have both?...

GM has teamed up with the late night legend and major car enthusiast himself, Jay Leno, to build a Camaro that will surely break the muscle car mold. What has been name the "Leno Camaro" was first seen at the SEMA auto show this past year and got a whole lot of buzz. Now of course from the exterior the Leno Camaro has all the hood intakes, over sized air-dams, and shiny wheels you would expect to see on a concept but its one particular modification that had people really wondering whats going on under the hood. The front fascia is nearly twice the size of the one found on the standard Camaro, and for good reason. The V6, yes I said V6 and not V8, found under the hood has been gracefully modified to run with two Turbonetics T-3 turbochargers. The twin-turbo V6 puts out 425bhp (torque figures not mentioned) which is only one shy of the monstrous V8 found in the SS. The kicker is that you are getting all the same V8 power with the gas mileage of a six cylinder!


Unfortunately the Leno Camaro will most likely never see production because it will share the same power as the SS but have a higher price tag. However, GM has made a move in the right direction given the oil "crisis" and looming economy which will inevitably push gas prices up come summertime. I have to say that a true muscle car should have a huge gas-guzzling V8 under the hood but, speaking realistically, that is going to be out of the question in a few more years. People, no matter how much they love hearing the roar of a V8 when shredding the tires off in a burnout, will come around and realize that it is truly impractical and uneconomical to own Detroit muscle. Thanks to GM, we now have a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of muscle car survival!

Synchrorev Match Transmission

This past year Nissan has released the 370Z to continue on the famed heritage of the past Z series automobiles. Along with a redesigned exterior, technically advanced interior, wider wheel base, and a bit more power, comes a very unique technical achievement. The newest Z, like past Zs, has the option of being purchased with a sports package which gives you the usual stiffer suspension, bigger wheels, and spoiler. However, there is one more added option that comes with the sport package that hasn't been seen on any past Zs, or any other vehicle for that matter; that is Nissan's new Synchrorev Match Transmission (SRM).

The new SRM system does exactly what it sounds like and matches your rpms to the proper power range when downshifting. For those who are unfamiliar allow me to explain; when downshifting in a manual car it is best to "blip" (apply a small amount of power) the throttle in order to make the shift smoother. People who are accustomed to driving manual cars know that finding the perfect rpm while downshifting isn't as easy as it sounds. The SRM transmission in the new Z does all the work for you; all you need to worry about is using the clutch and actually moving the shifter, all the rpms are matched perfectly when moving down through the gears. Not only does the SRM transmission help to smooth out your downshifts but it also helps quicken upshifting. It uses the same technique as it does down shifting by holding the rpms up higher in range so no power is lost when banging through the gears.

Now this advancement in technology surely helps the common driver with everyday upshifting and downshifting and its proven itself on the track, however, some enthusiasts still don't buy into it. Many "drivers" say that the SRM transmission takes away some of the overall skill in being able to drive a stick. They also state that half the fun of driving a stick is having complete control of the vehicles power when moving up or down through gears and when braking in hard corners. Nissan's answer to these individuals can be found in any of the 370Zs that lack the sport package but this is to say that you will be missing out on the stellar 19 inch RAYS wheels, Bilstein suspension, and deck spoiler. my best guess is that the SRM transmissions will be standard throughout Nissan's lineup or at least be an available option. All in all, the SRM transmission is a fantastic innovation in automobile technology and will surely be sought out by other car manufacturers; but for now, Nissan holds the key to an aggressive yet smooth shifting ride.

Rental Car, Not So Miserable...

I am writing this in response to my most recent blog about the "misery" or driving a rental car when on vacation. First of all, I must say that it was not as terrible as I had originally thought it was going to be; in fact, it was an eye-opening experience all together! The car I ended up getting was the Nissan Versa, a small four door that had a surprisingly peppy 4 cylinder. The car was white and anyone who has ever experienced the Floridian sun knows that any light color paint is your best bet. The car had a black cloth interior which didn't seem to bother me too much because at no point and time did I ever burn the back of my legs; leather will do that to you of course! The car had standard "steelies" which were covered by silver hubcaps which were, most certainly, nothing to write ho me about. The standard non-xenon headlamps did a nice job of illuminating the roadway for me the few times I drove in the dark and the in-dash display glowed of amber. The automatic drivers-side-window was also a nice touch!



There was nothing ergonomic or exciting about the center console although I will say that the 6-cd changer as well as auxiliary jack came as a surprise to me; neither were used. The center cup holders were blocked in by the gear shifter and the rear ones were too much of a pain to use. The car, in relation to its overall look, was actually more spacious on the inside than one would guess. We were able to fit four adult-sized individuals comfortably. As stated in my previous blog, performance is usually not relevant to any rental car you get and that proved true this past week. The Versa's little 4 cylinder did get us to where we needed to go but there was not "left-lane driving" on any of the excursions. I will note that, because of the small engine, it seemed as if it wasn't ever necessary to stop for gas! we managed to drive nearly 400 miles on a little over a tank (all of which were highway miles). Another nice feature about the Versa is that it took the lowest grade gasoline so filling it up didn't run my pockets dry.

Overall, the Versa worked out just fine and helped us reach all of our fun destinations, not in a hurry or comfortably, but it managed. I will say that for the starting price of the Versa being under $10,000 you get a decent car. The little 1.6lt. engine wont suck down the gas and the amount of space in the cabin doesn't make you feel like your riding in a compact. The base model also comes with six standard airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system (Nissan USA). Will I ever own one? Not if I can help it. Will I ever rent one again? Yes, because at the end of the week the Hertz bill didn't put that big of a dent in my already-empty pockets!

Rental Car Misery

Many people who drive cars that are remotely sporty or luxurious always dread what is waiting for them outside of the rental car office. This spring break, I will once again be a victim of rental car misery. Of course, in an effort to save money, I have chosen to go with the compact car option, plus, I will only be traveling with one other person. Now when I think of a compact car a Chevrolet Aveo, Nissan Versa, or Honda Fit do not come to mind; I think more about the VW Golf or maybe a Ford Focus. Now I know how the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for," but quite honestly when you compare the base prices of all of the previous vehicles mentioned, there really isn't a whole lot of difference.

The real problem I have with rental cars is that you can never really seem to get one that excites you. For instance, the three that I will most likely be stuck with are either the Aveo, Versa, or Fit. Neither of these cars have any ounce of sportiness or luxury in them but that, of course, isn't to say that the car companies that build them are junk. These cars are the bare bones of any model vehicle they are. No navigation, mp3, or 6-cd changer can be found in any of these cars and leather would probably be to much to ask for. I am mentally preparing myself for the cheap plastic dashboard and operation nobs that will be inhabiting my view along with the beautiful Florida sunshine.

Moving away from the unergonomic, mess of an interior that all three of these cars have I really do not have much to say about overall performance and the "thrill of the drive." Neither of these cars could reach 60mph in less than 11 seconds to save their tailpipes! I project that, at highway speed, I will need at least a half mile to pass the hoard of tour buses that will all be slugging along to Universal Studies. No manual transmissions or RWD cornering precision, just plain old boring automatics and torque-steering FWD. All I ask is that the rental car companies do a little bit more research into what their customers want to drive or at least invest in cars draw a second look from people when rolling down the road! Hopefully, this time around, my rental car experience will will be a more exciting one.

EVO-lved Once Again

Whether it be mechanical issues with their vehicles or just lack of popularity and sales, Mitsubishi Motors has fought there way through rough times and still remains afloat in this dismal car market. On a lighter note, I would venture to guess that in the past few years Mitsubishi has pumped a larger amount of money into their R&D department because the newest lineup of cars has been drawing significant attention. The Lancer, being one of the most popular model Mitsubishis, has be completely redesigned and bolsters a very new-age aggressive look. The headlights running back along the quarter panels give the car a scorning demeanor accented by somewhat over sized, yet sporty, taillights. Those who are familiar with the heritage of the Lancer know that with the redesign of the DE model (base model) comes the redesign of the rally-street king itself, the Evolution X, and what an Evo it is!

This is the tenth installment of the Lancer Evolution model, as represented by the roman numeral X, and may quite possibly be the best ever. Staying true to its rally roots, the Evo X is powered by a 2.0 lt. turbocharged engine which meets the allotted max engine displacement, 2.0 lt., found in nearly all rally racing guidelines. As in previous models, the Evo X engine is still Mitsubishis famed MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing and Electronic lift Control) engine but has been re-tuned to pump out 291bhp and an impressive 300 lbs. of torque. Somthing else that is noteworthy is the stock Brembo brakes, whose red color accents any of the exterior color options very well. As all of the past Evos, the power from the engine is delivered to all four wheels using Mitsubishis SAC (Super All-wheel Control) drivertrain system. The SAC system is a true masterpiece and has been put to the test time in and time out. It is the same system used in the rally edition Evos and has held up just fine in dealing with all the jumping, power sliding, and hard breaking found in racing rally circuits.

Externally, the Evo X is very well designed which leads you to believe that's where the majority of the R&D money was invested...and you're right. The interior of the car just screams "under-developed!" It isn't that all the fixings you would expect to have in any modern car are absent but that everything just looks like it was thrown together the night before production began. Of course you have your mp3 compatibility, 6-cd changer, MFD (multi-functional display), and a glimmering array of gauges but there is no real sense of refinement. Mostly everything you can touch is made of cheap plastic and the usability you get out of the MFD is that of a an iPod that only reads in French... Now taking a step back, one must put aside all of these little things and remember that this is a rally car, isn't it?

The overall comfort of the Evo Xs ride isnt anything short of annoying however you cant expect it to be the pillow-soft-ride of a Cadillac because in the end it is just a Japanese tuner car. Along with the stiff, bouncy ride comes fantastic handling accompanied by the AWD system. Some critics speculate that the Evo IX may have actually ran the ski pad faster however the handling of the X is sufficient enough for the track. Now in reference to the track, the Evo X already has a bundle of aftermarket parts availble to help get a little more juice out of the already powerful MIVEC engine. Many after market tuning comapnies, such as GReddy and HKS to name two major ones, have researched and tested quality bolt on after market parts that will bring out the inner beast the Evo X has to offer. Not only are the supply of parts endless, the labor and parts themselves are relatively cheap. The GSR model prices out at around $34,000, which given the overall performance, seating capacity, and four doors appeals to more than just the younger crowd. Overall, the Mitsubishi Evolution X is a fantastic bang-for-your-buck, track-ready tuner with all of the endurance and durability of a rally racer infused with street car poise!