Thursday, November 21, 2013
Buick Looking Into The Future
Buick has made some great accomplishments in the past few years, that includes the refreshed 2014 Regal. Which starts out at $31,560, and packs the standard 259-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine—an upgrade over the previous and optional original engines—paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Some luxuries you can opted for are a remote start, dual-zone climate system, heated front seats, a sunroof and 18-inch wheels.
But Buick is thinking of another way outside of their usual luxury options and stylish looks draw in customers. The 2013 Encore was an awesome crossover for Buick, but it did lack one feature, that is power. 138 hp just was not enough for a bigger vehicle like the Encore, but its overseas cousin, the Opel Mokka, which was recently introduced with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (with both gas and diesel variants) could find its way into Buicks line-up.
The Buick Verano, a close relative of the Chevy Cruz, could also be a good candidate for a diesel motor coming up in 2014. Either way, a more powerful diesel motor with good gas mileage could be just the attribute that Buick needs to separate itself from companies like Cadillac, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, etc. -- and bring in new customers.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Corvette Stingray: 2014 Automobile of the Year
If you know cars or at least pay attention to the news once in a while, you know that Corvette brought back one of their most successful cars of all time, the Stingray. The Corvette made a huge media splash at the North American Auto Show in Detroit this year. And the buzz that it created has been following it around every since.
The buzz was so great that the car is now named the Automobile of the Year. This is not a step in the right direction for General Motors, but more of a path in the right direction that they have been going down all this year.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Cadillac CTS was named the Motor Trend car of the year. With GM's redesigned trucks and newly redesigned cars, GM has enjoyed some much needed success for 2013 and going into 2014.
Back to the Corvette; the completely redesigned Corvette has been able to impress consumers with the new stylish outside and inside. The aggressive curves give the car more of a super car look and the interior is said to be more of a durable high quality lay out.
Drive-ability is much more tighter and more fun to drive thanks to a more sophisticated suspension, and acceleration is nothing short of spectacular. I have seen claims of 1/4 mile times of 11.9 sec, but times more around 12.4 sec is probably more likely, and with a 185 mph (est.) top speed, there is a whole lot of fun that can be had here.
But power, styling, drive-ability, etc., is not the only reason why the Stingray found its way to being named the Automobile of the Year. Impressive gas mileage due to a cylinder deactivation system is also part of the Corvettes success. Not only can this car move out when the gas paddle is hammered on the floor, but it can also provide the driver with an extremely comfortable driving experiences at low rpm's for everyday driving while saving gas (fuel economy: cty//hwy 17/29 mpg.).
Specs and Stats
The buzz was so great that the car is now named the Automobile of the Year. This is not a step in the right direction for General Motors, but more of a path in the right direction that they have been going down all this year.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Cadillac CTS was named the Motor Trend car of the year. With GM's redesigned trucks and newly redesigned cars, GM has enjoyed some much needed success for 2013 and going into 2014.
Back to the Corvette; the completely redesigned Corvette has been able to impress consumers with the new stylish outside and inside. The aggressive curves give the car more of a super car look and the interior is said to be more of a durable high quality lay out.
Drive-ability is much more tighter and more fun to drive thanks to a more sophisticated suspension, and acceleration is nothing short of spectacular. I have seen claims of 1/4 mile times of 11.9 sec, but times more around 12.4 sec is probably more likely, and with a 185 mph (est.) top speed, there is a whole lot of fun that can be had here.
But power, styling, drive-ability, etc., is not the only reason why the Stingray found its way to being named the Automobile of the Year. Impressive gas mileage due to a cylinder deactivation system is also part of the Corvettes success. Not only can this car move out when the gas paddle is hammered on the floor, but it can also provide the driver with an extremely comfortable driving experiences at low rpm's for everyday driving while saving gas (fuel economy: cty//hwy 17/29 mpg.).
Specs and Stats
Powertrain | 6.2L V8 DI engine RWD |
---|---|
Standard Engine | Gas V8 |
Displacement (liters/cu. in.) | 6.2L/376 |
7-speed manual transmission | Standard |
6-speed Paddle Shift automatic transmission | Available |
Horsepower @ RPM | 455 @ 6000 |
Horsepower (with performance exhaust) | 460 |
Torque @ RPM | 460 @ 4600 |
Fuel Injection | Direct Injection |
Drivetrain | Rear Wheel Drive |
Axle Ratio | 3.42 |
Steering/Suspension | 6.2L V8 DI engine RWD |
Front Suspension | Short/Long Arm |
Rear Suspension | Short/Long Arm |
Brakes | 6.2L V8 DI engine RWD |
4-Wheel Disc Brakes | Yes |
Brake/ABS System | 4-Wheel |
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
"American Graffiti": The Best Car Cruising Movie Ever
This movie emulates a great time in car history.
Cruising, Racing, Music -- great cars that ended up becoming some of the most wanted cars by American car collectors today. "Wolfman Jack" has his part in the movie, along with many other actors that went on to have well-rounded acting careers. The movie takes place in a more light-hearted time.
I was much to young to remember that time, but me and a lot of other car guys did have a place to cruise right outside of Detroit -- on Telegraph rd. Unfortunately, the fun of that was short-lived. The fun it created on Fri. and Sat. night probably went on for quite a long time before I got my first cruiser, '71 Skylark (455). The fun died out when younger kids were starting to drive their Mommy and Daddy's funded Rice Burners around. The movie "Fast and the Furious" just came out (a poor representation of the drag race world) and everyone who had a wing on the back of their Honda Civic thought they could fly.
Drunk Driving, illegal racing for money, car accidents, crotch rocket motorcycles too fast for their own good etc. etc. left authorities no choice but to police the situation.
Even the days of having fun at the world-famous "Woodward Dream Cruise" has became a thing of the past. Miles and miles of traffic that moves about 3 mph when it's not totally stopped, the street is flooded with 90% of the cars being the same cars you see on your way back-and-forth to work everyday and advertisements is the main reason for the event.
Unfortunately, the last time I was at the cruise spot, I was arrested, along with 250 other people who all received tickets for loitering. My Camaro was towed to a place down in Detroit, and that cost me a lot to get out. The only fun thing about that night was when it came time for all 250 pissed off people to show up in court, I believe authorities may have thought, maybe this was not such a good ideal.
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Friday, November 8, 2013
Cadillac CTS: Motor Trend's 2014 Car of the Year
With great safety ratings and inside and out styling, this Cadillac deserves the crown.
2014 Cadillac CTS4 2.0T | 2014 Cadillac CTS 3.6 | 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport | |
BASE PRICE | $46,025 | $54,625 | $59,995 |
PRICE AS TESTED | $65,345 | $67,470 | $60,095 |
POWER (SAE NET) | 272 hp @ 5500 rpm | 321 hp @ 6800 rpm* | 420 hp @ 5750 rpm* |
TORQUE (SAE NET) | 295 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm | 275 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm* | 430 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm* |
ACCEL 0-60, MPH | 6.0 sec | 6.3 sec | 4.4 sec |
QUARTER MILE | 14.5 sec @ 93.5 mph | 14.7 sec @ 96.7 mph | 12.8 sec @ 111.9 mph |
BRAKING 60-0, MPH | 115 ft | 111 ft | 98 ft |
LATERAL ACCEL | 0.81 g (avg) | 0.85 g (avg) | 0.94 g (avg) |
MT FIGURE EIGHT | 26.8 sec @ 0.65 g (avg) | 26.7 sec @ 0.66 g (avg) | 24.7 sec @ 0.78 g (avg) |
EPA ECON (CITY/HWY) | 19/28 mpg | 18/29 mpg | 17/25 mpg |
REAL MPG (CITY/HWY) | 20/30 mpg | 18/32 mpg | 20/27 mpg |
*SAE certified |
2014 Cadillac CTS4 2.0T | 2014 Cadillac CTS 3.6 | 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport | |
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS | |||
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT | Front engine, AWD | Front engine, RWD | Front engine, RWD |
ENGINE TYPE | Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head | 60-deg V-6, alum block/heads | Twin-turbo 60-deg V-6, alum block/heads |
VALVETRAIN | DOHC, 4 valves/cyl | DOHC, 4 valves/cyl | DOHC, 4 valves/cyl |
DISPLACEMENT | 121.9 cu in/1998 cc | 217.5 cu in/3564 cc | 217.5 cu in/3564 cc |
COMPRESSION RATIO | 9.5:1 | 11.5:1 | 10.2:1 |
REDLINE | 6500 rpm | 7000 rpm | 6500 rpm |
WEIGHT TO POWER | 14.3 lb/hp | 12.0 lb/hp | 9.4 lb/hp |
TRANSMISSION | 6-speed auto | 8-speed auto | 8-speed auto |
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO | 3.27:1/2.19:1 | 2.85:1/1.97:1 | 2.85:1/1.97:1 |
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR | Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar | Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar | Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar |
STEERING RATIO | 16.2:1 | 16.5:1 | 15.4:1 |
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
BRAKES, F;R | 13.6-in vented disc; 12.4-in vented disc, ABS | 13.6-in vented disc; 12.4-in vented disc, ABS | 13.6-in vented disc; 12.4-in vented disc, ABS |
WHEELS | 8.5 x 18-in, cast alum | 8.5 x 19-in, cast alum | 8.5 x 18-in, cast alum (Vspt fr), 9.5 x 18-in, cast alum (Vspt rr) |
TIRES | 245/40R18 93V M+S Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season | 255/35R19 96V M+S Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season | 245/40R18 93Y (fr), 275/35R18 95Y (rr) Pirelli P Zero |
DIMENSIONS | |||
TURNING CIRCLE | 39.0 ft | 36.7 ft | 36.7 ft |
SEATING CAPACITY | 5 | 5 | 5 |
HEADROOM, F/R | 39.2/37.5 in | 39.2/37.5 in | 39.2/37.5 in |
LEGROOM, F/R | 42.6/35.4 in | 42.6/35.4 in | 42.6/35.4 in |
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R | 56.9/54.8 in | 56.9/54.8 in | 56.9/54.8 in |
CARGO VOLUME | 13.7 cu ft | 13.7 cu ft | 13.7 cu ft |
TEST DATA | |||
ACCELERATION TO MPH | |||
0-30 | 1.6 sec | 2.3 sec | 1.6 sec |
0-40 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
0-50 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 3.4 |
0-60 | 6 | 6.3 | 4.4 |
0-70 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 5.6 |
0-80 | 10.5 | 10.4 | 6.9 |
0-90 | 13.2 | 12.8 | 8.5 |
0-100 | 16.9 | 15.8 | 10.3 |
PASSING, 45-65 MPH | 3.5 | 3.1 | 2.1 |
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH | 1800 rpm | 1500 rpm | 1500 rpm |
CONSUMER INFO | |||
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL | Yes/yes | Yes/yes | Yes/yes |
AIRBAGS | Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee | Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee | Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee |
BASIC WARRANTY | 4 yrs/50,000 mi | 4 yrs/50,000 mi | 4 yrs/50,000 mi |
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY | 6 yrs/70,000 mi | 6 yrs/70,000 mi | 6 yrs/70,000 mi |
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE | 6 yrs/70,000 mi | 6 yrs/70,000 mi | 6 yrs/70,000 mi |
FUEL CAPACITY | 19.0 gal | 19.0 gal | 19.0 gal |
RECOMMENDED FUEL | Unleaded premium | Unleaded regular | Unleaded premium |
It's a car that can give you luxury and sportiness in one show.
Motor Trend makes a good choice.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
2014 Corvette Stingray: Too Fast for the Price
These are just a couple of Stingrays that fond their way into a wreck.
Big bank rolls with no driving skills -- cloud your new Corvette Stingray end up looking like these? Has General Motors put to much power into there new Corvettes?
Lets face it, if your someone who has enough money to buy a special edition Corvette ZR1 or a supercar like a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, most likely you will set that
car in the garage and look at it, show to your friends -- but drive it around every day -- that probably wouldn't even be an option.
But with the Stingray being priced reasonably -- a price about the same as last years Corvettes -- these cars will be finding their way to the roads of even the most average Joe cities. It could be scary.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
2014 Z/28 Camaro - The Fastest Road Course Car Available?
Expected to be released in early spring - 2014, the Z/28 may be one of the best road course cars for the price tag it will have taped to the window. No exact number yet, but the price is expected to be right around the same amount as you would pay for one of the other performing Camaros that Chevy has in it's line-up.
The latest trip to the most grueling road course in the world, the Nürburgring, the Z/28 laid down numbers on a damp track that beat not only it's sibling, the ZL1, but also the Porsche 911 Carrera S and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.
The Camaro boasted a 7:37.40 lap time and Chevrolet believes that the time could improve by as much as four seconds depending on weather conditions. Not only was the track damp but toward the end of the lap it started to rain.
This was a 24 hour test for the Camaro, so not only did it run this one lap to impress, but it also ran for 24 hours with breaks only to accommodate the the tires and brakes. A a test of endurance that Chevrolet has been doing to their sports cars since the early 1990s when their fastest car was a 300hp Corvette.
300hp sounds quite soft apposed to this Z/28 that brings a 505hp 7.0 liter engine to the table. That power helps it get around the track as fast as it does. But Chevrolet claims the real secret to it's fast times is the frame that is 300 pounds lighter than the ZL1. The combination of horsepower and lightness gives the Camaro the ability for more efficient braking going into corners and faster alliteration coming out of corners.
These cars are race ready - you can order a radio and an air condition for the Camaro, but Chevrolet has claimed they will not be standard. Regardless it's a peer race car ready for the track right off the showroom floor.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
2014 Chevy Malibu: Will it Fare Better Than 2013
General Motors is known for being the last out of the gate when it comes to styling of their mid-sized sport/luxury sedans. There also known for catching up with the times when they get around to it.
Instead fixing the problem they usually make up the difference by slashing prices and offering incentives. But this time around, with GM doing as well as they have this past year, and also with GM stock holders not wanting the short cut that GM usually takes - GM will take a new approach.
Instead of waiting for a couple of years and then promoting a refresh version of the car right before they offer a all-new redesigned Malibu, like they would usually do - GM decides to refresh now, sooner-than-later. A refreshed model of the 2013 Malibu has been designed and will make its way to the showroom floors in early 2014.
With new exterior styling including a stouter front clip, redesigned front seats to help add room to the back seats - which was a big complaint for consumers, more trunk space and some engine up-grades that include the stop/start technology system and better gas mileage for the base 2.5 liter motor (25 city and 36 highway) - GM hopes this Malibu will compete better with its competition - especially the Ford Fusion and the Toyota Camry which is in the same class as the Malibu, but did much better this past year in sales.
Although the Malibu is not completely redesigned - as GM would call it (refreshed), it will unusually receive the complete and full advertising push. This treatment is usually only reserved for all-new redesigned models, but with GM doing as well as they have with their other models - such as the new Sileradro, Impala, Cruze and their Cadillac line - GM wants nothing to do with a dud in their line-up.
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