Posted by Peter on
April 30, 2009
Top 7 Types Of Car Guys (And Girls?)
Spike is a TV station (and website) that tries to do things a little differently. They specialize in targeting the hugely desirable 18-35 demographic with half-naked women posing, half-naked men fighting, and half-baked stories of sports and celebrity shenanigans.
Once in a while though, they come up with something interesting for us car guys and girls on their website, Spike.com. This time, Spike has differentiated car lovers into seven different categories. It’s not perfect though - one category they didn’t include is the Porsche Guy. Not to discredit Spike’s thoroughly refined analysis of people who love cars too much, but I’d say that I’m an appreciator of all of these types of cars (like Leno). Except for ricers, of course. If any, which one to you fit into? [Spike]
Posted by Peter on
April 30, 2009
Chrysler Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection In New York
Well there you have it, it’s official. Chrysler has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Bankruptcy Court of New York. The New York Times, and every other news publication under the sun, is reporting that the US government will be providing US$8 billion for the restructuring effort over the next few months. Mr. Obama, who gave the press conference just minutes ago, also said that our Canadian government will be providing 1/3 the amount to Chrysler that the American government is, which translates to about $2.6 billion for our pockets. Ouch.
This period of restructuring will also allow Fiat to swoop in like a vulture and pick over the remains of Chrysler. So once Chrysler/Fiat emerge from Chapter 11 protection, we’ll be that much closer to getting the Fiat 500. Booyaa! CarEnvy has covered this merger and its implications more than a few times, which you can follow here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. So this shouldn’t really be a surprise to anyone.
President Obama’s goal is to have a “surgical” bankruptcy. This probably involves latex and anaesthesia, which, from my personal experience, can make for a very good night. But does it make for a good bankruptcy? Time will tell.
The biggest question on my mind is, would you (or anyone else) buy a vehicle from an automaker that is in bankruptcy protection? Although maybe asking this question ignores the premise that someone would actually want to buy a Chrysler product in the first place. [NYT]
Posted by Janaki on
April 29, 2009
F1 News: Liargate Gets McLaren Slap On The Wrist
The WMSC convened earlier today to decide the fate of McLaren in the wake of Melbourne’s Liargate scandal.
Posted by Mark on
April 29, 2009
Review: 2009 Porsche Cayman S
There’s something intensely satisfying about an object whose sole focus is to do one thing very well, whether that’s a delicate Swiss watch or a pit miner. While completely different on the surface, both share a complete lack of compromise. You wouldn’t expect the watch to do your taxes, nor expect the pit miner to shuffle the kids to school.
Such is life with automobiles as well. Up until a few years ago, sedans were what you bought when you matured, SUVs were built to go off road, and sports cars were only meant for warm summer days with little chance of breaking down.
Now, we have supercars that you can use in all four seasons, SUVs that can turn laps faster than sports cars, and sedans lapping the Nurburgring faster than Formula 1 cars of 50 years ago. Porsche is as guilty as anyone in this department thanks to the all-wheel drive 911 Turbo, g-force-inducing Cayenne GTS and, soon, the ultra-rapid Panamera sedan.
It’s amazing to consider that the company’s latest sports car is also its purest. Launched in 2005, this ‘Boxster With A Roof’ has become widely recognized as the Porsche to drive if you love driving. Its mid-engined construction and nimble manners were melded with more powerful engines, and the result was near perfect. Only by blatantly ham-stringing the Cayman with fewer horses than a 911 and no mechanical limited-slip diff was Porsche able to keep the less-expensive two-seater from cramping its big brother’s style.
For 2009, Porsche buckled under pressure and uncorked the Cayman with a bunch of mid-cycle improvements that taken together push the ‘S’ version higher up the performance chart.
Posted by Jonathan on
April 28, 2009
Three Eco-Friendly Cars That Don’t Suck
We all like hooning around in our 600-horsepower Mustangs, 320 kph Mercedes, and 23 L/100 km Hummer H2s. Eventually, however, we will have to agree that even though resources may not be immediately short, they will probably soon be immediately expensive. It’s simple supply and demand – more people want more, adding up to less for cheap.
Does that mean we have to drive boring eco-weenie-mobiles that scream our planet-saving intentions like the Toyota Prius or Camry Hybrid? Will we be relegated to the shallow end of the automotive pool, perhaps saving the planet but undoubtedly bored?
Certainly not. We humbly submit three eco-friendly Green-mobiles that won’t suck the life out of you. Cars that are rewarding to drive and easy enough on the eyes. Modern conveyances that are efficient without screaming, “I’m a tree-hugging loony. Would you like a splash of patchouli on your tofu-dog?”
Posted by Peter on
April 27, 2009
GM: Pontiac Is Gone, Canadian Dealers And Workers Are Next
Fritzilla says: “RAWWWWR!”
The Globe and Mail is reporting that 42% of Canadian GM dealerships will be closed by the end of the year. What they don’t mention is what percentage of those will be rural dealers and what percentage will be metro dealers. From what I understand, it looks like most of the rural dealers are done for and there may also be some lesser trimming of metro ones.
Oh, but there’s more. Fritzilla never sleeps.
Posted by Janaki on
April 27, 2009
F1 News: The Curse of KERS Lifted from 2010?
The F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain took place this past weekend and saw relatively little drama occur on the track itself. Indeed, it was more remarkable for the fact that it almost became one of the very few races in the entire history of Formula One wherein all cars present on the grid actually finished the race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, as Kazuki Nakajima’s Williams became the only car not to make it across the finish line. Still, it wasn’t all fun and games for race winner Jenson Button as he later revealed a very personal injury in the post-race press conference. Here’s hoping Seb’s hands weren’t too rough…. 
Elsewhere in F1-land, off-track events weren’t quite as dramatic as they have been in recent memory, although a few important things have occurred. Follow the jump for more.
Posted by Peter on
April 26, 2009
Revealed: Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing Interior
Well the details of the upcoming Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing, the spiritual successor to the 300SL, just keep on aleakin’. We now know that there will be a 6.2L V8 under the hood and that its power will be routed to the wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Oh, but there’s much, much more.
Posted by Stirling on
April 25, 2009
Vengeance Power Engine Unveiled, Torquey
For the last ten years, three men have been developing an entirely new kind of engine in Windsor, Ontario. Knowing that they were near completion, last year they started a company, Vengeance Power Inc., and filed for $500,000 worth of patents worldwide. Recently, they brought it to Society of Automotive Engineers world congress. Clearly they think that they will be selling a few of these. They’re right. It’s light, small, powerful, and has ridiculous amounts of torque. It has so much torque that I can’t say it here. Hit the jump to find out.
Posted by Peter on
April 25, 2009
Auto Insider Interviews Jason Castriota (Stile Bertone Mantide/Pininfarina P4/5)
The Auto Insider, Jalopnik’s mystery-shrouded-Stig-like writer has just attended the Shanghai Auto Show. This is the show where Stile Bertone and Jason Castriota unveiled the one-off Mantide to the world. Now, Jalopnik has published an interview between the Auto Insider and Jason Castriota that reads quite well. As you may be aware, we’ve covered the illustrious career of the American designer once or twice. Or maybe three or four times, tough to say. Just as a refresher, in case you’ve been asleep at the wheel, Castriota designed the Maserati GranTurismo, Ferrari 599 GTB, Pininfarina P4/5, and the Rolls Royce Hyperion.
Unfortunately, Mr. Castriota didn’t oblige our telepathic request for an interview, so this is the next best thing. Enjoy!
[Jalopnik]
