Auto Mobiles

Honda Motor Co. said Friday it widened a previously announced recall to add 440,000 cars that could have a lethal airbag defect.

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Porsche

You know what the biggest problem with Porshce's 997 Turbo is? Too slow. They're like German desert tortoises. Just kinda clumsy and always in the way. 480 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque rotating all four wheels might sound fast on paper, but it just isn't. Understanding this, Porsche came out with the more powerful GT2. However, 530 horsepower is still like standing still and rear-wheel drive is for drag racers. You need the traction of AWD, and something with more power than some dirty old Cadillac. A lot more power.

Meet the Switzer Perfomance P800 997. Here's the quick stats: 800 hp, zero-to-sixty in less than three seconds and the quarter-mile in just a smidge over ten seconds. Now that's fast. Oh yeah -- the P800's AWD, too. No one is going to mistake you for a Mustang with a blower. Where does an extra 320 hp vs. stock come from? Custom GT30 turbochargers, Switzer MONSTER intercoolers, electronic boost control, fancy headers and exhaust, plus a carbon clutch pack. We'll take it. In yellow. Full press release and video of a P800 on a Dynometer after the jump.

Continue reading Switzer Performance P800 997 Twin-Turbo: The world is never enough

Switzer Performance P800 997 Twin-Turbo: The world is never enough originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary 1969 Yenko Camaro. The king of classic Camaros, the Yenko was the clever creation of Don Yenko, owner of a Chevy dealership in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, who figured out Camaros could be ordered with an L-72 427CI V8 through GM's Central Office Production Order program, originally intended as fleet vehicles for police cars and taxi cabs. Each car came equipped with power disc brakes, a 4.10 rear end, upgraded suspension, a heavy duty radiator, front and rear spoilers, a cowl-induction hood, and plenty of Yenko badges and graphics. Just over 200 '69 Yenko Camaros were built, making them some of the most rare and valuable muscle cars in existence today.

To commemorate the anniversary, Chop, Cut, Rebuild teamed up with Original Equipment Reproduction (OER) and D&P Classic Chevy to build a Yenko Camaro tribute car. The goal was to create a new pony car that Don Yenko himself would have built using today's technology, and it looks like they did an incredible job. Starting with an all new '69 Camaro body shell from the OER parts catalog, the team of builders dropped in a brand news LS7 crate motor from GM Performance Parts and added a six-speed transmission, rack and pinion steering, six-piston brakes, 18-inch wheels and tires, and more. To boot, they got their hands on a 2010 Camaro and painted it to match complete with the OEM body kit and upgraded Stoptech brakes. You can read more details on the tribute Yenko Camaro after the jump, and we snapped a few pictures of the cars at OER's shop that you can view in the high-res gallery below.



Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Original Equipment Reproduction]

Continue reading Matching Camaros commemorate 40th anniversary of 1969 Yenko 427

Matching Camaros commemorate 40th anniversary of 1969 Yenko 427 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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#saleschart { border: 0px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #saleschart td { padding: 7px; border-bottom: 0px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; font-size: 100%;} #saleschart th.bottomrow { border-right: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart tr.features1 { border-top: 1px solid #333; } #saleschart td.bottomrow2 { border-right: 1px solid #333;} #saleschart th { font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #f3f3f3; border-top: 1px solid #333; }

	2009 X Games Rally Car ride along We get (passenger) seat time with some of the cars and competitors ahead of this weekend's 2009 X Games to see how it feels to have our kidneys given a one-two punch inside Mirra's STI or Brack's Fiesta rally car.		House approves $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers, Senate votes next week Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 316 to 109 in favor of H.R. 3435, a bill that will infuse the Car Allowance Rebate System, or Cash for Clunkers program, with an extra $2 billion after it reportedly ran out of cash last night.
	Quick Drive: 2010 Acura MDX gets new nose, powertrain improvements For the 2010 model year, Acura has updated the style and substance of the MDX, revamping the exterior to tie-in with the rest of the automaker's line-up and making a few upgrades to its powertrain to keep up with the competition.	Other news of import Next-generation Audi A8 to get handwriting recognition? Toyota/Subaru coupe drops 40 hp, loses weight, marketed to your dad? MINI bumper sticker makes fun of Cash for Clunkers Lexus trademarks CT 200h, CT 300h and CT 400h for entry-level Euro model? Chrysler PT Cruiser to live on

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 7.31.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Ferrari, Design/Style

Although most Ferrari owners prefer their prancing horses in red, others maintain few things are more boring than another Maranello masterwork tinted scarlet. Ferrari will likely build you its latest 458 Italia in whatever color you chose, provided you're willing to pay for it, but it stands to reason that when a model is introduced, it's rolled out in Ferrari's traditional Rosso Corsa.

Ferrarichat user JimF is apparently afflicted with a heavy case of Red-Ferrari-Ennui. Rather than just complain about the lack of chromatic variation, Jim fired up Photoshop and set about using the power of paths and transfer modes to show the new Italian in a variety of alternative hues. His work is nicely done, and the unexpected colors better show off the Italia's sculpting. Hit the gallery and hunt down your favorite color below.


[Source: Carscoop]

Would you like your Ferrari 458 Italia in brown? What about purple? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Japan, Mazda

Japan gets to celebrate the 20th birthday of the Mazda MX-5/Miata with a special edition for JDM buyers only. The Crystal White Pearl Mica roadster comes in two varieties: an RS soft-top with a 6-speed manual, and a VS hardtop with a 6-speed automatic. Both cars get red-and-black heated Recaros, extra cabin padding, clear front fog lights, a strut tower brace, and (of course) the requisite splash of 20th anniversary badging. You can read about it in the press release after the jump, and check out a high-res photo by clicking the image above.


[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Mazda releases 20th Anniversary Edition Miata for JDM faithful

Mazda releases 20th Anniversary Edition Miata for JDM faithful originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Saturn, Renault

Remember the rumor that Roger Penske is looking to bring Renault back to America via his recently-procured network of Saturn dealerships? Consider it a rumor no more, as the deed has been confirmed by none other than Renault's chief operating officer Patrick Pelata, who said in a recent interview:

"He is looking for cars to sell. He has looked at all car makers, and he has seen that Renault has a nice line-up, sharing power trains with Nissan that are obviously adapted to the U.S. market... He's asking us: 'Do you want to sell us cars?' and we are discussing about how to sell him cars."

Considering that Nissan and Renault have plans to share virtually all new engines and Nissan is already well established in the U.S. market, it may make sense for the French automaker to supply Saturn-badged vehicles to Penske once GM stops producing the current Aura, Outlook and Vue models, which could be as early as 2011.

Previous reports indicated the vehicles in question may actually be sourced from Samsung, Renault's Korean subsidiary. According to Pelata, though, "It's an ongoing discussion," and no deals have yet been finalized.

[Source: Wall Street Journal - Sub. Req.]

REPORT: Penske talking to Renault to supply vehicles to Saturn originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A picture of Michael Schumacher, shown at Imola in 1997, will again drive for Ferrari after two and a half years in retirement.

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Hatchback, Toyota, Off-Road

Toyota's 2010 lineup will receive a suite of aesthetic, performance, and safety changes and minor price bumps, beginning with the FJ Cruiser. ToMoCo's chunky 'ute gets engine mods that include dual VVT-i and roller rocker arms, returning 19 more horsepower and one additional mile per gallon, with a price increase of just $360. At the other end, the 2010 Yaris will count things like Vehicle Stability Control and traction control as standard on the whole range, and the MSRP gets nudged up by $150.

The RAV4 Limited gets a little more chrome inside, and the price doesn't change. Nor does the price change on the Highlander, unless you want the stainless steel exhaust tip that will run you $50. But the SUV does offer more amenities on the base model, including a backup camera and moonroof.

The Avalon's price goes up by $100. For that you get auto up/down windows in the rear. The Tacoma gets "an enhancement to the front cup-holder functionality," but no price change. The vehicles will start arriving on dealer lots in August and September, and you can read up on all these changes and more in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota announces pricing for 2010 models, upgraded engine for FJ Cruiser

Toyota announces pricing for 2010 models, upgraded engine for FJ Cruiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

More good news on the Felipe Massa front today as reports from AEK military hospital in Budapest indicate that the Brazilian driver will be flown back to his home country via private jet on Monday. Previously, it was expected that the Ferrari pilot, who suffered a fractured skull after a loose spring impacted his helmet in qualifying at the Hungarian GP, would be taken to Pitié Salpêtrière hospital in Paris for further treatment.

Massa's physician Dino Altmann, seen above answering questions from reporters, had positive things to say regarding the 28-year-old's recovery, denying that there was any damage to Massa's left eye. "In Brazil, he will continue his recovery and will go back into racing as soon as possible. I think this decision says all you need to know [about his condition]," he said. When told that Michael Schumacher was to take over his duties for the remainder of the 2009 F1 season, Massa quipped, "We'll see if I let him drive my car!"

Schumacher has just recently stepped back into a F1 car for testing, albeit one from the 2007 season. Current F1 rules preclude Schumacher from getting any seat time in the current F60 racer until the first official practice session for the European Grand Prix, slated to run the third week in August in Valencia, Spain. Schumacher has won this particular race a total of six times, most recently in 2006.

[Source: ITV | Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty]

REPORT: Massa to check out of hospital on Monday originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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