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Jay Leno reviews the new Camaro...
Much like the first Lingenfelter 2010 Camaro-based Trans Am conversion, theyve brilliantly managed to bring the essence of the early 1970s Trans Am into the fifth generation. With the Pontiac nameplate having been put to rest, the odds of a production Trans Am are slim to none, but this is one way that Pontiac lovers can keep the dream alive. Under the hood youll find an LSX block sporting a very appropriate 455 cid, and an impressive 11.5:1 compression resulting in a healthy output of 655 horsepower and 610 lbs ft of torque. This badass machine is currently running with the 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour. See one more picture after the jump, and read more over at LSX TV.
The F-Bomb has a shinier, younger brother. Hot Rod editor David Freiburgers new project Camaro was spotted by our own Chad at the Power Tour stop in Newton, Iowa. Powered by one of GMs new E-Rod crate engine packages, it was the buzz of the Power Tour on Saturday.
Theres an interesting BangShift,com connection to the car as the builder, Mike Copeland is a member on our forums (LS1ZR2 is his user name)! Mikes Michigan-based shop, Diversified Creations handled the build, and as Mike is a GM employee, were sure that the E-Rod is working mighty fine in the front of the late Second-Gen F-body.
Guess the days of the cheapie late 1970s or early 1980s Camaro is over. The car appears to kick some serious ass. Look for the build to be featured in upcoming issues of Hot Rod. The car will be running the remainder of the Power Tour. Two more pics at BangShift.com
Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ford, GM
It took a full year for the Ford Mustang to regain its pony car sales title versus the reborn Chevy Camaro, but May sales totals show that the 'Stang has finally regained its mojo. The far more powerful 2011 Mustang plays a huge roll in the comeback, but after originally reporting the upset, Automotive News is now pointing out a second factor that helped the Blue Oval bring the May pony car sales title back to Dearborn.
The Camaro has been selling so well that General Motors hasn't had to pour any money into incentives.That's zero denero, no super low financing... nothing. The tale of the Mustang's May sales tally is a bit murkier. First, 4,376 of the Mustangs sold in May were 2010 models, and those coupes could be had with $2,500 on the hood and financing between zero and 5.9 percent - depending on the length of the loan. According to Edmunds.com, the 2011 Mustang has $1,500 on the hood for returning lessees and conquests alike, plus financing as low as zero percent for 36 months.
Does the fact that the Mustang has some cash on its hood mean that its 10,225 to 8,931 sales victory against the Camaro is tainted? We're not inclined to think so because a win is a win no matter how you dissect it. But at the same time, we're pretty sure GM is thrilled to be selling their pony car at a clip of 100,000 units per year without any cash on the hood. Not a bad consolation prize.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
Ford Mustang/Chevrolet Camaro May sales tally backstory originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsIt seems like weve had a few weeks of rental-car sedans and hybrids as pace cars (no offense, Toyota Camry hybrid), so its cool to see that Pocono Raceway is going to be running the safety lights on this bright white Camaro SS here at this weekend. It seemed like there were Camaros at every race for awhile in there, but I guess they seem to have gotten more sparse now that the novelty has worn off. Its going to be cool to see a Camaro out leading the pack once again!
NASCAR coverage brought to you by Valvoline Engine Guarantee-the first and only motor oil in the industry that will guarantee your engine up to 300,000 miles. *Registration required, some limitations apply.
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ford
It looks like customers opting for the upper trim levels on the Chevrolet Camaro will have to pay a little bit more when the 2011 models roll into showrooms this fall. According to a posting on the Camaro5 forum from a dealer employee, the 2LT and 2SS models will see a $350 price increase to $28,075 and $35,145, respectively. The LS, 1LT and 1SS models will carry over the 2010 prices so the 2011 Ford Mustang will retain a $535 for the V6 and $1,300 advantage for the V8 models.
The more interesting news is the apparent confirmation from General Motors' new VP of Global Vehicle Engineering, Karl Stracke to Motor Trend that the Z/28 will become a reality. Chevrolet officials have declined to comment on the matter, but we're guessing that it might appear sometime next year as a 2012 model. Motivation will likely be provided by a variant of the supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 found in the Cadillac CTS-V, with around 550 horsepower being channeled through a six-speed manual gearbox.
[Source: Camaro5, Motor Trend]
2011 Camaro pricing leaked, Z/28 possibly confirmed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsHitting switches is back, and the 2010 Camaro SS and other retro inspired sports cars are being seen on the streets hitting threes with ease. What do you think about a 2010 Camaro SS on hydraulics? Comment below! Read more about the hydraulic 2010 Camaro SS at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Rumormill
Ford has certainly upped the ante in the Mustang/Camaro wars for 2011. Chevrolet may have the upper hand in V8 power (Camaro is rated at 426 horsepower, Mustang GT at 412), but the base 'Stang now uses a 305-hp V6, boasting slightly more power (one horsepower, to be exact) and better fuel economy (31 miles per gallon) over a comparable six-pot Camaro.
Even though the 2011 Mustang V6 only carries a touch more power and efficiency, Chevrolet isn't going to just sit back and take it all in stride. An inside source has told Automobile that the Mustang's top honors may be short lived, and that details on the 2011 Camaro will arrive in the very near future. We don't think that General Motors will have much trouble cranking out a couple extra ponies from the Camaro's 3.6-liter V6, but can it surpass the Mustang's 31 mpg highway rating? Consider our interest piqued.
[Source: Automobile]
Report: GM working on more powerful V6 for 2011 Camaro? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Coupe, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, GM
The 1963 Corvette Grand Sport is one rare roadster. General Motors only built five of the Cobra killers before production was halted, and the rarest of 'Vettes are worth millions at auction. If you don't have Ferrari GTO 250 money to spend, one option is to shell out $189,000 to Duntov Motor Co. in Texas. The company reportedly has full rights from GM to build the vehicles, and The General's badge is proudly displayed.
But that isn't the only way to get a replica Grand Sport. Mongoose Motorsports produces a near dead ringer of a roadster, but GM claims in a lawsuit that the company is violating trademark laws by building the vehicles without the automaker's permission. The Detroit News says The General is looking for the courts to bar Mongoose from building any more GS replicas, order the destruction of all labels and signs containing Corvette trademarks and let the automaker inspect the Ohio company's books. On top of that, GM is looking for unspecified damages. Mongoose operations manager Gary Krause Jr. reportedly told DetNews that he was unaware of the lawsuit until the newspaper called him.
Why is General Motors coming down hard on Mongoose Motorsports? Because there is a lot of money in licensing (ask any pro sports team), and any company seeking to profit from The General's designs, products or representations is taking money out of the company's coffers. But while the Mongoose Motorsports GS may (or may not) be illegal, it still does look pretty damn cool on the road. Hit the jump to watch video of the realistic replica as it trolls public roads in search of some street cred; or perhaps a speeding ticket. Thanks for the tip, Ismael!
[Source: The Detroit News]
Continue reading Report: GM suing Mongoose Motorsports over Corvette GS replicas [w/video]
Report: GM suing Mongoose Motorsports over Corvette GS replicas [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Auctions
Well, score one for the little guy. Or, as the case may be, the guy that won an eBay auction, getting himself one helluva mondo deal on a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8. To refresh your memory, a Southern California dealer called Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep had the Challenger in question on eBay. The Buy It Now price was $43,425 and the reserve (according to Glenn E Thomas) was $42,995. Then the dealer lowered the Buy It Now price to $43,425 and suddenly, somehow the reserve disappeared.
That's when Alex (aka Hitman from Challengertalk.com) pounced and won himself a 250-mile SRT8 for the crazy price of $29,100. Only thing is, of course, Glenn E Thomas didn't feel like taking a $14,000 bath and refused to honor the auction. Their argument was that they didn't intend to remove the reserve and, in fact, they may not have removed it. They contend that there may have been a glitch in eBay's software. Glenn Dodge did offer to meet Alex halfway, promising him a great deal on the Challenger of his choice, but Alex hung tough, demanding the car he won. It seemed as if the two sides had reached the kind of impasse that can only be settled by those of the lawyerly persuasion. But that was last week.
Yesterday, Alex updated his original post at Challengertalk.com with a picture of the keys to his new car and the following message:
While swallowing a nearly $14,000 loss must be a bitter pill to choke down, we can all agree that in the end Glenn E Thomas did the right thing. Actually, they did better than the right thing, selling Alex a 2010 Challenger SRT8 rather than the 250-mile car he won in the auction. Put another way, in terms of positive publicity, this will turn out to be the best $14,000 they ever spent.First of all, "Thank You" to everyone for cheering me on and helping me move forward in a positive way. A lot of message boards picked up this thread and have to thank everyone for passing the word around too. There you have it. Visual of the keys in my possession of the SRT8 deal that Glenn E. Thomas Dodge honored for $29.1K plus tax and license fees of course.
Both parties had plenty to talk about that day but in the end of it all, things worked out for everyone. So there is praise to be made to both sides, especially the dealer who did honor the auction. Would encourage everyone to send them praise and not attack anyone in that establishment as this was not the point of this thread. I'm sure there will be questions on how things went down.
[Source: Challengertalk.com]
Wow: Dodge Dealer honors disputed eBay Challenger auction and then some originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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A small but determined group of gearheads braved the wild weather and displayed their American beauties right in the heart of Melbourne this past weekend. A good mixture of old and new American iron was on show, with my favorite being this spotless "˜68 Camaro. More pics after the jump!
Thereve been 2010 Camaro police car concepts and renderings circulating around pretty much as long as theres been 2010 Camaros, but this is apparently the first sighting of a marked and legitimate one in the wild. Rather than just slap on the usual lightbars and decals, the Haltom City Police Department in Texas treated themselves to a custom build by Classic Chevrolet for their new Camaro SS patrol car, with subtly-integrated LED lighting throughout, including the stealth row of blues behind the grille. Seems a little decadent, but I guess theres worse ways to dispose of taxpayers dollars! See more at Jalopnik.
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet
No matter which side of the Mustang/Camaro divide you fall on there's no arguing that Chevrolet's reborn entrant in the pony car wars has been a hit. It's been less than a year since production of the 2010 Camaro began at General Motors' Oshawa assembly and the 100,000th example rolled off the line this week. The milestone car was reportedly an inferno orange SS.
Ever since last June, the Camaro has been outselling its chief rival,, the Mustang, despite the Mustang's refresh at around the time of the Camaro launch. Ford, however, left out one important aspect in the 2010 redesign, the powertrains. That oversight has been addressed for the 2011 model year, and the Ford vs. Chevy battle begins anew next month. That's when 2011 Mustangs will start rolling off the line with power on par with the Camaro, along with the significantly better interiors that carry over from 2010. We'll be watching this horse race very carefully over the rest of this year. Hat tip to Henry!
[Source: Camaro5]
Report: GM builds 100,000th Chevrolet Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Jan Gabriel, the Chicago-area motorsport announcer who popularized the phrase "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!", died last week at 69. He got his start as a sock-hop disc jockey and eventually moved into automotive television. Fittingly, he passed on a Sunday.
Gabriel was a Wisconsin native, but he spent most of his life in the Chicago area. He rose to fame as the announcer for Illinois's Santa Fe Speedway, and his voice was often heard on commercials promoting Chicago's "Smoking U.S. 30" drag strip. Because the track's owner owned several other speed venues around the country, many of which Gabriel recorded advertisements for, his deep voice and trademark "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!" call became widely known. From 1992 to 1994, Gabriel hosted the television show "Super Chargers," a quirky look at motorsport, automotive culture, and celebrity car enthusiasts. He's also credited with helping get TV coverage of NASCAR racing, monster trucks, and the NHRA off the ground.
Gabriel's memorial service is this "” you guessed it "” Sunday in Chicago. Rest in peace, Jan "” we grew up listening to and watching you, and you'll definitely be missed.
When Lux Performance, a factory-backed Viper racing team, needed pit conveyance, minibikes wouldn't do. Instead they dropped a 48V Etek motor in a mobility scooter to create "The Crippler." A 46 MPH, hilll-climbing, berm-jumping wheelie-riding death machine. We want one.
Okay, so these Lux Performance people, they have an addiction to speed so acute putting Vipers on the track wasn't enough, they had to invest 20 hours to building this contraption. It's packing a 48V Etek motor, 20 amp hour lead acid batteries and a 6:1 reduction chain drive, which means monster power for a scooter normally limited to silently gliding through the halls of SEMA. The reason for its name should be apparent to anyone familiar with the moronic arts. It's incredibly satisfying to see this thing buzzing the mobile speed sign and clocking 40 miles per hour. Sadly we haven't been able to find any information on "Crippler's Revenge," but it sounds like a gloriously bad idea. Off to Grainger with the corporate card. (Thanks for the tip Isaac)
The existence of booth professionals is very telling. They're strategically placed to deliver details of sexy vehicles or draw cameras to unremarkable ones. Who had the most? Ze Germans, China's eZone and of course, Chrysler. It's all they did have.
Occasional Jalopnik photographer Wes Tucker gets accosted by the locals.
Remember the Corvette Z06 clutch-plosion? It could have been worse. This Trans Am owner nearly loses his foot trying to burn down the tires.
Unlike the Z06 owner, who appears to be the hapless victim of his own ignorance, this is at least partially the fault of the clutch itself. The carnage is pretty serious, requiring more than just clutch work. Let this be a lesson, kids.
Leave the minivans to the buff books, the sales stars to the wire services, and the hybrids to the green freaks. As Best10 week continues, here's Jalopnik's Best10 of the past decade.
Before putting together a list of the cars we dug the most "” the stuff from the past decade that most represents Jalopnik "” we decided to put down some ground rules:
1. This ain't Jalopnik Fantasy Garage "” the car has to be attainable for an ordinary person, or perhaps an ordinary person who has mortgaged a kidney and inherited half of their hometown. MSRP is capped at $200k.
2. No matter what it is, the vehicle in question has to have made us cackle the first time we drove (or, in some cases, saw) it. Fuel mileage and practicality matter, but they aren't what gets us "” or, we assume, you "” in showrooms. Yes, we're admitting a bias toward the impractical. If you don't agree, come up with your own damn list in the comments.
3. To make the list, a car or truck has to be sold in the United States between 2000 and 2010. It has to be available to the public through an ordinary, open-door dealership. No gray-market imports allowed. No kit cars. Production must exceed 1,000 units per year.
4. Some of these cars are blindingly fast, but this isn't meant to be a list of salt-flat options. Nor is it a list of cars that made a difference in the industry. More than anything, these machines are what motivate car-obsessed freaks like us to find a way, any way, to justify a purchase. In other words, no one buys a hybrid in a fit of passion, so those are automatically out.
One more thing: Favorite set of wheels didn't make the cut? Wondering why it was left off? You're in luck. When you're done with the list, hit the link at the bottom of the last car to see the "SecondBest10" "” the ten cars that, for one reason or another, just missed the list.
Without further ado, here's Jalopnik's Best10 cars of the decade!
BMW M Coupe
Years Produced: 1999 - 2002
Base Price When New: $45,990 (2002)
Engine: 3.2-liter I-6, 240 hp, 3.2-liter I-6, 315 hp
Curb Weight: 3230 lb (2002)
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 10.25 lb/hp (2002)
This is it, propellerheads "” this is the last of the nuthouse BMWs, the last car Munich built where the loonies were in charge of the asylum. Step one: Take a Z3. Step two: Graft a steel roof onto it, increasing structural rigidity threefold. Step three: Add a version of either the E36 or E46 M3's in-line six. The Z3 M Coupe is as unhinged as BMWs come, a rolling testament to the fact that the company once gave a shit about the die-hard enthusiast. Every BMW since has been too ordinary, too dull, and too fat by comparison.
M Coupes made in 1999 and 2000 featured a version of the E36 M3's 240-hp S52 six-cylinder. These are nice cars "” and they're far cheaper than 2001-2002 models "” but something is missing. We prefer to think of that something as "batshit crazy."
What You Probably Didn't Know: The M Coupe's semi-trailing-arm rear suspension effectively dates back five decades; BMW first used this layout on its 600 microcar, produced from 1957 to 1959. The Z3 and Z3 Coupe were the last production BMWs to use a similar design. (The same setup was also found on Munich's legendary 1600/2002 and E30-chassis M3.)
What You Probably Didn't Know, Short Wheelbase And Big Power Doth Not Always Equal Hoonage Edition: A stock Z3 M Coupe understeers like mad, the victim of liability-focused suspension engineers and a heavy nose. Add some roll stiffness and shuffle the spring rates, however, and that sucker will dance.
Chevrolet Corvette (C6)
Years Produced: 2005 - Present
Base Price: $48,930 (2010)
Current Engines: 6.2-liter V-8, 430 hp; 7.0-liter V-8, 505 hp; 6.2-liter V-8, 638 hp
Curb Weight: 3175 - 3333 lb (2010)
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 5.2 lb/hp (ZR1)
It would not be an exaggeration to call this Corvette the single greatest American car ever built. The sixth-generation "˜Vette is smaller, lighter, and faster than its predecessor. In base form, it offers better fuel mileage than any Corvette before it. It looks good, even to people who traditionally don't like Corvettes, and normal people no longer get claustrophobic in its cockpit. If that weren't enough, GM refuses to sit still, consistently refining sales-irrelevant details like shift quality and steering feel in the name of building a more kick-ass car.
The Corvette used to be little more than a shoddily-built speed bargain. The C6 was the game-changer; vaulting the Corvette out of Middle America and into the hearts of apex junkies everywhere. No matter how you slice it, this is what Detroit engineers do best. And this is the best they've done.
What You Probably Didn't Know: The Tremec T-56 six-speed manual used until 2007 was shared with the Dodge Viper and Aston Martin V-12 Vanquish, among others. (The C6 currently uses a Tremec TR-6060, the same 'box found in the Chevrolet Camaro SS and Dodge Challenger.)
Audi R8 (V-8 only)
Years Produced: 2006 - Present
Base Price: $114,200
Engine: 4.2-liter V-8, 420 hp
Curb Weight: 3450 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 8.2 lb/hp
A hundred and fifteen grand will buy you a lot of things: A brand-new Porsche 911 GT3. A lifetime supply of gumballs and beef jerky. Sixty-four Victorian mansions in downtown Detroit. Were we in possession of a hundred and fifteen grand, we would probably not buy an Audi R8. (Beef jerky and a used GT3?) But that doesn't mean that it's not fantastic.
Audi's first mid-engined production car is many things: It is fast (if you have your wits about you, you will outrun Porsches). It is comfortable (you will mistake it for an A8 on long road trips, no lie). It is oversteer-happy (you will autocross it once and, by the first cone, be amazed that Quattro finally, finally, finally wants your ass to swing). But it is also a key part of its maker's recent rebirth. The R8 is the first car from Ingolstadt to offer widespread appeal, an uncompromised chassis, and rally-car-meets-land-speed-record soul in an exotic shell.
The V-10 is arguably the better machine "” it's faster, more entertaining, and serves up more bang for the buck - but the V-8 car was there first.
What You Probably Didn't Know: According to street gossip, the R8 is little more than a reskinned Lamborghini Gallardo. That's bull "” in V-8 form, the Audi shares only a general layout and two transaxles with the Lambo. (The V-10 R8 is similar but uses a mildly tweaked version of the Gallardo's engine.)
Honda S2000
Years Produced: 1999 - 2009
Base Price When New: $34,995 (2009)
Engine: 2.0-liter I-4, 240 hp (@8300 rpm); 2.2-liter I-4, 240 hp (@7800 rpm)
Curb Weight: 2781 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 11.6 lb/hp
It is, above all, a Honda: Legendary reliability. A four-cylinder that spins to ungodly speeds. An interior full of sensibly designed, relatively sturdy components. Parts of it feel expensive; parts of it feel cheap. In a nutshell, the S2000 is everything that Soichiro's minions know about building cars, albeit honed and sharpened. It's also a rear-wheel-drive relic, an homage to a time when sports cars required their drivers to pay attention.
The S2000 was launched to commemorate Honda's 50th anniversary, and it did so in one hell of a fashion - it combined a stiff chassis with an 8900-rpm four-cylinder and handling that former Car and Driver editor Csaba Csere once called "daringly neutral." (Read: Glorious oversteer put a bunch of people in ditches, so Honda later toned it down.) The 2.0-liter four made its peak power at 8300 rpm, but an uber-slick gearbox and the joys of wailing VTEC meant that you didn't mind winding the piss out of it. Later cars gained displacement and various refinements but lost little charm.
The S2000 is nothing so much as a legend in its own time. If you don't like it, you probably haven't driven it hard enough.
What You Probably Didn't Know: Peak piston speed of the 1999 - 2003 S2000 at its 8900-rpm redline: 4906 feet/minute. Piston speed of a Ferrari F1-2000 (the championship-winning, 2000-season F1 car) at 18,000 rpm: 4890 feet/minute.
Mini Cooper (R50)
Years Produced: 2001 - 2006
Base Price When New: $17,450 (2006)
Engine: 1.6-liter I-4, 114 hp
Curb Weight: 2524 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 22 lb/hp
God bless the British. The people of empire and warm beer didn't invent the small car, but they arguably perfected it. The original Austin/Morris Mini, built from 1959 to 2000, redefined the automotive landscape and introduced "” or at least extensively refined "” every econobox trope in use today, including the notion that small cars should be fun. And while the 2001-2006 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S weren't exactly British (the second-generation Mini project was started by Rover but finished and manufactured by BMW), they were close enough.
When the new Mini hit our shores, it shook up the status quo. Like the original Mini, it transcended status and income levels; like the first Volkswagen GTI, it possessed giant-killing performance that also happened to be perfectly suited to the vast American landscape. Europeans decried it for being too big, too thirsty, and too space-inefficient, but we didn't care: We bought the little buggers by the truckload. The Mini was fun. It was fast. It was . . . well, it sounds a little stupid, but it was cheeky. And cheeky is never bad.
After 2006, BMW's only front-wheel-drive car got faster, fatter, and lost some of its charm. Mini, we miss you. We like warm beer. Come back.
What You Probably Didn't Know: The Mini's multilink rear suspension purposely mimics the rear suspension found in the 1999-2006 BMW 3-series.
Porsche 911 GT3 (996)
Years Produced: 2004 - 2005
Base Price When New: $99,900 (2005)
Engine: 3.6-liter H-6, 375 hp
Curb Weight: 3050 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 8.1 lb/hp
Porsche has taken a lot of crap over the past decade for diversifying its lineup, but the world's most effective counter-argument needs only three characters: G-T-3. The 996-chassis GT3 was the first GT3 produced, and while it came before the heretical Cayenne and Panamera (Europe first got the model in 1999), it would have been a one-time experiment without their financial support.
This is the purist's Porsche, the 911 for apex hounds with brake dust on the brain. Weissach named the GT3 after the FIA GT racing class that it was intended for, and with good reason - it was, as the cliché goes, little more than a race car for the street. An 8200-rpm, 375-hp, naturally aspirated flat six lived in its tail and spit out a spine-chilling wail. Weight was down, options were minimal, and the suspension was track-oriented. Motorsport touches were everywhere: A old-school split crankcase with "964" cast in its sides owed much to the air-cooled world and increased engine rigidity, and a quick-change, steel-synchro gearbox offered easy ratio swaps and track-ready durability.
The 996-chassis GT3 is a lithe, contrast-filled machine. It's at once delicate and sturdy, forgiving and intolerant. It cries out for you to be better, but it flatters you if you suck. It was the first of its kind, and while it is no longer the fastest or newest GT3, it's for damn sure the coolest.
What You Probably Didn't Know: Porsche claimed that the GT3 was the first production car to lap the Nürburgring in under eight minutes. Walter Rohrl clocked a 7:56.33 lap, or 40 seconds quicker than his time in a base 911.
(Photo Credit: Storem / Flickr)
Ferrari F430
Years Produced: 2004 - 2009
Base Price When New: $188,425 (2009)
Engine: 4.3-liter V-8, 483 hp
Curb Weight: 3200 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 6.6 lb/hp
Forgive us if you've heard this before, but many Ferraris "” especially the older ones "” are disappointing. Depressing build quality, truckish steering, and a cartoonish personality are par for the course. Maranello's current lineup, however, is one of the rare exceptions to the rule. The 599 is a suit-and-tie supercar with all the speed (if not the personality) of an F40; the 612 is a flabby but interesting grand tourer; and the F430 is the manic, nervous rock star, the hyperkinetic-yet-sane ADHD black sheep.
This is a good thing. The F430 is the first prancing horse to make its stablemates look tame, and the first base Ferrari to offer the streetability and manic presence that you expect. It has been accused of being too digital, too cold, and too calculating, but frankly, we don't care. We've been in a lot of Ferraris. Whether yowling around town or rocketing up a mountain road, the 430 speaks to us like no Lamborghini or Maserati ever has. It is the Ferrari of the past ten years, and that makes it the best Italian car of the decade.
Also, it sounds like Uncorked Angry Jesus.
What You Probably Didn't Know: You may not believe this (and it's actually outside the price range of this list), but the F430 Scuderia is the most docile mid-engine car we've driven. There is no reason that a $283,000 Ferrari track rat should inspire calm thoughts while sideways. This one does.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (Evo VIII/IX)
Years Produced: 2003 - 2006
Base Price When New: $31,994 (2006)
Engine: 2.0-liter turbo I-4, 286 hp
Curb Weight: 3338 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 11.67
When dino-fuel's all gone and the book is closed on the internal combustion engine, the powers that be will look back upon the rally-car wars of the late twentieth century and smile. Homologation specials, ever-escalating power levels, and monster rear wings? What's not to love?
America came to the game a bit late, but we should probably be thankful just to have gotten in the door. Subaru's turbocharged Impreza WRX was the first stateside salvo, a tentative lob across the Pacific that resulted in monster sales. Mitsubishi's response, in the form of the eighth-generation Lancer Evolution, simply upped the ante.
If the first American WRX was a relatively refined stage-stormer, then the Evo was its foaming-at-the-mouth redneck cousin. It didn't offer Subaru levels of solidity or interior quality, but it provided killer steering feel, better dry-pavement handling, and a more bonkers vibe. With both manufacturers officially out of world-championship rallying, the battle is essentially over, though the Evo and WRX live on in showroom form. Both cars are better than ever and yet, oddly, both seem to be past their prime. Where the rally-car wars are concerned, the Evo VIII and IX remind us, in loud, vivid tones, of just how good it got.
What You Probably Didn't Know: U.S. Evo VIIIs and IXs didn't receive Mitsubishi's superb Active Yaw Control rear differential due to government regulations regarding fuel-tank crush space. Nevertheless, if you've got about ten grand to blow on parts and labor, it's possible to retrofit AYC onto a U.S.-market car.
Pontiac G8 GXP
Years Produced: 2009
Base Price When New: $39,995
Engine: 6.2-liter V-8, 415 hp
Curb Weight: 3800 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 9.59 lb/hp
We've said it before and we'll say it again: poor Pontiac. The G8 GXP was a cut-rate version of BMW's V-8-powered E39 M5 and nothing less than the most compelling sport sedan to ever come out of Detroit. A 415-hp LS3 lived under the GXP's hood, and there was some rear-wheel drive something something, and . . . uh . . . four-door Corvette . . .
Ok, that's enough. We can't finish this; we have to go cry in the corner. The G8 meant something. It could have been a contendah. It could have helped make Pontiac relevant again. And now it's gone. It was fantastic (OK, so the steering feel kind of sucked, but the rest was great), it was fun, it was D-Town incarnate, and we miss it. The possibilities are too depressing to think about.
Sigh. Where were we again?
What You Probably Didn't Know: That the G8 GXP feels like a cut-rate BMW E39 M5 is no coincidence "” a few of the engineers who worked on the M5 also helped bring the Holden Commodore (the G8's Australian twin) to market.
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
Years Produced: 2010 - Present
Base Price: $38,995
Engine: 5.4-liter V-8, 310 hp
Curb Weight: 6000 lb
Power-To-Weight Ratio: 19.4 lb/hp
Let's be honest: This thing makes no sense whatsoever. It's a much-tweaked Ford pickup with long-travel suspension, a relatively low price tag, and the ability to bomb over washed-out terrain at 80 mph. It's like something out of a dream.
In what world does this compute? What in unholy hell is a normal person supposed to do with this thing? The Raptor isn't like a balls-to-the-wall sports car; you can't really send it rocketing down back roads on the weekends. Nor is it akin to a lifted, worked-over Jeep or Land Cruiser; it can handle rock-crawling and trail-poking, but that's not its forte. No, it's happiest pounding over desert washes at 80 mph, blasting into the air with wheels at full droop and passengers pissing their pants. We love it, but unless you live in the desert, we'll be damned if we know what you do with it.
No matter. The Raptor is a frivolous project at a time when Ford has no business screwing around with frivolous projects. As such, it's the best kind of vehicle "” one built with damn-the-torpedoes passion. In a rational world, it wouldn't exist. Thank God we don't live in a rational world.
Thing You Probably Didn't Know: Eleven inches of front suspension travel. Eleven.
Now that you've seen our Best10, here's the ten that didn't quite make the cut:
Jalopnik's SecondBest10 Cars Of The Decade: Trimmed Fat
Jalopnik played a small role in bringing Papa John's Camaro back home to Kentucky and now the Z28 itself is going small with a limited edition toy car.
We just recieved our Johnny Lightning replica in the mail and, having driven one of these before, we're impressed with the accuracy. Well, mostly just the tiny magnetic Papa John's car topper. And because John Schnatter is such a generous fellow, he's donating 5,000 of the mini Z28s and $80,000 in proceeds from the small cars to the Marine Toys For Tots Foundation.
And because he loves giving stuff away, there's even a sticker for a free medium pizza on the back of the package.
For integrity's sake, we're going to leave it on there.
PAPA JOHN'S TO DONATE $80,000 IN PROCEEDS OF MINI CAMARO SALES TO TOYS FOR TOTS
Pizza chain's contribution to annual holiday campaign also will include free pizza offer on back of mini-car packaging, all available at www.papajohns.com
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (November 16, 2009) - Earlier this year, "Papa" John Schnatter set out on a cross-country Road Trip to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Papa John's Pizza"¦and to search for the car that started it all: a 1971 Z28 Camaro that Schnatter sold to keep his dad's tavern in business and ultimately open his first Papa John's restaurant. He even offered a $250,000 reward for the car's safe return. To everyone's surprise (especially Schnatter's), the beloved Camaro was found in Flatwoods, Ky. in August.
Beginning today, pizza and car lovers alike may purchase a mini replica of Schnatter's Camaro for just $4.99 at www.papajohns.com. For every mini Camaro sold, $1 will be donated to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, just in time for the holidays. In addition, every toy's packaging includes a coupon for a free medium cheese pizza - making it the gift that keeps on giving, long after the holiday leftovers are gone!
Papa John's is also donating 5,000 mini Camaros directly to Toys for Tots - a retail value of $25,000, and $50,000 in redeemable free pizzas. In total, Papa John's will contribute more than $155,000 to the 2009 Toys for Tots campaign.
"You could say that Christmas came early this year for John, which is why we're especially pleased to share his joy with kids around the country who love Papa John's pizza," said Jude Thompson, Papa John's president and chief operating officer. "Papa John's is proud to partner and be associated with Toys for Tots, renowned for touching millions of young lives year after year."
"Papa John has a great story that's not only fun, but also provides hope and inspiration to less fortunate children," said Maj. Bill Grein, USMC (Ret), vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "Toys for Tots is honored to have the support of Papa John's and their 2,600 restaurants across the country this season as we make the holidays brighter for families everywhere."
For more information and to purchase a mini Camaro, benefiting Toys for Tots, visit www.papajohns.com.
About Marine Toys for Tots
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not for profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to provide fundraising and other necessary support for their annual Toys for Tots Program. Now in its 62nd year, Toys for Tots provides hope and happiness to economically disadvantaged children through the gift of a shiny new toy during the Christmas holiday season. Our gifts offer these children recognition, confidence and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many of the gifts we provide, such as books, games and sports equipment, make a significant contribution to the educational, social and recreational interests of these children. In 2008, Marines distributed gifts to 7.6 million children in over 650 communities nationwide. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation relies on individual donations from the American public and is supported by corporate sponsorships. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.
About Papa John's
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) is the world's third largest pizza company. For nine of the last 10 years, consumers have rated Papa John's No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the highly regarded American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John's also ranks first among pizza companies in the 2008 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, was honored by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine (R&I) with the 2008 Silver Award for Consumers' Choice in Chains in the pizza segment, and was named 2007 Pizza Today Chain of the Year. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa John's at www.papajohns.com.
Among the news from today's New New Chrysler briefing was this slide of the 2012 Dodge Charger. The design is so good it apparently made Ralph Giles weep with joy. Look familiar? There's a reason...
This image reveals a sloping belt line and strong curve building from the front to the shoulders, reminiscent of the 1999 Dodge RT Charger Concept (below) it seems to borrow heavily from. We're also told the new Charger initially had rear door handles in the roof line rather than the door panel "” giving it a two-door look "” but this was eventually dropped. Any other details stick out?
c/o Andy & Trish Shaw
343 Vitez Drive
Morgantown, WV 26508
Phone: 304-292-0948
WVFbodyclub@gmail.com
