reddsun1

The upcoming McLaren is a bit "meh." Could almost be mistaken for an Ascari...

Let the pony car wars begin anew! "Now you can transform your 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger into a serious one-off street machine with attitude, or an all-out race car with the ability to put serious rubber under all four corners. Our innovative Composite Flared Front Fenders, Three-Dimensional “Billboard” Quarter Panel Extensions, and Aerodynamic Front Canards add the perfect balance of styling and functionality. By adding six inches (that's right, SIX inches!) to the width of the Challenger, the GROUP 2 Wide Body package can easily accommodate an 11.5” width rim in the rear and a 10” width rim up front. The GROUP 2 package can handle anything up to a 315-series tire. The re-arched wheel wells visibly lower the vehicle while retaining adequate ride height so you don't have to sacrifice ride quality and handling. GROUP 2 Challenger Package Includes: Left and Right Composite Wide Front Fenders Left and Right Composite “Billboard” Wide Rear Quarter Panel Extensions Left and Right Front Spoiler Canards Left and Right Front and Rear Fenderwell Extensions 20X10” Front + 20X11.5” Rear 3-Piece USW Forged Wheels Z-Rated Pirelli P-Zero Rosso Tires, 315/35 rear + 275/40 front" "The ROUSH 2010 427R™ Mustang will be the first in the lineup of new ROUSH® 2010 Mustangs to have a ROUSHcharger® installed which boosts the horsepower to 435 and offers 400 lb.-ft. of torque. This is the first time that ROUSH has been able to offer a supercharged vehicle at the launch of a new body style. The 2010 427R™ includes an appearance package which is comprised of several components such as a new front fascia and front splitter, rear fascia, side splitters, and a three-piece rear wing...This package also includes an all-new suspension package to greatly enhance the handling of the vehicle and turn that daily commute into a slalom course." "Hennessey's first order of business was to take a 2010 Camaro SS and massage its 6.2-liter LS3 V8 to help it pump out mo' powa. They do this by first giving the pony car a little belt-driven boost to the tune of 6 psi, helping it achieve a 2010 Shelby GT500-besting 562 horsepower and 557 lb-ft of rotational fortitude. These numbers will reward owners with a 4.1 second 0-to-60 MPH time and a run down the 1320 in just 12.1 seconds at 119 mph. Rounding out the package is a Hennessey-designed appearance package with 20-inch rollers and Hennessey badging throughout the interior. Expect to fork over roughly $59,500 for one of the 500 Texas-tuned ponies."

I thought that was supposed to be the case as well--to the betterment of Chevrolet's offerings. But it appears that won't happen after all: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/16/from-th...-spawn-chevrol/ Unfortunately, you can't sure stupid. No matter how many times you bail them out, it would seem that GM doesn't want to pull thier collective heads out of their arses, be saved from their own ineptitude. I have 2 family members that own Chevrolet vehicles; an HHR, and a Malibu. And from the experience I've had riding/driving in either of those, I can say that I just don't like them. If the materials finish and ergonomics on the new Camaro are anything like its brethren, I don't think I'd want one even if I did have the disposable $$$ to pick one up. There are some design cues that needed to stay in 1968. I still say whoever designed that interior is an ass. Not a real driver. Putting vital gauges where you'd have to take your eyes completely away from the road? down on the center console? And when you look at that dash/steering wheel just right, it looks like a robot face, frozen in a big, dumb, sh*t eating grin staring back at you...

Pretty much ALL of the manufacturers "borrow" from each other. That's a given. Some just do it more so than others. As far as the Big 3 are concerned: is it any wonder they're circling the toilet bowl? Ford: can pretty much call them "The Great Pretender." Save for the Mustang, they seem to be perfectly content with just copying from others what they seem to think is "in," for most of their other lineup. -Ford Fusion [pre '10 facelift]: Think Cadillac CTS from the front, mid '00s C-Class Benz from the rear. If you've been behind them next to ea other in traffic, you'll see what I mean. -Ford Flex: stretched Scion XB -'10 Ford Taurus SHO: looks like they just traced out the overall sihlouette/proportions of a Chrysler 300, and filled in their own styling touches Both Ford and GM's Aussie divisions have shown for years that front-engined RWD sedans can be 'hot-rodded' enough to make for exciting performance oriented models, in the Falcon XR8 and Commodore SS-V series [aka Pontiac G8]. But does Ford bring us the gonzo RWD sedan from Oz? Nooooo--they continue to push what's 'PC,' with wheezy blow-dried V6s and FWD. And GM lets the G8 die with Pontiac--and a well-deserved death it was too, after so many years of passing off tacky, injection-molded-plastic-clad sh*tboxes as 'performance cars' on the motoring public.

Hmm, that's a bit of a tough one. Not the "best" example to compare car vs. car, as driver error played a part. You can hear the Vette driver miss his upshift, then proceed to slush around in the gearbox. His moment of embarassment firmly established, he finally seemed to say "hang-it-all," and coast to his dismal final E.T. But--with the time posted by the NSX, it's pretty likely it would have taken the win anyway?

Now THAT'S a burnout!

more like tongue on ballsac. those movies were wretchedly awful. And I've not seen more than 3-4 mins of either...

Funny how the linked article mentions that the validity of the photos is being questioned. I don't doubt those are real. Reminds me of the vid of the poor little rabbit getting hit by a DTM Touring car--literally skinned the little bugger on impact. Animal strikes are a very real--and all too common--danger in motor racing. There are many recorded incidents of drivers striking birds, rabbits, etc. A lot of them fatal, unfortunately. This one's a little funny [kind of], as poor Bambi gets sent into orbit. But if that driver hadn't reacted--in the fraction of a second that he had--then this could easily have resulted in TWO fatalities... And, as a bit of a guilty pleasure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrO8AFGi_rc Not really racing-related, but LAWD! That one almost made me roll out of my chair the first time I saw it. Between the engineer's astute observation, and that sickening *gong*, that one never fails to crack me up.

Ah, that explains the Camaro he's driving in that latest Papa John's commercial. That's pretty sweet. I suppose that'd be a tough, TOUGH call to make; selling off a treasured ride like that. There'd be that really big IF; i.e. "what if the gamble doesn't pay off?" But as they say: nothing ventured, nothing gained.

anybody remember Battle Beasts? I just liked some of them because their armor looked Robotech-inspired. In hindsight, one could say: inspired by Robotech-'borrowed' designs from Dougram/etc for their model line...

The "Aston Martin car configurator" is pretty neat. The number of interior options alone is mind boggling. They actually have a color called "Bitter Chocolate." Yup, I feel I'm a DBS man, myself. Now if I could just decide on the exterior: Jet Black; Midnight Blue; or Meteorite Silver? Hmm; decisions, decisions...

Oh, for Pete's sake... apparently DOT approved?

"Boeing can kiss my ass."

I think it's safe to say: as bad-guys go, Baroness is pretty much a super-hottie, no matter what she's doing; instigating terror and anarchy, playing the flute, reading the paper, painting her nails...whatever.

that was f'in funny, even at work with the sound turned down. Was hilarious seeing what famous face would show up in character next. Wasn't that Chuck Liddell as Gung Ho?

I think I'd rather watch the Robot Chicken GI Joe clips before I'd see this movie. Just not feeling it, from the trailers I've seen on TV. The fact that so many are using [either] of the Transformer films as a frame of reference for comparison pretty much tells me all I need to know about deciding to see The Rise of Cobra... PASS

I didn't think SoN was so bad--it's one I remember fondly from childhood. True, in retrospect the whole 'magic' angle leaves a lot to be desired in the way of relevence. But I doubt it's all that critical to the target audience [kids, probably 12 and under?]. Mind you, I've not read the book; so I'm not aware of all its 'deficiencies.' I even got a copy on DVD for my daughter. I much prefer that to the absolute shi*stain drivel that is Nickelodeon and Disney channel in comparison. I'm so godda*n sick and tired of the utter drooling stupidity that is Spongebob Squarepants, I could put a bullet in the TV whenever it comes on. I've forbidden my daughter to watch it in fact--although, kids being kids, I imagine she does anyway. I swear to Christ, I think some of that crap lowers your IQ with continuous exposure. God knows I'm encouraging her to pick up a book and read as much as possible as an alternative...

Oh no, I wouldn't go so far as that. These sorts of things are strictly subjective after all. For me, the old metal is simply more evocative. I've not liked much of the newer designs, save the 550/575 Maranello and F360. Didn't warm up much to the F430 though--the hard-edged cues of the ducting and the front fascia just clashed with the overall lines/shape of the car to me. Just give me a well-tuned 360, thanks. I don't care how much performance and whiz-bang technology you put into a car; sometimes it can't make up for ugly. The Enzo is--and always has been--a bit of a brute to me. And just when you thought you couldn't make it any uglier--then came the P4/P5. Once you get over the initial "wow" reaction, and really study it, it's kinda homely. It's just that it shares some of the very same design cues that I never liked about the F430. Like it's trying to be both curvaceous-and-sinewy, AND hard-and-angular at the same time. Make up your mind, dammit! P.S. don't know why, but it's like the shade and shapes of it in that pic for some odd reason makes me think "Gundam model," danged if I know why...lol. Ferrari "Char Aznable Edition"

Hear Hear! I concur: 250 GTO and California Spyder are still some of the best looking cars ever. Don't forget the 312P. Even more sexy and muscular looking than the 330/412P--even if it does have a smaller engine. But I will concede: it does look a damn sight more cramped and less comfortable for the poor driver!

Oh, no--just an obscure little movie quote. The rest of the line goes: "...whats-a behind me, does not matter." Seriously, that thing has blind spots from hell. Looks like it has practically NO rearward vision. Must have a rearward facing camera system, to add to the techno-gadget factor?

No sir, I don't like it. definitely follows "the first-a rule of Italian driving," from a design standpoint...

Have to admit though, it is a bit of a slippery slope issue. If someone were to take the risk of producing such a large scale fighter toy of the VF-1, there's a multitude of potential issues/pitfalls, like: -how much detail would be considered "acceptable" on such a large scale, and how much adding that detail add to tooling/production costs? -how may parts should be interchangable to customize your Valk? should they produce interchangable heads [A, J, S], and how about the cockpit/nose section, to allow for a later -1D variant? or have complete, separate production runs for ea model?

You're not the first one to openly yearn for a non-TF or partially TF VF-1 in that "magic" scale... They all thought me mad. But they'll see! They'll ALL see! *MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!* I think it'd be managable. VF-1 in fighter mode would work out to be 32.3" long, in 1/18th scale... Even if it only TF'd from fighter to GERWALK, it'd kick a$$ and take names.

Look, there's no need to get sarcastic.

Yup, that one's pretty much been debunked. http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/goldfinger.asp