Spyderide

Sunday Car News: MINI goes Cross-Over

2010-02-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

After half a decade of selling the small and fun Cooper in the States, Mini created the Clubman in 2008 to allow for drivers to add more space to their Mini yet still have loads of small car fun. Now for 2011, Mini is developing the all-new Countryman, a cross-over actual four-door vehicle. Although the base models will be front-wheel drive, the Countryman S ALL4 will be powered by the familiar 1.6 turbo four-banger with four-wheel drive. The model will debut at the Geneva Show in March and should arrive in the States in early 2011.

Sunday Car News

2010-02-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Spy photos of the next generation Porsche 911 have been taken at the Nurburgring. Porsche will replace its already new 997 updated-version with the 998 in 2011. Just last year Porsche had modified the entire 997 line-up with different front-ends, tail-lights, and a direct-injection engine, yet Porsche still called the cars a 997. Now in 2011 further changes will be made with expanded body width and length, a heavily revised suspense, and lastly a fresh new body styling.

Spy Shots: Ferrari

2010-01-21T21:40:00.000-08:00

When I was driving on 190th I was luckily enough to pull up behind a $1 Million Ferrari Daytona Spyder. This iconic Ferrari has a front-engine V12 that pumps out 350 horsepower. The body is timeless with lines from Pininfirina. Excuse me for the poor quality as I only had my brother's cellphone camera.

New Fuel-Efficient Mercedes Vehicles

2010-01-18T10:58:00.000-08:00

While BMW is trying to create silly "efficientdynamic" vehicles that still cannot get above 20 mpg, Mercedes is developing luxury cars that have around the same efficiency as subcompact cars. The first vehicle Mercedes created was the E-class Bluetec which could get around 26 city mpg and 37 highway mpg. These amazing figures were especially astonishing since the diesel engine puts out 210 hp and nearly 400 ft-lbs of torque. This car has been out for a few years, so Mercedes is adding a couple more fuel-efficient vehicles to the line-up. Mercedes placed that same engine in the R-class, and the M-class and a slightly larger Bluetec V6 in the GL-class. More recently, however, Mercedes is going in the direction of hybrids to add greater efficiency to some of its vehicles. The M-class is receiving hybridized drivetrain that will help the vehicle achieve 21 city mpg and 24 highway mpg. These figures are pretty good considering this is a two and a half ton vehicle. In addition, Mercedes is adding a hybrid drivetrain in the most classy and luxurious Mercedes, the S-class. With the same drivetrain as the system in the M-class, the S-class can achieve 19 city mpg, and 26 highway mpg, a 26% increase over the S550. These efforts by Mercedes to build fuel-efficient vehicles will definitely pay-off as buyers now need fuel-sipping vehicles.

Top Gear: Ford Fiesta "Traditional Test"

2010-01-14T18:09:00.001-08:00

Jeremy Clarkson shows how fun and cool a small, economical hatchback can be.

Nissan Leaf May Lead the New Industry of Electrics

2010-01-13T19:04:00.000-08:00

With the Chevrolet Volt continuing to have its release and production date pushed back, Nissan is stepping in with the all-electric Leaf to hit production must sooner. The Leaf is expected to his U.S. dealers by the end of 2010, this year. The design looks like a smoother, sleeker version of the Versa that should greatly improve aerodynamics. The drivetrain is a fully electric EV-IT system that is powered by a compact lithium-ion battery that supplies the car with a range of 100 miles. The electric motor develops 80kW of power and 206 ft-lbs of torque. Despite the steep price most likely being in the low $30,000 I am very excited about this car, because Nissan's charge into the market with the Leaf shows that an automobile manufacturer does not have to take more than five years to get a car to hit production-"Ehem [cough].. Ford."

Sunday Wrap-Up

2010-01-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

Now that you have followed the articles and videos this week of all of the off-road vehicles, I suggest if you have a 4X4 that you use it to the limits it was built to do. Rather than making your massive vehicle the soccer mom or dad car, occasionally drive it out of the city and find an off road route to really have fun and test the capabilities of your SUV. After a rainy season, muddy ditches and shallow rivers will turn into playgrounds to put your vehicle to the test. In California there are many roads just outside of the city that are OHV vehicle approved and would give 4X4 owners great pleasure. A site for off road trails in Southern California is http://4wheeldrive.about.com/od/socaltrails/

So just get out of the house and reward your 4X4 the fun it deserves by taking it off the asphalt and drive it out of the city onto some pleasurable, beautiful trails.

Top Gear: Range Rover Sport vs Challenger II Tank

2010-01-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Jeremy tests the fantastic Range Rover Sport Supercharged by trying to outrun a Challenger II Tank.

Top Gear: Bolivia Special Part 3

2010-01-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

Top Gear: Bolivia Special Part 2

2010-01-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

Top Gear: Bolivia Special Part 1

2010-01-05T15:59:00.000-08:00

Jeremy, James, and Richard travel to Bolivia for another death-defying expedition. The four each choose a 4X4 vehicle and must travel from the middle of the Amazon rain forest to the Pacific Ocean.

Land Rover LRX Concept

2010-01-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

The LRX Concept from Land Rover is a completely new design and automobile that previews the direction Land Rover will take for future vehicles. As Land Rover currently is tremendously successful, the company needs to continue developing new revisions and models to maintain prosperity in the market. This is where the LRX Concept vehicle will come in. The design is definitely very slick for a cross-over SUV with its wrap around wind shield, sloping roof, and rear end similar to the Range Rover. The difference between this model, though, is that it is slightly smaller than the LR2, the smallest vehicle in the line-up. It will be extremely light and efficient for a vehicle of this nature as it will be powered by a 2-litre turbo diesel hybrid with a biofacility, which could offer 49.9 mpg. Since it is a concept vehicle, Land Rover has not announced whether or when the company plans to place the vehicle into production.

Cars & Coffee Show in Irvine

2010-01-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to an informal Cars & Coffee Show at the Mazda Center in Irvine. The show takes place every Saturday and anyone can bring their own car or just come to be a spectator. Cars range from the most exotic Lamborghini's to the classic Mercedes SL's. Here are some of the highlights from the show.

Official Mercedes SLS AMG video

2010-01-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

This is a video of the Mercedes SLS AMG on the track. The sound from that naturally aspirated AMG V8 is fantastic.

New Mercedes SLS AMG Supercar to take on Ferrari

2009-12-31T11:06:00.000-08:00

Clearly taking some inspiration from the 60s 300SL Gullwing, this new Mercedes will take on Ferrari and McLaren with brute force. The hammer under the bonnet is a 563bhp/479lb ft version of AMG’s normally aspirated 6.2-litre V8, which is significantly modified over normal, justifying an internal renaming. The cars lines are gorgeously swooping from the headlights to the taillights, and the proportions are exquisite for a front engine car: long bonnet, and cockpit nearly in the trunk.

Lexus LF-A Tested by Autocar at the Nuburgring

2009-12-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

Here is one the first official videos of the Lexus LF-A being tested. The all-new Lexus LF-A supercar is shortly ready for production. It has a front-engine 4.8 liter V10 under the bonnet producing over 550 horsepower. It should compete with the Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes SLS, and McLaren MP4-12C. Prices will be over $300,000 since it is composed of a nearly all-aluminum body.

Jay Leno at the McLaren Factory Video

2009-12-29T09:59:00.000-08:00

Here Jay Leno visits the McLaren factory and learns about the incredible new MP4-12C.

Sunday Car News

2009-12-28T14:19:00.001-08:00

The McLaren MP4-12C will become McLaren's first own car since the McLaren F1. It is going at a much different approach than the F1 since because it will be powered by a 3.8L twin-turbo V8. The forced-induction V8 will output 600 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The car will be extremely light since the chassis construction is built around a single light carbon fiber tub that ways merely 176 lbs. When the McLaren comes out as a 2011 model it will be a fierce competitor to the Ferrari 458, the Lamborghini LP560-4, the Mercedes SLS AMG, and the Lexus LF-A. It will, however, have a steep price of $265,000.

Top Gear: VW Scirocco Advertisement Commercial

2009-12-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Jeremy and James challenge each other to see who can make the best commercial for the VW Scirocco.

Top Gear: Escalade vs Hummer vs Range Rover

2009-12-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

Jeremy proves why the Range Rover is by far the best Sport Utility Vehicle or 4X4.

Top Gear: Jackal vs. Jeremy Pursuit

2009-12-25T11:05:00.000-08:00

Jeremy attempts to drive an 8 year old 500 hp Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII out of harms way of live rounds coming from a fleet of tanks.

Top Gear: Captain Slow Takes a Wild Ride with Ken Block

2009-12-24T11:21:00.000-08:00

James May comes out to California to ride shotgun with professional rally car driver Ken Block, in a Subaru WRX rally car.

Top Gear: Epic 1949 Race between a Car, Bike, and a Train

2009-12-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

Here is another one of Top Gear's epic challenge races. Jeremy, James, and Richard are brought back to 1949, so Jeremy rides a vintage steam-train, James drives a Jaguar XK120, and Richard rides an awesome Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle.

Top Gear: Automobile FIFA World Cup

2009-12-22T15:35:00.000-08:00

Richard tests to see whether the Toyota Aygo lives up to its hot-hatch, small economical car expectations by putting on a car FIFA football match.

Richard tests to see whether the new Volkswagon Fox can overthrow the past compact-hatch, The Toyota Aygo by battling in another car FIFA football match.

Top Gear: Can a Car Really be Art?

2009-12-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

Jeremy tests the Alfa Romeo 8C to determine whether a car can really be art?