2013 Rock Devouring SRT 6.4L HEMI Jeep Wrangler Reviewed (Part 2)

If you thought that the only way to purchase a Jeep Wrangler was with a V6…you’d be wrong.

In this series of videos Nathan and Roman review and test a SRT Jeep Wrangler.

They test a Jeep Wrangler with the 470 HP SRT 6.4L HEMI engine up one of the steepest Jeep trails on the TFLcar test turf.

That’s right the same engine that’s in the SRT Jeep Grand Cherokee and Challenger transplanted into the Wrangler.

But before they can drive the beast, they check out the birth of this rock devouring 2013 SRT 6.4L HEMI Jeep Wrangler in this part 2 video.

BTW: You can Check Out Part 1 of this series HERE.

The post 2013 Rock Devouring SRT 6.4L HEMI Jeep Wrangler Reviewed (Part 2) appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

The grand opening of Lamborghini Denver on Tuesday was a chance to mingle with fellow car enthusiasts and get an up close and personal look at some beautiful cars.

Lamborghini Denver is located in Broomfield, Colorado and is a new factory dealership within the Sill-TerHar Motors Inc. dealerships. At the grand opening event, guests enjoyed wine and food surrounded by Lamborghinis both new and classic.

Attendees also helped support the Morgan Adams Foundation which is a charity that helps kids affected by cancer.

TFLcar was at the grand opening and we’ve got a gallery of beautiful pictures to share with our readers. You might want to grap a napkin, you’re already drooling over these incredible cars.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.

The post The Grand Opening of Lamborghini Denver appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Are you a car guy or a car gal?

Do you know your new and classic cars inside and out?

If so, then this is your chance to win an off-road ride in a 470 horsepower SRT Hemi Wrangler!  There is one catch.  You have to come to Boulder Colorado on your own.  Once you are here, you will be able to ride along as a passenger up the steep “Big Mama” off-road hill.

Just watch the video for this week’s trivia question and leave your answer as a comment below.

Please be as specific as possible.

Quiz Rules:

• New ‘Trivia Quiz’ is posted on Wednesday (at 7:00 am MT).
• Use the Comments section below to provide your answer (there will be a delay in comment posting).
• Please be as specific as possible.
• One guess per person.
• First correct response is the trivia winner, but the prize winner will be randomly selected out of all correct answers the following day.
• Answers will be accepted for one day only.
• This page will be updated with the winner and the correct answer 24 hours after the trivia question is first published.

Good luck!

The post Play TFLcar Trivia Quiz – Win a Ride in SRT Hemi Wrangler appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

The 2013 Mazdaspeed 3 Compact Sports Car

Mazda has teamed up with Xbox for a first-of-its-kind global live stream of a new vehicle introduction. They’ve yet to announce the name of the vehicle being revealed at the event, but have indicated that it will all be broadcast at 9:00 PM EDT on June 26th via Xbox.

The vehicle introduction will take place in New York City along with a free concert by award-winning band Metric. This is the finale of a multi-city reveal cadence that will start in Melbourne, Australia and then move through St. Petersburg, Istanbul and London.

Mazda will be building excitement for the big event by launching a series of tie-ins with their new Game Changer advertising campaign that was launched back in April. Things kick-off with the hashtag #GameChanger which fans can find on Facebook, Twitter and G+ so they can join the conversation about the new vehicle reveal.

MazdaUSA.com will also be directing fans to a dedicated Xbox landing page where they can read details about the event, follow a countdown clock, and enter a sweepstakes. The winner of the sweepstakes will get $2,500 to create their own personal dream trip to the music event of their choosing.

The collaboration with Xbox is seen by Mazda as a way to reinforce their focus on technology and the connected experience of driving a Mazda. For its part, Xbox is thrilled to be able to showcase the power of the Xbox to broadcast a worldwide event that will reach millions of users.

Everyone watching the reveal will not only get a free Metric concert and the chance to win the $2,500 sweepstakes, but their Xbox avatars will get a little souvenir of the whole thing. A specially branded #GameChanger t-shirt will be added to their avatar’s wardrobe which is the first time a giveaway of this kind has been associated with a live event.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.

The post Mazda To Debut New Vehicle Via Global Live Stream Xbox Event appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

What do the Cadillac Model 370A of the 1930′s, the Ferrari Daytona Coupe of the 1970′s, and the modern BMW 760Li all have in common? That’s right – each was one of the most desirable vehicles on the road during its time, and each sported a massive twelve-cylinder engine. It seems that motorheads’ longing for the effortless torque, screaming redlines, and gorgeous exhaust note of a twelve-cylinder engine hasn’t faded throughout the decades. But as the automotive industry moves increasingly towards “downsizing and turbocharging”, a twelve-cylinder powerplant has become difficult to find. The upper echelons of the car world, such as Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and the like, have remained true to the twelve-cylinder philosophy, but few others have.

Volkswagen Group shocked the world in 2004 with the introduction of their Phaeton W12 for the US market, a daring move that gave Americans an extremely rare and powerful sedan destined to become a collectible in the near future.

Desirability

It’s names after the Greek god Phaëton, whose most famous feature was an ostentatious carriage. The Phaeton accomplishes a rare balance between immense performance and swaddling luxury. The 6.0-liter W12 engine produced 420 horsepower to go along with 406 lb.-ft. of torque, numbers that rocketed this 5000 lb. beast to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The Phaeton put this power to the ground through VW’s 4Motion AWD system, a variation of Audi’s legendary Quattro system. Unbelievably, all of this performance arrived in a wheelbase that was the longest of any VW Group vehicle as of 2011, providing passengers with ample legroom and speaking to the luxurious aim of the Phaeton.

The Phaeton’s luxury features, however, extended far past simply legroom. Standard came a draftless four-zone climate control system, an adjustable air suspension system, and an 18-way power adjustable driver’s seat. In addition, base Phaetons received authentic walnut wood trim, a 270-watt premium audio system, and rear sunshades for the discerning passenger. Gorgeous, high-quality leather stitched to perfection filled every inch of a Phaeton interior, something that allowed the vehicle to shed its common brand name for a more Bentley-esque experience.

Rarity

Though production of the Phaeton W12 continues in Europe, the American market only saw the big VW from 2004-2006, when the company realized that US sales were too weak to remain profitable. Only 452 Phaeton W12s were sold in the US for the 2004 model year, followed by a meager 30 W12 sales in 2005 – these 2005 model year Phaetons are sure to be some of the most desirable models for collectors in the future.

In addition, the Phaeton originally came in 21 exterior and 5 interior color options, with very few Phaetons ever leaving VW’s Dresden, Germany factory in the “Deep Blue Pearl Effect” or “Marais Green Metallic” exterior paint schemes. Even fewer Phaetons left the factory with the “Navy Blue” interior color due to its limited appeal, and cars graced with this interior color are some of the rarest Phaetons available. Though even the base Phaeton was extremely well-equipped, a few luxury options were still available for the massive VW. A Comfort Package, including climate-controlled front and rear seats, massage seats, and adjustable head restraints, was available at a $1790 premium, while electronic park assist and keyless go were available at $500 apiece. Even a $2000 “Klavierlack” high gloss finish for the exterior paint was available, showing the vast range of customizability from the normally cookie-cutter VW brand.

The Bottom Line

The Phaeton W12 was a serious risk for the VW brand – after all, many hesitated to buy a near $100,000 VW with a massive, exotic engine. Unfortunately, VW’s risk was not well-received by the American market, with production ending at a massive profit loss for the company. But the Phaeton’s absurdly low production numbers, exhilarating performance, sumptuous luxury, and a low used price continue to mesmerize car fanatics to this day, hinting at a bright future for this true modern collectible.

Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video of the Volkswagen Passat, the Phaeton’s little brother.

The post Modern Collectibles Revealed: 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Irv Gordon and his 1966 Volvo P1800 have driven nearly 3,000,000 miles.

Irv Gordon, a 73-year-old retired science teacher from Patchogue, N.Y. and owner of a red, 1966 Volvo P1800 has driven his car nearly 3,000,000 miles. Just saying that out loud sounds unreal, “three-million-miles… same car” – wow. Irv Goordon expects to surpass 3,000,000 miles this September when he visits Alaska.

Gordon had such a great time with his 1966 Volvo P1800 that he returned it to the dealership for scheduled service just days after buying it: “I bought my Volvo P1800 on a Friday, and immediately fell in love,” Gordon recalled. “I couldn’t stop driving the car. It was a long holiday weekend, and I brought the car back to the dealership the following Monday for its 1,500-mile service.” – - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC

Gordon didn’t buy the 1966 Volvo P1800 to destroy long distance records, he bought it because he fell in love with it. For millions of automotive fans out there, we understand. The Volvo P1800 is regarded by many as one of the best Volvos ever made. Yes, one drove 3,000,000 miles, but what’s just as impressive is how beautiful the P1800 still looks.

“It’s not about getting to the three million miles; it’s about the trips that got me to the three million miles,” Gordon said. “I never had a goal to get to one million, to two million. I just enjoyed driving and experiencing life through my Volvo.

“The best way to explore America is by car,” Gordon added. “I challenge everyone to go out and see as much as possible. Find your own journey and reason to believe because you only have one life to live. No matter how many roads I’ve been on, there’s always one I haven’t taken. That’s what makes it exciting.” – - Volvo Cars of North America, LLC

Check out this Volvo-supplied video with lots of great footage of Irv Gordon and his delightful 1966 Volvo P1800

Seriously, the Volvo P1800 (ES) is one of my favorite cars – ever. What a great icon and what an excellent vehicle to ride 3,000,000 miles in!

Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism – Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. His words, good humor and videos are enjoyed worldwide.

The post Video: Record breaking 1966 Volvo P1800 approaches 3,000,000 miles appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

2013 Rock Devouring SRT 6.4L HEMI Jeep Wrangler Reviewed ( Part 1)

If you thought that the only way to purchase a Jeep Wrangler was with a V6…you’d be wrong.

In this two part series of  videos Nathan and Roman review and test a SRT Jeep Wrangler.

They test a Jeep Wrangler with the 470 HP SRT 6.4L HEMI engine up one of the steepest Jeep trails on the TFLcar test turf.

That’s right the same engine that’s in the SRT Jeep Grand Cherokee and Challenger transplanted into the Wrangler.

But before they can drive the beast, they check out the birth of this rock devouring 2013 SRT 6.4L HEMI Jeep Wrangler in this part 1 video.

BTW: You may also want to check out a review of a new 2013 Jeep Wrangler HERE.

The post 2013 Rock Devouring SRT 6.4L HEMI Jeep Wrangler Reviewed ( Part 1) appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

General Motors has issued a recall for about 194,000 SUVs due to a potential fire risk. The problem stems from an electronic module that could potentially short circuit.

The models affected include the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL SUVs and 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, SAAB 9-7x, and Isuzu Ascender SUVs. Some 2005 9-7Xs are also included in the recall.

The electronic module is located in the door of the recalled vehicles where there is the potential for water to to get in and corrode the circuits. One those circuits suffer damage, they affect the power door locks and power window switches which will stop working.

This could cause a short circuit which could then make the electronic module overheat, causing a fire. The car doesn’t even need to be on for this problem to happen, so even affected SUVs just sitting parked in a driveway or garage could catch fire.

The concern is great enough that owners are being asked not to park their vehicles in their garages where the fire could spread to the surrounding structure. Instead, cars should be parked in open areas to reduce the risk of harm to buildings and people.

This isn’t the first time General Motors has issued a recall for this problem. In August of last year they issued a similar recall for the same vehicles, however it was limited only to areas that saw heavy salt use in the winter as that was deemed the cause of the corrosion.

At the NHTSA’s urging they’ve expanded that original recall to include all vehicles, regardless of the region in which the owner resides. So far there have been 58 fires reported and 11 injuries due to corrosion of the electronic module.

Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by their manufacturers to bring their cars in for inspection. If the module shows no signs of corrosion, then it will be treated with a protective coating. In the event that water has already gotten into the module, it will be completely replaced.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.

The post GM Issues Recall For Nearly 194,000 SUVs appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

1938 BMW 328

The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So behold these images of some spectacular classics merely sleeping in an underground parking structure of Hotel Villa d’Este.  Internationally awarded photographer, Piotr Degler Jablonski, shares the beauty of automotive art from his perspective.

The first image of this series is an exquisite 1938 BMW 328 from BMW’s own collection.  To make this a little more fun, are you able to name the year and model of the other four cars?  Please use the comments section below to name the 2 through 5.  We will add the answers tomorrow.

If you like what you see here, it will be fairly easy to get more great images of automotive sculpture and even hang them on your wall.  Degler Studio is looking to create a “DeglerCalendar” for 2014.

Answer: 2 = 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S , 3 = 1958 Ferrari 250GT Tour de France, 4 = 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT, 5 = 1964 Ferrari 250 LM.

2.

3.

4.

5.

And here is a fun insider TFLcar video of another classic – the Shelby Cobra.  Enjoy!

Andre Smirnov

Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, software engineer, writer, and reporter. He has been writing and reporting at TFLcar since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or scouring the internet and other media for various automotive, mechanical, and computer related information.

The post Photo Gallery: Degler Calendar brings Automotive Art to You appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Colorado Drift: Drifting cars at a mile above sea level (part 1)

Drifting cars is one of the newest and fastest growing forms of Motorsport.

Unlike other forms of racing, it doesn’t take a lot of money to go drifting.

All you need is an old rear-wheel-drive car and a $100 USD helmet, and a race track.

Luckily, there are places in Colorado that you can go drifting over the weekend that don’t involve the police or loosing a drivers license.

In this TFLcar video things go nicely sideways and you get a look at just what the driver is doing behind the wheel as the car screeches around the corners.

Check it out as we check out what it is like to go drifting a mile above sea level.

The post Colorado Drift: Drifting cars at a mile above sea level (part 1) appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Ford has developed its own robotic technology to test its cars in situations that simply aren’t doable for human drivers. They’re the first automaker to use this technology which allows for high-impact on-road and off-road durability testing.

This robotic technology is currently being used for trucks, including the new Transit van line which launches next year. It will help assure that vehicles make the grade and are truly “Built Ford Tough.” The program is currently in use at the company’s Michigan Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan.

In the past, with human drivers behind the wheel during strenuous testing, their driving times had to be limited for safety. This made it challenging to keep testing on schedule with vehicle development times.

Robotic technology allows for more testing in a shorter time period without worry of harm to human drivers. This means that not only can they get through testing more quickly, but that they can reassign those drivers to other areas where human drivers are required.

Test vehicles are installed with a robotic control module that handles steering, acceleration and braking over a preprogrammed course. During testing, the vehicle’s position is constantly monitored through a combination of cameras and GPS accurate to within one inch.

Engineers monitoring the process from a control room can stop the vehicle to make course corrections and then restart the test as needed. Additionally, onboard sensors can bring the vehicle to a complete stop if anything strays into its path.

The use of robotic technology makes it much easier for engineers to repeat arduous testing over and over until they’re satisfied with the results without falling behind schedule. It also allows for tests that couldn’t be done at all with human drivers due to the potential danger of such tests.

This robotic technology not only protects human test drivers while a vehicle is in development, but helps ensure the safety and comfort of drivers in the real world once a vehicle comes to market.

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.

The post Ford Develops Robotic Technology To Test Cars When Humans Can’t appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Now in its third model generation, the 2014 Lexus IS lineup is a far cry from the first IS which debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show some 13 years ago. Gone is the mundane sounding engine, the minute back seat and the Fast And Furious tuner looks synonymous with aftermarket accessories during the late 1990s. The IS lineup has evolved from a smallish four door compact, to an almost mid-size feeling luxo-mobile. With its sight set on disrupting the sport sedan neighborhood populated by BMW’s 3-Series, the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4, the latest offering from Lexus hits many of its targets, but can’t quite claim victory.

The fastest, most muscular, and sexiest of the redesigned lineup is the F Sport. As a TFLCar reader, you crave this kind of coverage—so that’s what model this review is all about.

Styling/Design

The Lexus branded spindle grill finds it way to the IS lineup, and the F Sport model is no exception. When the grill was first introduced in 2011 on the GS model, I lived in Haterville. Now, after spending a full day with the F Sport model, I’ve relocated to Lovitville. I’m glad Lexus was able to find a way to hide front bumpers. Supercars don’t really make them obtrusive, so why should your high performance daily driver? Well done, Lexus.

Beneath the wavy, black grill is an updated, violent-looking front fascia. Its visual presence generates ideas of some serious wind tunnel engineering time to get things right.

Ticking the F Sport box ($3,620) on the IS 350 factory options sheet gives you four staggered corners of aluminum alloy wheels (18” x 8” front/18” x 8.5” rear) wrapped in Bridgestone Turanza rubber. Also, you get that Lexus spindle grill in a full-mesh iteration, LED headlamps, sport seats, sport-tuned suspension and something ripped right out of the $400,000 Lexus LFA hyper car: a center-mounted tachometer with motorized bezel. The 8-year old in me couldn’t stop from tapping the button on the steering wheel to make the bezel slide from right to left. It’s a gimmick, sure—but one done right.

My F Sport pre-production vehicle was also equipped with the Luxury Package ($3,665), which includes Premium Package ($1,050) features—LED headlamps (if you don’t already have them through the F Sport Package) and heated/ventilated front seats—plus perforated leather interior, linear wood trim, dimming rearview mirrors, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert and a few other bells and whistles. Basically, if you’re going to get this car, opt for this package to be the envy of your techie friends.

The rear seat provides 32.2/36.9-inches of legroom/headroom, which is about 3-inches less legroom than the competing 3-Series BMW. If you’re a 5’-8” passenger like me, you’ll be plenty comfortable. Six footers might want to sit up front, where they’ll enjoy 44.8/38.2-inches of legroom/headroom.

Sculptured fluidity, athletic curvature, aggressive posturing and a bunch of other auto design buzzwords could be used to describe the rest of the car. I’ll just let the pictures above speak for themselves.

Powertrain

The 6-cylinder 3.5-liter engine sounded and ran quite smooth, with just enough rasp to let me enjoy its ability to run the 60-MPH dash in 5.6-seconds. Mated to an 8-speed automatic, the paddle shifters were fun to use, but I see little need for them in everyday road driving, just like in most other cars.

Since I was flooring the IS 350 F Sport every chance I got on the track. As a result, I encountered horrible gas mileage, somewhere in the neighborhood of 17 MPG. On the road however, when driving at sane speeds, I observed a much more respectable 27 MPG on the highway.

Handling/Ride

Flying through the infield road course of the Rockingham Speedway at 101-MPH, I started thinking about the racing legends who graced the track with their skill and tenacity for the 40 years the tarmac was used on the NASCAR circuit. Just then, I realized I was entering Turn 4 a little too hot.

BRAKE!

Luckily, I didn’t end up off the track. The Lexus’ ABS ventilated disc brakes (13.5” in front/12.20” rear) put that embarrassment scenario to bed, quickly allowing me to easy back on the throttle and get the back end of the rear wheel drive car to stick out a bit in the wet. Is this really a Lexus?!

There was an acceptable amount of body roll through tight turns, which I doubt most drivers would encounter at 70-MPH in their everyday commute.

Competition

The F-Sport finds itself in a highly competitive space. Each premium car manufacturer has a skunk works that adds an extra level of performance to one of their “regular” line models. As a result, competition from BMW offers M cars, Mercedes delivers AMGs and Audi has their S cars. For Lexus, the F-Sport badge is their stamp of performance approval. Unfortunately, all of the competitors offer much larger engines with gobs more power and torque. Just take the Mercedes C63 AMG for example, which doles out 451-hp/443 lb-ft of torque. If the Lexus IS 350 is a knife, its competition is a bazooka. Of course when it comes to price, the Benz and the Lexus are almost $20k apart. Advantage: F Sport.

On the TFLcar scale of:

▪   Buy it!

▪   Lease it!

▪   Rent it!

▪   … or Forget it!

I give the 2014 Lexus IS 350 F Sport a Buy It!

So who is this car for? I think it’s for someone who wants an athletic four door that doesn’t have the repair bill or reliability concerns of its German competition. It’s for someone who appreciates the value of a dollar, as the 2014 model costs 2.1% less than the outgoing model, yet you get more features standard. The 2014 IS 350 F Sport will find its way into the garages of those who crave a sporty ride that won’t break your back, and appreciates the latest in automotive tech wrapped in luxury.

Check out this video of Roman and Nathan reviewing the Lexus LS 460. Roman wishes he got to review the IS F 350. Eat your heart out, Roman!

The post Review: 2014 Lexus IS 350 F Sport — More of Everything, For Less appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

2014 FIAT 500L First Drive Review: The Cinquecento grows up

The 2014 FIAT 500L, known to many Italians as the Cinquecento, has now immigrated across the ocean and come to America.

This week in Baltimore the first few dozen Fiat 500Ls rolled off the boat and into the hands of journalist to test drive and review. Unlike the standard Fiat 500, the 500L is taller, longer and has four doors.

In fact it is 42 percent larger than the tiny Fiat 500.

In other words, the 500L is no longer a tiny runabout but instead a car that can serve a small family.

With a 160 horspepower turbo-charged engine and a starting price of just around $20,00…the new Fiat 500L hopes to expand the Italian brand in America

In this first TFLcar drive review, we see just how well the turbo-charged Cinquecento does as a much more mainstream ride.

BTW: You can also check watch a first drive review of the new electric Fiat 500e  HERE.

The post 2014 FIAT 500L First Drive Review: The Cinquecento grows up appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.

Video: WRC Champ Sebastien Loeb Attacks the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Rally Car Champion Sebastien Loeb is one of the greatest race car drivers of all time.

The nine-time World Rally Champion has been unbeatable and the best driver in WRC history.

But this year Sebastien Loeb has taken on a new challenge…to set the course record at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

With the help of Peugeot and Red Bull, Sebastien Loeb is hoping to set a new record time at the 2013 PPIHC.

Sebastien Loeb Suits Up, 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, TFLcar.com

Can he accomplish the task and take home the record time to France?

TFLcar caught up with Loeb in Colorado Springs at the start of the Pikes Peak race course as he was testing his Peugeot 208 race car at one of the practice days at this year’s big race to the sky.

Check out the exciting video below.

The post Video: WRC Champ Sebastien Loeb Attacks the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb appeared first on The Fast Lane Car.