There are some things that bring families together. Annual summer barbecues, parents 50th anniversaries, and a child’s first birthday are some things that come to mind. Who would have thought that a day at the race track could be a family bonding experience?

Today’s open track event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca showed me two shining examples where the thrill of racing can be shared by anyone old or young, male or female.

Parked next to me in the paddock were a father and son team sharing a ride in a ‘68 Cougar with a 302 engine stroked to 311. This silver bullet was dyno’d and measured 400 hp at the rear wheels (approximately 435 - 440 hp at the crank). Roger had built up the car for track events and invited his father, Roland, to share in the adrenaline rush.

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Two Mini John Cooper Works models will make their debut at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The Mini John Cooper Works and the Mini John Cooper Works Clubman will feature the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with Twin Scroll turbocharger and direct injection that delivers 207 horsepower and a maximum torque of 192 pound-feet.

The Mini John Cooper Works will accelerate to 0-62 mph in 6.5 seconds, while the Mini John Cooper Works Clubman achieves the same in 6.8 seconds. Both models are also fitted with standard motor racing technology: light alloy rims, light and extremely high-performance brakes, a new exhaust system and a modified six-speed manual transmission. The long and detailed press release is below for those who have some free reading time. Read the rest of this entry »

majestic open-air experience with the ultimate in luxury and comfort

• Maybach reinvigorates the legend of the landaulet automobile
• Folding roof for pampered rear-seat passengers
• Based on the world’s most powerful series-produced chauffeured saloon

Stuttgart – The tradition-laden Maybach luxury brand is adding a fifth model to its line-up. The new Maybach Landaulet resurrects the legend of the classic luxury landaulets, a feature of which is that only the chauffeur’s area is closed. An extra large folding roof opens up over the pampered rear-seat passengers when required, leaving no obstructions between them and the blue sky above. The Maybach Landaulet thus offers a majestic open-air experience currently unrivaled by any other automobile. Boasting a certain romantic quality and allowing its passengers the opportunity to savour a closeness to nature, this exceptional vehicle also features the ultimate in comfort and technological sophistication and as such sets the new standard for the world’s most exclusive luxury vehicles. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Sub $13K base price
• Most interior passenger and cargo space in its class
• Crisp, responsive steering
• Attractive interior (automatic shifter excluded)

Dings:

• Resurrected 1st gen. Prius exterior design cues
• Slothful 4-speed automatic
• Tires howl louder than a pack of malnutritioned coyotes

Ruling: It’s lacks the Sentra’s sporting soul, but Nissan’s new entry-level whip makes up for it in quality and value.

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New York – The concept models of the Mercedes-Benz bionic car are appearing as part of the “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition at the world-famous “MoMA” showcases trailblazing innovations in the fields of design and science.

The “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is devoted to the dramatic changes in aspects of human life witnessed in recent decades. The series of exhibits highlights the rapid pace of development – in mobility and communications, for example – with the focus on innovative design solutions that take into account life’s quickly changing requirements. The exhibition will be open to the public from February 24 until May 12, 2008.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 2008

Name: Plug-In 2008 Conference & Exposition: A Short Drive to Tomorrow
Dates: July 22-24, 2008
Location: San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA U.S.A.
For More Information: www.plugin2008.com

This inaugural three-day international conference will showcase the latest technological advances, market research and policy initiatives shaping the future of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Attendees will learn about the most current technical research, the business case for PHEVs, the impact of current regulations, and clean-tech entrepreneurs’ ideas to enhance and expand the PHEV market. In addition, the exposition floor will feature the latest innovations associated with PHEVs and supporting electricity infrastructure.

Event organizers include the Electric Power Research Institute, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric (a Sempra Energy utility), the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and the University of California at Davis Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research Center.

For more information or to reserve a booth for Plug-In 2008, visit www.plugin2008.com.

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Source:
Mindy Berman
MFB Communications

DETROIT – Chevrolet announced the 2008 Corvette 427 Limited Edition Z06, a limited-production model that pays homage to the big-block Stingray models of the mid-1960s. The 427 designation refers to the cubic-inch displacement for the highest-performance engines offered between 1966 and ’69 – and is also the cubic-inch equivalent of the Z06’s 7.0L LS7 small-block V-8.

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By Gary Chan

Pros

• Rigid car
• Driving dynamics
• Driving position/seating
• Engine is turbine-like

Cons

• Fuel economy
• Oil consumption
• Small trunk and back seat
• Low height
• Low torque

I remember when a high school classmate got a brand new RX-7 in the mid 80’s … that was back when the BMW 320i and the Porsche 944’s were out … and have always liked the car especially the 3rd generation RX-7. Well, a lot has changed since then with updates and technology advances so I was excited to be able to drive this 40th Anniversary Edition. Having never driven a RX-7/8, I was excited to learn how a rotary felt and the driving dynamics of the RX-8. The last Mazda I drove was the phenomenal Mazdaspeed3. Thus, the bar was set high.

Driving Impressions
The gray metallic color of the car camouflages the sportiness of the car. Who would suspect a gray-colored Japanese car to perform so well; lucky for me, I never garnered any interest from the police.

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02/10/2008 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
Acura announced today it will debut the all-new 2009 Acura TSX sports sedan at the 2008 New York International Auto Show and released an exterior photo of the new model. Scheduled to go on-sale in the spring, the 2009 Acura TSX will be the second generation of Acura’s popular entry level sedan and feature numerous advancements in performance, styling, technology and safety.

“The new 2009 TSX speaks clearly to the direction we are taking our Acura sedans in the future,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president auto sales, “The TSX is a significant step in the advancement of our sedan lineup and the continued enhancement of the Acura brand.”

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• Ford’s new-generation global small car to be previewed at 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Its worldwide name is confirmed – Ford Fiesta.
• New Fiesta is the first product of Ford’s new global product development process, with versions due for launch also in Asia and North America between 2008 and 2010.
• European production of new Fiesta begins in fall 2008.

COLOGNE, Germany, Feb. 14, 2008 – Ford’s new small car family will use the Fiesta name around the world, the company confirmed today.

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