Chick-moblog

Toyota Grand Prix races on the streets of Long Beach

2009-04-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Dario Franchitti took first place in the IndyCar Series at the 35th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Franchitti said at the press conference after the race, "that last restart we were able to get on it again, pull away, and the Target car, the pace was great all day from the car. It allowed me to drive exactly as I wanted to … Great to finally win here in Long Beach."

Will Power, last year's ChampCar Series winner, took second. Power was 3.3182 seconds behind Franchitti.

Tony Kanaan placed third, his 68th career top-five finish.

This was Franchitti's ninth career victory in the IndyCar Series but his first victory on a road/street course.

Power had no radio or telemetry during the race, making it more difficult for him since he could not communicate with his pit crew except the pit board.

"I'm very happy," Power said. "Second is very good."

Second place is Power's best IndyCar finish. Toward the end of the race, Power said he tried to conserve as much fuel as possible. He will not race again until the Indianapolis 500.

Kanaan's third-place finish was his 11th consecutive top-10 finish, the longest streak in the IndyCar Series.

Danica Patrick, one of the most popular drivers in the series and a fan favorite, came in fourth. Patrick started in the 22nd position and moved her way up to second by the 35th lap. She held that position until Lap 51 when she went into the pit lane for tires and fuel.

"We obviously had our moment in qualifying," Patrick said, "with spinning out and hitting the wall." Patrick said she would like to improve her qualifying to start the race at the front. She moved up 18 spots in yesterday's race, which was more than any other driver. This was her 12th career top-five finish.

The IndyCar series race consisted of 85 laps around the Long Beach street course, which is just short of two miles long.

According to Firestone engineers, the track temperature was 121 degrees under the Long Beach sun, the ambient temperature was 88 degrees.

Power lead past the start/finish line and into Turn 1. Power held his lead until the yellow flag in Lap 17.

There were five yellow flags during the race. The first was in Lap 17 when EJ Viso and Scott Dixon made contact in Turn 6. In Lap 24 the yellow flag came out again when Mario Moraes made contact with cars slowing for Turn 11, the hairpin turn. Justin Wilson made contact with Moraes, causing Moraes to do a quarter turn and block the track.

Darren Manning and Hideki Mutoh also made contact with the stopped cars and Dan Wheldon stopped behind the cars, resulting in five cars blocking the almost the entire track with very little space for other drivers to pass. The last three yellow flags resulted when Ed Carpenter, Mike Conway and Moraes made contact with tire barriers in Turns 1, 8 and 5, respectively.

The next IndyCar Series will take place at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. on Sunday, April 26.

The IndyCar series wasn't the only attraction that brought people to downtown Long Beach this weekend for the Toyota Grand Prix. There was also Firestone Indy Lights, American Le Mans Series and the traditional Pro/Celebrity race.

JR Hildebrand won the Indy Lights.

Gil de Ferran won the American Le Mans series in an Acura ARX 02a.

This year's celebrity winner was Keanu Reeves and the pro winner was Al Unser, Jr.

For attendees not extremely interested in racing, the Lifestyle Expo had a number of different displays from hot sauce to video games and new commuter car options to a blackjack table.

In the kids area were inflatable obstacle courses, slot car races, trampolines, and motocross, BMX and skateboarding demonstrations.

Over in Shoreline Village fans could get their own taste of racing by driving go-karts around a small course set up in front of the Yard House.

This year's Toyota Grand Prix hosted two concerts over the weekend. Mexican blues/rock band El Tri performed on Friday evening, and Saturday's concert featured rock band Puddle of Mudd.

Forumula DRIFT -- Streets of Long Beach

2009-04-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

The grandstands of turns Nos. 9 through 12 on Long Beach's Grand Prix street course were the epicenter of excited drift fans under sunny skies Saturday.

It was Round 1 of the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship and 32 drivers were out to compete. The 32 qualified Friday, where 47 people initially competed.

The top 32 competed tandem style, two cars going at once, down to the top 16, top eight, and top four. In tandem competition, one driver leads and the other shadows.

Ryan Tuerck, took first place, Stephen Hubinette second and the 2008 champion Tanner Foust came in third.

The Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach competition drew a diverse crowd to downtown Long Beach for some serious motorsports showmanship.

Fans almost filled four grandstands and many others lined up along the fence behind rows of cameramen, other media people and crew members.

Tents next to the straightaway between turns Nos. 9 and 10 were also full.

Countless other fans wandered through the vendor fair and between the trucks set up by each drift team. They could see the cars up close and, with the right timing, could meet the drivers.

Even more people watched from balconies of surrounding buildings.

On the other side of the track, across the Firestone bridge, was the JTuned Auto Gallery. More than 60 modified cars were on display in the gallery varying in makes and years. All the cars on display were modified for drifting.

Drifting involves controlling a powerful car as it slides sideways at high speeds through a marked course. The sport originated in Japan and crossed the Pacific to the U.S., where it thrived underground until bursting into the mainstream over the past few years.

One thing that brought drifting to the public eye was the 2006 release of the movie "The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift," in which Foust was a stunt driver.

On Thursday, I got to ride along with Foust in his RWD Scion tC. It was a little scary as first, sliding toward a wall but Faust had the car under control and made the turn, speeding on to the next one. His angle and speed impressed me the most.

As in any motorsport, there is a risk of crashing, which is something fans enjoy - as long as no one is seriously injured. When Conrad Grunewald drifted right into the tire barrier, taking off the rear bumper of his Chevrolet Corvette, spectators rose out of their seats cheering and remained standing to watch the cleanup crew in action.

Early in the Top 16 competition, one car lost its rear bumper, inspiring one fan to shout, "I want that bumper!"

Drifting fans lucked out on the weather. Friday's event was covered by clouds, but Saturday was sunny with very few clouds over the track.

After this competition, Formula Drift moves to Round 2 in Braselton, Ga. Formula Drift will find its way back to Southern California in October for the final round of the season.

Vintage chic

2009-03-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to have family and friends with great taste. Recently, I was fortunate enough to acquire a new-old pairs of shoes from my aunt. These shoes, made by RE-MIX are reproductions of a 1940s style and they are basically amazing. Until I have an occasion to wear them, I will continue to wear them around my house. Compared to some of my other heels, these ones are quite comfortable. Besides, a vintage look adds something extra to an otherwise ordinary outfit.

The same can be said for vintage cars. You might feel like your life is a little drab. Daily routines can become bland and without that something extra, you'll fall right into a rut. A classic car could be the cure. Unfortunately, classic cars can be quite pricey to own. So do the next best thing -- the auto version of window shopping -- check out the classic cars, hot rods, street machines, muscle cars and trucks at the GoodGuys 3rd Meguiar's Orange County Get-Together.

With more than 2ooo cars to look at, you can live vicariously through other people for the cost of a ticket -- $15 in case you were wondering. And at this event, you can do more than look at the cars in park.

The 3rd Meguiar's Orange County Get-Together will feature an autocross event. That's right, at the fairgrounds a street course will be set up for drivers to test their skills and spectators to spectate. Personally, I've never been to the OC Fair and Event Center, so I can't really describe what the course will look like, but who doesn't love seeing cars go fast? Especially cars that people have put so much time, money, effort and heart into.

Of course, along with all the hot cars will be a variety of vendors and exhibits and those are always fun to check out. You might even get to see a Sham-WOW!

If you're in the Southern California area, you should go check out the event, I already checked the forecast, sunny skies and mild temperatures! I think I might even wear my new-old shoes.

Time for a makeover and Peggy Lee update

2009-02-24T14:36:00.000-08:00

OK, OK. So I haven't blogged since November. But cut me some slack, I had finals, then enjoyed a wonderful vacation where I didn't think about school or anything related to school -- and that includes this blog originally started for the purpose of publication in my campus newspaper.

Now I'm in my last semester of college and sadly taking 18 units with an internship, so my posts might again be sporatic, but I'll try to be good. There are a lot of exciting things coming up this spring.

First, I should tell you, I'm changing the focus of this blog. Actually, it's more accurate to say I'm splitting the purpose. While bringing you my views on the automotive industry, I'll also be focusing on classic cars, including updates on my own Mustang.

Now that I feel like I've covered the administrative stuff associated with blogging, on to the interesting part of the post!

If any of you are confused by the title, I'm not delusional. I know Peggy Lee the singer died seven years ago. I am talking about my 1965 Mustang, whom I have named Peggy Lee -- yes, after the singer. What can I say? That car gives me fever.

Picking up where I left off, after winning the car, I had to sadly go back to Long Beach and back to school. Everyone asked where my car was and some didn't even believe I won until I showed people pictures/articles/the winning key -- which I take everywhere with me for luck.

My parents were able to go over to the Good Guys headquarters and pick the car up. Meanwhile I was itching for a chance to go home and sit behind the wheel again.

That chance came when I went home for Thanksgiving. I got home, hugged my car, and then went inside the house to say hello to everyone. On clear days, when driving conditions were ideal, I drove the car whenever I could, even Thanksgiving Day, before people came over for dinner. Once the usual crowd showed up at my parent's house, I couldn't wait to offer people rides -- keyword being rides, as I don't let many people drive my car. It was great for me to be able to show off my car and drive it around town, sadly since it was a holiday, not many people were out to oogle her.

Thanksgiving break is never long enough. I didn't feel like I got to spend enough quality time with Peggy Lee, so I started counting down until winter break.

As the weather got worse, my dad bought a cover for Peggy Lee, to shield her from the elements.

After what felt like an eternity, I finished my exams and headed back to the Bay Area. Since I got home after dark, I knew I would have to wait one more day before I could uncover my Mustang. But that's exactly what I did Saturday morning.

Sadly, Saturday afternoon the clutch burned out on Peggy Lee. My older sister was driving at the time, and while I was mad at her when it happened, it wasn't entirely her fault. So with the help of my sister, her friend and my dad, we pushed Peggy home. It took the whole family to get her into our sloped driveway.

And that's where she sits today. My dad occasionally runs the engine to keep things working, but Peggy hasn't seen the streets since Dec. 20. I'm hoping to get her back to driving conditions as soon as possible.

That's the Mustang news, check back soon as the Good Guys car show season starts in Orange County in March -- more information on that is coming soon -- and the countdown to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will commence in the upcoming weeks.

As far as my next post goes, I'm hoping to spark your interest with the line of electric MINIS cruising different cities.

Dream of dream car comes true

2008-11-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

I won a 1965 Ford Mustang. It has a V-8 with a 4-speed transmission. It is a beast and I could not be happier about … what? I’m sorry. You want to know how this happened?

Let’s rewind to April.

In April, my dad and I went to the Good Guys All-American Get Together. My dad and I have been going to these shows for years, and there is always some contest for winning a car. We entered this time, filling out the forms and dropping them. I didn’t give the contest another thought until September when I got a phone call from the now-out-of-business radio station KRFC, part of CBS radio, telling me that I was one of 32 finalists in the drawing for the ’65 Mustang giveaway.

I immediately went online and read the contest rules, and a little cloud blocked the sun on my perfect day. Participants had to be present to win. The contest was in Pleasanton, and I was in Long Beach. For those of you unfamiliar with California geography, I was a little less than 400 miles from my dream car.

I had no way of getting to Pleasanton that odd weekend in November, so I tried hard not to think about it

In October, another amazing thing happened. My dad called and told me the Good Guys had sent me something. He opened it for me and told me they had sent some information about the contest, along with two passes to the show.

The universe seemed to be taunting me. Then something amazing happened — yes again, a lot of amazing things happen in this story, so deal — my dad told me if I found a good deal on tickets, he would fly me home for the show. I wasted no time in checking all the flights I could, finding a round-trip ticket for $120. My parents bought me the ticket and I started planning for my trip back to Pleasanton.

Fast forward to November 9, walking up to the Live 105 booth — remember KFRC went out of business so another station took over the contest — I got my finalist wristband and was told to come back at 2:45 p.m. My dad and I used the time to walk around the show like we always do, around 2:30 p.m. we made our way back toward the booth, then over to the car. We had to wait for all the show winners to be announced, and there were seemingly 100 categories. I stood with other finalists, 24 of us in all, as each winning car drove past. After the last car was announced, it was time for the contest to begin. My heart has never beaten so fast.

Names were drawn at random from a bucket to determine who would draw a key. I don’t remember how many people were called before me, but there weren’t a ton of keys left. I picked up key No. 19. I was bummed because it was such a high number, I didn’t think I had a chance. Then people started trying their keys in the ignition. I watched person after person get in the car and try to start it, 18 times people tried, and 18 times they failed. Then they called for key No. 19. I walked up to the Mustang, ditched my purse outside and sat down. Just sitting in the car was an experience I’ll never forget. It took me a minute to see where the ignition was, it wasn’t on the steering column like in my old Mustang. I put the key in, and turned it, expecting nothing. But nothing didn’t happen, the engine roared, and I screamed.

I won the 1965 Mustang. I won my dream car.

’Tis the season, so rev your engines for the holidays

2008-09-30T19:08:00.000-07:00

As the weather stays the same and no natural indicator of season change occurs in Southern California, I frequently, and eagerly, check and recheck the dates of two of my favorite holidays in the fall — not to mention the date that marks the beginning of what I like to call “Open Season.”
Are you wondering what two events could have this girl dancing in her favorite black heels? It’s Southern California car show season, and this year’s festivities are full of promise.
The Orange County Auto Show and Los Angeles Auto Show are coming up — the O.C. show is this week — and I couldn’t be more excited than if Christmas morning was only a few days away.
The really exciting fact: I’m credentialed for both shows. That means media access before the public is allowed to park. Oh yeah.
The line up of this year’s shows has all kinds of potential. At the O.C. Auto Show there will be a number of West Coast debuts and the L.A. Auto Show will have North American debuts, including the unveiling of the much anticipated 2010 Ford Mustang.
The O.C. Auto Show will have for the first time on the West Coast the Chevrolet Silverado hybrid, Lamborghini LP560-4, 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe, 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX and 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel.
While none of these really catch my eye — OK, you got me, I drooled a little when I saw the LP560-4 would be making a cameo — the real reason I’m going out to the Anaheim Convention Center is the celebrity appearances.
Some of Hollywood’s most memorable cars will be on display this year including Bumblebee, the Camaro from “Transformers,” the time-traveling DeLorean from “Back to the Future” and a Mach 5 inspired by “Speed Racer.” While I’m stoked for the Doc’s machine and a sucker for speed, Bumblebee is the car-lebrity I’m dying to see in person. Awesome cars, huge robots, what more could you ask for in a movie?
I also have to admit, I’m hoping to grease a palm or two while I’m there. Mostly with Mark Williams, the senior features editor of Motortrend. If I can’t convince him to become a regular reader of my humble blog, maybe I can at least score an internship.
But I digress.
Besides nearly fainting from seeing my favorite big-screen cars, I’m very excited about the test driving opportunities that await me in the O.C. Mazda, Toyota and Hyundai will all have ride and drive events this year. Check back for what I test and what I think.
The O.C. Auto Show is like Christmas Eve for me, a few presents, but really more of an excitement builder for the next morning. Although the L.A. Auto Show won’t take place for more than a month after the O.C. show, the anticipation will only grow.
Any regular reader knows about my obsession and excitement over the 2010 Mustang, and I’ll be there the minute it is unveiled with my camera and a defibrillator in the event my heart stops.
Along with my beloved Mustang, 20 world debuts are confirmed so far for the L.A. Auto Show. Not all of the specific cars were not mentioned, but Buick, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Lexus, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Porsche and Volkswagen are the manufacturers who signed up.
Not much information is available for the L.A. Auto Show, but I’ll be checking the website regularly between now and press days. The lack of information just makes me more excited.
Stay tuned for complete coverage of both shows.

The L.A. Auto Show is tricky to get in to, but this is my golden ticket! I smooth talked my way in last year, and I guess they decided I was good enough to come back.

SHOW INFO

Orange County Auto Show

Dates:
Oct. 2 to Oct.

Hours:
Thursday, Oct. 2 and Friday, Oct. 3: noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 4: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 5: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ticket Prices:
Adults (13+) $10
Seniors (62+) $6
Kids (12 and under) Free

College Two-Fer day (Thursday): Buy one $10 adult admission with valid college ID & get a second adult admission free with a second valid college ID

Los Angeles Auto Show

Dates:
Nov. 21 to Nov. 30, 2008

Hours:
Friday, Nov. 21: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sundays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mon – Weds: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Thanksgiving Day: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 28: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Selling a name

2008-09-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

I’ve recently come to the realization that the automotive world may have more in common with the sports world than I previously thought — I’m not talking about racing.
I’m talking about isolating one name and selling it off.
Professional sports teams do it all the time. Fans be damned, team owners want the money so they sell beloved players. The team remains intact with the exception of that one player.
Chrysler LLC is thinking about doing the same. In late August, Chrysler LLC announced that it was considering selling it’s high performance sports car, Viper, to interested third parties. Chrysler LLC even brought in a financial consultant, Lazzard Limited, to advise the sale.
According to an article on www.caranddriver.com, Chrysler doesn’t have a specific time it wants Viper sold by.
Some domestic companies, Roush and Saleen, have expressed an interest in buying Viper. But reports indicate people shouldn’t be surprised if a foreign company picks it up.
Viper is the halo car of Dodge. Let’s face it, Viper is the halo car for Chrysler LLC. A halo car is a high-performance, high-power car that companies make to prove to enthusiasts they have what it takes to be stylish and fast. Companies like Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari don’t need halo cars, but Ford, GM and Chrysler do.
Unfortunately, halo cars aren’t known for their tremendous sales.
USA Today reported that last year Dodge only sold 435 Vipers. The Detroit News reported that sales are up this year, with 682 Vipers sold as of July.
Those numbers shouldn’t be all the surprising. The Viper is available in two models. The roadster starts at $85,545 and the coupe starts at $86,295, according to the Dodge website. But honestly, if you’re buying a Viper, who is going to buy it stock? Add some fun features and your Viper is easily over $100,000.
Unfortunately, the high cost and low numbers don’t balance out in a way that is really beneficial to Chrysler, or its parent Cerberus — a private equity investment company with its hands in numerous industries. Cerberus is in the business of making money. It’s not particularly concerned with the fact that Viper has become one of Chrysler’s iconic halo cars — not to mention proof that the U.S. can compete in high performance vehicles.
Different estimates for the worth of the Viper name have been reported from different sources. David Healy, an auto analyst at Burnham Securities, told The Detroit News “that Viper could sell for maybe $50 million — likely ‘as a hobby for an Indian car manufacturer.’” But Kevin Tynan, an analyst at Argus Research, told USA Today that he thinks Viper could go for $140 million to $150 million. Does anyone else think the $90 million to $100 million difference in the estimates is a bit much? I almost wish Chrysler would hurry up and sell so I could see the final price.
In addition to selling off entire brands, like Ford selling Land Rover and Jaguar, many automotive companies have been seriously cutting back on the models produced — cutting out the low-selling high-performing cars — and closing factories. General Motors is planning on closing the factory where Hummers are made. Chrysler has plans to close the factory where Vipers are produced, the Corner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, at the end of 2011, making that the last model year for Vipers.
It sounds like if someone else doesn’t pick up Viper, it’s at risk of going extinct. It will have been around for just under 20 years.

The art of building your dream car

2008-09-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

Let’s be realistic. A lot of us will never be able to own the cars that race on the highways in our dreams — or maybe that’s just me. But it never hurts to plan out the colors, features, and extra options of a car you might consider buying one day. Thanks to the Internet, you can design just about any car, from a Toyota Corolla to a Porsche 911 Turbo. The “build your car” feature on most websites is a great way to pass free time, and motivate you to get a job that will help your dream become a reality. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
Design and build your own MINI
This is one of my semi-realistic dream cars. I like to start with the MINI John Cooper Works hardtop. I’m not a fan of convertibles, and while the Cooper S is a lot of fun, in my dreams, I always have the top-of-the-line.
The base price of the JCW MINI is $28,550. I like the British Racing Green color with a white roof and white mirrors. For the extra $100, I like to get the white bonnet stripes too. I toss in both the premium package and convenience package because I want a sunroof, keyless entry and an iPod adapter. For handling, I take the sport suspension, $500 but thanks to choosing the already awesome JCW MINI, I don’t need much else. The only things left to add are leather seats, a center armrest and killer sound system bringing my total to a mere $37,120. Not bad.

Ford: Build and price
I can’t help myself. I have to build a Mustang. I start with the Mustang coupe, premium GT for only $28,725. I liked the Grabber Orange color, because it was more of a yellow — at least on my screen. I added the 18-inch chrome aluminum wheels with all season tires. I don’t believe in the DVD-based navigation, I’d rather stick to my Garmin, so I save almost $2,000 and still get what seems to be a decent radio. Five simple steps and I’ve got an awesome Mustang, not really my dream but you can’t build a 64 1/2 online, you need to build it physically. The total of my Mustang: $30,705. But that’s limited to what I can do on the Ford website. If I took it to Shelby I expect to double that number.

Build your Porsche
Shut up — a girl can dream. And I dream in Speed Yellow on a 911 Turbo. I wouldn’t want the wheels painted the same though. That’s a little too much yellow. I like how the adaptive sports seat with driver memory sound, so I figured $1,145 wasn’t much more when you think of the $128,700 base MSRP. Now it’s on to the fun stuff. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, Speed Yellow seatbelts, Bluetooth interface for mobile phone with a phone holder, six disc CD/DVD changer, universal audio interface and a fire extinguisher — safety first. And the grand total of a very awesome, very yellow Porsche is $153,770. But come on, seatbelts that will match the exterior? Totally worth it.

As much fun as I have building cars my journalistic salary might never aid me in purchasing, sometimes I do like to be realistic and look at cars I could buy in the next few years — before I make it big on the NASCAR circuit.

Volkswagen: Build
It’s not nearly as exciting — it doesn’t come in Speed Yellow or British Racing Green — but it’s affordable and practical. Those are two of my least favorite words. The VW Rabbit with four doors starts at $17,575. Black is really the only color that makes this car look remotely sexy, so black it is. I can’t really tell the difference between the interior color, so I skip it. I don’t believe in tiptronic transmissions, so a standard five-speed it is. At least I can add 18 inch wheels to make myself feel sportier. And a sunroof. I really like those. The sunroof was the last addition to my Rabbit, bringing the total to $19,827. That’s not completely unreasonable. I could buy seven Rabbits for the price of my Porsche.

Toyota: Build your own
The moderately priced Yaris is an excellent choice for any college student. It gets respectable gas mileage and the sedan version starts at $12,965. I chose “Option A” which is the convenience package. It includes AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, satellite radio capability and CD text display function; 60/40 split fold-down rear seat, 15-in. steel wheels with full wheel covers and rear window defroster — all for $840. To make it look more fun, I chose the Barcelona Red Metallic exterior color. I figured I’d keep this simple and not pick any pricey options so my total would stay relatively close to base price — it’s even under $15,000. My practical, responsible Yaris will only cost $14,525.

Build your Nissan
Hatchbacks are my favorite. I’m not in love with the Nissan Versa, but all things considered it’s practical — I really, really hate that word. The Versa hatchback starts at $12,990 and comes with 60/40 Split fold-down rear seatbacks, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags and front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags. The Blue Onyx is a nice color without that look-at-me attitude. The nice thing about the Versa is that you can get either a manual or automatic transmission standard, a lot of times the automatic costs extra. I kept the manual. Anti-lock brakes aren’t standard, but it’s not an expensive option and it’s worth the cost, even if you have to buy the splash guards. The final cost of my Versa was $14,045, making it the least expensive car in my dream fleet.

Mustang facelift makes its debut in November

2008-09-03T11:58:00.001-07:00

Stronger badge, stronger car
The 2010 Mustang is supposed to be stronger, crisper and more muscular. Shouldn’t the beloved pony badge match?
Ford has decided to give the classic badge a makeover and put a lot of thought into it.
The new pony will be more muscular, with more defined lines.
“We wanted to give the Mustang pony a more realistic feel,” said Douglas Gaffka, chief designer for the 2010 Mustang, in a press release. “We lifted the head to make the pony more proud, tipped the neck into the wind to give it a feeling of greater speed and better balance.”
250 words, 2010 Mustang
It’s been far too long since I turned my Mustang daydreams into a blog, so here’s what I’m dreaming about today.
Today I’m picturing myself pulled over on the side of Interstate 5. I’m driving home to Pleasanton, Calif. to visit my mom and dad, when a CHP Camaro pulls me over — yes a Camaro, that will be the only CHP car that will be able to catch me. Why? Because I’ll be cruising at unreasonable speeds in my brand new 2010 Ford Mustang. Did I mention this ponycar was free?
Well for some lucky schmuck, my dream might be a reality — without the whole being-pulled-over-for-speeding part. How is that possible? Ford is giving away a 2010 Mustang, for the low price of 250 words.
One lucky person who spins a tale of their Mustang experience in 250 words will win one. I don’t think I could ever limit my word count like that, so I’ll keep dreaming.
But whoever does win is one lucky person. Ford is about to make one of its bestselling cars even better.
It’ll start with the appearance. Some people may think the Mustang isn’t as tough looking as a Dodge Charger, those people will need to think again. The Mustang is getting a small hump behind the doors, like a muscular shoulder.
Other modifications will come in the taillights, the nose and — you guessed it — under the hood.
Some reports say that Ford is contemplating using a twin-turbo V-6 in the 2010 Mustang. The engine, which Ford has dubbed EcoBoost, is designed to help reach the ridiculous CAFE standards of 2020. Right now the EcoBoost is supposed to appear first in a performance version of the Fusion, but if it works, it could be a fuel efficient alternative for the original pony.
To win this dream car, log on to www.the2010mustang.com and tell your tale. The last day to submit is Oct. 15. The public, mostly Mustang enthusiasts, will vote for their favorite story from Oct. 18 to Oct. 30 with the winner announced Oct. 30.
The 2010 Mustang will debut Nov. 19 at the LA Auto Show and I fully plan on being there to see it unveiled. Who knows, maybe I’ll try to curtail my story to win the pony of my dreams.

Fastest convertible for $2.2 million, while supplies last

2008-08-28T11:00:00.001-07:00

Just because I don’t have $2.2 million right now — and won’t in the next few years — doesn’t mean I can’t dream.

And what sweet, speed-filled dreams I have.

After the past few years of living in Southern California, I’ve learned there is nothing more relaxing than dirivng south on Pacific Coast Highway and ending up at some beautiful beach. But I might be wrong.

Sure I always rolled the windows down, but I’ve recently found out that I could be making the drive in a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 GrandSport. OK, maybe I couldn’t be driving that. After all, it is the drop-top version of my favorite — yet totally out-of-reach — auto, the Bugatti Veyron.

The Veyron 16.4 GrandSport will be sold for about $2.2 million, if not more. The major catch: Only 150 are being made. One of the best ways to secure this formidable convertible is to already own a Bugatti, according to Car and Driver, the first 50 Veyron 16.4 GrandSports will go to current Bugatti owners, leaving only 100 for the rest of us. Production is set to begin in the spring of 2009.

Car and Driver reported that with the top up, the Veyron 16.4 GrandSport matches its Veyron brother in a top speed of 253 miles per hour. If you choose to enjoy the sun on your face and wind in you hair, losing the top will lost you about 20 mph in speed as the car will only go 229 mph.

If you want to drive with the top down, you should only take the car out on days you know will be beautiful because there is no place to store the removable hardtop. For those freak out-of-the-blue showers there is a soft top that you can use, but avoid it at all costs — it will slow you down to a normal speed of 80 mph. Who wants to drive with the flow of traffic when you can leave it all in your wake?

For those of you living on a budget, there are still over 50 hardtop Veyrons left to buy. They go for the bargain price of $1.7 million.

Personally, I’ve always enjoyed the look and feel of a hardtop instead of a convertible, but it is nice to dream about that targa top cruising down PCH in the California sun with a 16-cylinder, 8-liter, 4-turbocharger engine.

Will it be worth the wait?

2008-07-31T01:07:00.000-07:00

It's finally happening. The Chevy Camaro will make its comeback early next year. Should muscle car fans prepare themselves for another pony car competitor? Or should they start getting ready for something more?

The Chevy Camaro made its debut in 1966 (1967 model year) to compete with Ford's original pony car, the Mustang (1964 1/2). Since then the line has been clearly drawn between Chevy enthusiasts and Ford fans, it has been the Mustang vs. the Camaro for many years. Sure at some points other muscles factored in, the Dodge Challenger, Pontiac Firebird, Mercury Cougar - you get the point - but I've always noticed the rivalry between Mustangs and Camaros. So what's different now?

According to an article in Motortrend, Chevy has been testing the new Camaro against the Dodge Charger, Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G37. Chevy looked upmarket, higher prices and performance, for vehicles to compare 5th generation Camaro to.

I'm an avid Mustang fan but since I first saw the Camaro concept I've been looking forward to seeing it on showroom floors and maybe even cruising down Pacific Coast Highway. I have to admit, I admire Chevy's bold move to develop the Camaro against more upscale cars. I also admire the guts Chevy is displaying by bringing in another V8 (there is a V6 options) car when in just a few years the new CAFE standards will be enforced.

I'll give some more technical details after I do a little more research, but the estimated price for the new Camaro is between $22,000 and $33,000.

It's been a long time coming, I hope the new Camaro doesn't disappoint.

The new Camaro enticed audiences when it starred as Bumblebee in the 2007 blockbuster "Transformers."

Don't ditch domestic design

2008-07-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

In a recent article in Automobile magazine, Preston Lerner wrote that more auto manufacturers were closing down design studios in Southern California and that those still open aren’t really hiring.
According to Lerner’s article some people say “Southern California is losing its advanced design mojo.”
So who’s taking over? Some people say China and India are the new up-and-coming places for automotive design. And thanks to this neat little thing called the Internet, it’s easier than ever to work inter-continentally. Labor is already largely outsourced, so why not outsource design too?
That might not be the best idea. I’ve never been to China or India (although I’d like to visit) but from what I’ve seen in pictures and movies, those places don’t really resemble L.A. or Orange County.
I know fuel prices are climbing and some people are looking for energy-efficient cars, but that doesn’t mean we want to drive around golf carts all day (no offense to those of you that do).
Tata Motors Limited, India’s largest automotive manufacturing company according to wikipedia.org, recently began producing the Nano, a small car to be driven in a city. The Nano is roughly the same size as the Smart Fortwo, but the Nano is about 16 inches longer. Those extra inches make the Nano a four-door with a backseat. There is a great demand for the Nano in India, but I don’t know how much of a demand there will be from the U.S., especially Southern California.
Will India try to bring the Nano to the U.S.? I (sort of) hope not. I was initially excited about the idea of Smart cars in the U.S. until I realized that the compromise of size leads to a compromise of speed.
I don’t mean to hate on the Nano. I think it’s a great car for India, probably China and Europe too. But Hot Wheels weren’t made to drive on the U.S. highways.
Two years ago, I visited Germany with some family. We opted to rent a car instead of trying to use public transportation (I think the sizes of the suitcases factored into this decision). Since there were six of us, we rented a van — an Opel Zafira to be exact. The funny thing is, what the Germans called a van, seemed more like a tall station wagon.
Why such a difference? That should be obvious. Globalization may bring the world closer together in terms of music, movies, clothes and other information, but it can’t change the roads. Cities in Europe and Asia are designed with a good public transportation service, or things are within walking or biking distance. But here in the U.S. many large cities require a car. You could walk around some areas I suppose, but come on, nobody walks in L.A.
I love seeing cars in foreign countries because they are so different from what we have here in the U.S. It’s exciting to see what other people consider to be “big” and “compact.” That doesn’t mean I want their definitions at my local dealership.
The future of cars may be in India or China, but until all the giant trucks and SUVs are off the roads, I don’t think closing down design studios is a wise choice. Instead of outsourcing immediately, why not send designers abroad for inspiration? They can observe designs in other countries and adapt them to better fit the needs of the U.S.

C U SUV

2008-06-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's finally happening. It only took $4.50 per gallon of gasoline to start it, but the wheels are turning.
OK, so the wheels actually aren't going to be turning anymore. That's probably a good thing.
With gas prices on the rise, SUV sales and sales of large trucks have been falling. And for good reason.
If you drive a GMC Yukon, that gas tank holds about 26 gallons. If gas costs $4.50 per gallon, to fill the tank would be over $100. And with the wonderful fuel economy of such a large vehicle, you'll probably have to fill about about once a week, maybe once every two weeks depending on your commute and driving habits. Either way, you're looking at spending between $200 and $400 a month on gasoline alone. When I combined my love of cars and love of online shopping, I found a number of different small cars that I could buy for about that same amount of money. I'm not the only one who's seen the light, either. People are buying smaller, more fuel efficient cars and automakers are finally catching on.
According to a press release from General Motors, four factories, "Oshawa Truck Assembly in Canada, which builds the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, will likely cease production in 2009, while Moraine, Ohio, which builds the Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7x, will end production at the end of the 2010 model run, or sooner, if demand dictates. Janesville, Wisconsin, will cease production of medium-duty trucks by the end of 2009, and of the Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon in 2010, or sooner, if market demand dictates. Chevrolet Kodiak medium-duty truck production will also end in Toluca, Mexico, by the end of this year."
GM also said it would "work closely with its union partners to mitigate the impact of these difficult actions, which are made necessary by long-term changes in consumer demand for trucks and SUVs." But the SUVs aren't going away entirely. GM plans on fitting more models with their Flex Fuel system. Flex Fuel gives drivers the option of filling up with E85 ethanol, gasoline, or any combination.
GM is also offering cash incentives to move different SUVs and trucks off dealers’ lots.
Since GM isn't going to be making as many large vehicles, it is going to shift its attention to smaller, more efficient cars.
GM isn’t the only automaker feeling the effects.
Ford, noticing the decline in truck sales, has offered customers the opportunity to buy trucks at the same price Ford employees pay.
But sales of these automotive monsters don’t seem to be improving.
Instead of the traditional SUV, it seems like more consumers are choosing crossovers. Crossovers have almost as much space as most of the large SUVs, but they ride and behave more like cars because their structures are similar to cars. SUVs
I never thought people would abandon their SUVs and trucks and drive smaller, more efficient cars, but when gas prices near $5 per gallon I guess they realize that driving your kids to soccer practice in a tank maybe be just a little extreme.

Long over due, but still no where near...

2008-06-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

I know it's been ages since I've updated this blog, but please pardon my absence. Between finals, setting up a new staff and trying to organize my own life, I've failed the dedicated blogger aspect.
Sadly, this isn't even a real post, I'm just trying to distract you while I finish my first issue.
But fear not, real posts are on the horizon, one may pop up as early as next week.
If it's any consolation, I haven't been shopping much either.

24 hours of LeMONS

2008-05-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

What do chickens, blow-up dolls and pirates have to do with racing?
Probably nothing, unless the race you're watching is the 24 Hours of LeMONS.
No, I didn't misspell LeMans; I meant to say LeMONS, because that's exactly what the race is about. Imagine a track full of cars all valued at $500 or less (before the safety equipment is installed), lemons, if you will.

Can you imagine those cars lasting 24 hours? Probably not, but that's half the fun.
This year, at SF LeMONS, which is held at the Altamont Motorsports Raceway in Tracy, Calif., some of the cars I saw were Honda CRXs, Toyota MR2s, Volvo wagons, even a Ford Pinto and Chevy Cavalier.

If the cars used for racing weren’t crazy enough, you should see how they are decorated. One car masqueraded as a chicken, another appeared to be driven by a pirate, and I saw more than a couple blow-up dolls riding along.

Why the wild outfits for the cars? Because they – the participants – can. Wouldn’t you like a pirate driving your Miata? I thought so.

This was my first LeMONS event, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, although I’m pretty sure I’ve seen pictures of the chicken car, from the team Mother Cluckers, in past issues of Car and Driver.

For those of you unfamiliar with LeMONS, it’s a little like the 24 hours of LeMans. It’s an endurance race. The winner is the one who completes the most laps in a certain amount of time. The 24 Hours of LeMONS happens at racetracks across the country, some are actually 24 hours.

In Tracy noise restrictions prohibited a 24 hour race. Instead the race was scheduled to last 14 hours, but about 10 ½ hours were actually completed.

You don’t need to be a professional driver to enter, but you do need to make sure your car meets the safety requirements.

The winner of this year’s race completed over 480 laps. And it seemed like in each lap, something exciting happened. Since these cars weren’t actually made for racing, most of them had problems going into sharper turns which resulted in spin-outs and collisions. It felt like for each lap completed under a green flag, 10 were counted under the yellow flag. Whether it was pushing a car that stalled off the track, putting tire barrier back in place or picking up miscellaneous parts, the flag guys and clean-up crew certainly earned their pay.

The Risk of Racing

2008-05-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter if your car is worth $500,000 or $500, there is a risk involved every time you pull out of the pit on to the track.
At my frist 24 hours of LeMons experience, I saw that risk first hand.
It was around lap 207, or 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon when car number 39, a volvo sedan crashed head on into a wall. The driver had apparently accelerated without making the effort to turn. It was in the fraction of time when he hit the gas without turning the wheel that he risked his own life. A yellow flag went up before anyone realized the severity of the accident. A red flag soon followed. After the rest of the cars had been sitting still on the track, they were ushered to the pits to make way for the rescue crew. The Altamont Motorsports Park safey and rescue truck was first on the scene. The team began working but it wasn't enough. An ambulance showed up later, followed by 3 full-size fire trucks, another ambulance, a smaller fire truck and a fire department SUV.
One photographer was scolded for taking pictures and in an effort to block what was going on, the security guards put up a tarp.
Speculations of what actually happened could be heard by spectators in the stands. Some say the driver may have had a heart attack, or lost conciousness while driving and that's what caused him to challenge the concrete wall. Regardless of how it happened, the outcome left a pall over the grandstands. Though no official anouncements have been made, death is on everyone's minds. The rescue crew did not make a speedy getaway to the nearest hospital.
Events were postponed until Sunday. There was serious damage to the wall, but it seems as though the driver suffered the most crucial damage.
As always, when I get more official information, you will too.
Hopefully tomorrow will end on a happier note.

The pictures you've been waiting for...

2008-04-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here they are, pictures from the races, awards ceremonies and the pits.

Coming around the corner...

Life in the pits

The pits from above

Super hot Corvette

Sometimes the cars went too fast and I couldn't take the picture in time.

It's an amazing Viper

I was so close, I probably could have touched the cars.

Going into the hairpin turn...

Hello Ferrari

The D-List Celebrity Race

Winners of the Pro/Celebrity Race, Jamie Little and Mike Skinner.

Close up of Mike Skinner and Jamie Little

American Le Mans Series winners

ALMS gets big trophies

Champ Car Series winners prepare for a Victory Lap

Will Power won the final race in Champ Car history.
In second place was rookie Franck Montagny and in third place was Mario Dominguez.

The winning team poses in the Winners' Circle.

Problems and Results

2008-04-20T19:41:00.001-07:00

As promised, here is all the information I have. I had to chance down an official to get it, but I thought you'd like to know.

Wilson dropped out of the race due to a mechanical problem. He said he felt a change in the McDonald's car engine and thinks he lost a cylinder a couple laps before that. From there Wilson said it just got worse.

Annala had to stop racing because of a problem with the brakes in his car. He went off the track in the turn nine run-off area.

And now, for the exciting conclusion of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Finishing in first place, after leading 81 out of 83 laps, Will Power in car No. 8 for Aussie Vineyards-Team Australia, won the final race in Champ Car history.

In second place was rookie Franck Montagny and in third place was Mario Dominguez.

For the Atlantic Championship, Simona De Silvestro took first place. She is the first woman to win an Atlantic Championship race since 2006, when Katherine Legge won in San Jose, Calif.

Alan Sciuto finished in second place, with Kevin Lacroix placing third.

I was lucky enough to get a quick interview with De Silvestro after the race.

Being the first woman to win a race in the Atlantic Championship is a big deal, and De Silvestro was very proud. Especially because she knows losing means she'll just be known as "the girl racer who couldn't win."

De Silvestro said, “It’s so competitive, so I show that I can be upfront and win, so it’s great.”

De Silvestro just seemed so excited to have won, it was really fun having the opportunity to talk to her.

The top five qualifiers of the Atlantic Championship were Jonathan Bomarito, De Silvestro, Carl Skerlong, Sciuto and Lacroix. Four out of the five remained in the top five for most of the race.

Skerlong hit the wall off the start and had to return to the pit to have the nose cones on his car replaced. He returned while the other drivers were on lap three and remained one lap down the entire race, finishing last with only 37 laps.

Bomarito, the top qualifier with a time of 1:15.947, held first place for most of the race. He had a significant lead over the position two qualifier, De Silvestro.

Bomarito went into the run-off in turn one on lap 24, which allowed De Silvestro to move into first place and take the win.

De Silvestro commented on her win over Bomarito.

"Bomarito was very quick ... he has so much experience, it's his third year so I knew he was going to maybe pull off in the beginning," De Silvestro said. "So I thought, 'Oh second place is also great,' so I just kept driving and being consistent. And then he did a mistake so I was very happy he did a mistake so I could pass him, so it's awesome for me to have this win today."

Another one bites the dust...

2008-04-20T14:12:00.001-07:00

After entering the pit and staying for between five and 10 minutes, car No. 10 driven by Juno Annala was pushed back to the paddock. You'll get more details when I do.

Wilson out!

2008-04-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

After suffering a mechanical problem, Justin Wilson of the Newman Haas Lanigan Racing team sponsored by McDonald's Racing team, is unable to finish the race.

Wilson placed first in the Champ Car qualifiers and took the pole on Saturday.

According to Tiffany Rider, who was reporting from the Champ Car paddock, the McDonald's team had packed up most of their things. The car was covered and the crew looked disappointed.

Race day

2008-04-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

OK. I realize I lied about posting more last night, but cut me some slack, I was at school past 1 a.m. working on stories and posting them.

After a three-hour nap, I'm back at the tracks, damaging my ear drums because I enjoy the sounds of the cars as they speed past.

Again, Tiffany and I are in our favorite seats in front of the announcers, between the Imperial Capital Bank bridge and the Toyota bridge. That's the corner of Linden Avenue and Shore Drive for those of you not farmiliar with the track. For those of you unfarmiliar with Long Beach, use a map.

The drivers are speeding around the 1.97 mile track at speeds of about 92 mph.

Before the race, I was able to interview Kevin Lacroix, the 19-year-old who finished fifth in the qualifying session yesterday.

Lacroix seemed optimistic about today's race. He said he finished second this morning during the practice run.

Lacroix started racing at age 6, in go-karts. He's now 19. And yes, that makes me feel old.

Lacroix has been racing well thus far, keeping in the top five.

The race just ended, Simona De Silvestro finished in first, Lacroix finished in third.

I'll post the rest of the results when I get them.

I'm off to the winners' circle, then to get a free lunch.

Life is good when you're in the pits

2008-04-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

I still can't believe I'm here. Someone should pinch me.

With the credentials around my neck and ugly blue vest on my back I've been able to go just about everywhere.

I've stood in the pits next to drivers of the Champ Car Series, I've talked to drivers from the American le Mans Series and rubbed elbows with Atlantic Series drivers.

I was within inches of Jamie Little and Mike Skinner, the winners of the Pro/Celebrity race. I just barely missed being sprayed by champagne.

So far, this has been one of the most exciting weekends of my life. I've already taken enough pictures to fill 1gb of memory. The best will be posted here.

On Thursday I had the exciting experience of meeting Parnelli Jones and Mario Andretti.

Friday was thrilling as I stood with a couple feet of concrete and a chain fence between me and cars racing at about 100mph.

It's hard to put into words exactly how I feel. Right now the cars of the American Le Mans series are racing in front of me as I sit in the announcer booth. It's too exciting to really focus on blogging, but I'll be back later tonight with qualifying results and final results.

26th All American Get-Together Photos

2008-04-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here it is, the promised photo collage of the All American Get-Together. Enjoy it as much as I did, if you can.

I can't imagine showing any other photo first than a Mustang, it's like when you show pictures of your kids, the favorite always goes first, right? So here they are, my loves, the original all American muscle car.

Then and now, the Mama boss...

and the one taking over the family business...

This time, I found a pair of paternal twins. That was neat.

And now, my second favorite, the Bel-Airs.

A Maverick.

One of the cars didn't seem to belong...it tried to hide but I found it.

Hot GTOs.

Specialty cars, these ones are subject to the harsh California sun, but inside a protective building.

See, I'm not the only person who likes cars and the color pink.

Fins are in!

Prepare for takeoff.

Let me see that grill.

Major props on style here.

All in all the all American show was more than alright. It was amazing.

Photos by Colleen Donnelly. That's right, I can take pictures too. Now if only I could cook...

Reverse Imerpialism, fins and grills, Champ Car Series

2008-04-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

It’s always hard to admit when a vacation is over. After two days of being back in reality, I’m still in denial. But the world won’t stop turning because I want a longer spring break, so let me catch you up on what’s happened lately in the world of cars.
First, for those of you living under a rock, Tata Motors bought the money-sucking-blackhole Jaguar from Ford in a package deal where they also got Land Rover. Ford wouldn’t sell Land Rover on its own; it was all or nothing. Tata Motors, India’s largest auto manufacturer, bought the two daughter companies for the bargain price of $2.3 billion.
The sale is supposed to be completed in the second quarter of 2008, and Ford will also pay $600 million to Jaguar and Land Rover pension plans.
It’s interesting to see an Indian company take control of British companies after the British Empire controlled India for about 100 years. I hope there are no hard feelings.
Another exciting event that occurred over spring break happened right here in California, in the small town of Pleasanton.
Yes, it’s a real place. No, it’s not a movie.
It was time again for the Goodguys’ 26th All American Get-Together, which is one of my favorite shows, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. By now you should know about my love for muscle cars, so, needless to say, I was in heaven.
The show featured American-made cars from all years, but most of them were classics. There were Mustangs, GTOs, Camaros, Corvettes, Cougars, low-riders, hot rods and so much more.
Another one of my favorites, the Chevy Bel-Air, was there in large numbers.
The car shows in my hometown (that’s right, I grew up in Pleasanton) always mean more to me than any show here in L.A. Here, I tend to go by myself, because no one else can understand my need to wander around car after car for hours at a time. But at home, my dad always goes with me and tells me what he knows about cars. This time, we talked a lot about tailfins, their growth and decline.
Tailfins began appearing on cars around the late 1940s and early 1950s (though some autos show hints of fins back in the ’30s). The tailfin was inspired by jets and space rockets which were becoming more publicly recognized at the time.
Though tailfins started modestly, the popularity of the trend grew, and so did the size of the fin. The height of the tailfin era was around 1959, and after that the tailfins shrank into non-existence.
I’ve always been a fan of the modest tailfin, circa mid-’50s. I wouldn’t mind seeing a new car with a new take on the tailfin, as long as it doesn’t get too carried away. To see a collection of tailfins, check out the photos from the show on my blog.
Finally, something very exciting is going to happen next weekend. It’s the 34th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and yours truly will be attending. You can expect coverage, photos, hopefully some video and interviews all here. Check back next week for a preview of what’s going down at the event.

It's alive! Well, almost

2008-03-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

As of Monday, Tesla officially began production of the Tesla Roadster, the sports car that runs entirely on electricity. Keep an eye out for them in Hollywood, George Clooney and Michael "Flea" Balzary are on the list of people who reserved one. For more information on the Tesla Roadster, read my previous post here.

It might be a Smart Choice

2008-03-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Despite the pictures I have hanging over my desk, I missed a major occurrence in the automotive world, and for that I sincerely apologize. But the way I see it, if I missed it, other people probably did too, so I’ll go ahead and fill you in just in case.

This past January, the United States became the 37th country to sell Smart cars, according to Smart’s website, www.smartusa.com.
If you’ve been to Europe, chances are good that you’ve already seen this small auto cruising around the streets, parked perpendicular to a curb or parked in some other ridiculously small place. The size of the car is impressive. It looks like a Power Wheel for grown-ups, and I have seen people who would tower over the car while standing next to it somehow climb in and out.
But the size is part of the reason it hasn’t been sold in the U.S. until recently. Because in all honesty, with the number of SUVs out on the road, who wants to risk their life commuting in a Hot Wheels car?
To give you a basic idea of the size, the Smart ForTwo is 106 inches long, about 62 inches wide and 60 inches tall. For a little perspective, a MINI Cooper is about 55 inches tall, 66 inches wide and 146 inches long.
In my world, size is only a small factor. What really matters is what is under the hood. If you want a car for performance or speed, the ForTwo is not for you.
A one-liter, inline three-cylinder engine powers the ForTwo. It has 70 horsepower at 5800 rpms, according to the website, and 68 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpms. The top speed is 90 miles per hour. This car was clearly built for convenience, not excitement.
The EPA estimate predicted an average of 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The lower gas mileage makes the car less desirable — for slightly lower mileage, you could be driving a MINI.
The price of a ForTwo isn’t entirely impressive either. For the very basic coupe the MSRP is $11,590. The next level up, the passion coupe is $13,590, and the cabriolet version of that is $16,590. I can think of several other cars in the same price range that I would rather drive.
The ForTwo is available with an automated manual five-speed transmission, yet another option I’ve never been fond of. I prefer traditional manual transmissions, none of this electric, you-can-only-go-up-or-down-one-gear-at-time stuff. But I do like how the ForTwo handles.
I, along with dozens of other Irvine Spectrum shoppers, had the opportunity to test drive a ForTwo last May, and though it doesn’t have the kind of power I’d like (plus the guy that was sitting in the passenger seat was a little squeamish, so I had to take it easy) taking corners around the parking lot was as much fun as racing go-karts. And I do love go-karts.

Scions a sigh

2008-03-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Remember the year 2003? Remember thinking, “What the hell?”
I do, because that’s what I thought the first time I saw an oddly shaped box with wheels. I remember walking up to it, taking note of all the sharp angles and the badge that said, “Scion.”
In 2003 I wasn’t going to as many car shows, so I missed the unveiling of Toyota’s daughter company, Scion, but thanks to Google I was able to fill myself in on the new brand.
During its first years, Scion had two main cars, the xA and xB. The xA was a small hatchback that was a little funky looking, but not shocking enough to turn heads. I mean really, how creative can you get with a hatchback, anyway?
But the second model, the xB was the one that sparked my interest in the company. For those of you who don’t know the truth, the xB is a station wagon — it just looks like a shoebox on wheels.
Scion was designed for younger drivers. I guess that means my contemporaries and me. I did see a few of these in my high school parking lot, and I see some even now at Cal State Long Beach.
But no matter what Scion does, I’m really just not impressed.
In 2005 Scion started selling its very own coupe, the tC. The tC is probably the only model I could see myself driving. For its price tag (base MSRP $17,620), it’s a pretty chic-looking car with smooth lines. It also has a 2.4-liter engine and can put out 161 horsepower at 6,000 RPM.
For the 2008 model year, the xA was discontinued and the xB was given a makeover, but it was more like a make-under. I was never a fan of the moving box, but at least it was distinctive. Now it’s toddler-friendly with the corners rounded.
The xA was replaced by the xD and the 1.4-liter xA engine was changed out for a 1.8-liter one that puts out about 128 horses.
At this point, you may be thinking, “Neat, but what’s the news?” And that’s the problem. The news is just not there.
Scion was supposed to be a company with cars that constantly change, yet since the start of production there hasn’t been many exciting facelifts. If there’s one thing I know about my generation it’s the fact that most of us have short attention spans. Scion, like its parent company Toyota, can’t seem to handle our high-speed lifestyles, despite the flashy displays at auto shows.
Later this month, at the New York Auto Show, Scion will be unveiling its new coupe concept. Based on the one barely-revealing picture I’ve seen, the new concept will be just what Scion needs to re-ignite its creative spark, because whether people love the cars or hate the cars, Scions should invoke the reaction, “What the hell is this?”

2008 Geneva International Auto Show

2008-03-04T09:47:00.000-08:00

Tuesday was my birthday. And though it was my 21st, all I really wanted was a plane ticket to Switzerland and a press pass to the 78th Annual International Auto Show in Geneva.
The show is from March 6-16 and there are going to be so many world premieres I'm going to have to drink myself into oblivion so I don't feel as bad about missing out.
A newer version of a car that would most likely grant me eternal happiness if I ever called it my own will be making its debut. A Jaguar XKR-S coupe. I fell in love with the XKR last fall, but after ogling the latest version for about 30 minutes I remember why I adore it. It's a fierce looking coupe powered by a 4.2-liter V8 engine, unfortunately I don't see the price of it going down to my range any time soon.
Another dream car of mine that's becoming a reality is the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione as a cabriolet. That's right, the Alfa Romeo staple is losing its top but none of its class. Under its hood is a 4.7-liter V8.
One more car that's probably going to be over priced, then I'll get to some a affordable car, I promise. But this is not only a world premiere of a particular car, it's a world premiere of a new class of vehicle. BMW has made what they call a Sport Activity Coupe (SAC). It's not your average crossover, which is the offspring of an SUV and sedan, because they've given a SUV body coupe like features. It's bad enough that so many drivers in monster SUVs already drive like they're sitting behind the wheel of a compact sports car, but it seems as though now BMW is fully encouraging that behavior. Keep an eye out for the X6, because you might need to remind the driver that although BMW says it's built from a coupe, it's still much larger and should therefore be handled with more care.
I'm not usually a jealous person, but sometimes, I feel like as Americans we get the shaft from car companies. I feel betrayed by our home-based company Ford because it offers Europeans cars I'd like to see on our highways, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet. The Focus is a common car for people in my age group probably because of it's price. Recently the styling and gas mileage has improved so I'm expecting to see even more. But I won't see anyone driving a Focus with the top down, because that option just isn't available in the states and I can't figure out why. Do we not have nice, sunny, convertible-friendly days here in the states? Do convertibles not sell here? Why won't Ford give us the option? Personally, I think they'd sell pretty well. It's a cute car, it could be reasonably priced and should get excellent mileage. There you go, one practical car, as promised.
There are also a lot of European market cars which aren't available in the United States, but that doesn't really bother me because the cars just aren't that stunning and I don't really know much of European-only brands so I would feel inadequate in telling you about them.
The four cars I mentioned are the ones I'll be missing tonight and the rest of the week. Perhaps I'll start my celebration off tonight with a toast to the dream of the Geneva Auto Show, maybe next year my birthday wish will come true.

Pony Car Comeback

2008-02-28T10:15:00.000-08:00

In 1964, Ford rocked the automotive industry with the introduction of the Mustang. The impact was so large a new class of car was created, and Pony Cars were born. Rival auto manufacturers started building their own versions to compete. Plymouth had debuted its pony car, the Barracuda, two weeks before the Mustang made an appearance, but the Mustang was exceedingly more popular and thus gets the recognition of being the original pony car.
1967 saw the birth of the Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird and Mercury Cougar. The Dodge Challenger followed in 1970.
Sadly, not all of these cars had what it took to survive. The Barracuda met its final model year in 1974, and the Challenger was discontinued the same year only to be revived in 78, before going AWOL in ’83.
The Camaro and Cougar continued production until 2002.
The Mustang has been in production for 44 years now and is still one of Ford’s best selling models.
In 2005 Mustangs underwent a redesign drawing from the look of the past and inspiration from the future. The new look was probably one of the best retro-chic makeovers to hit the market, putting the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chevy HHR to shame. The Mustang gave new life to the pony car class, and like in ’64, other manufacturers are jumping back on the bandwagon.
The 2008 Dodge Challenger is simply hot. And when you think about the 6.1 liter hemi it’s packing under the hood, there is no doubt about it — this car was reborn to rock. Unfortunately, only about 10,000 of the 2008 model will be produced and they won’t be on the streets until later this year.
The Chevy Camaro will also be making a comeback. Since the Camaro left the market in 2002, the Mustang has been ruling the pony car class unopposed, but its reign may be ending.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Camaros, but when I saw the 2009 concept model, my jaw dropped. It’s probably one of the hottest things to come off the Chevy line (except the Corvette, of course).
Like the Mustang and the Challenger, the redesigned Camaro pulls its design lines from its earlier years, specifically 1969. But don’t expect GM to move to fast to get back into the competition. It’s rumored that the 2009 Camaro won't make an appearance until the 2010 model year.
Ford fans, don’t worry just yet. The Mustang has no plans of handing over its crown without a fight. A special edition Mustang, the Bullitt, is also available in 2008. Yes, this is a remake of Steve McQueen’s car in the iconic movie, “Bullitt.” A version was also available in 2001, but it is not really comparable. The 2008 version resembles the 1968 fastback, and all the Mustang emblems have been stripped, leaving only a badge that says “Bullitt” on the back.
With each new model year, after-market companies find new ways to add a little more zest to the country’s favorite.
Something to look for this year: the 40th anniversary Shelby GT500KR. That's "King of the Road," to you.
It took some time, but Americans can once again be proud of the cars produced here. And in international automotive arm wrestling, we finally have some muscle behind us.

In loving memory

2008-02-19T13:12:00.000-08:00

Saoirse 1998-2008

It's been a very rough nine days. And sometimes, it doesn't seem like it really happened. But I hope she knows that even though I was careless, and occasionally complained about her size or the way she consumed gasoline, I loved her. I loved her very much, I still do. She was my first, my favorite, my Saoirse (freedom).
But let me start at the beginning.
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, I was leaving the bank and about to go to the mall. I turned right out of the parking lot and drove down Granda Avenue, away from Second Street in Long Beach. I stopped at the stop sign, the intersection was Granada Avenue and The Toledo. I had a stop sign, but no one else did. I waited for a few cars to pass, and when I thought it was clear, I proceeded into the intersection.
Now, you should know, there's another street involved in this situation, Livingston, it runs diagonally, intersecting with the Toledo. There's no stop sign going from Livingston to The Toledo, so needless to say, when most cars turn on to the Toledo from Livingston, they don't really slow down. And that's when it happened. My nose was in the intersection and all of a sudden a Jeep Cherokee from probably 1994 was in front of me. And I hit him. He sustained a dent to the back passenger-side door, but my poor baby was in far worse shape.
Her whole frame was bent. The bumper was pressed up against the tire, all the headlights were strewn about the street along with the license plate. But one of the most heart breaking things I saw, was the small silver Mustang that usually stands proudly on the grill was face down, right in the middle of all the debris.
I didn't need anyone to tell me she was beyond repair. I knew the moment I hit that I was responsible for the death of the 1998 Ford Mustang given to me by my parents. She had been part of our family for about 10 years, first being driven by my dad, then my two older sisters. And though I constantly hinted at the fact that I wanted a new car, something faster, smaller and more efficient, it doesn't change how much I loved and appreciated the one I had. Sure she had a few cosmetic defects, but I bet your face isn't perfect either.
I won't list all the memories I have with my car, but I did learn how to drive on her. And we've shared many bonding experiences making the drive from Long Beach to the Bay Area several times a year.
She was also the ultimate tension tamer for me. No tea can compare to the drives down PCH at night, windows down and music up.
It's the end of an era, and I'm sad to see it end, but the time she was mine was the best time of my life thus far. I only wish she could have gone in a more dignified way.
Everyone, a moment of silence for Saoirse, my 1998 Ford Mustang.

Who said the electric car is dead?

2008-02-12T13:27:00.000-08:00

Whoever it was is sadly mistaken.
Ladies and gentlemen, after years of uncertainty, waiting lists and deposits, the dream might actually become a reality.
The first time I laid eyes on this machine was at its debut car show, the 2006 San Francisco International Auto Show. When I stepped off the escalator, my jaw dropped, and that was even before I knew what exactly I was looking at.
It was an electric car for people who care about more than the environment.
The Tesla roadster has an electric powertrain, which is an electric motor moved by a battery.
The battery is made up of lithium-ion cells measuring about 16mm wide and 65mm long. That might not sound very big, but imagine 6,831 of those cells, that's what the Tesla roadster is packing.
The batteries power an electric 3 phase, 4 pole AC induction motor, which can spin at about 13,000 RPM. It produces roughly 248 horsepower (or 185 kW) and can reach its top torque at any RPM.
According to the manufacturer, Tesla Motors, the roadster can go 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds and has a top speed of 125 mph.
I asked to test drive a roadster, but apparently the Daily Forty-Niner isn't important enough for the guys at Tesla Motors, so I don't have my own recorded numbers to give you, but I can tell what some other people found.
Car and Driver claimed that on a slightly wet road, it took the Tesla from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds.
Motortrend did it in 4 seconds flat.
I'll never know what I would have gotten, but I like to think I could do it in 4 seconds or less.
The roadster is based on the Lotus Elise and even built in the same factory in England. It has a mid-rear engine with rear wheel drive.
The transmission is sequential. For those of you who don't know what that means, it's an electronic clutch (so there's no actual clutch pedal on the floor) and you either shift up or down. You can't choose the gear you want to go in to, you can only move up or down one at a time, usually using paddles behind the steering wheel.
Though people have been putting their names on waiting lists for years, production of the roadster is finally supposed to begin in March. Let's hope there aren't any more delays.
The roadster is priced at about $98,000, but think of what you'll save in gas.
In case you're wondering why it's called a Tesla roadster, or Tesla Motors, read the history books. The company is named for the Serbian electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, inventor and physicist Nikola Tesla.

Photo courtesy of http://flickr.com/photos/fogcat5/255000227/.
It's licensed under the terms of the cc-by-sa-2.0

Stop stretching my dreams

2008-01-31T09:59:00.000-08:00

I'm not completely delusional. I know the chance of me ever owning or even driving something like a Veyron is slim to none.
But there was recently a crime against a car, I've not only dreamed of owning, but even found ways to make my dream come true.
Since its rebirth in 2001 as MINI, I've been obsessed with mini coopers. That's right, I've played the games on the website, built my dream MINI and even my MINI robot.
But this past November, as I walked through the L.A. Autoshow, I stumbled (almost literally since my eyes were glued to the BMW 1 series) into the latest of the MINI line, the Clubman. Someone should club the designers at MINI in the head.
Let's review the top selling points of a MINI, shall we?
1. Go-kart like handling (this makes the MINI a lot of fun to drive)
2. Great gas mileage (about 32 city/40 highway)
3. Compact size (great for weaving in and out of traffic and parallel parking)
But the new Clubman is lacking one of those selling points, (maybe two, I can't really vouch for the handling as I've never driven one).
The MINI Clubman is almost a whole foot longer than the MINI Cooper. And while it is still smaller than most cars, like the super sedans it just looks wrong.
The Clubman has a small, reverse hinged third door on the passenger side, and while it makes climbing in to the backseat easier, I think it takes away from the MINI idea.
The back of the MINI Clubman also opens differently. It has two doors that swing out, instead of one that just lifts up. OK, I admit, that doesn't really bother me too much. But the reasons behind it does.
The Clubman offers significantly more cargo space. Some of you may be wondering why I'm so against cargo space and I should tell you, I'm not. But like the four-door supercars, I just don't think a MINI is the place for cargo.
I'm having trouble understanding why all these manufacturers are trying to make their cars as useful as Batman's belt. Some cars just aren't meant to be practical, learn to love them for that. Stop trying to change everything about these cars.
If you have a lot of crap to haul, but something bigger than a MINI. Don't take a rally car and make it a truck.

Family Supercars

2008-01-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows I love supercars. Just about every computer I touch gets a background picture of a Bugatti Veyron, a Shelby Supercar Ultimate Aero TT or something similar.
But lately some of what I've been seeing upsets me.
A couple months ago I opened up an issue of Car and Driver and saw a Porsche sedan.
They call it the Panamera. It was designed to compete in a class with the Mercedes-Benz CLS. But personally, I've never really put Porsche and Mercedes in the same class. It was bad enough when the Cayenne made its North American debut in 2003, but at least that is very different from what Porsche is, or was, known for. This new car, the Panamera, which is supposed to come out in 2009, looks like someone treated a 911 like silly-putty. They stretched and disfigured it, added a couple doors and gave it a new name.
The Panamera will get the same engine as the Cayenne. That's a 4.5-liter, V8 engine which will produce about 350 horsepower, and a 500 hp turbocharged option may also be available.
But no number of horsepower could convince me that a four door, front engine Porsche is OK.
Porsche has hurt me, and I think (or at least I hope) some Porsche purists may agree.
While Porsche may have crushed me, but Bugatti broke my heart.
It was like someone telling me that Jimmy Choo was going to start making orthopedic sneakers. I picked up a copy of Automobile and practically threw it right back down.
A Bugatti sedan was staring me in the face. That's right. Based on the Veyron, the Volkswagen AG owned Bugatti has produced a super sedan. If that wasn't bad enough, brace yourself for what's coming next.
The four-door Bugatti monstrosity will get the same engine the Veyron has. If you didn't read my first post, I'll quickly recap, it's an 8-liter, W16 (that's two V8s put side-by-side) engine.
Little Billy and Susie will never be late for school again.
It will be a couple more years before we begin to see this Bugatti faux pas, but as far as I'm concerned, Bugatti can take as long as they want before they actually begin producing it. I don't want to see it. Though at about $1 million apiece, I doubt I'll see too many.
Supercars have always been a love of mine, but this sedan trend has got to stop. It takes these fast, hot cars and makes them old. There is no good argument in favor of four doors.
You do not buy couture clothing to wear every day, and you do not buy a supercar sedan to pick up kids and groceries.
To all the supercar manufacturers, leave the sedan making to someone else and keep putting out the heart-pounding, probably should not be street legal autos we all love and wish we could afford. Please, and thank you!

Apologies to Jettas and their owners

2008-01-29T08:52:00.000-08:00

It was recently brought to my attention that I stereotyped Jettas as being the ultimate chick-mobile, and some people (and cars) took offense to my remarks. I apologize to Jettas and their owners, but seriously, most people I asked agreed.

More than Jettas

2008-01-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

Watch out guys. Cars are no longer just toys for boys and this chick is ready to play, in heels no less.
Some people might say we should drive less to spare the environment, but I don't believe that. Yes, cars do contribute CO2 to the atmoshpere, but so does breathing. And asking me and other auto enthusiasts to stop driving is the same as asking us to stop breathing.
But don't let my skirt and undeniably cute shoes fool you, I know what I'm talking about when I tell you that the Bugatti Veyron has about 1000 horsepower and 987 pound-feet of torque. That's about twice as much torque as the McLaren F1. Under the Veyron's hood is a W-16 engine, that's right, 16 cylinders, eight liters, 64 valves and four turbochargers.
If that doesn't impress you, then navigate yourself away from this blog because that's just a slight preview of things to come. I love supercars, but fear not consumers, I also find some cars that the average person can enjoy quite entertaining. And so for every post I make about a car most of us will only dream of, I'll tell you about an affordable car that's almost as fun to drive.
If you have any questions about your car or troubles you may be having, feel free to ask, if I can't answer them myself, I'll find someone who can.
I may have a large collection of purses and more necklaces or earrings than any one person really needs, but my favorite accessory doesn't fit in a jewelry box and can't be carried on my arm.
Just don't ask this chick where she parked her Jetta.