Regulations and a focus on efficiency is leading a lot of manufacturers to abandon naturally-aspirated V-8 engines for turbocharged six-cylinder variants. Ford’s EcoBoost, anyone? For the most part, that is OK with us too. It’s nice to see some large V-8s out there though, and one can be found in the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Edition. After some rumors and leaked information, Mercedes is confirming a new Black Edition range-topper for the C63 AMG Coupe. Sedan and wagon models aren’t included, cementing the Black Editions hard core reputation. Despite being called Black Edition, Mercedes has chosen to show it off in a bright red – you can order yours in any color you like. The C63 AMG is the most powerful C-Class of all time, packing 510 horsepower and 457 foot pounds of torque under that hood. Those figures are up significantly over the C63 AMG’s 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. It is generated by a 6.3-liter naturally-aspirated AMG V-8. For duty in the Black Edition, the V-8 is upgraded with forged pistons and connecting rods, along with a new crankshaft and oil cooler sourced from the SLS AMG that is 50 percent larger in surface area. In preliminary testing, Mercedes estimates the C63 AMG Coupe Black Series will shoot from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. We think it may end up being even quicker than that though. To adequately stop all that power, the braking system has been given a heavy-duty upgrade. There are “race-proven” six-piston composite (two-piece) brakes up front 15.35 x 1.42 inches in diameter. Out back there are four-piston 14.17 x 1.02 integral disks. The calipers are painted red and the rotors perforated and ventilated at each corner. Visually, the car is menacing and well, stunning. The Black Edition clearly means business. One of the first visual changes readily apparent is the new lightweight alloy wheels. They are forged and reduce overall weight by 24.2 pounds. New fenders have been fitted to accommodate wider tracks to the tune of 2.2 inches up front and 3.3 inches in the rear. The car has been lowered, and there are new adjustable coil-over suspension components under the skin, along with an AMG rear differential lock. The C63 AMG Black Edition is being revealed at on July 23rd at the Formula...

Function is a word that can rarely coexist relevantly with art. Through the past century of motoring, automobiles have been a prime medium for realizing the fusion required for great industrial designs. For 81 years, an Italian manufacturing and design specialist Pininfarina has harnessed forces of creativity, channelling their own shapes with either a design pad or through transferring another automotive designer’s vision into raw existence. Reminiscent to the toils of Leonardo Di Vinci bringing life to paintings, Pininfarina gives birth to some passionate automobiles that gain a special identity from any other form. Founded by an intrepid Italian Battista Farina, the man would soon become an Italian icon after adopting his nickname “Pinin” (meaning small in Italian) to his surname, establishing the company Carozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930. Granting Pininfarina’s great impact on some of the greatest supercars of all-time, the ink used to design those elite cars also stimulated the direct or indirect spectre for automobiles in everyday life. Pininfarina’s simplistic yet defining beauty is boundless featuring many significant moving art pieces. As the full size Pininfarina work continues to earn celebrated appreciation on the world’s roads, the artistic appeal of the Italian automaker’s vehicles is equally praised scaled die-cast form. An apprentice to his brother’s automotive body shop since the age of 11, the young Italian’s ambitions was motivated by a visit to the United States. Shaking hands with none other than Henry Ford, Battista Pininfarina exploration of auto manufacturing Mecca Detroit gave him perspective into developing coach building into a more modernized practice. Quickly identified by Italian automakers such as Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat, Pininfarina displayed fine artisanship along high volume output. The first Pininfarina design to be represented by sheetmetal was a special Lancia Dilambda sedan. Debuting at the Italian Concours d’Elegance at Villa d’Este, the Lancia Dilambda began what would be a nearly 20-year journey to gain notoriety. Among one of Pininfarina’s more provocative work during the pre-war era was the Lancia Aprilia Aerodynamica and the Alfa Romeo Pescara. Built using...

Chrysler experienced some dark days during its bankruptcy – as did General Motors. This is a time when non-essential products were delayed and teams had to concentrate on core products. Not much room for fun and excitement in there, which just so happens to be some of the key elements that brands are made of. Thankfully, Chrysler seems to be recapturing some of its mojo. Models like the redesigned 300 and Charger have been released, and along with them high-performance SRT-8 iterations that many enthusiasts love. Chrysler’s Street Racing Technology division is definitely back in full force. When the last round of LX cars was introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model, performance iterations proved to be a hit. One of the cars that found a lot of fans was Dodge’s lean and mean Magnum. It was a car that turned the idea of a station wagon on its head. Aggressive, powerful and well….cool. But it was killed, thanks to one executive at Chrysler that didn’t like it. Now, that executive is gone. Could the car make a return? Automotive News reports that it might. “With the Magnum, we owned the station wagon segment” says Ralph Gilles, head of SRT division at Chrysler. “It was always a pleasure to go to car shows and trade fairs and see the number of Magnums that owners had personalized with such obvious loving care.” Gilles was the head of Chrysler design at the time and helped oversee the wagon’s creation. Now, he is at SRT where he can champion a whole new generation of products for enthusiasts. He is a real car guy, the type we need more of at companies like Chrysler and other car companies. Speaking with The New York Times , he was asked about the possibility of a second-generation Dodge Magnum. His response? “Stay tuned….great things are coming. That’s all I can say.” Coy, and definitely not a denial. According to Gilles, the Magnum has a lot of fans at Chrysler. We’ll take our advice from Gilles – stay tuned. Some exciting stuff could be coming from the company over the next few years. Related posts: Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles Confirms New Viper The Ram Migrates: Dodge Recognized with New Logo American Fiat Fans Get First Crack at Special 500 View original post here:  Dodge Magnum...

If there’s anything I like more than cars, it’s movies about cars. I watched The Italian Job (2003) last night and this morning I woke up itching to see a few more good car flicks. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite ones with you. Here’s my top 20 (in no particular order). What’s your favorite car movie? 1. Dazed and Confused : This film about the last day of school in 1976 might have stars like Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey in it, but I know it really stars a 1970 Pontiac Judge GTO, a 1972 Chevrolet C10, a 1972 Plymouth Duster, a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, a 1975 Chevrolet El Camino, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, and a 1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455 just to name a few. This movie makes me think I was born a decade too late. 2. American Graffiti : The iconic car film from George Lucas has not only a great story but some great cars. Among them are a 1932 Deuce Coupe, a 1955 Chevrolet, a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, a 1951 Mercury, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, and a 1961 Ford Galaxy. 3. Two-Lane Blacktop : A great cross country drag race movie staring folk singer James Taylor. Yes, the same James Taylor that sings music your parents listen too. This movie, set on Route 66, pairs up a primered old 1955 Chevrolet against a 1970 Pontiac GTO. The GTO was rumored to be a Judge, but no decals are present anywhere on the car to indicate it is. 4. Bullitt : The best car chase scene ever is in this film. The seven minute chase through the streets of San Francisco was between a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 and a 1968 Dodge Charger. 5. Ronin : Another great car chase movie, but the first on this list to star mainly imports. Among the cast were 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL, a 1991 BMW 535i disguised to look like an E34, a 1998 Audi S8, and 1995 Citroen XM. 6. The Smokey and The Bandit franchise : Who can forget these three movies in any list? Not me! The series covers 1977, 1980, and 1983 and each time The Bandit got a new Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Also among the great cars in this movie are a wide variety of motor homes, big rigs, and earth moving equipment. There’s something in here for everyone! 7. The Cannonball Run : One big car chase across the US, this movie stars a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, a 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a 1977 Ferrari...

If there’s anything I like more than cars, it’s movies about cars. I watched The Italian Job (2003) last night and this morning I woke up itching to see a few more good car flicks. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite ones with you. Here’s my top 20 (in no particular order). What’s your favorite car movie? 1. Dazed and Confused : This film about the last day of school in 1976 might have stars like Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey in it, but I know it really stars a 1970 Pontiac Judge GTO, a 1972 Chevrolet C10, a 1972 Plymouth Duster, a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup, a 1975 Chevrolet El Camino, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, and a 1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455 just to name a few. This movie makes me think I was born a decade too late. 2. American Graffiti : The iconic car film from George Lucas has not only a great story but some great cars. Among them are a 1932 Deuce Coupe, a 1955 Chevrolet, a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, a 1951 Mercury, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, and a 1961 Ford Galaxy. 3. Two-Lane Blacktop : A great cross country drag race movie staring folk singer James Taylor. Yes, the same James Taylor that sings music your parents listen too. This movie, set on Route 66, pairs up a primered old 1955 Chevrolet against a 1970 Pontiac GTO. The GTO was rumored to be a Judge, but no decals are present anywhere on the car to indicate it is. 4. Bullitt : The best car chase scene ever is in this film. The seven minute chase through the streets of San Francisco was between a 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 and a 1968 Dodge Charger. 5. Ronin : Another great car chase movie, but the first on this list to star mainly imports. Among the cast were 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL, a 1991 BMW 535i disguised to look like an E34, a 1998 Audi S8, and 1995 Citroen XM. 6. The Smokey and The Bandit franchise : Who can forget these three movies in any list? Not me! The series covers 1977, 1980, and 1983 and each time The Bandit got a new Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Also among the great cars in this movie are a wide variety of motor homes, big rigs, and earth moving equipment. There’s something in here for everyone! 7. The Cannonball Run : One big car chase across the US, this movie stars a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, a 1976 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a 1977 Ferrari...

Porsche’s lineup and technology has changed a lot over the years. One thing that has remained remarkably the same however is the Porsche 911. With every passing generation it gets more powerful, with more technology and features than ever before, but it still has retained its iconic styling and rear-engined platform. The 911 is a revered model by enthusiasts and those disinterested in cars (could there really be such a thing?!) alike. But it wasn’t always this way – there was one point where Porsche expected the 911 would die out. Its replacement? The 928 GT, which launched in 1978. The 928 GT was the top-end model in the Porsche lineup when it debuted, entering a territory Porsche never played in before. While it proved to have much longevity (which is a good thing, given its high development budget), being in production from 1978 to 1995, it never replaced the 911. Now, it could be returning yet again – but this time there isn’t any delusions of the 911 going away. Autocar says a new 928 GT is on the table, for an introduction around the same time as the second-generation of the Panamera. That would peg the timeframe at around 2014 or 2015. One apparent issue with its introduction is production capacity at Porsche’s Leizpig plant, which produces the Panamera. The Panamera has been a successful seller, and the plant is already scheduled for a second vehicle line, the upcoming Cajun small SUV. The next-generation Panamera platform has the potential to be shared with other brands in the VW Group, like Bentley and Bugatti. That will reduce costs and increase economies of scale. A new 928 GT seems like the best new product line we’ve heard being discussed from Porsche in a long time. It makes sense – the GT market has grown significantly and is a ripe segment for Porsche to compete in. If Porsche is looking to expand in sales (which it clearly is) this sure seems like a good way to do it. Related posts: Porsche Panamera To Become Premium Offering For VW Porsche Panamera Hybrid Bows at Geneva Porsche Personalization adds Power and Pizazz to Panamera Read the original post:  Next-Generation Porsche Panamera Platform Could Underpin New 928

Right. Sure, I can understand this, but it still doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. When spy photos leaked a while back showing something that looked like an updated Lancia Stratos, the automotive world was abuzz. When it turned out to be true, and that the wealthy (okay, richer than Croesus) German fellow had the car built using a Ferrari F430 Scuderia as its base, our lust was justified on a more than looks alone. Then things got even better. There were growing rumors of a limited run of these beasts being available for us, the little people, to, if not purchase, then at least lust after. Sadly, our (lottery winning fueled) dreams have just been crushed, it would seem. Ferrari, makers of the F430 Scuderia have apparently said ” alcun modo all’inferno ” to the limited production run idea. The original Stratos was really the first purpose built rally car. Up until it rolled out of Bertone’s and Lancia’s shops back in 1971/72, the world of rallying was an arena for stuff like Citroen DSs and Volvo Amazons and Mini Coopers. Lancia bringing this thing to a rally competition was like someone bringing a rocket launcher to a knife fight. Not just in terms of looks alone (which are, to this day, stunning and modern), but also from a mechanical perspective. Sure, it had state of the art this and that, but it also had a full on Ferrari V6 residing under the rear clamshell. It did to its competition what Conan the Barbarian could only dream about: “Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.” Or, in the case of the Stratos, the lamentation of a bunch of Scandinavians who were getting beaten like gongs. Fast-forward forty years (give or take), and out comes this new “one off” Stratos. No, there were not any racing plans, so there was no lamentation from the likes of Sebastien Loeb or Petter Solberg. But there was a lot of lamentation from the likes of people like me when it turned out to be one guy’s ego trip. Sure, the rumored limited production run had me re-jiggering my list of cars I’d get when that Lotto ticket pays off, but that didn’t seem all that likely (both the limited run and me winning the lotto). So, in some ways, the mention that...

“The Ultimate Driving Experience” has taken more forms than ever with a luxury car line-up composed of coupes, sedans, convertibles and crossover vehicles. Introduced by BMW in 2004, the 1 Series became the newest entry-level car for the Bavarian motor company. In the North American market, we are used to seeing the BMW 1 Series in a coupe and most recent a convertible body style. Kept as a niche subcompact luxury car, car buyers in the United States and Canada remain largely oblivious that the 1 Series was first offered as 5-door hatchback. In Europe, highly practical 5-door and 3-door body style causes a definite split from the nimble, under-6 second sport compact BMW advertises for North America customers. In whatever body configuration, BMW refused to cut corners on applying the same level of quality engineering and workmanship to the 1 Series as with their highest-priced 5 or 7 Series. The BMW 1 Series endured almost 8 years as a classy compact car largely unchanged in styling. For the 2012 model year, the BMW 1 Series receives its first major design revision. Revealed on a 5-door version BMW 1 Series, the redesigned elements of the German compact car resides within a longer, wider footprint compared to its predecessor. The wheelbase of BMW’s new F20 platform is elongated by just under 1.2 inches for a length of about 105.9 inches in total. Said to be part of a more youthful look, the front end treatment with the new BMW 1 Series draws hints from the new 6 Series and the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Styled with BMW’s design trademarks including a long hood and kidney-shaped grille, the 1 Series’ front headlamp housings are given an aggressive, near quadratic shape. Optional bi-xenon lighting is available from the BMW 1 Series’ clear lens. Turn signal indicators of the 2012 model year 1 Series is embedded in the external mirrors said to be a first for BMW. Also relating to signal lighting, the new BMW 1 Series integrates dynamic brake lighting. When the brake pedal of the BMW 1 Series is pressed hard in a panic-like stop, the rear brake lights will flash to warn following motorists. For the European hatchback version, the BMW 1 Series is being presented as a Sport Line and Urban Line each offering their own personalization touches. Inside, the BMW 1...

“The Ultimate Driving Experience” has taken more forms than ever with a luxury car line-up composed of coupes, sedans, convertibles and crossover vehicles. Introduced by BMW in 2004, the 1 Series became the newest entry-level car for the Bavarian motor company. In the North American market, we are used to seeing the BMW 1 Series in a coupe and most recent a convertible body style. Kept as a niche subcompact luxury car, car buyers in the United States and Canada remain largely oblivious that the 1 Series was first offered as 5-door hatchback. In Europe, highly practical 5-door and 3-door body style causes a definite split from the nimble, under-6 second sport compact BMW advertises for North America customers. In whatever body configuration, BMW refused to cut corners on applying the same level of quality engineering and workmanship to the 1 Series as with their highest-priced 5 or 7 Series. The BMW 1 Series endured almost 8 years as a classy compact car largely unchanged in styling. For the 2012 model year, the BMW 1 Series receives its first major design revision. Revealed on a 5-door version BMW 1 Series, the redesigned elements of the German compact car resides within a longer, wider footprint compared to its predecessor. The wheelbase of BMW’s new F20 platform is elongated by just under 1.2 inches for a length of about 105.9 inches in total. Said to be part of a more youthful look, the front end treatment with the new BMW 1 Series draws hints from the new 6 Series and the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Styled with BMW’s design trademarks including a long hood and kidney-shaped grille, the 1 Series’ front headlamp housings are given an aggressive, near quadratic shape. Optional bi-xenon lighting is available from the BMW 1 Series’ clear lens. Turn signal indicators of the 2012 model year 1 Series is embedded in the external mirrors said to be a first for BMW. Also relating to signal lighting, the new BMW 1 Series integrates dynamic brake lighting. When the brake pedal of the BMW 1 Series is pressed hard in a panic-like stop, the rear brake lights will flash to warn following motorists. For the European hatchback version, the BMW 1 Series is being presented as a Sport Line and Urban Line each offering their own personalization touches. Inside, the BMW 1...

Exercising care with how they choose to portray their luxury car brand in the United States, Mercedes-Benz has maintained the C-Class as the closest entry-level offering. In Europe where smaller cars are a common sight on tighter roads, vehicles like the A-Class micro car has been trusted to wear the Mercedes-Benz tri-star badge despite being a more accessible product. Canadian customers have been catered with the larger but still compact B-Class wagon but plans to bring such a vehicle cross the border has not materialize for almost 6 years. After long hesitation, rumours are stronger than ever that the United States will receive the upcoming Mercedes-Benz B-Class as part of the German luxury car company‘s attempt to meet stricter CAFÉ standards. Providing a complete overview of what is expected in 2012 for the European model, indications are encouraging for what prospecting North American buyers can look forward to shortly. A compact sport wagon, the B-Class’ latest generation of development on the exterior is optimized for the reduction of aerodynamic resistance. Drag coefficient of the new compact car is rated at an ultra-slippery 0.26 rating (the exact same as the Toyota Prius). Utilizing the lowest possible roof height, the new B-Class involves a windshield carefully raked for airflow over top of the vehicle. Care by Mercedes-Benz brand engineers also went into the shaping of the outside mirrors. “Apart from an aerodynamically efficient basic design, these include numerous optimisation measures on points of detail, such as the air flow around the front wheels, the underbody design and the flow of cooling air.” says Daimler AG Head of Aerodynamics Dr. Terry Woll. Perhaps the most unique exterior design feature being introduced on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is the patent pending serrated wheel spoilers.     Almost 2 inches lower than the previous vehicle, interior space is kept abundant. Maintaining vehicle class-leading headroom, the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class features seating with more upright support compared to its predecessor. Optional EASY-VARIO-PLUS is an interior feature on the B-Class assisting in the maximization of cargo holding. With Mercedes-Benz’s EASY-VARIO-PLUS, the front passenger seat can be folded flat while the...

In the automotive world a battle has been raging since the early 1900′s on which one was better, the turbo or the supercharger. Like all epic battles- light beer or full flavor, regular or decaf, brunette or blond- some people just have an opinion and nothing will ever change that. The truth is turbos are members of the supercharger family, but they are worlds apart in the way they operate to deliver the extra horsepower we’re all looking for. Superchargers are distinct from turbos in they are mechanically driven units, whereas turbos get their boosting powers from exhaust gasses. The supercharger can be belt, gear, or chain driven like other automotive accessories including the alternator and the power steering. While this allows for instant power availability, nearly 1/3 of the engines efficiency is eaten up by the unit, leading to the supercharger being labeled parasitic. However, if efficiency is a secondary concern and response and power are paramount, then the supercharger rules. Supercharger A turbocharger, on the other hand, runs off of exhaust gasses produced by the car already, leading proponents to say that the turbo is actually more eco-friendly. In a 4-stroke internal combustion engine, the final stroke is exhaust. The hot gas that would normally travel down the tailpipe to mingle in the atmosphere is instead sent into a turbo where it spins a turbine which powers a compressor that will send pressurized air into the combustion chamber to achieve a more efficient burn. This sounds like it should be the hands down favorite, but it takes a while for the heated exhaust gases to build enough momentum to start the effective spinning of the turbine, giving poor performance at lower RPM’s. This is normally referred to as turbo lag or boost lag. The supercharger does give the driver immediate access to power, but the engine load it creates makes it a more cumbersome unit, even though at higher revolutions it will usually out perform a turbo- “A” turbo… Turbo The best set up according to Gale Banks in an interview he did with Jay Leno is to use two smaller turbos each injecting air into its own cylinder bank. While you still have the same draw backs as a single turbo, the lag is less significant and the power delivered is greater....

In the automotive world a battle has been raging since the early 1900′s on which one was better, the turbo or the supercharger. Like all epic battles- light beer or full flavor, regular or decaf, brunette or blond- some people just have an opinion and nothing will ever change that. The truth is turbos are members of the supercharger family, but they are worlds apart in the way they operate to deliver the extra horsepower we’re all looking for. Superchargers are distinct from turbos in they are mechanically driven units, whereas turbos get their boosting powers from exhaust gasses. The supercharger can be belt, gear, or chain driven like other automotive accessories including the alternator and the power steering. While this allows for instant power availability, nearly 1/3 of the engines efficiency is eaten up by the unit, leading to the supercharger being labeled parasitic. However, if efficiency is a secondary concern and response and power are paramount, then the supercharger rules. Supercharger A turbocharger, on the other hand, runs off of exhaust gasses produced by the car already, leading proponents to say that the turbo is actually more eco-friendly. In a 4-stroke internal combustion engine, the final stroke is exhaust. The hot gas that would normally travel down the tailpipe to mingle in the atmosphere is instead sent into a turbo where it spins a turbine which powers a compressor that will send pressurized air into the combustion chamber to achieve a more efficient burn. This sounds like it should be the hands down favorite, but it takes a while for the heated exhaust gases to build enough momentum to start the effective spinning of the turbine, giving poor performance at lower RPM’s. This is normally referred to as turbo lag or boost lag. The supercharger does give the driver immediate access to power, but the engine load it creates makes it a more cumbersome unit, even though at higher revolutions it will usually out perform a turbo- “A” turbo… Turbo The best set up according to Gale Banks in an interview he did with Jay Leno is to use two smaller turbos each injecting air into its own cylinder bank. While you still have the same draw backs as a single turbo, the lag is less significant and the power delivered is greater....

Mexico – it is a country with a lot of tourist attractions and home to some really good food. But what about cars? When you think of the Mexico, cars aren’t something that is associated with it. That is quite unlike countries like the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain or Italy. That is because there isn’t any car companies on the scene that hail from Mexico, despite many manufacturers having plants in the country. With that as a backdrop, a new Mexican company Mastretta is looking to burst onto the scene with its MXT sports car. It is the first Mexican designed, engineered and produced sports car. The MXT is powered by a 2.0-liter Ford Duratec four-cylinder mated to an MTX transaxle. The engine makes 250 horsepower and 251 pound feet of torque. It is powering the lightweight 2,050 pound MXT, which Mastretta says will hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 143 mph. The car uses aluminum and carbon fiber in the body and chassis to achieve a low curb weight. Lateral grip is pegged at 1.1G. The MXT debuted at the Paris Auto Show year. The car was originally scheduled to go into production a year ago, but the financial crisis delayed progress. Company founder David Mastretta was at the Guadalajara International Motor Show (SIAG) and commented to the press that the first car would be delivered to customers by the end of the month. Mastretta plans to produce 100 units this year, and 200 next year. About 30 percent of this output is going to be reserved for the Mexican home market. The rest will be sold around the world, including in North America if safety and environmental requirements can be met. The company appears to be waiting until it can achieve some international volume before it attempts to do that. Last we heard, the MXT would be priced at around $50,000-$60,000. Related posts: Ford exploits Mexican stereotypes, Eric Estrada to market 2011 Fiesta Nissan Electric Leaf For Mexico City Chinese Company Doesn’t Want Hummer After All See more here: Mexican Company Mastretta Puts MXT Sportscar Into Production

For all automakers, the need to build a recognizable image depends heavily on visibility of the brand and association with the vehicle. For niche market auto companies, the efforts to build a brand persona cannot depend on word of mouth or the overwhelming testimonials of ownerships. For exotic car companies, the way to provoke desirability in their product is often found in auto racing. Without doubt, the most effective sports car auto company using auto racing to promote their brand, the first Ferrari road cars were constructed and sold mainly to fund a founder Enzo Ferrari’s passion for motorsports. Making the most noise in Formula 1 and professional sports car racing, their outreach brought Ferrari to the pinnacle of exotic vehicle recognition. Starting in 1993, Ferrari began bringing their customers into the action of auto racing. Providing an extravagant connection to the spirit that spawned the Italian auto company, the Ferrari Challenge allows some caretakers of F430 and 458 Challenge-type cars the ability to race in competition with other Ferrari owners.     Holding 6 events in 2011, the Ferrari Challenge is staged for the seemingly mere thrill of speed. Maintained by Ferrari North America and the GrandAm organization, the Ferrari Challenge is meant for amateur racers only. While the fraternity of Ferrari owners is limited, the participation in the series is limited only to those possessing a Challenge prepared vehicle and drivers voted in by the Ferrari Challenge Committee. Along with providing selected owners access to professional race circuits including Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve grand prix track, a social element is attached to each race allowing comfort for those preferring the enchanting overflow of Ferrari red. For $110 US, any Ferrari owner can register as a VIP guest for a race day where high-class meals and hospitality rooms. Joining the Honda Indy of Toronto for 2011, the Ferrari Challenge drivers were granted the chance to open up the Italian-sourced supercars on streets commonly left open to commuters and everyday driving. Unrestricted with the absence of other vehicles as well as standard traffic laws, the Ferrari Challenge does exist under a tight set of rules. Unlike some production-based...

With its highest performance models, it seemed like Audi would keep them to its home market of Germany and other countries in Europe. That has changed though, with the RS5 and TT-RS coming to the United States. Audi launched an innovative campaign for the TT-RS that asked potential customers to express their interest. Following that, the car’s U.S-arrival was announced. Its a testament to Audi’s growing reach and sales numbers that the company is approving as many sports models as this. These halo models are no doubt important to Audi’s brand image though. After quite some time since the announcement, Audi has released pricing information for the new car. If you were expecting it to come cheap, you were mistaken. With performance figures like the TT-RS has though, that is to be expected. The car starts at $56,850, with the MSRP coming in well under the critical $60,000 mark. However, it could get close as that figure doesn’t include destination charges, taxes, title and dealer charges, not to mention any options. The TT-RS includes standard features like Audi’s magnetic ride, which constantly adapts to changing road conditions. The car has a sport mode that stiffens the suspension, increases throttle responsiveness and even changes the exhaust note via flaps in the exhaust system. Pretty neat stuff! The TT-RS is the first car to mark the return of Audi’s RS moniker in the U.S. The RS5 is soon to follow later. The car is powered by Audi’s award-winning turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder. It makes 360 horsepower and 343 pound feet of torque. Those numbers power the TT-RS to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Pretty amazing how quick cars are getting, this was supercar territory recently. Audi says this 0-60 number is the fastest in its class. That number is helped by Audi’s ASF aluminum and steel hybrid technology. The space frame for the TT-RS consists of 69% aluminum and 31% steel. That means a 48% weight reduction over a standard steel frame. Overall the TT-RS weighs in at 3,306 pounds. The TT-RS is hitting dealerships soon; Audi says it goes on sale this summer. Related posts: Audi Prices A7 Sportback at $59,250 Audi TT RS Speeds for the US Next Year Audi Releases R8 GT Spyder View post: 4.1 Second Dash To 60 MPH:...