“Dodge Challenger SRT10″.

Got a helluva nice ring to it, dontcha think?

The current top-o-the-line Challenger, the SRT8, is a pretty beastly muscle car, one that delivered more than its rabid fans had expected. Quite frankly, its performance statistics are more than enough.

Dodge’s high octane SRT team apparently didn’t think so. I bet what happened is one day after work one of the SRT boys was a little more depressed than usual: the Viper is getting axed, performance now bows to mileage, the days of the muscle car is ending, etc. So he decided, screw it, if we’re going to go out, then we’re gonna go out with one hell of a bang.

Which left the question: how? Well I bet that was solved rather quickly, just get a bigger engine, and a bigger engine means only one thing: going to the Viper for its V-10.

Performance info and pics (including that of the Challenger SRT10 chillin’ with the Viper) after the jump.

The 8.4 liter V-10 engine boasts 600 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. No word yet on performance statistics, as this is just a show car. Exterior modifications include a functional carbon fiber shaker hood, a carbon fiber front splitter and rear deck, a new spoiler, Bilstein shocks, larger wheels, bigger brakes, and beastly quad exhaust tips. The interior is decked out in carbon fiber and features the push button engine start found in the Viper as well.

I certainly hope Dodge will consider building this, perhaps as a low-volume competitor to Ford’s Shelby GT500 KR.

Related posts:

1. 2008 Dodge Viper update
2. Dodge To Sell Viper (sob)
3. Spied: 2008 Dodge Viper – 650 horsepower?

This is what happens when you combine a modern muscle car with some good ol’ nostalgia.

The LS7 Concept was inspired by the COPO Camaros of the late 1960s. For those who are unfamiliar with the “COPO” designation, it was made famous by motorheads like Don Yenko in the late 60s. What happened was you could walk into any Chevy dealership and decide you wanted a COPO Camaro for drag racing. You checked the box, and a beastly race-bred Camaro was yours, fitted out with the requisite goods like drag racing tires, the standard safety equipment, suspension, roll bars, basically all you needed to dominate those puttering Mustangs at the track.

As is self evident, the LS7 badge means that GM has decided to stick a big, fat, 550 horsepower middle finger to the evironment, the economy, and all those advocators of GM’s and the muscle car’s deaths. GM has also thrown in a 6-speed Tremec manual transmission, a Hurst shifter, Brembo brakes all-around, performance exhaust, 20 inch wheels, and lowered ride height.

Keep in mind that the Chevrolet Camaro is the official car of SEMA this year, so stay tuned for more Camaro concepts.

More pics of the LS7 after the jump, as well as some live shots.

Related posts:

1. 2010 Camaro GS Racecar Concept At SEMA
2. Kia Koup Concept at SEMA 2008
3. Chevy El Camaro

No, no, no!

Say it ain’t so! This is terrible news!

Dodge is apparently going to begin negotiations for the sale of its “Viper” nameplate. Chrysler has always been the most anemic of the Big Three, and with Ford and GM both hit hard by the economy crisis, I can only imagine what the situation is like at Chrysler’s big brass. Must be hell.

But this is sad, terrible news, even though it was kind of expected. I had always hoped that Chrysler would find a way to keep the Viper alive, maybe as a low volume, limited production a year type of image car. But the financial strain was apparently too great, and now its the Viper that is under the axe.

This is personally rather distressing for me, as the Viper has always held a special spot in my heart (and that of many others). Though the Viper and Corvette have always blood enemies in competition, I hold them both in equal esteem and adoration. To me, they symbolize the epitome of the American muscle car, that is to say, a no frills, rude, obnoxious, rough, aggressive, and above all, powerful car. The Corvette and the Viper aren’t elegant, they aren’t refined, they have absolutely no finesse— instead they’re just dominant, raw, and beastly, and that scares the crap out of everyone else.

To hear that the Viper, an icon of Dodge and of America, is going to be sold… well, my day just got a little less bright. I hear that it might be sold to a tuning company, or a group of investors, whatever it is, I hope that at least in stays in America (if it becomes the Tata Viper I’ll shoot myself). The look might stay the same, the badge and performance might remain, but it will no longer be the Dodge Viper, and that’s a damn shame.

Related posts:

1. 2008 Dodge Viper update
2. SEMA 2008: Dodge brings a Viper powered Challenger
3. Spied: 2008 Dodge Viper – 650 horsepower?

Times change. It used to be that a car was measured in terms of torque and horsepower, then the focus became more on horsepower, and then the Veyron came out, and everything became measured in terms of top speed. Then gas hit four bucks a gallon, so now it’s all about mileage. So I’ll give you the crucial, most important news about the new Camaro first: It gets an EPA estimated 26 miles to the gallon. With conservative driving (e.g. not going 80 mph in a 60 mph zone) that number can rise to the low 30’s. So that’s the important news, the real juicy stuff, and if you still care about such mundane items as performance, which is just sooo déclassé, then here is the Nürburgring time for the Camaro SS— 8:20.

But back to the important stuff, like carbon emissions…whoa. Wait a minute. An 8:20 on the ‘Ring? Damn! That’s pretty good, considering the rather hefty curb weight and almost complete disregard to aerodynamics of the Camaro.

I hope you realized that I was kidding about all that performance-isn’t-important-anymore stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for high mpg and environmentally green cars, but I’ve just gotten so sick of hearing eco-weenies whining and bitching about how automakers are destroying the planet, and condemning the Big Three for making gas slurping trucks and SUVs, that I’m glad that GM, Ford, and Chrysler can rise above the criticism and still make powerful, beastly muscle machines. Performance is still a crucial aspect of an automobile, at least for me, because it’s the only factor that prevents everything from becoming a plodding, boring little Japanese car.

Back to the Camaro’s ‘Ring time, to put the 8:20 into perspective, the Chevy Cobalt SS, the BMW E46 M3, and the new BMW M Coupe all posted a time of 8:22, with the Lotus Exige S and Porsche Cayman S running it in 8:25.

Autoblog’s got some more pictures.

Related posts:

1. Chevy El Camaro
2. GeigerCars Chevy Camaro SS Compressor
3. SEMA 2008: Camaro LS7 Concept

Check out these two comparisons by Car and Driver and Motor Trend. Both feature the all new Dodge Challenger, and in both tests, the Challenger was pitted against its only current rival— the Mustang. Now, since the Dodge will only be sold in SRT8 trim for this year (the most powerful of the bunch), it’s only fair that it competes against an equally powerful Mustang. Car and Driver chose the Mustang Bullitt, and Motor Trend selected the Shelby GT500.

The Mustang was the first true muscle car in a few decades, and its retro fifth generation design stole the hearts of many consumers (and a good chunk of their change). The Mustang has been the undisputed champ, partly because it was a good car, but mostly because it had the segment all to itself. Now, however, the old ‘Merican pony is going to have to fight for its title, with the new Dodge Challenger the first to strike, and the Mustang’s most feared rival, the Chevy Camaro, due to brawl with both of them in 2009. From the looks of things, it’s going to be one heckuva fight.

Go to the links above for the comparisons, if you could care less about the tests but just want the results, I’ll have the gist of both tests, the winners, and a lot more pics after the jump.

Car and Driver’s Test

Their Challenger was a fiery muscle machine decked out in Hemi Orange, and the classic styling— the long hood short deck, squared off nose and back, and the humps over the wheels— is a toss back to the heydays of the American car. The Mustang Bullitt is actually a Mustang GT that went through the $3,310 Bullitt package. It is the exact opposite of the Challenger, opting for a more stealthy, under-estimated menace look. It comes draped in dark Highland Green, and grayed out wheels and the lack of flashy badges make this one mean machine.

The Bullitt isn’t just a visual mod, ’cause the Mustang’s performance gets beastly when the Bullitt badges are slapped on. The engine is a ___liter V-8 with 315 horsepower and ___ pound-feet of torque. This stealthy pony blasts from 0-60 in 5 seconds flat, and has a top speed of ___mph. Not too bad, but is it good enough to take on the Challenger? Well, the numbers say no. The Dodge’s 6.1 liter V-8 has 425 horses and 420 pound-feet torque, and together they get this machine to 60 in 4.8 seconds, as tested by Car and Driver, and on to a top speed of 170 mph.

Interior-wise, the Bullitt is nicer than the stock GT’s, but its use of plastics and overall simple feel instantly mark it as a Mustang. Exclusive to the Bullitt is a replicated engine-turned swirly design for the dash, and the aluminum ball that sits atop of the shifter. The Challenger’s interior was favored by Car and Driver, who praised the better seats and the roomier set-up.

Car and Driver did have complaints with both, and the biggest strike against the Bullitt was its uncomfortable ride, and the overall “racket of driving”. The only real Challenger criticism is its price tag, which at $40,208, is about $5,000 more than the Bullit’s. On the other hand, the Bullitt’s highlights include the snorty sound of the V-8, the smooth clutch, and the sheer joy of pure driving. The Challenger scored high marks with its beastly engine and performance, and its classy looks.

Motor Trend’s Test

Motor Trend’s Challenger came in silver, and is not as attention demanding (some might say obnoxious) as the bright orange one. The Shelby GT500, on the other hand, is undoubtedly hotter in blazing red with slick white racing stripes.

The GT500, though based on the outdated live axle platform, is a complete beast when it comes to performance— its screeching 5.4 liter V-8 pumps out 540 horses and 480 pound-feet of torque, and it blasts to 60 in a stupendous 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of an electronically limited 155 mph. The Challenger, though outgunned, still ain’t no wimp, and it uses its 6.1 liter V-8 (yeah, it’s a Hemi), to produce 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet torque. It scoots to 60 in a respectable 4.7 seconds, and to a top speed of 170 mph, all with the good ol’ American rumble of the classic V-8, compared with the less appealing supercharged whine of the GT500.

For the interior, Motor Trend was rather disappointed with the Challenger, and I am too. Seems like we both expected a cabin closer to that of the concept’s. But, of course, for some reason the Big Three can’t make a concept into a production model without making it worse. While the concept featured retro touches and flashier trim, the SRT8’s interior looks like it was lifted from a Charger or 300C, and just doesn’t look like it belongs in such a good looking machine. Motor Trend also laments the big ugly steering wheel, and preferred the sportier three-spoke version of the GT500’s. However, like Car and Driver they love the beefy leather seats.

Motor Trend didn’t give any opinions on the GT500’s interior, so I’ll inject some of my own. The whole cabin is a lot more attractive than the Challenger’s, which is plain and boring, not befitting of a top of the line SRT8. The Shelby, on the other hand, features blazing red seat and door panel inserts. Flashier trim and sportier steering wheel land this Mustang up front. Plus, it’s got that cool, evil little Cobra badge on the steering wheel to give a better first impression.

As for Motor Trend’s criticisms, the main one against the Mustang is its use of the outdated live axle platform, especially when compared to the Challenger’s fully independent suspension. Motor Trend did praise the GT500’s superior speed, acceleration, and handling. The biggest strike against the Challenger was the fact that it was almost too well-mannered. They wanted an exhaust with more crackle and boom. They also slammed the Dodge for not having a manual. I agree, as every muscle car, as a matter of fact, every performance car should be a manual. Automatics belong only in family sedans, compacts, and worthless things like SUVs and trucks.

Verdict

So who won? Car and Driver, after much deliberation, chose the Challenger. Better performance, better looks, and a better interior means it outscores the Bullitt in everything, though it was a close call.

Motor Trend, who compared the Challenger to the GT500, which is faster, more powerful, and more expensive, gave the number one to the Challenger as well. Perhaps the best way of stating why the Challenger won on both accounts is what Motor Trend said—

“It’s one of the closest comparo calls we’ve made of late, but the nod goes to the all-new Challenger from Dodge. The Shelby GT500 remains a fast and compelling piece, but the Challenger is simply a better-sorted automobile, a 20th-century icon reborn with 21st-century sophistication and poise”.

So the Dodge Challenger, which is brand new, managed to beat the Mustang on two tests. How did that happen? Well, in addition to the reasons given by both Car and Driver and Motor Trend, I think that people just got bored with the Mustang. Ever since its introduction in 1964, it has been ever present, a familiar face that is getting too familiar. The Challenger, on the other hand, looks good, is powerful, but more than that it’s new, and people are interested. That’s also why the new Camaro is so hounded by the press, because it looks good, it’s a muscle car, but most importantly, it is new, something different from the common Mustang.

Speaking of the Camaro, Dodge had better not get too confident from these wins and think the Camaro will be a pushover, ’cause GM won’t spare anything to make the new Camaro the best yet. So, as Motor Trend put it, “Kudos, Dodge, but remember: Don’t spare the sizzle for 2009. Retro Round Two, Challenger versus Camaro, will be here before you can say ‘time warp’”.

Challenger vs. Mustang Bullitt

Price (as tested): $40,208/ $31,525

Engine: 6.1 liter V-8/

Top Speed: 170 mph/

Horsepower: 425/ 315

Torque: 420 lb-ft/

0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds/ 5 seconds

Mileage: 13 city, 18 highway/ 15 city, 23 highway

Challenger vs. Shelby GT500

Price (as tested): $41,158/ $47,210

Engine: 6.1 liter V-8/ 5.4 liter supercharged V-8

Top Speed: 170 mph/ 155 mph (electronically limited)

Horsepower: 425/ 540

Torque: 420 lb-ft/ 480 lb-ft

0-60 mph: 4.7 seconds/ 4.3 seconds

Mileage: 13 city, 18 highway/ 14 city, 20 highway

Car and Driver Pics

Motor Trend Pics

Related posts:

1. SEMA 2008: Dodge brings a Viper powered Challenger
2. Dodge Shows us the 2008 Challenger SRT8
3. 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Review

Happy Fourth of July to all you car buffs out there!

Since the Fourth of July is a celebration of America and all things American (except maybe gas prices), I’ve put together this little Fourth of July Special, an article dedicated to all American cars. I actually got the idea from Car and Driver, and you can see their article here. Anyway, this is compromised of what I believe are the current finest examples of the American automobile. Not all are in production, but those that aren’t will be. I chose these cars because they herald the new “era” of the Big Three, , who are just beginning to make cars that you actually want. So if you’re a car buff and you love your country, this might just make you proud to be an American again, and just in time for the Fourth of July. And if you aren’t American, these cars might just make you wish you were.

You might not agree with all the choices, and if there is a car you disagree with or if there is one you think should be on the list, any and all comments are welcome. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion of cars that have that good ol’ American feel— and make me proud to be an American.

Dodge Challenger

Dodge’s new all muscle car is sure a thing to be proud about. Retro styled in the classic Dodge way, the Challenger is big, heavy, and powerful. The long hood short deck formula, the humps over the wheels, and its square front and end make it instantly recognizable as an American muscle car. And yeah, it’s got that classic Hemi V-8.

Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 KR

Ford’s fifth generation Mustang is a great retro styled car, and the Shelby GT500 is better, but I like the GT500 KR the most. Not only is the best looking and the most vicious Cobra Mustang to ever come from Ford and Shelby, but it is also the most powerful and the most expensive stock Mustang made. It’s beastly 540 horsepower engine and 80 grand price is a classic example of sheer, undiluted excess— and it is everything a true, high-performance American Mustang should be.

Chevrolet Camaro

Due to hit showrooms in 2010 is the Mustang’s most feared rival, the Chevy Camaro. Its production will complete the return of the Big Three muscle car set. When the Camaro was first released in 1967, the press asked Chevy what a Camaro was. To which Chevy officials responded, “It’s a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs”. With a 400 horsepower V-8, I can’t wait till it comes out.

Update: 2010 Chevy Camaro 1LT Review

Chevrolet Malibu

I don’t much like the Malibu’s looks, but I can’t help but admire what it has accomplished. Far removed from the ugly predecessor, the new Malibu is a great family sedan that offers sharp looks, quality fit and finish, and an overall good package that has got the best of Toyota, Nissan, and Honda worried.

Cadillac CTS and CTS-V (and Coupe Versions)

The new CTS is just one example of the good things that are going on in GM. Completely redesigned, it easily competes with and bests the competitors from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and other luxury sedan brands. The CTS-V (pictured) is even better, offering more aggressive looks and a lot more power. It just may be the fastest sedan in history, and has got even such icons as BMW’s M3 and Mercedes’ C63 AMG running scared. The Coupe version is basically the same, only with a sportier profile.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The Corvette is already the epitome of the American muscle car, and it offers the best bang for the buck of any car in the world. It’s one of the most revered sports cars in the world, and can compete with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini at a mere fraction of their price. Apparently, that wasn’t good enough, so GM charged Chevy with making the most insane Corvette ever. The upcoming Corvette ZR1 is an absolute beast, with 638 raging horses powering it to 205 mph, making it the fastest car GM has ever built.

Saturn Sky Red Line

It’s not often that you see an exciting Saturn, indeed, this is the first one. The Saturn Sky Red Line a is head-turning roadster that is one of GM’s best looking cars in many years. It not only outperforms most of the competition, but it also gets relatively good mileage as well, with 22/31 mpg.

Chevrolet Volt

GM used to be the largest car company in the world, with the most net profit, until Toyota came and knocked them off their perch. The main reason was because GM was dumb and made SUVs and elected not to make hybrids, while Toyota saw the long term investment and decided to make fuel efficient cars. GM is now finally making a serious effort to combat the Japanese manufacturers in the hybrid realm, and the Volt may be just the tool to do that. The basic idea is that it is a hybrid, and can travel for 40 miles without using a single drop of gas. Now, that’s great, but I pray GM doesn’t go ahead and make it $40,000, which Bob Lutz said might happen.

Pontiac Solstice GXP (and Coupe Version)

Pontiac has been sort of like Buick and Saab these past years— you know they exist, but you don’t really see them and you think about them even less. There’s never any news on Pontiac ’cause no one cares about Pontiacs anymore, right? Well, Pontiac, for one, disagrees, and they do it in the form of the Solstice. Yeah, I know, the Solstice has been around for awhile, but it recently got a lot of attention in the form of the Solstice Coupe. Now, people are talking about Pontiac again, and with good reason— the Solstice and the Coupe are sexy and powerful, so what’s not to like?

Related posts:

1. American BEAST— The Corvette ZR1 Official Pricing and Performance Specs
2. GM Kills Pontiac – Focuses on Boring Brands
3. Cars That Shouldn’t Exist – Pontiac G5

From the day the Corvette ZR1 was announced, it was going to be the fastest and most expensive stock Corvette in history. With it, GM was finally going to enter the supercar arena, and compete with the likes of such icons as Ferrari and Lamborghini. With 638 horsepower and 604 lb-ft. of torque, the ZR1 features the most powerful engine ever built by GM. The Corvette has always been a symbol of the American muscle car, and the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is American muscle at its finest.

GM has just released some more info on the ZR1. Pricing is to start at $105,000. A nicely equipped ZR1 will set you back about an extra $10,000. Throw in another $2,000 for the chrome wheels (Buying tip: Always get the chrome wheels, if possible. Always.) and you have yourself one expensive Corvette, with a price tag that hovers around $117,000. But from the looks of things, it sure as hell is worth it:

New performance info has got me salivating. Top speed will be 205 mph, which is in true supercar territory. 0-60 will come in just 3.4 seconds. This is all due to the ZR1’s beastly 6.2 liter V-8. The best part, however, is that those numbers probably aren’t true. Remember that GM first announced the ZR1 would have 620 horsepower, and 600 lb-ft. of torque. Then they slapped us all silly by releasing the official numbers: 638 pumping horses and 604 lb-ft. of torque. GM has underestimated the performance numbers for the CTS-V as well, and I hope they err on the side of caution again. I would very much like for the ZR1 to have a top speed of around 210, and a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds or so.

So what does all this mean? Well for starters, the ZR1 will be competing with a brand new set of cars, simply because the Z06’s competitors just can’t keep up. The Viper— crushed underfoot. Porsche 911 Turbo— decimated. The Nissan GT-R, which has got everyone hysterically yelling “Corvette Killer”— completely and thoroughly annihilated. Now, this doesn’t mean that the above cars will be freed from the Corvette altogether, because the 2009 Z06 delivers even more power and will have everyone else, once again, playing second fiddle.

As for the looks of the car, I was somewhat disappointed. When I first heard about it, I expected a new generation Corvette, but the ZR1 builds on the Z06, which looks pretty sick already. The first thing most people notice is the hood. Not only is it mores muscular in design, but it also features a clear window at the top, which lets the whole world see its aluminum engine, embossed with the words “LS9 SUPERCHARGED” on each side. This is just so completely arrogant, and so completely vain, and so completely awesome. The ZR1 also has a two part fender air scoop that looks more aggressive than the Z06’s. Lastly, raw carbon fiber is used in a lot of places, such as on the roof, on the underside of the hood, on the rocker molding, the front spoiler, and in numerous other places.

As for the interior, it’s not all that different from the Z06’s. The badges are different, and the “ZR1″ is everywhere, from the door sills to the headrest embroidery to the tachometer gauge, just in case you forgot what you happened to be sitting in.

And, of course, in a world where gas is at the insane price of $4.54 a gallon (in San Diego at least), the ZR1 is a lot more fuel efficient that many of its competitors, with an EPA estimate of 14/20. Now, that sucks, but some of the competitors are even worse. For example, a Ferrari 599 has 11/15, a Lambo Murcie has 8/13, and an Aston Martin V-8 Vantage gets 12/19. The Porsche 911 GT3, however, beats the ZR1 with 15/22. The ZR1, however, beats it in everything else.

So you can outperform a Porsche, look cooler than an Aston Martin, and get more miles per gallon than a Ferrari or a Lambo, all in a Chevy Corvette

Doesn’t that just make you proud to be an American?

Specs

Price: $105,000

Engine: 6.2 liter supercharged V-8

Top Speed: 205 mph

Horsepower: 638

Torque: 604 lb-ft.

0-60 mph: 3.4 seconds

Mileage (mpg): 14 city/ 20 highway

Related posts:

1. GM Recalling Over 20,000 Corvette C6s
2. LOMA-Performance – Corvette C6.BlackforceOne
3. 2007 Corvette Z06 Gets a Price Hike, New Color

Ahhh….the sound of 454 cubic inches of raw untamed muscle coursing through my body, beckoning me to summon all of its inner demons with each crack of the throttle. Almost forgetting the laws of the land, I release the clutch, smash down on the “loud” pedal, and let rip every pony that existed in that motor all at once, singing to the tune of five thousand rpm, snapping both rear tires loose in a ballet of sideways movements that even the best ice skater would envy.

To look back on the time that you could actually do that and be admired by your friends and neighbors would take you to the days that you could buy one of the beast muscle cars for under four grand. People nowadays have spent years, countless hours a day and a ton of rolled up quarters and dimes to make that once famous entry into “cool” another reality. Although theres a simple solution that has come about within the last 10 years of automotive development.

Its the NEW age muscle cars!! Cant put together that 68 Camaro sitting in your garage for the past 22 years? Buy a brand new one! With front and side airbags even. Want that rush of power that you missed since high school but cant seem to get it from your wifes minivan? Buy the new Dodge Charger!! Comes complete with a HEMI for all you wheel spinners out there.

What I’m getting at is that car companies are building our once beloved and most prized possessions for the lucky few that can afford them. Will this have an impact on your project car? Will this directly hit you in the wallet for resale value? Who knows. All I can say is that I really enjoy driving them. For the sake that I wasn’t around in the 60’s to really see what these cars were like off the showroom floors, I am given the chance to see several things with car companies building new hotrods and muscle cars.

I see that America, no matter how broke we are as a country, still has a grasp on what is cool to us, and that we are being thought about as owners and collectors of things that take us back to a better time and place. Nevermind the fact that filling once of these fuel hogs up is still costly, we forget all about that when we sit behind the wheel of that one car we never could have growing up.

So here’s the question…if history repeats itself, are we going to lose yet another era of cars that sacrificed practicality for fun? Or are we going to see this trend continue for further generations to enjoy? Think about this…cars wont fly like in the movies. I say keep building the oldies, bring back American heritage, and lastly….don’t forget about the big kids out there that still love to do that tire spinning ballet from time to time.

Related posts:

1. Lamborghini Not Going Retro
2. Digital Gauges From Retro Cars
3. Plymouth Superbird Worth $3 million?

It’s called the Turkey Run, and this will be the 33rd year it’s been around. They are expecting around 5,500 vehicles this year including classics, customs, sports cars, street rods, muscle cars, race cars and trucks, as well as a car raffle and swap meet going on.

• November 22nd – 26th, 2006
• 8AM-4PM Daily
• Thurs, Fri & Sat – $15
• Sun – $10
• Kids 11 and under – Free

Turkey Run 2006

Also check out the site for info on pre-registraion, hotels, other stuff in the area, etc. Anybody who goes, let me know how it went.

Related posts:

1. Aluminum-bodied Daytona Coupe Repro Available Soon
2. Happy Anniversary Daytona
3. Newman/Penske Win Daytona 500

The last true muscle car of its generation rolls off the line in Australia by Holden. The Pontiac GTO was a beast of a car, but was expensive. And let’s face it, it looked kind of boring, at least before 2006. The performance was far from boring though; the car traveled from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and was powered by a 400hp V8. That’s fast, but not quite fast enough to justify the $33,290 price tag, not to mention very few incentives. Bye-bye GTO.

Related posts:

1. Infiniti to Reveal 2011 M in a Live Webcast – You’re Invited
2. GM Kills Pontiac – Focuses on Boring Brands
3. Pontiac Conference Call Regarding the Phase-Out

GM just released a new video showcasing the Camaro Concept. I would be lying if I said this video is of the Camaro “in action.” For a RWD car with 400hp, this is the most BORING video I’ve ever seen. Not one burnout. Not one donut. Not one powerslide. I swear they didn’t go over 10 mph throughout the whole movie. It does deserve some credit however, the car sounds great. I’m sure the driver was just itching to punch the accelerator.

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The long hood, short deck and wide stance of the Camaro Concept leave no doubt that it is a serious performance car. Those looks are backed up by a 400-horsepower aluminum small-block V-8, a six-speed manual transmission, and a sophisticated chassis with four-wheel independent suspension

Update: 2010 Chevy Camaro 1LT Review

Related posts:

1. SEMA 2008: Camaro LS7 Concept
2. Forget the Z28 – Hennessey Releases the HPE550 Camaro
3. 2010 Camaro GS Racecar Concept At SEMA

That brings me to my next point. Hertz plans to trade these cars off to the Ford dealerships after 16,000 to 18,000 miles. Now I’m sure these are going to go for top dollar at the dealerships, but I would steer clear of them. I’m sure many are going to get the “Let’s see how hard we can run this until it blows” syndrome.

This time around though it seems Ford learned a little something. With the original GT350’s in the 70’s, some customers were known to swap out engines and even weld roll cages to the chassis. Ford now has security measures to insure this doesn’t happen again.

Related posts:

1. The Only Shelby Mustang GT-H Sold for $250,000
2. Ford Revives Mustang Boss With 302R & 302R1
3. Propane-Powered Mustang Drag Racers From Roush

When the two were lined-up on the dragstrip, the GT-R powered pony ran the quarter mile in 13.32 seconds and 109.83 MPH – over 1.2 seconds quicker and 13 MPH faster than the Ford V8. I’m sure that left some blue-oval purists hanging their heads. I suppose I would be OK with either of them in my garage.

Related posts:

1. Propane-Powered Mustang Drag Racers From Roush
2. GeigerCars Tunes the Mustang GT500
3. Nissan GT-R Debut – Tokyo Motor Show