The question is, though, if such a world will be one that preserves high performance driving fun despite $4-per-gallon gasoline or will blown sewing machines replace real engines. Over at GMnext,
team member Chris Terry makes the case for the 260 horsepower Ecotec turbo being used in lots of GM products.
By the way, people have been designing automotive tea sippers for years. Check out a retrospective on the microcar at Automotto.
Who buys Bugatti Veyrons? Car Nut reports one of the most recent purchasers is none other than American Idol's Simon Cowle.
Then there's another kind of rich, as in Ricardo Montalban's "rich corinthian leather" commercials for the Chrysler Cordoba. Chris Hafner at Car Lust kindly posts a video of one of Montalban's gems.
Looking for some Indy 500 tickets? Douglas Brown and colleagues at FastMachines.com have a little test you can take and maybe win those tickets. BTW, the test is, uh, challenging.
Speaking of Indy, here's my official prediction: Danica is having a smooth month, has shown solid speed all month, and is super motivated. I predict she makes history this year and puts her face on that Borg Warner trophy.
WHAT I'M DRIVING THIS WEEK: Audi S5 Quattro
Last week's Accord coupe was quick and fun, but the Audi S5 Quattro's fourth-gear surge from 80 mph to 120 mph and more is beyond splendid. The sound alone of the 354 horsepower, 4.2 liter V-8 is enough to turn any driver with a pulse into a speed addict, plus being a Quattro, the S5 is absolutely magical going around corners. And we haven't even mentioned the gorgeous two-door coupe exterior. Remember what Stuckie did in/to the Trans Am and GTO series? Imagine this thing in NASCAR. Inside Line's Michael Jordan was impressed, too.
By the way, people have been designing automotive tea sippers for years. Check out a retrospective on the microcar at Automotto.
Who buys Bugatti Veyrons? Car Nut reports one of the most recent purchasers is none other than American Idol's Simon Cowle.
Then there's another kind of rich, as in Ricardo Montalban's "rich corinthian leather" commercials for the Chrysler Cordoba. Chris Hafner at Car Lust kindly posts a video of one of Montalban's gems.
Looking for some Indy 500 tickets? Douglas Brown and colleagues at FastMachines.com have a little test you can take and maybe win those tickets. BTW, the test is, uh, challenging.
Speaking of Indy, here's my official prediction: Danica is having a smooth month, has shown solid speed all month, and is super motivated. I predict she makes history this year and puts her face on that Borg Warner trophy.
WHAT I'M DRIVING THIS WEEK: Audi S5 Quattro
Last week's Accord coupe was quick and fun, but the Audi S5 Quattro's fourth-gear surge from 80 mph to 120 mph and more is beyond splendid. The sound alone of the 354 horsepower, 4.2 liter V-8 is enough to turn any driver with a pulse into a speed addict, plus being a Quattro, the S5 is absolutely magical going around corners. And we haven't even mentioned the gorgeous two-door coupe exterior. Remember what Stuckie did in/to the Trans Am and GTO series? Imagine this thing in NASCAR. Inside Line's Michael Jordan was impressed, too.
estreka says:
04:08 PM, 05/18/08
GM needs to produce either the turbo 4 or the V6, not both. Bottomfeeder buyers don't care about power and having both lower engine options would only cannibalize sales and implement complexity where none be needed.
moparbad says:
05:44 PM, 05/18/08
Danica will crash.
ateixeira says:
08:41 AM, 05/19/08
I don't see Camaro customers being OK with a turbo 4.
Then again, I'm sure they've changed their mullet hair dos.
Just teasing! ;)
chris_terry says:
11:54 AM, 05/19/08
Estreka --
I'm Chris Terry, the GMnext blogger who originally posted this. To your comment re: I4 turbo vs six-cylinder turbo, I'd say there's plenty of room for both. Without getting too technical, downsized turbos have the advantage of operating "under load" more frequently, meaning the engine is working harder at larger throttle openings . . . this is a boon to efficiency (just like you'd use less water and electricity if you had a smaller washing machine but only used it when you could fill it up vs. a larger washing machine that was only half full, essentially the same concept). I think you'll see the U.S. market begin to look like the rest of the developed world's powertrain portfolio: naturally aspirated V8s will become V6 turbos for mainstream applications and naturally aspirated V6s will become I4 turbos. Good news is that you can tune them very differently for different applications. You can either fill and broaden the torque curve to make a 2.0 liter "feel" like a 3.0l liter (this is the Audi/VW mainstream turbo philosophy) or you can tune them to be quite sporty and jack peak horsepower and torque at the expense of driveabillity at lower rpm . .. although direct injection, when coupled to newer, quicker spooling turbos, makes this more and more a "no compromise" situation. Look at the Passat: 2.0 liter turbo four powering a vehicle that weighs in a more than 3,500 pounds.
estreka says:
01:17 PM, 05/19/08
Thanks for responding Chris.
Indeed turbo application are flexible. That's actually my reasoning for suggesting the elimination of the V6. With GM's turbo 4s putting out upwards of 250hp, a V6 would fill a very small gap (assuming the V8 puts out around 325hp). Now if the V8 is only available in an exceptionally powerful trim (say, a 400hp SS) then I could see a 300hp V6 being a necessary stopgap.
On the other hand, if the turbo 4 is geared toward fuel economy (and returning a paltry ~200hp), then a detuned V6 could fill a niche as well. But if the Camaro is as heavy as suggested, a 200hp variant would probably not make much sense.
jacqmoore says:
12:54 AM, 05/21/08
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