Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
It was one of the original performance hatchbacks and it has survived for more than two decades in various states of tune. Offered for the first time as a sedan in 2006 as a 2007 model, the Honda Civic Si has been largely overshadowed by the more powerful sport sedans from Mitsubishi and Subaru.
Sure, they're faster, but they're also heavier and more expensive. The Civic Si remains one of the few lightweight performance cars that makes the best of a high-revving four-cylinder engine. In this case, it's a 197-horsepower 2.0-liter with dual overhead cams and Honda's i-VTEC system.
All Civics received a mild face-lift for 2009, but this Si is no faster, as all the upgrades were either cosmetic or electronic. Still, with a six-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential and an 8,000 rpm redline, the Si remains a performance bargain for $23K. See what our test drivers thought of its track performance after the jump.
Tony George will no longer serve as president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his family's biz. This follows last month's report that George had been ousted from his position at an annual meeting, which his family wholeheartedly denied.
CFO Jeffrey Belskus is the new CEO of IMS Corp., and the current vice president and chief legal counsel W. Curtis Brighton is the new president and CEO of Hulman & Co. (the company that purchased the IMS back in 1945). The changes will take effect July 1.
Tony will remain on the Board of Directors for all the companies, and will now focus on his ownership of the Vision Racing IndyCar Series team.
Audi has released its latest Multi-Media Interface (MMI), which is set to debut in the 2010 A3, TT and R8. The updated system gets an improved screen resolution and an "unmatched" route calculation thanks to a new processor clocked at 600MHz. The radio-navigation system, version E, will be able to read 32 gig SD memory cards.
Operation-wise, the driver and passenger can scroll vertically, horizontally and now even along the route. The "optical parking assistant" feature is also new, which displays the distance the front and rear is from an object on top of the standard Audi-o bleeps.
The system is estimated to start at $3,200, and you can check out the full release here.
BMW has improved its navigation "Search" feature to provide online access to up-to-date fuel prices, weather forecasts and, for those looking for a constant reminder of how much money they're losing, the major stock indices as well.
New and existing nav subscribers will have to purchase the optional BMW Assist Convenience Plan on BMW Assist and BMW Navigation system-equipped 2009 and 2010 models to get the service.
The General Motors bankruptcy proceedings are wrapping up today and the judge is expected to let this one sail through much like Chyrsler's reorganization. GM will be split into an "old" company saddled with all the problems, and a "new" GM that will emerge with few brands and none of the legacy issues that have plagued the company for decades.
Sounds great right? Well, maybe not. Bill Visnic of AutoObserver breaks down what's left of the "good" GM and doesn't find much to get excited about. Although Chevrolet looks like it can become a strong brand, Buick and GMC are big question marks. Even Cadillac has a tough road ahead gives its limited lineup and dependence on large cars and SUVs. Kind of makes you wonder if this whole government sponsored bankruptcy thing is really doing us any favors.
Do you find that the standard Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560-4 has too short a name? Or too many driven wheels? Is it too common? Does it not have enough Balboni?
Well friend, has your ship ever come in! Lamborghini just announced a special-edition Gallardo, called the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni. Let's break that down for you.
The "550" stands for the horsepower output of the 'boni's 5.2-liter V10 engine. Yes, that's 10 fewer than the Gallardo LP 560-4.
The "2" means that unlike other Gallardos, this Balboni edition has but two driven wheels (that would be the rear ones, if you were wondering). Lamborghini says, "...controlled oversteer is no problem." Indeed, it's typically the other variety of oversteer that concerns us.
The "Valentino Balboni" stands for Valentino Balboni. Balboni is the legendary Lamborghini test driver that's been with the company since old man Lamborghini hired him in 1967. (He's the one on the left in the picture above.)
What else do you want to know? The suspension was modified for duty in the Balboni. There will be only 250 constructed. The suggested retail price in the U.S. is $219,800. All Balboni's come with the white-and-gold stripes as seen here, regardless of which of the eight body colors one chooses. The interior has more leather than a standard Gallardo and with the white stripes in the seats looks a bit like a 2010 Mustang GT. We presume that was unintentional.
It's been in the works since the day Obama took office and now it's official. California can now set its own standards for vehicle emissions, a change that effectively allows the state to regulate fuel mileage.
Several states have already said they will follow California's lead in this area, so the new rules are expected to become a national standard in the near future.
Looks like Consumer Reports has finally caught up with reality. In its latest review of the 2010 Honda Insight, the magazine takes the car to task calling it a, "noisy, stiff-riding car with clumsy handling." First time in a hybrid CR?
As much as we appreciate the technology offered by vehicles like the Prius and the Insight, we've always considered them a huge compromise. You don't get that kind of mileage without giving up a few things, it's not a free ride. Unfortunately, many of the things hybrids ditch in the name of mileage are the very things that make driving enjoyable. Looks like CR isn't ready to make the trade just yet.
This is one new problem GM is more than happy to discuss. Yesterday, officials told Inside Line news that demand for the Camaro has outstripped supply, forcing the company to work overtime at its Oshawa production plant.
According to GM, SS models account for about 70% of its current orders. Black is also the most popular color as 25% of all models are ordered that way. "We think this may stem from the SEMA Black Concept, which was the most popular GM car at SEMA last year," Chevrolet spokesman Adam Denison told Inside Line.
If Hyundai eventually fails in the U.S. market, it won't be for any lack of trying. The company that brought you the 100,000-mile warranty and job-loss protection is now taking the incentives game one step further with guaranteed gas.
Buy any new Hyundai (Genesis models excluded) and the company will lock in your gas at $1.49 for the first year of ownership. Owners will get a gas card that only charges them the set rate and Hyundai will pay the rest. We're guessing it'll go over a little better than Hummer's attempt last year.
This is one of the dyno rooms at the AMG's headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany. Strapped to the stand on this particular occasion was the 6.3-liter V8 headed for duty in the upcoming SLS gullwing coupe. It's expected to generate 571-horsepower and 507 pound-feet of torque when it goes into production early next year.
According to our editor on the scene, AMG puts all of its engines through a test procedure that includes 800 hours of wide-open throttle operation, pausing only to sample the oil and change dynamometer operators every 20 hours. Yes, that's over a month of full throttle operation before the engine is signed off. That should make anyone who drives an AMG vehicle a little less squeamish about hitting the redline every once in awhile.
While JD Power is busy counting problems with vehicles, a company called Strategic Vision says it surveys owners on the totality of their experience in the first year or two of ownership -- both the good and the bad. Hence, the 2009 "Total Quality" Awards.
"The Total Quality Index was calculated from 20,101 buyers who bought 2008 & 2009 models in September to December of 2008," says the company in a press release.
Strategic Vision says that Mini, ranked last by JD Power for Initial Quality in 2009, was the top-rated brand in its survey. Alas, there's no mention of the brand whose owners are least enthusiastic.
The company has also announced winners in 17 vehicle categories listed after the jump.
This semi-regular column is written (in his own blood) by an automotive sage and noted malcontent, known as The Mechanic. Mercilessly beaten as a child with rolled-up back issues of old car magazines, our free-spoken hero developed a unique "for your own good" take on cars and the auto industry, along with an unfortunate habit of setting himself ablaze. Later, after a distinguished career as an automotive journalist and magazine editor, he cast off the reins of his musty oppressors, carved out his superego with a plastic spork and became The Mechanic.
Phone rings: It's Uncle Bubba calling, which he does a lot now that he has one of those Jitterbug cell phones they advertise in the AARP magazines that have numbers so big you can see them from space. Used to be he would have to wake up six or seven innocent citizens with wrong numbers before he finally got The Mechanic. Or the liquor store that delivers.
So Uncle Bubba says: "I was watching Katie Couric the other night and she said, near as I can remember, 'Yadayadayada CASH FOR CLUNKERS yadayadayada.' It occurred that we have clunkers, and I need cash, so tell me what to do."
In a brief statement (138 words), GM North America President, Troy Clarke today announced the end of GM's joint venture with Toyota, the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI).
In the statement, Clarke noted that, "GM and Toyota could not reach an agreement on a future product plan that made sense for all parties." Therefore, the 25-year-old NUMMI has been relegated to the dustbin known as "Old GM," and will not be among the assets the company will continue with when it emerges from bankruptcy. GM's participation will end when the last Pontiac Vibe rolls off the line in August.
Clarke ended the statement with, "...we remain open to future opportunities of mutual interest." He most certainly did not end it with, "It was awesome having you in homeroom this year. Stay cool!!!!"
The days of Vibes, Prizms and Novas is officially over.
With the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe already on the way, a convertible version was all but inevitable. Although it's not that hard to imagine what that convertible will look like, these latest spy shots spell it all out for you.
Most of the design cues revealed here are fairly conventional with a soft top, hard cover and a small wind deflector between the rear seats. As the test car got underway, however, our photographers noticed an additional feature that the current CLK cabriolet lacks.
As you can see, what looks to be an auxiliary wind deflector has been placed at the top of the windshield. We assume it bumps the airflow that much higher to keep it off precious bouffants behind the wheel. We assume it works too, as the Germans wouldn't dare use all their technical know how to develop a mere toy, right? First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Like most automakers, BMW maintains a design studio in Southern California. It's tucked away in the Los Angeles suburb of Newbury Park, so few in the area know it even exists. It's cranked out numerous car designs over the years and its former head, Adrian Van Hooydonk is now the head of BMW design in Germany.
Unlike most satellite design studios, however, BMW Designworks also does contract work for companies outside the automotive industry. Boats, planes, coffee makers, you name a consumer product and Designworks probably has a drawing of it on the walls somewhere. Most of those drawing are rarely seen, but BMW has just posted an in-depth tour of the facility that gives a pretty detailed look at how the studio functions.
There's some good insight into the world of design and how BMW sees its place within that world. If anything, the series might give you a little background on some of the company's more controversial designs and how they made it through the design process.
The turbocharged Hyundai Genesis Coupe may be the base model in the lineup, but from day one it's been the model tuners have been dying to get their hands on. MODE racing is one of those tuners and its been building a time attack Genesis coupe for a couple months now. So far, most of the modifications are relatively mild (reprogrammed ECU, exhaust, intake), but on its latest dyno run their coupe managed to crank out 250-horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Not bad for a base coupe.
Sure, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is fast and all, but next to the latest 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 the standard Camaro doesn't stand a chance. To even things up a little, we snagged a supercharged Hennessey Camaro to see how it matches up.
Contributor John Pearley Huffman was tasked with burrning the rubber off of both cars and in the end he came away with a clear winner. Which one would you choose?
What? This seems odd to you? A British luxury sports car builder embarking on a program to develop a small, awkward looking city car?
Well, welcome to the world of corporate average fuel economy (CAFE), a U.S. regulation that now says cars and trucks must meet a combined average of 35.5mpg by 2016. Given that the most fuel efficient model in Aston's lineup doesn't even get 20mpg on the highway, the company is clearly going to need some help to prop up its average.
Enter the Toyota iQ citycar, a pint-sized two-seater (there are rear "seats", but few humans could use them as such) that boasts mileage in the 55-60mpg range. Aston Martin intends to use the iQ as the basis for what it will call the Cygnet. Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez says now is the time for Aston to embark on such a project.
"Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not too distant future. This concept - akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht - will allow us to apply Aston Martin design language, craftsmanship and brand values to a completely new segment of the market," said Bez.
According to a Aston Martin spokesperson, the Cygnet won't be sold on the open market. Instead, only those who already own an Aston Martin will be able to purchase the vehicle, sort of like an errand car to use when you want to downplay your conspicuous consumption.
Guess it's only a matter of time until we see a Porsche version of the Volkwagen Up! too.
