What do you get when you cross a twin turbo Benz with EVOMSit?

One very bad piece of machinery with over 700 lb/ft of torque. My son Rod works with Evolution Motor Sports in Tempe Arizona and they've built some incredible Porche's but check out the recent dyno testing on this SL65. http://evomsit.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-do-you-get-when-you-cross-twin.html This is a car I have to take a ride in.

2009 BMW 328i

What can you say about the 3-series BMW other than it’s a very cool sports sedan, but I do have to confess that it’s just a tad tight for my “athletic” build but other then that, well I have to confess to being somewhat of a Beemer fan and the 3-series is a great way to get into a BMW without breaking the bank.

The 328i is BMW's entry-level model that comes as a sedan, coupe or convertible. The 3-Series designation first appeared in the US I believe in about 1977, but thankfully has evolved from a boxy shape to a fluid, aerodynamic design that for sometime now has been considered the benchmark of sport sedans.

The 3-Series was redesigned and updated for the 2006 model year, a change that brought it more in line with the 5 and 7-Series look. For 2009 BMW gives the 3-Series a rejuvenated exterior that includes a moderately restyled front end with new headlights the rear end gets new taillights. There is no doubt that BMW has a lock on the aggressive stance look for near luxury sedans

On the inside you’ll find upgraded materials and oh boy, a new-generation of BMW's iDrive with new direct-select keys and more programmable memory keys than before….just what I needed. Truth is though, we only get the cars for a week and that makes it pretty difficult to get a grip on a lot of the technology. Truth is, I don’t think that’s a problem for the 3-series demographic, and of course the 3-Series of course comes with a pretty complete compliment of safety features.

Whether it’s the Ultimate Driving Machine or not, with agile handling, a supple ride and a smooth, 230 horsepower six-cylinder engine, the 3-Series is a fun car to drive. Adding to the fun factor the tester came with the 6-speed standard transmission which was smooth and easy to use and fun, but I’d opt for the 6-speed automatic with overdrive. It is a sedan after all.

Drop into the form fitting bucket seats and strap in because driving the 328i is a blast. This car has great road hugging abilities going through twisties and the suspension handles any imperfections in the road with just enough feedback to inspire confidence. Braking is solid and sure adding to that confidence. However, if you really want the whole handling enchilada, go for the AWD 328ix.

Now for the reality check….this is a sports sedan which means it sits low and has a pretty swoopy roofline so if you have bad knee’s like me, or a bad back, getting in and out can be a bit challenging but, if it fit’s you, the 3-Series BMW is a winner and with prices starting in the mid-thirties for the base 328i, it’s not a bad deal at all, and don’t forget about the 4 year 50,000 mile warranty and maintenance that you get when you buy a BMW which makes it a pretty good value for the money.

If you haven’t driven one lately, you may just want to give one a test spin…it may be just what you’re looking for. Click here for more on BMW’s 328i…

Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution Revolution

The Phoenix Automotive Press Association had an opportunity to meet with PR Product Manager, Moe Durand and Melvin Bautista from Product Planning for Mitsubishi and talk about the all-new 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer family. Lancer debuted in 1973 and over the years Lancer has won several Rally Championships but not necessarily the hearts of the American consumer. Mitsubishi is hoping that will all change with the new iteration of the Lancer and as far as styling goes, they’re on the right track.

Trim levels include the Lancer, the Ralliart and the very potent Evolution. With the production of the 2009 Ralliart Mitsubishi has made a dramatic leap in performance and styling over the previous generation. Gone is the boxy squared off look and in is the sleek low nose high deck aggressive look you’ll see on the likes of the Lexus IS, and the huge aggressive grille you see on the Nuvolari inspired Audi S4 so needless to say, it’s a very cool looking car especially for the Tuner crowd.

It’s interesting to know how the styling cues must have a great degree of functionality in vehicles today, which presents an interesting challenge to designers. For example the lower grille opening on the Ralliart allows for more airflow to the intercooler, while the hood scoops and ducting help remove under hood heat while also providing air to the turbocharger. The functional side vents help extract hot air from the engine compartment.

The base engine is a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder that puts out 152hp and 146 lb/ft of torque in the Lancer and 237hp and 253 lb/ft of torque with both engines red-lining at 6500rpm. The Evolution is an entirely different matter. Horsepower jumps to 291 and torque goes to 300 lb/ft and redline is at 7000 rpm. How that happens has to do with some differences in engine architecture but the long and short of it is that it is a very potent engine.

Power gets to the wheels through a very sophisticated TC-SST transmission. All that alphabet soup stands for, Twin Clutch Sportonic Shift Transmission, but what it means is that it is one quick shifting transmission.

While we didn’t get a lot of wheel time, what we did get in the Evolution MR was pretty impressive. It’s quick fast and has a pretty serious fun quotient and is surprisingly roomy inside and we are looking forward to spending a week in this exciting new car from Mitsubishi

Taking the shine off new cars

In the ever more difficult search to stand out from the maddening crowd car buyers are taking a shine to a car with a matte finish. While it isn’t surprising to think of some small concept cars like Chevy’s Groove or Jeep’s Renegade diesel-electric or Mazda’s concept Furai with a matte finish, how does a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder or Audi R8 V12 sports car strike you?

Well, a matte finish is available in all the above, and according to a lot of people at the North American Auto Show in Detroit, people have well, taken a shine to matte finishes. Not that matte finishes haven’t been used on vehicles before, it’s just that it was mainly used to accent and highlight special features on a car like on this Jeep Renegade Concept.


Interestingly, a matte finish allows the design features of a vehicle to stand out because the eye is not drawn to the finish of the vehicle because there are no reflections to detract the focus from the car itself. Not surprisingly manufacturers understand that Millennial’s are used to matte finishes on their cell phones and laptops so it stands to reason that they’d look for the same finish in their cars.

Chevy Groove Concept

It will be interesting over the next few years to see the emergence of exotics that use more matte finishes to enhance the visual effects of their intricate design cues. These are just a few of the cars that you’ll find with a matte finish.


Mazda Furai Concept

Life's too short, just drive.

I’ve heard variations of that philosophy before of course, but never those exact words, and when I saw them for the first time, what followed blew me away. Part of what I read was; “maybe you’ve imagined yourself behind the wheel of a true Supercar like the Mercedes SLR McLaren.” Now in my opinion, any car aficionado to not have lusted for driving a McLaren, well then he or she wouldn’t be a true car nut. The phrase however, belongs to a group of people that put on the

World Class Driving event that began in Europe a few years ago, came to the States in 2006 when over 1500 people had the extreme pleasure of driving some of the most fantastic cars ever produced. Today, World Class Driving travels all over the world allowing a select few individuals to drive some of these incredible machines. Rod and I had the opportunity on a beautiful day in May to go to Sedona Arizona and spent some 150 miles worth of seat time in six of the most stunning cars I’ve ever had the privilege to drop my derriere in.
Imagine if you will, 12 hours of Sebring racer and one of the premier Ferrari drivers of all time, Didier Theys, handing you the keys to a beautiful yellow $170,000 Ferrari F430, then leading you out to cruise the streets and highways in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. How cool is that? To verbalize the exhilaration one feels when flicking through the gears with the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, while listening to one of the most thrilling exhaust notes around coming from the 490 horsepower V8 sitting directly behind you, is virtually impossible.

Now try and imagine how you’d feel if Didier then tossed the keys to a black Porsche GT-3 and said follow me. I don’t know about you but Rod and I were both thinking that it was a bit of a let down after the F430, but I have to admit, it didn’t talk long to appreciate the racing heritage in the Porsche. Very different cars for sure but the GT-3 was certainly a blast to drive.
That was followed by a spin in the Ford GT which, truth be told, was a very surprising car. This is pure American muscle at its best. While the Italian and German cars are high rpm cars, the Ford GT is a brute at 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of pavement blistering muscle. This car screams from 0-60 in a breathtaking 3.4 seconds, and while following the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, and listening to the magnificent exhaust singing while downshifting, it was interesting to see just how easy it was to stay with the Gallardo without having to downshift the GT. Simply tickle the throttle and the monstrous 500 lb-ft of torque comes to life and moves the Ford with very little effort.

Okay, now we jump out of the GT and get to slip into the sweet sounding lime green Lambo and I must tell you, it simply doesn’t get much better then cruising in Sedona Arizona in May, in a Gallardo Spyder. The exhaust was echoing off the canyon walls begging you to downshift just to listen to the exhaust note. So I did. This car without a doubt has the sweetest albeit most raucous exhaust sound you’ll ever hear and I’m here to tell you, this 500 horsepower car is fast, agile and incredibly fun to drive.

The fastest and most race-like car there was the Noble M400. Noble rolling chassis' are shipped from the manufacturing facility in Port Elizabeth, South Africa without the engine or transmission. The Noble® M400 is sold in limited quantities as a component rolling chassis only. The units come factory assembled, painted, upholstered, with full instrumentation and brakes systems, along with suspension, exhaust wheels and tires. The engine and transaxle has to be installed by the buyer or under the buyer's supervision by an independent contractor. The car computer is mapped to 425 horsepower, and with the ratio of pony power to weight, this car performs with the best in the world, and actually better then most but as Rod said, in reality, this is pretty much a street legal race car.

And then there was the Mercedes SLR McLaren. Almost 620 horsepower and a mind numbing 595 lb-ft of torque moves this huge Supercar down the highway in the blink of an eye. At almost $500,000.00, this is the only car that we had to have a co-pilot with, and truth be told, I simply didn’t care. Make no mistake; this is not a plush cruiser. This is a serious performer with seats that wrap around you giving you the impression of being in the cockpit of a very luxurious race car, and in truth, that’s not a bad analogy. While the Ferrari and Lamborghini are undoubtedly exotics, and the Ford GT is all about muscle with the Noble being all about racing, the SLR McLaren is about everything. Stunning styling, one of the most iniquitous stances you’ll ever see on a car, an interior that’s second to none and performance that is intimidating to everyone else on the road, and in truth, it can be just a bit intimidating behind the wheel. When I had the opportunity, and permission, to “get on it” just a bit, I was dumbfounded at how seamless this car was as we shot from 60 to…. Well, let’s just say I had to back off without even coming close to taxing this very potent engine.

There is a lot more to come on the website in the near future as Rod and I write more, and share some video with you about the incredible day we had with World Class Driving. You must go to their website; www.wcdriving.com and find out where they’ll be next, and if there is anyway you can do it, well as Nike says, just do it, or more importantly, as Jean-Paul Libert and his crew say, “life is to short: just drive.