Jeep Wrangler Pickup called JK8

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For those who attended the Toronto Auto Show back in February, hopefully you caught a glimpse of the amazing blue Jeep Wrangler JK8 Northern Edition. Launched last year at  the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, Mopar’s JK8 kit turns a current four door Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon into a two door super rugged, rock crawler 4X4 pick-up truck.

Jeep enthusiasts have been talking for years about the possibility of a Jeep pick-up truck coming to fruition so Mopar’s decision to create this kit is not really surprising. Jeep CEO and President Mike Manley has gone on record as saying that the next redesign of the Wrangler could include a pick-up option, though no definite plans have been announced.

For more information on what’s involved in doing the conversion check out the following video.

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

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The Lamborghini Aventador was designed to replace the ten-year-old Murciélago as the new flagship model in the Lamborghini lineup starting in 2011. Soon after the Aventador was publicly unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2011, Lamborghini announced that it had already sold over 12 months of the production vehicles, with deliveries starting in the second half of 2011. In August of 2011, Top Gear chose the Aventador as the car of the year for 2011.

The specs are as follows:

  • 691 HP from 6.5 liter V12 engine
  • Top Speed 349.2 km/h (217.0 mph)
  • 0-100 KM/H IN 2.9 SEC
  • Fuel mileage is 14 miles per US gallon or (17 L/100 km)

With a suggested retail price of $379,700 USD, ownership is largely reserved for professional athletes, rap moguls and successful business people nevertheless, we can all dream right?

March Was a Good Month for Electric Vehicles

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Looks like things are looking up for electric vehicles in the month of March.  General Motors sold the most amount of Volts ever in one month with 2,289.  In addition, Nissan is reporting that Leaf owners are only traveling 25 miles (40 kms) per day.  This is well below the expected driving range of 73 miles (120 km) for the vehicle. The average daily distance of 25 miles isn’t out of line with what household travel surveys tell us about general driver behaviour.  The biggest challenge for electric vehicles in my opinion is re-adjusting the behavior of drivers from filling up once a week at outside of the home to more frequent ‘re-fueling’ in the home.

Nissan Leaf Interior

Finally, Forbes has an interesting article challenging the recent headlines over the past 18 months indicating electric vehicles aren’t selling. Their assertion, and I would agree, is that the vehicles are selling but it’s the original expectations were too high for a new technology.

Chevy Volt

GM has high hopes for 2013 Impala

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GM’s Chevrolet brand is trying to resuscitate sales of big sedans with a sleek, new version of the Impala.The family hauler is the last model in Chevy’s lineup to be revamped. When it hits showrooms early next year, it will replace an Impala that was last updated in 2005.

Chevrolet thought about changing the Impala’s name, but decided it had significant recognition after 50 years on the market and more than 16 million in sales.

The 10th generation Impala gets much of its design from other Chevrolets. Its body slopes from back to front. It has high doors, low-profile side windows and large wheels. The company says the car is quiet. It has sound-deadening insulation and laminated glass in the windshield and windows. The roomy interior has upgraded materials.

UNDER THE HOOD: Buyers can choose from three engines, all mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder will produce 195 horsepower, while a 3.6-liter V-6 will have 303 horses. There’s also a 2.4-liter four with GM’s eAssist system that halts the engine anytime the car stops and uses a small electric motor to help the gas engine get better mileage. All three have direct fuel injection in which the air and fuel are mixed in the cylinder surrounding the piston. That’s more efficient than older engines that mix outside the cylinder.

INSIDE: It seats five and has a spacious rear seat and lots of legroom. It has 10 air bags and numerous safety options such as radar-guided cruise control that brakes the car if the driver gets too close to another vehicle.

FUEL ECONOMY: GM says the model with eAssist will get about 32 mpg on the highway. Mileage testing on the other two engines hasn’t been finished, the company says.

PRICE: Chevrolet won’t release it yet, but it’s bound to be more than the current model, which starts at just under $28,000 CAD.

Check out Consumer Reports review from this week’s New York Auto show.

Maybe there is some truth to the old adage “They don’t make him like they use too”

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Rachel Veitch, a 93 year old grandmother, who lives in Orlando, Florida has hung up the keys to her “Chariot” after she ran a red light last month and realized her vision had failed her. After 48 years on the road and 927,000 kilometres her “Chariot” a 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente has finally been parked for good. She bought the Mercury Comet Caliente for $3,289 in February 1964 and the car has outlasted three marriages while having had 18 batteries, three sets of shocks and eight mufflers. She has meticulously kept service records throughout the 48 years and claims it still runs as good as the day she drove it off the Mercury lot.

 

 And who says imports are better than domestics?

Ken Block’s Gymkhana Three – L’autodrome, France

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Gymkhana events are time and/or speed events in an automobile. These can feature obstacles such as cones, tires, and barrels. The driver must maneuver through a predetermined “track” performing many different driving techniques. What separates gymkhana from traditional autocross events is that the gymkhana requires drivers to perform reversals, 180 degree spins, 360 degree spins, parking boxes, figure 8s and other advanced skills. Drifting is also encouraged where helpful or necessary. Essentially, a gymkhana is any event featuring a starting point, a finish line and some sort of “obstacle” to get through, around, or by, all within a certain time limit – Wikipedia.

The following is a video of Ken Block going through the L’autodrome in France.  His driving skills are simply amazing.

Who says cars can’t fly….

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The Terrafugia Transition is a two-seat airplane with foldable wings, four wheels and turn signals. The Massachusetts company calls its creation a “roadable aircraft” and a “street legal airplane.” With a sticker price of approx $279,000 USD the market is quite niche to say the least for the car that flies. However, if a nice luxury car is approx  $100,000 USD and to have the capability to fly as well as drive, the Terrafugia Transition is an incredible bargain at $279,900 USD.  And if you think about the time saved from traffic it is a no brainer for the wealthy commuter. Check out the latest video –

The Fiat 500 Abarth comes to North America

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The 2012 FIAT 500 Abarth has finally arrived in showrooms in the US and Canada and is one more thing to get excited about as we head into the good weather.  The new 500 Abarth is designed for track-day enthusiasts and driving-purists who want the ultimate high-performance small car with the pedigree of an exclusive Italian exotic.The 1.4L MultiAir Turbo will be rated at 170hp, that’s up from the standard European spec’d version with 135hp and even up from the optional Esseesse version with 160hp.

In Europe, Abarth is considered a separate brand—one with substantial racing heritage. The 500 Abarth benefits from this connection with a suspension that has been substantially revised from the normal car’s. New front springs are 40 percent stiffer than the regular 500’s, while the rears are 20 percent stiffer. With performance Koni shocks up front, the car sits 0.6 inch lower than a normal 500, and there’s more negative camber. The Abarth’s steering is quicker, and the front brakes grow an inch in diameter to 11.1 inches. The standard wheels are 16s, and 17s are an option.

Many of you may have seen Fiat’s Super Bowl commercial for the Abarth.

Fiat has gone a slightly different direction for its most recent commercial.  Check out their latest new “winning” ad

Not sure about you but it makes me wish I had a bigger house….

Drive a convertible? Chances are you are a Republican…

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Ford Mustang.jpg

Ford Mustang Convertible Is A Top Choice For Republicans

A new study has come out examining the buying habits of Democrats and Republicans. The study states the obvious associations, such as Democrats choosing the Honda Civic Hybrid as their topic vehicle of choice and the F-150 making the list for Republicans. It’s an interesting read nonetheless. Here’s the top five for each party:

Democrats
1. Honda Civic Hybrid
2. Volvo C30
3. Nissan Leaf
4. Acura TSX Wagon
5. Ford Fiesta Sedan

Republicans
1. Ford Mustang Convertible
2. Audi A8
3. Mercedes GL
4. Ford Expedition
5. Ford F150

Examining Donk style

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Originating in South Florida the Donks style also known as Hi-Risers has now become popular across the US with most concentrated popularity in the Indianapolis, St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Carolinas and Central Florida areas. It is comprised of inexpensive domestic sedan models primarily from the years 1970-1990 which have had their stock tires and rims replaced with large diameter low profile tires with chrome rims.  By most accounts the Donk style is thought to have originated with rapper Trick Daddy, who hails from the Miami neighborhood of Liberty City. The most popular vehicles for these types of modifications are full-size Chevrolet models including the Impala, Caprice and the mid-sized Monte Carlo. In addition, various Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs and Fords of the era are also widely used.  Here are some images and a video which gives you a flavour of the Donk style.  It’s certainly not for everyone and the vehicles are not exactly practical for anything other than cruising but the scene is interesting nonetheless.