Citroen wins in New Zealand

1-2 win for Citroen

Oh how harshly we misjudge cars.  If anyone is under the impression that smaller, economical cars don’t have guts or aren’t “lustable” (whatever that means), you need to check out the attached pictures of last Sunday’s Rally race in New Zealand.  Fans of WRC and the cars that they inspire certainly had to be pleased with the race which lived up to WRC’s reputation for providing some of the most exciting motorsport racing on the planet. 

Suzuki SX4-WRC

World Champion Sebastien Loeb won for the third time in as many races to win Rally New Zealand by 17.5 seconds last Sunday at the expense of Mikko Hirvonen who lost controland spun out on the second-to-last stage.  The win increased his lead over Hirvonen the in the World Rally Championship.  The win was Loeb’s 42nd in WRC rallies, aftervictories in Finland and Germany and his second in New Zealand, where he last one in 2005.  Loeb’s one-two finish with teammate Dani Sordo of Spain also increased Citroen’s grip on the manufacturers’ championship.

Mitsubishi Taking Flight

Taking a look at both the manufacturer and driver results (listed below), it’s a shame not to see a single American in the list.  Sure, this is the land of NASCAR and INDY (at least once a year), but you would still think Rally Racing would be a bigger hit in the States.  Even as heavily modified as the cars are, they are certainly more closely related to actual production cars than anything from the previously mentioned racing leagues.  And what could be more American than tearing ass around off-road?  I mean the Dukes of Hazzard was basically a Rally Race with a couple of Good ‘Ole Boys in a Dodge!  I can almost picture some kid from Alabama named Skeeter hoisting a trophy, surrounded by the Beck’s bikini team.

RESULTS FROM THE WRC RALLY OF NEW ZEALAND:

Final results and standings Sunday after the 18-stage Rally of New Zealand, 11th event in the World Championship: (After 18 special stages)

1. Sebastien Loeb, France, Citroen, 3 hours, 59 minutes, 18.9 seconds.

2. Dani Sordo, Spain, Citroen, 17.5 seconds behind.

3. Mikko Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 41.5.

4. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 2:48.9.

5. Urmo Aava, Estonia, Citroen, 3:30.7.

6. Per-Gunnar Andersson, Sweden, Suzuki, 7:37.4.

7. Toni Gardemeister, Finland, Suzuki, 7:54.9.

8. Federico Villagra, Argentina, Ford, 8:35.0.

9. Henning Solberg, Norway, Ford, 9:15.2.

10. Martin Prokop, Czech Republic, Mitsubishi, 13:49.0.

Overall drivers’ championship standings after 11 of 15 rallies:

1. Sebastien Loeb, France, Citroen, 86 points.

2. Mikko Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 78.

3. Dani Sordon, Spain, Citroen, 51.

4. Chris Atkinson, Australia, Subaru, 40.

5. Jari-Matti Latvala, Finland, Ford, 34.

6. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 32.

7. Henning Solberg, Norway, Ford, 22.

8. Gianluigi Galli, Italy, Ford, 17.

9. Matthew Wilson, Britain, Ford, 12.

10. Francois Duval, Belgium, Ford, and Urmo Aava, Estonia, Citroen, 11.

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Reader Ride Lust Of The Week: Dan’s Cherry ‘73 Corvette

At RideLust, we have a healthy respect for fellow motorheads, which is why we give you the chance to show off your pride and joy in our reader gallery. I check out the submissions daily because I’ve got a definite weakness for really babied rides, and I’m always impressed with what I see. Usually, we leave the rides in the reader gallery to stand alone as individual showcases, but I’ve seen so many that deserve an extra mention I wanted to start bringing them into the spotlight. This week, I wanted to show off the 1973 Corvette submitted by Dan Mavridis - it’s got me so blinded with ride lust I can’t see straight.

View Gallery After Jump

To be fair, classic ‘Vette’s always make me drool, but Dan’s is especially yummy thanks to the interior he refinished to match the Mille Magalia Red paint job.

According to Dan, his Corvette has over 250,000 and is still purring along with its original engine.

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The 2009 Volvo S80: Svenskarna Är Pimps Too

We are flat-out impressed by Volvo’s premium luxury offering, the 2009 Volvo S80 - those Swedes have really stepped up to the plate where the American standard of luxury is concerned. In fact, we’d even go so far as to assert that the Volvo S80 completely outperforms other sedans in its class like the BMW 5-series and the Audi A6.

We test drove the floor model, a 2009 Volvo S80 V8, and by the time we had driven the first half-mile, we were this close to making a break for the border and living a life on the lamb - that’s how in love we are with the new S80.
One of it’s most striking features by far is its handling, the ride is smoother than glass. Although that may not seem like such an impressive feat for a luxury sedan, you have to remember that all the extra safety features Volvo is notorious for adding to their cars usually makes for pretty stiff handling. Leaving their “safety over style” mentality light-years behind them, the Volvo S80 V8 also comes with optional 18″ chrome rims and a 20% window tint, providing for not only a smooth ride, but a sick one too.

So let’s say you buy an S80 and you’re in love with your new whip, but you’re nervous about leaving it alone in the parking lot while you’re up in the club. Well don’t be, because Volvo thought of that. Standard on the S80 V8 and optional on both the S80 3.2 and S80 T6, Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator [PCC] provides every theft-deterrent short of trunk-stored Dobermans. The PCC acts as a two-way radio between you and your car, keeping you constantly aware of when your car is locked or unlocked, and - for when you aren’t within earshot - whether the alarm has been activated or not. If the alarm has been activated, the PCC communicates with the Volvo S80’s Heart Beat Sensor and will notify you as to exactly how many individuals are in the vehicle and where they are seated. After you waste the punks, the S80’s front and rear park-assist cameras as well as Blind Spot Information System will allow you to easily navigate your way out of the parking lot while 311-hp V8 engine will help put some distance between you and the responding 5-0.

Fully bagged out, the S80 goes for about 50k, a lot less than the Germans would try and squeeze out of you for the same luxuries. Bottom line: in the words of the late Notorious BIG “Only Pimpin’ hoes drive Volvos.”

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The 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe: Thanks Dave

2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe

I guess I’m something of an oddball when it comes to the Civic Si. I actually really liked the fifth generation 2002-2005 Civic Si, the one everyone else thought was ugly; I liked the console mounted shifter and the big headlights and the stubby nose and the fact that it was a hatchback, I liked the whole package. A taffeta white 2005 Civic Si with dark tint all around is a beautiful thing. So I wasn’t super happy in 2006 when Honda totally redesigned the Civic and brought back the coupe. But I recently drove a 2008 Si and it blew my mind.

I have the luxury of working at an auto repair shop, and because of that, I come into contact with a lot of different cars everyday. A customer recently came in looking for a side view mirror for his 2008 Civic Si, we ordered him a new one, and I gave him discount for letting me drive his car around. Everyone wins. On top of that, I got to drive my cousins 2004 Honda Civic Si hatchback a few years ago, and the memory of that drive will be my control.

Fifth Generation Honda Civic Si hatchback

Like I said, the look of the old Civic Si Hatchback was great, the only problem was everything else. Considering it was supposed to be a ‘performance’ car, it was surprisingly lacking in the power and handling department, with pretty obvious understeer on tight curves. The new sixth generation Civic Si definitely fixes that.

Honda hasn’t really done much with the Si since they redesigned it in 2006, but it’s still a major improvement over the hatchback Si. Where the 5th gen hatchback had 160 hp from the 2.0 VTEC engine, the new 6th gen coupe has 197 hp, and the 6 speed trans that the hatchback should have had. You don’t have to push the 2008 Si the way you had to push the hatchback, it wants to go. And the transmission is perfect, shifting is swift and easy, almost effortless.

The power is only a small part of the improvements though. Like I said earlier, the hatch Si had some pretty severe problems with understeer, it just wasn’t as tight as it should have been, and the new coupe corrects that. The 2008 Civic Si took the tight curve on the south end of Wheatsheaf lane perfectly, whereas the old hatchback nearly threw me up on the railroad tracks at the same speed a few years ago. This car handles beautifully. It wouldn’t do it justice to say the new Si is just an improvement on the fifth generation, it’s so much more than that, it really is one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever driven.

It is a much tighter ride than the hatchback was, but the whole class has upped their game. The 2008 Civic Si has some very stiff competition. The Chevy Cobalt SS, Mazdaspeed 3, and Volkswagen GTI all have more horsepower than the Civic Si, the Cobalt SS considerably so. And the Mazdaspeed 3 and VW GTI are both on Car and Driver’s 10best list. So what’s the deal?

The Civic Si is a twisty car. Yes, it’s beat in the power department, but I doubt the the Cobalt SS could take the hairpins I’ve taken in the Si. And the Honda is more refined, it has a quality interior, not the chintzy plastics of the Cobalt. Plus, the overall quality of Honda…the car will last. And starting at 21k, it’s the cheapest of the 4 sport-compacts.

As for the look, I still don’t like it the way I liked the hatchback Si. The rear spoiler makes it look silly and the tiny headlights give it a much less aggressive, more boring look. Still, this car was a thrill to drive. I’ll take mine in taffeta white.

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2008 Subaru WRX STi: Alphabet Alpha Dog

To the joy of all WRX fans who have been disappointed with the cars lagging performance in relation to its competitors as of late, Subaru has followed up the release last year of its redesigned WRX by adding a few more letters to the badging and a few horsepower to the car.

Subaru optimized the STI’s powertrain for better performance and a higher degree of driver-selectable control. The STi’s 2.5-liter, turbocharged and intercooled, 4-cylinder, boxer-style engine now has a Dual Active Valve Control System (Dual AVCS) and Subaru’s Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system which achieves 305 horsepower, a gain of 12 hp over last year’s model.

SI-Drive allows the driver to alter the car’s driving characteristics. A console-mounted dial offers three settings, varying from one that offers optimal fuel economy to one that provides lightning-quick throttle response.

The STI’s response to aggressive acceleration is lightning-quick and the 6-speed manual transmission. In testing the STI, Car & Driver magazine recorded a 0-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 13.6 seconds at 102 mph. Top speed is electronically limited to 151 mph, though I’m sure some bright-eyed youngster will find a way to dispense with that.

The EPA rates the STI’s mileage at 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway using premium gas, which will probably encourage some restraint and is achievable with conservative use of the throttle.

Physically, differences between the WRX and the WRX STi are subtle. The Aero package, previously an option, is now standard on both sedan and five-door models as is a new STI-style grille.

Starting with the Impreza’s new hatchback bodywork, the STI gains a trim look but still with bulging fenders and quarter panels. The hood scoop, front brake air intakes and engine heat outlets are all functional, as they should be.

STi interior

The interior of the STI comes with special front seats designed with tight side bolsters and integrated head restraints. The upholstery is cloth with leather trim. The instrument cluster features a 9,000-rpm tachometer and 160-mph speedometer, along with indicators for the driver-selectable functions.

Whether the $35,640 sticker price, basically a 10 grand option over the WRX is worth it, remains to be seen.

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Spyker C8 Spyder

Holland is not typically the first place that comes to mind when thinking of small production, ultra expensive, super cars. Nevertheless, Spyker has been in the business of providing such things to the über-rich since 1898. The president of Spyker tells audiences, “Our customers do not just buy a car but have one built for them, to their exacting specifications.” In fact, if you order a car from Spyker you may watch it being built, in real time, via a web-cam system.

Not unlike its German counterpart BMW, Spyker’s heritage includes a merger with a Dutch aircraft manufacturer which explains the Spyker logo; an aircraft propeller and a wire wheel. In fact, logos are not the only thing Spyker has in common with its Bavaria brethren. The C8 Spyder’s light-weight aluminum body is wrapped around a mid-engine version of the 4.2 liter engine used in the Audi S8. The result is a car that produces 400 hp and has a top speed of 187 mph.

There is not much in way of cushy amenities in the Spyker. In fact, the metal and chrome interior is modestly appointed and could be described as almost old-fashioned. Even something as basic these days as an airbag is missing. But this is luxury defined in a different way. This is a DRIVERS car. One that demands your attention. Not a place to talk on the phone or listen to anything but the sound of the engine. And in fact, this is not just flowery talk. Reports are that the C8’s handling is overmatched by the superb engine, which can make for some scary moments if you are not completely attentive.

But if you are willing to be master to such a vehicle, you are rewarded with a car that can go from 0-60 in a meager 4.3 seconds. This privilege is not cheap however, the C8 Spyder costs just north of $219,000. But take heart, as the companies motto states, “Nulla tenaci invia est via” - for the tenacious no road is impassable.

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The Polish City of Lodz Gives Street Racers a Legal Sanction

The Polish city of Lodz, weary of its losing efforts in fighting illegal street racers, has capitulated if you will by legalizing street racing in a cordoned off section of the city. In cooperation with local street racing organizers the city will permit racing on the chosen section of town as long as they can help to prevent any non-sanctioned street racing in the rest of the city.

The city’s hope is that by providing a secured area in which street racers can get their fix they will be less likely to take their challenges to the other parts of town. To many, particularly street racers, the efforts of the city leaders in Lodz may be preferable to  the legal actions elsewhere in the world. While cities in California and Australia are making examples of seized street racing vehicles by crushing them or crashing them for educational films, Lodz, Poland is reaching out to them. The effectiveness of Lodz efforts will truly be determined by the street racers themselves.

There are other parts of the US where organizers have worked with local leaders and drag strip owners to provide alternatives to illegal street racing. By having venues open to racers you help cater to the crowd of racers who love the speed, but not the risk of getting busted or of causing others harm. Hopefully Lodz and other cities like them can set the example for other municipalities to follow.

Source[Anavona via Jalopnik]

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Nissan makes it all Official with the GT-R Press Release and unveiling in Tokyo

The teasers are officially over as Nissan makes public its worse kept secret with an official Press Release and in person unveiling of the GT-R at the Tokyo Auto Show. It is almost sad to see the speculation depart like this, but it is nice to see the real thing just as Nissan intended it to be. The GT-R goes on sale in Japan on December 6th of this year and will be supported by the newly created Nissan High Performance Center. So much is riding on the GT-R that Nissan has created a maintenance group around the car.

As you will read below and may have read before the Nissan GT-R is powered by a 3.8 Liter twin-turbo V6 “VR38″. The power coming from that engine rates 473-hp and up to 433-ft. lbs of torque. Take a look at the photo gallery below for the official photos released by Nissan and after the gallery and for further details on the GT-R read from Nissan’s Official Press Release. (more…)

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Video Game: Gran Turismo demo unveils the Nissan GT-R

We have said it before and we will say it again, product placement in movies, video games and sports stadiums when done properly is pure marketing genius. Having your car in one of the greatest racing video game franchises ahead of its release is a good move to help build the hype for its unveiling. Yet Sony has done Nissan even better by placing the Nissan GT-R within the downloadable demo of the new Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. They also moved up the date of the demo’s release to coincide with the 40th Anniversary of the Tokyo Auto Show.

On October 20th those eager fans that download the demo to Gran Turismo 5 for the Playstation 3 will be the first car fans to climb (digitally) behind the controls of the new Nissan GT-R. The car in the game will be the actual production model and should contain the proper performance figures for the car.

Sony has also moved up the release date of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue to December 13, 2007. It is not clear how much of that release date change is Nissan (unlikely) and how much of it is the makers of Gran Turismo 5 just being ready with the game ahead of schedule. Either way it is a nice Christmas bonus for the fans of the racing video game.

To get YOUR hands on the controls of a new Nissan GT-R ahead of its official release call up your buddy with the PS3 and request he download the demo on October 20th (expect a call, Todd).

 Source[egmCarTech]

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Bugatti’s management considering a second, cheaper follow-up to the Veyron

For anyone fearing that the sun may set on their dream of owning a new Bugatti Veyron before they are able to build up their super car budget maybe a lesser alternative is on its way. Upper management with Bugatti and its parent company Volkswagen AG are looking to recoup more of that initial R&D investment and some alternatives could be in the works. After investing something in the US Dollar close to $500 million to build and design the car, and with a limited production number of 300, Bugatti is losing money on the deal. That $1.4 million window sticker, according to costs, should really be a $5 million sticker.

Bugatti has a couple options on the table and both could yield some extra return to make it all profitable. The first would be to make a limited production run of a convertible Veyron. Some more work would have to go into the design and engineering of the car to get there, but that could still help bring in more money and more buyers. The other option would be to build a second model based on the same technologies. (more…)

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