Nick Hogan Smokes Mom
The spawn of Hulk met his mother for lunch yesterday at the ultimate celebrity eatery, The Ivy. As the Hogans left to go their seperate ways -- Nick jumped into a suped-up Dodge Viper, while his mom climbed into the back of an ancient red SUV. Not very fabulous.Nick then peeled out hard into traffic, leaving a cloud of burnt rubber smoke in the street. Imagine what this kid will be like if he starts hanging out with Paris Hilton! .
Chrysler Firepower shot down by management
The Chrysler Group's less than stellar performance in 2006 has led to the official decision by management not to produce the Firepower Concept that debuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The Firepower was designed from the ground up, sharing only its 6.1L Hemi V8 with other vehicles in Chrysler's lineup. In order to make a production version that could even hope to return a profit, the automaker would have to build it alongside the Dodge Viper at its Conner Ave. assembly plant in Detroit and charge a price similar to the Viper's $80k+ MSRP. Apparently the business case for such a vehicle just isn't there.We love Chrysler concepts for the simple fact that each one is produced with just enough production intent to take it seriously should public reaction be favorable. Hell, even the ME412 supercar was on the table for a bit.
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Shelby Cobra GT500, Part 1
Ford's Shelby GT500 is the real, vulgarian deal. Sure, its faults are numerous: It's too fat (3,920 lbs.) and too much of that lard is near the nose (58/42 front-rear split); the ride is utter garbage; the transmission feels like it's made from old nautical rope, and above 80 mph the road noise is like the inside of a dumpster that's being slammed by drunks with aluminum bats. And who cares? Certainly not me. True, a Dodge Viper will wend its way around a track faster, but when the Shelby catches up, it'll slash the Dodge's tires and piss in its gas tank.
There isn't much to this 'Stang except engine. Beneath the bulged hood resides a 5.4-liter block of pig iron, topped with aluminum heads from the Ford GT and finished with an Eaton supercharger and intercooler setup. Altogether, this badassed chorus produces 500 hp and 480 lbs.
Upgrade from a Dodge to a Mercedes for three bills
Some of the world's automotive conglomerates are more guilty of badge engineering than others. With very few exceptions, the acquisition of Chrysler by Daimler-Benz (call it a merger if you like, but we're not fooled) is not among the worst offenders. The Chrysler 300C may look to some like a Benz, and the Crossfire may be built on an old SLK platform, but Mercedes isn't selling rebadged Vipers overseas and Jeep hasn't slapped its own label on a G-wagon. (Yet.) The most notable exception comes from the commercial side of operations, where DCX brings the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van over to the North American market as a Dodge or Freightliner. There was no hiding it, either, as the American "version" kept all the same components, body panels, even the name. Just the badge was changed. But Montana-based OEM Sprinter Parts can switch it back for you if you'd like.
Positive early tests for RPM Viper.
Alex Mortimer says he is happy with the first test sessions for the Team RPM Dodge Viper Competition Coupe that will debut in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship next season.
The team, which was amongst the front-runners in the GTC class last season, look set to be amongst the front-runners for the new campaign with its brace of GT3 specification Vipers that will run alongside a pair of Porsche 997s for the 2007 season.
RPM has already been able to complete two tests with the Viper prior to Christmas, with Mortimer declaring himself pleased with how the initial sessions had gone.
"It's been really good so far," he told Crash.net. "We've done two Avon tyre tests and have now decided to stop for Christmas. On both days it was wet in the morning and then dry in the afternoons – so effectively we have had a full day of dry running with the car.
2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10 vs. Viper Comparison - Donut Run
You cannot deny the sex appeal of the Dodge Viper, especially since the body was redesigned to hide those unsightly side pipes. This car screams "look at me" and looks like its running 100 mph even while sitting at rest. The powertrain hasn't undergone any historic changes over the years, aside from gaining a few extra ponies, but the body has certainly been updated, and the benefit of that is that the car naturally attracts women.
Chicks dig the Viper, plain and simple. We are truck guys, though, and as much fun as we had flossin' the low-flying missile, we would still take the Ram home with us for several good reasons.
Redesigned '07 Nissan Altima Popular Among Consumers on Cars.com in November
CHICAGO, Dec. 13, 2006 -- The newly redesigned Nissan Altima was popular among consumers who visited Cars.com in November, according to the most recent Consumer Search Index. The new Altima, which was unveiled earlier in the year, cracked the top 10 list of most-searched new vehicles for the first time.
"The Altima has always done well, but the new '07 redesign, combined with the unveiling of a first-ever coupe at the L.A. Auto Show and an increased marketing push on the part of the manufacturer, has really helped push the Altima on Cars.com," said Cars.com managing editor Patrick Olsen. "It will be interesting to see how this translates into sales in the near future."
The Cars.com Consumer Search Index offers a comprehensive look at the internet search behavior of Cars.com visitors.
Luxurious Azure in a class by itself
The last visit I made to the Rolls-Royce and Bentley factory in Crewe, England, was in 1988, when the two classic marques were still British-owned and part of the same company.
Now, Volkswagen owns Bentley and BMW makes the Rolls-Royce line. Back in the 1980s, I was an automotive technician working on Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars.
Then, I arrived in a small front-wheel-drive Rover.
This time, it was in a chauffeur-driven Bentley Arnage, thanks to director Richard Charlesworth, with whom I've had many dealings in recent years.
The ensuing museum tour was fascinating, but I was eager to put the keys in my sweaty hands to use, for they would start the engine of a magnificent 2007 Bentley Azure convertible.
As soon as I left the factory driveway, I operated the overhead console switch to raise the satellite navigation screen from the centre of the dashboard.
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