Sports Cars

Chevrolet Camaro, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

More than 40 years after it debuted as a muscle car competitor to the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro re-emerged in the spring of 2009 as a 2010 model after a several-year hiatus from the manufacturer’s lineup. The Camaro is available with V6 or V8 engines and in five trims, all of which attract immediate attention. The rejuvenated, fifth-generation Camaro resembles the Mustang in design. But it simultaneously brings the long-standing coupe a new, modern identity and retains the good and bad traits from its now middle-aged history and reputation. The Weekly Driver Test Drive East Coast folks laugh at us when we say “winter weather’s arrived.” In Sacramento, that usually means mid-30s, rain and sometimes fog. But there was

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BMW, 335d, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The 2009 version I drove six months ago attracted a lot of attention. Some onlookers didn’t know a BMW diesel was available in the United States. Other car enthusiasts wondered what the odd exterior promotional decals were all about. Little has changed with the 2010 model, the second year of car in this country. Officially, there’s only one change. The 2010 model has HD radio. But the promotional decals are long gone, replaced by a BMW strong point, exterior paint colors and a well-coordinated interior. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Most of the major car publications have selected the vehicle on best-of-the-year lists, and what’s to argue? Is

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Looking for a Ferrari? Tour de France rider George Hincapie may have a Ferrari F430 for you

About nine months ago, Hincapie purchased a 2006 Ferrari F430. But he’s now likely to sell the car because he just doesn’t have the opportunity to drive it much. During a recent trip to California to ride in a cancer awareness event for his work with Breakaway From Cancer and to help launch to new location of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, Hincapie discussed his 4.3-liter, 490-horsepower V8 (Red) Ferrari. Hincapie, 36, lives part-time in Greenville, S.C. He will compete May 16-23 in the Tour of California and then participate in the Tour de France for the 15th time, beginning July 3 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. During a wide-ranging, exclusive interview, Hincapie was asked about his Ferrari. The Weekly

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Bugatti Veyron tops top-10 list of world’s most expensive cars

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is only four years old, but its reputation has quickly spread around the globe among elite automobile enthusiasts. It tops the list of the world’s top-10 most expensive cars. Here’s the list: Bugatti Veyron,  $1,700,000 The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph). It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and is sold under the legendary Bugatti marque. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original

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Suzuki Kizashi, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

The most important part of the car is the door handle. Why? It’s the first part of the car you touch. In my case, it was love at first touch with the all new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS. What Suzuki has managed to build is a $20,000 car that looks and feels like a $30,000 car. For me, the mark of a good car, make that a great car, is its ability to make you feel special when you drive it. And I felt like a C list movie star in the Kizashi. The Kizashi GTS isn’t a great car but it’s a very good car. Let’s start with what keeps it from being a great car. The 2.4L engine

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Ferrari announces six new models, including hypercar, to debut before 2013

According to the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer, a new variety of the entry-level 458 Spider will be debut the new offerings and is scheduled for 2011. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars A new generation of the 612 Scaglietti will follow and likely provide the base for Ferrari’s first hybrid model. Codenamed F151, the 612 Scaglietti successor’s name is still unknown. In 2012, the next hypercar Ferrari will debut, based on the small production mystique of the Enzo. A new version of the 599 GTB Fiorano, currently known as F152, will also debut in 2012. The Ferrari California will receive a major facelift in 2013 and

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Audi A5, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

But other than a much-needed catchy acronym (how about A5?), nothing else should be forgotten about the new Audi. It’s proven so popular, it’s now available in 14 configurations, with a vast range of prices. My test drive for the week, for example, had a base price of more than $15,000 less than the out-the-door price. The major culprit was the $8,300 “Prestige Model” that adds 13 features to the car — a Bang & Olufsen sound system to keyless start and Xenon headlights and a navigation system with a rear detection camera. Six other options catapulted the price into the $60,000 plateau. That’s luxury car status in a sports car. Likes: Convertible top’s ease of use. Push a button,

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Chevrolet debuts 2011 Corvette Z06 carbon limited edition

“Designed to further incorporate technology developed through racing, the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette’s first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. “With a limited production of 500 units, this car is a must-have for the true Corvette collector and driving enthusiast.” AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, The Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is another example of the expanded Corvette line-up. Five years ago, customers had the choice of a Corvette coupe or convertible. With the addition of the Z06, Grand Sport coupe and convertible and ZR1, Corvette enthusiasts now have more choices.

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First U.S. Ferrari 458 grabs $530,000 in Los Angeles auction for Haiti charity fund

The 570-horsepower Ferrri 458 Italia will debut in the United States in estimated price tag of $225,000. the Ferrar 458 Italia is the replacement to the F430, with an even more enticing exterior design and a potent 4.5-liter eight-cylinder powerplant rated at 570 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The new Ferrari has a top speed of 202 mph and is rated at 0-100 kilometers kph (62.2 miles mph) in 3.4 seconds. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times

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Porsche, Mercedes-Benz most expensive sports cars to insure

1. Porsche 911 Carrera GT2 $2,943.78 2. Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG $2,863.03 3. Dodge Viper SRT-10 $2,851.89 4. Porsche Panamera Turbo AWD $2,837.39 5. Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible $2,815.90 6. Mercedes-Benz CL600 $2,754.80 7.  Audi R8 $2,751.55 8. Porsche Panamera S $2,744.78 9. Mercedes-Benz SL600 $2,715.86 10. Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo $2,706.04 James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author

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Flying car on the horizon? It's a Lamborghini with wings

“It’s a $200,000 vehicle, like a Lamborghini, but in this case it flies.” says Carl Dietrich, CEO and CTO of Terrafugia. Dietrich says his company has many buyers lined up and that vehicle is ready for commercial use. But whether potential consumers embrace the machine is anyone’s guess. Dietrich also needs financial support for his proposed debut in 2011. View the Reuters’ video here: Flying Car James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly

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Oscars: Kim Basinger in, Jeff Bridges out for Hyundai — but all for the show

In order to comply with the rules , Hyundai decided to make seven commercials with other actors’ voices. Bridges suggested a short list of colleagues, and last week Hyundai finished recording the final ad with assists from Kim Basinger, Richard Dreyfuss, David Duchovny, Catherine Keener, Michael Madsen, Mandy Patinkin and Martin Sheen. Hyundai has purchased seven ads that will air during the program and in one pre-show spot. Hyundai signed a three-year option with ABC in 2009. According to Chris Perry, director of marketing communications for Hyundai, the Oscars buy focuses on the 2011 Sonata, a mid-sized sedan poised to take on Toyota’s Camry and the Honda Accord. Of the eight spots that will air during the Academy Awards, six

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Red Ferrari GTO offered for private sale, all-time record price feasible

The 250 GTO model won its division of the World Sports Car Championship in 1962, 1963 and 1964 and was voted by Motor Trend Classic magazine the “Greatest Ferrari of All Time.” The privately-sold Ferrari GTO featured the original Series I bodywork, while the RM example has the slightly later, less desirable Series II design. A U.K. collector recently privately sold a 1930s Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 sports car for 12 million pounds ($17.9 million). A Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, sold by RM Auctions for $12.2 million in May 2009, holds the record for any car offered in a public salesroom. The current owner acquired the car in 1996 and is selling it because he’s no longer racing. For additional

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Saab story: 500 new cars left in US, but Spyker purchase adds promise

The company’s current moniker is “The Well-Built Swede.” But while all of Saab‘s slogans have sounded great, none have proven particularly pertinent. As a result. just how far the carmaker had fallen during its 60-plus years was no more evident than it was during an interview with the Associated Press at the Geneva Auto Show. Saab‘s CEO  Jan Ake Jonsson said the company, purchased last December by Dutch automaker Spyker, has only 500 cars for sale in showrooms across the United States  “That number should probably be 5,000,” Jonsson said. General Motors Corp. sold Saab Automobile AB to Spyker Cars NV for $74 million in cash plus $326 million worth of preferred shares in Saab. The deal was completed last

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Ford Mustang to Dodge Charger: America's top-10 muscle cars

WeirdWorm.com is a “weird” web site that likes lists as much as The Weekly Driver. It has lists of lists, best-looking cowgirls to wacky technology innovations. Here are 10 of WeirdWorm.com’s favorite muscle cars: 1969 Chevy Camaro, 1969 Dodge Challenger, 1969 Dodge Charger, 1969 Chevy Chevelle, 1970 Ford Torino, 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger, 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda, 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge, 1965 Ford Mustang, 1969 Ford Thunderbird. Here’s what the site said about the 1969 Chevy Camaro: “With the meaner look of this car compared to the softer look of the years prior, this car was a high seller. You had your choice of either a big block or a small block V8 engine and that just depended on how much

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Tesla Roadster price slashed to $1,658 (per monthly lease payment)

The Tesla retails, depending upon options, for $104,000-$111.000. But a three-year, 30,000-mile lease is now available for as little as $1,158 per month, or about $55 per day. There’s small type, too: the leasing customer needs to provide $12,453 due at signing, which includes a $9,900 down payment and $895 acquisition fee but not taxes, title, license, registration, and “locally applied” fees. The Tesla Roadster has two seats, 248 horsepower and powers from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Such performance, of course, likely means expensive insurance premiums. They’re not included in the monthly lease payment. Like other leases, those leasing the Tesla Roadster can purchase the car after the contract expires or turn the car back in with

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