cars

Daimler shows the world how not to build a luxury automotive brand!

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4651 days ago)

Maybach was perhaps the epitome of everything that Jürgen E. Schrempp did wrong as the CEO of Daimler from 1995 until he was ousted in 2005. The whole thing is an example of hubris on wheels and based on the estimated €1 billion that Daimler spent to develop the cars and establish the retail network, CAR estimates that the automaker lost an average of €330,000 on each of the 3,000 units sold over the past seven years.

Next year Maybach will again recede into the annals of history and it seems like it probably won't be missed.

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Why Maybach closed: Daimler lost €330,000 on each one | Car Blogs | Car Magazine Online
Maybach: soon for the scrapyard in the sky · The Maybach 62 is very l-o-n-g · There's no faulting the quality on a Maybach… but the taste? The double M badge for Maybach · Maybach will be axed f…

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Sales of hybrid vehicles reached an all-time high market share of 2.79% in 2009 before… 9

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4652 days ago)

Sales of hybrid vehicles reached an all-time high market share of 2.79% in 2009 before falling to just 2.11% of all light duty vehicles sales last year. Based on that less than stellar market penetration would you consider this statement reasonable?

"Given America's insatiable, if not illogical, thirst for hybrids,"

Considering that aside from the Prius, no other hybrid vehicle has ever sold out its production capacity, insatiable is not the word I would use there.

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I honestly wish I could say that this was a surprise, but frankly I'm surprised… 1

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged electricvehicles EV fisker fiskerautomotive Google+ phev on by (updated 4652 days ago)

I honestly wish I could say that this was a surprise, but frankly I'm surprised that Fisker actually got as far as it did. The 125+ years of the auto industry is riddled with far more failed brands than successful ones and jumping in at the technological bleeding edge is a great way to be among the latter group.
#fiskerautomotive #fisker #electricvehicles #ev #phev

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Some ugly news from Fisker: losing federal funds, laying off 66 and having to abort Project Nina.

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With federal loans blocked, Fisker halts work on Project Nina, lays off 66 workers
Fisker Automotive's bumpy 2011 appears to have given way to an even rockier 2012. A little more than a month after recalling 239 of

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Audi R8 V10, Awesome engine, slick gearbox and refined enough to drive every day

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged audi audir8 Google+ on by (updated 4694 days ago)

Audi R8 V10, Awesome engine, slick gearbox and refined enough to drive every day

http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/17/review-2009-audi-r8-5-2-fsi-v10-an-everyday-supercar/

#audi #audir8

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The Audi R8 LMS would be a fantastic addition to the American Le Mans Series

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged ALMS audir8 Google+ gt2 on by (updated 4695 days ago)

I've been hoping that the R8 would make an appearance in the North America ever since it debuted two years ago. Until now the R8 LMS has only been available in GT3 class specification and there hasn't been a space for it in ALMS. While the ALMS GT Challenge class has been a success for the series, it has so far been limited to the Porsche 911 GT3. There are a number of other cool GT3 cars available in Europe that could provide some exciting racing here including the BMW Z4 and Lotus Evora. If the rumors are accurate, Audi will be developing a GT2/GTE version of the R8 to compete against the Corvettes, Ferrari 458s, Jaguar XKRs and of course the venerable 911. Bring 'em on.

#ALMS #audir8 #gt2

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The Audi R8 LMS on its way to the American Le Mans Series GT class ?

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Audi R8 LMS ALMS GT rumors gaining traction | QuattroWorld
Rumors have been racing around the motor sports community for several weeks now with signs pointing to an ALMS GTE homologation for the R8 LMS. We try to not

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Of course the LS9 is not the only supercharged V8 out there

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged ford Google+ mustang supercharger on by (updated 4696 days ago)

Ford Racing offers mighty supercharger kit 2011+ 5.0-liter Mustangs that produce up to 624 horsepower and over 500 lb-ft of torque. I was lucky enough to spend a few days with one of these monsters last year, and despite the enormous output, it's remarkably tractable on the street.

#mustang #ford #supercharger

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Ford Mustang Supercharger Kit Test Drive – Supercharger Kit Review
Ford Racing's supercharger kit gets 624 horsepower out of the 5.0-liter V8. Just forget about a warranty.

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Once an LS9 is completed and tested, it gets shipped to Bowling Green, KY to be installed…

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged chevrolet chevy corvette Google+ ls9 smallblock on by (updated 4696 days ago)

Once an LS9 is completed and tested, it gets shipped to Bowling Green, KY to be installed into a Corvette ZR1 like the one I reviewed for Autoblog.

#chevy #chevrolet #ls9 #smallblock #corvette

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Review: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 goes to Hell and back
2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Torque is good. More torque is better. And when you have more than 600 lb-ft of

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Earlier this week General Motors announced the production of the 100 millionth small-block…

This entry was posted in cars Uncategorized and tagged chevrolet chevy corvette Google+ ls9 smallblock on by (updated 4696 days ago)

Earlier this week General Motors announced the production of the 100 millionth small-block V8 engine, a supercharged 634-hp, 6.2-liter LS9 destined for a Corvette ZR1.

Two years ago I had my own opportunity build an LS9 at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, MI and lived to tell the tale on Autoblog. The PBC is a special facility where GM hand builds low-volume but very powerful engines for some of it's highest performing vehicles. Here's an in-depth piece I wrote on the LS9 http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/19/detroit-2008-the-heart-of-the-king-the-ls9-is-born/

#chevy #chevrolet #ls9 #smallblock #corvette

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Autoblog builds an LS9 for someone's Corvette ZR1
Our completed LS9 V8 When you think of brands like Aston Martin, Ferrari and AMG, the idea of their

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