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History of the DrivingEnthusiast network
2009-03-15 23:31:00
DrivingEnthusiast.net celebrated it's tenth year in 2008. Follow it's long... and checkered... history here: 1999: Starting Small We started the original site in early 1999 for the express purpose of providing detailed images of the IRS suspension of our new 1999 Mustang Cobra. Our Cobra was the first or second delivery in the state, and there was a lot of interest in what the all-new suspension looked like. We also wanted a place to drop all of the photos we'd taken in numerous auto shows and at various automotive events. That was quickly accomplished, and then the hit rate started to jump up at a very fast pace: the site was very successful. But we had other goals as well. One of our first was to learn how to build a non-commercial internet site with an ISP. We'd already built several intranet sites, including an extensive project documentation site that featured an online business flowchart for the business project leaders. When any element in the flowchart was cli...
More About: News , Website , History , How To , Network

The Lost in Space Chariot - last seen intact 40 years ago
2009-03-10 17:19:00
The Chariot was a fully functional prop designed and built for Lost in Space television show. You may remember that television show - the Robinson family along with heroic pilot Don West are sent on a 5 year mission in deep space to test new technologies. Their mission is sabotaged, and the saboteur is stranded with them. While the writing was terrible, the props were nicely done and were based on a reasonable extension to the technology of the day. The Chariot was one such prop, built to transport the family on planetside trips away form the ship. While a series of miniatures was also built for certain types of shots, the full size Chariot was fully functional. It made it's first appearance in Episode #1 and was lost for many years after the show was canceled. In more recent years, a fellow by the name of Chris Tietz found it's remains and started a restoration. The status of that is an unknown at this point in time. Has any reader got any new news on this? The Chariot was based...
More About: Movies , Years , Intact

Camaro5.com reports phtogs Camaros outside assembly plant
2009-03-08 16:21:00
Camaro5.com, the best source of information about the 5th-generation Camaro, has snapped some pics outside the Oshawa assembly plant showing over 100 new Camaros lined up and awaiting shipment. Whether these are going to dealers or whether these are the final test fleet isn't clear - although if you look at the other pictures on the site you'll notice that the window stickers are blank.
More About: Assembly , Camaro , Plant

Seibu Keisatsu - early Japanese television show races Skyline against Couga
2009-03-06 19:09:00
Thank to Japanese Nostalgic Car (one of our favorite sites) for locating some video from this early eighties Japanese television show: http://japanesenostalgiccar.co m/blog/2009/03/06/seibu-keisatsus-super-m achine/ "Seibu Keisatsu" translates to "Police: Western Division" and apparently the show was very popular. It ran from the late fall of 1979 thru the fall of 1984 and was followed up with a special return episode in 2004. While our site was established to focus on car movies of interest to enthusiasts, this classic Japanese television show will also certainly be of interest. The featured episode below features the delivery of a 2-door Skyline with a 2 liter turbo engine to the police force. One of the first cases to be solved involves some baddies in a 1970 Mercury Cougar - and of course a car chase ensues. The athletic prowess of the Skyline helps ensure everyone meets their inevitable destinies: the police triumph and the baddies perish. The ...
More About: Movies , Television , Show , Early

SHO me the numbers - 4 generations of SHO specs compared
2009-03-06 15:18:00
Nearly complete specifications for the Generation IV SHO have been released by Ford , with the exception of the curb weight of the car, the size of the brakes, and the transmission gear ratios. I've put these together with the specs of the Gen 1-3 cars for ease of comparison. Note that this chart will be updated on the website, not this blog posting, as further information becomes available over the remainder of the year. The specifications of the Gen 1-3 SHOs are drawn from several period sources. The specs of the Gen 4 are based on specs Ford released when the Gen 4 model was announced plus some extrapolation based on MKS specs with additional information pulled from January 2009 EcoBoost press releases. Everything delta to the above for the 2010 SHO is "best guesstimate" and is shown below in italics. Note that the curb weight guesstimate is drawn from the AWD 2009 Taurus weight combined with that of the AWD Lincoln MKS. Since the 2010 Taurus uses the new and upgraded 2010 MKS ch...
More About: Numbers , Specs , Generations

Walkaround - Infiniti Essence Concept
2009-03-04 09:50:00
The Infiniti Essence concept was introduced at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show this week. It's officially only a concept at this point in time, although it does appear to be based on a production intent. You'll note the usual concept car features: the all-glass roof/windshield combination, the oversize-tires, etc., that won't make it into production. Get past those and you have a car based on the GT-R platform, although with a low-boost twin-turbo 3.7 liter engine (not the 3.8 from the GT-R) and an electric hybrid assist system. These contribute 440 HP and 160 HP respectively, for a total of 600. The production version will probably have a hundred HP less, and go for well over $100K. It's also dependent on the Nissan/Infiniti hybrid system reaching production (a prototype was shown in a G35 last year), which won't be until 2012 at least. And of course on the worldwide economy, which certainly doesn't favor the development or sale of $100k products at the moment.
More About: Concept

S2000 sales for Feb 2009 take a terrible drop
2009-03-04 01:11:00
As our readers know, Honda will end S2000 production this summer. Sales have dropped over 60% from the expected ~200 and are about a tenth of the peak years 2001-2002. Not a good sign... get yours while you still can!
More About: Drop

New high-res Ford SHO Taurus and EcoBoost images on DrivingEnthusiast.net
2009-03-01 23:28:00
Interested in the new 2010 Taurus SHO? We've explained our feelings in the past few weeks that the Taurus is in our humble opinion (and as owners of both Gen 1 and Gen 3 SHOs) just too big a platform to build a proper SHO on... but that's what we have been handed so we'll go with it. Today we've expanded our website significantly, adding 292 MB and 27 MB of images respectively to the sections on the site covering the 2010 SHO and the EcoBoost engine. Dozens of super high resolution (SHR?) images cover all available angles of the car and it's engine. Our purpose? To preserve these images for posterity. We've done the same with images of all the major Ford products over the past ten years, such as the 2000 Cobra R. Enthusiasts can save them, make them into wallpapers, plan a purchase of a SHO, and - if you are engine nuts like us - examine the engines in fine detail. Continue reading here: (for all the following links, <right click> and <open in new ...
More About: Images , High

Fifth Gear drives the Focus RS
2009-02-25 01:58:00
Fifth Gear drives yet another fabulous European Ford that we don't get here in North America - and never will. Why "never"? Because when the European Focus finally comes to North America in a couple of years it will be an updated generation... and that means Europe won't have an RS at that point in time to send us. Ford tends to wait a few years into the run of the model before they bring out an RS model... so hopefully when they do we'll also have it here.  But we do have to ask ourselves a question: would the current Focus RS even be desirable in North America? Well... 300 HP won't be state of the art in 4-6 years from now: and that's at least how long it would take to get the next RS here (assuming that financial and emissions priorities allow one). The Evo XI and STI will both produce around 340 HP by then... and will be equipped with direct injection and more advanced engine management to get mileage up. And their drivetrain and su...
More About: Fifth Gear

Eric Bana and his Ford Falcon XB GT
2009-02-25 01:53:00
Who knew that Eric Bana was also a car enthusiast? And that his favorite car was one of his first: an Australia n Ford Falcon XB GT? And that he is making a documentary for and about car enthusiasts? With Jay Leno and Jeremy Clarkson "for" car enthusiasts, and Dr. Phil offering decidedly unqualified psychological opinions. The film <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1284028/& gt; releases in March in his native Australia... the rest of the world is unsure at this point.
More About: Movies , Media

Fast & Furious 4: April 10th in the U.K.
2009-02-20 15:34:00
Fast & Furious 4 will open in the UK on April 10, one week later than the opening date in North America. This movie will give British citizens yet another chance to complain about how Americans are "over-sexed... and over here" (do you know the historical reference to that?). Meanwhile, there's still no sign of the 20 minute Fast & Furious 1 prequel that Vin Diesel directed. He stars with Michelle Rodriquez, and Sung Kang reprises his role as Han from the third film. Our guess is that this will end up on a premium Blue-Ray edition of the 4th film when it comes out late this year. UK-specific posters follow.
More About: Movies , Media , Fast

Edmunds Inside Line covers Fast & Furious 4
2009-02-19 02:00:00
Yes, folks, as serious car films the Fast & Furious franchise doesn't cut it. But as we've said here before they are fun films to see and once in a while you see something you'd like. Such as a truckload of parts for your Supra, a race event out in the desert, or Jordana Brewster . Edmund's Inside Line has the most complete review of F&F4 to date: <http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/ Features/articleId=142226>   We are looking forward to the premier night of April 3rd! And, yes, that's a street racing RS200 - one of more than 200 cars used in the film. Ridiculous. How many viewers of this film will recognize that car - much less be able to recite it's specs?  
More About: Movies , Media , Covers

GM restructuring plan eliminates High Performance Vehicle Operations
2009-02-19 01:46:00
GM's 2009-2014 Restructuring Plan , <http://preprodha.ecomm.gm.com:8221/us /gm/en/news/govt/docs/plan.pdf > submitted on the 17th to Congress, essentially eliminates a number of brands and products. Most, such as Hummer, won't be missed by Driving Enthusiasts. What will be missed is GM's High Performance Vehicle Operations - the unit that created the V-series Cadillacs and products like the Cobalt SS. It's been eliminated for cost cutting purposes and it's engineers are moving to other duties in the company. GM will be focusing solely on fuel economical vehicles going forward. That means no more specialty V or SS models. AutoWeek has the complete story here:  <http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090 218/CARNEWS/902189973 >

AutoBlog scores the first pic of the Ford Boss 6.2 SOHC V-8 engine
2009-02-18 01:30:00
AutoBlog (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/6-2l- boss-v8-found-under-hood-of-2010-ford-f-1 50-harley-davidson/) scored big time with the first confirmed image of the all-new Ford V-8 engine code named "Boss ". It's a iron block 6.2 liter SOHC V-8. It'll be found in future Ford big trucks, such as the SVT Raptor and F-150 - although money woes prevented it from being offered at the start of production of those vehicles. Another variant of this engine with 4 valves per cylinder was to be offered in the Mustang... but this has been canceled and the Mustang will rely on a heavily revised modular engine of 5 liters in size, along with the twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6. Look closely and you can see this this is an engineering development platform and is not yet production ready (note the sticker on the air cleaner box, and various tape-wrapped wires). You can also see the very nice finned aluminum valve covers reading "Powered by Ford".
More About: Autoblog , Engine , Scores

New blog: Honda S2000 Electric Vehicle Conversion
2009-02-18 00:45:00
Here's an interesting and detailed new blog covering the conversion of a 2003 S2000 to full electric power.  The builder/owner has the car fully up and running. 130-140 HP and 220 ft-lbs torque. No final data yet on range or performance. Overall the conversion is entirely professional and the nicely done blog makes a very interesting read. Links: suggest <right click> and <open in new tab> Blog : http://s2kev.blogspot.com/ RSS feed:  http://s2kev.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/def ault?alt=rss Video: Walk-around Video: Drive
More About: Honda , Vehicle , Electric , Conversion

370Z - first drive follow-up
2009-02-16 23:22:00
Our first drive in a 370Z was a purely pedestrian drive- a couple of fast corners and little else. But we did see the potential of the car for track use in our short drive. What is the ultimate potential of the Z? Well of course Mines in Japan has already built several modestly modified Zs (meaning no internal engine work or unnatural aspiration - yet). Modifications include an intake system with new inlets in the front bumper, modified ECU, exhaust, wheels/tires, and Cusco coilovers. A set of Recaro SP-Gs round out the modifications. And better yet, the Master, Keiichi Tsuchiya, has already tested it at Fuji Speedway. Here's what it looks like: We'll have to wait for a translation to get all the details, but as you can see the car is indeed very competent.
More About: Drive , Nissan Z

370Z: Our First Drive
2009-02-15 23:28:00
We've been looking forward to driving the new 370Z as we watched spy pictures appear over the past few yearss. As of the last week in January, they're available for sale. We had our test drive a few days ago. The old Z, and even more so the old Nissan/Infiniti FM platform, was - let's face it - dated. The new FM platform in the form of the G35 Sedan has been one of our favorite rental car rides on business trips - and if that trip included some twisty bits then even better. A trip a year ago dedicated to canyon drives in California (and an art museum visit just to keep the balance!) was done in a rental G35 that proved very competent and reassuring in the twisty bits. Our analysis of a Nissan engineering mule in June 2007 (http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blo g/categories/nissanZ/2007/06/21.html#a212 8) indicated the new Z would be both shorter and wider. And of course based on the new FM platform, which for the first time (and it's about time!) offered camber adjustment ...
More About: Drive , Nissan Z

Taurus SHO vs. Falcon XR6T - Australians weigh in
2009-02-15 17:42:00
The current Australia n Falcon has a long and beloved performance history, supports local preferences with a rear wheel drive (RWD) architecture, and all importantly - to the Australians - is home grown. The XR6T version (4 liter inline 6, with turbocharger) is the current high water mark of performance - even bettering the version of the same car equipped with the 5.4 liter DOHC V-8 (roughly similar to the SVT Cobra R 5.4 engine, although with some differences). The XR6T is an attractive and desirable car.... although somewhat dated by European standards. The current Falcon is a "top hat" update to the previous car, retaining a fairly old architecture and suspension. The new body shell and minor updates were conceived as a short-term and inexpensive fix, until a new RWD platform came to fruition around 2012 that would meet worldwide standards. The Falcon platform had been briefly considered for export but had too many technical issues for worl...
More About: Ford , Pontiac , Taurus , Holden

701 rear wheel HP S2000: how much is too much?
2009-02-14 20:00:00
How much is too much? The answer lies in the specs of this car: 100% stock engine, transmission, and differential. That's too much for a stock S2K engine: this engine *will* blow up. The only question is when - if it's not dead already it will be soon. Like so many other conversions seeking a big number and a few fast pulls, no thought was given to doing it right. Which would have meant a sleeved and blueprinted block, a stronger tranny, and a new differential. Far more than literally slapping on a few parts. Dumb... kid stuff, and it'll be trashed very quickly. And he'll be back to driving him Mom's hand-me-down Accord. Enjoy the video. Amazon.com Widgets
More About: Wheel , Rear

SHO Performance Heritage
2009-02-11 16:19:00
SUPER HIGH-OUTPUT HERITAGE: NEW TAURUS SHO REVIVES PERFORMANCE MODEL FROM 1989-1999 CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2009 – Taurus SHO is back for 2010 in a contemporary yet authentic interpretation of its Super High Output “sleeper” heritage. Both known and loved for its high performance and unassuming exterior, Ford Taurus SHO was launched in limited production with only a five-speed manual transmission only for the 1989 model year. Introductory advertising positioned Taurus SHO as putting “power in the hands of a fortunate few.” Demand for the genre-defining Taurus SHO was underestimated, as 15,519 units found homes with eager, enthusiastic owners in the initial model year. The closest performance comparison at the time was the BMW 528i, costing tens of thousands more than the SHO. Beyond significant performance capabilities, Taurus SHO included features normally found on much more expensive cars such as ABS, Keyless Entry, a JBL audio system and sporty-yet-luxurious in...
More About: Performance , Heritage

SHOtime! 2010 Taurus SHO with 365 HP
2009-02-11 16:18:00
TAURUS SHO RETURNS WITH 365HP ECOBOOST V-6, PLUS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, PADDLE-SHIFT SIX-SPEED GEARBOX The Taurus SHO returns as the sporty version of Ford 's new flagship introducing a new generation of premium performance and fuel economy with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6. This engine delivers V-8 levels of power – with an estimated 365 horsepower – without compromising its V-6 fuel economy The 2010 Taurus SHO features an enhanced SelectShift® six-speed automatic transmission with control paddles mounted on the steering wheel, in combination with a sophisticated torque sensing all-wheel drive system, a sportier SHO interior, subtle exterior design cues and myriad technologies and features offered on Taurus Taurus SHO will be available this summer, starting at $37,995, including destination fees Chicago, Feb. 11, 2009 – One of America’s favorite “sleeper” performance cars returns to the Ford lineup, powered by a Super High Output (SHO) EcoBoost ...

Wil the Taurus SHO be introduced at the Chicago Auto SHOw?
2009-02-09 16:29:00
All signs point to a SHOwing of the EcoBoost 3.5 liter DOHC twin-turbo V-6 at the Chicago auto show. Question is: will it be shown in a Taurus... and will that model be named SHO? Ford has provided additional images of the EcoBoost engine in the last few weeks. First a picture (actually provided as part of the Detroit show press materials) of the special piston used in the boosted version of the 6. You'll note the dish in the middle of the piston that the (direct) injector is aimed towards. Also note that the injector is placed in the side of the head. This is current practice - but not for long. The upcoming 4 cylinder EcoBoost engine places it on the top of the chamber (known as "central"), between the valves, pointing downwards. The Jaguar 5 liter V-8 engine (designed with Ford, but alas no longer owned by Ford) places it similarly. Ford has also released the very first image showing the production ready engine. Previously released images were of d...
More About: Auto Show , Show , Auto

Another road sign hacked!
2009-02-07 14:52:00
Dire warning... or just another prank? The safety of the world is too big a risk to take... so if you see Gort get him the message! And be sure to watch the original The Day The Earth Stood Still, because the 2008 Keanu Reeves remake was terrible!
More About: Movies , Sign , Hacked , Road

Fast & Furious at Super Bowl XLIII
2009-02-02 03:06:00
Another variation of the Fast & Furious 4 trailer was shown during the Super Bowl . April 3, 2009 is the premier day!
More About: Movies , Media

Warning! Zombies on the loose in Austin
2009-01-30 17:34:00
Austin TX has had a serious problem with Zombie attacks over the past several years and the local Government has done absolutely nothing about it. So thank goodness that somebody finally took the initiative to warn us of yet another outbreak: http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/Road_signs_w arn_of_zombies. Yes, it took a hacker to get the warnings up earlier this week, but at least now we know. Why the state isn't warning us itself, nobody knows. Unless zombies control the state highway department as well... (which may explain all that ultra-slippery pavement out on route 71)? Interested in providing such a public service yourself? Jalopnik has the hacking instructions here: http://jalopnik.com/5141430/how-to-hack-a n-electronic-road-sign  We'll be spending an evening this weekend at the Alamo Drafthouse catching one of the latest films. The Alamo has had a zombie problem too, and they don't allow into the theater: They do provide instructions on t...
More About: Austin , Warning , Zombies

R.I.P. S2000
2009-01-30 15:21:00
As we reported on the day it was announced, Honda will end worldwide S2000 production with the 2009 model year.  We will dearly miss the S2000, but it has earned it's place in history. The S2000 was originally conceived as a limited production-run model and wasn't intended to last 11 years (available since 1999 in Japan). We're glad that we've owned two of them, and still own the very classy Grand Prix White (with tan interior) 2003 model. It's probably the best year of the production run and the most desirable color for collectors. And, yes, that's exactly what the S2000 will become - a collector car. S2000s won't become garage queens: S2000s are meant for driving and that's exactly what we do with ours. S2000 sales have steadily declined over the past several years. The car is not for everybody - it is a very serious and pure drivers car with nothing in the way of frills (our 2000 MY S2000 came with an 8-watt radio!) but everything in the way of great ...

Car Movie: No Grave For Us
2009-01-30 14:37:00
Thanks to the folks at Japanese Nostalgic Cars (<right click> and <open in new tab>) - one of our favorite daily reads - we have yet another car movie to chase down. You've hopefully seen our site, http://carmovies.drivingenthusiast.net/, where we comment on and rank hundreds of car-themed movies from our collection - and a few obscure ones that we are searching for. It's the largest site of it's type on the web. Yes, we're Cinematophiles, and car-themed movies are a big part of our collection (along with Film Noir, which itself often features some good car scenes). Japanese Nostalgic Cars tells us that this late-nineties car chase film has the hero in a Mazda Savanna RX-3 (very stylish and sophisticated back then) and the baddies are in an RT80 Toyota Corona and a Nissan President. You'll recognize the RX-3 (very collectible these days) and the Corona, and possibly the President - although it never officially made it into the Nor...
More About: Movies , Movie , Grave

Honda to end production of S2000
2009-01-27 01:31:00
2009 Will Be Final Model Year of Production for Honda S2000 Segment-defining roadster won numerous accolades during its 9-year run01/26/2009 - TORRANCE, Calif. - The 2009 Honda S2000 will be the final model year produced of the award-winning roadster, Honda announced today. First introduced in 1999 for the 2000 model year, the S2000 helped define its segment with class-leading handling, engine technology and value. Originally envisioned as a limited-edition tribute to Honda's 50th anniversary, S2000 production was extended in response to customer demand and critical acclaim. "The S2000 is a sports car designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "It raised the bar for all future roadsters, and it's already considered a classic by many Honda fans." As a true sports car that can serve as a practical and fun daily driver yet feel equally at home on a racetrack, this concept further evolved with a club racer-i...

Mustang wheels for sale on Craigslist... with bonus trailer trash
2009-01-27 01:15:00
AutoWeek, January 26 2009 issue, reports the following Craigslist ad: MUSTANG WHEELS   I have a set of FR500 for a fox body mustang and I’m not sure what they go for? So I guess I’ll take $200.00   I also have what I was told are ponys $100.00   I need this stuff out of my bedroom, I kicked out my boyfriend after he got me and my mom drunk and had sex with us both.   And now both of us are pregnant!   We know who the daddy is.   Make this stuff go… or if you are looking for a girlfriend I may give them to you if we hook up.
More About: Media , Ford , For Sale , Mustang , Trailer

Ford Coyote 5 liter V-8 for Mustang and F-150
2009-01-25 03:26:00
An alert photographer has caught the first glimpse of Ford 's heavily revised modular motor, code-named "Coyote ". While Ford hasn't made any official announcement of this engine, it is known to have been designed for the Mustang , F-150, and the now-canceled all-new rear wheel drive platform. The Australians have also made reference to it. This is a double overhead cam 4-valve V-8 engine of 5 liters displacement (not 4.9 liters as in the former OHV iron-block "302"). It's got coil-on plug ignition and a single-inlet aluminum intake manifold. It may have direct injection as well, but that's not clear from this photo. It may also have variable cam timing on the intake cam or both cams - the only indication of that is the two cam sensors on the top front of each head. It's also clear that the front engine cover is recessed back into the engine (to keep the overall length short), just as in the 3.5/3.7 liter V-6. It's believed the engine will produce 400 HP/400 torq...
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