Automotive Addicts |
- Rumor Du Jour: 2012 Camaro ZL1 To Have “Over” 570 Horsepower
- Worth Getting Out of Bed for: The Mercedes Silver Arrows Campaign Video
- Video: A Close Look at the Hennessey Venom GT
- Pike’s Peak Record Setting Porsche GT2 RS For Sale
- Driver Distraction Responsible For 25% Of Accidents
| Rumor Du Jour: 2012 Camaro ZL1 To Have “Over” 570 Horsepower Posted: 13 Jul 2011 05:23 AM PDT
 The 2012 Camaro ZL1. Image: © GM Corp. General Motors uses the same basic engine in three cars: the Corvette ZR1 (where it's called the LS9), the Cadillac CTS-V (where it's called the LSA) and in the upcoming Camaro ZL1 (where it will also be called the LSA). In all cases, it's a 6.2-liter, pushrod V-8 that ranges from 556 horsepower in LSA trim to 638 horsepower in LS9 trim. To get the additional ponies, GM bumps up the compression ratio (from 9.0:1 to 9.1:1) and adds a bigger blower for use in the Corvette ZR1. In other words, GM's engineers have an 82 horsepower spread to work with, and can easily build an LSA motor over 600 horsepower if product needs dictate. Since the target for the Camaro ZL1 is the current Shelby GT500, which puts out 550 horsepower, we know that the ZL1 will have to do better. Much better, actually, since the Camaro is a larger and heavier car. Credible source rumors say that Chevy has officially dyno tested the ZL1, and the LSA under the hood is good for "more than" 570 horsepower. Call it 570, which is 20 more than the Shelby; more importantly, the Camaro should make over 555 ft-lb of torque compared to the Shelby's 510 ft-lb. Even if the Camaro is a few hundred pounds heavier, we still have a decent horse race here. Don't expect Ford to go down without a fight. The next Shelby GT500, due in 2013, is well into the development stage, and rumored to pack over 600 horsepower from its turbocharged V-8. We won't have details on the Shelby for another year of so, but look for Chevy to announce the numbers for the Camaro ZL1 in the very near future. Source: LSX TV |
| Worth Getting Out of Bed for: The Mercedes Silver Arrows Campaign Video Posted: 13 Jul 2011 05:19 AM PDT
Mercedes-Benz boasts their newest performance AMG models in a new Mercedes Silver Arrows campaign which gives others a chance to win an ultimate driving experience day. The new campaign is launched in the UK but allows anyone from the US to enter the for prize package where you have the "Ultimate Enthusiast Experience" in the seat of a new Mercedes-Benz at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands. Check out the new Mercedes Silver Arrows promotional video below and be sure to grab a towel to wipe the drool off of the keyboard. Additional information: Mercedes-Benz World |
| Video: A Close Look at the Hennessey Venom GT Posted: 12 Jul 2011 11:53 AM PDT
Straight from the mouth of John Hennessey we get a full rundown on the new Hennessey Venom GT, one of the fastest road cars around, in the exclusive fGear.tv video below. The Venom GT probably takes those of you old enough to remember, back to a time that Carroll Shelby came up with a crazy idea. That idea was a simple formula of taking a light weight performance car chassis and replacing its powerplant with the hand of God. That true enthusiast passion lives on today in people like John Hennessey, the creator of the Venom GT. From the video John makes it clear that the Venom GT is much more than just a Lotus with a big engine, it is basically what true automotive enthusiasts consider to be a modern marvel. Hit up the video below to get a full run-down on the new Venom GT created by Hennessey Performance. Short list of Venom GT specifications
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| Pike’s Peak Record Setting Porsche GT2 RS For Sale Posted: 12 Jul 2011 08:20 AM PDT
For sale: Guards Red 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS with just 4,062 mostly-highway miles. Used for weekend drives by mature owner. Includes tasteful modifications, such as an upgraded roll cage, OMP steering wheel and the highly-desirable "passenger seat delete" option. Call today, because this baby won't last long! Champion Porsche in Pompano Beach, FL is selling Jeff Zwart's record-breaking Pike's Peak 911 GT2 RS. There's no price listed on the Champion Porsche website, but the cheapest 911 GT2 RS that I saw had an "internet price" of $299,900, which is more than the car cost new. Since the Pike's Peak GT2 RS is "historically significant", you can bet that putting it in your garage will cost substantially more money than that. Whatever the asking price is, you've got this in your favor: Porsche built a limited number of 911 GT2 RS cars to begin with, and only one set a new record on Pike's Peak. Depending upon the asking price, there's a good chance that Zwart's GT2 RS will appreciate in value over time. Besides, your stock portfolio won't top 200 miles per hour. See Zwart's GT2 RS in action in the video below. Source: Auto Guide |
| Driver Distraction Responsible For 25% Of Accidents Posted: 12 Jul 2011 06:47 AM PDT
 Image: P. Gordon If the Governor's Highway Safety Association is correct, up to one quarter of all traffic accidents are caused by drivers distracted by portable electronics. If that's not a sobering enough statistic, the GHSA study revealed that drivers are distracted up to 50 percent of their time behind the wheel. It also confirmed what we already know: cellphone use and texting increase the risk of an accident, and texting increases the risk more than just talking on a cell phone. Bluetooth headsets, or other hands-free devices, don't make talking on a cell phone any safer. The brain can only process a limited number of complex tasks at the same time, and it looks like any telephone conversation distracts from the task of driving. Look at it this way: you have $1.00 to spend on concentration. Driving in good weather, in reasonable traffic, costs $0.45. Talking on the cell phone costs $0.35, but throw another variable into the mix and it's easy to "overspend". Swerving to avoid the brake drum that just fell out of the scrappers pickup two cars ahead of you costs $0.50. You've only got $0.20 left, so the result is quite likely an accident. The report further stated that cell phone and texting bans aren't all that effective. First, they can prove difficult to enforce, and police usually won't pull over drivers for talking on the phone (unless there's a regional, stepped up enforcement program in effect). Many drivers text with the phone near their lap, out of line of sight from police. You can't enforce what you can't see. The GHSA's recommendation is to pass a complete ban on cellphone use by novice drivers, and to ban texting by all drivers. That's not too far a leap from current laws, which ban cell phone use for novice drivers in 30 states and the District of Columbia, and ban texting for all drivers in 34 states and Washington, DC. What's your take? Do you cop to talking and driving? Texting and driving? Why or why not? Source: Kicking Tires |
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