Noble M12 GTO-3R

Last fall we were breaking in a new road warrior and testing the Noble M12 at the same time. The car was very quick, and as we were at the staging area checking out the acceleration results, the 20-something new guy got a look. “Damn—that thing’s stupid fast!” he blurted.

What was funny was how well that summed up the Noble. On one hand, it is a little, well, silly, since it’s a South African–built $76,400 car of questionable lineage that doesn’t pass U.S. emissions or crash regulations and gets registered for road use as a home-built kit. But on the other, it is one of the most satisfying cars we’ve ever driven, and it is ferociously fast, snapping to 60 in a minuscule 3.3 seconds, the same as a Ford GT.

“Actually, it’s a component car,” clarified Dean Rosen, the president of 1G Racing and importer of the Noble kit. “The car comes in two crates—one with the completely assembled car, and the other with the powertrain. You can join the two in about 40 hours.” Maybe we were being a little harsh, since a lot of kit cars we’ve driven feel pretty good. But still, here in the U.S., the Noble is an obscure machine.

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Thursday, Feb 24, 2005

It’s-All-About-Me Roadsters

The jury deliberates over four new convertibles on our most-selfish list.

We haven’t officially put Ayn Rand on our must-read list, but we have been lately mulling a few of her principles, particularly the one about the virtue of selfishness. Should you suddenly be handed a fistful of dollars, for example, would you buy a new bus for the church or head straight to the nearest Porsche dealer?

No hands, please, it’s a secret ballot. Those of you in the latter category—and you know who you are—may want to divert some of your overtaxed attention to the following pages. Upon them we have lashed down and dissected four of the newest, fleetest, it’s-all-about-me convertibles in the $45,000 to $60,000 range, a group we regularly check in on for reasons that are, of course, selfish.

Featured in This Comparo
Chevrolet Corvette
Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6
Mercedes-Benz SLK350
Porsche Boxster S

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Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

Driving Porsche's Supercar

Along with Ferrari's Enzo, the long-awaited Porsche Carrera GT is an amazing start to a new era of supercars. The Enzo may have beaten the Carrera GT to market--the Porsche only went on sale this past January--but Porsche clearly wanted to take enough time to develop the $440,000 GT and show the other car makers how it's done. Called Project S1 internally, the new Carrera GT was to be Porsche's next factory effort for Le Mans in 2000. Then race plans were dropped, but S1 went forward as a street car. The Carrera GT production version was unveiled at last in March 2003 in Geneva.

Cut to the Gross Dölln, an ex-Russian Army base in the German hinterlands along the Polish border. Runway No. 1--the one I am to use for high-speed runs--is two miles long. Russian Tu-95 bombers and MiG fighters used these runways up to and for a while after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989. Today, here on the tarmac are parked three shimmering, $440,000 Porsche Carrera GTs--one red, one black and one silver.

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Monday, Feb 21, 2005

The High-Efficiency Jetcar

The Jetcar isn’t jet-powered, but it is a freaky-looking, high efficiency concept with a mandate to achieve 100km per liter of fuel (around 285mpg). The latest prototype, Jetcar 2.5, sports a light steel frame, a body fashioned from epoxy glass resin and a three-cylinder common-rail diesel engine, chosen after electric-battery and hydrogen powered versions had proven uneconomical. It also employs an aerodynamically efficient design only an engineer could love. More pics ahead.







Jetcar 2.5

Spy Photos: 2007 Cadillac CTS-V

It’s not technically a spy photo, but this shot of what may be the 2007 Cadillac CTS-V gave us a cheap thrill nonetheless. We like the direction Cadillac is taking its entry-level luxury coupe, and future 330i beater. We’re not guaranteeing anything, but, as someone once predicted, Cadillac may have legs as a global sport-luxury brand. As if we needed another thing to bet on.

Thursday, Feb 17, 2005

How Much Should You Spend?

It's easy to overspend your budget on a new car or truck. Here's how to avoid getting in over your head.

It's always a good idea to start the car-buying process with a preliminary budget planning session to help you determine how much car or truck your money can buy—and how much money you feel comfortable about spending—on what is typically the largest consumer purchase after a house.

Experts told MSN Autos it's all too easy to buy or lease a car you really can't afford—even if you're normally a levelheaded consumer. By overextending yourself for the sake of a new car you face more than just giving up vacations and nights out. You could be putting your financial security at risk.

Control Your Emotions
"Don't overbuy," advises Bob Litwin, Director of Creditor Community Relations for the Houston branch of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS), part of the nonprofit National Foundation for Consumer Credit, headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. "All too often, emotions overrule logic and people get into trouble. If you can't afford it, don't buy the car."

One way many consumers get into trouble is by not understanding the difference between qualifying for a loan and being able to afford one.

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Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

Insurance Tips

Buying insurance can be confusing. Here are some ways to reduce your premiums while still getting the coverage you need.
* Shop around, and do it regularly. Insurance is a competitive industry, and insurers change their rates over time. Make sure you have the best deal you can get each and every year.
* Put multiple vehicles on the same policy. Many insurers offer family discounts for insuring multiple vehicles on the same policy.
* Check out defensive driving courses. Some insurers provide discounts if drivers brush up their skills.
* Buy vehicles with safety devices. Some insurers provide discounts for airbags and anti-lock brakes because statistics show they help mitigate the occurrence of crashes and/or the severity of injuries.
* Check on security savings. Alarms or anti-theft devices may qualify for insurance discounts.
* Stay on the good side of the law. Insurers look to see if you have a blemish-free driving record and reward you with lower premiums if you do.
* Assess your deductible. Raising it to $500 can result in a lower insurance premium. Just be sure you can afford that $500 deductible if you're in a crash.
* Take public transportation when possible. Taking the bus or train, or even carpooling, lowers the annual mileage on your vehicle and can result in a lower insurance premium.

Common Mistakes
The excitement of buying a new car can often lead to mistakes when insuring it. It pays to be just as prudent when buying insurance as you are when buying the car. Don't make these common insurance shopping mistakes:

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Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005

2006 Dodge Charger

While the original Charger was a two-door coupe, the 2006 Charger is designed to look like a coupe in silhouette, but is actually a 4-door.

The current version of the legendary HEMI will be offered in the Charger, producing 340-horsepower with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The standard engine is the 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and, like the original Charger, the 2006 is rear-wheel drive.

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Monday, Feb 14, 2005

2006 BMW 3-Series

BMW will move the 3-Series into its fifth generation next spring with its world debut in Geneva, followed by its North American debut at the New York Auto Show.

Two inline 6-cylinder engines will be available, the larger 3.0-liter version producing 255 horsepower—an increase of 30 horses over the current generation. This engine is also the first 6-cylinder to use BMW VALVETRONIC. With infinitely variable valve lift in place of the traditional throttle butterfly, this system improves both throttle response and fuel efficiency. Like previous BMW VALVETRONIC engines, the gains in both horsepower and fuel economy are impressive. In the case of the 330i, horsepower increases by 13 percent, while fuel consumption decreases by 12 percent.

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The Mercedes Hot Seat

Have you ever turned on the heated seat and started to sweat? How about getting the seat so hot you received second degree burns? Sounds like a painful way to get burned, trapped in a speeding car, ass on fire, literally. The mental image is pretty bad but that’s what happened to one Mercedes Benz ML320 owner as their SUV’s driver’s side seat overheated. Two other owners reported the same problem without the burns. The problem is with the 2003 model year vehicle according to the NHTSA. Ouch in related news DCX has another investigation going into its 2001, 2002 minivans for faulty headlights. And to top the day off, Dodge had to recall 26,000 Durango SUVs for fuel tank valves not fully closing, causing potential gas leaks.

But none of that seems as bad as Ford’s day. The company has to recall 360,000 Ford Foci for rear doors that may not latch properly. There are 33 complaints about the problem in 2000-2002 four- and five-door vehicles.

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Thursday, Feb 10, 2005

Jaguar Group C Wind Tunnel Models Amongst Automobilia Attractions For Stoneleigh Park

Automobilia collectors will have a unique opportunity to acquire a Jaguar Group C wind tunnel development model at H&H’s sale at the International Historic Motorsport Show, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on February 25th.

Two of these beautifully-engineered models are on offer:

* A 1986 Jaguar XJR6, in sprint configuration. Two ‘real’ sprint cars were manufactured, but were both converted to XJR8s for the 1987 season, so there is no longer an XJR6 remaining in racing form. (One of the XJR8s was destroyed at Le Mans in 1987, with the other now believed to be residing now in Japan.) Estimate £1,500-2,500.

* A Castrol XJR9 GTP racer, developed for the USA IMSA or Daytona series. An identical model is also displayed by the Jaguar Heritage Trust. Estimate £1,500-2,500

Both models are contained in their original wooden travelling crates, and are in very good condition.

The automobilia sale also includes a superb collection of Brooklands members’ and guests’ badges from 1907 (the first year of issue) through to 1942 and missing only 1916. They are mostly in very good condition, and many have matching numbers. A large number of pre-war Brooklands programmes have also been consigned to the sale. All are being sold without reserve.

Another fascinating lot is a collection of original sketches and drawings by Peter Kirwan-Taylor, most famous for working closely with Colin Chapman in the early days of Lotus. This includes both individual sketches and full sketch books featuring drawings and designs for Lotus, MGA, Triumph TR2 and Swallow Doretti chassis’. Estimates range from £50-£80 to £300-400.

Full details of the lots in the February sale, which also includes some 3,000 models from the private Portuguese Queiroz collection, can be obtained at www.classic-auctions.com

Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005

Motorised pram

Meet 'Bumblar' - a state-of-the-art design, we think you'll agree. It's comprised mainly of plywood, has a tasteful crushed-velvet interior (or is that exterior?) and has a pant-soiling top speed of over 70mph…

Tuesday, Feb 8, 2005

Alfa Romeo - Brera concept

For now, only one Alfa Romeo Brera exists. It's the latest embodiment of all that the design studio, concept car builders and engineering trouble-shooters Gruppo Italdesign Giugiaro are capable of - the people who bought us the original VW Golf, Alfasud, Fiat Panda, Maserati 3200GT and, ahem, Daewoo Matiz, amongst plenty of others. As well as being a motorised advert for the company's talents, the Brera is a near-production-ready test of the public's reactions to the prospect of Alfa Romeo offering a direct rival to the Porsche 911...

The highlight of the Brera's visual treats is its incomparably startling bodywork, crafted entirely from carbon fibre. It's a low, very wide 2+2 coupe, painted in the loudest imaginable shade of metallic scarlet. At each corner are whopping 20-inch 'telephone dial' wheels sporting Michelin run-flat tyres, near-bald at the back because Giorgetto Giugiaro's son Fabrizio has been practising his doughnutting technique in the car.

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Monday, Feb 7, 2005

Meet the new face of VW

The Passat was always the sort of car that sent out subtle messages, and in the process spoke volumes. Not flash like a 3-Series, not dull like a Mondeo. So what's all this about? Judging by the surprise appearance of the new model, Volkswagen is hoping to inject a spot of luxury into the midrange saloon sector. Gone is the blink-and-you'll-miss-it styling, replaced by looks a lot more in keeping with the Phaeton übersaloon than the solid family workhorse it replaces.

A shallow-angled windscreen and heavily-sculpted body panels have hauled the Passat into the 21st century design league. And that distinctly shaped chrome grille is destined to feature on all forthcoming VWs.

But it's not just a case of laser-whitened teeth and a stint on the sunbed for the Passat. This is a serious redesign inside and out. Following the general motoring trend, the car is bigger in every direction. Unoriginal that may seem, but it means more cabin room and 90 litres more loadspace. The look of the interior has been given a full rethink too, with cleaner lines and a more driver-focused layout. VW's reliable blend of quality and simplicity remains, but with a greater hint of sportiness. 115bhp 1.6-litre and 150bhp two-litre FSI petrol engines will be available from launch, with a 246bhp 3.2-litre V6 in the pipeline. 105bhp 1.9-litre and 140bhp two-litre TDI diesels will also feature, both being offered with a DSG dual-clutch semi-automatic gearbox.

There's plenty of new hightech jiggery-pokery too. An electronic parking brake is a first-in-class, as is automatic distance control, first seen in the Phaeton. Working in conjunction with the cruise control, this system applies the brakes if the car in front looms too close, then accelerates back to the original speed when the road is clear. VW's own version of keyless ignition also debuts, alongside those increasingly ubiquitous round-the-corner headlights.There's still no hatchback option on the Passat, but first UK models of the saloon and estate will be on sale by the summer.

2005 North American International Auto Show

Coming off an incredible 2004, the automotive world had high expectations for the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The anticipation increased in the weeks before the show as manufacturers gave hints, sketches, and preliminary specifications to the cars that would be introduced at the show. Models that had already made their international debut, like the 997 911 Carrera and BMW M5, made their North American debuts. Dozens of cars were introduced, and Drew Phillips and Nathan Leach-Proffer were there to capture all the excitement. Here are some of the highlights from this year's show:

General Motors

The most anticipated car introduced at Detroit this year was the Z06 version of the C6 Corvette that Chevrolet introduced a year earlier. While photos of the car had leaked from GM nearly two months earlier, everyone wanted to get a more detailed view of the car and its 7.0 liter small-block V8 engine. The C6-R was introduced alongside the new Z06, and the visual similarities between the two cars can be seen instantly. This is because the two cars were developed together, with much of Chevrolet's racing knowledge carrying over to the street car. "The new Z06 is the dividend from competing so successfully in endurance racing," said Corvette's chief engineer Dave Hill. "It combines the strong attributes of the new, sixth-generation Corvette with the spirit, technology and know-how from the race program to form an American supercar with outstanding credentials." Along with the increased power of the new LS7 engine, weight was kept reasonably low with an all-aluminum body structure and the use of lightweight materials like carbon composites and magnesium. To handle the increased power, the brakes Z06 also received a stiffer suspension and larger brakes. Performance should be on par with current supercars with a price tag under $70,000. The C6-R is scheduled to make its debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March.

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How Car Insurance Works

If you own your own car, you probably already know a little about car insurance. You may have heard the words deductible or premium. But, do you truly understand the different parts of an auto insurance policy and do you know how to choose the best coverage?

Forty-seven states require that you have at least some kind of car insurance, so it's a good idea to know what the law requires you to have and what additional or optional coverage will help to protect you in the event of an accident.

Before purchasing auto insurance, you must consider a variety of factors including what kind of car you have, your driving record and the amount of money you are willing to pay. Understanding the simple basics of auto insurance will make you confident that the car insurance policy you choose will take care of your needs in the event of an accident.

In this article, we will walk you through the types of coverage that insurance companies offer and discuss possible insurance needs. Additionally we will look at what affects the price of auto insurance, how to bring the costs down and how to understand the components of your policy.

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Wednesday, Feb 2, 2005

How Hybrid Cars Work

Have you pulled your car up to the gas pump lately and been shocked by the high price of gasoline? As the pump clicked past $20 or $30, maybe you thought about trading in that SUV for something that gets better mileage. Or maybe you're worried that your car is contributing to the greenhouse effect. Or maybe you just want to have the coolest car on the block.

The auto industry now has the technology that might answer all of these needs. It's the hybrid car, and a few manufacturers are selling their versions in the United States. You're probably aware of hybrid cars because they've been in the news a lot. In fact, most automobile manufacturers have announced plans to manufacture their own versions -- you can even expect some hybrid SUVs to hit the streets this year.

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Tuesday, Feb 1, 2005

C6 Corvette Z06, Ferrari F430 Spider spied

Well maybe not so much right there— they probably just know people who know people who have the right kind of cameras, designed specially for capturing preproduction cars invisible to your regular tourist-variety lenses. AW’s best snag here is the Z06, which seems to feature a removable hardtop, lightweight wheels, Brembo binders, and, since these spy photo cameras double as portable X-ray machines, a 500-hp 7.0 liter V8. Regarding the the Ferrari F430: zoinks Scooby, it looks exactly like the coupe, but it has a black canvas top and is hardly disguised otherwise— although those red mirrors really threw me for a loop. AutoWeek also stakes a late claim on the new Toyota sports car (codename TXS) we posted about last week, which they think could possibly be the next Supra even though it’s rumored to sticker for over $100K. If that’s true (which I’m pretty sure it isn’t), offering a $100K+ Supra could be the biggest worst-est most horrible-est mistake of Toyota’s life.

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Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Top Value Holders for 2005 According to Kelley Blue Book

Here are the top ten 2005 vehicles likely retain value the best:*

Acura TL

BMW 5-Series

Infiniti G35 Coupe

Lexus GX 470

Mazda RX-8

Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 Cabriolet

MINI Cooper

Nissan 350Z

Porsche Cayenne

Volvo XC90

2005 vehicles that will hold value the best by category:*

Sedan: Honda Civic

Coupe: Infiniti G35

Convertible: Nissan 350Z roadster

Luxury: BMW 5-Series

Pickup: Toyota Tacoma PreRunner

Sport Utility: Volvo XC90

* Over the first five years.

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