Auto Industry News
And Car Reviews
Ford Finds That Your Car May Be A Rolling Petri Dish
TV hosts wielding black lights have long turned our stomachs in regard to the glaring lack of cleanliness in hotel rooms. Ford shows us that germs and disease are lurking much closer to home. In a recent study with the University of Michigan, Ford found that the vehicle is essentially a four-wheeled orgy of microorganisms.
Ford studied 10 individual areas of the car, including steering wheels, radio buttons, door handles, window switches and gear shift knobs, collecting samples from employee and company vehicles. It found evidence of bacteria growth in most locations, with the highest concentrations around the cup holder and on the steering wheel.
Posted In: Car News, Miscellaneous, Reports, Safety
Tags: Ford, research, bacteria, studies, dirty, University of Michigan, Michigan
Lake Mirror Classic 2012: Part 5 (Editors' Favorites)
This year's Lake Mirror Classic brought so many interesting cars that we're gonna have to split it up in multiple posts!
We now present our favorites from the Lake Mirror Classic. Now, we could've easily chosen then most expensive or popular cars, but we didn't. We searched for the cars that truly stood out - even if they only stood out to us ourselves.
Read on to see our favorites!
Posted In: Auto Shows, Classics, Exotics
Tags: Lake Mirror Classic, Lakeland, Florida, Central Florida, auto show, car show, classics, antiques, auction, festival, photos, pictures
Chevy Builds A Life-Sized Camaro Hot Wheels Car
Chevy is making boys' dreams reality at this year's SEMA Show. The automaker has revealed the Camaro Hot Wheels Edition in Las Vegas. Unlike most of the crazy one-offs and concepts at SEMA, the Hot Wheels-inspired Camaro will be offered for sale in limited numbers.
"Millions of us grew up playing with Hot Wheels," said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. "Offering a special production model of the Camaro Hot Wheels is an opportunity to bring those memories to life, for kids of all ages."
Posted In: Auto Shows, Special / Limited Edition
Tags: Chevy, GM, Camaro, Hot Wheels, SEMA 2012, special editions
Bugatti Thinking 1,600-HP, 288-MPH Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron is already the fastest car in the world. It's also one of the most powerful and expensive. There's nary a bragging right left for the ultimate symbol of power and excess, but that isn't stopping Bugatti from developing an even more extreme version.
Automobile magazine reports that Bugatti is working on a 1,600-hp SuperVeyron. That's right - the car actually may be called the "SuperVeyron," not to be confused with the current Veyron Super Sport and its measly 1,200 ponies.
Posted In: Auto Shows, Exotics, Reports, Rumors, Special / Limited Edition
Tags: Bugatti, Veyron, supercars, hypercars, Veyron Super Sport
Lake Mirror Classic 2012: Part 4 (1953-2012)
This year's Lake Mirror Classic brought so many interesting cars that we're gonna have to split it up in multiple posts!
This time we're showcasing cars spanning from 1953 all the way up the all new Fisker Karma. Notice how far cars and trucks have come along in the last 60 years!
Stay tuned for our favorites from the show and more.
Posted In: Auto Shows, Classics, Exotics
Tags: Lake Mirror Classic, Lakeland, Florida, Central Florida, auto show, car show, classics, antiques, auction, festival, photos, pictures
Lexus LF-LC Concept Looks Happy In Blue
We already knew the Lexus LF-LC was quite a looker, but a new coat of blue paint shows that it looks good in whatever it's wearing. Lexus debuted the LF-LC Blue concept at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show, keeping chatter alive about a concept sports car that might eventually see production.
Lexus debuted the original LF-LC - which looked mighty fine in red, too - at the 2012 North American International Auto Show, later hinting at the possibility of production. For the Australian show, Lexus covered the car in Opal Blue. Not that it needed an excuse for the luscious paint, but the color is actually linked to Australia by way of the semi-precious opal stone found in the Outback.
Posted In: Auto Shows, Concept Cars, Exotics, Hybrid / Green
Tags: Lexus, Toyota, LF-LC, concept cars, 2012 Australian Motor Show, supercars
Lake Mirror Classic 2012: Part 3 (1906-1950)
This year's Lake Mirror Classic brought so many interesting cars that we're gonna have to split it up in multiple posts. For now, we'll focus on some of our older favorites - ranging from 1950 all the way back to 1906!
Check them out in the gallery below and let us know which one is your favorite!
Posted In: Auto Shows, Classics
Tags: Lake Mirror Classic, Lakeland, Florida, Central Florida, auto show, car show, classics, antiques, auction, festival, photos, pictures
Lake Mirror Classic 2012: Part 2
If you missed Part 1 of our coverage of the Lake Mirror Classic, feel free to check it out here – although, Part 1 was sort of a teaser leading up to now.
In the next few days, we’ll be bringing you pictures and info on some of the coolest cars we’ve seen in a while. As for now, here are some great shots from Friday and Saturday (October 19 – 20).
Posted In: Auctions, Auto Shows, Classics, Exotics
Tags: Lake Mirror Classic, Lakeland, Florida, Central Florida, auto show, car show, classics, antiques, auction, festival, photos, pictures
Mercedes Benz G55 AMG Goes Purple
When you look at the clean, sharp edges and punishing demeanor of the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, the last thing you should be thinking is, "Boy, that sucker would look good in 'I Love You' purple." But the SEMA auto show is all about making a scene with loud colors and elaborate body kits, so that's how Wald International decided to go about its business.
The Wald Black Bison G55 was created in conjunction with Toyo Tires, Jonari and several other partners. What makes this "bison" stand out the most, especially if it were to ever see any actual off-road action, is its matte purple wrap.
Posted In: Aftermarket, Auto Shows, Concept Cars, Exotics
Tags: Mercedes, Mercedes Benz, G55, tunes, SEMA 2012, Wald International
McLaren MP4-12C Is Neiman Marcus' Holiday Car
Now that we've seen the P1, the MP4-12C is the other McLaren. But it's still a high-performance piece of mechanical engineering that most can only dream about owning. That's especially true when it's done up in a gorgeous special edition paint job, accessorized generously and offered as a Christmas gift for the rich and famous. The MP4-12C Spider is this year's Neiman Marcus car.
Each fall, Neiman Marcus gives us a car to drool over for the entire holiday season. Last year it was the Ferrari FF and the year before it was the Camaro Convertible. This year it's the Neiman Marcus Edition 2013 McLaren 12C Spider.
Posted In: Car News, Exotics, Special / Limited Edition
Tags: McLaren, MP4-12C, neiman marcus, supercars, special edition
Haunted Highways: A Series Exploring The Ghosts Of Cars Gone By (Quickly)
Every once in a while, a car comes a long that people can't help but love. All allegiances are put aside -- whether they be Bow Tie, Blue Oval, Prancing Horse, Four Rings, Blue Propeller, or Raging Bull. Some cars just bring out the little kid in all of us, and any gearhead with a pulse can smile and say, "Yeah, you know what? That's one damn fine automobile!" In 1997, Chrysler rolled a car rolled off the assembly line that was literally the automobile equivalent of a thumbs up on wheels -- the Plymouth Prowler.
Built in 1997, it took a year off and then continued on in production from 1999-2002, the Prowler was the end result of creative license being bestowed on a bunch of designer/engineers whose only requirement was to come up with a modern hot rod. Whether or not the car succeeded in its intended mission is a matter of personal interpretation, but no one can argue whether or not it can be labeled a hot rod, the Prowler is still one cool car.
Posted In: Classics, Car Reviews, Special / Limited Edition
Tags: Haunted Highways, classics, plymouth, prowler, chrysler