Culture|Garage

Yep, you read that right- carbon dioxide could very well be the fuel of the future. “Aha,” says you, “but how?” Good question. Read the rest of this entry »

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Thanks goes out to reader Shaun for sending us the link to this video. Factory Five, the self-professed, world’s largest component car car manufacturer (component is a euphemism for kit) is showing off their 33 Coupe. The video was shot at their annual owners convention-get-together-thingy. Apparently, Factory Five was a little sketch on the details, but the chassis is stiffer than the Cobra kit and is built to accept a wider range of engines. All in all this is a pretty hot kit car.

Having ridden in a Factory Five Mk3 Roadster (Cobra), the quality is damn good, however I am sure a lot of it depends on who pieces it together.

edit: the guy that shot the video just contacted me, he has more info and some pictures on his site, thanks Nick!

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(Part 1, rest of video after jump)

Fifth Gear decided to flog the BMW 135 against the Cayman in a series of stupid tests.  Test number one was about the only legitimate motorsports-esque test they ran, a standing start slalom.  The 135 edged out the Cayman each time.  Then they moved on to drifting… yeah drifting.  The Cayman pulled out a higher drift style point count.  Then it was on to track time, with a passenger, no helmets, and plenty of drifting.  The 135 edged out the Cayman again.

It would be nice to see the same driver take both cars out and drive legitimate lines, I am curious as to whether the gap would narrow or expand.

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Some of you may deduce that I am Canadian after reading my auto reviews what with words like centre or colour and the use of kilograms and centimetres (fyi…2.5cm = 1 inch). So inevitably, there will be an article on winter tires. After all, almost half of the year our land is spent in winter-like conditions. Did you know that recently a new legislation for mandatory winter tires has just passed for all motorist in the Province (no it’s not called state) of Quebec. Likely some sort of ménage à trois between the Quebec french government, tire shops and Michelin? Lame humour aside, there is a strong case to use winter tires in cold climates.

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Wagon fans rejoice! The new 2009 Audi A4 sedan has been on display in Frankfurt this year and Audi AG has finally released details and pictures of its upcoming A4 Avant a month before Geneva’s unveiling.

The Avant is nearly identical to the sedan from the B-pillar forward and it features 50-cubic feet of cargo space in the back. The Avant gains about five inches in length, but is almost ten-percent lighter than the outgoing model.

There is little known about powerplant information but America once again gets stiffed with limited options. We will get stuck with the 2.0-liter TFSI on the Avant, while sedan buyers get a choice of either the four-cylinder or the 3.2-liter V6.

Full Gallery & Press Release Read the rest of this entry »

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In a time of trick paint jobs, gigantic wheels, amazing powerplants and sumptuous (or snakeskin) interiors, it’s easy to forget about the guts that make up what we drive. Although vehicles today use less and less of it, the metal under the paint and clearcoat has just as much character, if not more than the paint itself. Although a great paint job is easy to appreciate, bare metal when crafted well, is truly a vision to behold. Each metal, whether it be brass, aluminum or good old cold-rolled steel has its own character, offering varying pictures of perfection. Each contour seems to stand out more, each weld hidden by careful grinding, the craftsmanship of the oft-unappreciated metalworker revealed.

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Wow. Korea is really turning out some pretty cool automotive products. We have Hyundai coming at us with the Genesis and now Kia is looking for some SOUL.

The above shot is a teaser of what Kia will be showcasing at Geneva.  The concept model can be found after the jump.

Their aim is squarely at those looking to personalize their car.  The market will be young and young at heart.  If I were to wager a bet, the pricing will probably come in at or under the Scion xB pricing.

Looking forward to seeing the full shots.  Until then, enjoy the previously released concept shots

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This is a really cool find, Neatorama has chronicled the evolution of automotive logos. In most cases it also lists the derivation of the design, etc. My favorites are the pre - WWI VW and the 1930’s Saab.

Edit: looks like the Neatorama site has crashed, hopefully it will be back up soon.

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