Have you heard the joke about what happens when a Bugatti Veyron, a Lamborghini Aventador, a Lexus LFA and a McLaren MP4-12C all pull into a gas station. Ya me neither but I do know what happens when they all show up at an empty runway. Fortunately this time around Motor Trend with their Head to Head Camera crew were on the scene to document what the results where.
Nothing fancy in this video just a straight drag race pining the V8 car against the V10 one. With the winner taking on the V12 Lambo and onto the a 1/4 mile run against the king of the shoot-out, the quad turbo W16 Veyron.
We won’t ruin the ending but there weren’t any Game of Thornes’ type twists and turns in as the three wannabe kings battled for the title.
It appears that Car and Driver Magazine is going to follow in the footsteps of Motor Trend and launch a new/revised YouTube channel. This seems to be a growing trend now a days as Road and Track has also indicated that they are looking to do the same thing over the next couple of months.
Although we love the prospect of being able to access their content 24/7 anywhere in the world we wonder why none of these leading Automotive Magazine are embracing the small screen of Television to be their primary content delivery system. The odd time I browse by the Speed Network or Spike TV I have found that 95% of their content is unwatchable. Speed did make an effort with the “Car Show” however it is hard to believe that they couldn’t reach some sort of agreement with a major magazine and offer their viewers some critically acclaimed content.
If you looking for show ideas, topical reviews and opinion or just a show host you can look no further then right there at Car Rolodex. Thankfully Jessi Lang has already been scooped up by Motor Trend so Car & Drivers weekly car news show is guaranteed to be less stiff then my starched shirt collars.
What you say if I told you that there was a pair of vehicles out there that had over 550hp over 550lb-ft of torque, had the most advanced suspension and handling technology and could easily transport a family of 5 and their Dog without having to strap anyone or thing to the roof Mitt Romney style. Could we sweeten the deal by adding that these rides are also a pair of the most luxurious, comfortable and most Europeans would say stylish cars on the market today. Do I have your attention now? No? Try this fact on for size then as it is my last dales highlight. They are also two of the rarest cars for sale in North America today with total sales far below either of the brands top of the range super/hyper cars, in fact on can only be purchased through a special ordered.
The two cars that we are referring to would be the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Wagon. As John Lieberman points out in the Motor Trend Head to Head video below these cars feature all of the accoutrements of their are Sedan and Coupe model siblings with the added benefit of having triple the cargo capacity.
CTS-V Sport Wagon the Cadillac version of the supercharged version of the ZR1 and ZL1 has it power number pinned right in the middle of those two cars. The 6.2liter supercharged V8 is tuned to 556 horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque. The model tested can with the 6-speed manual transmission and like all of Cadillac’s V models included GM’s magnetorheological shock absorbers, the same ones GM has licensed to Ferrari and Land Rover.
On the Mercedes-Benz side of the coin the E63 AMG wagon employs the now standard 5.5-liter twin turbo V8 that produces 518hp and 516lb-ft torque by default. There is also an engine upgrade package that is now available on AMG models called the P30 Performance Pack, which increases the turbo’s boost and raises the power to 550hp and a whooping 590 lb-ft. The transmission is the same MCT seven-speed wet-clutch automatic found in all other AMG models. Just like in the E63 coupe and sedan E63 AMG Wagon uses a coil and damper suspension up front and air suspension out back.
These wagons are the ultimate sleeper cars and if you acquiring a unique whip is something that you are looking for you won’t find a pair of low volume cars produced by a major manufacture. Seeing cars like this on the road would be a real rarity and make us wonder why anyone would still want to purchase the latest cookie cutter souped-up SUV that the cops can spot a mile away.
Back in December of last year we reported that a new 1.3-liter turbo four pot was the leading contender as the engine of choice for the 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata. However it now appears that Mazda has only ruled out some engine options in their quest to fine the perfect power plant for their fun to drive roadster.
Current Mazda MX-5 Miata
In fact Motor Trend reported yesterday on their web site that the new naturally aspirated 1.5-liter Skyactiv engine wasn’t sporty enough for the 2,200 pounder. They also mentioned that cash strapped Mazda had already ruled out revising the current cars 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four banger due to pour fuel consumption numbers when compared to today’s 40mpg standard.
This makes us wonder if Mazda could even afford to borrow more money for their engine department to do more R & D on another new engine. They are currently still in the Skyactiv technology fine tuning process on a larger sized engine to be used in the next gen Mazda 6. Then there are the rumors swirling around about how they are in the preliminary stages of designing a more efficient Skyactiv version of the old 1.3-liter rotary engine that was used in the outgoing RX8 model. Only Mazda would know if there are enough coins in the coffer to begin development on a engine compromise, say a 1.8-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder or either a 1.3-liter or 1.5liter turbocharged four.
2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Artist’s Rendering
Regardless of how Mazda solves their current engine dilemma one point is clear. The automaker plans on having around 150-hp and a 10-percent increase in fuel economy compared to the current MX-5 which has 22/28 city/highway mpg or 10.7/8.4 L/100km. Combine that with the fact that the car is a 2,200 lb 2-seeter sports car it would be a lot of fun to drive on the twisty stuff.
Today we have part two of Motor Trends three part adventure to find 2011 Best Drivers Car for both on and off of the track. The competition is an 11 cars shootout to determine which car is the ultimate driving machine.
Sorry for the slow posting this morning as I had some unexpected flaming jet fuel on my drive way and it delayed my commute into work. This in combination with and having to stay up way later then I should have to watch some guys turn left all night long has lead to a slow start to this morning.
Thankfully Motor Trend is not taking any days off when it comes to their new YouTube channels. To help prove this point we have attached their first of a three part adventure to find 2011 Best Drivers Car Competition. The competition is an 11 cars shootout to determine which car is the ultimate driving machine. As we watched this show we continue to ask ourselves the question, “Why is this show not on US TV some were? This has incredibly high production value and flows better than most of the cars shows that are currently out there on the American airwaves.
You’re going to have to click the link below to find out how Motor Trend’s Downshift show will determine which car is best as they attempt to do the impossible and find the ultimate drivers car.
Motor Trend Launches its Head to Head show with a bang as they ask the question what is better a Corvette or a Porsche. In their first head to head shootout show they put the 2012 Corvette Grand Sport against the new and redesigned 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
We won’t ruin the surprise but will let you know that the show has an incredible high production value that is better than most current car shows on Television. It almost makes me wonder why they are sticking with YouTube as their content delivery method instead of the good old boob tube. I guess that it is just a sign of the times, either way enjoy.
Back when I was in University like most students I watched a lot of TV, in between the hours of playing Mario Kart and Golden Eye with my roommates. We frequently found ourselves watching Much Music (an MTV equivalent channel for Canada) back when they used to play music videos.
Once a year they would hold a VJ search and would encourage you to send in a video of yourself doing something creative so that they could pluck you from obscurity and put you onto the moving picture box. I always said to myself that this was going to be my year I would come up with the greatest idea, borrow a video camera and send in my tape.
Well 9 years have gone by and my passion for getting my message out to the masses is still burning deep inside. The content of my message has changed as I am no buying a couple cd’s a week instead my new addiction is purchasing car magazines to read about new cars and the iner workings of the Auto Industry. You could imagine my excitement when I came across the Motor Trend challenge Video Titled “So You Think You Can Host Motor Trend?” I knew what I had to do.
Today I am taking the first step towards making waves in the Auto industry and some might say we have jumped right into the deep end, with the creation of my first video presentation. Yes siree bob, today I am proud to present to all of the Car Rolodex followers as well as to the staff at Motor Trend Magazine a Car Rolodex first. I have written, produced, and stared in my very first video to be posted on the CarRolodex1 YouTube channel.
My dream of becoming a Much Music VJ may have crashed and burned, but out of those ashes rises a new career goal. Becoming the host of a web based TV show, possibly Motor Trends soon to launched show Wide Open Throttle.
Now we are realists and appreciate that the Wide Open throttle job would be a long shot at best like most contests you find on the internet. However much like a pre-production concept car you have to start with something. Then you gauge people’s reactions, massage the recipe slightly before you begin to mass produce the final product.
Since I had never gone through process of creating a video presentation, the exercise had a steep learning curve. The majority of the lessons that I learned from this experience will be extremely useful for the next video I create. For those of you out there who are considering doing something similar I have one key piece of advice for you. Editing is your friend! Instead of trying to run through a long block dialogue in one take, break it up into smaller segments that you can get perfect and then stitch them all together through a program like iMovie.
I didn’t actually discover bit of advice until I had left my shooting location and was viewing all of my raw attempts at getting through the 2 and half minute dialog all in one take. A couple of the takes I was happy with as they only had minor pauses or a small piece of incorrect information, however there wasn’t one of the of the one take wonders were perfect. As a result I ventured into the world of video editing and within a hour of two had managed to cut up 3 or 4 videos to create the final master piece.
At the end of the day I really enjoyed the entire process and I am now strongly considering creating a weekly video for publication here on Car Rolodex so that I can continue to learn the process and hone my skills. Let me know in the comments section below what you though our my first attempts as well if you think you would have time to watch a weekly 5-10 minute feature. Until then this is your newest music VJ Mark “one take” Lemmon singing off until the next time we meet on YouTube.
Below is my audition tape and we will keep you posted on our lessons learned as we dip or toe in the Car video pool.
Yesterday a story broke about a Turbo Scion FR-S being tested at Laguna Seca Raceway in California. Now don’t get too excited as this is not a production prototype or even the testing of an aftermarket accessory kit per say. What Motor Trend stumbled on to yesterday was the Scion Drifting team testing one of their race car prototypes for the upcoming drifting season.
Scion FR-S Turbo Drift Race Car - Testing at Laguna Seca Raceway
The work on the car is being done by GReddy, who is an aftermarket products company specializing in Japanese cars. The rumor form motor Trend is that the car has been equipped with a custom turbocharged power plant, which includes a turbo that could dry your hair in 5 seconds flat, a new air intake, and larger more free flowing exhaust.
We are still standing by the rumors that we reported last month about the Scion FR-S and Toyota GT-86 receiving a TRD developed Supercharger with the Subaru BRZ using a turbo for its forced induction high performance version of the 2 door sports coupe. However those versions of the Tokyo Triplets are not slated to be revealed to the world until the end of summer early fall of this year, as 2013 models.
Team Scion's new Lethal Drift Car - A Turbo FR-S
To read about the Turbocharging and Supercharging rumors check out the links below.
Once again Motor Trend has hit a home run with this video. The Audi R8 is every bit as pleasing to look at as the scenery of Norway’s Atlantic coast line. It reminded me a lot of the Cabot trail out in Nova Scotia.
Motor Trend has described the video as the following: “As part of a trip across Norway in search of his ancestral birthplace; Motor Trend Technical Director Frank Markus takes the Audi R8 Spyder along the famous Atlantic Road.”
