Jaguar Introduces New, Downsized Production Engines in Beijing

Posted on Jul 11, 2018 in Technology | Comments Off on Jaguar Introduces New, Downsized Production Engines in Beijing

For a long time, the scope of automotive power was covered by the saying “there is no replacement for displacement”. In the 21st century, the rules for gaining optimum engine power have changed in the face of improving emissions and fuel economy. The widespread usage of technologies such as variable valve timing gasoline direct injection, forced-air induction...

What Car Should I Buy For Double Duty?

Posted on Jul 7, 2018 in Editorials | 2 comments

Best & Brightest, you certainly didn’t disappoint in the last installment of Ask Bark. While some of you seem to be confused about the difference between asking for friendly advice and asking for a full evaluation of one’s values, I know that Greg appreciated your advice almost as much as he appreciated mine. Well done, B&B. Now, let’s examine this...

Mad Max in the Desert: Off-Road Racing Kills Eight

Posted on Jun 24, 2018 in Racing | Comments Off on Mad Max in the Desert: Off-Road Racing Kills Eight

Who ever could imagine this kind of racing not producing a deadly accident? Trucks and various kinds of off-roaders bounce over rock piles and desert dirt, kicking up clouds of dust so they cannot see the racers in front of them—all at night, all without crowd barriers. The modified Ford Ranger driven by Brett Sloppy (whose unfortunate name may never be...

Audi and VW Push Web-Enabled Cars

Posted on Jun 21, 2018 in Safety | 2 comments

Wisconsin introduced seat belt legislation in 1961. Not until 1984 did the U.S. mandate seat belt use. The same protracted battle is taking place with infotech in cars, and by most accounts, the safety guys are losing. Audi has proudly announced it was the first luxury brand to offer Wi-Fi and Google Earth access in its cars. Nissan, GM and Ford have followed...

A Rare Gem, The Dual-Ghia

Posted on Jun 14, 2018 in Antique | Comments Off on A Rare Gem, The Dual-Ghia

Can you name the one, rare, meticulously crafted concept car that traded hands during a high stakes poker game between the sitting U.S. president Lyndon Johnson and future president Ronald Reagan? This same car was so seductive that Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford of the “rat pack” had to own one. The car is the Dual-Ghia, and I recently stumbled...

Smartphone Overheating? Chevrolet Impala Can Help

Posted on May 27, 2018 in Technology | Comments Off on Smartphone Overheating? Chevrolet Impala Can Help

While occasional smartphone overheating is normal, it can be disconcerting as it saps the phone’s battery life and slows processing speeds. Industry-first technology coming soon to some Chevrolet models can help cool down this problem. DETROIT – While occasional smartphone overheating is normal, it can be disconcerting as it saps the phone’s battery life and...

In Which We Bid Farewell to The Newsbot and Replace It With …

Posted on May 25, 2018 in Editorials | 1 comment

… well, nobody. Allow me to explain. After nine months of running TTAC more or less solo, with the exception of Aaron’s stewardship on the daily-news side of things, I’ve realized it’s time for a change. For starters, I’m tired. Working 60- and 70-hour weeks for nine months straight is not healthy for anyone. At the same time, the competitive pressures are...

Over the Top: 1,400-hp Camaros, Bentley Continentals and Maybach Eyewear

Posted on May 25, 2018 in Racing | Comments Off on Over the Top: 1,400-hp Camaros, Bentley Continentals and Maybach Eyewear

There are so many ways to express automotive excess that it’s hard to be surprised anymore. But the Camaro above blew out a few of my old brain cells today. The $320,000 brainchild of Canadian Serge Leger, its 6-liter GM LSX V8 was modified (greatly) to produce 1,400 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque. That ought to take you off the mark smartly. But check out the...

Automotive Madness: Three Stories

Posted on May 19, 2018 in Safety | 1 comment

1. You may already have heard that a few dealers are upcharging for the upcoming Subaru BRZ (above)—to the tune of $5,000 over MSRP. Some have called this price gouging, which, of course, it is. Anyone paying this price is a turkey. One imbecile argues that this is owing to the immutable law of supply and demand. Since the BRZ is in high demand and deliveries...

Spinning vinyl while cruising the interstate

Posted on May 18, 2018 in Featured | 2 comments

I spotted this in-car record player mounted under the instrument panel of a late-1950s Dodge this past weekend at a car show, and it just stopped me in my tracks. Though Chrysler had its optional Highway Hi-Fi beginning in 1956, this unit is instead an aftermarket Philips Norelco Auto Mignon that was produced a few years later. Unlike the early Chrysler system...

Not All Car Shows Are Fun

Posted on May 9, 2018 in Antique | Comments Off on Not All Car Shows Are Fun

I once tried to describe a local car show as a place where everyone is a friend, where car people gather to share their latest projects, and where history and beauty is literally “at your fingertips.” My ramblings describe a warm summer evening where children play, dogs roam, families walk hand in hand, and the elderly teach wide-eyed children about...

From A to X – all the different cars that could have, and did, become the AMX

Posted on Apr 23, 2018 in Featured | 2 comments

AMX/3 pushmobile. AMC photo. Between 1965 and 1981—a relatively short 16 years—American Motors had no shortage of mockups, prototypes and production cars that carried the name AMX. One would think, given that American Motors designers kept appending suffixes to the various iterations, that they had some sort of naming convention in mind, but as it quickly...

How Are Deployed Airbags Repaired?

Posted on Apr 18, 2018 in Editorials | 1 comment

We discussed the general process of repairing a salvage car a few weeks ago and one commenter asked about airbags. Joe Btfsplk writes: How do you deal with deployed airbags? Are used parts allowed to be used in salvage vehicles? This seems to get little attention in the article. Dealing with deployed airbags in modern cars can be a tricky and costly situation....