Sports Cars 2008-2009

Sports Car Articles : Fast Cars, Sports Cars - British Performance   by Gavin Drake

At the end of World War II there was a surge of high performance, fast and sporty cars that began to emerge. The soldiers who were returning home from war were instantly attracted to these fast sports cars, many which were exported by Britain. At that time the British were building high quality sports cars at a price many could afford. The British sports cars were superbly engineered and quickly began taking the sports car world by storm. Their sleek and sporty design made them highly desirable.

The fast and sporty British cars began to really take off when the Triumph came out with the TR2 in 1953. At the time Triumph produced some of the most sought after cars in the world. The United States fell in love with it and soon began seeking other British sports cars.

Taking A Look At The Cars

The Jaguar is probably the most popular fast, sport car the British offer. Many people see the Jaguar as the top of the line automobile. The brand new Portfolio which is being unveiled in March 2007 brags of a speed of 155 mph and can reach 60 mph in only 4.9 seconds. The Portfolio features a 4.2 liter engine and the car will be offered worldwide.

BMW is also offering a new coupe and convertible in their 3 series. These are supposed to be the most appealing BMW fast and sporty cars to date. These come with aerodynamic styling and lower suspension which offers a sportier look and ride. These sport modes are offered in Silver, Black, Blue, Graphite, White, and Red.

Aston Martin is announcing improvements to their famous Vanquish S. This automobile is famous for its luxury and unique style. It was also made famous by James Bond in the movie “Die Another Day”. The Vanquish S Ultimate Edition will showcase many of the features of the Vanquish s that many Britons love. With only 40 being built, these cars will be offered as a limited edition and predictions say they will all be sold in only a few weeks.

This edition will be produced in Ultimate Black and this will be the only car available in this color. The interior will be trimmed in leather and stylish black chrome. It will offer a top speed of 200 mph. This car is the result of customer research and request and contains the features most sought after by the public. It comes with a high price tag but will be considered an investment since the car will likely maintain or increase in value.

About the Author

Gavin Drake is a self confessed “Petrol Head” and loves fast cars. He races in a number of championships in the U.K and runs Fast Cars Info.Com where fellow petrol heads can come chat, share photo’s and catch up on the latest automotive news.

 Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=442453

Sports Car Articles : Sports Cars With a Lot of Horses Under One Hood   by Muna wa Wanjiru

For the avid sports cars enthusiast there’s nothing more breathtaking and awe inspiring than coming face to face with their fantasies, seeing them in action and even better, catching a ride in them.

Unfortunately the more drool-worthy sports cars are beyond the price range of most of the population and fall more into the range of expensive cars. However, this doesn’t make them any less of a sports car, just something that is God-like in status.

Sports cars for the most part come in many different makes and models, as well as coming in many different price ranges as evidenced by one of the most powerful sports cars ever to be made road worthy, the Bugatti Veyron.

Said to be the “fastest ever street-legal” car in the world this little baby is advertised as having 1001 horsepower. That’s a lot of horses under one hood.

For those of you who don’t know this, sports cars are high performance, high acceleration cars designed with precision handling in mind. This means that they should ideally be able to stop on a dime, as the saying goes.

Most true sports cars you will find are two door cars which are low slung and have a modicum of passenger room. All sports cars will also have a carriage design which is pleasing to the eye to say the least and which, in some cases, looks futuristic.

Such high conception sports cars can however be of the expensive type and out of the range for most people. The lower price-range sports cars however will have the same base features and functionality while losing out on some of their sleek looks and in some cases their horsepower.

For most people who dream of owning a sports car however, this is alright because what they really want is the joy of owning one of the sought after sports cars. This means that more and more makes of new sports cars are coming past the conception stage and reaching the light of day in the low- to mid-range consumer markets.

That’s for the low- to mid-range sports cars, but what about the mid- to high-range sports cars. Where do they come into the picture? Right where they belong actually, in the center of the upper middle class echelons.

These car enthusiasts will not only be able to pay for the higher-end sports car models, they will also be able to afford the upkeep and the insurance payments as well! And what do all sports car enthusiasts of all levels do? They show off their sports cars and bask in the reflected glory of the sleek steel and power which they have the good fortune to own.

About the Author

Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on sports cars, visit his site at sports cars

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=434601

Sports Car Articles : The Sleek Aerodynamic Body that is Characteristic of New Sports Cars   by Muna wa Wanjiru

For a great many people there are certain cars that can confer on the driver the status of being a really great driver to be around. There are a few cars that have this ability. New sports cars are found to be in this category. You will find a variety of these cars being produced every year. Of the many different cars you will find are the roadsters, coupes and some exotic cars are even capable of being called spots cars.

The main criterion for a car to be known as a sports car is the sleek aerodynamic body that allows the wind to flow around the body of the car. The traction of the wheel will keep the car from flying all over the place as the car moves down roadways at a high velocity. The new sports cars also have the ability to move from a standing point of zero to a hundred plus in a few seconds.

You will find that these new sports cars can be affordable or they may be expensive in price range. For these new sports cars the target audience in most cases are those of well to do young adult drivers and young men. For this segment of the population having the ability to drive a sports car is the next best thing to driving their dream car.

While many people prefer to drive four wheel drives the sports car lover will look for cars that have a rear wheel drive. These new sports cars will be built with an aggressive and sleek look to the body. These sports cars are designed for two people to hit the road. To make the handling of these cars easier there is a fantastic braking and superior handling of the new sports cars.

The great maneuvering that you will find in these cars is known to be the hallmarks of true sports cars. To make sure that these cars keep up with the technological advances that is constantly being made there are some interesting performance modifications. These modifications are built with a racing style of driving in mind.

To keep to the current road rules these new sports cars will allow you to feel the power as they roar through the streets. The companies that manufacture these new sports cars have built these cars with a background in race cars. Their knowledge and experience allow them to make cars that go vary fast yet have the safety margins which are needed by the public.

These are all great reasons to buy any of the new sports cars in the market. The real reason is very simple however. This is the feeling of being free of society’s constraints and free to go anywhere you can imagine.

About the Author

Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on new sports cars, visit his site at new sports cars

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=434592

Sports Car First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Quicker than a Corvette! By Ron Kiino

Okay, of course we’re not referring to the 2008 Corvette. That would be a ridiculous statement, an utter lie. And we wouldn’t do that to you. No, no, we’re talking about the 1989 Vette that, back in a May 1989 road test, impressed power junkies with its 245-horse, 5.7-liter V-8 that could consume 60 in 6.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.0 at 94.6 mph. My, how times change-this cute Cobalt SS you see here, with a puny 2.0-liter four-cylinder spinning the front wheels and with help from a new “no-lift shift” launch control can, according to Chevy, scorch 60 in just 5.7 seconds and the quarter in 14.2 at 103.0 mph. Legit? You should see it at the track.

When we say track, we really mean the “‘Ring,” as in Germany’s Nurburgring. It was there the SS, with a time of 8:22.85 minutes, set a new record for front-drive sport-compacts, a class previously dominated by the Opel Astra OPC, which was over 13 seconds slower. For context, a Z06 obliterates the ‘Ring in 7:43, but that’s with nearly twice the power, rear drive, and tires as wide as a La-Z-Boy.

The Cobalt’s mojo comes courtesy of the aforementioned 2.0-liter-a 260-horsepower direct-injection turbo-and a heavily revised chassis, highlighted by stiffer springs and dampers, a larger rear anti-roll bar, 10-percent-quicker steering, Brembo four-piston front brakes, and 18-inch forged alloys wearing 225/40 Continentals. The package works, displaying predictable, confidence-inspiring traits at the track and, more important, grin-inducing grip (Chevy claims 0.90 g). Making that grin even wider are a top speed of 160 mph and estimated combined fuel economy of 25 mpg.

Shortcomings? The F35 five-speed isn’t as fluid or precise as others in the segment, namely the Civic Si’s. The electric power steering is linear but lacks the tactility of, say, a Mazdaspeed 3’s. The interior, with its hard plastic accoutrements, still screams econocar, despite new seats with UltraLux suedelike inserts. And there’s some torque steer, even with GM’s best trickery with electronics and suspension geometry.

Nevertheless, at only $22,995, the SS could stand for Super Steal. Even loaded with the $495 limited-slip differential (a must for the track), $750 sunroof, and $195 big wing, the SS still goes for under $25,000. Better yet, an SS sedan is coming for 2009. Either way, you’ll be grinning big as you pity those old Corvettes in the rearview.

Source: http://www.motortrend.com

Comparison: 2008 Roush Stage 2 Mustang vs. 2008 Saleen S281-3V Mustang vs. 2008 Shelby GT-C Mustang

Pony Expressed: Roush, Saleen, and Shelby vie for bragging rights, au natural By Ron Kiino

In 2007, the Ford Motor Company moved 134,626 Mustangs, pulverizing the sales numbers of other rear-drive American sport coupes-the Chevy Corvette, the Pontiac GTO, and the Dodge Viper-which tallied sales of just 33,685, 4200, and 435, respectively. Suffice it to say, the Mustang has been a huge hit for the Blue Oval-in the public eye-and to the competition.

The downside to the ‘Stang’s copious sales, though, is anonymity. Save for a few different wheel styles, the occasional rear wing, some stripes, and optional foglamps, every one of Ford’s 134,000-plus ponies looks decidedly similar.

Now if you’re a Mustang maniac, the thought of seeing your pride and joy galloping around every street corner does little to boost the ego, much less quash buyer’s remorse. Luckily, there are myriad tuners out there who’ll customize a ‘Stang, giving it a unique appearance that stands out from the rest of the herd. Of course, any tuner can tweak a car’s faade, affixing stripes and decals, swapping wheels and tires, and fiddling with fascias. The real challenge comes from modifying what lies underneath the skin-suspension, brakes, and structure-to create a unique feel that delivers a tuner’s idea of perfection while still providing the core Mustang characteristics, i.e., tire-burning torque, brisk acceleration, and lively handling.

Scouring today’s posse of tuners reveals three companies that not only boast a long history of successful Mustang makeovers but also accomplished “makeunders.” Jack Roush, Steve Saleen, and Carroll Shelby all have amassed achievements in motorsport and have managed to transfer their expertise from the racetrack to their namesake companies, each of which rolls out a spicy variety of naturally and artificially fed road cars. For this comparison, we asked each tuner to send us its supreme entry-level stallion, replete with chassis upgrades but sans superchargers or turbochargers. Attempting to appropriately match force-fed Mustangs, much less ensure they aren’t overboosted, is a chore we’ll tackle at a later date. For now, saddle up and come along for the ride, au natural.

STOCKYARD
A stock Mustang GT makes its case as the most pony for the fewest pennies.

To discern exactly what our tuners are touting, we thought it best to compare their modified works with the stock counterpart. Thus, a phone call to Ford netted us a $33,280 GT Premium, which came fitted with the familiar three-valve 300-horse V-8, Tremec five-speed manual, and 3.55:1 axle ratio. Lightest of the group by 34 pounds, the GT was also the slowest, but not by much-0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.9 at 101.7 mph-trailing the quickest of the tuners by only 0.2 second. It trailed in handling, too, but again not by leaps or bounds, recording respectable results of 0.87g lateral acceleration and 25.9 seconds in the figure eight.

Our stocker, loaded with a $460 interior upgrade package, $195 Sirius Satellite Radio, $575 heated seats, and a $1995 nav system, came better equipped than did our tuners, yet delivered a suppler ride, smoother gearbox, and, as we stated, performance figures that nip at the tuners’ hooves. Plus, for $14,000 to $16,000 less, the stock GT is a comparative steal.

And if it were our money? We’d take the GT and pocket the change. Or we’d seriously consider the quicker Corvette or more refined 335i Coupe.

Source: http://www.motortrend.com

2008 Sports Cars News : Quick Test - 2008 Roush Stage 2 Mustang By Ron Kiino

Jack Roush, a former Ford employee who left the automaker to start Roush Performance Engineering in 1976, has experienced victory in such series as Trans-Am, IMSA, and most notable, NASCAR. So in 1995 when he founded Roush Performance Products, a company that would sell crate engines and aftermarket parts for one of his favorite vehicles, the Mustang, it’s no surprise that he carried over his winning ways.

RPP delivered to our offices a Mustang with the Stage 2 package, an $11,635 enhancement that includes a redesigned front fascia with unique foglamps and chin spoiler; special rocker panels and rear valance and wing; a Roush window banner; a high-performance exhaust system; 18-inch chrome wheels with Cooper Zeon tires; and a suspension composed of proprietary struts, dampers, springs, and anti-roll bars. Our test vehicle, which started life as a $27,445 Mustang GT Deluxe, also came with a bevy of options, including a $2699 14-inch front brake upgrade, a $445 short-throw shifter, and $1725 leather-covered sport seats. Final tally? A Chili’s dinner shy of $47,000.

Weighing 3592 pounds, 35 pounds heavier than the stock GT, the Roush, featuring a bone-stock 300-horsepower three-valve 4.6-liter V-8 and a 3.55:1 axle ratio, rushed from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and through the quarter mile in 13.8 at 100.9 mph.

With minimal but welcome acceleration improvements in the bag, the Stage 2 attacked the handling exercises, posting a sticky 0.94 g on the skidpad and a 25.5-second run through the figure eight. Technical editor Kim Reynolds notes, “The Roush is composed and neutral, making it an easy car in which to approach the limit.” Credit the larger 35mm front and 24mm rear anti-roll bars (versus stock’s 34mm front and 20mm rear), 35-percent-stiffer springs, W-rated summer tires, and one-inch-lower ride height. And the brakes? An upgrade, indeed, providing excellent feel and performance, halting the Roush from 60 to 0 in 117 feet, 13 feet shorter than the GT.

Out on city streets and country roads, the Roush was praised for its supple ride, poised handling, and basso profundo exhaust note. Road-test-editor Scott Mortara had some beefs with the Roush, specifically: “The slow throttle response, stiff, notchy shifter, and cheesy add-ons — the window banner, the pushed-out nose, and the vestigial hood scoop.” Inside, the faux-carbon-fiber trim was deemed too cheddar, although the sport seats were lauded for their comfort and quality. At the end of the day, despite its planted moves and relatively thrifty price tag, the Roush, while easy to live with during the week, is not very exciting to take out on the weekend.

Source: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/112_0804_2008_roush_stage_2

Sports Car 2008 Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept

Specifications
Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Driveline: Rear Wheel Drive
Tires F-R: R20 - R21

Engine
Displacement cu in (cc): 177 (2900)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 250(187) / n.a.
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 406(550) / n.a.
Type: Turbodiesel V6

Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: 187 × 73.6 × 54.7
Weight lb (kg): n.a.

Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s: n.a.
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a.
Top Speed mph (km/h): n.a.

Source: http://www.rsportscars.com/cadillac/2008-cadillac-cts-coupe-concept/