Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Lamborghini Gallardo Lp560

Lamborghini Gallardo Lp560To outside observers, the whole process looks complicated and, well, a bit silly.

Clicking the right most e.gear button on the center console of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 engages Corsa mode. A push of a silver switch on the center stack disables the stability control and lights up two amber Gallardos on the instrument panel, the smaller of the two indicating that ESP is completely off. Left-footing the brake pedal and matting the throttle revs the LP560-4's engine to over 5000 rpm and creates a cacophony of popping and banging.

Releasing the brake pedal sends up a poof of smoke as the rear tires chirp and slip through not quite one full rotation. The car then bogs, as though hunkering down, before exploding forward a millisecond later.

Lamborghini Gallardo Lp560"It always looks like a failed launch," shrugs photographer Vance. But to the nine satellites reading our position overhead, the Gallardo LP560-4's all-new Thrust mode is a raging success -- launching Lambo's latest supercar to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The quarter mile comes just a few beats later -- 11.4 seconds at 126.9 mph. Both numbers are pretty far off the pace of Lamborghini's estimates of 3.7 and 11.8 seconds. Who knew Italians could be so conservative?

Inside the low-roofed cabin, the LP560-4's attempt to violate Newton's second law is a comprehensive assault on the senses. Getting kicked in the ass a split second before being shot from a cannon is probably the closest approximation. The only thing missing is the taste of cordite upon the lips.

Thrust mode is impressive not just at mere sports car speeds; unlike the previous Gallardo launch control system that required manually shifting the gears, a Thrust-moded Gallardo LP560-4 will autorocket through all six gears on the way to a terminal velocity of 202 mph.

Lamborghini Gallardo Lp560Just what you'd expect from a $201,000 supercar, right? Wait, there's more...

Behind the cosmetically reshaped nose, between the all new Y-styled, LED head and taillights, is a vehicle truly worthy of such an affected alphanumeric name. LP stands for Longitudinale Posteriore and refers to the engine position -- that's longways and mid-mounted in plain English. The first set of digits - 560 -- is the horsepower count, though it's measured in Italian cavallinos (CV), which are a slightly smaller breed than our American horses. We'd call this Gallardo the LP552-4 -- that last digit accounting for the car's four-wheel drive system.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

2008 Acura RL

2008 Acura RL Performance & Efficiency Standard Features

2008 Acura RL'front seat'- 3,471 cc 3.5 liters V 6 front engine with 89.0 mm bore, 93.0 mm stroke, 11.0 compression ratio, overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder
- Premium unleaded fuel 91
- Multi-point injection fuel system
- 19.3 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 16.1
- Power: 216 kW , 290 HP SAE @ 6,200 rpm; 256 ft lb , 347 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
2008 Acura RL'front & driver side view'
2008 Acura RL Exterior & Aerodynamics Standard Features

2008 Acura RL'Trunk'
- Body side molding
- Body color front and rear bumpers
- Chrome/bright trim around side windows, on side of body and on bumpers
- Day time running lights
- Driver and passenger power heated body color door mirrors with automatic indicator lights
- External dimensions: overall length (inches): 193.6, overall width (inches): 72.7, overall height (inches): 57.1, wheelbase (inches): 110.2, front track (inches): 62.0, rear track (inches): 62.4 and curb to curb turning circle (feet): 39.7
- Front fog lights
- Projector beam lens Xenon bulb headlights
- Luxury trim alloy & leather on gearknob, alloy look on doors and alloy look on dashboard
- Pearl paint
- Fixed rear window with defogger
- Glass electric front sunroof
- Tinted glass on cabin
- Weights: curb weight (lbs) 4,014
- Windshield wipers with automatic intermittent wipe

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

2008 Acura TSX

2008 Acura TSX 'Rear View
2008 Acura TSX Performance & Efficiency Standard Features
- 2,354 cc 2.4 liters in-line 4 front engine with 87.0 mm bore, 99.0 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder K24A2
- Premium unleaded fuel 91
- Multi-point injection fuel system
- 17.1 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 14.2
- Power: 153 kW , 205 HP SAE @ 7,000 rpm; 164 ft lb , 222 Nm @ 4,500 rpm

2008 Acura TSX'Driver Side Open Door'

2008 Acura TSX 'Streering Wheel'
2008 Acura TSX Handling, Ride & Braking Standard Features
- Four-wheel ABS
- Brake assist system
- Four disc brakes including two ventilated discs
- Electronic brake distribution
- Electronic traction control via ABS & engine management
- Immobilizer
- Spacesaver steel rim internal spare wheel
- Stability control
- Wishbone front suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs, multi-link rear suspension independent with stabilizer bar and coil springs

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Shelby Cobra GT500KR

Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR, Ford and Shelby Automobiles will unveil the 2008 Shelby GT500KR at the2007 New York International Auto Show. Just like its 1968 namesake, the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR builds on the strong foundation of the Shelby GT500. Packing 40 more horses under its custom-designed carbon composite hood, the GT500KR is the most powerful production Ford Mustang ever produced.

“I’m proud to once again be a part of an historical moment, bringing back the ‘King of the Road’ Mustang, and collaborating with Ford SVT and Ford Racing,” said Carroll Shelby. “I’m committed to continuously upping the ante when it comes to performance, and it’s great to be doing it with Ford.”


The 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR was a mid-year introduction, based on the 1968 Shelby GT500. Ford added ‘Cobra’ to the Shelby’s moniker to help usher in the beginning of a new performance era at the company. The Cobra name referred to the new 428 Cobra Jet V-8 that was planted under the KR’s custom fiberglass hood. It was the engine that would once again vault the Mustang to the head of the pack.

“The return of the Shelby GT500KR further establishes Mustang as the true king of the pony car segment,” said Robert Parker, manager of Ford Car Brand. The Shelby GT500KR will be produced in an exclusive run of 1000 units and will begin arriving in Ford dealers in the spring of 2008.