Sad news to end the week. Carroll Shelby died in Dallas yesterday after a long illness. He was 89.
Over the course of his life, the brash Texan had been a chicken farmer, test pilot and factory race driver for Allard, Maserati and Aston Martin. But he'll be remembered best as an automotive designer. Few cars are as imitated as his first creation, the Shelby Cobra, and his ferocious Mustangs--like the 662hp GT500--continue to deliver earthshaking performance.
The world is a little less bad ass today. Godspeed Mr. Shelby, and thanks for everything. Here's what else happened this week:
* Whether you're looking for more power or better fuel economy, aftermarket tuners can be your best friend, and Edge Products makes some of the best in the business. If you have a Ford Truck, you're going to want to check out the new CS and CTS tuners. Edge Products
* When I'm not driving my car, I spend a lot of time on my bicycle. Why? Because I like to eat, and if I didn't do at least 50 miles a week I'd weigh 300lbs. So I thought it was cool that Optima batteries has stepped up to sponsor the Build-a-Bike program, which helps underprivileged kids put together their own wheels. Optima
* Heather Peters thought that Honda misled her when it came to the mileage she could expect to get out of her Honda Civic, and while she initially, Honda prevailed on appeal. So if you want to fight a car company, class action is the way to go. MPGFraud
* If you spend any time off road, you know how important it is to keep your undercarriage away from all the sharp bits which constantly threaten to ruin your day. California company Trail Gear has just redesigned its offering for the Wrangler and in addition to the improvements, its dropped the price. Trail-Gear
* Sure, your baby might roll up in a brand new Cadillac, but they might have gotten a better deal than you thought. The General just released the sticker on the new ATS, and it's pretty reasonable. GM
My Jaguar XJ6 had an automatic, and so did my old pickup. But all my other cars have been sticks, it fit those vehicles, but I've always preferred rowing my own gears. So it's been depressing to see standards disappearing, and even more depressing to see what a dismal percentage of populace can drive one. So it was cool to see a story about how manuals are making a slight--very, very, slight--improvement against the automatics. Save the manuals!
* Probably the only reason you've never bought anything at Barrett-Jackson is because nobody has ever agreed to pay your way. Well, no you don't have any excuse, because Direct Lift is offering to send a lucky winner. Enter here! Direct Lift
* Does it seem like you're seeing a lot more commercials for auto insurance lately? Because consumers are apparently switching providers in record numbers. Think the guy who thought up the British gecko got a raise? JD Power
* Fisker didn't score a ton of points when Consumer Reports had trouble testing its Karma last month. But the company is aching to prove itself, and has entered an extended-range model in the inaugural Bodensee-Elektrik Rallye in Munich. Good luck fellas. Fisker
* You probably know that Optima makes the best batteries in the business. You also probably know that they're a lot more expensive than some of their competition. But if you don't want to settle, this is the time to buy a new Optima battery. Until the end of the month, customers can get $25 cash back after purchase. OPTIMA
* Still have a soft spot for your first Dodge? Because Ma Mopar wants to know. So put on your writing pants and tell the world how much you miss your old Challenger. But try not to cry into your beer. Dodge on Facebook
First, let me say that I'm not in favor of people getting killed because of "unintended acceleration." Nobody likes getting killed. But even though the big brains over at NASA weren't able to find any fault with Toyota in those cases, the NHTSA wants automakers to install Accelerator Control Systems, which would cut the throttle when the brake is applied. Now, lots of people have written about this, but absolutely none of them have done it as hysterically as my buddy Zack over at the Smoking Tire. Check it out after you catch up on some of the other stuff that happened this week.
* Need a new fuel pump? Do you like free stuff? Then you should head over to the Holley Performance Facebook page! They're giving away a free fuel pump everyday for 60 days! That's 60 chances to win! Holley on Facebook
* One Lap of America is an awesome event. And all the competitors will have to bring their A game this year--Roush is fielding its 2013 Stage 3 Mustang. Roush
* Just a few years ago, everybody was wondering if the General was going to join the ranks of Packard, Studebaker and AMC, but 2012 first quarter global sales saw record profits for the iconic American automaker. That's great news and all, but I just want to see the C7 sans camo. GM
* You know those cool state-themed graphics U-Haul paints on the side of its trucks? U-Haul is launching a contest to color in the new Missouri "supergraphic." The image is pretty cool, and the copy starts with: "Language of bats revealed!" How cool is that? U-Haul
* A man in Virginia is being asked by the DMV to return a vanity plate he's had for seven years, because it might be deemed offensive. The allegedly offensive message? FOSAMA. Seems kosher to me. MSNBC
* At 20, Trevor Bayne was the youngest person to ever win the Daytona 500, so there's no champagne on his number 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion--but there's plenty of confetti and Gatorade. This week it's taking an honored place at the Henry Ford museum. Roush Yates
This is the kind of thing I really hoped was a joke. I seriously can't believe that Lamborghini is going to build an SUV. If it was something like the LM002, I might have been able to stomach it. But I almost had a stroke when I saw this piece of crap. I'm depressed about it. And Jack Baruth over at The Truth About Cars summed up my feelings. Anyway this other stuff happened this week. More news after the jump.
When you're an editor of anything, you get massive amounts of press releases. It was true when I was writing about rock music, and now that I write about cars, it's even more true. To make anything stand out of this unending torrent of media alerts, you have to work at it. So when I saw this subject line, I about lost it: ROBOTS WITH LASER EYES AND SUCTION CUP HANDS BOOST QUALITY OF LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT AND THE ALL-NEW FORD ESCAPE. Seriously? That's awesome. Dear Ford, you had me at "ROBOTS WITH LASER EYES." Whoever wrote that should get a raise. But lots of other stuff happened this week. Here are the highlights.
* It's smart to wear a helmet, but in the great state of Michigan, you don't have to anymore. AAA isn't happy about it. PR Newswire
* Every time I go to a car show, I'm reminded that gearheads actually do a lot of good. I got another reminder of that fact when I saw this release from Edelbrock announcing that they're hosting a camp for kids with learning disabilities. Nice work gents. Edelbrock
* To me, Chevy's Avalanche always looked a little funny, but it turned out to have a pretty good run. It's the end of the line for the transforming pick up though. The General has announced it'll stop production in 2013. Chevrolet
* Morgan & Philips make some pretty awesome gearhead-themed clothing, and they're donating ten dollars from every purchase of this shirt to Drive Away Cancer. I'd buy one even if the money wasn't going to charity. Check it out. Morgan and Philips
* I don't know about you, but I like buying things made in America. HRE makes their awesome wheels right here in the great state of California, which is just another reason they're awesome. Check out how sweet their new P44SC and P47SC wheels look on a Ferrari 458 and a Ford GT. HRE Wheels
Champion Oil's Blue-Flame "Classic" 15w-40 Diesel Motor Oil is a purpose-built diesel motor oil specifically designed to meet the demands of diesel competition builders, racers, and enthusiasts of turbo and super-charged pre-2007 diesel engines.
Edge Products, a company known for consistently raising the bar on truck performance programming continues the trend with the launch of the EvoHT, a high quality hand held programmer for use with late model Dodge, Ford, and Chevy gas and diesel trucks and SUVs.
The 790RS Series is a 3-Piece forged wheel line consisting of 4 styles defined by dramatic, sweeping cuts sculpted from each spoke. Each style is distinctive in its own right, creating an aggressive yet refined modern collection unmatched in the industry.
Owners of select vehicle models may be able to have their cars or trucks featured at the 2011 SEMA Show, taking place Tuesday-Friday, November 1-4, 2011, in Las Vegas. Through the SEMA Award Contender Contest, owners of a SEMA Award contender vehicle are invited to submit a video clip highlighting the vehicle's modifications for a chance to have the vehicle featured at the SEMA Show. Vehicle owners will also receive credentials and amenities to attend the annual trade-only event, where they will be among the first to learn which vehicle platforms win the actual SEMA Award.
Edge Products, a company known for consistently raising the bar on automotive programming and tuning, continues the trend of quality and innovation with a version 3.0 software update for their popular CS and CTS platform. The version 3.0 update adds several new features and benefits to Edge's Juice with Attitude, Evolution, and Insight CS/CTS line of products.
Air Lift Company announced today the release of WirelessONE, a technologically advanced, easy to use on-board air compressor system that allows for the inflation and deflation of a vehicle's air springs with the press of a button.
Weekend on the Edge 2011 was an awesome competition and display of diesel power! Edge Products are already making plans for 2012. Below you will find the results from the Drag Races, Dyno, and Sled Pulls.
Centerforce strives to provide top of the line products on today's market for all performance levels. To do so, Centerforce uses patented processes and constantly tests different materials and designs to find the best combination.
Edge Products is proud to announce 2011 Weekend on the Edge, scheduled for August 19 & 20, 2011. This event is brought to you by Premier Performance and K&N Performance. Mark your calendars for this year's most exciting "Weekend On The Edge" ever! With over $10,000 in cash and prizes for participants, you will see some of the fastest and strongest trucks around. Also, there will be prizes and giveaways for attendees that come out to see this spectacular display of diesel power.
DynoMax Performance Exhaust and its revolutionary, drone-free DynoMax VT muffler will be featured this season on several popular car and truck shows airing on SPEED and Spike TV. DynoMax products feature industry leading exhaust technologies and are manufactured and marketed by Tenneco Inc. (NYSE: TEN).
The annual SEMA Automotive Aftermarket Show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It is an event that is not open to the public, so to gain entry as a consumer is considered a priceless opportunity. This summer Royal Purple will launch two contests that will send three lucky winners to the SEMA show Nov. 1- 4. Courtesy of Royal Purple, two winners will have the opportunity to show off their rides as feature vehicles, and one winner will attend the show to take in all of the sights and sounds that the show has to offer.
No need to crawl under your car or truck ever again to uncork your exhaust. No need to run a loud muffler all the time to get the maximum horsepower for your ride. With the Quick Time Electric Cutout(QTEC) you can have the best of both worlds. .
Royal Purple announces the release of their new 0W-20 motor oil. The introduction of this viscosity was prompted by Toyota and Honda recommending zero weight synthetic motor oil for a growing number of new models. Lower viscosity oils are used to help improve fuel economy.
Presidents Day, Valentine's Day, Boxing Day, Christmas Day; you name it, there is a "special day" for most things in the 21st Century. Add Collector Car Appreciation Day to your calendar and hope that the boss gives you the day off, because not only is July 8 the day of the collector car, it's also the first day of the Chrysler Nationals at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and they'll be celebrating all weekend long, July 8-10.
The Engine Giveaway returns to the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals again in 2011. This year's engine is a 450-inch big block stroker based on a 383 block. Mike at Muscle Motors says, "Just about everyone has a 383 block lying around somewhere, and here is a great example of how it could be put to use".
Banks introduces is its highly-anticipated Banks iQ for gas and diesel OBDII cars and trucks. This 5" touch-screen device, essentially a pint-sized PC, revolutionizes the vehicle user interface market by not only delivering vital-systems-awareness and a host of user-selectable gauges, but by also offering total control over Banks tuning, flash programming and Speed Brake diesel exhaust braking products.
Centerforce
strives to provide top of the line products on today's market for all
performance levels. To do so, Centerforce uses patented processes and
constantly tests different materials and designs to find the best combination.
The Dual
Friction® and DFX® series clutches by Centerforce®, the best in
high-performance single disc clutches, are now available for 1988 to 1993 Dodge Trucks with 5.9L
Turbo Diesel Engines. The Dual Friction part number: DF989966 (Pressure Plate, Disc,
Alignment Tool, and Release Bearing) and DFX part number: 01989966 (Pressure Plate, Disc, Alignment
Tool, and Release Bearing). Each of these two new clutch
assemblies replaces the current assembly with a higher holding capacity
pressure plate, designed for a direct bolt in replacement.
The SoCal launch event for EA Games' "Shift 2: Unleashed" attracted
hundreds of enthusiasts and fans eager to demo the latest installment in the
Need for Speed series. The event also brought with it a couple of racing
celebs, around 50 of Southern California's hottest cars and even a brief moment
of sunshine on an otherwise gloomy Saturday afternoon. After some
behind-the-wheel time with the game, we think it's safe to say that Shift 2:
Unleashed will offer all of the excitement and fun we've come to expect from a
Need for Speed title--along with a few welcome twists.
OGDEN,
UT-- Edge Products
proudly announces the release of the Edge Racing Juice with Attitude CS (Color
Screen) and CTS (Color Touch Screen) kits for the 2010-2011 Dodge 6.7L Cummins.
Edge Products has elevated performance to a new level by becoming the first
company to release a racing product for the 6.7L Dodge with shift-on-the-fly
capabilities, in-cab monitoring, real time safety features, and extreme
horsepower gains.
The Edge
Racing Juice with Attitude CS/CTS model has seven power levels providing
unbelievable horsepower and torque gains up to 175 additional HP and 315 ft.
lbs. of torque. The Edge Racing module provides custom-built tunes designed for
race and competition vehicles using modified free-flowing exhaust systems. The
Edge Racing Juice with Attitude CS/CTS is not street legal and cannot be used
for purposes other than off-road, legal competition, and race uses. The product
is not operable until registered atwww.edgeproductsracing.comwhich requires the user to sign a
disclaimer before use.
OGDEN, UT -- Edge Products is proud to announce the
release of the Juice with Attitude CS and CTS products for the 2011 Dodge 6.7L
Cummins. Elevating performance to a new level, Edge offers shift-on-the-fly
capabilities, in-cab monitoring, real time safety features, and awesome
horsepower gains -- up to 100HP and 250 ft. lbs. of torque.
The 2011 Cummins Juice with Attitude CS and CTS offers five separate
shift-on-the-fly adjustable power levels that add up to 80HP. An optional sixth
(HOT) level offers gains of up to 100HP. The product also offers built-in
safeguards and alert features. The system's in-cab display shows powertrain
information formerly available only with a complete set of aftermarket gauges.
Functions include: Transmission Temp, Engine Coolant Temp, EGT, Boost, RPM,
MPH, Intake Air Temp, Throttle %, Load %, Backdown %, Barometric Pressure,
Gear, DPF (diesel particulate filter) regeneration status, and Torque Converter
Status. The 2011 Dodge Juice with Attitude can also switch between US and
Metric Units of Measure.
Centerforce strives to provide top of the line products on today's market for all performance levels. To do so, Centerforce uses patented processes and constantly tests different materials and designs to find the best combination.
The annual SEMA Automotive Aftermarket Show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It is an event that is not open to the public, so to gain entry as a consumer is considered a priceless opportunity. This summer Royal Purple will launch two contests that will send three lucky winners to the SEMA show Nov. 1- 4. Courtesy of Royal Purple, two winners will have the opportunity to show off their rides as feature vehicles, and one winner will attend the show to take in all of the sights and sounds that the show has to offer.
Come on out to the 
