The Right Idea

Posted by admin on August 20th, 2008 filed in Sport Smart Super Auto Car

For a long time Chevrolet has had the right idea when it comes to cars, and as such the remain the best selling cars in this country, it doesn’t matter what you preference is, the facts will let you know that I am telling the truth, now for a while even I wondered what they were doing to themselves, in the 1980’s they built that horrible excuse for a Corvette, and I thought, good lord Chevrolet is starting to lose it.

And then in the 1992 they took the Camaro out of production, and I thought, what is Chevrolet thinking, the Camaro is their last muscle car to speak of, are they going to go down in flames, and then I begun to think about it, this could be a huge stunt to promote the latest ideas, thousands of people complained to them, and they started to listen to their customers, a rarity in the automotive industry.

In 1992 Chevrolet released the all new Corvette, and I knew that some big things had taken place at Chevrolet, the Corvette was a real player in the style department, and it wasn’t going to stop there, they would again in 1997 update the body style of that famous car known as the Corvette, and this time they would nail it, it had that fancy European look about it, and it had a good amount of power for the normal performance car enthusiast.

In 1997 you only had the choice of a coupe, there was no convertible, a little odd for the Corvette, but it seemed to work out quite well for Chevrolet, it came with a 5.7 liter 90 degree V8 engine boasting 340 HP @ 5600 rpm and 350 FTLB of torque @ 4400 rpm, it was not quite what a Corvette should be in the power department, but Chevrolet was to make some changes in that area.

The Corvette was a whole new breed, with the mods made to the wheel base and width of the car, it look completely different from the model before it, and this was a very good thing for Chevrolet when it came to sales of the new car, the all aluminum LS1 engine would of course lighten up the car a lot, and make it a better handling car all around.

Year To Year Changes
For more info on the Corvette please visit Corvette this is where this info came from.

1998 Chevrolet Corvette: Big news for Corvette fans was the arrival of a convertible to join the initial fifth-generation coupe. Chevrolet’s designers had engineered the latest Corvette to accommodate a convertible body with no additional structural bracing. Convertibles were expected to account for about 45 percent of sales.
They were equipped with a manual folding top, containing a glass rear window and defroster.

Not since 1962 had a convertible Corvette been sold with a traditional trunk.
Magnesium wheels joined the option list, and the engine was revised to quiet the fuel pump.
This year’s Corvette also got a provision for the automatic transmission to start in second gear, for cleaner getaways on slippery surfaces.
1999 Chevrolet Corvette: A new hardtop body style joined the removable-roof coupe and the convertible. Not available with some of the new options, the hardtop weighed about 90 pounds less than its mates and shared the convertible’s trunk. Hardtops came only with 6-speed manual shift and the sport-tuned Z51 suspension.
Other models could have the standard suspension or an optional driver-adjustable setup with soft, medium, and firm settings.
Among the options unavailable on the hardtop were a head-up display that projected instrument-panel readouts into the windshield, and a power-telescoping steering wheel.
All models could have an optional Active Handling chassis control, which used the brakes to keep the car on line during severe cornering maneuvers.
2000 Chevrolet Corvette: The base-model fixed-roof hardtop gained some standard equipment for 2000, including visor mirrors and a remote trunk release. Hardtops could now be equipped with the optional head-up instrument display, as well as dual-zone climate control, fog lamps, and magnesium wheels.
2001 Chevrolet Corvette: Corvette gained an extreme-performance variant for 2001, and all models got standard antiskid control.
The coupe was renamed Z06 and given special performance tuning including additional horsepower, upgraded suspension, and larger brakes.
2002 Chevrolet Corvette: The Z06 model got 405 horsepower for 2002–up 20 hp from ‘01.
It now came with the head-up instrument display that was optional on other ‘Vettes, plus revisions to its unique chassis tuning.
Other models were no longer available with magnesium wheels, and a CD player replaced the cassette deck as standard equipment.
2003 Chevrolet Corvette: All ‘03 Corvettes wear 50th anniversary insignia.
The convertible and hatchback offered a 50th Anniversary Special Edition Package (1SC) with red paint, champagne-colored wheels, and unique trim and badging.
Available for the convertible and hatchback and included in the Anniversary package was new Magnetic Selective Ride Control.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette: Trim packages commemorating racing Corvette’s are the main additions to the ‘04 Corvette.

Enter that 2006 Corvette, a new revolution in the Corvette line, this would be the most powerful production Corvette ever, well if you opted for the ZO6 option, it comes form the factory with an all aluminum 7.0 liter, or 427 CID engine, yes I said 427, the most famous Chevrolet big block ever built, but the twist here ism this is not a big block, it’s a small block, that that has the power of a big block, but still retains the revability of a small block.

This engine is called the LS7, and it’s a serious competitor, with a whopping 505 HP from the factory, it no wimp, it will get down to business with the best of them on the track, it has taken 1ST and 2ND place at the 24 hours of Lemans, against competitors like Ferrari, Porsche and a lot of other top European companies, gaining respect the world over.

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, and have been in the automotive business for about 25 years, and during that time I have worked in all facets of the industry, plus owned my own shops, like I do now.

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2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata — the Freewheeling Youth of the Sports-Car World Matures

Posted by admin on August 17th, 2008 filed in Sport Smart Super Auto Car

Mazda has done it again. First, they reinvigorated the sports car market a decade and a half ago with the introduction of the Miata for 1990. Then the company followed that up with a redesigned version that was good enough to make Miata the biggest-selling sports car in history.

Now, for 2006, they’ve topped that with a third-generation Miata that’s as sophisticated as far more expensive sports cars, despite keeping its reasonable low-20-thousand-dollar price tag.

Compared to the two previous versions, the 2006 MX-5 Miata is a little larger in most dimensions, and gains about 50 pounds. It continues with its four-cylinder engine but now it’s a 170-hp 2.0-liter instead of a 142-hp 1.8.

Slipping into the interior, it’s obvious that Mazda’s junior sports car has grown a bit. Instead of the window sills having a sort of elbow-height feeling, you now feel as though you’re sitting low in the car, instead of sitting on it. Along with the cabin’s extra room comes a more upscale look to the interior. Although still not exactly plush feeling, the new Miata replaces its predecessors’ retro spartan style with a somewhat more opulent look. The leather seats are both easy on the eyes and posterior. The convertible top has a cloth surface and a glass rear window, and it folds neatly into a smooth bunch that latches down to form a smooth profile without a separate cover.

Overall, the cabin pleases in both design and execution. There’s a subtle, high-quality feel to it that speaks of cars costing far more than our tester’s $25,000 sticker price.

Firing the engine up brings forth a sporty purr that’s maybe a tad more subdued than Miatas past, but nonetheless satisfying. Once rolling, planting your foot into the gas yields one of the bigger delights of the new Miata. The engine feels somewhat stronger than its power rating might imply, providing gutsy acceleration at low speeds and very nice passing power without downshifting. It never feels high-strung or fussy.

Complementing that pleasure is the shifter. Traditionally a strong suit of Miatas past, the new version continues to be noteworthy. Although not quite as pleasingly mechanical feeling as before, the shifter is precise, with appropriate springing and well-defined gates. Tying it all together are pedals that are well spaced for easy heel-and-toe downshifts.

Once acclimated to the new Miata’s basic control personality, it’s time to tackle some twisty roads. And you’ll quickly find that this aspect of the new car is where the new Miata differs the most from its predecessors.

While the generation-one and -two Miatas were well known for having low handling limits and almost toylike tossability, the new Miata feels heftier, more serious, and obviously more capable. In earlier Miatas the idea of slipping and sliding the rear end was as obvious and basic as putting the top down on a sunny day — Miata practically begged for such exuberance behind the wheel.

The new Miata responds to such tail-happy shenanigans with all the control and communication of Mazda’s earlier little sprites. But now the car just doesn’t seem to ask for it with such a strong voice. This version’s vastly higher grip and more potent engine instead make it happier with high corner-entry speeds and smooth, even steering-wheel inputs.

Those things said, this Miata is really happy in that environment. Whereas previous Miatas tended to have a wild, freewheeling personality on winding roads, the new version hauls through turns as if locked onto rails, with minimal body lean and very high limits that aren’t as easy to upset.

It’s still terrific fun. It’s just a little different kind of fun.

It’s clear that Mazda has once again crafted a true little gem of a sports car. There’s not a squeak or rattle to be heard, the engine has a smooth, almost exotic personality, and the driving controls are precise and solid. You find yourself double checking the sticker to see if this is really a $25,000 sports car — plenty of rivals costing $15k more than Miata don’t get these things much (if any) better.

As for how this new Miata design overall compares to its predecessors, picture a guy that was loveable but slightly over-eager in college. Now he’s been out in the real world for few years and maybe gotten a graduate degree.

He’s not really the same guy anymore, but he commands more respect. And he’s still a whole lot of fun to be around.

For more articles on sports cars, along with drive-tests of today’s hottest performance cars, go to http://www.autiv.com/

David Bellm is a seasoned test driver and automotive writer. His work has been featured in a wide variety of online and print publications.

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Sports Cars

Posted by admin on August 12th, 2008 filed in Sport Smart Super Auto Car

Stylish, sexy, sleek, streamlined, spirited and speed demon are all words used to describe sports cars, which are essentially two-door automobiles that are designed for high speeds, great power and smashing good looks. The manufacture of the modern-day sports car began only after 1945, when the economy started booming, technology developed dramatically and better roads were being built. They came in various shapes like convertibles, roadsters, coupes, grand tourers and sedans. Sports-car lovers are either devoted to timeless classics that have been souped up for current times, or are trendsetters looking for the latest kind of exotic car.

From powerful purring beauties like the Mercedes Benz SLK 350 to thundering thrillers like the Ford Mustang V-8, you can choose a sports car that matches your personality. In fact, sports cars are as much about personality as they are about performance - smooth aerodynamic bodies of carbon fiber, chrome pipes and fittings, rich leather upholstery, wide wheels, shiny wooden panels and snazzy paint jobs.

Different brands of sports cars adopt different principles of design. Some cars may be light in order to achieve greater acceleration, others may boast of extremely powerful engines for better car handling and performance, while still others may stress safety and comfort rather than style. The majority of contemporary sports cars have front-wheel drives as opposed to rear-wheel drives, which were more common in the earlier generation of sports cars. Many cars also have the engine in the center, driving the rear wheels, which is unique to sports cars. In these cars, the engine is placed behind the driver, at the middle of the chassis. Porsche is the only sports car that has the engine mounted at the rear, driving the rear wheels. This aspect is a crucial part of car design, as it affects the maneuverability or handling of the car, which is critical at high speeds.

The most well known brands today are Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Triumph. Companies which manufacture other cars also make some sports models; prominent among these are Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Nissan. Today, the design and manufacture of sports cars is becoming more specialized and competitive, with newer, more attractive designs and a higher degree of technical sophistication being utilized.

Sports Cars provides detailed information on Sports Cars, Exotic Sports Cars, Classic Sports Cars, Sports Cars for Sale and more. Sports Cars is affiliated with SUV Vans.

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