Friday, February 28, 2014

Aaron Paul Sits In Driver's Seat on Top Gear

Aaron Paul, a.k.a Jesse Pinkman Takes Tips from the STIG


This Sunday, Top Gear will have Aaron Paul, known as Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad hit the track for this Sundays episode for the Celebrity Track Time segment on the top car show from BBC.



BBC's Top Gear reports that the track was dry and you can watch Jesse Pinkman attack the track Sunday at 8pm on BBC.



Lamborghini Gallardo's Replacement

Lamborghini Gallardo to be Replaced by Huracán LP 610-4



Romping in at 610 Horse Power @ 8,250 RPM and 213lbft Torque @ 6500 RPM, the New Huracán LP 610-4 will pull 19 MPG and stands to hit 0-62 MPH in 3.2 Sec, 0-124 mph in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 202 Miles Per Hour.  Find out more from Auto Blog.


$5 Bluetooth Hack For Cassette Players

Still Driving a Car with a Cassette Player?

 

No worries,  make your own bluetooth adapter from some old wireless head phones and an old cassette adapter.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Jeff Gordon Plays Prank on Unbelieving Reporter

Pepsi Max & Jeff Gordon Present "Test Drive 2"



Travis Okulski from Jalopnik.com  Refused to believe that Jeff Gordon's Pepsi Max Test Drive #1 Prank was real. 

Needless to say... Jeff and Team Pepsi Max decided to show Travis that anyone can be pranked.
This time Jeff Gordon played a disgruntled nothing-to-lose Taxi driver.

Enjoy Pepsi Max and Jeff Gordon's Test Drive #2

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Salt Lake City Dealership Recognized By Edmunds.com For Tree Campaign

Salt Lake City Subaru Dealer Plans to Plant 4,000 Trees in 2014

 

Edmunds.com Correspondent Matt Jones Recognized Mark Miller Subaru's Midtown and Southtowne stores for their Green initiative.



Matt is a senior editor for Edmunds, his article can be found here ,   Matt has written other articles for dealership recognition and above and beyond sales associates.

Mark Miller Subaru was recognized as Utah's only Eco - Friendly Dealership.



The Utah Division of Air Quality (DAQ) released their annual report for 2013 in February. The report’s synopsis described the Provo, Salt Lake & Logan Utah areas as not meeting Federal Health & EPA standards for Particle Matter in the air.  The report described Utah’s poor air quality as the reason for longer lasting inversions throughout the winter season, including this year’s earlier-than-normal inversion which started in late November and lasted through February.


Four months is a long time to endure poor air quality and inversion conditions.  This is why Mark Miller Subaru has started their Driving Green program to help protect, and give back to Utah’s community. Mark Miller Subaru has teamed up with TreeUtah, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to tree planting and education.  For every car sold at either of the two Mark Miller Subaru dealerships, we will be planting trees up around Solitude Ski Resort and along the Jordan River areas. This particular joint venture has been named Project Oxygen. We are hoping to plant over 2,000 trees per an event, all employees, customers and vendors will be invited to participate in this fun endeavor.
We are proud to be the only two Eco-Friendly Subaru dealerships in the State of Utah. Subaru of America Inc, takes great pride in not only selling high quality Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV), but also in protecting the environment. That’s why Subaru created the Eco-Friendly Dealer program, to reduce carbon footprint in the daily business world. In 2004, Subaru of Indiana became the first manufacturing facility in the United States to reach zero-landfill status and all Subaru vehicles are built in zero-landfill plants. 100% of manufacturing waste is either recycled or turned into electricity. Subaru of Indiana is the first and remains the only plant in the United States to be designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
Mark Miller Subaru’s two dealerships are completely equipped with recycled materials.  The carpet is recycled from old car windshields, the paint is a new low volatile organic compound (VOC) mixture.  Our tile and ACM panels are made from recycled materials as well.  Other Eco-Friendly elements include flush free urinals, paper free hand dryers, daylight harvesting light fixtures and a water recycling car wash.
  

We promote the preservation and protection of the planet through sustainable business practices that conserve natural resources. All in part to help reduce our environmental impact toward building strong community relationships to create a cleaner and safer environment for future generations.  

We will continue to strive to reduce our carbon footprint in the valley and will work hard in consistently bettering our part in the community through energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling, waste management and community involvement.


Matt Stringham
3:00 pm
2/26/2014




 

US Safety Agency is Probing GM over Recalls

 13 deaths reported, Saturn Ion, Sky, Chevy HHR, Pontiac Solstice join recall list

 GM is adding more and more vehicles to it's faulty ignition switch recall that has resulted in 13 deaths so far.

Recall will be ranging from 2003 to 2007 models and 1.6 million cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration will be fining GM up to $35 million dollars.
  
ABC Entertainment News|ABC Business News

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

10 Ridiculous Hacks to Better Your Car

10 Hacks to Better Your Car




Hand Sanitizer is an excellent defroster for windshields and key holes.  Don't believe me? Check out the video.





Filling up in a borrowed car or helping out a friend? Fret not about what side the gas cap is on. Look straight at the gauge, the indicator actually points to side of the car that needs to be up against the pump.


Cars can get dirty fast, especially if you have kids.  Recycle old walmart / Target bags in recycled wipes containers.   This way garbage can be collected quickly and disposed of before it's a heaping mess.





Do you have foggy headlights? Pfffffft, don't worry about it, use toothpaste (esp Whitening) to clear those suckers right up.  If they remove stains on your teeth, imagine what they will do to your headlights.



Stop accidental dings and dents in the garage with a pool fa-noodle!  No more dents, dings or angry parents.




Park your car facing East. Why?   This will allow the sun to defrost your windshield before you head off to work. Sorry if it's cloudy... resort to the hand sanitizer!





Boost the remote to your car by holding it up to your head, even your teeth.  It really works, extending the range of your remote.  We're not liable for any signals your boosting from your teeth though.





Use a plunger to get that nasty dent and ding out of your car.  A little ghetto, but hey, whatever gets the job done!

Use a plastic cereal container as a trash can. No dirty cars.  Just don't use it for cereal afterwards, please...




Use a coffee cup to hold all of your tissues. Looks better than a pile of paper in your glove box, fits perfectly in your cup holder as well.

www.facebook.com/utahcarcents

Nissan Juke Teaser For Geneva

Nissan Juke Teased

2/25/14 - 10:25am



The Nissan Juke will be getting a facelift and the new turboed SUV will be appearing at the Geneva Motor Show.  The Juke has already been a big hit and outsold its expected target.
Find out more from Autoblog.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Ford Focus Just Got Smaller


Ford announced that a new smaller motor design is in the works for the new Focus to help with better MPG's.  The motor will be a 1.0 Liter turbocharged Eco Boost. The new motor will is to be revealed at the Geneva Motor show in Barcelona on March 4th.  The new motor is to compete with Honda, Toyota  motor co.  


- Autonews

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Spy Shots Of The New Chevy Cruze

Chevrolet Cruze Spy Shots




The Chevrolet Cruze is getting a make over based on spy shots featuring new headlights, grille and a wider body.  The Cruze was sold in 119 countries this last year and has been redesigned with a new fusion-istic style.    We can't wait to see if Chevy starts playing more with turbos like ford.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Accord Trumps Camry As Top US Car 2013

Autonews reports Honda Accord beats out Toyota's Camry

366,000 Accords were purchased in 2013. These two competitors have been at it since the 1980's and continue to fight for the top position to this day.  Both models are also known to be top picks for individuals and fleets.

Autonews.com' reports that "The Accord had the highest residual value among mid-size cars in 2013, according to ALG, the California-based company that calculates such figures. The Honda model also led Kelley Blue Book's resale value awards for mid-size cars."

Internet search interest below

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Talking Cars and Airwaves

US Government Wants Talking Cars by 2017


US Automakers have dropped millions into looking into new technologies that allow vehicles to talk to to one another.  This new tech will allow vehicles to warn each other when vehicles drift from one lane to another or if a head on collision may be a risk factor.  The only thing we can't help but wonder, is how much will this new tech burden consumers. Will it be affordable by 2017 ?

Find out more about the Department Of Transportation's demands here on Reuters.
Autonews Correspondent Anthony Fox covers Wifi Team ups and Radiowaves.

Porsche Advices GT3 Customers To Halt Driving Immediately

Porsche Investigates GT3 Engines For Spontaneous Combustion Issues






Over 300 Porsche 911 GT3's have been delivered this year.  The $187,000 dollar car has had two prior fires in Europe. Porsche will be calling it safe on this one and has notified US Customers with best efforts to pick up the vehicles and take them to an Official Porsche center for engine inspections.
No doubt Porsche will be following the same recovery PR strategies as Tesla and their fires with the Model S

Find out more from Autonews' correspondents here.

Tesla Boosting Vehicle Production

Tesla Released Quarterly Results Yesterday




Tesla stock soared yesterday after Elon Musk announced fourth-quarter results that bested that of analysts predictions.  Shares immediately jumped 8.5% yesterday ending at 210.00 a share.

Tesla sold more than 6,892 Model S cars last year.  Musk announced that they start sales in China next month and that the company has a goal to meet a 1,000 car production a week by the end of the year.   This also depends on Panasonic's ability to produce enough batteries to meet production capacity. Find out more from Bloomberg's Alex Ohnsman


Google Trends:

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

New Porsche 911 GT3 Fires

Porsche Holds Out On 911 GT3 Deliveries Due To Fires

  
Up to 5 new Porsche 911 GT3's have 'Spontaneously Combusted' from the beginning of the month. 
Find out more here.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

10 Small Tips To Help Extend The Life Of Your Car

10 Small Tips to Keep Your Car in Good Condition



KEEP IT CLEAN -  First and foremost, dirt can build up in the summer and salt in the winter. Keep your car washed and clean regularly as dirt leads to scratches and salt eats away at the paint. The same principle applies to your interior, the longer you wait to vacuum, the more time you allow dirt to be compacted deeper, and deeper into your seats and carpet. 

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF - Wipers are relatively cheap, when they start to wear out,  do your self a favor and replace them.  Old wipers can scratch windshields and cause accidents when you really need them.  Fix bad weather stripping immediately, water seeps in an causes mildew and unwanted odors.  Weather stripping is usually relatively cheap as well. 

BRAKES - Everyone hates getting their brakes changed, but brakes usually last around 30,000 miles or so. A couple hundred bucks to replace new pads is nothing compared to letting them squeak and squeal to the point where now you need new Pads and Rotors. 

KEEP LEATHER FROM DRYING OUT - Leather is usually pretty durable and reliable in cars these days, however it is not invincible. Over time the sun and stormy weather can dry out or soil leather seats. Be sure to clean your seats and interior regularly and ever couple of years apply a new conditioner. 10 bucks goes a long way. 

KEEP UP THE INFLATION -  No I'm not talking about the economy, you want to keep your tires inflated to the correct PSI (pounds per square inch) as this not only preserves the life of your expensive tires, but it keeps you safe on the road as well. 

KEEP'M ROTATED - Usually, for a few extra bucks you can have your tires rotated during an oil change. Rotating your tires preserves their life and keeps an even wear and tear all around your vehicle. This is especially important for AWD (All Wheel Drive) vehicles.  Bad tires and uneven wear can even cause damage to drivetrains and suspension. 

GET THE OIL CHANGED -Oil to a car is like blood to a human. Blood carries oxygen throughout our body right, now imagine how we would feel if we had dirty blood and sludge running through our veins.  Oil keeps a car lubricated and running smooth, dirty oil causes more friction, this means more heat and more wear and tear. Congratulations, by ignoring a $35.00 maintenance several times the life of your car has been cut nearly in half. 

FILTERS, FILTERS, FILTERS - Don't forget about your car's filters, the protect you and your motor from dirt, dust and debris. Filters are usually pretty cheap, and keep your motor clean and your cars interior looking good. Not to mention the air your breathing inside your car is filtered. 

WATCH OUT FOR TANKERS AT THE STATION - When you see a tanker dropping off gas at the gas station, skip the pump. Why you ask? Because when these big tankers start dropping new fuel into the tanks, it stirs up all the dirt and grime on the bottom of the tanks, this in turn gets sucked up through the system and into your sweet ride. This cause fuel pumps to burn out. 

KEEP IT ABOVE HALF TANK -  Fuel pumps can be pricey and usually last quite a long time.  Fuel pumps can get hot, especially in summer and when your tank is half empty the pump is no longer submerged in liquid gets hotter and has to work harder to suck gas up out of the tank to the engine. Keeping your tank above half empty helps improve gas mileage as well. The less gas in a tank, the more room for condensation and dirt a grime to get sucked up.   

Monday, February 17, 2014

The Elio

The New Elio from Elio Motors - An 84 MPG 3 Wheeled Two Seater



At first look, the New Elio from Elio Motors looks like something that just came from the concept car section from one of our big auto shows this year.  First things first, is it real? Can you take this little "car" seriously?





We did a little bit of investigation and so far, it looks somewhat plausible. This little 3-wheeled machine is powered by a 3-cylinder .88L 55hp, 55lbft torque engine with automatic and manual trans options.

They brag that the Elio can reach up to 100 mph. The car houses an 8 Gallon fuel tank venturing into 84 miles per gallon at 672 miles per a tank.

*UPDATE*  VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, JEROME VASSALLO TALKS WITH JEFF AND TOM ON THE RADIO SHOW.  FIND THE PODCAST AND AUDIO HERE!



On paper, the Elio looks pretty good.  
  • 3 Wheels
  • Fully functional independent suspension
  • Reinforced Roll Cage
  • 84 MPG
  • 3 Air Bags
  • 2 Seater
  • A/C & Heating
  • Anti-lock ABS Brakes
  • 3 Year / 36,000 Mile Warranty
  • American Made
  • Projected 5 Star Safety Rating
  • $6,800.00 Price Tag
The Elio was designed to look futuristic but sporty; frankly, I have no comment on what I think about its looks, it's the Safety Rating, Performance and Price that catches my eye. 

If you remember, we wrote about the IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety ) results on all of the new tiny little compact cars. The Honda Fit and The Fiat 500 having the worst ratings. 

These are things that make the new Tiny MPG savers practical.  If this Elio can really make it to 5 stars, they just might have the consumers' attention.

The other issue, will the little car go when you step on the gas pedal? Sure 84 MPG sounds great, but will the little car bring confidence when trying to hop on the interstate?



If these things pull through, and the Elio really is the 5 Star Safe & Peppy little machine that it's being advertised as, then automakers better watch out.  Now days, consumers have to practically take out a second mortgage on their home to buy a car, or choose between a home or a car. In 1974 you could buy a base model Volkswagen beetle for $2,000.  Now, a base model VW Beetle starts around $21,000. Granted; Safety, Technology, Reliability and Comfort have come a LONG way.  But the new Elio just starts at $6800 bucks. As of right now, if we had to choose a 3 wheeled 'car', it would be the Aero 3S. But then again, is that practical? It's only $75,000.

This video is neat'.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Have you Seen This? Corvette Museum Sink Hole!

Historic Corvettes Swallowed by Sink Hole! 





  


The following cars were involved in the incident:
1962 black Corvette
1984 PPG pace car
1992 white 1 millionth Corvette
1993 ruby red 40th anniversary Corvette
1993 ZR-1 Spyder on loan from General Motors
2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Corvette
2009 white 1.5 millionth Corvette
2009 ZR1 "Blue Devil" on loan from General Motors

Check out Corvette Musuem's Website for more info! Sinkhole Collapses in Skydome