Need for Speed Racing Games

Well, here goes. Those few little things that are actually of interest in the weekly news.

SEMA popped it's ugly head in Las Vegas and most of it was Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers. There was a Zonda R at the front door and an interesting Genesis however.

From top to bottom, Genesis, Mustang, and Camaro
[url=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/sema-2009-the-mid-engine-rm460-hyund
ai-genesis-coupe-has-landed/]Mid-Mounted Hyundai Genesis Coupe[/url]

Hurst Built Mustang and Camaro

There's also news that some scientists got together and checked out the genetics of 29 americans. Turns out that 30% of them are genetically disposed towards being bad drivers. So remember when your out on the track driving around, being assaulted by bad drivers who keep shoving you off the track. 30% of those people are being forced to act like dweebs by mother nature.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/needs-image-study-30-of-you-are-genetically-predisposed-to-dr/

And a few people around the forum have been complaining about accurate numbers for specifications. Which isn't surprising because that happens with any race game no matter who made it and what you play it on. Well, turns out that specifications do get changed from country to country. Sometimes it's a result of different environmental regulations, sometimes it's taxation, and sometimes it's because the government is a bunch of meanie bo beanies. And here's proof...

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/norwegian-porsche-importer-makes-horsepower-taxes-conspicuously/

In other news, Sergio Marchionne from Fiat has finally announced what's going to happen with Chrysler. Unfortunately for Dodge fans the Viper is being killed. But Fiat will be replacing it in 2012. Can anyone say 6.5L V12? Anyone?

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/breaking-dodge-to-end-viper-production-in-july-10-new-car-in/

There's also a long live blog format article with slide show pictures that show where and when the different Chrysler brands are going to be in the future. For instance, while the Viper is being canned for a new model the Challenger is going to continue with a simple refresh come 2011 or 2012. Also there's information about Jeep, Chyrsler, and the Dodge Ram being divvied up into it's own brand. Personally, the only thing that keeps my interest is the Dodge brands.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/live-blog-chrysler-ceo-sergio-marchionne-presents-5-year-busine/

And that's the news. Or at least the stuff that interests me.

I really hope that the replacement for the Viper will be worth it for the fans of Dodge and or North American sport car fans. Kill an icon and still expect sales. Hopefully the hangover from that drunken decision won't prove to be unbearable in the long run. I was very sad to hear (read) that one.

cem_ea_id.UberSil wrote:

What car is in this picture?

nfs_web.Mike263023 wrote:What car is in this picture?

Hyundai Genesis that has had the rear seats removed and remounted the engine so that it's now a rear bay/mid-engine layout.

Mid-Mounted Hyundai Genesis Coupe

HaHa "RM 490"

There's a reason why we should all hate GM. Not only did they mismanage themselves into one of the largest bankruptcies in history. Not only did they manage to kill Opel instead of selling it like they promised to do, and seem to be doing the same to Saab. But they've succeeded in creating an environment within North America that does not encourage growth, invention, or artistry. Which could be a good reason why Ferrari dealers choose to snub the average North American. But no longer! The auto snub, created by the Italians, has been innovated to the point of mastery by the Japanese. Yes, only in North America are you forced to lease an LF-A before you can choose to buy it. And if you think that any old person with the cash can lease one...well, you'd be wrong. Lexus is singling out buyers by their geography, financial health, number of currently owned cars and past purchases, restaurants and stores you mingle at, plus an amazingly revealing psychological test that tells them if you've ever been attracted to Christy Turlington.

Lexus Masters The Ferrari Snub | Even Banks Won't Give Money To Saab Now

Of course, the situation has gotten so bad that you can't even buy a crappy Hyundai Genesis without being snubbed.

A kid went out, well presumably a kid because someone who works for the dealer called him one, and won a Hyundai Genesis by way of Ebay auction. So he gets the bank to pony up a loan, travels overstate lines to get to the dealer, and says "Hi! Where's my car?". The dealer then goes about the biggest snub ever. I mean it was one that would have ended up in the courts if it wasn't for the fact that the lawyer didn't work at the dealership. Did Hyundai get involved in this? Well, I'm not sure but considering that it got press time I'm figuring it did. The boy got his car in the long run and I learned that not only does Hyundai fail to sell a single interesting product any longer, but they went to the School of Customer Relations A La Bell Canada.

And remember, don't call the dealer to tell them their *. They already know that should Hyundai drop a dealer or two over the next year, they'll be one of them. In fact, they may be one of them whether Hyundai planned it or not.

A Good Name Still Means Alot

Now, many people lament the Fast & Furious line of Need For Speed games. Claiming that they're chintzy and lacking in good taste. Unfortunately, the movie series has been so popular that it is the highest grossing movie of all car movies (not that that's considered a genre by any sane critic) and so there's going to be two more. Now personally I find the movies highly entertaining. Sure the scripts blow chunks, sure some of the cars look like their made out of rubbermaid, but the shots taken during racing should be studied by anyone who does camera work for auto racing. It's exciting and makes my heart jump into my throat and cry out "MORE! MORE!".

Chintz Refuses To Die

And now to what really entertains us. Cars. Honda has officially released photos, and specs, and videos of their HSV-010. Of course we've all seen it all but it's still a down right good looking car. Then there's the Tommy Kaira "Silver Wolf" which takes a Nissan GTR and makes it just a little bit better. And finally, Horacio Pagani announces that there will be a successor to the Pagani Zonda. Something revolutionary instead of evolutionary. Something that will likely propel the Zonda past cars like the One-77, Zenvo ST1, and Bugatti Veyron.

Honda Milks The Media Teet | Another Example That Expensive Cars Can Have Tuner Love | So Long C12, Hello C9

But there's still some really good news.

Firstly, apparently when your at an auto show and your interviewing the show girls. Don't treat them like objects, don't ask them out, and most importantly don't leer at their breasts.

Second, is that some guy figured out how to make sure that only telemarketers and himself will ever be able to start his car.

And finally, Lotus shows a working model (that you can play with) of it's Omnivore engine. And while the intake still confuzzles me a bit (feel free to send a message or comment if you can figure it out), it is still an amazing engine that really should propel the third world forward.

Dissed By A Model | Hi, My Name's Suzy And I'd Like To Talk About Starting Your Car | I Eat Everything!!!

And finally I leave you with AutoBlog's Weekender. An amusing look at some stuff that wasn't talked about over the week. Like how Hitler really feels about Ken Block now driving for Ford, why Canadians really should love Red Bull, and many, many other things.

The Weekender

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 01/31/2010 22:33:20

So, you're wondering what the automotive industry has done in the past week. Has it solved the global starvation thing going down in Africa? Has it suceeded in making cotton stronger than steel? Has it suceeded in * off another customer and ruining it's reputation once again?

Well, you'd be right on one account. I previously noted that a Hyundai dealer had given a customer some serious flack. Refusing to own up to a legal auction bid that won an Ebay auction. Then they said they'd honour the situation. Well, as it turns out. They're running for the slimiest used car salesman award of the year. The guy who won the auction kept giving into the dealers caveats, thinking that they said they'd cough the car up so what could it hurt? Well, the dealer went back on their word and now refuses to give the car, which they've probably sold to someone else by now, up. And it looks like it's going to court.

So what did we learn from this little lesson? Don't give up the upperhand. You may look like a real * but never give up the upperhand. If some company promises to honour a deal provided you do some things first, you do as little as possible in good faith and promise to do the rest when they do everything that their legally obliged to do.

Salesman of the Year Awards

But not all is lost in the industry. Lamborghini has announced that they'll be concentrating on weight instead of power in the new decade. Hopefully this will help end the decade long quest for a super car that is about as useful as a daily driver as a brick. This goes hand in hand with Mazda's announcement (no it's not the Renesis 16x

) of their new 2.0L DFI engine which should aid in dropping the fuel efficiency of the Mazda 6/Atenza. GM announced that the Camaro will be built as a convertible which is good for two reasons. First that the Camaro might actually end up in a form where you can see behind it and that they don't hold anything against Magna refusing to buy a product that would end up in GM's hands by the end of the decade. And finally, for good things in the industry (part one) the American government has announced that if you're driving a bus or big rig you'll not be allowed to text. Now if we could just stop them from watching porn and murdering innocent hookers.

Audi, no, Lambo, no, Audi goes light | New engine, new yawn | Don't be this guy | Magna, good enough to build your cars but not design them

Now to continue on.

The boys over at Barret Jackson had a big auction as it usually does at this time of year. But I felt that we all should look at the cars that weren't for sale. Because every year a bunch of vendors head on down to the auction and show off their wares. Even though those wares aren't on the block.

But if there was a product that really should have been on the block it's the Tron light cycle. Which was unveiled at the last Comic Con and looks really full...of...light...and...ummm...electricity. Which is where we segue into Ferrari saying that it'll turn the 599 into a hybrid. Which is like saying that a Porsche 911 Turbo is a fuel efficient vehicle. Or like saying that BBC and Top Gear making a video game is a good idea. Sure it sounds great but when you think about it. Do you really want to test drive cars around one little ol' track?

Barret Jackson Auction | The MCP is not a Psylon brain chip | Ferrari, bring the most useless hybrid to someone other than you | Top Gear, goofy is their middle name

Now the news that the US government has banned texting while driving vehicles over three tonnes is great news. But of course I'd be remiss in giving a link that tells us all about how banning hand-held cellphones won't save any lives. I disagree, but then I'm just one voice.

And now on to the really cool stuff.

To celebrate Top Gear's long life as a magazine they released their list of the top twenty cars they've seen since their inception back in 0 naught 93. And it's certainly an interesting mix of vehicles. One that brings up questionable taste sure. But still interesting. I just hope that next time they create a list like this they don't include Toyota's new Gs Prius. Which is about as sporty as a motorized wheelchair. Or like calling a suped up C class Mercedes Benz a sport car. I'd leap for european muscle car, but not sporty.

And of course, if you just wanted to know about sports cars that are being announced. Well Volkswagen admits that it's considering a 356 for Porsche to be slotted into the european market below the Cayman/Boxster. And BMW will be bringing the VisionDynamics car of wicked style and wimpy power (but maybe it'll be really light) in 2013.

Cellphones are the new tobacco lobby | Top Gear's Top 20 | This time the * just aren't getting it | Euro Muscle, the new Euro Trash | VW could be really good for Porsche | BMW creates the next M1 and it's not a little hot hatch

And finally I leave you with with three things of greatness. The fact that crazy things in NFS games are coming to fruition, Shift is good enough to keep us busy, and that the Bentley Continental GT SuperSport is good enough to be race-able. At least as far as I'm concerned. And finally, finally. Lambo served up Canadian style.

EMP gun shuts down your car, just like Darius said it would | Shift called excellent by AutoBlog | Bentley, Please make it into the next NFS | Gimme an L!

This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 02/08/2010 19:44:38

There's been lots of news over the past week about Toyota. And there's been some news about other companies as well. But when push comes to shove the best news has been about high end sports cars. There's been a lot of photoshoots about these cars and who can ignore them.

So this week I devote the weekly news to photos. Firstly Jaguar has announced that it will be coming back to the Le Mans series with it's XKR and frankly it's one of the best looking cars in the GT2 class as far as I'm concerned. Then Matech has announced that while it learned alot about it's concept that was raced in the GT1 class last year. It won't be returning. Instead Matech will be racing a slightly different Ford GT in the GT1 class which just goes to show that unlike what many think, the Ford GT is still capable of competing with the big boys. And finally despite there being no mention of McLaren's latest racing someone decided that it should be all dolled up in the old Shell (or whoever it is) livery.

Then we have two wonderful luxury cars. The GTZ Zagato take on the Bentley Continental and the Morgan Aero SuperSports. Although it's unlikely that the GTZ will sell well since Zagato tends to use such models to sell their more conservative styles. The Morgan Aero is doing quite well on the other hand. It's sales has doubled in the past year and while 700 cars sounds quite small. For a design like the Aero it's a big deal.

And finally if you feel the need for speed, you should dream about the C12 Pagani Zonda replacement. The C9 Pagani Zonda may look alot alike the original. But Pagani himself assures us that it's very starkly different.

For more cool posts from this crazy dude go to : http://ministryofshift.wordpress.com/

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