Automotive Addicts

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• Big Muscle Drives A ‘Bank Robber’s Special’ Chevelle: Video
• Toyota & BMW Collaborate – Potential Sports Car
• 2013 Jaguar XJ, XF Available With Supercharged V-6

Big Muscle Drives A ‘Bank Robber’s Special’ Chevelle: Video Posted: 29 Jun 2012 12:26 PM PDT Love, it's said, is blind. It's also mysterious, meaning that when something grabs ahold of your hormones, sometimes you're just along for the ride. By way of example, we give you the mysterious case of Sean Rich: in high school, Rich fell in love with a 1973 Chevy Chevelle, and the two have proven to be inseparable ever since. Fourteen years is a long time for any kind of relationship these days, especially one with an unlikely parter. Sure, the Chevelle name is the stuff of legends in muscle car circles, but most discussions end with the 1972 model. By 1973, the Chevelle had grown to plus-sized proportions, with any hint of performance choked by stringent emissions regulations. If you were going to build a pro-touring car, a 1973 Chevelle would be among the least likely choice of candidates. Despite this, Rich's car has gone through several evolutions throughout the years. In current form, he describes it as a "car he'd build to rob a bank." We're not sure about that, since the car blends into the background about as well as Ted Nugent at a PETA rally. Under the hood is a "mildly built" 350 V-8, which puts out in the neighborhood of 400 horsepower. As Mike Musto sums it up, that's enough to be entertaining without getting you into trouble; beside, we're in total agreement that the car sounds fantastic, and we'd drive it with the windows down all the time, just to better hear the engine come on-cam.

Toyota & BMW Collaborate – Potential Sports Car Posted: 29 Jun 2012 08:17 AM PDT Partnerships with Toyota are nothing new even when you consider the joint venture in development of the new Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ. As it seems, working with Toyota is usually a good thing, which is part of the reason BMW seeks a partner in Toyota to potentially develop a new sports car. Sources from BMW and Toyota have reported today that they have signed a memorandum that they will expand their development and research partnership, not only for new battery technology and Diesel engines, but to delve into other things including a sports car. Already, Toyota and Subaru have made a positively received move with Subaru and they are probably thinking why not keep the forward momentum moving. Working together on a 4-part puzzle, composed of lightweight technologies, fuel cell systems, powertrain electrification and a sports car, it could mean a match made in heaven that satisfies many different future vehicle segments. “I get so excited thinking about the cars that will result from this relationship. I think I can say I am the one who is most looking forward to a sports car that is environment friendly and truly excites car fans around the world,” said Toyota. The collimation of BMW and Toyota could really do a lot for future innovation in the automotive world. Just think, Toyota has been the perfect (boring) driving appliance for many years, as BMW has been a very exciting and sports- conscious brand in their accomplishments of building the ultimate driving machines.

2013 Jaguar XJ, XF Available With Supercharged V-6 Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:30 AM PDT Jaguar’s 2013 XF and XJ models – Image: Jaguar When it comes to engines, U.S. buyers of Jaguar XJ and XF models have had it pretty easy. On these shores, both Jaguar sedans came packing a 5.0-liter V-8, so the only decision to be made was "normally aspirated" or "supercharged." Since even the base engine made 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, the decision was usually made by the consumer's budget. In Europe, there are a dizzying array of engine options available for Jaguar models, starting with a turbodiesel four and running through a variety of gas and diesel V-6 models before topping out at the V-8 variants. Jaguar does this to broaden its appeal to a wider variety of customers, but also to meet stringent Euro 5 emission standards. For 2013, it looks like buyers in the U.S. will get a broader range of engine options, too. Though market-specific details are still a bit hazy, it looks like Jaguar will drop the normally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 from base XF and XJ models, replacing it with a supercharged V-6. The new-to-the-U.S. engine will make 335 horsepower and 331 pound feet of torque, which is noticeably less than the previous V-8. The big gains come in fuel economy, and Jaguar reports that the new engine is some 14-percent more fuel efficient than the unit it replaces. It should be lighter, too, which will make the new base XF and XJ models feel less nose-heavy than their predecessors. All engines, regardless of output, now come mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. If that's not enough horsepower to amuse you, don't worry: you'll still be able to get both the normally-aspirated and supercharged V-8s, which also pick up fuel economy gains of 8 and 11-percent, respectively.