Automotive

A Passion For Cars: Talking With AutoWise.com Founder Chris Riley

A Passion For Cars: Talking With AutoWise.com Founder Chris Riley You might find this hard to believe, but true, dyed-in-the-wool gearheads are a dying breed. This explains why older cars and vintage automobiles are growing in popularity as we speak. It might have to do with the nostalgic appeal and analog feel, but it stems from the fact that old cars are easy to fix and easier to modify, not to mention working on older vehicles is the perfect breeding ground for the next generation of gearheads.
Here at Automoblog, we welcome the opportunity to connect with like-minded car lovers who share the same passion in this crazy yet endlessly appealing world of automobiles. We got the opportunity to spend some time with Chris Riley, who is the founder of AutoWise.com.
Fact & Figures
AutoWise.com is comprised of a diverse group of enthusiasts headed by Riley himself. Their main objective is to deliver unbiased and relevant information on both new and older cars.
“It’s been something I wanted to create for quite some time,” Riley said. “I’d always spend tons of time on online auto forums and always thought it would be cool to run an auto site.”
“I ended up creating AutoWise.com which focuses on long-form list opportunities with factual information that consumers want concerning current, new, and upcoming vehicles in the market,” he continued.
The AutoWise.com team highlights even the most interesting and quirky facts about cars, with a variety of Top 10 and Top 25 lists that cover literally everything: 10 laughably cheap sports cars and the most reliable SUVs in America are two of our favorites.
If you love pure-bred American muscle (like we do), the article on every Chrysler Hemi engine ever made is filled with interesting facts about the classic motor.
“We’ve had fun with the list articles and our readers seem to enjoy them,” Riley explained. “We really just tend to write on topics that are both sought after and that we enjoy personally. We crunch the facts we feel our readers are really looking for while also giving them something unique from a driving review on that particular car.”
The 6.2-liter Hemi, found in the 2019 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, is included on the extensive list complied by AutoWise.com. Photo: FCA US LLC.
What’s Hot, What’s Not
This is a refreshing alternative to other sites that focus mainly on click-bait articles about automobiles rather than relaying facts and figures from an actual car lover’s point of view. Riley and his team work hard to also provide accurate technical information and vehicle specs.
“In our early days we received a lot of traffic from social networks. When we started doing the list articles we would get destroyed by our readers when we didn’t give more facts and specs,” he recalled. “We learned how to pack in all the info that our readers are looking for and not waste their time with the stuff they didn’t want to see.”
What really makes AutoWise.com stand out are the what’s hot and what’s not articles on every model from a particular manufacturer. Thinking about buying a new Ram truck but can’t make up your mind between the 1500 and the 2500? Their article on what’s hot and what’s not in the 2019 Ram lineup will help you make the right buying decision.
Fancy a brand new Rolls Royce but don’t want to be the butt of jokes at the members-only Yacht club de Monaco? What’s hot and what’s not in the 2019 Rolls-Royce lineup can help you avoid embarrassment.
“This is a newer thing and have been more of a test than anything else,” Riley said, referring to the article’s distinct format. “It helps keep everyone updated on what’s coming from their favorite car brands. If a potential customer is considering buying a certain model, they can see if there is a feature worth waiting for or if they are better off shopping now for the current year model.”
The Rolls-Royce Ghost did not make the cut and was filed under the “Not Hot” category by AutoWise. Photo: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Dream Cars
What better way to talk to a car enthusiast than by asking questions about their favorite cars? So we asked Riley what he likes to drive, and there’s no doubt on what he loves the most.
“The Lexus GS was always a favorite of mine and I’ve owned a few of them. I think because I loved the 2JZ engine so much but couldn’t afford the Supra,” Riley joked. “I spend a lot of time traveling, so some of my favorites are not available in the USA market such as the Toyota Hilux and the Land Cruiser 70 series.”
“My first American car ever was a 4-door Ford Lariat. That truck changed my opinion on American cars for the better,” he continued. “It’s almost cliché these days but there is no way I could leave off the R34 Nissan Skyline. It was an instant classic and there’s no refuting that.”
1994 Toyota Supra. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Changing Landscapes
Before parting ways, we asked Riley about what he feels are the most interesting trends in the automotive industry along with his future plans for AutoWise.com.
“As much as we love internal combustion engines and the sound and feel of gasoline-powered cars at AutoWise, the most interesting shift right now would have to be the industry’s move towards the electrification of their lineups alongside the addition of driverless technology,” Riley answered.
Check out AutoWise.com to get your fill on the latest automotive news and gossip including Donald Trump’s most unusual car collection.
“The future is really just tomorrow’s today, and I’m more of a today kind of person. I don’t think much of the future and I still look forward to getting out of bed every morning to work on AutoWise,” Riley said. “I love seeing it grow and I love interacting with the site and its readers every single day.”
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.

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An Afternoon Shine With Mothers Polish

An Afternoon Shine With Mothers Polish Living in Michigan is a challenge, especially during the winter, but summer isn’t any better. The weather lately in Detroit has been unpredictable, warm and sunny one day, then rainy and cool the next. Many of the roads I frequent here in the Detroit metro – Woodward Avenue, Southfield Freeway, Interstate 94, M10, and Fort Street – are loaded with traffic, and my daily drives take me through industrial areas and patches of road construction.
You can wash a vehicle here, and by the time you get home, there is a layer of dust on the paint.
Recently, the team at Mothers asked if I would evaluate a few of their most popular products. I obliged, putting them through the paces during my latest wash outing. Mothers has over 70 car care products in their portfolio but the ones below will work regardless of what type of vehicle you own.
Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Mothers. All views and opinions expressed here are my own. Check out our advertising guidelines to see why we’d never steer you wrong.
Mothers sent us a care package as part of their #PristinePolish campaign. Up until this point, I had never used a Mothers product.
Polishing Cloths & Quick Detail Towel
Mothers sent me one of each and both are very specific in their uses. The polishing cloth is “edgeless” and lighter, and is best suited for removing leftover glazes and waxes. The cloth is soft, lint free, and glides nicely across the paint. By contrast, the Quick Detail Towel is more robust and acted like a vacuum when I used it, removing any leftover particles, dirt, and grime following the initial wash.
The Mothers Quick Detail Towel has two “naps”: the long one is best for wiping down the vehicle immediately after washing it, whereas the shorter nap will help with that final buff and polish.
I really liked the longer nap. I always wipe down my vehicles after washing and before applying any other products. The long nap gave me that ability.
After a few minutes of use, I would shake out both cloths.
The Mothers Polishing Cloths and Quick Detail Towels are perfect for those “finishing touches.” I kept them in my pocket so I could easily grab them when I noticed any leftover dirt or grime.
Instant Detailer
This was my favorite in the Mothers package because my wash jobs are not complete until I apply something like this. It comes from my early years in the automotive business when I sold cars at a dealership. When you put a car on the showfloor, a good shine is essential. The nasty pink stuff we had in our desks was referred to as “showroom shine,” and we would wipe down the vehicles when we had spare time.
Nice thing is, the Mothers Instant Detailer gave me the shine without the terrible smell (it actually smells pleasant).
Spray it on, spread evenly with a soft cloth, and then wipe away/buff the excess with another towel, like the short nap of the Quick Detail Towel.
If you don’t have a lot of time, a bottle of this will do the trick. It took me ten minutes using the two towels Mothers provided. The Instant Detailer comes from the Mothers “Speed” line, a series of products designed to work quicker than their counterparts.
Word of caution: don’t apply it when it’s too hot out because it evaporates quickly.
The Mothers Instant Detailer gave the Venezia Blue Metallic paint of my 500X a laser-like look in the sunlight. With the rain in Michigan lately, this was a welcome treat.
Carnauba Wash & Wax
This was quite useful on my lower quarter panels where grime, especially from these recent rainstorms, builds up. Hitting it with a high pressure hose is not enough to remove it either. You can opt for the scrub brush at the car wash, but I understand if you are hesitant – they are often dirty from frequent prior use and I’ve known them to cause a scratch or two.
The Mothers Carnauba Wash & Wax can be a good substitute. Add a little to a bucket of water and “shampoo” accordingly with a sponge or mitt. You can use this between your regular waxing too – in this case, I applied it to the “problem areas” on my vehicle, but it can be used on the entire exterior.
Carnauba, native to Brazil, is known for its heat tolerance.
The photos below are of the three biggest “problem areas” on my 500X – areas that, no matter what, always collect dirt and grime. They include the rear window, lower quarter panels, and the section behind my rear wheels. A normal spray gun won’t get these areas clean, neither will an automatic wash. It always takes me giving these areas some extra attention and care, and the Mothers Carnauba Wash & Wax was a huge help.

PowerBall
I award Mothers some serious cool points here. Attach this little guy to the end of any variable speed drill and you have a built-in polisher. Mothers says it can be used on just about everything, from taillight lenses and wheels, to tile and marble.
Consensus
These items were given to me by Mothers to raise awareness for their #PristinePolish campaign. Still, I enjoyed using them considering I made a New Year’s resolution to wash my vehicle more. And up until they sent me this package, I didn’t have any nice cleaning supplies to really act on that resolution.
Mothers has products for those that detail vehicles for a living, but these “ordinary” ones are still professional grade. Prior to this, I had never used a Mothers product. I always assumed they were for the higher-end types of cars you see at auto shows, or again, for those making a living as a detailer.
I was, however, glad to have this misconception corrected, especially by things like the Instant Detailer. Mothers is still ideal for that dream exotic or ultra-powerful muscle car, but for those of us who drive ordinary everyday cars, trucks, and crossovers, Mothers will work nicely.
For those of us who live in colder climates, it takes some extra work when it comes to keeping a vehicle clean, but I will be excited to try these items Mothers sent me when winter hits.
True to form, we had another rain storm overnight, but the Mothers treatments from the prior afternoon held up.
Wish List For Next Time
(Mothers Products I Would Like To Try)
Mothers Bug & Tar Remover: From the Speed product line. Bugs and tar are always hard to remove and very few products on the market are actually up to this task. I’ve been let down by other brands.
Back to Black Tire Cleaner/Shine: From the Classic product line. Like the Instant Detailer, no wash job is complete without some type of tire cleaner or shine.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

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Lotus Evora GT430: Fastest Evora Yet

Lotus Evora GT430: Fastest Evora Yet

Hethel is at it again, with Lotus pairing down and refining their Evora even further with the Evora GT430. This one has gotten so far to the outside of what the existing structure can take, I wouldn’t be surprised if this will be the final iteration of the Evora line. To push the envelope any further, you’d basically end up with a race car-like ride devoid of stuff like seat padding and carpet and flywheels; so light that 90% of the people on the planet would stall the thing.
Oh sure, for morons like me, an Evora like that sounds pretty close to ideal, but Lotus is smart enough to know they’d only end up selling four of them.
Too Much, Too Little?
Of course, as fine as the Lotus Evora GT430 is, one terrible fact is becoming obvious. Have you noticed Lotus has been cranking out lots of variations on the Evora. Look, I don’t fault them, on the one hand. I’d be doing it too. The Evora is a great car, even in its mildest form, and is obviously flexible enough to be tuned to the stratosphere. But the other thing here is how the constant tinkering with the Evora might just say that’s all they got is the Evora. There’s no updated Elans for the 21st century, no Esprits at the top of the line. One could say this constant messing about with Evora points to a huge deficiency in the current lineup, but why dwell on negatives when we have the Lotus Evora GT430 to consider.
“The Evora GT430 is a landmark car for Lotus. Lightweight engineering and class-leading handling, paired with Lotus’ aerodynamic expertise, define the Evora GT430 as a legendary Lotus,” explained Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc. “It’s a truly beautiful car, meticulously finished in hand-crafted carbon, and employing the latest aerodynamics and lightweight materials. We expect the lucky owners to be blown away by its pure presence and staggering performance.” Photo: Group Lotus plc.
Power & Performance
The Lotus Evora GT430 follows in the tire tracks of the Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410, but that’s about the only thing it’s going to be following. Actually, the latter two will be the ones doing the following since the Evora GT430 is the most powerful road-going Lotus ever. In no small part this is thanks to Lotus lavishing scads of carbon-fiber components, and working the engine for even higher power output. The Evora GT430 is powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 supercharged and intercooled plant found in other Evoras, only now Lotus has massaged it into producing 430 horsepower.
And, just like the company’s founder Colin Chapman had a fetish for making things as light as possible, the latest Evora is anything but heavy. The Evora GT430 tips the scales at 1,258 kg (around 2,800 lbs. for you Americans out there). That light weight, coupled with the 430 ponies produced by the engine, results in . . . well, c’mon, you can see where this is going. And of course, since this is a Lotus, it’s going to handle better than 99.9 percent of the cars out there. All around, the new Evora GT430 delivers tremendous speed and performance; 0 to 60, for example, is dispatched in just 3.7 seconds and the Evora GT430’s top speed is 190 mph.
The Evora GT430’s six-speed manual transmission features a low-inertia, single-mass flywheel, to help ensure swift changes, while a Torsen-type limited slip differential gives better traction, and faster exit speeds, when cornering. Photo: Group Lotus plc.

Aerodynamic Advantages
Thanks to the exposed carbon weave sections of the new and specifically designed body panels, the Evora GT430 produces up to 250 kg of downforce through aerodynamic improvements. That’s around 550 lbs., and on a car this light, you’ll notice it in high speed bends. There are larger front apertures for cooling the brakes and radiator, there’s a new carbon fiber splitter, the air blades allow for better front end downforce, and louvers positioned on top of the front wheel arches cut front end lift and bleed off high pressure air from inside the wheel wells.
Out back there are aero ducts behind each wheel to cut pressure within the wheel arch, along with a bit of style that allows you to check out the wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. There’s a big honking rear diffuser to provide a “sharp visual finish” but it is also functional. And, as you would expect, there’s a large, profiled carbon wing.
The removal of critical weight from the Evora GT430 results in a more responsive and agile car for the driver. Photo: Group Lotus plc.
Pricing & Availability
Want one? Of course you do! Well, better get in line yesterday because Lotus is producing only 60 copies of what it terms the “supreme Evora.” The price will be around 150,000 Euros, depending on taxes and exchange rates for markets like Germany, Italy, Japan, and such. The ordering window is currently open.
There is no direct mention of the Evora GT430 being sold in America, which, I will readily admit, is a worrying proposition. So you know, a little confirmation of the Evora GT430 showing up on these shores would be nice Lotus. You know what would be even better? Dropping a couple off at One Automoblog Towers in Detroit for test and evaluation. Talk to Carl Anthony, our Managing Editor about it. I think he’s the fellow that gets to sign for this sort of thing . . . our legal/psychiatric team won’t let me sign for stuff any longer.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Lotus Evora GT430 Gallery

Photos & Source: Group Lotus plc.

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Understeer Versus Oversteer: Know Your Limits

Understeer Versus Oversteer: Know Your Limits The handling terms oversteer and understeer we instinctively know, even if we’ve never really put a name to them. You don’t have to be a dyed-in-the-wool track person to have experienced either of these conditions, but they do appear most readily at a track. There are two old jokes about oversteer and understeer. One goes like this: oversteer scares the passenger and understeer scares the driver. The second is this: oversteer is when you smash the rear of the car into something – understeer is when you smash the front into something.
Differing Definitions
Understeer and oversteer are actually technical terms, but there are other words that are synonymous with both. Understeer is often called “push” and sometimes referred to as “plow” or “plowing.” You will often hear phrases like, “I’ve got a wicked push entering turn 3,” or “the car just understeers through the whole back section of the track.” Oversteer is referred to as a car being “loose,” “free,” and/or “tail-happy.” As in, “I’ve got so much oversteer through turn 5, the car is really loose.” Generally speaking, understeer is about how the front is not working and oversteer is about how the rear is not working.
Understeer
Understeer is when a car corners less than what you are telling it to with the steering wheel. When a car is understeering, as you enter a corner, you turn the wheel, and you expect the car to turn into that corner, but rather than turning all the way into and through the corner, it actually does not turn in enough. Rather than cornering smoothly through a curve, your car heads more and more toward the outside of the corner, unless you do something about it. Most people respond to a situation like this by turning the wheel more; to essentially say, in mechanical terms, “No! I want you to be over there! Go over there! Go that way!” They turn the steering wheel more and more in the direction they want to go.

Unlikely Odds
90% of the time, this doesn’t work. 90% of the time you are understeering through a corner because you have entered the corner too fast. So fast, in fact, that the front wheels, which is where understeer comes from, become overwhelmed by your forward energy and cannot generate enough grip to give you cornering entry. Turning the steering wheel more and fighting with the car only makes understeer worse. It puts more and more energy into the front tires that have been unable to keep up with your forward momentum from the beginning. By and large, the best thing to do in a vast majority of understeer situations is to back off the throttle. You’re going too fast into the corner already, so slow down, get the car back underneath you, and then get back on the throttle.
TrackDays has this excellent resource on how to correct understeer, should you find yourself in that situation.
Oversteer
Oversteer is when a car corners more than what you are telling it to with the steering wheel. You enter a corner, turn your steering wheel x-amount, and the rear of the car comes out more than what it should. Oversteer is the rear of the car coming around as you corner – it’s your car wanting to essentially spin around. Oversteer is, for a gearhead actually, a fun handling state. Oversteer is, from a performance standpoint, a faster handling condition for a car to have, assuming you can balance it.
Having either too much understeer or oversteer is a bad thing. Any car, however, regardless of drivetrain layout, can and will understeer and oversteer moment to moment when cornering. It is your job, as the driver, to operate your car in a safe manner. This whole notion of a car being “unsafe at any speed” is codswallop. Sure, if a car is outright built wrong, or has not been maintained properly, or there is a mechanical failure, then it is unsafe. Mostly, it is up to you, yes you, the junior Mario Andrettis of this world, to drive in a safe manner.
Always maintain proper control of your vehicle.
Mindful Considerations
In an ideal situation, a car going through a corner describes a perfect circle, with the rear wheels exactly following the front wheels – like a train following a set of railroad tracks. That’s why you hear the phrase, “handles like it’s on rails” as praise for a given car.
Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars, genius chassis designer, and all-around fantastic automotive engineer famously said, “the steering wheel tells the front end where to go, and your right foot tells the back end where to go.” He was, obviously, talking about rear drive cars. And what he was getting at has to do with the fact that, as you are entering, traveling through, and exiting a corner, a rear-wheel drive car, when driven at the limit of adhesion, will require you to manage what both the front and rear are doing simultaneously. You are the driver. Be in control. Drive it. Know your limits. Know the limits of your car. And do not exceed those limits. In all things automotive: balance.
Finally, we would recommend an additional resource from TrackDays. They recently spoke with six different pro race car drivers and gathered the best advice when it comes to being behind the wheel.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

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Orange Fury Ford Mustang Inspires Ice Cream Sandwich

Orange Fury Ford Mustang Inspires Ice Cream Sandwich

Y’know, sometimes, the gearhead world gets downright weird. This is one of those days. As I read the press release about this – this being Ford’s making of an ice cream sandwich that has some razor thin tie in with the beloved Mustang – I had to start over three or four times. One of those times I thought I might be having a stroke. But no, Ford is serious.
Okay, here we go.
Vanilla Whoopies
One of Ford’s bullet points reads as follows: “Sandwiches feature a zesty orange-flavored ice cream between two Vanilla Whoopies, covered in orange icing and an edible wrapper made from potato wafer paper with edible ink.”
Dude, seriously! I mean, take that sentence, and randomly insert commas, periods, and pauses and you’ve got some Beat Poetry that Lawrence Ferlinghetti would, like, totally dig. Man.
Anyway, what we got here is Ford trying to leverage National Ice Cream Day (no, I didn’t know there was one either) by teaming up with Coolhaus Premium Ice Cream (which, most likely has nothing to do with Rem Koolhaas, the Dutch architect (I hope)) to create the Mustang-inspired “Orange Fury” ice cream sandwich.
Photo: James Lipman.
Tasty Partnership
To make matters even more, I dunno, appealing or something along those lines, the Mustang-inspired Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches are a limited edition item. Which, honestly could be bad if these things taste good. I have no way of telling, since Ford didn’t see fit to send me a case. More’s the pity, since I live in the desert and any sort of ice cream sounds great right about now.
Ford goes on to tout their partnership with Coolhaus Premium Ice Cream by noting that Coolhaus is “the nationally celebrated sweet-treat brand known for unique, sweet-meets-savory flavors you can’t find anywhere else.” Which is interesting because of two things: One, that is a distressingly alliterative sentence, and two, I’ve never in my life heard of Coolhaus (although that name makes me think of sparse German architecture or history’s second-ever goth punk band).
Coolhaus limited-edition Mustang-inspired Orange Fury ice cream. Photo: James Lipman.

Ice Cream Van
Apparently Ford went so far as to gin up a Coolhaus ice cream truck equipped with 2018 Mustang decals, fill it with Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches, and tool it around New York City for four days. This was all part of National Ice Cream Day and a cross marketing thing advantageous to both companies (I’m guessing). Your cost? Absolutely free my friend! Do you think they’d charge you to advertise to you?
You can also get the Orange Fury ice cream sandwiches at the Coolhaus shop in Culver City, California as well. It would seem all this Orange Fury ice cream sandwich stuff has to do with the new Orange Fury exterior color available on the 2018 Ford Mustang.
“I typically focus on things like color research, leather seats, and hand stitching, so this was definitely a bit different for me,” said Barb Whalen, Color and Materials Design Manager, Ford Motor Company. “It was fun applying some of those same design philosophies into helping Coolhaus create an ice cream flavor that really embodies the new Orange Fury color.”
Photo: James Lipman.
Edible Wonders
The technical specs for the Orange Fury ice cream sandwich break down like this: First, there are two Vanilla Whoopie cookies covered in orange icing that boarder the insides of the Orange Fury ice cream sandwich. Said insides consist of a scoop of the one-of-a-kind Orange Fury ice cream. The whole shootin’ match is wrapped in a unique, Mustang-printed edible wrapper made from potato wafer paper and edible ink. Sure, to adults like you and me, concepts like an “edible wrapper” might seem rather novel, but ask any five-year-old and they’ll tell you that all wrappers are edible.
“We couldn’t be happier that one of the original American classics chose Coolhaus, a new American classic, as a way to add excitement to their latest innovation,” said Natasha Case, Coolhaus CEO & Founder. Coolhaus Oompa-Loompas Glowbo, Fluffet, and Poofer could not be reached for comment.
The 2018 Mustang, regardless of color choice or availability of ice cream sandwiches, is due to reach showrooms this fall.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Favorite Car Movies By Decade

Favorite Car Movies By Decade

When the weekend arrives, our Automoblog team members sometimes enjoy relaxing at home with Netflix. Our more adventurous staffers, like Tony Borroz, duck out in the middle of the day to catch a matinee. Indeed, we enjoy both cars and movies, and when they combine, it’s a win/win for us.
Just the other day, my buddies and I had a spirited debate on which installment of The Fast and the Furious was the best. While we could not reach an exact consensus, we did determine the entire series was worth binge watching over a long weekend.
Mustangs & Movies
Our friends at CJ Pony Parts are big movie buffs too. They recently celebrated 30 years in business, making them one of the most established retailers in the world for Mustang parts and accessories. The CJ Pony Parts crew created a list of their favorite car movies through the years, complete with a detailed infographic. Some of the movies they recommend we haven’t seen in awhile!
The CJ Pony Parts movie graphic examines the cars in these cinema classics, along with unique trivia about the movie itself. One thing we found really interesting is how one of the Mustang GTs from the 1968 film Bullitt was found in a junkyard. Fans of Steve McQueen are well aware of his passion for cars; last December, we showcased a book about McQueen’s love for anything with wheels in our Book Garage series.
Why Does It Always Have To Be Snakes
Another favorite on this list is Gone In 60 Seconds, although while we prefer the 2000 version, CJ Pony Parts notes the original motion picture from 1974. We favor the “new” version for a number of reasons, none of which have to do with Angelina Jolie. Okay, so that’s not entirely true. Obviously, Eleanor is the apple of our eye in the 2000 remake, but lines like “snake gonna have to slither his a** all the way to the bus stop in the morning,” “the snake is crawling up my a** man,” and “the snake gonna swallow my sh*t whole man,” are truly memorable. Actually, that entire scene where the Hummer pushes the police car down the parking ramp to the lyrical graces of DMX is awesomeness at its finest.
Here’s another great line: “If his unpleasant wounding has in some way enlightened the rest of you as to the grim finish below the glossy veneer of criminal life, and inspired you to change your ways, then his injuries carry with it an inherent nobility. And a supreme glory. We should all be so fortunate. You say poor Toby. I say poor us.”
Chevy Cinema
The most recent entry on this list we didn’t really care for, however, heartthrob (did I just say that?) Ryan Gosling restored the film’s signature Chevy himself. So that’s worth bonus points. CJ Pony Parts admitted they didn’t care about the story line either; they just wanted to see that 73 Chevy in action. Okay, so it’s not that bad of a movie and it’s not that we dislike Gosling. As everyone else did, we saw The Notebook with our wives and girlfriends but didn’t (we so did) cry.
The aforementioned movie graphic is below, courtesy of CJ Pony Parts. What is your favorite car movie? Let us know on Twitter: @Automoblog.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye: Frankenstein’s Fury

2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye: Frankenstein’s Fury Leave it to the Dodge boys to not leave well enough alone. As a matter of fact, “not leaving well enough alone” is kind of a company trademark. How else could you explain stuffing a 426 Hemi into a Dodge Dart? Speaking of putting in engines that are too big for everyday rides, say hello to the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.
Essentially, what we have here, is car engineering a la Dr. Frankenstein; a little bit from here, a little bit from there, and a brain clearly labeled “A.B. Normal.” I’m fine with that.
Wide & Wild
The 2019 Hellcat Redeye (no real explanation as to why they call it that) is, like all Mopar products since time immemorial – or at least since the end of The War – 99.999% about dat engine yo! Take the supercharged Hemi Demon V8 out of the quickest, fastest, and most powerful muscle car ever, and stuff it into this latest demi-ogre, and abracadabra: The 797 horsepower 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye!
Yes, the new 2019 Redeye is available with the Widebody Package. Yes, this definitely looks cooler than a bug on ice. Yes, you’re now 3.5 inches wider overall with improved handling and braking. Yes, the Redeye comes with larger, six-piston Brembo front brakes, wider wheels and tires, and the suspension upgrades featured on the “normal” R/T Scat Pack Widebody. Yes, the interior has some cool upgrades and there are some special wheels but, honestly, who cares about all that other stuff when you’re confronted with a powerplant like this?
2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Heavy Equipment
The heart of the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is sourced from its (sadly) limited-production big brother: the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. That would be the supercharged, 6.2-liter big block Hemi rated at a staggering 797 horsepower and a just as astounding 707 lb-ft. of torque. Or, about the same torque as an ocean-going tug. The blown 6.2 Hemi is mated to a TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission with internals that must have a Hulk-like disposition to things like heat, shear forces, sun-like thermal loading and such.
The Redeye mill has 25 major upgrades, including a larger supercharger, strengthened con-rods and pistons, a high-speed valve train and, thankfully, an improved lubrication system. The Redeye’s supercharged high-output engine features the largest factory supercharger on any production car: 2.7 liters, or about the displacement of a smaller BMW engine. Consider that for a moment: The blower on this thing is bigger than the engine in your car (most likely).
Said supercharger has increased boost pressure (14.5 psi) and a higher rpm limit of 6,500 rpm.
The Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye features a Brembo system with two-piece, 15.4-inch front rotors and six-piston front calipers. The combination is meant for better heat management, thermal capacity, and longevity. The new Challenger also employs an electronic power steering system that can be custom-configured via the SRT Performance Pages. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Binge Drinking
The Redeye is so thirsty it has two dual-stage fuel pumps versus the normal single pump found on lesser models. How thirsty? This thirsty: At full throttle, the high-output Hemi ingests and consumes 1.43 gallons of fuel per minute. That’s enough to completely drain the tank in just under 11 minutes – or a burn rate slightly better than a Saturn V moon rocket.
Somehow though, the Redeye still gets 22 miles per gallon in “normal” highway conditions. So dig that: It is both way faster and more powerful than a 1969 Hemi ‘Cuda (for instance) yet gets about double the fuel mileage.
You will note the new dual-snorkel hood. This new bonnet is one of three sources of intake air along with the driver’s-side Air Catcher headlamp Inlet near the wheel liner to feed the new, larger air induction box.
The SRT Power Chiller diverts the air-conditioning refrigerant from the interior cabin to a special unit mounted by the low-temperature circuit coolant pump. Charge air coolant, after being cooled by ambient air passing through a low-temperature radiator at the front of the vehicle, flows through the chiller unit, where it is further cooled. The chilled coolant then flows to the heat exchangers in the supercharger. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Hard Candy
Other goodies borrowed from the SRT Demon include Torque Reserve to deliver up to 3.9 psi of boost at launch and up to 55 percent more engine torque. Torque Reserve is active once the engine speed passes 950 rpm, and closes the bypass valve to “pre-fill” the intake with boost while better managing fuel flow and spark timing. Also along for that very short drag-strip ride are high-strength steel prop shafts for a 15 percent increase in torque capacity, and 41-spline half shafts to boost torque capacity another 20 percent.
And if you want to get all old school with this . . . this . . . beast? Ogre? Animal? Whatever, dig: The 2019 SRT Hellcat Redeye offers your choice of two final drive ratios, the standard 2.62:1 or the available 3.09:1 for “enhanced” launch capability. Trust me, you want the 3.09 gears.
All of this adds up to the 2019 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye being one of the most powerful muscle cars in history: 1/4-mile E.T. of 10.8 seconds at 131 mph and a top speed of 203 mph. You got the timing slips to beat that? Bring ’em!
Manufacturing & Availability
Production begins this fall at the Brampton, Ontario Assembly Plant, with the Challengers arriving at dealerships in the fourth quarter.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. His forthcoming new book The Future In Front of Me, The Past Behind Me will be available soon. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
Challenger SRT Models
1/4-mile elapsed time/speed
Top Speed
Redeye Widebody
10.8 seconds @ 131 mph
203 mph
Hellcat Widebody
10.9 seconds @ 127 mph
195 mph
Redeye
11.1 seconds @ 131 mph
203 mph
Hellcat
11.2 seconds @ 125 mph
199 mph

2019 Dodge Challenger Gallery

Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.

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BREAKING: The all-new eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom raises the bar for pure automotive opulence

BREAKING: The all-new eighth-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom raises the bar for pure automotive opulence One of the world’s leading icons in automotive opulence transitions into its next-generation. Where’s the Grey Poupon?

What’s going on?
The Rolls-Royce Phantom VII has been with us since 2003, bearing a backbone based on the BMW 7-Series and enough sheetmetal to build a new city. That means today, in 2017, it’s sustained its current guise for 14 years, a very long time for any automotive life cycle.
But no need to despair! Rolls-Royce just introduced an all new, next-generation Phantom VII.
Built to fulfill Sir Henry Royce’s original quest to build “The Best Car in the World,” with the Rolls-Royce Phantom in 1925, this latest version fully embodies this philosophy. It once again raises its own bar of setting the benchmark for pure, unadulterated, automotive luxury.
Fancy. What’s cool about it?
Given Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ corporate pairing with BMW AG, this latest Phantom starts life as a BMW 7-Series platform, like the outgoing one. However, engineers designed the chassis to a new philosophy, the “Architecture of Luxury.” This basically translates into the Phantom’s use of a revised all-aluminum space frame body. This means it ditches the classic “monocoque” design. It’s lighter, but also 30 percent stiffer.
Combined with Rolls-Royce’s new “Magic Carpet Ride” adaptive air suspension, the new Phantom sounds it’s set to become the world’s most comfortable car as well.
What powers it?
In keeping with tradition, the Phantom gets a six-and-three-quarter (6.75L) engine. But that’s all that’s traditional as it’s BMW-based 6.75L V12 with two turbochargers to produce 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque as early as 1,700 rpm. Channeling that power to the wheels is a new ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic.
As with luxury these days, technology complements
As with any other car expected to cost as much as a really nice house, there’s plenty of tech to accompany. Using BMW’s parts bins, the Phantom comes with many passive and active safety systems such as Night Vision, radar-guided cruise control, pedestrian detection, lane departure assist and warning, and more. That’s on top of being the world’s most expensive moving WiFi hotspot and home theater.
How much will it cost?
Do we really have to answer this question for you? The official starting price wasn’t announced. But c’mon, it’s a Rolls. It’ll certainly cost more than a ham sandwich. Way more.
– By: Chris Chin
The all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom Photo Gallery

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Letter From The UK: Selling Out

Letter From The UK: Selling Out

Recently, European Union antitrust authorities approved the proposed acquisition of GM’s Opel/Vauxhall automotive business by the PSA Group, which manufactures Citroen, DS, and Peugeot models. This merger applies to the Vauxhall manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom that produce two of the top ten most popular vehicles currently on sale in Britain – the Astra and Corsa.
It doesn’t bode well.
This deal, first announced a few months ago, will position PSA Group as the second-largest automotive company in Europe and will serve as the basis of the Group’s profitable growth worldwide, we are told. It is expected to be formalized later this year.
Proud Achievement?
Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA is quoted as saying:“We are proud to join forces with Opel/Vauxhall and are deeply committed to continuing to develop this great company and accelerating its turnaround. We respect all that Opel/Vauxhall’s talented people have achieved as well as the company’s fine brands and strong heritage. We intend to manage PSA and Opel/Vauxhall capitalizing on their respective brand identities. Having already created together winning products for the European market, we know that Opel/Vauxhall is the right partner. We see this as a natural extension of our relationship and are eager to take it to the next level.”
On the face of it, that all sounds fine and dandy but, as seems likely, when the deal is completely finalized, the UK should rightly be concerned the next word out of Tavares’ mouth will be “rationalization.”
The transaction will allow, they say, substantial economies of scale and synergies in purchasing, manufacturing, and R&D. Annual synergies of €1.7Bn are expected by 2026, of which a significant part is expected to be delivered by 2020. These huge savings will have to come from somewhere. This is the part where I mention Brexit.
According to a recent press release, PSA Group delivered 1,580,000 units during the first half of 2017. Sales increased in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Eurasia, and the India-Pacific regions. Market share gains transpired for all new models, including the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUV and Citroen C3 in Europe. Photo: PSA Group.
High Costs
Overshadowing this huge financial deal is the specter of you-know-what. Right now the discussions over the UK’s departure from the EU look pretty sketchy. The British car industry should rightly be concerned. Inevitably, new vehicles from this conglomeration will progressively convert to PSA platforms over the coming years, and that could well sound the death knell for Vauxhall manufacturing plants.
John Colley, Professor of Practice at Warwick (UK) Business School and noted expert on mega-mergers, has been quoted as saying: “Carlos Tavares, Chief Executive of Peugeot Citroen (PSA), has little choice but to close the UK Vauxhall plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton to make the Opel (German brand) acquisition work. The cost of closing the high-cost German plants will be at least triple that of the UK plants. Not only will they (PSA) have to placate the powerful German unions who have a right of deal veto, but redundancy costs are around three times the level of the UK.”
Astra Sports Tourer production at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port facility. Photo: Vauxhall.

No Compromise
Given that governments come and go, any promises made by the British Administration are unlikely to be taken too seriously. Also, with wearying familiarity, the bullish leader of the Unite Trade Union in the UK has already said it “will not accept any job losses” if the sale goes ahead, urging the UK government to think again on its policy towards the European single market as the uncertainty is now clearly impacting on the future of flagship UK companies, such as Vauxhall. That will do until the real mess gets here.
As far as Great Britain is concerned, the whole shooting match is chaos and no doubt will remain so until the real mess arrives further down the line. Although the UK government is committed to Brexit on the basis that in a national referendum, a majority of the public demanded we get out of the EU, their hearts are plainly not in it. And it is possible to catch a whiff of the hot, fetid breath of failure; in short, it is not going well.
At a time like this, the last thing British industry needs is more uncertainty. The EU is taking a hard line that is likely to be followed by the PSA Group. In the longer term, the future of our Vauxhall car manufacturing does not look good.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Cover Photo: Vauxhall.

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