RideLust

Recently, I attended the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. Held every May, this show features a vast array of meticulously maintained classic British, European and Japanese cars, exemplary examples of their more modern kin, as well as a beautiful collection of kit cars.  As far as sheer variety in makes, models and years, hands down, this show can’t be beat.

This has become something of an annual treat for me as I can think of few better ways to spend a weekend than by gazing at a gleaming sea of jaw-droppingly stunning automobiles, many of which I guarantee you won’t find at other shows. Plus, participation is open to anyone with an import or a kit car – all you have to do is register, make your car pretty and show up. It’s a great opportunity to display your cherished ride and meet other aficionados of your favorite marques.

I used to come down to show my Saab and hang out with the Saab contingent that makes it out every year. But even though I have a Subaru now, it’s just so much fun that I continue to make the trip to Carlisle (my WRX was parked over by the lone DeLorean, if you happened to be there). Volvo, BMW and Audi clubs also traditionally have a large showing so the weekend is packed with the cars you love, cars you haven’t seen before, your friends from the forums, barbeques – it’s a good time for everyone.  So, if you’re not too far out from Pennsylvania, I definitely recommend heading out there next May to check out the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals. To tide you over, provided for your viewing pleasure are some of my favorite cars of the weekend. Enjoy!

 

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The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture aimed at developing hybrid drive technologies. The company, to be called BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification, will develop and build components for hybrid systems, including battery packs, generators, chargers, controllers and software. By sharing R&D, purchasing and production, the partner companies feel that they’ll be able to develop and build hybrid vehicles more economically than their competitors. Read More…

2010 was a good year. The venerable Lancia Stratos came back from the grave. Jaguar built a car with two jet engines in it. The Mustang shaved its mullet and proved itself as a more-than-capable sports tourer. Chevy’s long-awaited Volt turned out to be pretty good. And Cadillac made the most bitchin’ station wagon ever. But my favorite cars this year didn’t make the glossy magazines. They won’t end up in posters plastered to 15-year-olds’ walls. They won’t be featured in Forza or GT5. They are, however, spectacular in every way imaginable. Here they are, in no particular order.

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For those of you who have never watch the webisodes of Fast Lane Daily let me just say that you’re missing out. The purpose of FLD is simple, bring the viewers a little insight as to what is going on inside the automotive world in short 8-10 minute bursts. Basically it’s the same thing we do here, except they’re in video format and we sit here and type all day for you guys. Fast Lane Daily is hosted by Derek DeAngelis and truth be told the lad does a pretty good job. For their 1000 episode the boys at FLD sent Derek on a dream trip to the famed Nurburgring. The catch… do the entire trip on $1000, something that thankfully he was able to pull off. So, to the members and cast of Fast Lane Daily – thanks for the 1000 episodes that have helped so many of us get through our day.

Source: FastLandDaily

Citroën is moving into China in a big way. A really big way. The fabulous French automaker is building the long and low super luxo barge Metropolis concept for the ever economically expanding nation. It’s fitting, because the Metropolis was designed by the new Citroën Shanghai design team. The car will be called the C9 and will be powered by a gasoline-hybrid drive train—expect a smooth V6 mated to a torquey electric motor and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

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Taking the top titles at Sunday’s U.S. RallyCross were a Saab and a Ford station wagon.  No, your eyes do not deceive you!

(Photo courtesy of RallyAmerica)

19 year old Finnish driver, Toomas “Topi” Heikkinen, took the honors in the AWD A Main race at the last U.S. RallyCross championship event of the year in Millville, NJ.  Heikkinen piloted an Eklund Motorsport-sponsored 600 hp 2010 Saab 9-3 Aero Sport Sedan to victory over the increasingly European competition, which included the 2009 and 2010 FIA European Rallycross champion, Sverre Isachsen of Norway.

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Fabulous French automaker Citroën recently revealed its new saucy little five door, the DS4. The little hot hauler will make its real-world debut at the Paris Auto Show in a few weeks. Citroën hopes to revive its quirky-chic image with the DS3 and DS4, recalling the iconic and ultra-super-spectacular DS cars of yon. It’s a strange marketing ploy considering the company’s current C6 is more the descendent of the Goddess (DS sounds like déesse, which means “goddess” in French).

DS4 shoppers will have two diesel mills and three gas engines to choose from. The top DS4 will rock a 200-horsepower inline four. All engines will be available with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

As I sat on my couch the other day filling my head with boob-tube nourishment I came upon a channel that was showcasing rally cars of the past, specifically the Group-B rally cars that were produced from 1982-1986. These cars were some of the fastest and most powerful rally cars ever created and because of this (and a few deaths) there were outlawed after only four years. Formed in 1982 Group-B cars had very few restrictions placed on them and were in a sense, a designers wet dream. They could be as light and as fast as you could make them and with no restriction on horsepower levels these cars would push the boundaries of both man and machine. Below is a video showcase of what most consider to be the top 10 Group-B rally cars ever produced.

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The most significant automotive news of this century seems to have slipped under the radar. A ratty, busted-to-hell Citroën completed the 24 Hours of LeMons this weekend. Complex hydraulic system and all. As the venerable Murilee Martin said, “It is impossible to overstate the magnitude of this achievement.”

Team Air Prance Schitroën essentially dug the ’72 ID out of the trash. It had been sitting for 20 years and wasn’t running until the Friday before the race. They literally revived it hours before they hit the track. And it finished without exploding into a cloud of unobtainable French parts or spraying the track with Citroën hydraulic fluid. The feat is on par with firing up the Large Hadron Collider. Somebody should make this day a holiday.

Most manufacturers were too busy greenwashing their lineups this year to come up with something truly astonishing for Geneva. But the French, ah the French, remembered that car shows—and especially Geneva—are all about insanely gorgeous and futuristic concept cars. Gaze in wonder at the Citroën Survolt, the ultimate show car at Geneva 2010. What powers this magnificent creation? How fast is it? What’s its ‘ring time? Citroën scoffs at your petty questions! Ce n’est pas important! The Survolt is pure beauty and futurism. That is all.