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!

Lancia Scorpion

Matte black Volvo V70R

Opel GT and Opel Kadett Coupe

Volvo P1800S

Saab 9-3 Viggens

Ferrari 360 Modena and 328GTS

Citroën 2CV and Smart Roadster Coupe

Gorgeous Audi Quattro

Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

Twin-charged Audi A1

Volvo S60Rs

Saab 99 Turbo

Badass Volvos: PV544 and 142

DKW Junior de Luxe - DKW/Dampf-Kraft-Wagen became one of the four companies that comprised the "Audi NSU Auto Union AG" (now known as Audi AG).

Triumph TR8 and TR6s

Saab 96 V4 convertible - must have been a custom job.

Bimmer Beauties

Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition

Citroën H Van and DS

Audi A7

Honda Z600 / 600 Coupe

Saab Sonetts

Datsun SPL311 Roadster

Opel GT

Most of us are still struggling with the smoking remnants of a once-healthy economy, but the affluent really are different than you and I. Demand for German luxury cars from Mercedes Benz and BMW has forced the automakers to abandon a long sacred holiday tradition: assembly line workers have historically been given the week between Christmas and New Years as a paid vacation. Now, increased demand for luxury cars is forcing Daimler and BMW to stay open during this holiday week at select manufacturing facilities. Autoevolution quotes BMW’s Michael Rebstock as saying, “We are producing as much as we can and are happy for every additional shift we can get.”

So happy, in fact, that line workers will be paid overtime for working during the traditional holiday break. That’s quite a change from last year, when over-supply and decreased demand forced several manufacturers to shutter plants for up to three weeks during the holiday season. Other German manufacturers, such as Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche have not yet announced changes to their holiday schedule, despite increased sales. If you can’t enjoy additional time with the family at Christmas, maybe job security and a little extra money isn’t a bad consolation prize.

I suppose if you throw enough money and development at something you can make anything go fast and look good. Take this Fiat 500 Abarth for example. In stock form the U.S. version is said to have about 170 hp, a figure that seems pretty good in a car that’s no bigger than a roller skate. You’d figure with that much power in such a pint-sized package most people would be feeling pretty good about it. However the tuners at Hamman and H&R are not most people, so they decided to have a crack at getting a few more ponies out of Fiats little play toy.

By utilizing new camshafts, forged pistons, new connecting rods and an enhanced turbocharger, these guys have managed to wring out a whopping 275 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque from the Abarth’s 1.4-liter mill. They’ve also incorporated a racing clutch and limited-slip differential to help quell the torque steer, as all that power is sent to the front wheels. Larger brakes, up to 305 mm in diameter, can also be optioned onto the car if so desired.

On the outside a new body kit utilizes wider wheel arches, side skirts and aggressive front and rear fascia’s with integrated quad-style exhaust outlets. 18-inch wheels running your choice of a 215/35/18 or 225/35/18 tires are also available. All in all I think that the little Fiat is a pretty aggressive little beastie sans the gaudy two-tone paint job. The big question though is, will we be able to get this kit on U.S. shores…

Source: Carscoop.blogspot.com

There are a lot of things I associate with Belgium. Good chocolate is one of them, followed by good beer, even if the fruit-enhanced lambic desert beers are an acquired taste. One thing I never associated with Belgium, until Motor Authority enlightened me, was the design and construction of supercars. Did you know that Gillet, a Belgian firm started by former racer Tony Gillet, has been cranking out street legal race cars since 1994? I didn’t either, since I’ve never seen one up close and personal, or even in photos.

Pictured here is Gillet’s latest creation, the Vertigo.5 Spirit, which goes on sale in the EU by the end of the year. The Spirit gets a 4.2 liter Maserati-sourced V8, good for some 420 horsepower. Since one of the key selling points of the Vertigo is extremely low weight (under 2,200 pounds, or less than the current Mazda MX-5 Miata), acceleration is brisk. Think zero to sixty times right around three seconds, and you get an idea of just how quick the Spirit is expected to be.

Gillet puts a lot of effort into refining the car’s aerodynamics, and claims near 20 years worth of on-track development. The body may be aerodynamic, but the styling is best described as quirky. The rear, for example, looks like the bastard offspring of a last generation Toyota Supra and a Pontiac Solstice. The concave rocker panels are just plain weird, as are the portholes atop the front fenders and doors. Maybe they’re functional and maybe they’re meant to evoke the ghost of race cars past, but they’re just plain ugly and out of place on a modern supercar. Don’t even get me started on the wing, which is undoubtedly functional but looks like an afterthought tacked on by the builder’s sixteen year old son.

I’ve grown to like lambic, especially with some good Belgian dark chocolate. Maybe there’s hope for me to embrace the Gillet Vertigo.5 Spirit after all.

If 4 Wheels News and Autocar are both correct, there’s good news regarding the production of VW’s Miata-fighting BlueSport roadster. Development is progressing on schedule, and the production version is set to be introduced at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September of 2013. As it stands right now, there will be at least two motor options for the mid-engined roadster, including a turbodiesel and a 1.6 liter gasoline motor good for an estimated 220 horsepower. Even the turbodiesel is said to be good for zero to sixty times well below seven seconds, while delivering exceptional fuel economy. The gasoline motored version should be even faster, at the expense of fuel mileage, and both versions are expected to be offered with either a six speed manual gearbox or a seven speed, dual clutch DSG gearbox.

The VW BlueSport will share the same platform, dubbed MMB, with both Porsche and Audi, who are working on their own mid-engined roadsters. For Porsche, the MMB platform will give them an entry level car, slated to come in below the Boxster. For Audi, the MMB platform will be used to develop the Audi R4 Roadster, which will probably hit their product line below the current TT. The MMB platform is scalable, which means ti can be used to create cars with different widths and (presumably) different wheelbases. All I know is that VW had me with “affordable mid-engined roadster”.

The Ford Transit van has a fervent fan base in the UK. It’s the best-selling on the isles and has been for more than 45 years. Chances are if you ever purchased goods in the Queen’s country, they’ve been in a Ford Transit. To celebrate its unsurpassed success, Ford UK is releasing a racy version of cargo hauler: The Transit SportVan. It is positively smashing. The SportVan is based on the short-wheelbase Transit and comes with a 140-horsepower turbo-diesel, 18-inch wheels, dual exhaust, and racing stripes. Well I never! Only 100 examples will be made and they’re probably sold out already. Unfortunately, you won’t ever see the rude van in the states. But you just might catch a glimpse of it while you’re on vacation, tearing down cobblestone streets with reckless disregard for its cargo.

Are you a rabid Michael Schumacher fan and do you think that he is the two-legged version of a Formula 1 car? If you are, then boy have I got a car for you! Up for sale on Jameslist.com is the 1994 Benetton-Ford F1 B194-8, the very same car that Schumacher won his first world championship in Adelaide, Australia. The car features a 3.5-liter Ford-Cossworth ZETEC R air valve V8, paddle shift gearbox, traction control and shift-without-lift technology. Back in 1994 at the wee-age of 25 and with this car, Schumacher began his reign as a seven-time World Champion.

The car is currently located in Frankfurt, Germany and is in the same condition as Schumacher drove it in 16 years ago. He is considered by some to be the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time and is best known for his 11 year history with Ferrari.

There are a number of Cars and Coffee-type meets that take place throughout the country (Kurt recently covered a Cars and Coffee meet in Jacksonville), and the DC-area one certainly does the concept justice.

One recent Saturday morning, I caravaned down with my buddy Paul (he was driving his monster Grand Cherokee SRT-8) and a pack of Vipers and Corvettes.  It was still dark when we left for the event, but by the time we arrived, the sun was gleaming like a halo on a heavenly field of precious metal.

There was a stunning array of Ferraris, Lambos (two Countachs and a Murcielago), Bimmers, Porsches, Corvettes, Alfas, Mercedes, Minis, Lotuses, Triumphs, Scouts, Maseratis, Jags, and even a Kaiser Darrin.  The cars also varied widely by model year.  Keep in mind that these are vehicles owned by the locals and driven there – these aren’t all investments that spend their days appreciating in a hermetically sealed garage.   Below are a few examples from that Saturday.

Dodge Vipers and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 from the morning’s caravan.

A rare gem – 1954 Kaiser Darrin (only 435 were built)

CLK63 AMG Black Series Mercedes

M&Ms – E24 M6 (!) and E30 M3

1965 or 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350

Mini Cooper and BMW 2002

Another uncommon sight – a BMW Z8, with Dodge Charger R/T in the background.

A gorgeous Jaguar E-type V12

Vettes – Stingray and Z51

I suggest that if you’re visiting to scope out the cars and you’re not driving anything that fits the bill, park around back and allow the eye candy to take the limited number of spots out front.  Then grab yourself a cup of hot coffee, take out your camera, and get to work salivating.  I can’t think of a better way to start the weekend.

Cars and Coffee is located at Katie’s Coffee House (760 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA, 22066) and takes place every Saturday from April through October between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

Welcome to the world of international business: currencies change value on a daily basis, but you can’t re-price your products according. If your native currency decreases in value, this is generally a good thing since you’ll increase profit without doing a thing. Who doesn’t like money for nothing? On the other hand, if your native currency gets stronger, you can begin to lose money in foreign markets, and that’s exactly what Toyota is up against with the Corolla.

When GM pulled out of NUMMI, their joint venture with Toyota in California, Toyota couldn’t afford to operate the plant at a profit. Instead, they farmed Corolla production out to Japan, as their other North American plant cranking out Corollas (in Ontario, Canada) couldn’t supply enough product to meet demand. When the yen was weaker against the dollar, this was a good plan; now that the yen is strong and the dollar weak, it’s not such a good plan. Given that the yen is at a 15 year high against the dollar, Toyota is losing serious money on their imported Corollas.

Long term, Toyota will produce Corollas (and other vehicles) in their new Mississippi plant, but Left Lane News tells us that’s about a year away from starting up. Their only profitable short term alternative is to ramp up production at the Ontario plant even further; otherwise, you can expect to see a shortage of Corollas on dealer lots. No one’s in business to lose money, and Toyota has lost plenty over the past 12 months.

Thumbs Up: A comfortable and affordable midsize sedan, refreshed for 2010

Thumbs Down: Option packages quickly drive up the price

Buy This Car If: You want a little more fun out of your daily ride

A lot of midsize sedan buyers simply want a car that will get them from point A to point B with as little fuss as possible, which explains the popularity of the Toyota Camry. At the other end of the spectrum are hardcore enthusiasts, who don’t care a bit about ride comfort, only acceleration, braking and grip; enter the Subaru WRX STI. In between lies a significant population of buyers, who want a bit more sport than a Camry, but more creature comfort than the WRX STI; smack dab in the middle of that segment sits the 2010 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR.

Freshened up for the 2010 model year, the new Altima sports a revised front fascia, which ties the car to the performance flagship 370Z. That’s not to say that the Altima is a four door Z, because that’s simply not the case; instead, you can see the family lines in the nose, fenders and headlights. From any angle, the Nissan Altima is a pleasantly styled car, it’s just not drop dead gorgeous. In a way, that will help the long term appeal of the car’s styling refresh. Buyers may not be drooling over them in Nissan showrooms, but clean lines age well; in ten years, the 2010 Nissan Altima won’t look dated (aside from the Altezza style taillights, which are already dated). Even the “sporty” touches, such as the rear spoiler, fog lights and 17” wheels are conservatively styled, and nothing about the car screams “boy racer”. Nissan sells a lot of Altimas, in both the four cylinder and six cylinder versions, and the car’s conservative good looks go a long way to help move inventory.

Inside, Nissan’s kept things conservative as well, but that’s a good thing. Too many cars try to sell themselves as something they’re not, and I give credit to Nissan for not going down the “faux sport” or “faux luxury” path with the Altima’s interior. The Altima doesn’t need sport seats, so Nissan included wide, comfortable seats (leather in my tester) without a lot of bolstering. The Altima isn’t a luxury car, so you won’t find a lot of aluminum colored plastic or fake leather inside the car, either. I’m not crazy about the fake woodgrain door switch trim, but at least there isn’t acres of it across the dash. Speaking of the dash, I like the nod to the heritage of the Nissan Z with the instrument surround and the three cabin vents. Most people won’t notice, but I thought the styling cue linking back to the Z was pretty cool. I also appreciated the foolproof climate controls and the quality of the Bose audio, which is available as part of the Premium Package. As you’d expect, the steering wheel is leather wrapped (as is the gearshift) and has controls for audio, cruise control and Bluetooth phone integration.

Instruments are clear and easy to read, and the cluster is dominated by a large, centrally mounted speedometer with a vehicle information display. To the left is a tachometer and to the right is a combination fuel gauge, temperature gauge, odometer and gear display. The 2010 Altima sedans only come with the CVT transmission, but at least it includes a feature to manually select a simulated gear. I’m not fan of CVTs, but Nissan builds the best I’ve driven. It still wouldn’t be my first choice, but I wouldn’t cross Nissan off a shopping list just because of the CVT.

As previously mentioned, the front seats were roomy and comfortable enough for day-long stints behind the wheel. They lacked noticeable hip and side bolstering, but this really isn’t an issue since I doubt many Altima sedans will see track day or autocross duty. If you opt for the Premium Package the leather front seats are also heated, enhancing front seat passenger comfort when the mercury drops.

Some people have panned the Altima for a lack of backseat room, but I didn’t find that to be an issue. The seat is somewhat narrow, so I doubt two adults would want to travel coast to coast in the back of an Altima, but it’s more than comfortable enough for daily use. One strange thing is the lack of adjustable rear headrests: those in the Altima are fixed position, which isn’t good for rear visibility or for taller passengers. If you own a dog, there’s no way to put a rear seat sling in the Altima, unless you can rig something up with the child seat anchors.

Trunk space is ample, but the Bose audio system’s amps and speakers intrude on overall trunk room. This is no big deal for carrying luggage or groceries, but you need to pay attention if you’re loading tall cargo in the the trunk so you don’t damage the audio components or wiring. The rear seats split and fold in 60/40 fashion, so the Altima swallows up oversized cargo without any drama.

On the road, the 270 horsepower, 3.5 liter V6 gives the Altima plenty of acceleration. It’s not a sports car, but it is capable of a seven second run from zero to sixty, even with the CVT. Shifting the transmission manually doesn’t produce better results, but it does eliminate the “slipping transmission” feel of the continuously variable transmission. Handling is surprising, with good steering feedback and only moderate understeer when pushed hard. You’ll get to the tire’s limits (and the seats limits) long before you’ll get to the limit of the chassis or the motor. The EPA rates the 3.5 liter Altima at 27 mpg highway and 20 mpg city, and my 21.8 mpg average in mostly city driving supports those numbers.

My 2010 Altima 3.5 SR had a base price of $25,240, including destination charge. Options on my tester were the $175 Floor and Trunk Mat Set, the $2,380 Premium Package (Leather Seats & Shift Knob, Power Adjustable Driver’s Seat With Lumbar Support, Heated Front Seats, Bluetooth Phone Integration, Bose Audio System, XM Satellite Radio, USB Port, iPod Integration, Rearview Monitor, Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror With Compass, Homelink Transceiver, Rear A/C Vents) and the $2,370 Sport Package (Rear Spoiler, Fog Lights, HID Headlights, Dual Zone Climate Control, Power Moonroof). Total sticker price came to $30,165, which puts it on par with other midsize sedan competitors loaded up with content. A comparable Honda Accord V6 would run $29,855, a comparable Toyota Camry would cost $30,235 and a comparable Ford Fusion would sticker out at $30,625.

Is the Altima worth it? In terms of build quality, comfort and performance, the answer is yes. Nissan’s option packages quickly inflate the price of the car, and you could drop thousands of dollars off the price if you were willing to sacrifice the Sport Package. At a sticker price above $30,000, I’m not sure the Altima does it for me; shave a couple thousand dollars off that price, and it’s a whole different animal. If you need a midsize sedan that’s not too big, not too small, not too bland but not too sporty, give the Altima 3.5 SR a look. You may find that it’s just right for your needs.