Well, it’s official. Virgin Galactic has opened the worlds first spaceport in New Mexico. The $200m state funded project was agreed upon back in 2005 and covers a 27 sq. mile parcel of land known as “The Land of Enchantment”. This is pretty big news when you get right down to it, because billionaire businessman Richard Branson is now the first man to actually privatize space travel. Tickets are selling for a mere $200,000 a seat, and while that won’t get you to the moon, that will get you about 60 miles straight up where you’ll be able to float around weightless for a few minutes. Now while $200,000 may seem like a bunch of moola’ for most people, rest assured that there are plenty of people that will see this as a bargain and take full advantage of being one of the first private citizens in space.

The above video is nothing more than a dedication ceremony and comes off a little fruity in my opinion, but regardless, the idea of being able to buy a ticket and shoot for the stars is simply amazing.

The 2012 Honda Ridgeline Sport. Image: Honda

In a recent statement to the automotive press, Honda seems to be channeling Mark Twain. In regards to the Ridgeline pickup, Honda’s release essentially translates to “rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated.” In fact, Honda wants the world to know that the Ridgeline will soldier on well beyond the current 2012 refresh.

For the coming year, a Ridgeline Sport joins the product line, and the Ridgeline gets a boost in fuel economy. That’s a good thing, since the current Ridgeline’s 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway aren’t exactly “class leading.” In fact, Honda has struggled to move Ridgeline pickups in 2011, selling just 6,476 units year-to-date through September. To put that in perspective, Ford sold 7,154 Ranger pickups in September alone (and 49,788 YTD), and the current Ranger model really hasn’t been updated since 1998.

It may be the demise of the Ford Ranger, which goes away at the end of this year, that has Honda planning for the Ridgeline’s future. In the compact to mid-size pickup truck segment, the Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger and Chevy S10 have all been put out to pasture, leaving the market to Toyota and Nissan. If Honda can make the Ridgeline a bit more competitive in terms of price and fuel economy, it can carve out a decent enough niche to make a business case for the Ridgeline.

I’d call that good news, since I’ve always been a fan of the Ridgeline. It may not be as off-road capable as other compact pickups, but it’s probably the best choice for a daily driver that doubles as a truck on weekends. If you’re in the market, don’t pass the Ridgeline by without taking a test drive.

Brent Hajek and his F-250 at Bonneville. Image: Ford Motor Company

Would you drive a Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab at 182 miles per hour, even at the Bonneville Salt Flats? My answer to that question, without much consideration, would be a resounding “no.” Ask Brent Hajek, a farmer from Oklahoma and owner of Hajek Motorsports, the same question and you’re likely to be met with an enthusiastic “hell yes!”

Hajek just set two land speed records in a slightly modified 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup equipped with the new 6.7-liter PowerStroke diesel engine. On pump diesel, the truck ran a top speed of 171.123 miles per hour. Running B20 biodiesel, the truck clocked a top speed of 182 miles per hour, besting the old biodiesel record by over 52 miles per hour.

You’d think that Hajek’s truck looks nothing like a stock F-250, but you’d be wrong. The truck is lowered and sports purpose-built tires on fully-covered wheels, but the drivetrain is remarkably close to stock. The truck has a higher flow high-pressure fuel pump, new fuel injectors, larger turbos and a higher compression ratio than stock, but none of the truck’s bottom-end components were altered for the record attempt.

Hajek Motorsports is no stranger to record speed run attempts. In 2009, the team ran an E85 fueled Ford Mustang to a record-breaking speed of 255.764 at Bonneville. In 2010, the team tried to set a closed-course speed record with the same Mustang at Talledega Super Speedway, but a crash took the car out of contention. Prior to the crash, the Mustang had set an E85 record of 170 mph.

Source: Ford

Image: 1poppystudios

Flyin’ MIata has been the go-to site for the Miata enthusiast looking for more power or better handling since the early 1990s. What started as a European specialty repair shop in New Jersey evolved into a Miata specific parts and tuning operation based out of Palisade, Colorado. Want better handling from your first, second or third generation Miata? The staff at FM can hook you up with everything from components through suspension kits. Want to go faster? They’ll sell you fully sorted and developed turbo or blower kits. Want to go a lot faster? They’ll even build you a second generation Miata with an Chevy LS3 V-8 stuffed under the hood.

Now, when you buy a FMII Turbo Kit, or place any other order with FM for $5,000 or more, the company will donate a goat to a needy family via Heifer International. Goats are the ideal animals for families in developing countries, since they provide up to seven quarts of milk per day and yield an endless amount of fertilizer. They can survive by eating almost anything, and reproduce with alarming regularity, which means one goat can be turned into a herd of goats in short order.

I’ll admit that this isn’t your typical “buy a turbo, get a free company t-shirt” promotion, but how often would you wear a logo t-shirt, anyway? If you’re going to drop coin on making your Miata go faster, you also get the chance to do something noble for a family in need. If that’s not a good return on your investment, I don’t know what is.

Source: Autoblog

You may know Sabine Schmitz as the Wonder Woman of the Nurburgring, or as some folks like to refer to her, The Hottest Woman On The Planet. Sabine is best known for her skills piloting the Ring Taxi around the Nurburgrings many corners, but when not giving people paid tours around the Ring, she’s out test driving the worlds latest and greatest super cars. For example here we see Sabine taking CAR magazine’s Juliet McGuire for a little run in a BMW M3 Frozen Edition. Ms. Juliet is right on the edge of her seat for the entire ride and truth be told, Sabine looks as though she is totally enjoying making her passenger freak out. All I know is that Juliet McGuire is loving being in the passenger seat of that BMW, and I have a feeling that after that ride she’ll be satisfied in more ways than one.

Source: Carmag.co.za

Ducati’s uber expensive and exclusive Desmosedici RR is basically a GP bike for the open road. It’s light, fast and for all intensive purposes a masterpiece of engineering. With almost 200 hp and a top speed of 190 mph the Desmosedici RR is a two wheeled force to be reckoned with. There are those however who look at machines of this caliber and simply think that they can be better and thus, take a shot at it, NCR is one such company. There goal in the motorcycling world is simple:

“To prove itself to the motorcycling market as a designer and manufacturer of very exclusive motorcycles that use the highest available technology and leading design to a knowledgeable and demanding customer”.

Behold the new NCR Millona 16, a machine that to put it lightly, is one of the lightest, fastest and most amazing road going motorcycles ever built. The NCR Millona 16 now makes over 200 hp at the rear wheel and utilizes carbon fiber bodywork, titanium engine components and at the end of the day achieves an amazing weight of only 319 lbs which according to the NCR website, “is lighter than the imposed minimum weight of a MotoGP motorcycle!”

The NCR Millona 16 is one of those rare machines that makes us remember why we ride motorcycles. Sure it’s out of reach for most of us but the fact that it simply exists keeps us all fired up about the hobby. Hmm… it may be time to hit the open road again.

Here is something that should get the Subaru loyal out there jumping up and down. MarketWatch.com just noted that the prototype for the new 2011 Subaru WRX STI just lapped the Nurburgring in a scant time of 7:55. Ladies and gentleman, that is bookin’. The video here is very impressive and it proves that Subaru has the ability to produce a world class sports car. The problem however is that this car is a prototype and apparently had a few major upgrades over the soon-to-be released production model such as some lightweight aluminum parts as well as a larger turbocharger that is normally found on the Japanese R205 Subaru. I’m not taking anything away from Subaru for this, but just understand that this is not a stock car, but a modified Subaru being driven by one of the best drivers on earth, four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen. The previous record for a Subaru was set back in 2004 with another Subaru WRX STI at a time of 7:59.41.

Tommi Makinen stated: ‘the car was controllable, with precise and faithful handling, even on tricky corners. I could easily predict the car’s behavior. This is exactly what Subaru is offering: confidence.’

Subaru is definitely staying true to their philosophy of building drivers’ cars that provide driving confidence and excitement by utilizing a wonderful combination of engineering and all-wheel drive.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) have determined that laws banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving do not reduce crash rates (press release here). Rather than utilizing real world accident data, the HLDI researchers studied “reductions in observed phone use following bans” to determine what the anticipated reduction in accidents should be. Presumably, by their math, observing 30% fewer drivers on handheld cell phones should produce 30% fewer accidents.

What-the-everloving-f*ck? By this logic, if I look out my window and don’t see a serial killer, I can presume that serial killers don’t exist. Likewise, if I see 30% fewer cars on Sunday, I can state that the number of cars in my city has decreased by 30%.

Let’s examine the facts. Handheld cell phone bans are as widely ignored as the old 55 mile per hour speed limit was. I’ve lived in states that have enacted bans, and have never seen a reduction in the number of drivers on cell phones, regardless of the law. In terms of enforcement, unless there’s a local campaign to target cell phone driving, you’re about as likely to get a ticket for cell phone use as you are for jaywalking.

Studies from as far back as 2005 and 2006 have documented that use of cell phones is as dangerous as driving drunk. Other studies seem to indicate that even “hands free” devices don’t solve the problem; the human brain is simply not wired to multitask this way.

A 2009 test by Car and Driver (admittedly less than 100% scientific) showed even more dramatic results from texting and driving; one test subject had double the reaction time while texting than he did while driving under the influence.

I don’t know about you, but I get all the proof I need every time I get behind the wheel.

After overseeing General Motors through one of the darkest periods in company history and witnessing the posting of the most abysmal sales results in decades, North American sales chief Mark LaNeve has announced he will be resigning. Given the aggressive round of musical chairs that’s been played throughout the past year amongst GM’s top executives, the announcement does not come as a shock to those familiar with the trade. What we did find mildly surprising was LaNeve’s decision to leave GM in favor of a job outside of the automotive sector, indicating either an exasperation with or total loss of hope in the industry he’s devoted 28 years of his life to.

In a conference call with the press this morning, a contrite GM CEO Fritz Hendersen said of LaNeve’s decision, “It’s with very mixed emotions that confirm that Mark LaNeve has elected to leave General Motors on October 15 to pursue another opportunity with a non-automotive company. Mark has contributed significantly to GM in several key positions, including transforming the Cadillac brand and leading the vehicle sales, service and marketing organization during one of the most challenging periods in GM’s history.”

Continued Henderson, “I’d like to thank Mark for his dedication and wish him and his family well as he moves to a key position at another company. A replacement for Mark will be named at a later date. In the interim, Jim Bunnell, general manager, U.S. sales, and his team will continue to follow through with GM’s dealer network plans.”

Source: GM
Image Cred: Getty Images

It was only a matter of time before the huge performance potential of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe was tapped by an eager aftermarket. GReddy, the Irvine-based tuner, is releasing a bunch of Hyundai approved parts for the rear-drive sportscar, and they’ll debut on the “GReddy X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe” demonstration car at SEMA this year. The showcar, and most of the mods, focus on the 2.0L turbo model, and they’re aiming to extract 350 HP and 320 ft-lbs. of torque from the Stage 1 tune that’ll show up at the show. Later modifications should push the little coupe up beyond 500 HP. Press release and more details after the jump.

The SEMA kit will consist of a “GReddy Performance Products Turbo Upgrade Kit, large front-mounted intercooler kit, a SE Spectrum Elite cat-back exhaust system, MX racing downpipe, Type-S fully adjustable coil-over suspension and numerous other modifications. The vehicle will also feature GReddy six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers.” They’re also not going to shy away from appearance mods, although it’s not clear if all of them will be available from GReddy or were specially fabricated just for the showcar. In any event, the bottom line is that if GReddy feels confident they can extract a semi-reliable 500 HP from the 2.0 model, the Genesis Coupe is going to be a street monster. Hyundai’s really come a long way from the Tiburon, eh?

Press Release

GReddy to Debut Performance Parts for Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Genesis Coupe Customized by GReddy to be Featured at SEMA Show 2009
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ — To enhance the tunability of its most dynamic performance car ever, Hyundai has teamed up with GReddy Performance Parts to manufacture products for the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. These high-performance parts will be displayed on the “GReddy X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe” show car at SEMA 2009. The vehicle from GReddy is designed for the enthusiast looking to make modifications for daily driving or a weekend at the track. All of the GReddy parts designed for the Genesis Coupe are planned to be released as a production kit and available for enthusiasts everywhere. The vehicle will be on display at the Hyundai booth at the SEMA Show in the Las Vegas Convention Center from Nov. 3 – Nov. 6, 2009 (Booth # 24387).
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091001/HYUNDAILOGO)
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T will follow the GReddy Total Tune-Up theme that will not only increase the performance of the engine, but also improve handling and braking. The finished car will blend reliable street performance with a powerful driving experience. The initial performance targets of the GReddy-powered Genesis Coupe will be 350 horsepower and 320 ft/lbs of torque with a 0-60 time under six seconds. Following SEMA, GReddy plans to make additional engine modifications, pushing horsepower to nearly 500.
“The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a perfect car for the automotive enthusiast and the GReddy products are designed to maximize the performance capabilities of the vehicle,” said Kenji Sumino, general manager, GReddy Performance Parts. “The Genesis Coupe is the ideal car for SEMA and we are building upon the overall concepts originally designed by Hyundai engineers and are looking forward to developing a must-see car at this year’s SEMA Show.”
Mechanically, GReddy plans to include a GReddy Performance Products Turbo Upgrade Kit, large front-mounted intercooler kit, a SE Spectrum Elite cat-back exhaust system, MX racing downpipe, Type-S fully adjustable coil-over suspension and numerous other modifications. The vehicle will also feature GReddy six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers.
“The performance parts from GReddy allow enthusiasts to capitalize on the rear-wheel drive Genesis platform,” said Michael Deitz, manager, product development, Hyundai Motor America. “The modifications made by GReddy to the Genesis Coupe 2.0T will highlight the performance capabilities of the vehicle that can be achieved in a real-world setting.”
Styling modifications to the GReddy Genesis Coupe will include an Aero lip spoiler, carbon fiber hood, aggressive rear spoiler, Volk Racing G2 wheels and Toyo performance tires. The unique vehicle graphics will be designed and completed in collaboration with artists from Hyundai’s North American Design Center in Irvine, Calif. Inside, SEMA Show attendees will find Sparco racing seats, modified gauges, boost controller and a turbo timer as well as a remote switching system.
GREDDY PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
GReddy is a 100 percent direct subsidiary of Trust Co. Ltd. of Japan (“Trust Company”) and is in the wholesale business of providing automotive performance parts to retailers and installers serving the automotive enthusiast market. Based in Irvine, Calif., GReddy has been a recognized leader in this industry since opening its doors in 1994.
From the beginning, GReddy’s performance products, manufactured by Trust Company, have caught the attention of the national automotive press. Throughout the years, numerous articles have been published about GReddy’s products in Motor Trend, Road & Track and other automobile enthusiast magazines. Modifications using GReddy’s parts have been highlighted in programs on the Speed Channel on cable and satellite television. Productions such as the “The Fast and the Furious” series of movies have used vehicles specifically modified with GReddy parts.

[Source: GReddy]