In an extremely controversial decision, cash-strapped BBC has tightened Top Gear’s budget, ordering them to pass on the exotic supercars in favor of reviewing greener, more economical models. Despite Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson’s earlier promise to flat-out ignore the push for more mundane vehicles, the show’s producers insist that changes must be made to keep in step with the tumultuous economy. Although BBC mouthpieces insist that the Ferrari’s and Bugatti’s that give the show its largest appeal will not be phased out entirely, they have confirmed there will be less screen time devoted to thrashing a ZR1’s throttle and more attention given to dispensing “practical” consumer advice.
Much to the delight of municipal workers and private contractors everywhere, the 2010 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck made its official debut today at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. Powered by an all-new 4.6L V8 engine, the 2010 Tundra achieves a significant improvement over previous generations and is now capable of putting out 310 horsepower and 327 lb-ft. of torque, while still managing to earn a fuel-efficiency average of 15 mpg city/20 mpg highway. For serious workmen looking for a little more pickup in their pickup (sorry, we couldn’t resist), the 2010 Tundra also comes optionally equipped with a 381-horsepower 5.7L V8, featuring a maximum towing capacity of 10,800 lbs.
Following last month’s scandalous newsbreak outing Ben Collins as Top Gear’s mysterious stunt driver, the White Stig, rumors immediately began swirling suggesting that Collins’ days with Top Gear were numbered. Since the show’s inception, both Top Gear and their broadcasting network, the BBC, have insisted on The Stig’s true identity remaining a mystery – apparently at all costs. Although current seasons of the show feature the White Stig, many true gearheads remember the Black Stig, the orginal character with whom Top Gear began. Unfortunately, after British racer Perry McCarthy identified the Black Stig, naming himself as the man behind the mask, Top Gear quickly wrote him out of the script in true TG style. In the Black Stig’s final episode, the famous stuntman was sent to meet his maker after sailing over the edge of an air-craft carrier at 109 mph in a Jaguar XJS. After laying the Black Stig to rest in his watery grave, TG promptly replaced him with the White Stig. A new video that has recently surfaced suggests a different ending though, one in which the Black Stig lives.
Lacking any official confirmation from TG themselves, we can’t confirm exactly what this new wrinkle means, but we can recommend that Collins’ begin polishing up that ol’ resume of his…
While nothing has been confirmed (nor denied) by Nissan themselves, rumors have begun to circulate that the highly-anticipated convertible variant of Nissan’s wildly celebrated new 370Z coupe will make its official debut at the 2009 New York International Auto Show in April. Following closely on the heels of its hard-top brother, which broke cover back in December, the Nissan 370Z convertible will hit dealer lots as a 2010 MY vehicle sometime in the later half of 2009.
Although we don’t have any hard specs on the new drop-top Z, we expect power to be provided by the coupe’s 332 horsepower 3.7-liter V6 mated with either a seven-speed automatic or optional SynchroRev Match six-speed manual transmission. Purely limited to speculation at this point, further details on the new convertible 370Z will be released the closer we get to its grand unveiling.
Now we’ll admit, we here at RideLust usually favor crotch rockets above any other type of motorcycle, but we’re objective enough to give credit where credit’s due. Even though it probably won’t leave Messrs. Harley and Davidson quaking in their steel-toed boots, the Honda Fury does offer some sizable competition in the touring bike arena. Definitely geared towards the “Orange County Chopper” crowd, the Honda Fury features the longest wheelbase ever found on any production Honda motorcycle, as well as what Honda calls a “furious” exhaust note.
Scheduled to hit dealer lots this summer, the 2010 Ford Taurus broke cover at the 2009 NAIAS determined to shake off its mediocre, middle-of-the-road stigma and offer healthy competition to German luxury sedans (which we applaud, but politely maintain is just a tad ambitious). Available in 3 different trim levels, the 2010 Ford Taurus comes optionally equipped with Ford’s newest technological achievements, including MyKey™ parental programmability, EasyFuel™ capless refueling, SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry, and Ford SYNC® and Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS® Travel.
Bare bones, a 3.5L V6 Ford Taurus will run you $25,995, which is roughly 5k more than a base-level Ford Fusion but includes a complimentary supply of crushing hopelessness that will be delivered approximately 6 months after date-of-purchase when you wake up one morning and simultaneously realize that not only have your failed dreams of becoming a racecar driver forced you into working for an insurance company in a cubical that always smalls faintly of stale tortilla chips and body odor, but you also drive a Ford Taurus.
