RideLust

The video game world has been waiting for the release of Gran Turismo 5 now for 3 years and since we’ve finally got a release date of November 2nd, 2010 new images, game modes and videos are beginning to fill the internet. What were learning is that over the past 3 years the designers and programmers at Sony and Polyphonic Digital have been packing GT5 with new features that we as gamers never expected. Take this karting video for example, it looks pretty good, but I suppose my question is, is it really necessary? Gran Turismo is a driving simulator first and foremost, but I am beginning to wonder if they are incorporating too many modes into the game, thus overpowering the player. We know that graphically the game is going to be stunning, but I’m curious to know that by including such facets as rally driving, Nascar, standard driving and now karting, if GT5 has bitten off more than it can chew. Hopefully it will be as good as everyone “hopes” it will be and not just another watered down version of the original game that we fell in love with all those years ago.

Source: Youtube.com

Ford has been trying to sell off Volvo for quite some time and over the past few months they’ve been in talks to do so with Chinese automaker Geely (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited). According to Autoblog.com the deal has finally been made for the bargain price of $1.8 billion. Volvo, under the terms of the agreement, will still be supplied with multiple vehicle parts such as powertrains and other components from Ford for some additional time.
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Volvo has working overtime to shed their suburban-middle-class-family image, touting the S60 as the “Naughty Volvo”. Indeed, this video features young hipsters grinding away the night before proclaiming Paris as the “naughty capital of the world”. I’m not sure what any of this has to do with the ability of the S60 to go, turn and stop, but that’s why I’m not writing ad campaigns for automakers. Who cares how “naughty” a car is? I’d rather know how fast it is.

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2011 Volvo C70 T5, in Flamenco Red Metallic

Thumbs Up: Exterior styling, front seats and Dynaudio sound system are world class.

Thumbs Down: Nav system not up to contemporary standards.

Buy This Car If: You’re a Volvo fan in the market for a luxury convertible.

At first glance, the Volvo C70 T5 is one sexy car. Nothing about the car’s exterior says, “boxy but good”, the conservative design norm that sold Volvo automobiles for years. In fact, the C70 looks far more German than it does Swedish, and the 18” five spoke wheels only add to the car’s sporty appearance. Inside, you’re treated to Volvo’s sinfully comfortable leather seats and the superb Dynaudio stereo system. In fact, buyers may find themselves wandering out to the garage, just to sit behind the wheel and crank up the tunes. Put a twisty road graphic on the inside of the garage door, and the Volvo C70 may be all you need to get through a harsh Minnesota winter.

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Photo: Volvo

Mike recently gave you the story of the 91 year old woman who has 562,000 miles on her 1964 Mercury Comet. That’s certainly impressive, especially since Rachel Veitch is still rolling up the miles, but she’s got a long way to go before she catches Irv Gordon. Gordon, you see, holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for amassing the most miles on a non-commercial vehicle. He’s racked up 2.8 million miles on his Volvo P1800, purchased new in 1966.

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Vehicle ownership is a very special thing. It’s a bond that forms between the owner and an automobile and it’s one that is very hard to break. Some of these bonds last for months, others, for a lifetime. Cars get under our skin and can, in some cases become a mechanical member of the family. They’re with you through good times and bad, they see holiday’s, births and deaths, and have the ability to be that fence post you lean on when you need some support. Me personally, my cars are family members and I take care of them as such. Sure we have our ups and downs, but at the end of the day and as strange as it may seem, I think we have a mutual respect for each other.

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Those crazy Swedes prove they can still bring the bork with the 2011 Volvo V60.

The Chinese really got a good deal, didn’t they? Volvo recently released this video of its hot new wagon, the V60. The sleek hauler will come with a direct-injected four with 203 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. There’s also talk of all-wheel-drive and a 3.0-liter T6 with 304 and 324 lb-ft of torque. The V60 will come equipped with a six-speed auto box. No news on whether we’ll see the  voluptuous V60 here in the states, but one can hope. We could use more sexy Swedish wagons here.

If you’re visiting this site than there is no doubt you love cars, but the real question is, do you love YOUR car. For example, my Charger and Daytona, you have no idea the memories that I have in those two beasties. They are part of my family and not seeing them in the garage would be like walking into your kids room at night and seeing a note on the night stand telling you that they’ve flown the coop. The above video was made by Grynch, a rap artist out of Seattle and by the sound of his hilarious lyrics the boy understands exactly what I’m talking about.

Why is Boije Ovebrink smiling? Because he just set a new, FIA sanctioned land speed record for tractor-trailers in his specially prepared Volvo. Averaging 81.32 miles per hour for 500 meters and 103.58 miles per hour for a full kilometer (averaged speeds), Ovebrink crossed the finish line at 155 miles per hour.

Ovebrink’s truck uses a 16 liter Volvo D16 motor as a starting point, but his is tweaked to produce 2,000 horsepower and 3,687 foot pounds of torque. That’s quite a bit more than any supercar I can think of, but supercars don’t have the kind of mass behind them that Ovebrink’s Volvo does. It almost makes me wonder what his lap times on the Nordschleife would be.

Source: Volvo semi-truck sets land speed record

Lord Vader, your station wagon is ready...

My former racing partner had a thing for Volvo Turbo wagons, and often brought his to track days just to embarrass ham-fisted Porsche drivers. He had a serious jones for the boxy Swedish milf-mobiles, which I could never really understand. Sure, his car was fast, but it was still a Volvo wagon. I guess we don’t always get to choose our particular perversions.

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