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Pickup trucks are America’s workhorses. Each year Ford, GM, and Dodge move more than a million of them, most of which are destined for a lifetime of heavy duty. But a small percentage of these trucks are special editions, models designed with standout style, performance, or both.

1991 GMC Syclone

The Syclone, a one-year-only monster mini pickup, arrived just as the sport truck scene was gathering steam. GM had some recent experience turbocharging V-6 engines, and this one channeled the soul of the mightiest turbocharged Buick Grand Nationals of the 1980s. The result was a GMC S-15 pickup that trounced a Ferrari in a famous Car and Driver test that pitted the just-under-$30,000 Syclone against a $122,000 Ferrari 348.

The turbocharged 4.3-liter V-6 that sent the Syclone to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds put out 280 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque, channeled to all four wheels through a four-speed automatic borrowed from the Corvette. The Syclone only came in black and was followed in 1992–1993 by the Typhoon, a GMC Jimmy SUV with the same powertrain.

1989–1991 Dodge Dakota Sport Convertible

Who says you can’t have utility and fun in the same package? Before hitting the showrooms, the American Sunroof Company removed the metal roof and installed a folding fabric top and roll bar. The result was the only convertible pickup truck until the Chevrolet SSR came out in 2003. But unlike the Chevy’s retro styling and limited utility, the Dakota convertible was pretty much exactly like the hard-top Dakota. That didn’t seem to make a difference, however, as both droptop trucks sold poorly and have kept automakers from trying this wacky experiment one more time. The closest thing we have to the Dakota today is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet convertible SUV.

1977 GMC Indy 500

GMC produced some strange special edition pickup trucks in the ’70s. In 1975 the company made a black and gold truck called the Gentleman Jim, though the difference wasn’t much more than a paint job. That same year the Beau James model debuted, packing some more serious equipment. It was a blue and silver heavy-duty 3/4-ton truck with softer springs and a smoother ride.

In 1977 GMC was the official truck of the Indy 500. To commemorate the occasion, the company built special edition GMC pickups in both 2WD and 4WD, with deep front spoilers, a sweet black and white paint scheme, and big wide raised white letter tires (and red pinstriping). These were some of the coolest and rarest of the 1970s GMC pickups. The success of these trucks made room for 1980′s GMC Indy Hauler, when the company joined Pontiac (Turbo Trans Am) to pace the race that year. Indy Haulers were even emblazoned with the Trans Am’s screaming chicken hood sticker, making them one of the most outrageous pickups of the era.

2004–2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10

GMC wasn’t the only brand making wild, hot-rodded trucks in the ’70s; Dodge’s 1978 L’il Red Express Truck, with wood bed accents, giant 18-wheeler-like exhaust pipes, and a Police Interceptor 360-cid V-8 under the hood, was one of the craziest.

In 2004 Dodge reprised that idea with even more radical results. Chrysler’s in-house tuning arm, SRT, took the 500 hp, 8.3-liter V-10 and six-speed manual transmission from the Dodge Viper and slithered it into the chassis of the Ram pickup. The incredible package, combined with hardcore suspension enhancements, produced a pickup that would hit 60 mph in the 5-second range. In 2005 a Quad Cab model with an automatic transmission and the ability to tow made the SRT-10 slightly more practical, but practicality wasn’t why anybody bought this $45,000 monster. This remains one of the most potent pickups in history, and we wouldn’t be surprised if they become highly collectible in years to come.

1976–1983 Jeep Honcho

In the 1970s the more aggressive the vehicle name and the wilder the paint, the better. Jeep had plenty of wild models at the time: Remember the 1975 Golden Eagle, a gold accented package available on the CJ? The Golden Eagle was emblazoned with (of course) a giant eagle sticker on its hood. It was like the Trans Am of Jeeps.

But one of the coolest packages Jeep offered was based on Jeep’s half-ton full-size pickup, the J-10. Jeep’s J-series full-size pickup trucks were launched in 1964 as “Gladiators” but no model was more brazenly over-the-top than the Honcho. Ads proclaimed “Honcho means boss… and Honcho is macho. And that means brawny, powerful and tough.”

The Honcho package used the “wide-track” Dana 44 axles from the Cherokee and included big 31-inch tires and white wagon-type wheels. The stoutest Honchos packed AMC’s 401-cid V-8. Many wore the optional front brush guard as well as a roll bar in the bed. And some even came with a dealer-installed hidden recovery winch. Jeep produced less than 1500 Honcho Sportsides so these rarities are coveted machines.

1990–1993 Chevy 454 SS
Special edition trucks in the 1990s didn’t quite have the visual pop of their ’70s and 80s predecessors. Still, the “454 SS” graphics on this truck’s bedsides left little to the imagination as to what was under the hood.

The 454 SS was a performance model of the Chevy 1500 launched in 1990. Instead of the ubiquitous 350-cubic-inch small-block V-8 that came in most 1500-series models, Chevy dropped in the 230-hp 454-cid V-8 from its heavy-duty trucks, which pumped 385 lb-ft of torque. It was paired to a three-speed automatic and at first came only in black. The 454 SS sat lower in the rear and wore stiffer front springs to handle the weight of that enormous engine.

A small truck with a huge engine should be a dragstrip terror. But even in 1993, when this motor was massaged to 255 hp and 405 lb-ft, it was good only for mid-15-second quarter-mile times. At the time that wasn’t exactly slow, but it couldn’t match the Camaro Z/28 or Ford Mustang GT. Chevy introduced a Sport model of the 1500 that sold alongside the 454 SS and looked identical to its more powerful sibling, except for the “454 SS” stickers. Perhaps that’s why this cool model lasted only four years.

1990 Dodge Rod Hall Signature Edition

Baja race trucks in the 1980s and early 1990s enjoyed a staunch fan base and inspired the look of street trucks. In 1987, to capitalize on the prerunner craze, legendary racer Rod Hall developed a custom truck backed by Dodge. The 1987 trucks emulated his race prerunners by having a taller and firmer suspension. The trouble was, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) didn’t care much for this suspension. Dodge made only 14 Rod Hall Signature Editions and NHTSA recalled every one. Few ever returned to owners’ hands, and even fewer still are around today.

However, in 1990 Hall teamed up with Carroll Shelby, who had a relationship with Chrysler at the time, to build a new batch of Signature Series trucks. They made a total of 33, and each one wears cool prerunner bumpers front and rear, a bed-mounted light bar, and Rod Hall driving lights.

All of these trucks came with Dodge’s least powerful eight-cylinder engine, the 318-cid V-8 with a measly 170 hp. So they weren’t nearly as quick as they looked. Nonetheless, the Rod Hall Signature models were some of the most interesting, rare, and unique trucks Dodge ever offered.

1993–1995 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning

After the early ’90s sport-truck performance onslaught by General Motors with the GMC Syclone and 454 SS, it was time for Ford to provide a little competition. But instead of stuffing its biggest V-8 into the Lightning, Ford decided to modify the lighter 5.8-liter V-8 with GT-40 aluminum cylinder heads, plus a unique camshaft, intake manifold, and throttle-body fuel-injection system. The resulting 240 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque was enough to match the 454 SS in a straight line. Ford’s in-house performance tuners, SVT, then reworked the Lightning’s suspension to provide much more grip and speed in the corners than the heavy Chevy.

The Lightning was a true performance vehicle with upgrades to every aspect of its character. Its capability and speed are that much more impressive when you realize the basic truck platform was already 13 years old when the Lightning debuted. It was so successful that Ford built a second-generation supercharged Lightning from 1999 to 2004. These trucks paved the way for the incredible Raptor of today.

1977-1981 Dodge Macho Power Wagon

The Power Wagon nameplate is one of the longest-running in Dodge history, stretching from the original military Power Wagons of the 1940s to today’s Power Wagon, a heavy-duty off-road version of the Ram. In the 1970s Dodge launched a Macho version of the Power Wagon that delivered some visual heat for the 1970s 4X4 fan.

Dodge had some of the craziest pickups on the market, from the gold-trimmed Warlock and Warlock II (’76–’79) to the L’il Red Express Truck (’78–’79), which used tall vertical exhaust stacks combined with the wood-lined bed of the Warlock. The Macho was in production longer than any of them, and came in either short- or long-bed models with a roll bar mounted to the bed, and special flat black and yellow paint accents that included “Power Wagon” in giant letters on the bedside and color matched wagon-type wheels. Although these machines were available with any of Dodge’s small block V-8s, the most desirable Machos packed the top dog 440-cid big block V-8 housed in the sportiest short-bed body style.

Machos saw their popularity soar thanks to a long-bed model that played a starring role on the small screen on the 1981 to 1995 hit TV series “Simon and Simon.”

2002 Lincoln Blackwood

Put an F-150 into a Lincoln Navigator‘s bodywork and you had the Blackwood, a one-year-only pickup from Ford’s luxury brand. The idea was a truck as luxurious as it sounds, and the Blackwood’s engineers went to great lengths to make this vehicle essentially unusable as a pickup. Its bed was designed more for looking pretty than anything else, with plush carpeting, stainless-steel bedsides, LED lighting, Dutch-style doors replacing a traditional tailgate, and even a power cover.

Unsurprisingly, you paid for that luxury. The Blackwood was only available in 2WD and sold for more than $50,000. The truck failed to attract buyers in any number in its day, but today it’s a quirky and rare collector’s item.
REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-rare-and-rowdy-special-edition-trucks-203052993.html

With the release of our Tesla Model S road test, there have been many questions regarding what other models stand out. Here, we present the current class valedictorians, those cars that have faced our more than 50 tests and managed to earn an A.

Sure, the Tesla Model S may be our newly named prom queen, but there are a dozen other current cars that have scored 90 points or above on a 100-point scale. The most significant takeaway here is the diversity, where we’re seeing family sedans, sports coupes, and luxury sedans stand out with impressive overall scores. It is clear, that it isn’t necessary to spend $90,000, like we did on our Tesla, to get a great car. It just takes a few minutes of research and your own test drives.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/consumer-reports-names-its-top-scoring-cars-222313172.html

In these boom times for carmakers, it’s hard to find one that isn’t pushing the accelerator on its factories, from Kia to Bentley. But Ferrari revealed today that after hitting an all-time record for sales in 2012, it will cut its output this year to fewer than 7,000 cars in a strategy to maintain its aura of exclusivity — which Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo compared to waiting for a beautiful woman.

And if you think that beautiful woman will ever arrive in a Ferrari electric car, you will be waiting a long time.

Between a resurgent U.S. economy, strong oil prices and China’s move toward luxury goods, high-end carmakers have never had it quite so good. In 2012, Ferrari sold 7,318 cars, its best year ever, and the 499 copies of the LaFerrari supercar unveiled in Geneva in March have already been spoken for.

But unlike Porsche, which has bolstered its line with SUVs and sedans and has aggressive plans for growth, Ferrari has steadfastly refused to expand beyond two-door grand tourers, with only the hatchback FF breaking the mold. By all measures, Ferrari remains the world’s most valuable automotive brand — the company makes $100 million a year from licensing its name for luxury goods — in large part because a Ferrari owner can feel like a member of an exclusive club.

In these boom times for carmakers, it’s hard to find one that isn’t pushing the accelerator on its factories, from Kia to Bentley. But Ferrari revealed today that after hitting an all-time record for sales in 2012, it will cut its output this year to fewer than 7,000 cars in a strategy to maintain its aura of exclusivity — which Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo compared to waiting for a beautiful woman.

And if you think that beautiful woman will ever arrive in a Ferrari electric car, you will be waiting a long time.

Between a resurgent U.S. economy, strong oil prices and China’s move toward luxury goods, high-end carmakers have never had it quite so good. In 2012, Ferrari sold 7,318 cars, its best year ever, and the 499 copies of the LaFerrari supercar unveiled in Geneva in March have already been spoken for.

But unlike Porsche, which has bolstered its line with SUVs and sedans and has aggressive plans for growth, Ferrari has steadfastly refused to expand beyond two-door grand tourers, with only the hatchback FF breaking the mold. By all measures, Ferrari remains the world’s most valuable automotive brand — the company makes $100 million a year from licensing its name for luxury goods — in large part because a Ferrari owner can feel like a member of an exclusive club.

Speaking at a gathering of reporters from around the world at Ferrari’s factory in Maranello, Italy, Di Montezemolo said maintaining Ferrari’s image was far more important than trying to push as many sports cars as possible out the gates.

“In order to preserve this exclusivity concept, you must be brave enough to manufacturer the lower number of cars,” he said. “Those who buy a Ferrari buy a dream, and they must be reassured that their dream of exclusivity will be fulfilled.”

Di Montezemolo wouldn’t put a specific number on the cut, saying only that Ferrari would build fewer than 7,000 cars in 2013; it sold 1,798 in the first quarter. He also said the company would match its revenues and profits from 2012 even though it wouldn’t move as many vehicles — counting on the innate desire of Ferrari customers to close the gap.

“Ferrari is like a beautiful woman,” Di Montezemolo said. “You must desire her, you must wait for her.”

As a part of the Fiat-Chrysler conglomerate, Ferrari can also put some of its spare energies toward other brands, namely Maserati, for which it builds six-cylinder engines. And its executives outlined how the company would develop technologies like the Formula 1-based hybrid system in the LaFerrari to meet tougher emission standards.

But Di Montezemolo made clear that Ferrari would never break from the tradition of powerful gasoline engines on his watch, no matter the pressure: “We will never manufacture an electric car as long as I’m chairman.”

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/ferrari-cuts-production-2013-vows-never-build-electric-130344501.html

Consumer Reports is calling the Tesla Model S the best car it has ever tested. The Model S, an all-electric plug-in car, earned a score of 99 out of a possible 100 in the magazine’s tests.

The score would have been higher but for the fact that the all-electric car does need to stop and recharge during extremely long-distance drives.  ”If it could recharge in any gas station in three minutes, this car would score about 110,” said Jake Fisher, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. Fisher called the car’s performance in the magazine’s performance tests “off the charts.”  Depending on price, the Model S has driving range of between 208 and 265 miles. A full charge takes about six hours from an ordinary 240 volt outlet, according to Tesla.

The Model S has already won awards from car magazines like Motor Trend and Automobile, but Consumer Reports is widely regarded as being the most influential magazine among car shoppers. Consumer Reports, published by the non-profit group Consumer’s Union, purchases all the cars it tests and does not accept paid ads.

The score of 99 means the Tesla (TSLA) Model S, a sedan that can seat as many as seven people, performed as well or better than any automobile the magazine has ever tested. The score is not unprecedented — most recently, it was earned by the Lexus LS460 in 2009 – but no car at any price has ever scored higher.  Prices for the Model S start at about $70,000, not including federal and state tax incentives for electric cars.

The Model S tied for the quietest vehicle the magazine has ever tested, was among the most energy-efficient and had excellent scores for acceleration, braking and ride quality.  ”We don’t get all excited about many vehicles, and with this car we really did,” Fisher said.  The magazine’s raves for the Model S stand in sharp contrast to the treatment received by the competing Fisker Karma that the magazine pilloried, calling it “plagued with flaws.”Fisker is now in dire financial trouble.

On other hand, Tesla just announced its first profit and raised sales forecasts for the Model S.

Industry analysts have credited the quality of the Model S, in part, with Tesla’s early success in an industry that has not been kind to start-ups. Just recently electric car maker Coda Automotive went under and plug-in car maker Fisker is near its demise. Tesla, meanwhile, is financially healthy thanks to good sales of the Model S plus deals it’s reached to supply components to major automakers like Toyota and Daimler as well as sales of electric car credits, earned under California regulations, to other automakers that sell fewer electric cars.  Tesla had previously stated a goal of selling 20,000 Model S cars this year and has now raised that goal.

The question remains whether the car will continue to sell well in the long term, said Todd Turner, an industry analyst with Car Concepts in California. A lot of that will depend on the longer-term dependability of its battery technology, he said.  ”All kinds of cars have complexities,” he said. “Everything has to work for a very long period of time.”

Consumer Reports isn’t recommending the Model S, though. At least not yet. To be recommended, a car has to have at least average “predicted reliability,” something that’s based on reader surveys. Also, a car has to have good crash test scores from the government and from the privately funded Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Consumer Reports has not yet collected enough data to rule on the Model S’s reliability.  So far, the magazine itself has had a couple of minor issues with its test car, Fisher said, including a radio problem that was fixed by an overnight over-the-air software download and a cracked windshield.

To maintain its momentum, Tesla will need to move beyond this car, said Ed Kim, an analyst with the auto marketing consulting firm AutoPacific.  ”Ultimately, Tesla’s going to have to transition from building six-figure cars for bleeding-edge early adopters to making a car for a more general audience,” Kim said.

Tesla’s next vehicle is supposed to be the Tesla Model X crossover SUV but, after that, the company’s plans call for a less expensive car and, possibly, other products.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/09/autos/tesla-model-s-consumer-reports/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

The BeDazzling infection running through automakers’ full-size pickups has struck General Motors, which revealed the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country this weekend, a $47,000 version of its new trucks meant to impress an apparently growing market of rhinestone cowboys.

While the herd of such trucks has grown over the past year with models like the Ram Laramie Longhorn and upcoming Toyota Tundra 1794 edition, Detroit has been pushing for years to create a market for high-profit luxury pickups; just ask any of the 14 people who still own a Lincoln Blackwood. Despite that misstep, Ford has made the most of its King Ranch pickup line, which has a more upscale image than most Lincolns. Yet the equation always seemed less effective for GM, which has an entire upscale truck division in GMC and the Cadillac Escalade EXT for those who really wanted to spend $60,000 on a vehicle with a bed.

Chevy says the Silverado High Country will distinguish itself with unique projector headlights, a leather-swaddled interior in the tasteful saddle brown shade and a few fencerows of chrome trim, including 20-inch chrome wheels, powered by either Chevy’s 5.3-liter V-8 or the new 6.3-liter V-8. Most important of all, the truck will sport large “High Country” badges on the flank and tailgate; what good are a few jewels if no one sees them sparkle?

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-chevrolet-silverado-high-country-enters-highfalutin-pickup-120955494.html

New vehicles with untouched powertrains, mint interiors and intact warranties can be easy purchases. Used vehicles? It’s a whole other process, one that’s more confusing altogether, with variables of mileage, reliability, quality, and satisfaction all coming into play.  No matter what data they have in hand, or reviews they’ve read, many new-car buyers go with their gut and their emotions when they buy a used vehicle. Choices center heavily on price and vehicle type, maybe even more so than with a new-vehicle purchase.  We think there’s other helpful information that should come into play when you’re shopping for a used vehicle–and that’s why we’re putting together a series of guides to help you narrow down the field of used cars, trucks, crossovers and minivans to a smaller set of best-in-class bets.  We’ve arrived at these groups of vehicles by comparing three sets of data. To make our Best Used lists, a vehicle must score:

At least an 8.0 rating on The Car Connection‘s full reviews from three years ago–in this case, the 2011 model year At least four circles on J.D. Power‘s predicted-dependability rankings, or at least average reliability on Consumer ReportsAt least four stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

In this list, we’ve examined the field of sport-utility vehicles–including crossovers–and come up with 18 of the best used SUVs on the road today, with the bottom line from our 2011 review:

2011 Acura MDX

With a few notable flaws in styling and features, the 2011 Acura MDX still impresses us with its friendly handling and gutsy power.

2011 Audi Q5

The 2011 Audi Q5 is one of the best upscale picks in a compact crossover, thanks to its sleek lines, practical interior, responsive feel, and city-savvy size.

2011 Cadillac Escalade

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade delivers solid, luxurious, and spacious accommodations with an advanced feature set. If you can live with the thirst of non-Hybrid models, it’s unbeatable.

2011 Cadillac SRX

The 2011 SRX has the comfort and refinement luxury crossovers expect—plus a little Cadillac attitude.

2011 Chevrolet Equinox

If you don’t need a third row, the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox is just right for small families; it’s refined, secure, and versatile, and gets very impressive fuel economy in four-cylinder form.

2011 Chevrolet Traverse

2011 Chevrolet TraverseThe 2011 Chevrolet Traverse isn’t fun to drive, but it’s one of the best large crossover wagons for transporting the family comfortably and safely.

2011 Dodge Durango

The 2011 Dodge Durango is the anti-crossover, especially with the HEMI and R/T trim, and if the world still sanctioned big SUVs for small families, the Durango would be elbowing its way to driveways everywhere.

2011 Ford Edge

Provided you don’t need a third-row seat, the 2011 Ford Edge is at last, at the leading edge of mid-size crossovers, with one of the best driver interfaces in the business.

2011 GMC Terrain

The 2011 GMC Terrain looks bold and edgy on the outside, but it’s a softy inside, with a comfortable, refined cabin and excellent fuel economy.

2011 Hyundai Tucson

Much better than its predecessor, the 2011 Hyundai Tucson needs a touch more power and steering feel to top carlike utes like the Nissan Rogue.

2011 Kia Sportage

Kia hits game reset, and gives the 2011 Sportage an appealing new look and feel.

2011 Lincoln MKT

The swinging style sets an audacious mood—and the 2011 Lincoln MKT backs it up with turbo V-6 thrust.

2011 Lincoln MKX

You won’t need any excuses to say you’ve chosen the 2011 Lincoln MKX; it delivers on the promise of the brand: top-notch American luxury, with some of the best luxury and tech features wrapped in.

2011 Mazda CX-9

The 2011 Mazda CX-9 can carry seven in comfort, but it loves curves more than almost any other roomy crossover.

2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class has the rugged look U.S. shoppers want, in a sensibly sized package. We only wish it were a little more fuel-efficient.

2011 Subaru Forester

The roomy, versatile 2011 Subaru Forester handles better than just about any other small crossover, though the need for a more modern transmission and a little more cabin refinement keep it from greatness.

2011 Toyota 4Runner

If off-road capability is a top requirement, the brawny 2011 Toyota 4Runner is a good choice—with surprisingly good road manners to boot.

2011 Volvo XC60

The 2011 Volvo XC60 offers top in-car tech and luxury features, in a secure package that’s big enough for small families.

And all of these vehicles would look great with tinted windows by Midwest Glass Tinters.  Call today for more information or to book an appointment. 847-452-4818.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FORM:  

Throughout automotive history, the one component found on nearly all mass-produced cars that has remained constant is the wheel. Naturally it’s been greatly improved upon — from the wood-spoked, iron-laden wagon wheels that graced the first motorized carriages to the pneumatic tires that we have today — but overall (and relative to all the other bits found on modern cars) the wheel has gone under little transformation.

However, a partnership between Ford (NYSE:F) and German engineering firm Schaeffler has debuted a creation that rethinks how the wheel operates, and interacts with the vehicle it’s mounted on.  The two companies have debuted the new technology on the Ford Fiesta, which from the outside looks more or less completely ordinary. However, the unsuspecting observers don’t realize that the back two wheels contain electric motors — literally, inside the wheel hub.

The new layout is aimed to free up space under the hood, where, in a conventional EV, one would find the central motor (in a standard gasoline-powered car, this would be the engine and transmission). By putting the power source inside the wheel itself, it frees up room for storage, or more important, for people. The extra space could also provide more crumple zones, which are quite handy in the event of an accident.Dubbed the eWheelDrive, all the components required for motion and reduction thereof — drive, deceleration, driver assistance technologies — are contained fully inside the wheel. That includes the electric motor, the brakes, and the necessary apparatus for cooling it all off. 

Speculatively, the space-saving nature of eWheelDrive could find home in small, compact cars for city dwellers, where the smallest amount of space saved can make a big difference. Additionally, for those who hate parallel parking, the eWheelDrive could help there, too — if steering systems were able to evolve to accommodate the eWheelDrive, cars could conceivably rotate the wheels sideways and pull into a spot without all the turning and blind spots that traditionally grace the parallel parking experience.  Numerous technological breakthroughs (at least near-breakthroughs) have found their way to the auto industry.  Recently, Toyota’s (NYSE:TM) Lexus line pioneered a radar-assisted self-parking mechanism that will parallel the car for the driver with virtually no effort.

Largely, these inventions have been made to ease issues normally associated with city life. Among the many dangers of driving in urban settings, the chance of hitting a pedestrian is a big one. It seems Volvo  has that covered with its car’s ability to calculate trajectories.  Using similar radar technologies as Lexus, the car will supposedly stop immediately if presented with a danger.

Where Ford’s new tech will lead is anyone’s guess, but it’s an indication that engineers will do everything they can — including reinventing the wheel — to usurp as much potential from technology as possible.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/ford-revs-up-car-making-with-this-company.html/?ref=YF

At the beginning of the 20th Century Gottleib Daimler’s accounting folks drastically underestimated the eventual demand for automobiles because they couldn’t imagine anyone being able to operate a car without a professional chauffeur. We can all laugh at this idea, but now that we’re on the brink of robot-operated vehicles, we may be about to make the same kind of mistake.

And don’t be fooled: robotic vehicles really are just around the technological corner. Google has been testing driverless cars for some time now, already logging nearly 400,000 driverless miles on various streets and highways, with only one driverless accident so far. At last week’s New York Times Energy for Tomorrow conference, the head of Google’s program, Anthony Levandowski, suggested we may see driverless cars on the market as soon as the year 2018. Chip Cutter’s LinkedIn post on the topic reviewed some of the implications for auto safety, the environment, regulatory issues and the currently high cost of the technology.

But while there’s ever more discussion about how your car is becoming increasingly connected, and just last week I posted my own list of features that might make an automotive company more trustable to its customers, the truth is that robotic vehicles will soon trump both of these issues. Once driverless cars become available the current automotive business model will be completely outdated, whether or not car companies maintain direct links to their cars, and probably long before they figure out how to be trustable.

This is because the one big factor we all seem to be overlooking, the same way Daimler’s accountants once overlooked the disappearing chauffeur, is that when cars no longer need individual drivers, they’ll no longer need individual owners, either. And this will transform the business model just as radically as when cars no longer needed chauffeurs.

Imagine a world in which you could use your smartphone to summon a car to come pick you up and drive you somewhere. Want to cut costs? You could automatically “share a ride” with someone else who is also being frugal and headed in the same direction. Need groceries in a hurry? Buy them online and they’ll come to you in a tiny little “car” so small it can’t accommodate a human, but can still navigate safely down the road to your front door.

Perhaps the best way to visualize the arrival of robotic vehicles is that the experience of being driven somewhere will soon be available “in the cloud.” Just like you can now access your favorite music or your business contacts on any device, you’ll soon be able to access the right kind of “being driven” experience on any device.

Rather than Software as a Service (SaaS), this will be Driving as a Service (DaaS).

I may be just as wrong as Daimler’s accountants were, so feel free to come back in twenty years and complain, but here’s what I think driverless cars really mean for the future of transportation:

Much less individual car ownership.

Highly specialized vehicles – for deliveries, medical emergencies, single- vs. multi-passenger, long-distance, etc.

Fewer cars on the road in general, as consumers take advantage of the economics of collaborative trips and ride sharing.

Reduced demand for one-size-fits-all mass transit systems, which will eventually only be found in very densely populated areas, or along very heavily traveled inter-city routes.

Driverless-only toll roads with no actual speed limits and average fast-lane speeds of 120 mph+.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130429084041-206751421-is-the-connected-car-the-next-big-smartphone-form-factor

It will be several months yet before the first 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray hits a dealership, but Chevy knows future Corvette Stingray buyers will need some time to pour over the menu.

With a base price of $51,995, the new Stingray coupe comes with a $1,400 price increase over the outgoing car — but Chevy can argue it more than makes up for the extra cost in improvements.  The Corvette has traditionally sported a far longer menu of options than other GM models, such as a $5,000 choice for a customized VIN on the 2013 model. And unlike most model changeovers and price increases, the 2014 Vette Stingray features enough radical changes from its eight-year-old predecessor that direct comparisons of pricing become difficult.

The convertible Stingray will start at $56,995, $1,000 more than the outgoing droptop. Base equipment for both models includes the new 6.2-liter, 450-hp V-8, a seven-speed manual and the upgraded interior long sought by Vette fans. The options include the $2,800 Z51 performance package with bigger wheels, brakes and more advanced software controls, a $1,995 carbon-fiber roof, the $1,795 magnetic ride suspension, suede interior bits ($995) and dual exhausts ($1,195) among others. To build a Stingray like the one shown on the wall at the Detroit auto show will cost $73,360 — once again, an increase of about $2,000 over a fully optioned LT4 model, with the highest-priced option the 3LT interior package at $8,005.

By Corvette standards, the new prices look on target with what Vette fans expected, and perhaps even slightly less. By world sports car standards, the Corvette Stingray still seems like a bargain; the Porsche 911 starts at $82,100, and with a few checked boxes quickly passes six figures. For many Vette fans, this will be the green flag to start counting pennies.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM: http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-corvette-stingray-priced-51-995-accelerates-quickly-163031997.html#more-12457

Bugatti has been in and out of the news recently, for both good and bad. Firstly, the brand was stripped of its title as the”world’s fastest production car” after deactivating the restrictor that limits the car’s top speed during its record run. Bugatti rebounded from that knock by announcing yesterday that its Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse secured the record as the “world’s fastest convertible,” managing a speed of 254 mph. Keeping with the good news, Guinness World Records announced today that it has in fact now reinstated the Veyron Super Sport as the “fastest production car in the world,” returning the 1,200 hp hypercar to its rightful spot as number one.

Let’s recap what happened here. This is Guinness’s original statement declaring the stripping:

“It has come to the attention of Guinness World Records that there was an oversight in its adjudication of the ‘Fastest production car’ which was set in 2010 by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. As the car’s speed limiter was deactivated, this modification was against the official guidelines. Consequently, the vehicle’s record set at 431.072 km/h is no longer valid. As we are now reviewing this category with expert external consultants there is no current record holder.”

This latest announcement from Guinness, received today, backtracks somewhat from their original statement, claiming that the deactivation was not as problematic as they initially believed:

“Following a thorough review conducted with a number of external experts, Guinness World Records is pleased to announce the confirmation of Bugatti’s record of Fastest production car achieved by the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. The focus of the review was with respect to what may constitute a modification to a car’s standard specification. Having evaluated all the necessary information, Guinness World Records is now satisfied that a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine.”

So there you have it, the Veyron stands as number one. Again. And if we’re honest, a restrictor that limits the car by a mere 9.8 mph to protect crazy customers attempting to surpass 258 mph is not much of reason to lose it in the first place. Not having that restriction, allowing drivers to potentially surpass what is deemed a “safe” speed for tires to withstand, remains even crazier.

As we’ve heard a lot recently, Hennessey Performance claim its Venom GT remains “the fastest production car available to the public” at 265.7 mph. But who cares? In the eyes of Guinness, the 267.8 mph Veyron remains king.

REPOSTED BY MIDWEST GLASS TINTERS FROM:  http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/bugatti-veyron-reinstated-guinness-world-fastest-production-car-181741988.html