Beat And Battered

In this video, Ron Meegan, the Assistant Chief Engineer of Small Block, reviews the ZR-1 Corvette LS9 engine. GM touts the ZR-1 as a stunning new benchmark in Corvette performance, featuring a 600-horsepower LS9 supercharged V8, which makes it capable of up to 200mph. On the looks side, the ZR-1 has a visible carbon fiber roof, front air splitter, a roof bow, and rocker extensions, as well as a carbon fiber domed hood. The front fenders are also made of carbon-fiber, and the wheels are 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the back, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. The interior features a head-up display, and custom leather-wrapped interior. Truly an eye–and ear—catcher.

Painting cars is something that most people usually leave to professionals–and with good reason. Paints are expensive, and if you lack the knowledge and skill it can quickly turn into a really costly mistake. Furthermore, itd be such a hassle to do it all over again. But even the professionals started somewhere, so why shouldnt you In this video, Stacey David tells you how to do just that–and with the perfect material for beginners lacquer. They were used back in the old days and have become obsolete, but DupliColor has a new line of paint that is lacquer-based. The great thing about lacquer is its easy to apply, it dries quickly, and is considerably cheaper. Its also easier to use. In fact, it looks so simple that after watching this video, youll want to do it yourself right away

Its summertime Nothing better to do in the summer than go out on a nice vacation, possibly to the beach. But beaches are usually far, and gas prices are just skyrocketing. Also, all the driving and the summer heat could be bad for your car. Dont let it ruin your vacation though. There are ways to take care of your car and get around without having to pay much. Watch this video as Lauren Fix lays out a few great tips on how to keep your car in shape on a tight budget during the summer. She will also show a few gadgets that are sure to make even the longest drives a blast. Still, you should make sure your car is insured first. This site offers the best premium policy rates, just head to the upper right of the page and select your state. Get quotes now

Watch as this 700HP Ford 04 Mustang Cobra burns rubber in CIN Motorsports. 04 Cobras go for about 35,000 nowadays, and while the one in the video is modified, its original engine is capable of up to 390HP at 6,000rpm. Its design is neither too showy or too boring it has the looks of a modern classic sedan, with 7 available colors to suit your style. Safety features include driver and passenger airbags, antilock braking system, SecuriLock antitheft system, and excellent lower back support on the front seats. The Cobra is a favorite of many, as can be seen from the attention gathered by the car in the video. Better make sure yours is well-insured Select your state from the upper right of this page and click Get Quotes to get the best insurance rates.

The Toyota Volta, a hybrid car designed in collaboration with Italdesign-Giugiaro, is fitted with a 3.3-liter V6 petrol engine. It is not directly connected to the wheels rather, it is placed behind the rear axle, and motion is taken care of by two electrically-powered engines, which enhances safety and does away with the traditional transmission.As far as concept supercars go, the Volta sets a new standard. Its extremely flat, tapered at the front, compact, and downright fierce-looking, like a sharp arrow piercing through the air. The doors are hinged on the front-riser. A belt band stretches towards the rear wheel shaft, where two claw-scratch-like marks work as air intakes. The chassis is made of carbon-fiber, which makes this car extremely lightweight.On the power side, the Volta can put out as much as 408HP, have a top speed of 250kmh and can go from 0 to 100kmh in just 4.03 seconds.

The Kia KOUP, unveiled in the New York Auto Show 2008, is somewhat a step forward from the usual Kia offerings. What it seems to have done is take the good parts from more successful cars and somehow mash it up together. Like the Honda Civic, it is a cab-forward two-door model, and the front is a mixture of Civic and newer Mitsubishi cars. The rear end resembles that of a Lancer. A few more typical concepts included are a panoramic glass roof and front-and-rear carbon fiber diffusers.However, the real treat is under the hood. A 2.0 liter supercharged, direct injection Theta II engine that pumps out 290HP powers the rather handsome-looking car. The front wheels are suspended by MacPherson struts to absorb most of the shock that theoretically goes to the front.Overall, the KOUP shows that Kia is paying more attention to style as well as substance. Although it mostly derives from established concepts, its still a good entry.

The Kizashi 3 concept also debuted in this years New York Auto Show. The Suzuki way of life is supposedly embodied in this car. Sleek and athletic is what the Kizashi is, so perhaps thats the Suzuki way of life. The press release explains that the design is derived from a well-toned, energetic, and dynamic athlete in motion.Kizashi means prelude in Japanese, which is why the Kizashi 3 is made to look as strong and as sleek as possible, as the new line of Suzuki sportscars will derive from it. This is also the closest-to-production model, strengthened and refined from its predecessors Kizashi 1 and 2. Features include a 24-valve, 3,564cm3 V6 engine, six-speed transmission, an output of up to 300HP, and the capacity to seat five persons.Kizashi 3 is scheduled for production by 2010.

This is a crash test for the Ford Five Hundred, the 2005-2007 models. As you can see, it crashes pretty hard and the cars front is practically flattened to less than half of its original size, but based on the dummy the passenger should theoretically be still safe. The dummy hits the airbag, bounces back, and doesnt hit anything solid or sharp. A truly safe car. Apart from the good frontal crash absorption, the Five Hundred is also equppied with multiple side airbags, deployed by a rollover sensor. It also has anti-lock brakes, and daytime-running lights.However, safe as you are, your car is totaled, and its painful to see such a nice and almost lovingly safe car like the Ford Five Hundred get smashed. So, dont forget to get an insurance policy. Not sure which insurance company to choose Insurance rates too high Let AutoInsuranceSelect handle the searching for you. All you need to do is choose your state, and the best quotes are given to you

Heres something quite out of the ordinary The Nissan Pivo 2. Its the second in the line of Pivos, and like its predecessor it features a 360-degree revolving body, which allows the driver to always face forward, even when parallel parking. It also features a unique front door that opens really wide, instead of the usual side doors. The strange little car is a three-seater, and equipped with safety systems like the Around View Monitor, Distance Controll Assist System, and a cute little robot that intereacts with the driver think R2D2. The wheels themselves can turn up to 90 degrees, which really lets the driver control where he wants to go precisely, and combined with the revolving cabin truly does away with the need for reversing. Equally as important however is the fact that it runs on lithium-ion batteries so its extremely environment-friendly. Its truly the perfect car for small trips to the grocery or other nearby places, as not only would you save money from gasoline costs, you would also be safe and harmless to the environment.

The Mazda Furai furai means sound of the wind in Japanese is Mazdas way to commemorate their triumph at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is both a concept car and a prototype racer, equipped with a 2005 Courage C65 chassis. The extremely streamlined shape, courtesy of Swift Engineering and Mazda North Americas Franz von Holzhausen, combines both form and fucntionality, ensuring both stability and sufficient cooling. Unlike most concept cars, the Furai actually runs. It is powered by a 3-rotor Mazda 20B rotary engine and, using ethanol, produces up to 450 horsepower. Furthermore, unlike traditional F1 racers, the Furai breathes through air fangs located on the roof so it takes in the cleanest air possible. Sound of the wind might be an understatement, as the Furai instead howls like a violent thunderstorm at full thrust.