Top Gear - US Edition

From Left to Right: Adam Ferrara, Rutledge Wood, Tanner Foust, THE STIG

Top Gear has been around since 1977 and it's gotten better and better every year. Our three favorite hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, have brought us into the world of cars with their loud engines and insane top speeds. And then, there's that white-suited man who sets lap times with the fastest cars around a track made from an Airfield. Some say that his favorite show on TV is Top Gear, even though he's never seen a single episode of it. All we know is, he's called the Stig. Top Gear has spread all over the earth; to Russia, Australia, and now, the US. That's right, ladies and gentlemen. Top Gear is now on its way to the U.S.A. and will be here November 21 at 10 p.m. eastern/9 p.m. central on the History Channel. The hosts for the American version are comedian and car enthusiast Adam Ferrara, Formula D drifting champion, X Games Rally Gold Medalist and stunt driver Tanner Foust (will the man ever get a break?), NASCAR expert Rutledge Wood, and, of course, the tame racing driver himself, THE STIG. The format of the show is the same as the original. The three will race around in an abandoned airfield with the fastest cars in the world performing stunts and completing challenges. There is also a "Big Star in a Small Car" with the "Small Car" being a Suzuki SX4. The "Big Stars" include Tim Allen, Tony Hawk, etc. So, their format is good, but will the show be any better than the original British show? In my opinion, no. Clarkson, May, and Hammond have been on that show for years and have been watched by over 400 million people all around the world. That show is now worth over a billion dollars. Why? These three just make it work. It's funny, serious, and a lot of fun, which is why so many people watch it. If our American hosts can be as good as our British hosts, then this version has some good potential. The only way to find out is to watch the show when it comes out.

Perfect Car for a 17-year old

Teenage Driving

Parents, the day will come when your son or daughter will get their driver's license. When they do, you must ask yourself, "What are they going to do with it? What if they wreck my car?" Worry no more. I am here to help. More importantly, you need to understand your teenager. 70% of all teenagers want to drive a fast car, but most parents don't give them one because they know most fast cars are expensive. No worries! Here's a list of cars that will make you, your teenagers, and your wallet happy.

2003 Mercedes CL55 AMG

1. Used Mercedes CL55 AMG
You might be thinking, "Wait a minute. This is an expensive car. More importantly, my teenager will wreck it in 2 days." Rest assured, when they first look at this car, they won't even try to smash it. This is an elegant luxury coupe, even if its more than 7 years old. The original CL was pricy: ~$100,000. Now, you will be able to find a very mint, clean one starting at ~$20,000. This is a definite bargain for a car with a supercharged 469 horsepower V8 engine. More importantly, your kids will like it because, well, it's a Mercedes. Who doesn't like a Mercedes?

2011 Chevy Camaro RS

2. 2011 Chevy Camaro RS
This is another great car you can get at a bargain. First off, it looks great. The throwback design mixed with our current techie culture makes this car look rather sexy. Second, the standard engine is a 3.6 liter V6 pumping out 312 horsepower. This car will get to 60 MPH in just 5.4 seconds on its way to a limited top speed of 140 MPH. Not only that. Since its a V6, it doesn't use a lot of fuel. In fact, it gets an EPA estimated 29 MPG. This is one fuel efficient and fast pony car. I haven't gotten to the best part yet: the price. The Camaro starts at $22,680, which is a definite bargain. Your teenager gets a cool muscle car and you get to save your money on the car and the gas expenses.

2003 BMW M3 E46

3. Used BMW M3 E46
Your kids will love this car if you buy it for them. Why? It's a BMW! Everyone loves BMW. It's also a powerful, lightweight sports car that handles corners like a race car. It's 3.2 liter naturally-aspirated inline-6 engine produces 333 horsepower. This was one of the most powerful naturally-aspirated 6-cylinder cars of its time. with 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds, this car will go on to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. This is an ideal car because its fast, fuel efficient (EPA 24 MPG), and inexpensive (~$17,000). Just make sure you keep your teenager below the speed limit lest you want to pay for his/her speeding ticket.

2011 Ford Mustang V6

4. 2011 Ford Mustang V6
This is another pony car you need to consider for your teenager. Don't be fooled by the headlines! This is actually a very powerful V6 Mustang. It used to have a 4.0 liter 210 horsepower engine. Now, it has a 3.7 liter Ti-VCT (Twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing) 308 horsepower engine. That's almost a 70% increase from the 2010 model. This power translates to speed as the new Stang hits 60 MPH at a blistering 5.1 seconds! That's faster than its GM rival, the Chevy Camaro. It's also more fuel efficient than the Camaro with an EPA estimated 31 MPG.  The best thing about this car, however, is the price: just under $23,000. For that you get speed, power, fuel efficiency, and other things a teenager likes.

2008 Pontiac G8 GT

5. Used Pontiac G8 GT
With Pontiac dead, it will be shameful to see all of their great cars go to waste. This one was one of their greatest, the G8 GT. It has a 6.0 Liter 361 horsepower V8 engine which can take it from 0-60 in just 5.3 seconds. This car will hit a limited top speed of 155 MPH. It's been complemented by many of being the perfect Pontiac; everything you need is in it: power, control, balance, etc. The Stig drove a British version of this car and made it his portable drifting machine; that's how good it was. You can still give that goodness to your teenager at ~$23,000, which is ideally good value. And because it's a GM vehicle, it does come with On-Star and loads of other safety features.


So, there you are; a list of great cars that you and you're teenager will like. I hope this list helps you the next time you go car shopping.

The Perfect Snow Car

So, we're finally in November. Sooner or later, small white flakes will start falling from the sky and eventually will build up until it becomes a heaping white mess. This will suck, especially if this happens on a weekday, and you have to go to work. So, in order to prepare for the harshness ahead, I've devised a selection of cars that will help you endure this wintry weather coming up.

2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

1. Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The new Range Rover Sport is probably my best pick. Although it has been redesigned and reconfigured to look and feel like a sports car, it still harnesses that toughness and rugged off-road ability. Well, I should know, because I actually have one.

My Range Rover Sport

From the moment you buy it, you'll start loving it. It's 5.0 liter V8 engine pumps out 375 horsepower, more than enough to take on the snow. It also has a low range gearbox for handling some of the tough snow, realtime four-wheel drive, and a very clever terrain response system. There's a dial right below the gear lever which allows you to adjust the suspension and comfort of any terrain, including snow. There are also ride height dials so you can adjust the ride height of the car, and a Hill Descent system which electronically slows the car down when coming down a hill to prevent an accident. Also, it's a very aggressive, yet sexy looking SUV. The interior looks exquisite and will warm you up, too. Both the front and rear seats are all heated so you can stay warm even when it's cold. The price for all this luxury and ruggedness: $60,000 - $74,000. My Range Rover Sport cost $72,000, but trust me when I say this: you get a lot for your money.

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

2. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

This car, even without the racing gearbox, off-road tires, and racing roll cage, is a true rally car at heart. It's Turbocharged 2.0 liter 291 horsepower 4-cylinder engine can handle any snow with ease. This is because of a clever Active Center Differential system that comes standard on all Evo X models. Basically, what this system does is adjust the rear differential and suspension to the type of road your driving on, whether it be Tarmac, Gravel, or Snow. The Lancer Evo also has All-Wheel Drive for maximum grip and control during harsh weather. The price for this road going rally car starts at $34,000, which makes it the perfect car for some serious snow rallying action.

2011 Bentley Continental GT

3. Bentley Continental GT

This car holds the record for being the fastest on ice. It will hit 200 MPH if you give it an icy straight. But that's not important. What's more important is how this big Bentley handles, which is actually pretty well. The car is powered by a 6.3 liter twin-turbocharged W12 built by Volkswagen. That engine pumps out 587 horsepower, which is far more than enough to take on the snow. It will reach 60 miles per hour in under 4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 200 MPH. But what makes this car perfect for the snow is that it is fitted with Torsen-based all-wheel drive. This gives the car maximum traction on any road, even if its snow covered. This Bentley allows you to turn up at work in style. The interior of this car is made up of drinks globe luxury. The center console is made of walnut. The seats are made of premium leather and are all heated, so you can stay warm and feel rich. Unfortunately all this luxury comes at a price: $190,000 to be exact, making it the most expensive snow car you'll ever buy. But, at least with it, you'll get to work comfortably and on time.

2010 Nissan GTR

4. Nissan GTR

This is another fast snow car. The only difference between this Nissan and the Bentley, is this is a little bit more affordable. It costs $84,000, which sounds like a lot, but there is a lot that you get for your money. First off, you get a twin-turbocharged 3.7 liter V6 producing 480 horsepower. You'll be able to reach 60 MPH in 3.3 seconds all the way to a top speed of 193 MPH. Most importantly, you get Nissan's ATTESA E-TS® all-wheel drive standard on all models. Now although you can pull awesome snow drifts with it, it does give you maximum control on troubling roads. It might not be affordable, but its really worth the price.

2010 BMW 335i xDrive Sedan

5. BMW 335i xDrive Sedan

This car is one of the best; all the specifications are just right to fit your needs, nothing more, nothing less. It's 3.0 liter twin-power turbocharged inline-6 engine produces 300 horsepower, enough to take on the harshness of the snow. With a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds, this car will reach a limited top speed of 150 MPH. That's fast for such a sporty 4-door sedan. What makes this car so great is that it is available with BMW's patent-pended xDrive all-wheel drive system. This makes the car seriously grippy and gives it traction on snow. The price for all this pure performance: $44,000. This is actually good value for a car that's fast and well-controlled. 

So, here is my list of cars that will take on the snow. I hope what you find here is a good match for you.

Chevy's Devilish Corvettes

2011 Chevy Corvette Jake Edition Concept

This year at SEMA, Chevy's throwing in a lot of muscle. Two Corvettes are coming to the floors at Las Vegas. This is one of them: the 2011 Chevy Corvette Jake Edition Concept. They called it the "Jake Edition" in honor of the Corvette's mascot, Jake, who is a skull with Corvette Flags as eyes as seen here...

Hey, it's Jake!

and here...

Jake, you're here too?

and here...

Here? On the Rims?

and even in here.

Man, Jake! You're everywhere!

Now you see why they call it the "Jake Edition". Unfortunately, this Vette is only a concept model, but there has been some speculation on some accessories featuring Jake. Now, let's move right along to their Viper ACR-X killer, the Z06X.

2011 Chevy Corvette Z06X Concept

Built by Pratt & Miller, the makers of the monster that is the C6RS, this car is a Corvette Z06 with the Carbon Fiber Package. Then, they gave it a racing carbon fiber front splitter, carbon fiber rear wing, and a full racing roll cage, all borrowed straight from its racing counterpart, the C6R. They also gave it new lighter rims, a carbon fiber hood, carbon fiber headlight housings, performance racing seat, and a new polycarbonate rear window, also derived from the C6R. So, basically, what Pratt & Miller accomplished was a Corvette C6R, made for the street. As always, this car is a concept model, but there has been speculation of accessories coming soon to make your Z06 look like this in the future. Be sure to check it out on the SEMA show floor.

One Crazy Vette Track Car

Ford's Undercover Stealth Cop

2011 Ford Police Interceptor Stealth Concept

This is a police car you don't want to mess with. It's the 2011 Ford Police Interceptor Stealth Concept. This special interceptor vehicle will be on the SEMA show floor in Las Vegas from tomorrow through Friday. From the look of it, it's a Ford Taurus with a Mesh grille, custom 22 inch rims, and police lights all around. Ford based the idea of this car off the SR-71 Blackbird. The car is all black with a mean demeanor. It's face looks like an angry black panther. The body itself looks like a morphed 4-door version of KITT (Knight Industries 3000). All it needs now is a scanner placed in the grille. Trust me, if you try to speed on a highway, this car will come after you out of no where. Even the interior preserves the undercover essence of the car.

Basic Ford Taurus Interior (all the weapons hidden)

Woah!! Where did all that come from??

It's unknown if this car will go into production, but there is some hope. The replacement for the Crown Victoria police interceptor, the Taurus, will be the new Police Interceptor coming next year. There will be two engines and two drivetrains up for grabs; a 3.5 liter 280 horsepower V6 engine with rear wheel drive, and a 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost 365 horsepower V6 engine with all-wheel drive. Which ever engine you choose, they are both very fast police cars. Look for these patrolling the streets in late 2011.

Gran Turismo 5's fastest car...unveiled

Red Bull X1 Prototype

“If you built the fastest racing car on land, one that throws aside all rules and regulations, what would that car look like, how would it perform, and how would it feel to drive?” - Kazunori Yamauchi

Now if you've seen the E3 trailer to this game, you may remember at the end there was a shadow of a car in a wind tunnel. This car remained unknown, until now. This is the Red Bull X1 Prototype, the fastest car in Gran Turismo 5. This car was inspired by Team Red Bull Formula One Race Driver Sebastien Vettel, designed by Kazunori Yamauchi, and engineered by Team Red Bull Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey. As you can see, this car looks like a futuristic formula one car with headlights and wheel covers. But, when discovering what powers the car, it's so much more than that. Basically, this car was meant to defy all the boundaries and regulations of a standard car and believe me when i say this: they certainly have done that. Under the hood, this futuristic wet dream has a direct injected 3.6 liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing a stratospheric 1,483 horsepower @ 15,000 RPM with 527 lb-ft of torque @ 12,000 RPM. This car will do 0-60 in an unbelievable 1.4 seconds and reach a top speed of over 280 MPH! It only weighs about 1,202 lbs. and corners faster than a regular 2011 Formula One racer! This is staggering for a dreamer's car built for a simulation game. They've really done a lot of work on this car. Unfortunately, you will never see this thing in real life, but you will be able to drive it in Gran Turismo 5, which was rumored to arrive this early December.

Red Bull X1 with Sebastien Vettel