Rant: Why the hell does GM? neglect modern suspension setups?

• Handling is over rated. 
• It's cheaper to re use the same suspension from the past 30 years!
  
• People try to cover up for non-independent suspensions as being more durable, not buying it.
• The ONLY cars that should have non-independent rear suspension are 1/4 mile track monsters, which most street cars aren't. This at least gives Ford a relative excuse as to why the Mustang only recieves IRS in certain models!

Look at this pile of fail, the Pontiac Aztec. Why don't we take a gander at the rear "suspension". It looks like a goddamn cheese grater! The worst part about this blasphemy is that it has been repeated in newer model GM's. I don't think this monstrocity qualifies as a "1/4 mile track monster"...

Do you honestly want this to support your car?

Does this require a solid rear axle? Hell no! It's FWD. 

Fun fact: 4 wheel ABS is still optional.

As Americans wonder why General Motors is going under and more people are buying the Asian/European 

competitors, think about GM's lack of innovation in suspension and safety standards.

Ward's 10 best engines for 2009

Ward automotive group's list of the 10 best engines for 2009 has been released! They have been handing out awards to the 10 best engine auto manufacturers for years now based on all aspects of the engine. Good news is that all Big 3 US manufacturers have made it to the list, even though personally I don't believe in the 5.7L Hemi making it, but then again I'm not a V8 fan. I am however very proud of Ford's hybrid 2.5L found in the escape hybrid. Now only if they could put that into more cars. C'mon Ford! BMW made it to the list twice with their N54 twin turbo 3.0l I6 and their newly released (in the US) 3.0L twin turbo diesel I6. Toyota's 3.5 6 cylinder made it as well as Honda's 3.5L found in the new Accord coupe. Audi's famous 2.0L Direct Injected turbo I4 has made it again as well as VW's 2.0L I4 turbo diesel found in many european Eco cars. The complete list can be found here.

Drum Roll pleaseeeeee The new *Hyundai Genesis Coupe*

http://www.hyundaigenesis.com/coupe/

Well, it's got two engines. Both sound pretty good except for the fact they are both underpowered by their competitors. The 3.8L V6 makes 306hp while the new 370z* makes 330+hp from a 3.7L engine! The "base" engine Genesis will be equipped with a 2.0T engine that produces 210hp. A far cry from the Mazdaspeed 2.3T which produces 263hp and a mind bending 280lb./ft. of torque. Or even the new Cobalt SS's 2.0T which I believe produces upwards of 260hp? Clearly, the new Genesis have one advantage over these last two competitors, RWD! Let's pull those two out for a minute. We're left with Nissan vs. Hyundai, a comparison that quite frankly has never been mentioned before.

The 370z vs. Genesis Coupe Rant; 

- Pricing is similar

- The Nissan has more power

- Nissan engine > Hyundai engine

- Both have limited slips

- Both have track packages

- 370z is clearly the looker of the two

- Nissan's synchro rev-match technology > Genesis hype

Battle Royale!

      

 * Nissan 370z > Hyundai Genesis V6

Uh-oh, I suspect some fanboy drama over that.

How are those Flex Fuel Government cars doing?

Have you wondered how all of those (more than 112,000)  expensive Flex Fuel cars your billions of tax dollars paid for are doing? How much have they helped us reach energy independence? Well...after 16 years of building the fleet, less than 8% of E85 ethanol capable vehicles are taking advantage of this alternative fuel. Why might they do this you ask? Simple. Gas is cheaper and yields better mileage. More useful government spending. If the government buys any more 4 speed automatic vehicles....I don't know what I'm gunna do.

Ford not doing so well...again

In 2008 Ford Posted a loss of  over $14.6 Billion. As taurus' rear suspension around the world slowly bottom out, so is Ford's credit. On January 29 Ford posted a immense loss of $5.9 billion quarterly loss. Ford said it is cutting around 2,500 "white-collar jobs" (about 1/5th of it's staff). Hopefully both the economy and Ford can make a turn around or eventually you wont be able to "Drive one" any longer.

GM & Saab = no more :(

Swedish automotive company, Saab has undertaken the necessary procedures to cut ties with General Motors. This is seen as something of a power move for the company in response to the sales slump it has been facing. Brands such as Saturn and now Saab are finding the world of retail, a cold, desolate place. With Saab's impending seperation, who else is next on the chopping block? I can only imagine that certain "Higher Ups" as well as all that are employed at GM are sweating buckets. 

I think it's a damn shame that GM is losing this ^ 

BMW introduces the new 335d for the U.S. Market

For the 2009 model year, BMW has brought the popular 335d stateside. It follows a similar formula to the regular 335i, a twin turbo 3.0L but it's an inline 6 diesel. The 335d will have a staggering 425lb/ft. of torque! With revised gear ratios (tall highway gears), test cars have produced 30+mpg in testing. Expect the typical 6 speed automatic / optional DSG transmission or a 6 speed manual transmission. Getting to 60 in a LENGTHY 6 seconds. I'm sure Terry over at Burger MotorSports will fix that as they have 0n the award winning N54 Petrol engine.