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Camaro ZL1 vs. Aventador LP700-4 (Need For Speed: The Run)

It looks like the car list for Need For Speed: The Run is actually quite good for Black Box Studios game. None of the old originals like the Camaro Concept or the Mustang GT are there. Most of these cars are completely new cars or cars that we just haven't seen before, like the BMW M3 E30 Sport Evolution, Ford Mustang Boss 302, BMW M3 E92 GTS, and dozens more. Well, three additional cars have just been introduced into the game, and they're all from 2012. First up, there's the newest Bull in the Italian Penn: The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. This is actually its official gaming debut. With it's new 6.5-liter hand-built V12 engine churning out 691 horsepower, it will 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 217 MPH. It's actually faster around the Top Gear test track than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Next up, another gaming debut from chevrolet: the Camaro ZL1. With it's 6.2-liter LSA Supercharged V8 producing 550 horsepower, it will do 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds and hit a possible top speed of 200 MPH. And last, but not least, an NFS exclusive: the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S. This is the new 991 set for it's official debut this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It seems that EA's already got their first look at it without the coverings. The car will supposedly have up to 400 horsepower on a new 3.5-liter Flat-6 engine. Among the three exclusive cars, there are 5 extra challenges in the career mode. Three of them were made especially for NFS Most Wanted fans. You'll be behind the wheel of the BMW M3 GTS Most Wanted Edition and Razor Callahan's Mustang Boss 302 as you speed down the highway evading the police as much as you can. I'm really excited for this game. It might be a hit! Check out the exciting trailer below.

Update: Just in case you were wondering the difference between the regular box and the limited edition box, here's the regular:

Regular Box

and here's the limited edition box:

Limited Edition Box

As you can see not only is there a somewhat different angle to the helicopter shooting down on Jack, but this time, he's driving a $387,000 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 instead of an 800 horsepower GT500 Super Snake.

Camaro Automation

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 (Courtesy of Camaro5.com)

A friend once said to me "Automatic transmissions are for tools", and, I hate to say it, but I agree with her. I am one for the Dual-Clutch transmission because it's faster, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than the manual stick, but let's be honest. Automatic transmissions are for the chickens who don't know how to drive a stick shift. So, if you are a real tool, you should be pleased to here that Chevy's most powerful Camaro to date, the ZL1 will be offering an automatic transmission, and here's a picture of the first one. Be warned though! The ZL1 with a manual stick will do 197 to 200 MPH, while the automatic will be stuck at a miserable 190 MPH. Not to mention the manual is less expensive than the automatic. But, whichever one you choose, you still get the King of Camaros. This kingship includes a 6.2-liter LSA Supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower, about as much as the CTS-V. It will do 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds (~ 3.9 seconds with the automatic) with the heart and soul of a true American Muscle. The ZL1 is slated for production start on New Year's Day next year.

Bumblebee's Back on the Streets

2012 Chevy Camaro SS Transformers Special Edition

Back in 2009, Chevy released a Transformers Special Edition camaro with Black rally stripes, Autobot shields, and a shiny glossy yellow color. 2 years later, Bumblebee's back and better than ever. With the new movie, Dark of the Moon, premiering this weekend, Chevy decided to create Mk. II of the Camaro Transformers Special Edition. This new one is 10x more aggressive than the old one with a more aggressive Bee Yellow color, black stripes that stretch from the hood down, blacked out 20-inch alloy rims with Autobot-shielded caps, and a Bumblebee-specific rear wing. Or, if you ask nicely, your local Chevy dealer will install 21-inch movie-mimic rims as well as pre-ZL1 ground effects so that they can look somewhat like the Camaro on the big screen. You want one? Cool! All you need is a Camaro 2LT or 2SS that's wearing the RS appearance package, and an extra wad of $3,000 in your pocket or bank account. If you have all of that, then this fall, you'll be able to ride in style like Shia LaBeouf in the movie.

Dear NASA, Your New Moon Rover is Here

2012 Chevy Colorado Rally Concept

If NASA wrote to Chevy to have this truck on the moon, I would be delighted. This is the new Chevy Colorado Rally Concept, a more rugged version of the new Colorado which was revealed in Bangkok, China not too long ago. As you can see, this truck's ready for anything you can possibly through at it, whether it be dirt, snow, rocks, or even trees. Under the hood of this rugged 4-door soldier is a 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine which Chevy claims will last longer the most diesel engines. And if that's not enough, they've tossed in some custom long-travel suspension and 4 305/60R18 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires to make sure that this truck keeps going. Nonetheless, this is still a rally concept. So, inside you'll find race bucket seats with 5-point harnesses. So, while one driver is adjusting tire pressure and suspension, the other will be enjoying the fresh air from the cut vents in the acrylic windows. Or, maybe dirt. Maybe, even mud. No matter. As for me, this truck isn't just meant for off-roading or dune rallying. This truck's ready for the moon.

Transforming Muscle

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 Bumblebee (Courtesy of Jalopnik)

When it comes to saving the world from the Decepticons, no manufacturer does it better than Chevrolet. Bumblebee and Sideswipe are back for Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, and both cars were on display in Royal Oak, Michigan undisguised. Bumblebee's taken a more ZL1-ish look with the new bumpers, hood vents, massive rims, and rear spoiler. He's ready to pound some medal into some Decepticons.

2012 Chevy Corvette Stingray Convertible Sideswipe Concept (Courtesy of Jalopnik)

Sideswipe, on the other hand, has taken a much more relaxed stance, but he still looks quite as aggressive. He's received some new headlights, a carbon fiber wing, and some 21-inch KMC chrome wheels. Not to mention, he took his top off, so even when he's smashing Decepticon heads, he's enjoying the summertime. So there you are: the autobot muscle cars are ready for battle. Will they be victorious? Find out July 1 when Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon races into theaters.

[Source: Jalopnik]

"Cars" Gets Real

Lightning McQueen (Cars 2)

Disney/Pixar's newest creation, Cars 2, is coming very soon, and they've decided to get real on some the characters present in the movie. When I say real, I don't mean like emotion and relationship real. I mean horsepower, top speed, and engine like real. These are cars, aren't they? For example, Lightning McQueen, the movie's main protagonist that you see above, is a sweet-talking fellow with a big 7.2-liter V8 engine under his hood producing 750 horsepower. He'll do 0 to 60 in just 3.2 seconds on his to a top speed of 200 MPH.

Francesco Bernoulli

His World Grand Prix rival, Francesco Bernoulli, is an Italian Formula One Racer with a 750 horsepower 2.4-liter V8 engine and a 18,500 RPM redline. He'll do 0 to 60 in just 2.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 220 MPH, 20 more than McQueen will do. Do you think McQueen will be able to beat him and take the crown?

Raoul ÇaRoule

This is Raoul ÇaRoule, the French version of Ken Block. Why? Word has it that he's perfected the ways of Gymkhana, a sport created by Mr. Block at an airfield. Anyway, many people say that Raoul's a custom rally car, but if you look closely, you'll see that he's actually a Citroën C4 Rally Car with a 1.6-liter 300 horsepower turbo-4 engine, a 3.5 second 0 to 60 time, and a 125 MPH top speed. How will he wager against the other big-engined competitors?

Nigel Gearsley

There are a couple of real world cars in this movie than any car boar would love to look at. For example, meet Nigel Gearsley of Aston Martin Racing. Most of Britain, including the recently betrothed prince, will be watching him race for a World Grand Prix victory. Nigel's an Aston Martin DBR9 from Warwickshire, England with a 6.0-liter V12 engine producing 600 horsepower. He'll do 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds on his way to a top speed of 190 MPH. Nigel's had loads of experience on the track. It's been said that he can race through Silverstone with his eyes closed. Britain thinks he's cool. America says, "He's a show-off!"

Jeff Gorvette

Therefore, we've sent Jeff Gorvette to go represent our country and bring home the WGP (World Grand Prix) trophy. Jeff, as most of you can see, is a Chevy Corvette C6.R from Vallejo, California with a 7.0-liter LS7.R 590 horsepower V8 engine and Jeff Gordon's voice. He'll do 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds on his way to a top speed of 200 MPH. Jeff was one of the youngest cars ever to win an American Le Mans Championship at the age of 24. How will he favor against the other WGP racers, especially since someone dangerous will also be racing from...

Lewis Hamilton

Britain. It's Lewis Hamilton! Britain will have their eyes on him as well. He's a fictional car like Raoul, but if you look closely, you can see some lines and curves from the McLaren MP4-12C. Under his hood is a 5.0-liter DOHC V8 engine producing 575 horsepower. He'll do 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds on his way to a top speed of 190 MPH. Let's not forget that he's one of the youngest to win a Grand Prix in Britain at the age of 23. He knows the curves of tracks inside and out and doesn't mind flooring it on the straightaways. The guy loves burning rubber of his tires, but as for parties and clubs, he manages to get out of them faster than any drunk person. How will he wager against the rest of the racers?

These are just some of the cars. You can find the rest at the Cars 2 website. Cars 2 will be in theaters on June 22 in regular, 3D, and IMAX 3D.

Droptop Summer

2006 Ford GTX1 Roadster

Summer's just around the corner. In fact, it's here actually with temperatures rising to the 70's and 80's. Now you may enjoy this weather by taking a summer drive in your car with the windows down and the sunroof open, but let's be realistic. Summer driving is more enjoyable in a car with no roof. There are lots of convertibles and roadsters out there, but here are 5 good ones you should look into if you're getting ready for the summer.

2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible

1. Chevy Camaro Convertible

If you're in for something affordable, don't go out and buy a Chrysler 200 Convertible, because you'll regret doing it. Why not go for the Camaro convertible. It has 312 horsepower from Chevy's new 3.6-liter V6 engine and starts at $29,150. I know the Mustang starts at a much cheaper price, but with the Camaro, you'll get more stuff for less. And, let's be honest. The Camaro's back and it's never looked better. And now that it's available as a droptop, it looks even better. Another awesome thing with this car is the amount of money you'll save at the pump. Even with a powerful engine, the Camaro gets V6 fuel economy (20 MPG City, 29 MPG Highway, 25 MPG Average). So, it's just win win with this car. It's cheap, it's powerful, it's green, and it's a sports car: a perfect convertible for the summer.

2011 BMW 335is Convertible

2. BMW 335is Convertible

But, say you're into something German, and with a Turbocharger. BMW is your best bet, especially the 335is Convertible. It is quite expensive though: $59,650. But once you buy it and drive it, you'll immediately be happy you made the right choice. Unlike the regular 335i, the 335is gets an extra 20 horsepower to its already powerful 300 horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo Inline-6 engine. It will do 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 150 MPH. This car also comes with excellent grip, a metal-folding roof, and the distinct presence that any summer driver would love. This is ideally one great convertible.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster

3. Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Roadster

But, say you're one for the two seater and just wants to run away into the countryside with the top down with your wife or girlfriend. The SLK350 is perfect for you then. Comparing this car to the Z4, I think this one has it beat. Price wise, they are about the same ($53,000), but while the Z4 uses one TwinPower turbocharger to get it's 3.0-liter Inline-6 engine up to 300 horsepower, the SLK350 uses an advanced 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 302 horsepower, no turbos or other forms of induction needed. And if you're a man who's thinking about this car, that's good. You might it's strange because the SLK has always been a girly car. But, now with it's aggressive SLS front nose and powerful engine, it's giving somewhat of a test to the men.

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

4. BMW 650i Convertible

But, if you're one for luxury at an extreme price, well BMW has it again with the all new 650i Convertible. I only got the chance to sit in one at Open Road BMW and already I thought, "Yeah! This'll work!" Comparing this to the Jaguar XK, the 6 comes out on top. Why? It looks much better than it did before, it's more powerful, and it's just more exciting. BMW's new 4.4-liter Twin-Turbocharged V8 producing 400 horsepower powers this car from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and to a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Add a load of awesome technological/luxury features and you've got yourself a true Transporter's car.

2012 Aston Martin Virage Volante

5. Aston Martin Virage Volante

But, what if you're the one who has it all: the fame, the fortune, the driving skill, everything that you've ever wanted. But, you just got a girlfriend and want to impress her with something fast and sexy? Look no further than to Aston Martin. There are three good convertibles they have in store that will sort your and her needs, especially the all-new Virage Volante. This car is basically a DBS Volante and and DB9 Volante fused together with a 6.0-liter 490 horsepower V12 engine, a 0 to 60 of 4.5 seconds, and a top speed of 187 MPH. This is the perfect car for a weekend, just-the-two-of-you getaway. While you're driving, you can watch aimlessly as her long blonde her floats through the breeze at highway speed. Just make sure you're in safe distance, though. With prices starting at about $190,000, this makes it perfect if you're the sort of chap who loves to jet set.

So, there's my list of awesome convertibles. Hopefully I've helped you find the perfect one! Have a good summer!!

And the World Car of the Year is...

2011 Nissan Leaf!

And you thought the Volt would take the crown, but alas, the Volt is not sold everywhere yet, and the Leaf itself garnered more votes than the Audi A8 and BMW 5-series, its real competition. If you recall, last year's winner was the Volkswagen Polo. Anyway, Congrats Nissan on making the best car of 2011, even though I really don't care about it. But, to those Volt fans who wanted the electrifying Volt to win, don't worry. The World Car Committee wasn't done with that car just yet. 

2011 Chevy Volt

The mighty Volt earned the 2011 Green Car of the Year award for being the most fuel efficient. Last year's winner: the Audi A3 TDI. Fact: the car's battery lasts much longer than the Leaf's, so if you're into buying a cheap electric car this year, I think the Volt is your best bet. These were just two awards, though. The World Car Committee had to more they had to give out.

2011 Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin was given the World Design of the Year award thanks to the Rapide's sleek and sexy design. Last year's winner: the Chevy Camaro. I don't blame them. Both cars are equally good looking, but the Rapide is just a sexy looking thing. Aston Martin deserves this award.

2011 Ferrari 458 Italia

And finally, the 2011 Performance Car of the Year award goes to none other than the Ferrari 458 Italia. This car left its predecessor, the F430, in bleeding dust. This car turned the tables on the Gallardo, the LFA, the Ford GT, anyone who came in contact with it. This award only goes to a car built for speed, agility, and performance. Last year's winner: the Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro. So those are the awards, which were given out today in New York. If your favorite car wasn't on this list, don't worry. They could be on the list next year. If they're not, go and yell at the company to make their cars better.

Malibu Express

2013 Chevy Malibu

The Chevy Malibu wasn't always the best looking midsize sedan out there, but Chevy's done some tweaking and now, I think it looks great. This is just a leaked photo from GM. The real thing will be unveiled on Chevy's Facebook page tonight at 8:30 p.m., with its live debut happening at the Shanghai Motor Show this week. Chevy's only putting four-cylinder engines into this thing so expect either a 2.4-liter inline-4 or a 2.0-liter turbo-4 to come in the near future. As for now, this is Chevy, once again getting under the Toyota Camry's nose, and possibly licking it. Gross, but it's somewhat true.

Anniversary Muscle

2012 Chevy Camaro 45th Anniversary Edition

The Camaro has been with us since 1966. Today is its 45th birthday and what better way to celebrate it then with something special. This is the Camaro 45th Anniversary Edition coming complete with all the legacy and specialty that made the Pony Car so famous. Other than the unique vinyl finish on the car with the 45th Anniversary Logo, you'll also get special 20-inch rims and an upgraded 323 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine, 18 more than what the Mustang has. Inside, you'll find all special commemorative things like a jet black trim along with red, white, and blue stitched seats with the 45th Anniversary logo on them. There are also special white gauges that are nested in the vehicle's dashboard. Not to leave you SS fans hanging, but Chevy has also announced to produce a special FE4 Suspension package just for the Camaro SS which will firm up the ride giving you better handling. Let's not forget that the King Camaro, the ZL1, will arrive first thing next year, so you better save up. Until then, Happy Birthday Camaro! 

Corvette + Turbocharger = Uh Oh!

2011 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

If you're a Corvette owner, you know as well as I do that the only way to get more power out of that car is with a Supercharger. For those who haven't noticed, only a small portion of Vettes work well with a Turbocharger, like the ones built by Lingenfelter and Dallas Performance. Unfortunately, a small tuning company known as Hinson Motorsports learned this lesson the hard way. While recently testing their Twin-Turbocharged Vette, they managed to get it to Pagani Huayra-Speed, but after that, things went terribly wrong. The car managed to roll off the road twice into the grassy area where it skid to a stop. Luckily, the driver of the Vette was fine after the accident. The Vette wasn't however. So, take heed, young tuners of the next generation: unless you can tamper with the Vette's suspension and stability, never give it a turbocharger. The car does just fine with a supercharger. Take a look at the horrific accident below.

科迈罗 Ke Mai Luo

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1

Not very often do you see American Muscle cars heading to foreign countries. The Chevy Camaro's become a big name in Britain now. In fact, Top Gear's Richard Hammond has thought about buying this car. Well, GM is making another special exception for China. Ever since the 60's, we've called it the Camaro. But, starting next month, the Chinese will know this car by a new name: 科迈罗(Ke Mai Luo). Yep! The Camaro, or should I say Ke Mai Luo, is coming to China, and it's bringing all of its muscle with it. The 3.6-liter 312 horsepower V6 engine comes standard, and the Chinese have the option of choosing from a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. No word on if the V8s will arrive as well. It is a good thing the Camaro was born here, because it's cheaper here than in China. Starting prices over there are ¥500,000, which is similar to $76,264. Over here, they start at a measly $22,000. The Ke Mai Luo is definitely a luxury car over there.

[Source: Chevy]

Twin Mill Lives!!

2009 Hot Wheels Twin Mill

When you were a little boy, or if you still are a little boy, and you've played with Hot Wheels cars, the name "Twin Mill" may have come across your mind. It was one of the idols of the Hot Wheels diecast line. Since the 1960's, this car led Hot Wheels to economic success. It still is the most popular car Hot Wheels has designed. They even made two more versions of this car. It was that cool. Well, the car you see in front of you is Twin Mill. The only difference between this car and the actual toy model is that it has lept from its 1/64 scale figure to the real world. A special team of designers and engineers helped build Life-sized Twin Mill. The engines are two real 502 Block Chevy V8s with dual B & M superchargers. Altogether, this car produces 1,400 horsepower, 200 more than the fastest car in the world, the Veyron Supersport. This picture was taken at SEMA in Las Vegas, but Hot Wheels recently uploaded a video of the car in real life with the engines roaring to life and the car actually moving. Check it out below and see if the brings back any childhood memories.

Bumblebee has an Evil Brother

2011 Chevy Camaro Police Interceptor Decepticon (Courtesy of Jalopnik)

It seems Bumblebee has an evil brother in the form of a police interceptor. If you do see this on the road, don't try to outrun it, because it will turn into a Transformer and will possibly kill you. The identity of this transformer is unknown, however the cop camaro is real, and they are coming. This may not excite the poor unfortunate souls who try to steal a Dodge Challenger.

Is This Even Possible?

2010 Chevy Camaro on 30" Rollerz

This only happens in da hood in Florida. A modder known as the Underground Rim King recently put on 30" Rims on his 2010 Camaro LS. I don't know about you, but this is both awesome and completely ridiculous. The limit, honestly, for how big your rims should be on a sports car like this one is 22". And, if you have extra-low profile tires, 25". 30 is just pushing it. Only SUVs should have rims that big. Anyway, I'm gonna put it off cuz he did something rather unique with his car that no one else has ever though of. See it in action below.

Good Man!

David Beckham's Chevy Camaro SS (Courtesy of Splash News)

I'd like to take a moment today to honor a man who made a wise decision when it comes to cars: David Beckham. The British L.A. Galaxy player just sold his $150,000 Porsche 911 Turbo for this dubbed out Camaro SS. It might look somewhat ridiculous, but it's 10x better than what he had before.

David Beckham's old Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (Courtesy of Ebay)

Look at that thing. Not only is it an ugly squashed beetle, but with all this customization going on, it looks absolutely bonkers. Well done Beckham. You've realized a problem and properly fixed it. Now if only Wayne Rooney would stop Roonifying Britain with his Range Rover.

Source [DailyMail]