The Machines that Made Up the Route 66 Rally
Michael Schlee
The Route 66 Rally is over. To say it was fun would be an understatement. It was one of the best experiences I could ever recommend to someone.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin R.
It was 4 days of driving and comradery on some of the best roads America has to offer. For those who missed it, not to worry, there will be another event bigger and better then this one. 2010 was just the first year of this annual event.
By Nauman Farooq
Toronto might not have hosted the World premiere of the 2010 BMW Z4 roadster, but the Toronto International Auto Show is this cars Canadian debut.
This two-seat roadster will be available in Canada with two engine options, a normally-aspirated 3.0-liter, straight six which produces 255hp (sDrive30i), or a twin-turbo variant of that engine which produces 300hp (sDrive35i).
Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands
Both models come with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is only reserved for the sDrive35i model.
Despite its performance, the features people will be talking about mostly will be its stunning new appearance and its clever folding hard-top roof, which can be raised or lowered in just 20 seconds.
The new Z4 will be in the showrooms by this July, so if you havenʼt been hit too badly by the credit-crunch, you can park one of these on your driveway this summer.
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The Coolest Turbo Cars on the North American Market Today
Michael Schlee
There are a couple of ‘tricks’ in the auto industry to produce the maximum amount of power out of an engine. There are superchargers, turbochargers and direct injection to name a few. All of these systems have their pros and cons behind them.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
Turbocharging seems to be the most popular these days when it comes to boosting engines. Its size, weight, and potential outputs all make it a versatile tool.
By Nauman Farooq
It might not be the perfect car for Detroit, Mi., especially in January, but still BMW held the world premiere of its second generation Z4 roadster at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.
This new roadster, which will go on sale in Canada in June of this year, finally has a folding hard-top roof, so it can compete more squarely against its main rival, the Mercedes-Benz SLK-series. The folding roof on the Z4 takes just 20 seconds to open or close.
The new Z4 also will be available from the start with three engine options, all straight-six engines. The Z4 sDrive23i produces 204hp, the sDrive30i produces 255hp, while the current range topping model, the sDrive35i produces 300hp thanks to its twin-turbo mechanics. Canada might only get the latter of the two engine options.
BMW Z4 (photo: Isaac Adams-Hands)
Choice of transmissions include the standard six-speed manual, or the new seven-speed, double-clutch, Sport Automatic.
No prices were announced at the show, but talking to a few people at BMW, they suggest it won’t be much more than the current car.
Unlike the previous model, the 2010 BMW Z4 will not be built at the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, instead it will be built in Germany.
