Performance

In an amusing little photo gallery over at the Top Gear site, the Stig, the famed tame racing driver, gets the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius off the ground. The feature promises a lot at the beginning (just like we are doing here), but proceeds with a fairly standard test between the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, mostly comparing them on fuel economy and drivability through London and at the Millbrook test track.

But they eventually come to the good stuff, describing what happens when Stiggy starts doing laps in the Prius and the Insight. Top Gear even reaches a … Read more

The Lincoln MKS with an EcoBoost V6 engine is put to the ultimate challenge for speed and handling against four European luxury V8s up Loveland Pass, Colo. The challengers are the Maserati Quattroporte, the Jaguar XF, the BMW 550i, and the Mercedes E550.

Unfortunately, no real details of the challenge, such as fuel economy braking and handling, are released. More details about the challenge can be found at 6versus8.com.

Ford shows off a new turbocharger inside the 6.7 liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel. It sits right in the middle of the engine, next to the exhaust manifold. Its proximity near the manifold means faster air displacement, more power, and reduced turbo lag. The new turbocharger uses a light, single-shaft design, dual-sided compressor wheel and articulating vanes that vary the flow of air based on the accelerator, so you get all that power and torque right when you need it.

When Hyundai announced that it would be debuting a 2-liter turbocharged version of its rear-wheel driven Genesis Coupe, I thought to myself, "The tuner crowd is going to go crazy over this."

Not even a year later, it appears that I was correct. Case in point, GReddy performance parts will be bringing a tuned-up Genesis Coupe 2.0T--dubbed the "GReddy X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe"--to the 2009 SEMA Show packed to the gills with performance parts and spinning its flywheel to the tune of 350-horsepower.

Bear in mind that the stock Genesis 2.0T packs only … Read more

As uncompromisingly engineered as it already is, Lotus found further enhancements to make to its Exige S240 model. Although the actual changes are few for the 2010 model year--the car uses the same power train as the 2009 model--it should its enhance performance while making cosmetic changes that will show the 2010 as a distinct update. New air vents at the front of the car increase air flow to radiator and oil coolers, while a bigger wing on the back increased downforce.

Check out the photos for more details.

BorgWarner will supply engine and drive-train technologies to the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize sedans.

The new mechanics will include an industry-first Cam Torque Actuated (CTA) variable cam timing (VCT) technology for the upgraded Ford Duratec 3.0-liter V-6 engine.

Unlike traditional cam phasing methods that typically use engine oil pressure to rotate the camshaft, BorgWarner's CTA technology captures the existing torsional energy in the valve train to accomplish this event, similar to a hydraulic ratchet. CTA cam phasers operate more quickly and under a wider range of engine speeds and temperatures than traditional oil-pressure-actuated cam phasers, … Read more

Every automaker needs letters denoting which models incorporate high performance tuning. BMW has its M, Mercedes-Benz has its AMG, Lexus has its F, and Nissan its NISMO. That last, which stands for Nissan Motorsports, has just been added to Nissan's new sports car, the 370Z. We reviewed the Nissan 370Z Coupe last year, but only recently got to drive the 2009 Nissan 370Z NISMO.

Nissan took the standard 370Z Coupe, a very impressive sports car in its own right, and bumped up the power, fitted it with custom wheels, and stiffened the suspension. Body mods include chin and rear spoilers, a rear bumper with wheel well vents, and even an extended nose for better aerodynamic performance. The NISMO letters find their way onto the sport seats, the tachometer, and the rear badging. The result is a car that will be fun at weekend track events, but terrible for the daily commute.

Road test

We spent a good afternoon throwing a 370Z NISMO around the bends of colorfully named mountain blacktops such as Ice Cream Grade and Pine Flat Road (the latter not being flat at all). Having just gotten out of a 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster gave us an excellent opportunity to note the NISMO upgrades to the standard 370Z. The thing that stands out the most is the ride quality, very harsh in the 370Z NISMO compared to the 370Z Roadster. We could feel the road's various textures being communicated up through the tires to our spinal cords. … Read more

McLaren has released photos and details of the McLaren MP4-12C, the automaker's first supercar since the iconic McLaren F1 was launched 17 years ago, not counting the models built in partnership with other automakers.

The McLaren MP4-12C (or just 12C for short) is an all-new model from McLaren with "no carryover parts from any other car." In plain English, that means there are no Mercedes-Benz components, contrary to early rumors. What the 12C does have is a laundry list of interesting performance technologies, including an innovative Pre-Cog shifter tech that we think will breathe new life into dual-clutch, automated, manual transmissions.

Make the jump for more details and glossy photos.… Read more

What do you get when you cross the super-cute Fiat 500 with a dash of Abarth tuning and a coat of Scuderia Red paint? You get Ferrari's special edition, the 695 Tributo Ferrari.

The 695 Tributo is the result of a collaboration between Ferrari and Abarth, Fiat's in-house tuning division.

Starting with the 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, the 695 Tributo's power plant sends 180 horsepower through a six-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle shifters to the 17-inch Ferrari-inspired alloy wheels. This is still a Fiat, so power will reach the ground through the front wheels. Red … Read more