Car Blog

Auto Enthusiast Web Site Visitors Cast Ballots For Favorite Rides

CarDomain Network today announced the winners of the CarDomain Best of SEMA 2008 Awards, naming the top vehicles in 10 categories that were displayed at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association show in Las Vegas earlier this month.

The winners were based on votes cast by visitors to the CarDomain Web site in the past two weeks. Winning vehicles can be viewed at http://blog.cardomain.com/blog/2008/11/best-of-sema-20.html.

“The CarDomain Best of SEMA 2008 Award winners truly represent the best of the best in the world of specialty vehicles,” said Rob Einaudi, Editor-in-Chief of CarDomain. “They are selected by the people who matter most — the passionate auto enthusiasts who visit our site every day to share their love for the automobile.”

The 2008 CarDomain Best of SEMA Award winners were:

Muscle Car — Dale Jr. Edition Camaro, featuring a 6.2L E85-capable V8, Shorty headers, and Hurst short-throw shifter. Factory ground effects, rear diffuser, rear lip, and interior and exterior JR Motorsports trim round out the package.

Racing and Motorsports — Viscardi Mustang, featuring twin Turbonetics Y2K 91 mm’s plumbed to an all-aluminum 598 cu in. Ford big block capable of more than 3000 hp.

Exotics – Lamborghini Reventon, which comes with a V12 engine generating about 650 hp (485 kW) and ceiling speed of more than 211mph (340 km/h).

Off-Road — ICON FJ43, featuring Recaro Carbon Sport seats, a 450HP LS series alloy V8, 4L65E auto, Atlas II transfer case, Dynatrac axles with four wheel power assisted vented and slotted disc brakes.

Trucks – Baldwin Motorsports F-150, mirroring the same technology and performance found in trucks that win the legendary SCORE Baja 1000, this Ford F-150 four seater offers a Roush Racing 427 cubic inch V-8 that propels the vehicle at 140 miles an hour on dirt, with nearly three feet of wheel travel, offering its occupants a smooth ride.

Luxury – ASI’s Bentley Continental GT Speed, featuring a high-efficiency exhaust system, intensive ECU tuning, enlarged turbocharger turbines, and an enhanced engine coolant system, the TETSU GTR achieves a breathtaking and unprecedented 800 horsepower.

Restoration — Old School Skyline, a restored 1971 GT-R.

Sport Compact — Vivid Racing EVO X, featuring BASF GT3RS Green paint, including an upgrade of new Rotora front 6piston 355mm and rear 4piston 328mm brakes in matching color with Rotora logo. The AME wheels were pin striped with a GT3RS Green lip on them. The vehicle also features an updated engine bay with a matching cover, powder coated Agency Power intercooler pipe and intake, and a set of Status custom black leather and green stitching seats going in as well.

Hot Rods – Toyo ‘31 Studebaker, featuring a chopped roof, entirely new frame, custom fabricated hood to cover a Zoops outfitted Chevy 350 with three deuces (two-barrel carburetors) and a retro-style fabricated sheet metal interior. A custom air bag suspension provides the “slammed” look while the car rides on the Proxes 4 tires and Centerline Smoothie wheels.

Green — X Prize Fox Body Mustang, which puts down over 400 horsepower and claims to get over 80MPG.

SEMA stats:

• Approximately 125,000 people visited the show

• 2,500 cars and trucks present

• 2 million square feet of convention space

CarDomain (www.cardomain.com)

CarDomain recently passed the 600,000 mark in member-posted vehicle profiles and attracts more than 3.5 million monthly unique visitors. Among online automotive resources, CarDomain is within the top four sites for percentage of visitors somewhat likely or very likely to buy a vehicle in the next six months, according to the January 2008, comScore Plan Metrix report.

CarDomain operates the Web’s largest automotive social network. The CarDomain community offers auto enthusiasts a place to show off their cars, tools to exchange ideas and information, and member generated suggestions about purchasing, modifying, enhancing and restoring vehicles. At CarDomain, marketers can advertise to car buyers within a community of authentic car enthusiasts.

Source: CarDomain Network

Flex Fuel and New TRD PACKAGES added

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2009 Tundra full-size pickup truck, reflecting a modest overall average increase of $109, or 0.4 percent on all Tundra models. The base MSRP will range from $22,490 for the Regular Cab 4×2 with a V6 engine to $41,605 for the Limited Grade 4×4 CrewMax with a 5.7-liter V8 engine. Tundra Grade Double Cab and Crew Max models gain a standard chrome front bumper, while Limited CrewMax models now offer the Power Memory Package as optional instead of standard equipment.

The 2009 Tundra will continue to offer a choice of 45 model variations in three wheelbases, three cab styles, three bed lengths, three engines, three trim levels, and with 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains. Tundra E85 flex fuel models are now standard on 5.7-liter 4×4 models in select regions, creating nine additional model configurations. Toyota is further expanding consumer choice for the 2009 Tundra with the addition of two new Toyota Racing Development (TRD) option packages.

Tundra flex fuel models deliver the same excellent performance as their regular gas counterparts in engine output, towing and payload capacity and can run on either E85 or regular gas. Also, Tundra flex fuel models carry the same price as their identically configured regular gas models.

Two new TRD option packages underscore two sides of Tundra’s capability. A new TRD Sport Package is optimized for an aggressive street appearance, while a new TRD Rock Warrior Package is specially tuned and equipped with dynamic appearance features for off-road adventure and a powerful look.

TRD Sport will be available on the Tundra grade 4×2 Regular Cab and Double Cab standard bed models with the 5.7-liter V8. The TRD Sport is equipped with color-keyed front and rear bumpers and grille surround, color-keyed heated outside mirrors, color-keyed door handles, fog lamps, black cloth interior with manual bucket seats, accessory shift knob and pedal covers, accessory 20-inch machined star five-spoke alloy wheels and TRD Sport Edition side panel graphics. The TRD Sport package will be available in two exterior colors, Black and Radiant Red.

The MSRP for the TRD Sport Package is $2,408 for the Double Cab and $3,813 for the Regular Cab. In addition to the exclusive features listed above, the price of the TRD Sport Package Regular Cab also includes power windows and door locks, cruise control, remote keyless entry system, engine skidplate, variable intermittent wipers, passenger side fold flat seat, and carpeted floormats.

TRD Rock Warrior will be available exclusively on the Tundra grade 4×4 Double Cab (standard bed) and CrewMax equipped with the 5.7-liter V8 engine. In addition to its tuned suspension, the TRD Rock Warrior is equipped with Bilstein(R) shocks, TRD 17-inch forged alloy wheels with BF Goodrich(R) All-Terrain T/A tires, color-keyed front bumper and grille surround, matte-black steel rear bumper, fog lamps, black cloth interior with manual bucket seats, accessory shift knob and pedal covers, and TRD Rock Warrior side panel graphics. The Rock Warrior will come in two exterior colors, Black and Super White.

The price for the TRD Rock Warrior package is $3,177 for both the CrewMax and Double Cab.

The MSRP for the 2009 Tundra Regular Cab ranges from $22,490 for the Tundra grade 4×2 with V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, to $28,070 for the long-bed 4×4 with 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Tundra Double cab MSRP ranges from $24,945 for the Tundra grade 4×2 with V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, to $39,070 for the Limited grade 4×4 with 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Tundra CrewMax MSRP ranges from $27,915 for the Tundra grade 4×2 with V8 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, to $41,605 for the Limited grade 4×4 with 5.7L V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Public Web site: http://www.toyota.com/

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognized the Audi A3, A4, A6 and Q7

Audi has earned multiple IIHS Top Safety Pick awards the past three years

Audi wins more awards than competitors BMW, Mercedes and Lexus

Audi’s reputation as a leader in automotive safety gained added validation with four of its best-selling models claiming Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick awards for 2009.

Winning the highly sought safety award were the Audi A3, the all-new Audi A4, the Audi A6 and the Audi Q7. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting passengers in front, side and rear collisions. All of the winners also had to have electronic stability control, which IIHS credits with significantly lowering crash risks.

“Protecting the drivers of our vehicles, and their passengers, is at the top of Audi’s priority list and we’re delighted to clearly stand above other European luxury carmakers,” said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America. “Safety is woven into the earliest consideration of how our different models should look and perform. We’re grateful the Insurance Institute has recognized this singular focus of ours.”

This marks the second consecutive year that four Audi models have earned this important safety award. The Audi Q7, Audi A6, Audi A4, and Audi A3 all received the IIHS Top Safety Pick Award in 2008. The Audi A6 and A4 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick Award in 2007. IIHS launched the safety awards in 2006.

The four awards collected by Audi models exceeded the number of awards given to BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Lexus models. Additionally, some Audi models, including the Audi R8 sports car, the Audi A5 coupe, and the Audi A8 luxury sedan did not fall within the IIHS test program at this time.

IIHS evaluates each vehicle for front crashworthiness following a 40 mph offset collision. Calculations are made on the level of intrusion the crash causes in the occupant compartment and the impact recorded by crash test dummies. Side impact evaluations involve crashing a barrier into the side of a vehicle at 31 mph. Rear crash protection involves measuring the geometry of head restraints. Vehicles with good or acceptable measurements are then struck in the rear at 20 mph.

For more information on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the 2009 Top Safety Pick awards, please go to http://www.iihs.org/ .

Source: Audi of America, Inc.