Month: March 2009

The boys at Acura have done it again. In their very first race in the ALMS LMP1 class, an Acura will start from pole. Scott Dixon put together an incredible lap in the De Ferran Motorsports cura ARX 02a, clocking in at 1:45.278, just edging out Audi’s Tom …

UPDATE: We just got off the phone with Andrea Hales, GM Bowling Green Assembly Communications manager, who informed us that while there will be six weeks of down time from now until the end of June, the plant actually has about 600 workers and they will continue to build 11 Corvettes per hour, not eight.

Thread of the Day: 2010 Nissan GT-R SpecV or 2009 Chevrolet ZR1 — Choose… It was bound to pop up on the MT Online forums, and now that it has, we want to hear your opinions.

Audi maintained it’s top spot on the time sheets at Sebring this morning as the pair of R15’s posted the two best times in the session.  The Acuras, however, came on strong, and were less than one second off Audio’s pace.

In GT2, Bergmeister was quickest in the Flying Lizard …

We are shocked!  We are saddened!  We are frustrated!  We are amazed!  We are disappointed!

Rick Wagoner (seen here in better days), CEO of General Motors, was in effect, both heralded and vilified by the very same man, in today’s presidential speech.  He was, indeed, offered up by the Obama administration as a "sacrificial lamb" (quoting Michigan’s Governor Grandholm).

The president spoke of how General Motors has impressed the world with its return to quality, pointing to the Buick Division‘s recent accomplishments!  His words:

"No one can deny that our auto industry has made meaningful progress in recent years. Some of the cars made by American workers are now outperforming the best cars made abroad. In 2008, the North American Car of the Year was a GM. This year, Buick tied for first place as the most reliable car in the world."

Then, despite these remarkable signs of progress, further along in this same speech, the president said:

"However, after broad consultations with a range of industry experts and financial advisors, I’m confident that GM can rise again, provided that it undergoes a fundamental restructuring.  As an initial step, GM is announcing today that Rick Wagoner is stepping aside as Chairman and CEO.  This is not meant as a condemnation of Mr. Wagoner, who has devoted his life to this company; rather, it’s a recognition that it will take a new vision and new direction to create the GM of the future."

In other words, great and significant progress was made under Mr. Wagoner‘s leadership, but based on our appointment of a non-manufacturing guy to oversee everything effective today, Rick just couldn’t cut it!

This is wrong!  The man who led the return to better quality and better designed cars (through his appointment of Bob Lutz), and the man who worked to accomplish what Congress (not the consumers) required (better fuel economy at any and all costs!!!), is relieved of his duties.  The CorvetteBlog reacts, rejects, and denounces these actions.

For what it is worth, Mr. Wagoner, this was not the way to honor you for your prodigious accomplishments.  We wish you better days ahead!  Corvette will miss you.

The complete text of the speech can be read here.

At the behest of the White House, another company seeking government bailout money calls on a former CFO to lead – and restructure – its business.

Ford Mustang tops ICBC’s list ahead of Vancouver International Auto Show VANCOUVER, March 30 /CNW/ – Spring is officially here and B.C. collector-plated vehicles are yawning and waking from their winter storage locations.

Cars.com Evocative, contemporary styling that thankfully misses being totally retro Car and Driver The gauge and console layout is clean, tasteful, and modern Automobile Magazine The concept car for the new Chevrolet Camaro burst onto the auto-show circuit several years ago and received instant critical acclaim.

Now in its sixth generation, the Chevrolet Corvette is being offered in its most powerful version ever, with the label ZR1 attached.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw6-dvtsa2g&eurl=http://scuderiaasinogrigio.blogspot.com/2009/03/espn-to-air-truth-in-24-on-friday-march.html