AutoWeek articles from November 2008

AutoWeek archives from November 2008

LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE; Ganassi Racing dominates Grand-Am.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: TRAVIS BRAUN Scott Pruett saw his bid for a second Daytona Prototype championship crumble in the final minutes of the 2007 Grand-Am Rolex Series season finale, when a penalty for on-track contact at Miller Motorsports Park dropped...

RESULTS.(News)
November 3, 2008... TRACK: STREETS OF SURFERS PARADISE 2.795-MILE STREET CIRCUIT DATE: OCT. 26 1. Ryan Briscoe, 60 laps at 95.068 mph avg. speed; 2. Scott Dixon, 60; 3. Ryan Hunter-Reay, 60; 4. Alex Tagliani, 60; 5. Oriol Servia, 60; 6. E. J. Viso,...

RESULTS.(News)
November 3, 2008... TRACK: ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY 1.54-MILE QUAD-OVAL DATE: OCT. 26 1. Carl Edwards, Ford, 325 laps at 134.272 mph avg. speed; 2. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 325; 3. Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 325; 4. Matt Kenseth, Ford, 325; 5. Kyle Busch,...

FACING THE INEVITABLE; Edwards wins Atlanta, as Johnson closes in on the championship.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: AL PEARCE For one brief, shining moment at Atlanta Motor Speedway, you could almost sense the joy and excitement building among the suits from ABC/ESPN, NASCAR and Homestead-Miami Speedway as they watched two-time and defending...

EXTRA.(News)
November 3, 2008... SCIROCCO REVIVED? Volkswagen may yet bring its Scirocco sport coupe to the United States. In March, VW said it would not sell the Scirocco in the States, but prodding from enthusiasts and the Scirocco's popularity in Europeit returned...

PROTOTYPE P11 SPIED; 2010 McLaren supercar could push beyond peerless F1.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: JULIAN RENDELL McLaren is testing prototypes of its $250,000 P11, bringing the launch of 2010's most anticipated supercar closer. Using the same XP code names employed on the mid-1990s McLaren F1 project and the more recent...

Ho-Ho-Oh! Great Stuff.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: Dutch Mandel THE CHAMPIONSHIP AUTO Racing Auxiliary charity work is well documented, and we hold an auction every year to benefit it. This year, the need is even greater, so dig into those pockets, bid on unique gifts and make...

No Espresso in Tuktoyaktuk; RALLYISTS HEAD NORTH FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE IN THE ALCAN 5000.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: JIM ELDER The Alcan 5000 Winter Rally is billed as "The World's Longest, Coldest Winter Rally. At 10 days and 4,710 miles, the 2008 running to Tuktoyaktuk, 315 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Canada's Northwest Territories, was...

The Best of Both WorldsGLASS-WALLED GARAGES GIVE CALIFORNIA CARS A STUNNING VIEW.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: PHIL BERG The biggest dilemma some readers face, they tell us, is whether to locate their garages at their homes or somewhere else. Homes in residential areas usually don't have space for all of the cars acquired by the truly...

NO PLACE LIKE HOME; RYAN BRISCOE'S WIN MIGHT BE THE LAST FOR AN INDYCAR DRIVER IN AUSTRALIA.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: CURT CAVIN RYAN BRISCOE became the first Australian driver to win an Indy-car race in Surfers Paradise, Australia, but will anyone else ever get the opportunity? The IndyCar Series' par-ticipation in future Surfers events...

Goin' Mobile.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: Steve Thompson READING ABOUT MORTGAGE foreclosures and the bursting of the home-price bubble, I find myself thinking about how much expectations have changed in my 60-year lifetime. It's hardly surprising that so many people who...

SPECS.(News)
November 3, 2008... ON SALE: Now BASE PRICE: $27,480 DRIVETRAIN: 2.0-liter, 200-hp, 207-lb-ft turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed manual CURB WEIGHT: 3,300 lb 0-60 MPH: 6.9 sec (mfr est) FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 25 mpg

STOCKING YOUR CAR FOR WINTER.(News)
November 3, 2008... Keeping the tank at least half full is the key to avoiding water in the gasoline. And be sure to carry these things: *Charged cell phone *Road-service number *Windshield-washer fluid *De-icer *Boots *Scraper/snow...

SLINKY VALUE; VW'S NEW CC IS A PASSAT IN SEXY SHOES.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: J. P. VETTRAINO FASHIONABLE CARS HAVE SOME-thing in common with fashionable women's shoes. What's less, materially speaking, typically costs more. Think strappy spiked heels versus sturdy oxfords. Or Mercedes-Benz's CL coupe versus...

Smooth As Ice; Experts offer advice on driving in winter.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: LARRY EDSALL * CANADIAN RACER-TURNED-driving instructor Richard Spenard says there is only one real challenge to driving on snow and ice: anticipating something that cannot be anticipated. Spenard and other winter-driving...

WELCOME TO WINTER; A SPECIAL SECTION FOR THE COOLEST DRIVERS.(News)
November 3, 2008... Leaves are changing color, and there are frost warnings overnight. If that's how it is where you live, these pages are for you. Even if it's warm year-round in your neck of the woods and snow is something you only encounter on a skiing...

GET A GRIP; Winter tires aren't just about snow-the temperature matters, too.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: JONATHAN WONG A different set of tires is essential for the colder months, especially for owners of high-performance cars that typically come with grippy summer-only rubber. "If you live in an area that will receive snow, you...

FACTORY HOT ROD; DODGE UNLEASHES A CHALLENGER FOR THE DRAG STRIP.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: ROGER HART * Chrysler has not offered a factory-built drag car since Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey were battling for the White House. Now, 40 years later, instead of Nixon-Humphrey, we've got McCain-Obama, and the Dodge Hemi...

2009 Acura TL.(News)
November 3, 2008... IN FLEET: Oct. 13-27 AS-TESTED PRICE: $39,445 DRIVETRAIN: 3.5-liter V6; FWD, five-speed automatic OUTPUT: 280 hp @ 6,200 rpm, 254 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm CURB WEIGHT: 3,726 lb FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 21/24.2 mpg

DRIVERS LOG.(News)(Product/service evaluation)
November 3, 2008... HART: The TL has always been one of the cars I'd seriously consider if I were in this market. It's the right size for me, has enough performance to keep things interesting and is usually Acura's test bed for leading technology. This new TL is...

READY TO RACE; FORD EXPECTS 10-SECOND PASSES RIGHT OFF THE TRAILER.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: ROGER HART * Ford, like Chrysler, hasn't built a specific drag-racing car since 1968, but come February in Pomona, Calif., at the NHRA 2008 season opener, at least four brand-new Mustang Cobra Jets are expected to take to the strip...

STASIS STATE OF TUNE; Infineon race shop builds a better Audi.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: MARK VAUGHN * The first thing the Stasis Audi S5 did when we got it at the California Speedway was blow away the slalom time of the stock Audi S5. That's something that gets your attention. Right out of the crate, the Stasis S5...

TV NOV. 7-9.(News)(National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing )(Brief article)(Calendar)
November 3, 2008... FRIDAY, NOV. 7 * NASCAR Nationwide Series practice from Avondale, Ariz., 11:30 a.m., Speed (L) * NASCAR Sprint Cup practice from Phoenix, 2 p.m., ESPN2 (L) * NASCAR Nationwide Series practice from Avondale, Ariz., 3:30 p.m., Speed...

TWO-WHEEL LOWDOWN >.(News)(Brief article)
November 3, 2008... Byline: GEORGE P. BLUMBERG 2008 KAWASAKI NINJA 250R Kawasaki updates its best seller after 22 years with revamped power, styling and suspension. 249-cc, 30-hp (est), liquid-cooled parallel-twin; 335 pounds dry weight; quarter-mile in...

We Can All Breathe Easy Now.(News)
November 3, 2008... With all of the troubles in the world todaymany of them the result of bad executive decisionsit's good to see one corporation finally get something right. Yes, you guessed it: NBC just announced that it will pick up nine additional episodes of...

SOCIETY NOTES: OPEN-AND-SHUT CASE.(News)
November 3, 2008... * CNN reports that British police arrested a motorcyclist who unwittingly confessed to stunt-riding and speeding. Acting on a tip from a motorist who reported Sandor Ferenci's license-plate number, police called the 28-year-old's house, and he...

AP STORY OF THE WEEK >.(News)
November 3, 2008... "Police Arrest Michigan Man for Car Wash Vacuum Sex: Police say a Michigan man has been arrested after "receiving sexual favors from a vacuum' at a car wash . . .

EXTRA.(News)
November 3, 2008... MCLAREN, FORCE INDIA AGREE TO UNITE McLaren-Mercedes and Force India F1 agreed in principle to collaborate in the future, and the deal could range from a powertrain supply to a full-on "customer car, depending on how far the FIA will allow...

RACING BULLS.(News)
November 3, 2008... Lamborghini will launch its own racing series in 2009, featuring race-prepared Gallardo LP 560-4s. The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is open to professionals, weekend warriors and Lamborghini dealership teams. The cars feature an upgraded...

FIA, F1 TEAMS AGREE TO COST CUTS.(News)
November 3, 2008... The FIA's deci-sion to open a tender process for the supply of a standard Formula One engine between 2010 and 2012 (Competition, Oct. 27) certainly captured the attention of the sport's six factory teamsexactly what the governing body appears...

FORMER WELDING DEMO RESTORED AND RACING; 1964 MG MGB.(News)
November 3, 2008... Byline: LARRY SANATA When Scott Fohrman first laid eyes on his 1964 MG MGB, he was thrown for a loop. Even though the car was in rough condition, to say the least, he couldn't believe that someone would use it as a prop for a welding...

MARKET.(News)
November 3, 2008... 1964 Chrysler Imperial Crown Convertible Branson Auction, Branson, Mo. Sept. 12-13, 2008 A 413-cubic-inch V8, automatic transmission. Red with white and red trim leather, white vinyl top. Air-conditioned. Power steering, power...

FINAL POINTS STANDINGS.(News)
November 3, 2008... DAYTONA PROTOTYPE > 1. Memo Rojas/Scott Pruett, 408 2. Alex Gurney/Jon Fogarty, 378 3. J. C. France/Joao Barbosa, 340 4. Darren Law/David Donohue, 334 5. Brian Frisselle/Mark Wilkins, 332 GT > 1. Kelly...

MARKET.(NEWS)(BMW Isetta)(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... Byline: DAVE KINNEY 1970 ISO GRIFO COUPE RM Auctions, Hershey, Pa. Oct. 10, 2008 Four-speed manual, 327 cid, 365 hp. Yellow with black leather and houndstooth cloth. Air-conditioning. Nice paint; a shame about the rust. Lots...

SPECS & DATA.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... PRICING & OPTIONS Base price (includes $675 delivery): $38,965 As-tested price: $41,515 Options: Technology package, with 30-GB hard-drive navigation, music server and single CD/MP3/DVD head unit, premium sound with nine speakers...

Original Gangster; MOBSTEEL CREATES A SET OF WHEELS ANY MODERN WISE GUY WILL LOVE.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: NATALIE NEFF i F YOU SQUINT JUST right, you can see them spilling from the vehicle, trench coats tied tight and fedoras tipped low over their eyes, tommy guns held not so discreetly at their sides as they quickly step away from the...

RESULTS.(NEWS)(racetracks (automotive racing))(Brief article)
November 10, 2008... TRACK: THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 1,000-FOOT DRAG STRIP (Top Fuel, Funny Car), 0.25-MILE (Pro Stock) DATE: NOV. 2 Top Fuel Tony Schumacher, ET 3.806, 314.53 mph, over Rod Fuller, ET 3.821, 315.19 mph Funny Car...

THE ART OF THE ONE; Aston unveils stunning limited-edition One-77.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: JULIAN RENDELL THERE ARE RARE CARS, AND there are expensive cars, but the new Aston Martin One-77 promises to be both. As such, it could well usurp the Bugatti Veyron as the world's most exotic supercar. After a tease at...

SEMA STARTERS; HERE'S A QUICK PRIMER ON WHAT'S HOT AT THE VEGAS AFTERMARKET SHOW.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... The giant Specialty Equipment Market Association show, Nov. 4-7 in Las Vegas, offers the full gamut of car gear. It also has become a jumping-off point for manufacturers that want to reveal new models or show off hypertuned versions of their...

EXTRA.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... RULING FAVORS FISKER An arbitrator in California has ruled in favor of Fisker Automotive in its dispute with competing California electric-car maker Tesla Motors. The arbitrator found no wrong-doing on the part of Fisker, calling the...

EXTRA.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... SENNA TO TEST The Honda F1 team will give 2008 GP2 Series title contender Bruno Senna his first experience of a Formula One car at Barcelona in mid-November. The 25-year-old nephew of the late Ayrton Senna will complete a full program...

TV Nov. 14-16.(NEWS)(Brief article)(Calendar)
November 10, 2008... FRIDAY, NOV. 14 * NASCAR Sprint Cup practice from Homestead, Fla., noon, ESPN2 (L) * Formula Drift Series from Englishtown, N.J., noon, Speed * NASCAR Nationwide Series practice from Homestead, Fla., 1 p.m., Speed (L) * NASCAR...

The lowdown on a Mercedes-Aston link.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: GREG KABLE Sources say that Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz have yet to ink a multi-billion-dollar cooperation agreement, but we already know that the first model to carry Aston's revived Lagonda brand, due in 2012, will draw...

Looking Back at Looking Back.(NEWS)(cars mirror)(Ray Harroun Award)
November 10, 2008... THE DRIVER OF THE MARMON Wasp was running solono riding mechanic with a swiveling head to keep a running commentary on what was happening aft. So Ray Harroun attached a small mirror above his steering wheel. If he hadn't won that first Indy 500...

WITH THIS "RING. . . . . . You could be dead. AMG school lowers the risk.(NEWS)(AMG's Driving Academy)
November 10, 2008... Byline: MAC MORRISON No disrespect to Laguna Seca, Road America, Mont-Tremblant, Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen and the rest of North America's most fearsome, challenging racetracks, but those places are for babies. If you want to drive on the...

iRace, Do You? SIMULATOR OFFERS DRIVING PRACTICE AND ONLINE COMPETITION.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: JAKE LINGEMAN The Motorsports Simulator from iRacing is the latest in high-tech racing simulations meant to give drivers practice time when other options are unavailable. It works because the cars and tracks used are not replicas...

YESTERDAY'S TOMORROW; GM's Firebird show cars fly through Hershey.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: JOHN F. KATZ We're waiting for the man from General Motors before we can unload, but truck driver Jerry Fulton has opened one of the side doors on his rig. In the shadows inside, we catch a glimpse of yesterday's future. The...

CAMARO, CAR OF THE SHOW.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: GREG MIGLIORE The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will wear its status as the official car of SEMA by dressing up in draga very cool drag package, that is. The LS7 Concept channels the spirit of the strip-smoking cars of the late "60s made...

Banker's Hours; 1971 MASERATI GHIBLI SS.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: ERIC TEGLER A FRENCH BANKER NAMED EDWARD DE Cazalet special-ordered this Maserati Ghibli SS, and in the early 1970s, the Ghibli was just the sort of car sporting bankers aspired to own. Sexy but solid in a vaultlike way, it made a...

LOEB WINS FIFTH TITLE IN A ROW.(NEWS)(Automobile racing)
November 10, 2008... Another World Rally Champion-ship record fell to Sebastien Loeb, as the 34-year-old Frenchman claimed his fifth consecutive world title on the Rally Japan with a third-place finish. Loeb broke the record established by Finland's Tommi Makinen,...

Among Our Own.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... IT'S NOVEMBER, SO WE'RE ALL inundated with "giving opportunities to bolster our charitable contributions as the tax year ends. This is one that, like the CARA auction Dutch Mandel told you about last week, gives you a chance to support the...

ONE TO GO; Funny Car title is up for grabs after Vegas event.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: ROB GEIGER On a weekend when Tony Schumacher secured his fifth-straight NHRA Top Fuel crown and Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr. put a stranglehold on his title defense, Cruz Pedregon cracked the Funny Car race wide open with a...

Narrowing the Gap; EDWARDS'S TEXAS WIN GETS HIM CLOSER TO POINTS LEADER JOHNSON.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: AL PEARCE Jimmie Johnson didn't come close to clinching his third consecutive Sprint Cup in the Dickies 500. Instead, he wallowed around the Texas Motor Speedway like a man who knew his feet were down there somewhere, but he wasn't...

FORMULA STUN; LEWIS HAMILTON BECOMES THE YOUNGEST F1 WORLD CHAMPION.(NEWS)(Lewis Hamilton)
November 10, 2008... Byline: ADAM COOPER Just before the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone paced around the Interlagos grid, apparently a little anxious. He hoped, presumably, that F1 would serve up a...

RESULTS.(NEWS)(racetracks (automotive racing))
November 10, 2008... TRACK: TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 1.5-MILE QUAD-OVAL DATE: NOV. 2 1. Carl Edwards, Ford, 334 laps at 144.219 mph avg. speed; 2. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 334; 3. Jamie McMurray, Ford, 334; 4. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 334; 5. Greg Biffle,...

RESULTS.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... TRACK: INTERLAGOS 2.677-MILE ROAD COURSE DATE: NOV. 2 1. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 71; 2. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 71; 3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 71; 4. Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari, 71; 5. Lewis Hamilton,...

YOU SAY YOU WANT AN EVOLUTION; We begin a year with the gentler rally-bred Evo X.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: JONATHAN WONG Bring up the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX with anyone here on the AutoWeek staff, and most will think about its screaming acceleration, great handling and telepathic steering responsebut tin-can packaging. It wasn't...

A BETTER BIMMER; Dinan can improve even the M6.(NEWS)(BMW M6)
November 10, 2008... Byline: MARK VAUGHN One thing Steve Dinan can't figure out about the competition: How do they come out with parts so soon after a car becomes available? "It takes us four to five months of just analysis before we get going developing...

FLEET STREET; BRIEFS ON OUR OTHER LONG-TERMERS.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... AUDI S6 "Looking back on the year, I have to say the S6 was a big success. There were a few speed bumps, with a couple of check-engine lights and the cruise control dying, but other than that, it's been a heck of a car. It shrugged off a...

SOCIETY NOTES: Ill-Conceived Logic Edition >.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... The Canadian Press reports that a 35-year-old woman was charged with careless driving after she had her nine-year-old daughter drive her home from a party. The woman was concerned that she might have had too much to drink. However, a breath...

SPECIAL DELIVERY >.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Ahead of the Formula One season finale in Brazil, hometown Ferrari driver Felipe Massa revealed the details of his first visit to the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, in 1999. "I asked [my manager, who owned some restaurants,] to find me a...

GENESIS, BOOK TWO; RHYS MILLEN MAKES RACING VERSION OF HYUNDAI COUPE BEFORE U.S. DEBUT.(NEWS)
November 10, 2008... Byline: MARK VAUGHN PERHAPS THE MOST amazing thing about this sleek new Hyun-dai Genesis SEMA show coupe from Rhys Millen Racing is not that it features a 500-hp turbocharged engine in a lightweight carbon-fiber body and a structure ready...

Drivers Log.(NEWS)(Product/service evaluation)
November 10, 2008... GRITZINGER: Call this the Chevy conundrum. The HHR SS looks old and retro, like a shrunken Suburban from 60 years ago, but at the same time, the body mods, the powertrain and the interior make it feel like a current-day sports car. There's...

SPORT BEFORE UTILITY; 1950 WILLYS JEEPSTER.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: JOHN F. KATZ IN 1943, WILLYS MANAGEMENT ROLLED the dice on a bold idea. They bet that Ford, which shared the contract to supply military Jeeps, wouldn't want to build Jeeps after the war but that the public would want to buy them....

BAJA BANDITS; OFF-ROAD RACING IS DANGEROUS, BUT COMPETITORS IN MEXICO'S 1,000-MILE MARATHON ALSO WORRY ABOUT CRIME.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH Organizers of the 41st annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 are hoping for a slightly less exciting race than last year's. The drama in 2007 had less to do with the competition than it did with robberies, kidnappings and...

VIPERIZED; WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DROP A VIPER V10 INTO A CHALLENGER? LOTS OF TIRE SMOKE.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: ROGER HART With all of the doom and gloom surrounding the auto industry today, it's heartening for enthusiasts to know that there are still talented people in the business who are not working on hybrids or electric vehicles. For...

EXTRA.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... PIVATO RECOVERING WRC co-driver Patrick Pivato, given a 50 percent chance of survival following an accident during the Rally Japan (Compe-tition, Nov. 10), is on the road to recovery. Francois Duval's 45-year-old French teammate was to be...

RENAULT EXTENDS ALONSO.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Two-time Formula One world cham-pion Fernando Alonso will remain with Renault F1 in 2009. Alonso, who switched from McLaren-Mercedes this year on a one-year contract, agreed to a new two-year deal, keeping him with the team through 2010. ...

FIA AMENDS STEWARDS POLICY.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... In light of the controversial steward decision that cost Lewis Hamilton a potentially title-deciding win in the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA World Motor Sport Council will implement changes for 2009 in the hopes of avoiding questionable...

2008 BMW M3 Convertible.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... IN FLEET: Oct. 21-Nov. 4 AS-TESTED PRICE: $77,970 DRIVETRAIN: 4.0-liter V8; RWD, seven-speed sequential manual OUTPUT: 414 hp @ 8,300 rpm, 295 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm CURB WEIGHT: 4,145 lb FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 15/15.4 mpg

MARKET.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: DAVE KINNEY 1973 AMC JEEPSTER COMMANDO 4-WHEEL-DRIVE PICKUP Branson Auction, Branson, Mo. Sept. 12-13, 2008 Six-cylinder, automatic transmission, 4WD. Butterscotch gold with gold and white vinyl and cloth; white...

DRIVERS LOG.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... GRITZINGER: Tune an already superb 3-series chassis to M level, add a 414-hp V8 heart stopper tied to a supermanageable seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, toss in a spectacular interior, and what could possibly be missing? Maybe a hardtop...

COMPETITION/NASCAR.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Jimmie Johnson's dominating win at Phoenix clinched the 2008 Manufacturers' Championship for Chevrolet. With only three points to be gained in the Nov. 16 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Chevrolet holds a 213-206-204-147 lead over Ford,...

A Winter's Tale.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: Natalie Neff I SCOOTERED HOME THE OTHER day, ferrying our resident Piaggio to the shelter of my garage for winter storage, squeezing it in between a long-unused washing machine and my already parked Ducati. The mercury barely...

RACE REPORT.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: Al Pearce JIMMIE JOHNSON WANTED to finish the Checker O'Reilly 500K at Phoenix with enough points to make NASCAR's season finale at Homestead little more than a formality. He wanted to gain enough to hold a 162-point lead, which...

RESULTS.(NEWS)(automobile racing competition rankings)
November 17, 2008... TRACK: PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY 1.0-MILE TRI-OVAL DATE: NOV. 9 1. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 313 laps at 97.804 mph avg. speed; 2. Kurt Busch, Dodge, 313; 3. Jamie McMurray, Ford, 313; 4. Carl Edwards, Ford, 313; 5. Denny...

BMW CANCELS 8-SERIES.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: Greg Kable BMW is reevaluating its entire future model lineup as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative following disappointing third-quarter sales that saw the German automaker's profits plunge by 62.9 percent. The first...

TIMES ARE CHANGING; NASCAR BEGINS TO FEEL THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: AL PEARCE Major layoffs within days of the Homestead finale. Unlikely mergers as old rivals reach out for the same lifelines. Once-formidable teams shutting down or considering it. Cash-strapped manufacturers reducing or...

ECO BIMMER; THE M1 LIVES.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: GREG KABLE BMW is exploring plans for placing what one high-ranking insider describes as "a breakthrough green supercar into limited production by the end of 2012. Described as "a puristic two-seater that draws on all the very...

EXTRA.(NEWS)(Saleen Automotive's overview)(Volkswagen to start production of its roadster engines )(Correction notice)(Company overview)(Brief article)
November 17, 2008... SALEEN FOR SALE Specialty-car maker Saleen Automotive is on the block. The company, which built the Ford GT and dozens of high-performance Mustangs, is exploring a sale. Officials hope to finalize a deal in early 2009. Saleen was...

SEMA STRUGGLES; Despite declines, some segments show strength.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: BOB GRITZINGER There was a pervasive sense of economic peril hanging over this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegasan overriding feeling that with an automotive industry in free fall, a swoon in the...

SPECS.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... > ON SALE: Now BASE PRICE: $130,150 DRIVETRAIN: 4.7-liter, 425-hp, 361-lb-ft V8; RWD, six-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT: 4,389 lb 0-60 MPH: 5.3 sec (mfr) FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 13 mpg

One of the Best Gets Even Better; IT WASN'T BROKE, BUT MASERATI FIXED THE QUATTROPORTE ANYWAY.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... Byline: WES RAYNAL IN FRONT OF HOTEL Sacher in Salzburg, Austria, sit a half-dozen of the most beautiful four-door sedans you'll see assembled in one place: Maserati's facelifted Quattroporte S. The Italian automaker has been busy. The...

THE SHOW MUST GO ON; SEMA'S RESPONSE TO THE ECONOMY: DAZZLE AND FUNK.(NEWS)
November 17, 2008... We had heard there were problems with the economy, something about bank failures, stock-market plunges, a recession. Would that mean that SEMA, the automotive-aftermarket equivalent of Christmas, would not come this year? While there was a...