I know I know, but seriously when I laid eyes on it my heart told me I must share this with the world on the interwebz. This lovely piece of fail was spotted outside the local Macaroni Grill. In fact after taking pictures I saw it later on the highway. It is as if the fail itself is stalking me. As if having the front of a PT Cruiser and the rest of a Chevrolet Venture was not bad enough, someone decided to give it a stretch! Just horrid. By the way, up close the fit an finish on that front end…yea not so much. Where do people come up with these ideas? Seriously…

That is correct!  The owner of the infamous Imola Motorsports is selling the vehicle that brings us all such joy when it pulls into Cars & Café with doughnut holes each and every month.  The vehicle is Kevin’s personal 2006 BMW M5.  This is the car I always seem to be taking pictures of and tweeting about for your viewing pleasure.  I have personally had a ride in this car and it is just terrific.  The exhaust system sounds heavenly.

Below are some details.

• Exterior- Interlagos Blue
• Interior: Black
• Approx 38,800 miles
• SMG transmission
• Alcantara Roof
• Heated seats
• Edmunds Certified used car value $49,284
• Asking $49,000 with ALL the modifications listed

All service completed either at BMW Motorwerks or Imola Motorsports.
transferrable CPO warranty through BMW

Factory Options:

• 322 Comfort Accesso – $1,000
• Smart card / smart key automatic, includes central locking and includes ignition starter
• 416 Rear Electric Sunshadeo – $575
• Side manual blind; Rear electric blind
• 453 Seat Ventilationo – $800
• Driver and passenger ventilated seat; Requires: [X2xx] Full Leather w/ Alcantara Roofliner And [4MA] M Multifunction Seats w/ Active Width
• 465 Fold Down Rear Seatso – $475
• Rear seat center armrest with ski bag; Asymmetrical front facing rear seats
• 4MA M Multifunction Seats w/ Active Widtho – $1,900
• Active backrest width adjustment
610 Head-up Displayo – $1,000
• Dashboard with head-up display
655 SIRIUS Satellite Radio – $595
• Audio system with satellite
X3xx Full Leather w/ Alcantara Rooflinero – $3,500
• Leather seat upholstery with additional leather; Luxury trim leather on dashboard; Leather handbrake; Excludes: [X2xx] Full Leather w/ Alcantara Roofliner
BMW IPOD Integration kit – $550

Modifications:

Exhaust:

• Eisenhauso Meisterschaft GT with Carbon tips ($2200)

Wheels & tires:

• Radenergie 20×9 Fronts ($1400 each)
• Toyo T1-R 255/35-20
• Radenergie 20×10.5 Rears ($1800 each)
• Toyo T1-R 285/30-20

Suspension:

• Eibach Springs

Lighting:

• Full LED interior ($100)
• Factory European headlights with clear corners ($1450)
• Euro Angel Eyes ($249)

Body:

• Vorsteiner Carbon splitters ($600)
• Vorsteiner Replica hood ($1200)
• Painted Hartge rear diffuser included
• Painted rear windshield spoiler included
• BMW Carbon Emblems
• Black front grills
• Black side grills
• Front Clear Bra

Tell your friends and empty your piggy banks kids.  This is one sweet ride.  If you are interested sound off in the comments and I will see if I can’t swing you a super deal.  I already checked and my piggy bank and find myself a little short. Otherwise I would consider this fine piece of V10 beast for my garage possibly.

Possibly one of the greatest license plates seen on a Tesla Roadster.  One has to wonder if this is a customer car or if the car is owned by Tesla.  Either way it is hilarious.

Source- Automopedia

Mirko Reinhardt found this lime green Dancia Sandero.  This looks quite similar to the unique color of Porsche lime green found on Jack Baruth’s Audi S5.  The question instantly turns to is this Jack Baruth‘s new ride none of us know about?

Kamil posted this to my Facebook profile stating that this would be my house if I won the lottery.  I found it funny enough to share with all of you.  Essentially it appears to be a house/garage full of Nissan 300ZX’s.

That’s right, you read the title correctly.  No, this is not a dream.  The man – the legend – Jack Baruth, has put his Porsche lime green Audi S5 up for sale.  It is currently on eBay for those that are interested. This fine piece of sexy is nicely optioned with a six-speed manual transmission and Tuscan Brown leather interior.

Not to mention, there is the Audi navigation system package, technology package, carbon inlays and the Bang & Olufsen sound system.  Yes, I would love to own this car!  This car (correct me if I am mistaken) has participated in many track days, including the Cadillac CTS-V challenge with Bob Lutz.  This, my friends, is a piece of Jack Baruth history.

Someday it could even be a collectors item (no promises on that though!).  Do not let that bit about the car participating in track days scare you folks.  Mr. Baruth is a very very very very skilled driver.

He knows how to handle a car around a track, and I assure you this gem is in good condition. This car will get you lots of attention (did I mention it is Porsche lime green?!).  If you do not like attention……well than this car is not exactly for you.

I know what you are thinking, why is Mr. Baruth selling his S5 that is so awesome? Well, it sounds like he has been dreaming of a Switzer P800.  You can check out the eBay listing here, and it has more pictures to check out.  Last thing, who has an extra $49,995 laying around I can borrow?

Source- Jack Baruth

You read that title correctly, what you are looking at is indeed a Honda Civic.  In fact it is a 6th generation Civic hatchback, err I should say was a 6th generation Civic hatchback.  Now it is a confused little hatchback.  With Mustang rear tail lights and an awkward rear spoiler, do not even get me started on the fender flares, this thing reads like a massive pile of fail.  Thanks to our keen reader Joe Pine for spotting this atrocity and snapping a few pics.

The question many people ask me is if there is a replacement for displacement.  I have had this discussion at length multiple times recently. With all the new CAFE requirements and the public’s demand for better fuel economy, some people are worried about fun cars.

While it is true things need to change to achieve better gas mileage numbers, that does not mean the fun will end.  New technologies are making different things possible for this new age.  The use of direct injection and forced induction will likely play a large role in the future of the combustion engine  Many automakers are already downsizing their engines and starting to implement these technologies.

Ford is utilizing twin-turbo charging in combination with direct injection to create more power from smaller displacement engines.  They are calling this technology EcoBoost.  Using two turbos spooling up at different times, it reduces the old problem of turbo lag.  Achieving maximum torque under 2000 rpm’s is one benefit from using this set up.  Even better is that the torque curve is flat!  Ford is getting 365 horsepower and 355 pound feet of torque out of a EcoBoost V-6 displacing only 3.5 liters!  The engine could undoubtedly handle more boost and produce much higher numbers than that, but long term durability would be called into question at some point. Some theorize that the 3.5 liter EcoBoost could have an output of 450+ hp and 450+ ft-lb.

2010 Audi S4 Supercharged 3.0 liter V6

I mentioned earlier that many companies are downsizing the displacement of their engines.  Ford’s EcoBoost powerplant is just the beginning.  In the 2010 Audi S4, a supercharged V6 is used.  This replaces the 4.2 liter V8 found in the previous generation S4.  Many worried about the hp and torque ratings of the car when the smaller displacement engine was announced.  The fact is, the 2010 S4 with its supercharged V6 has more torque and only slightly less hp than the V-8.  The gas mileage has improved greatly and the driving dynamics are still intact.  The only real loss was the deep burble from the throaty V-8.  Problem was, that V-8 was thirsty.

Mercedes has also announced they will start downsizing their engines and will begin to offer more forced induction on future models.  Mercedes’ performance arm AMG will be following suit with downsizing and forced induction as well.  BMW has already started this with the latest M models, which utilize twin-turbo V8′s instead of naturally aspirated V10′s.

2009 Chevrolet Corvette LS3 6.2L V8

All this talk about forced induction is great.  Downsizing is definitely going to play a role in the future.  However, that is not to say you can’t get decent gas mileage out of a big, naturally-aspirated engine.  A base model Chevrolet Corvette is rated at 26 mpg on the highway.  That is 26 mpg from a 6.2 liter V-8, producing 430 hp!  That isn’t terrible – in fact that is down right great!  No direct injection, no turbos, no superchargers – just good old American muscle.  The 2010 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 achieves 25 mpg on the highway.  Again, naturally aspirated, with no forced induction.

Back to the original question, is there a replacement for displacement?  It really can be answered either way.  Yes, you can get the power of a naturally aspirated V-10 out of a blown V-8, or V8 power from a technology-infused blown V-6.  And now, we are just starting to see V-6 power from inline 4′s with direction injection and turbos.  What you do lose when you try replacing displacement is the sound and feel of the engine.  A turbo V-6 just doesn’t have the same rumble when you start it up.  Everyone’s opinion will differ on this topic.  In the end, mine is that you can replace the power of a larger displacement motor and even get some better characteristics, but in the end you can not replace the feel and experience of a larger, naturally-aspirated engine.  It will always be different, but not necessarily worse.

Source- Twitter

So I was just out to lunch with my coworkers and girlfriend.  As I look across the street I witness this event unfolding before my eyes.  The girl posing above locked herself out of her 1996 Cutlass Supreme.  The others are either watching, giving “advice” or helping.  Needless to say after about 15-20 minutes they were finally successful.  The tools they used?  Why none other then a bent coat hanger (not the tool that ended up unlocking the car) and a set of RCA cables (this is what they used).  They managed to loop the RCA’s around the lock inside (one window was rolled down two inches) and pulled enough times.  Once it did unlock pretty much everyone on the block started screaming and yelling.  It was an interesting entertainment for the lunch hour.  Oh and we ate Chinese food outside.