Archive for the ‘Enthusiasts’ Category

We've mentioned before that the Mazda Miata (aka the Roadster or the MX-5) is celebrating its 20th birthday. In fact, we may have mentioned it a couple of times. But since we're such fans, what the hell: let's go for a third. Mazda has devoted an entire website to the little car on its big milestone, complete with clips from a recent Miata rally  (none of which are embeddable) and what we assume is other nifty stuff, though we can't be sure because the site's Japanese-only. Still, Miata fans should get a kick out of it. Others might want to check Bengt Halvorson's recent review of the 2010 Miata, just to see what the excitement's about....

Mercedes says the high-performance AMG Driving Academy is making its way across the Atlantic, so U.S. owners of the top-speed Benzes can learn how to use them on the track.

The driving academy's been offered in Germany at AMG's home in Affalterbach since 2007. Now, the automaker is importing the school to three tracks Stateside, including Lime Rock in Connecticut, Palm Beach in Florida, and Laguna Seca in Monterey.

The school, Benz says, lets owners learn to skillfully pilot their AMG vehicles with the tutelage of pro instructors, on pro-driven tracks. Two levels of training give a one-day deep dive into braking, power transfer and car...

Today at the New York Auto Show, Porsche showed its new 2010 911 GT3 for the second time since its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The U.K.'s AutoCar calls the GT3 "the hardest ever 911." A bigger flat-six spits out more power, and a host of electronic chassis aids help the driver play hero in this tail-heavy GT.

The new 3.8-liter flat (horizontally-opposed) six, up from 3.6 liters, now produces - brace yourself - 435 hp. That gives it a heady 114 hp per-liter, placing it in pretty rare company for a naturally aspirated engine. Porsche says that its VarioCam variable valve timing now on both intake and exhaust camshafts is partially...