Archive for the ‘Enthusiasts’ Category

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...

Jeep just rolled out the brand new (and we mean brand spanking new) 2011 Grand Cherokee at the New York Auto Show. Based on Mercedes' ML-platform (wow, the old DaimlerChrysler relationship continues to pay dividends), the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee promises massive leaps forward in refinement, quality, interior volume, drivability, and panache.

Fans of Jeep who bemoaned the weak-kneed 3.7-liter V-6 may now rejoice: it’s finally being replaced by a clean-sheet design of 3.6-liters that boasts chain-driven dual overhead camshafts, variable-valve timing, and a proper 60-degree bank angle. Horsepower is 280, torque a stout 260 lb-ft (90 percent...