Jul 10
Wallpaper Wednesday makes it’s triumphant return with this week’s offering being a simple Dodge badge. This one was found on a new Dodge Challenger with lots of custom touches like this badge. It’s simple and clean and will make a great wallpaper for your desktop background.
So if Mopar is your thing we have two different sizes for you after the jump. If Mopar isn’t your thing sit tight, we just may have something different for you later in the day.
Jul 09
Jul 09
3d printing is what’s next for everyone. It just is. Someday not too far away we will all have 3d printers at home and that is how we will get a lot of the goods we buy. 3d printing is just one form of rapid prototyping which is revolutionizing the manufacturing world and it should be of no surprise to anyone that the automakers are going to be all over rapid prototyping. Ford today has given us a glimpse via video of their rapid prototyping and how they may use it in the future to do everything from concepts to small production run vehicles. It could just be the ticket out of the homogenized world of automaking where every car has to sell in volume, use parts that are on a half dozen other cars, and largely lack any real character in order to be profitable. Rapid prototyping just may put the creative design back into designing cars. So in honor of Tech Tuesday which is on hiatus for the summer I thought maybe we would take a look at this new technology.
Ford calls it F3T which stands for Ford Free Form Fabrication Technology. Yeah we will stick with F3T. What F3T does is allows Ford to skip the mold making process for parts because instead of going through the old fashion way where an original had to molded to be reproduced with accuracy Ford can now plug in the parts computer signature and have it produced in full real life 3d out of a 2d sheet of metal. It is quite groundbreaking and it is the future. After the jump is a short and very informative video on the technology and what Ford is doing with it.
Jul 08
The BMW M3 is claimed to be the ultimate driving machine. While that was certainly true once we have questioned it recently as costs have gotten out of the control and the car gets heavier, lazier, and a bit more poserish. I recently ranted on BMW’s fake exhaust sound and it probably got me on a lot of peoples list, but that’s ok. However today we will put all of that behind us and look at the rich heritage of the BMW M3 which is one of the worlds legendary sports cars.
M3 production began in 1986 back when the car was a light weight well balanced coupe. Over the years it has progressed into sedan and convertible form as well reaching a much wider audience. All in all about 40,000 M3s have made it to production. Despite my current disdained for the M3, the older models are fantastic and I’d love to have an E30. They are light, zippy, and sublime to drive. Truly the ultimate driving machine back in it’s day.
Now the M3 isn’t exactly dead, it is just going to be called the M4 from now on. You see a while back BMW made the choice that all mid sized sedans would carry the 3 series moniker and the coupes would move to the 4 series, you know because 4 is better then 3. Well that is BMW’s thinking anyway, they think the 4 series will inspire a new level of prestige and what ever it is people look for when trying to outdo their neighbors.
Jul 07
Sunday Commentary: Fake Exhaust Noise, two Ford Coupes, and the Week in Review
Sunday Commentary week in review
by Jason
Another Sunday, another time to look back, forward, and to do a little ranting. I keep hearing more and more about how we should do more opinion as well as our typical landslide of photos and news. I’m leary, cars can be as polarizing as politics and I like to avoid drama, but what the hay let’s give it a go. So this week I’ll talk about fake exhaust noise. Now I’m not talking about your neighborhood ricer with one of those fake turbo sounds things under the hood. I’m talking about BMW. You know, BMW “the ultimate driving machine.” Yeah right.
First before I get too worked up let’s take a quick look at what can only be described as one bad ass hot rod.
Now I know you traditionalist types won’t approve of the engine choice but I don’t mind. I think the hot rod is great, well done paint, great color, and it looks fast just sitting there. That’s the whole point anyway right? Let’s take a closer look at that engine.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: army truck, BMW, Buick, Chevy, deuce and a half, deuce coupe, exhaust, F1, Ford, hot rod, rant, Sunday commentary, week in review
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