SEMA 2009 – Viper SmartStart iPhone App for remote start

SEMA 2009 – Ford Focus RS

Good Clean Fun – Redbull Soap Box Derby LA

Red Bull Soapbox has been taken on by many brave souls; this ain’t no boy scout race. An event of this magnitude is only meant for real men and women that have the courage to try and conquer the intricate course at the latest pit stop in LA. The first Red Bull Soapbox Race took place in Belgium in 2000 and has since visited over 30 countries including Austria, England and Jamaica just to name a few.

With an estimated 111,000 people, the L.A traffic, and the rising temperatures, Angelinos still came out in droves to watch the 40 home made soapboxes from all across the US race through the streets of Downtown LA. The downhill course was mayhem, navigating the jumps, a banked 90-degree turn, and tight chicanes; only a few teams that managed to complete the course with their Soapboxes intact. Even more surprising was a record –setting speed of over 45mph.

Frankfurt auto show 2009: the light of the charge brigade

Please make it stop. Ever since the Mercedes-Benz CLS, car makers have taken to chopping the rooflines of their sedans and calling them four-door coupes. Guys, they’re not coupes. By definition, coupes have two doors. What you’re making are sedans with varying degrees of rear head- and legroom that range from barely adequate to what’s-the-point.

At least it looks as if Americans won’t be sent into fits of pedantry by the Audi A5 Sportback, because as handsome as this four-door-plus-hatch version of Ingolstadt’s lovely A5 is, Audi of America isn’t too fired up about bringing it Stateside.

VW Golf GTI and Polo Wörthersee 09 Design Studies

Every year in Austria the biggest VW show in the world takes place. Wörthersee Treffen 09 promises to be as good as any past year, even with the slow global economy. Volkswagen usually does its best to elevate the show every year with a special built car or two for the event. This year is no exception; both a  Golf GTI and a Polo have both received special attention to attend the show. In years past, VW has built crazy mid-engined, wide body cars that even the most optimistic enthusiast knew would never see the light at the end of the production tunnel. This year VW has doen something maybe even more exciting. They have built two cars that could very easily be built and sold, all over the world, even here in the US. Well kind of.