Eleanor, make way for the Obsidian

You remember Eleanor from Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)? It was the Mustang that became an overnight sensation after the movie. Every single car is compared to Eleanor. She has become the measuring stick of great cars.

However, with the release of the Obsidian SG-1, I think we will be saying farewell to Eleanor soon.

The Obsidian SG-1 is a culmination of the old and the new. Its technologies are as modern as any car on the road, but its look its exterior design is a throwback.

Most of the engine details are still undisclosed. What we do know is that it packs a SVO 351W V8, 392 cubic inches with two super chargers feeding two intercoolers! Did you get that? Not to mention it also records 830 units of horsepower and 770 pounds of torque. It comes with a 5-speed manual gearbox.


I think this car is equipped to travel through wormholes, time, well with all that it has its going to travel fast through something.

About the exterior? It is fashionably outfitted with a tube frame and a hidden cage. It has Mustang headlights working on to the nose. With regard to interior, it’s packed with a killer sound system with a 10.5 TV screen. This car is packed with the latest gizmos and gadgets that technology offers. This is an instant classic; search it on the net to find its true power!

Eleanor who?

Sources: Jalopnik

- John T.

Autopartswarehouse.com | Efficiency and Diesel

Fuel prices are constantly rising. It’s as much a pain in the head, as it is in the pocket. Some are so fed up that they are willing to cross great lengths to ease the pain. Take for example this letter from a disgruntled truck driver, who just can’t handle it any longer,

I bought a Dodge Ram 1500 a couple years back, and have been driving it less and less because of the appalling mileage. I've also been shopping around for a diesel pickup, and while I can't afford a new one (still making payments on the gas-guzzler), it occurred to me: would a Dodge diesel engine, as is made for the 2500 and 3500 series trucks, be installable in a 1500 gasoline-engine model? Thanks! Chris

I picked up this letter from a segment from About.com. The truth is, many have ventured to replace their engines and many have been happy with the results. However there are some other factors that should be considered – here are some food for thought for those who want to convert their engines to diesel.

(1) Diesel prices, as of late, are on the rise. Compared to regular unleaded, it’s actually 25% higher.

(2) The more serious concern is the conversion itself. A typical diesel engine weighs 1000 pounds more than a gas engine. So, compatibility and configuration will become a huge issue.

(3) DETAILS! It’s not just the engine you’re replacing; you have to get the right fuel pump, tank, harnesses, etc.

(4) PRICE. Although, this may prove to be the right move in the short run, it will be a huge finance at the beginning. You have to get the right people to do it, with the right equipment. Think about it, where will you find a diesel owner that will willingly sell his/her engine. Unlikely. Unless it’s for a huge, I mean HUGE sum of money.

Of course, there is always another option. You can look for upgrades and enhancements to make your car more efficient i.e. better intake systems, fuel additives, etc. Just consult your friendly neighborhood mechanic. Or you can also get it thru the net, that’s how I do it. Autopartswarehouse.com is a good site to browse for upgrades. Check it out.

See you around,

Karen Moore

Sources: About.com

Methanol for Cars?

We all know that the world is in need of a green revolution.

The primary goal is to search for energy alternatives. There have been a fair share of developments in the past years, but nothing could match the power capacities of petrol pound for pound. And I firmly believe that it will stay that way for a long time.

The latest attempt is hoisted by the British automaker Lotus. They recently revealed the Tri-fuel Exige 270E, which is to be powered by methanol (At least that was their concept). It promises to be one of the most powerful Exiges ever, despite, housing the latest green technologies available.

The 270E sports a standard supercharged Toyota engine with a twist: it is modified to run on three different fuels (methanol, ethanol and petrol). The fantastic thing about it is that it can run on any combination of the three fuels – meaning it holds them all in one gas tank.

The use of methanol is revolutionary. It will not need high pressure tanks and scientists claim that it can combust more efficiently compared to diesel. Furthermore, it can be synthesized from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a main contributor to Global Warming, making good use of it will not only be cheap but will also put bad pollutants to good use.

The catch is that CO2 is not easy to recover from the atmosphere. However, Lotus claims that technology will soon eliminate that problem. Methanol-fuelled cars will be environmentally friendly.

Lotus even claimed that methanol will be a future alternative for energy. And conversion of a typical petrol vehicle to a methanol vehicle will only cost £40. Sounds great?

There’s even more. Methanol allows you to get extra power because it has a higher octane rating than petrol. The output of the Toyota engine jumps from 237 to 267 horsepower; this means that Exige can reach 60 miles per hour in 3.88 seconds.

Viva la GREEN revolution!

- Dave Collins

Sources: TopGear

Autopartswarehouse.com | Volkswagen Announces Maintenance Program for 2009

Volkswagen (VW) America recently announced that they will be launching a free Carefree Maintenance Program for all 2009 models. This program assures that there will be no charges for scheduled maintenance checks. This is part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which guarantees free maintenance checks for up to three years or 36,000 miles. The Carefree Maintenance Program will be launched, side-by-side, with the VW’s Tiguan in 2009.

According to VW’s spokesperson, the VW Carefree Maintenance Program intends to improve brand loyalty and consumer consideration. The upcoming program will also differentiate the brand from its competitors. VW boasts that they will be the only company that will offer a no-charge maintenance program.

The maintenance intervals that are covered in this program are detailed in each vehicle’s maintenance booklet. Since all new Volkswagens use synthetic oil, a 5 kilometer oil change is no longer necessary. Owners can drive further between oil changes.

This program covers the upcoming Routan (A seven seat minivan) which arrives in show rooms later this year. Maintenance intervals for the Routan are for every 6k, 12k, 18k, 24k, 30k and 36k.

The Carefree Maintenance Program also includes a courtesy vehicle check. This entitles owners to a free full review of vehicle benefits and features and a free check-up at no extra charge.

This is a good offer from VW, if they manage to launch it. In the car industry, brands are always in stiff competition. Manufacturers are coming up with more and more perks to ensure that their name stands above the rest. The precepts of economics dictate that competition breeds efficiency. This is exactly what is happening right now.

Who benefits from this? The winner in this equation is the consumer. Consumers are enticed with better deals, financing schemes and other stuff. Manufacturers will take any advantage they can get and this Carefree Maintenance Program from VW is no different.

You can expect that the other brands will soon step to the plate and match this program. In any case, the consumers win and some manufacturers will lose money – be it small or large.

My only concern with the program is that it does not specify what the check-ups include. If an owner can avail of some parts or specs. If it’s a matter of free check-ups then I can get that from some mechanics. Although, it is still best to bring the car to its original manufacturer, VW should reassert its advantages – by giving the consumer more.

I like the idea; I just need it to sound more reassuring. In any case, this is good news for VW owners. We’ll see how it all pans out within the next year.

Sources: TopSpeed

- Dave Collins

Autopartswarehouse.com | Something for Earth Day

In case you were not aware of it, April 22 is Earth Day. The day dedicated to the earth (Just one day). So we should do something to grace our Mother’s existence.

Cars do a lot of damage to our environment – primarily led by the emission of harmful gases. So I was thinking this morning on how I can relate cars to earth day.

Let’s start with something small. Your car batteries, how do you dispose them? Some friends of mine lay them around in stacks at the garage. This is wrong. Withering would lead these batteries to secrete acids that can harm the ozone. The best way to dispose a battery is to sell it at a recycling center. This way you earn some cash and, more importantly, you do something for the earth.

Just a little reminder of how we can make small steps toward bigger plans.

- John T.