Weekend Driver San Diego

The Viper is coming back. Here’s the latest from the UK Top Gear. http://topgear.tumblr.com/post/20586517013/meet-the-new-viper-now-with-more-civilization

So here’s something I was surprised to see this morning… customizing a Prius. The Two Guys Garage guys put on spiffy new wheels, tricked out the suspension and tacked on some ground effects they say will increase the performance and mileage. Maybe they made it something more than a transportation appliance. The whole episode can [...]

A nationally recognized, nonprofit program designed to curb illegal street racing could shut down by month’s end unless it finds a new sponsor or gets a reduction in fees, its leader said. Since 1997, RaceLegal.com has attracted 120 to 200 racers for its twice-monthly meets on the four-lane, eighth-mile strip on the west access road [...]

Here’s a great story from tonight’s NBC news magazine, Rock Center, on the Flint Assembly Plant where GM has added a graveyard shift for the first time in years. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Good story today from CBS Sunday Morning on the changes among the Detroit Three. Link»

In case you’re in the market for a fine, new car, US News and World Report is out with its top picks for new cars, online at http://usnews.com/cars-money.  The magazine says the list helps average Joes and Janes find the right car for the money. Here’s the list. 2012 BEST CARS FOR THE MONEY AWARDS   [...]

Bentley sold a whopping 7,003 cars in calendar 2011, with 1,059 flying out the door in December for the best month since 2007. Toyota and GM aren’t worried that they’re being challenged for global domination, but the Volkswagen unit has bounced back from a reported 4,616 in 2009 after passing 10,000 for the first time [...]

There’s a whole lot of firsts at this year’s San Diego Auto Show, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune‘s Mark Maynard. It includes the 10 test drives available for visitors and the People’s Choice awards where you get to pick the best car. Oh, and there’s also the scratch-and-sniff program that was printed by the [...]

Folks were lined up to be the firsr in the door at the San Diego car show this morning. Its the biggest in recent years and will be a lot of fun. I’ll be at the Union-Tribune booth on Saturday afternoon so stop by!

Sometime after the Aztec game finishes on Saturday and before the Charger game on Sunday, do check out the Coronado Speed Festival. It’s an extremely unique event that’s actually a moving — fast moving — museum. One of the great things about the car hobby is that unlike almost anything else, cars move. And for [...]