Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie
Sunday, September 2, 2012
200-Proof LeMons Photos: �Revoluci�n Limones!
The 2010 season-ender race at Palm Beach International Raceway featured 24 straight hours of rod-throwing madness, with the checkered flag waving at midnight on New Year’s Eve and the party beginning seconds later. It was also one of the weirdest LeMons races we’ve ever seen. The run-up to the event was every bit as surreal [...]
Saturday, September 1, 2012
PATRICK HEAD STEPS DOWN FROM THE BOARD OF WILLIAMS GRAND PRIX HOLDINGS PLC
WILLIAMS GRAND PRIX HOLDINGS PLC Grove, UK. 31 December 2011 Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC (Ticker: WGF1) today confirms that Director of Engineering Patrick Head will step down from its Board of Directors with immediate effect....
Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines
Hamilton takes pole position for F1 Malaysian GP (PA SportsTicker)
By CHRIS LINES AP Auto Racing Writer
Beppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica David Carl Allison
Exclusive: Toyota seriously considering sporty Avalon
Like its Cressida ancestor, Toyota's Avalon has long focused on easy living comfort and value over sex appeal. Conservative sheetmetal, a cushy ride, space to spread out and general ease-of-use have historically made the brand's largest sedan popular among the elderly. But the new 2013 Avalon brings with it markedly more expressive styling that suggests Toyota is no longer content to cater to the end-of-life demographic. This shift away from a more traditional value set to edgier design and content is one the entire large non-premium sedan segment seems to be embracing - witness the newly upscale 2014 Chevrolet Impala, as well as the sculpted flanks of the 2012 Hyundai Azera and Ford Taurus.
The 2013 model's noticeably svelter sheetmetal, with its bolder front end and flowing greenhouse announce Toyota's intent, but it's features like a Sport mode and paddle shifters that really telegraph the Avalon's newfound vigor and more aspirational mission. And Toyota officials tell Autoblog that the already-shown V6 and hybrid models are just the beginning - a stand-alone sport model is also under serious consideration.
According to Randy Stephens, the model's chief engineer, a trio of Avalon concepts is headed to SEMA this October, with two of them having been completed internally - unusual for Toyota. The pair of concepts conceived in-house will have a performance bent, with at least one featuring an off-the-shelf supercharger from the company's TRD parts bin in Australia (the same forced-induction setup used in the Lotus Evora S). The house-built Avalons are said to not be as outrageously styled as most SEMA vehicles tend to be, in large measure because Toyota plans to weigh public opinion with an eye toward a production run.A trio of Avalon concepts is headed to SEMA this October, with two of them having been completed internally - unusual for Toyota.
When asked if a sportier production Avalon model would be similar to the current Camry model's SE trim, Stephens quickly and decisively said, "No. It has to be more real." By "more real," Stephens means that a hotter Avalon would have to actually offer augmented performance. A production supercharged model? Highly unlikely. A performance tune of the Avalon's 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V6 (268 horsepower, 248 pound-feet of torque) is more plausible, along with a reworked suspension and appropriate visuals. With the 2013 model's switch to electric power steering, it would also be easy to remap the wheel's turn-in and weight.
The Georgetown, Kentucky-built Avalon hits dealers this fall in both standard and hybrid flavors. If given the green light, a performance will probably take another couple of years.
Toyota seriously considering sporty Avalon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsKyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr
2012 Atlanta Cup Series Starting Lineup ? Tony Stewart On Pole
1 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet 29.787 186.121 2 16 Greg Biffle 3M / Manheim Auctions Ford 29.863 185.648 3 18 Kyle Busch Wrigley / Doublemint Toyota 29.888 185.493 4 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Eco Boost Ford 29.916 185.319 5 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 29.918 185.307 6 55 Mark Martin [...]
Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield
Zanardi eyes Indy 500 bow
Alex Zanardi is interested in racing in the Indianapolis 500 - an event he never took part in despite his success in the United States. The former grand prix driver, who lost his legs in a Champ Car crash at the Lausitzring in 2001, is about to compete for Italy in the handbike categories at the London Paralympics next month
Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch
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