The Detroit Auto Show is in Full Swing

On Monday one of the most important auto shows in the US gotunderway. This is not just a time to show off in-dash navigation screen systems andcar radio units that are smarter than the average college grad. No these showsare about all things new and automotive. Each year the Detroit Auto Show is thespot where the car industry strut’s their stuff for the US audience. Not onlydo they show what they can do but they also show what “you” as a consumer canbuy.

Honda came in with new models under the Honda name as wellas some updated Acura models.  Over thelast few years the Honda models have become kind of stagnant, boring style andout dated looks. The reveals of two of their major designs may have changedthat, the Accord Coupe and TL Sedan both got a major 2012 update, which looksgreat. Chrysler showed off a number of new updates for current models, the 200got the super S pack which seems to be the closest thing to a tuner package Chryslerhas ever offered.

Chevy stepped into the arena with a few concept cars thatare supposed to be aimed at the younger crowd. While they are unique, I thinkmany car companies forget that a car has to look good before it can be “cool”.The example of this sis the 130R and the 140S which both are supposed to be hip…butare not good looking. This is an issue that many car companies run into, in conceptvehicles or production.  Toyota and Subaruare a great example together they created the FT-86 concept. A great looking 2door coupe but once it hit production it had been so toned down and softened itjust blend into the car world like a failed Taurus model.  Mini stopped by to show off the Mini coupeconvertible which looks great while Cadillac showed off their new 3 series competitor.

The show continues till the end of the say today and givesthe people of Detroit the chance to get an up close and personal look at theideas coming up for grabs. Not only could people see the concepts but they alsoget to give input and change how the future of the automobile will change.

How to Communicate With Other Drivers on the Road

Many times there are situations on the road where we mayfeel that we need to tell another driver something. No I am not talking aboutwhen someone cuts you off making you test your brake disc and brake calipers. What this is about is good communication that will help or just showcommon courtesy when on the road.

Over the road communication is something truckers have usedfor years, not just with CB radios but with lots of other techniques as well.There are ways to say thank you, your welcome, go ahead and much more butknowing them is the best way to make driving a nicer experience.

Anyone who has let a Semi truck merge onto the highway hasseen the flashing lights. Not the turn signal but what look like the hazardsfor 3 distinct flashes. This 3 flash process is actually them saying thank younot trying to warn other drivers, truckers have been using this for years butmost “4 wheelers” don’t know the signs. The name “4 wheeler” is also truck slangfor small civilian vehicles such as cars and small trucks.

There are many messages that the average driver should knowthat can help make driving smoother. The double flash of the high beams can leta driver know they are safe to come into our lane. The triple flash is more to alertoncoming drivers of a hazard…or a hiding cop. Three flashes of your hazardlights tell the driver behind “thank you”, While 3 flashes of your headlightssays “hey you just cut me off”.  Evencabbies have signals that they use, the slight honk while driving is to letpeople know they are available. Knowing these few signals can make driving mucheasier and also save a lot of stress as well. True there will always be people whospeed up to block other drivers from merging and others that cut in line at atraffic jam. These signals can’t help with them but maybe they can make thedaily commute a little less  stressful.

The Hennessey Venom GT is Finally Street Legal

Every once and a while in the automotive world, somethinghappens that takes our breath away. No I am not talking about making leapsforward in in-dash navigation or your car stereo, no we are talkin about speed.Not just speed but more speed than anyone else on the plant…even Bugatti!Hennessey a company known mainly for supercharging cars and trucks for extremeperformance has now made their own car. When they announced their own car mostof us assumed that they would be basing it off some American car of some type.The company surprised us all when the released pics of their 1000 HP beast butnone of us expected it to be street legal.

Recently Hennessey showed off the GT at Jay Leno’s garage,this is their 6^th car that they brought and amazingly it is streetlegal. Street legal means that the car meets safety standards and has all theequipment required by the US government. This is an amazing feat because acompany like Bugatti is backed by VW and they are the largest automotive entityon the planet. Hennessey is a small company that does not have the resources…guessthey did some serious begging with investors. 

Now on to the speed and power that the Venom GT creates…0-60 yup that is 2.5 seconds, for example a Corvette ZR1 takes 3.4 seconds tomake the same trip. Now that is fast but where this car really makes itselfstand out is the 0 – 200. That time would be 15.3 seconds and that is 9 secondsfaster than the Veyron which is the fastest car in the world. The goal if the venomis to outrun the Veyron bringing the title of the world’s fastest productioncar to the US.  Now I don’t know aboutyou but I really want to see these 2 monsters go head to head in an all-outdrag race to 280 MPH. Oh and I also want to own one for myself hey it might notbe good parking it on the street but sometimes you just gotta live your dreams…right?