Tag: jay

Video: Jay Leno’s Garage revisits the Tesla Roadster

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Celebrities, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Roadster on Jay Leno’s Garage, take 2.5 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Jay Leno gets the updated version of the Tesla Roadster, version 2.5, for a spell in the garage, which goes from a two-speed to a single speed transmission, has some revised bodywork front an back, interior upgrades to add more polish and the targa will roll an EPA-certified 245 miles on a charge. Follow the jump for his lengthy take on it, and to hear him compare it to his 1909 Baker Electric.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno’s Garage revisits the Tesla Roadster

Video: Jay Leno’s Garage revisits the Tesla Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Who’s got a 300-horsepower Ford Festiva Shogun? Jay Leno, who else?

Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Celebrities, Specialty

Jay Leno’s 300-horsepower Ford Festiva – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ford is hosting a round-the-world trip in its new Fiesta, and somehow that led Motor Trend to visit Jay Leno’s Garage and have a look at his ’80s-era Ford Festiva Shogun. There’s no way a bog-standard 63-horsepower runabout could last longer than a fruit fly in Jay’s garage, so this one does its best impression of a Renault 5 Turbo down to the engine in the rear and the blistered arches and vents.

For those who don’t know what a Shogun is exactly, it’s the perfect marriage of a Taurus SHO’s original 3.0-liter Yamaha V6 and a Ford Festiva. You take the motor and drivetrain from the Taurus SHO and place it front-to-back in the Festiva, then season to taste with wheels and body kit. Leno’s Shogun is also boosted by nitrous oxide for a total of about 300 horsepower, which is pretty good for a Korean-built subcompact from 1989.

Leno cites two compelling reasons for the Shogun: “Because there are certain parts of the world where people are going to chase you,” and “I live in a hilly area.” Of course, Jay, of course. Follow the jump for the Shogun’s story.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: Who’s got a 300-horsepower Ford Festiva Shogun? Jay Leno, who else?

Video: Who’s got a 300-horsepower Ford Festiva Shogun? Jay Leno, who else? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno gets exclusive look at Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford

Jay Leno takes a look at the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca – Click above to watch video after the jump

Sure, Jay Leno has some pretty varied taste when it comes to cars, but the apple of his eye is likely his ’66 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. He’s owned the car for the better part of a quarter of a century, and it routinely comes up when he speaks about the essence of a good-driving car. It’s fitting, then, that Leno was on hand for the debut of the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition. With 440 horsepower from a naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8, track-oriented aerodynamics and a lively 3.73 rear axle ratio, this sucker is designed for some serious flogging.

Leno managed to corner Tom Barnes, the vehicle engineering manager for Mustang, trackside for a quick rundown of what the new Boss and the Laguna Seca edition are all about during the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.

Now, the really interesting part of this whole video is when Leno lets it slip that the Boss will feature a unique tech-laden key. Barnes wasn’t willing to elaborate on the details, saying that more information would be released at a later date. Hit the jump to see the full video for yourself.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno gets exclusive look at Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca

Video: Jay Leno gets exclusive look at Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Performance, Videos, Porsche

Jay Leno and Porsche 918 Spyder

Jay Leno’s Garage gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder – Click above to view video after the jump

One of the things we like most about Jay Leno, aside from being a hugely knowledgeable car guy, of course, is his access. Who else would Porsche pick for some private time in a hangar with its forthcoming hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder, during last week’s festivities in Pebble Beach? Certainly not us. We waited by the phone, but sadly Porsche never rang.

Jay did get the call, however, and in addition to being allowed to place his all-denim outfit within inches of the 918 Spyder, he also got face time with Michael Mauer, Head of Design for Porsche. Jay didn’t have total access, however, as Mauer shot down his request to open the hood and view the car’s high-tech secret powertrain. Ah, well.

Follow the jump to hang with Leno as he learns more about the 918 Spyder straight from the designer’s mouth.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Porsche 918 Spyder at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Porsche 918 Spyder concept in MontereyPorsche 918 Spyder concept in MontereyPorsche 918 Spyder concept in Monterey

Photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/AOL

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder

Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno’s Garage talks with CamberTires inventor

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Videos, Celebrities

CamberTire inventor John Scott visits Jay Leno’s Garage – Click above to watch video after the jump

Well aren’t you all a lucky bunch today… getting a double-shot of Jay Leno action. When we touched on CamberTires earlier this week, there was some debate as to whether the new rollers was the next big thing or the next automotive gimmick. We haven’t entirely made up our own minds one way or the other, but as the comments illustrated in the last post, Jay Leno has beaten us to taking a closer look the new tire design.

Inventor John Scott stopped by for an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage to show off his wares and to attempt to convince the rest of us that the CamberTire could actually increase grip, reduce tire ware and generally improve the handling dynamics of a vehicle.

For this particular episode, Leno solicited the help of a stand in pilot to lend his opinions, so you won’t see the comedian himself put the CamberTire through its paces. Instead, Leno’s own tame racing driver took a Mitsubishi Evo X through the canyons around the garage for a quick thrashing. You can watch the video after the jump for yourself to see if it answers any of your questions. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno’s Garage talks with CamberTires inventor

Video: Jay Leno’s Garage talks with CamberTires inventor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno rolls like a million bucks on $80,000 BlackTrail BT-01

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, Specialty, Electric

BlackTrail BT-01 – Click above to watch video after the jump

You know who you are. You care deeply about the environment and know the importance of looking cool. Also, you’ve got buckets of cash. You’ve been waiting to throw down $80 grand on a Fisker Karma but you’re tired of the seemingly endless delays. Well, here’s another eco-friendly vehicle on which to spend that stack o’ cash – the BlackTrail BT-01.

Yes, it’s a bicycle. But it’s not just any bicycle. This, my affluent amigo, is an avant-garde, hybrid-electric piece of rolling retro art. It’s got a classic leather saddle with matching handlebar grips, power pack cover and valve stem covers. We repeat, leather-wrapped valve stem covers! Oh yes, it also comes with its own theft deterrent device in the form of a set of leather-padded handcuffs. You heard us.

What, you want more? Okay. It’s got integrated LED lights front and rear. OLED display with speed indicator and battery status. At its 30-50 km/h (20-30 miles per hour) cruising speed it will carry you 160 – 200km (100 – 120 miles). If that’s too pokey, you can travel 25 – 30 miles at its maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)!

While it’s not yet offered for sale in America, we expect it soon will be. Production is limited to 667 units with at least 41 already being sold at €59,500 ($75,930 U.S. at today’s exchange rate). Throw in the airfare to go get it and you’re looking at $80,000.

Hit the jump for a better look at this breakthrough bicycle with someone who could actually afford to buy one if he wanted to, Jay Leno. Scroll a little further down for bonus video of an on-sidewalk presentation.

[Source: PG-Bikes via Engadget]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno rolls like a million bucks on $80,000 BlackTrail BT-01

Video: Jay Leno rolls like a million bucks on $80,000 BlackTrail BT-01 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Prong 3 trike stops in to Jay Leno’s Garage

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Specialty, Design/Style

Prong 3

Prong 3 on Jay Leno’s Garage – Click above to watch video after the jump

Jay Leno seems to have taken a shining to three-wheeled machines of late. We’ve seen a slew of tripod racers come through the car-obsessed comedian’s garage recently, including the insane Blastolene Rocket II and the similarly certifiable CanAm Spyder. The latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage features a creation based on the wild CanAm called the Prong 3. Its inventor, Hong Quan, wanted to build a machine with the same performance as the Spyder, but with a car-like seating position. The build required fabrication of a complete steel-tube chassis that was designed by Eric Gauthier of Lotus engineering fame.

Quan says that his original inspiration for the Prong 3 came from Volkswagen, of all places. As you may recall, ze people’s automaker rolled out the GX3 concept back in 2006. Unwilling to wait for VW to produce an interesting three-wheeler, Quan took matters into his own hands. Driveline wise, the Prong 3 uses the same 103-horsepower engine as the CanAm, so you can expect performance to be somewhat diminished. On the other hand, you can stow a few bags of groceries in the passenger seat. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Prong 3 trike stops in to Jay Leno’s Garage

Video: Prong 3 trike stops in to Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno’s Garage

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Porsche, Celebrities

Porsche’s 911 GT3 pays a visit to Jay Leno’s Garage – click above to watch the video

Porsche recently dropped off a new 911 GT3 at Jay Leno’s garage where racer Justin Bell picked it up for a bit of a road trip. Before the trip, Leno and Bell discuss their preference for normally aspirated manual transmission Porsches over the more powerful turbos and dual-clutch PDKs.

On his way to Laguna Seca for the spring American Le Mans Series event, Bell finds a perfect little road for his own private hill climb and gushes over the responsiveness of the non-turbo engine and enormous Brembo binders. At Laguna, Bell hooks up with factory pilot Patrick Long to discuss the differences between the Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 he races and the roadgoing GT3 which spawned it. Even within the limits of the rules set out by the ACO, Flying Lizard and Porsche have managed to find a lot of creative ways to extract more speed out of their competition machine. Check out the full video after the jump.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno’s Garage

Video: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 rolls into Jay Leno’s Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jay Leno’s best speeding story is better than yours

Filed under: Government/Legal, Celebrities, Humor, Specialty

Just like any self-respecting car guy, Jay Leno has had his fair share of run-ins with local law enforcement. And, much like the rest of us, some of those run-ins result in great story material for those Monday morning watercooler conversations. But as you’d expect, Leno’s are more entertaining.

Take, for example, a recent exchange Leno had with Visor Down in the U.K. Says the late-night comedian:

I have the record for the oldest vehicle to be done for speeding. It was a 1912 Stanley Steamer, and I had it cranked up to 75mph on a freeway.

Nice. Needless to say, we’re suitably impressed by the speed Leno was able to attain in such a rarefied piece of automotive history. Sadly, the police officer didn’t seem to share our respect:

I’m kind of proud of that, especially considering the engine is steam-powered and makes less than 10 bhp. The cop who issued the citation was remarkably straight-faced and unimpressed with my feat, which I thought was a little unimaginative of him. How could you seriously issue a speeding ticket to something with the same engine as a small steam locomotive?

Jay, if it makes you feel any better (and we’re sure it doesn’t), we completely agree. Read the rest of the interview at Visor Down here.

[Source: Visor Down]

Jay Leno’s best speeding story is better than yours originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jay Leno a Chevy Volt intender? Umm… not so much

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

As America’s most recognizable celebrity car guy, you might expect that Jay Leno is anxious to put what might be America’s most recognizable and highly anticipated game-changing new car in decades in his Big Dog Garage. Apparently, you’d be wrong. The late night comedian spoke with The Detroit News about the upcoming extended-range electric car and, surprisingly enough, said he doesn’t plan to be one of the first in line to drive away in a 2011 Chevrolet Volt:

“If you didn’t know, you might think it’s a Cobalt or a Camry… I don’t think there’s a lot of cachet in having the first one. It’s meant to be a people mover, not a people impresser.”

If we’re all being honest with ourselves, Leno makes a fine point. For the generation of Americans who grew up on hot rods and muscle cars, the Chevrolet Volt is something of an appliance meant to be safe, efficient and environmentally friendly. Those aren’t exactly the kind of attributed that stir up the emotions of petrolheads. But that’s kinda the point.

As Leno himself points out of the Chevy Volt, “I think it’s great technology.” And it clearly is. In fact, it’s the likely future of automotive transportation. “There is a particular audience that is all about advanced technology and green transportation,” responded GM spokesperson Rob Peterson. “For people like that, the Volt has that cachet. It’s kind of like an iPhone. An iPhone is still a cell phone with a lot of capability in it.”

Perhaps that’s an apt comparison. Telephones and even mobile phones started out as appliances meant only to perform a basic function. Just as the iPhone revolutionized what the general public thought could be done with a phone, the Volt has the potential to revolutionize the kind of efficiency Americans have come to expect from their daily drivers… and it will certainly attract plenty of attention. With or without a glowing recommendation from Jay Leno.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, Leno says he’s excited about the Volt’s launch later this year and may in fact buy one. Just maybe not from the first batch, we surmise.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: The Detroit News]

Jay Leno a Chevy Volt intender? Umm… not so much originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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