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Opinion: Time to raise the speed limit, how does 150 MPH sound?

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Autoline on Autoblog

Ever since automobiles first appeared over 100 years ago, every automaker has tried to make them go faster. And they succeeded. Nearly every year, cars became more powerful with higher top-end speeds. But then, in the mid-1950s, we hit a plateau. The national speed limit was set at 70 miles per hour, and we’ve been stuck at that rate ever since. As a result, the automobile has made absolutely no progress as a transportation device in over half a century.

Speed itself is not a safety hazard. It’s the difference in speeds between cars that lead to accidents.

Actually, in 1974, it got worse. The national speed limit was lowered to 55 mph, ostensibly to save fuel and lives (it did neither). Such an agonizingly slow rate of travel proved too much to take for most Americans. We demanded that the limit be raised, and we got it back to 70 mph. Now it’s time to demand another raise.

I’m not talking about some sort of modest increase to, say, 85 mph. We need to put a comprehensive plan in place to gradually move the limit up, over the next couple of decades, to 150 miles an hour. And we need to do that with no sacrifice in fuel economy or safety.

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[Image: Getty]

Continue reading Opinion: Time to raise the speed limit, how does 150 MPH sound?

Opinion: Time to raise the speed limit, how does 150 MPH sound? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World Class Driving offers pieces to the 200-MPH puzzle. We assemble them

Filed under: Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari

Autoblog Returns For Another Crack At The 200-MPH Club

World Class Driving 200 MPH

World Class Driving 200 MPH Challenge – Click above for high-res image gallery

Driving 200 miles per hour has always been at the top of my bucket list. Unfortunately, accomplishing this dream has always eluded me as it is laden with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. First, the task requires a machine capable of the speed. Second, one needs a very long, straight piece of pavement. Lastly, there is the hurdle of the law – getting tagged at three times the typical legal limit will not only seriously ruin your weekend, but also take a sizable chunk of money (and probably a driver’s license) out of your leather wallet.

After decades of frustration, World Class Driving has come to my rescue. The same company that has been touring the nation with its fleet of expensive exotics, offering regular civilians the opportunity to drive on road and track, offers the “200 mph Challenge.” In a nutshell, they provide the cars, pavement and amnesty from the law in one turnkey package. It isn’t cheap ($4,995 for this program), but successful completion puts participants in a very exclusive group of non-professionals who have driven 200 mph. To put it into perspective, more people have been launched into space.

Participants are an eclectic group. Of the 16 in my class, there are prominent physicians, attorneys, CEOs and wealthy adventurists who do it for sport (you know, the kind who travel to Russia for a supersonic flight in a Mikoyan MiG-29). There is also young 16-year-old Alec Feintuch, attending through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Poignantly, I’m not the only one with the dream of driving 200 mph.

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Gallery: World Class Driving 200 MPH Challenge

Continue reading World Class Driving offers pieces to the 200-MPH puzzle. We assemble them

World Class Driving offers pieces to the 200-MPH puzzle. We assemble them originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas House approves nation’s fastest speed limit at 85 mph

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

85 mile per hour speed limit sign

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and now it seems everything might be faster too. The House of Representatives in Texas has approved a new transportation bill, and it includes legislation that would allow the Texas Department of Transportation to raise speed limits to 85 miles per hour. The state’s Senate is presently considering a similar measure.

The DOT cannot simply go out and slap up a fresh new set of 85-mph speed limit signs. Both engineering and traffic studies must be done before motorists are given a green light to those increased speeds. Don’t feel too bad for those speed-restricted Texans, though. 85 mph wouldn’t be much of a stretch for Texas, since the state already enjoys 520 miles of highway with an 80-mph speed limit.

[Source: Chron.com | Image: University of Michigan]

Texas House approves nation’s fastest speed limit at 85 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

Hinson Motorsports 2011 Texas Mile crash

Hinson Motorsports crash at the 2011 Texas Mile – Click above to view video after the jump

Over the weekend, we showed you a horrifying series pf pictures from Hinson Motorsports’ 230-mile-per-hour crash at the Texas Mile. The tuner’s twin-turbo Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was trying to break its own 224-mph standing-mile record for Corvettes when something went badly awry.

Even now, nobody’s quite sure what caused the nearly 2,000-horsepower Vette to go airborne, but it did, rolling several times before coming to rest on its wheels. The new video after the jump offers multiple perspectives on the crash as it happened, and it looks much more violent in the videos than it did in the earlier video footage and stills we saw.

Once again, the driver somehow managed to walk away from the crash unharmed, and Hinson has promised to come back with another entry in the Fall.

[Source: Hinson Motorsports via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash

Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video Update: Twin-turbo Corvette’s incredible crash at 230 mph

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Safety, Videos, Chevrolet

Corvette Z06 flipping at 230 mph

Texas Mile Corvette crash – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Over the weekend, we told you about the Hinson Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 that flipped at a mind-bending 230 miles per hour. Amazingly, the driver wasn’t seriously hurt, and we were happy to see that at least one enterprising camera man took photos of the wreck.

But seriously, folks, if cars are going 230 miles per hour, someone should be getting video, right? At least one person was, and although the video is a bit rough (read: very rough), you can clearly see a speeding bullet dressed up as a Vette rolling near top speed. Amazingly, the jazzed-up Z06 appears to roll but one time before landing back on its wheels and spinning to safety. Is that a Corvette or a cat? Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself. Thanks to all for the tips.

Gallery: Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 Texas Mile crash

Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 Texas Mile crash

[Source: The Daily Hoon]

Continue reading Video Update: Twin-turbo Corvette’s incredible crash at 230 mph

Video Update: Twin-turbo Corvette’s incredible crash at 230 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twin-Turbo Corvette flips while going 230 MPH at Texas Mile

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 crash

Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 crash – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hinson Motorsports was on its way to breaking another speed record this weekend at the Texas Mile when its twin-turbo Corvette Z06 took an off-track excursion. The combination of speed and grass didn’t go over well, and the ‘Vette turned over once before landing back on its wheels.

Thankfully, the driver walked away from the wreck, a testament to the Texas Mile’s strict safety standards, and the strength of Hinson’s Corvette. With the driver OK, Hinson Motorsports is focusing on coming back stronger than ever with a new car.

Gallery: Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 Texas Mile crash

Hinson Motorsports Corvette Z06 Texas Mile crash

[Source: TheDailyHoon | Images: TheDailyHoon]

Twin-Turbo Corvette flips while going 230 MPH at Texas Mile originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At 219 mph, the Brabus iBusiness 2.0 is the world’s fastest Apple-obsessed office

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Brabus iBusiness 2.0

Brabus iBusiness 2.0 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Brabus does bonkers. So when it decided to cook up the latest iteration of its rolling ode to executive connectivity, it went all out – both under the hood and inside the leather-clad cabin – so lets work from the inside out.

The conversion of the rather staid Mercedes-Benz S-Class into the Brabus “iBusiness 2.0” begins in the boot, with a Mac Mini mounted in a leather-lined tray inside the trunk. The Mac connects up with a 15.2-inch TFT, 16:9 aspect ratio display that mechanically unfolds from the alcantara-coated headliner and can also be used as an auxiliary display for the – not one, but two – iPad 2s mounted in the electronically deployed and adjustable custom tables mounted behind the two front seats. The tables secure both the tablets and a Apple Bluetooth keyboard, and allow the Russian mobster in back to chat with his Swedish princess over Apple’s Facetime video conferencing system.

Naturally, all this tech isn’t any good without solid connectivity, and to that end, Brabus has fitted the S with a WiFi network comprised of UMTS and HDSPA networking to wireless wire everything together. More impressive, the German tuner developed a custom app for the iPads that allows backseat passengers to control every aspect of Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment system. Jeeves will not be pleased…

When it’s time to crank up the tunes, a 64-gig Apple iPod Touch is mounted in the rear center console and sends music to either the standard S-Class sound system or a pair of Sennheiser Noise Gard headphones, which can also be used to plumb in one of a few hundred channels provided by the wireless DVBT television receiver.

And naturally, since this is Brabus, the package wouldn’t be complete without a serious dose of pavement-pummeling power. The Brabus 800 iBusiness 2.0 lives up to its name with 800 horsepower and 1,047 pound-feet of torque pulled from the twin-turbocharged V12, shuttling the S to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 219 mph. If you’re less interested in the power and more enthralled by the tech, Brabus is offering the complete iBusiness 2.0 package for any S-Class – from the lowly S 350 to the aforementioned S 65 – but if you take your life on the road seriously, why opt for anything less? Full details in the press blast after the break.

Gallery: BRABUS iBusiness 2.0 for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Continue reading At 219 mph, the Brabus iBusiness 2.0 is the world’s fastest Apple-obsessed office

At 219 mph, the Brabus iBusiness 2.0 is the world’s fastest Apple-obsessed office originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Ruf Rt 12 R is a 230-mph bolide

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche, MISC

Ruf Rt-12R

Ruf Rt 12 R – Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche makes some amazingly capable and exciting machines. The German speedmeisters at Ruf are fans of those cars, but they like to take them, lock them in their ~~insane asylum~~ factory and release them back into the world as roadgoing rocketships. The company’s latest creation, unveiled on the 2011 Geneva Motor Show floor, is the Ruf Rt 12 R.

Based on the (quite pedestrian by comparison) Porsche 911 Turbo, the Ruf Rt 12 R begins life with the stock 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine. That unit is good for 500 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque (516 lb-ft with the overboost function). After Ruf gets its mitts on the powerplant, output swells to 730 hp and 693 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired to Porsche’s six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel-drive system. And if you’re a rich lunatic, you can opt for rear-wheel drive.

Ruf also works its magic on the body of the Rt 12 R. Carbon fiber is applied to the front fenders, hood, luggage cover, seats and is available optionally on the roof. The side and rear windows are plastic instead of glass to further aid in the quest for lightness. This weight reduction, along with the massive increase in power, has helped Ruf claim an impressive 230 mph top speed for the Rt 12 R.

Gallery: Ruf Rt-12R: Geneva 2011

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Ruf Rt 12 R is a 230-mph bolide

Geneva 2011: Ruf Rt 12 R is a 230-mph bolide originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: See Bentley’s record-setting 205 mph run on ice

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Videos, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley ice speed world record

Bentley sets an ice-speed record – Click above to watch video after the jump

When we first heard that Juha Kankkunen and Bentley had managed to set a new ice-speed record off the coast of Finland, we immediately wanted to see footage of the action. The thought of watching a race-prepped Continental Supersports Convertible dash across just 20 centimeters of Baltic Sea ice is the kind of thing that haunts our daydreams. Fortunately, the automaker has been so kind as to slip the world a quick clip of the record-smashing run, complete with angles from the sky, the ice and the cockpit.

Kankkunen demolished his old ice-speed record of 199.83 mph set in 2007. At the time, the World Rally champion was shooting to cruise past the 200 mph barrier but just barely missed his mark. He had no such trouble this go-round. His drop-head clicked off a top speed of 205.48 mph.

Interestingly enough, aside from a set of winter tires, some safety kit and a couple of aero additions, the Continental Supersports Convertible that Kankkunen used as his weapon of choice was essentially a bone-stock machine. Hit the jump to check out the clip for yourself.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible sets world speed record on ice

[Source: Bentley via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: See Bentley’s record-setting 205 mph run on ice

Video: See Bentley’s record-setting 205 mph run on ice originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: German Veyron owner’s crazy 220-mph Autobahn blast

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Bugatti

Bugatti Veyron speedometer

Ride along in a Bugatti Veyron as it pushes to 220 mph – Click above to watch video after the jump

Imagine, for a moment, that you own a Bugatti Veyron. Wouldn’t you be curious to find out what it feels like to swing past 200 miles per hour? (Okay, stupid question.) While an abandoned runway à la Top Gear would be ideal, one German man decided to break the 200-mph barrier on the infamous Autobahn.

Running up to 353 kilometers per hour – just a hair over 219 mph – is insane on any public road regardless of the vehicle used. But if there’s any car we’d want to push that hard on the Autobahn, the Veyron would be it.

In an effort to clear a path, this Veyron owner fixed a set of police lights to the car, so naturally, other motorists would move out of the way. If the excessive speed is legal on this stretch of German motorway, which we don’t know for sure, the flashing lights are certainly not. While it’s not as reckless as our favorite Russian commuter and his motorcycle ride through Moscow, it’s high on the list of things we don’t condone (yet enjoy watching as long as no one gets hurt). Follow the jump to check it out. Thanks for the tip, Marco!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: German Veyron owner’s crazy 220-mph Autobahn blast

Video: German Veyron owner’s crazy 220-mph Autobahn blast originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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