pits Archives | Page 3 of 3

Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll]

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Kia

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata – Click above to enlarge

The Koreans are coming! Actually, strike that… they’re already here. As a matter of fact, both the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and its corporate kissing cousin, the 2011 Kia Optima, rank very highly on our own midsize sedan pecking order chart. All of this begs the question: Which one is better, and why?

The boys from Inside Line decided to pit the two sedans, which share most major components and assemblies, against each other in a no-holds-barred fight for supremacy. Not surprisingly – both use 2.4-liter four cylinder engines (plus or minus California emissions…) and six-speed automatic transmissions, and both weight nearly the same – picking a winner means delving into the details.

And IL found that the details favored the Kia. There are a number of reasons given for the why and how of this conclusion, which you can read all about right here. Basically, though, IL found that the Optima is tuned more for the enthusiast as opposed to the competent and comfortable nature of the Sonata.

Which one would you pick? Take our poll below and then feel free to talk about your choice in Comments.

View Poll

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima: First Drive

[Source: Inside Line | Main Image: Kurt Niebuhr for Edmunds]

Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll]”

Video: Motor Trend pits Ferrari 458 Italia against Ducati 1198S

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Motorcycle

Ferrari 458 Italia vs Ducati 1198S

Ferrari 458 Italia vs Ducati 1198S – Click above to watch video after the jump

Italy produces machines that look good rolling slow or screaming towards the ever evasive horizon, so it’s no surprise that Motor Trend decided to pit two of the boot country’s finest against each other: the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Ducati 1198S. Both are exotic machines with a laser-focus purpose crafted into each example built: Be. Fast.

The buff book boys were kind enough to have their cameras rolling as the 458 and 1198S faced off in two competitions. First up is a head-to-head race followed by a lap around the Streets of Willow. The result? While the Ferrari is an amazing machine, the Duc’s power-to-weight simply laughs in the face of the V8-powered Prancing Horse. See for yourself by watching the video after the jump, then check out the accompanying article in the link below. Grazie per la punta, Steve!

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: Motor Trend pits Ferrari 458 Italia against Ducati 1198S

Video: Motor Trend pits Ferrari 458 Italia against Ducati 1198S originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Motor Trend pits Ferrari 458 Italia against Ducati 1198S”

Video: James May pits American RV vs. British camper van

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

James May

James May explores RVs, U.S. and UK style – Click above to watch video after the jump

On the subject of recreational vehicles, James May comes alive. Taking a video tour of a U.S. RV and a campervan, or what suffices for an RV in the UK, May brings a severe wit along as his helper. According to Captain Slow, the Boogie Nights-like interior of the U.S behemoth lets you know how you’re supposed to treat its interior, while the oven in the British equivalent “is barely big enough for one of my pies.” It’s a toss-up as to who wins that round… Follow the jump for all of May’s motorhome feelings.

[Source: BBC America]

Continue reading Video: James May pits American RV vs. British camper van

Video: James May pits American RV vs. British camper van originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: James May pits American RV vs. British camper van”

Video: Motor Trend pits ZR1 against 911 Turbo with surprising results

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet, Porsche

Motor Trend pits Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 against the Porsche 911 Turbo

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 versus Porsche 911 Turbo – Click above to watch video after the jump

One is an American-bred land rocket and the other a Teutonic track terror. They are the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo, and Motor Trend has pitted them head-to-head.

Former Autoblog scribe and known flip-flop aficionado Jonny Lieberman provides the voice work and the words for the buff book’s latest supercar comparo, with Herr Lieberman calling the 911 Turbo “the fastest manual transmission car we’ve ever tested.” Acceleration is one thing, but what about sex appeal? According to Jonny, “… both cars were alternately parked in front of my house for two weeks, but I discovered pink lipstick marks only on the Corvette’s windshield. That’s right, someone kissed the ZR1.”

We have video of both cars running side-by-side for 1,320 feet and the winner is not much of a surprise. The overall winner of the comparison? Well, that’s another story, and the results may surprise you. Hop the jump to see the clip of these two going head-to-head [*Warning: Autoplay].

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: Motor Trend pits ZR1 against 911 Turbo with surprising results

Video: Motor Trend pits ZR1 against 911 Turbo with surprising results originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Motor Trend pits ZR1 against 911 Turbo with surprising results”

Video: AutoExpress pits Ford Focus RS against Porsche Boxster

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Porsche

Ford Focus RS vs. Porsche Boxster – Click above to view the video after the jump

When it comes to a German-American face-off, you could do a lot worse than pitting the BMW M3 against Ford’s 5.0-liter V8 powered Mustang. How much worse? How about a comparison test between a base Porsche Boxster and Ford’s turbocharged, torque-steering Focus RS.

Granted, the rationale for the shoot-out came down to cost. Across the pond both the Boxster and the Focus sticker for about the same amount. But that’s about where the similarities end. Almost.

While the Focus channels over 300 horsepower to the front wheels, it also tips the scales 3,200 pounds. Compared to the 2,900-pound, 255-hp, rear-driven Boxster, Ford’s hottest hatch comes off as rather portly, although both manage to run to 60 mph in under six seconds.

But beyond the stats and the all-too-important lap time, the real question is how best to spend your sports car money and which vehicle is the most entertaining to drive. For that, you’ve got to jump.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Continue reading Video: AutoExpress pits Ford Focus RS against Porsche Boxster

Video: AutoExpress pits Ford Focus RS against Porsche Boxster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: AutoExpress pits Ford Focus RS against Porsche Boxster”

Race the Base fundraising event pits supercars against military jets

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Canada

Supercars and airstrips go together like Corvettes and gold chains. There are simply few other locations on this blue marble we call Earth that allow owners to legally and somewhat safely tickle the upper limits of their speedometers. That’s exactly why Zahir Rana, the owner of ZR Auto, has organized a charity event to allow supercar owners to have their time on the tarmac at the Canadian Forces Base in Cold Lake, Alberta. For the low, low price of $1,500 per car and $500 per passenger, drivers can ratchet their exotics all the way up to 185 mph or better.

There will even an exhibition in which Rana will put his twin-turbo, 860-horsepower Ferrari Enzo toe-to-toe with a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet, but the best part is that every last dollar will go to four charities. The Military Families Support Society, Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, Bonnyville Health Foundation and Hearts for Healthcare will all benefit from the Race the Base event. There are only 100 slots available, so if you happen to own a car worth wringing out and have $1,500 Canadian burning a hole in your pocket, head over to the ZR Auto site for more information.

[Source: ZR Auto via The Vancouver Sun]

Race the Base fundraising event pits supercars against military jets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Race the Base fundraising event pits supercars against military jets”

Video: MT pits Mustang GT 5.0 against BMW M3

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, BMW, Ford

2011 Ford Mustang vs 2010 BMW M3 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ask and ye shall receive. Well, not always. We could probably ask to borrow a 2010 BMW M3, a 2011 Ford Mustang GT and private access to both a drag strip and a road course until our faces turned blue, but that doesn’t mean we’d get any of the four anytime soon. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the goons at Motor Trend. They’ve set about answering the question on everyone’s mind once the specs for these two mighty coupes turned out to be so similar – who’s top dog?

In classic MT fashion, the two cars were put through all of the necessary paces to drum up semi-official figures. Both the bad Bavarian and the muscle-bound Blue Oval were tested on 0-60, quarter mile, skid pad, figure eight and lap times, and the results are, well, they’re surprising. We won’t ruin the surprise by telling you who comes out ahead of the curve, but we will say that we know where we’d put our money if it were our name on the line. Hit the jump for the flicks. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: MT pits Mustang GT 5.0 against BMW M3

Video: MT pits Mustang GT 5.0 against BMW M3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: MT pits Mustang GT 5.0 against BMW M3”