Carroll Shelby lived a varied life where he had many different careers. He began as a chicken farmer where his first batch of broiler chickens made him a total of $5,000. However his next batch of chickens became disease ridden and this caused Shelby’s farm business to go under. He began racing cars and made a name for himself when he entered the 24 hours of Le Mans sports car race in 1959. He won the race with his partner Ray Salvadori and began his career as a racer in the industry going on to win dozens of races throughout his career. Shelby won the famed title of Driver of the Year in Sports Illustrated two times and continued his successful racing career throughout the 1950s.

More than just a racer, Carroll Shelby used his intuitive genius to develop some of the most powerful racecars of his time. His first creation, The Cobra used Ford engines and a sports chassis that originated from Britain. This car was the fastest model that was ever made when it was displayed in 1962 at The New York Auto Show. Shelby continued to design these high speed ‘muscle cars’ and his latest model the 2013 Shelby Mustang  GT500 has the highest horsepower in the world at 662 horses and a V8 engine. Shelby dubbed it ‘his new favorite car’ after never before declaring a favorite.

The legendary race car driver spent some of his years in Africa as a tour guide and safari driver. He went overseas during a lull in the automotive industry caused by an energy crisis during the 1970s. His other ventures included a dump truck business that he started right before he ventured into farming. Carroll Shelby was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1992. He spent his later years as a technical consultant for Ford Motors. With Ford, Shelby worked on the Ford GT project where he designed the Shelby Series 1 which was a two-seater modern version of the 1965 Cobra.  Edsel B. Ford, a member of Ford motors board of directors had this to say about the motor legend “Carroll Shelby is one of the most recognized names in performance car history, and he’s been successful at everything he’s done. Whether helping Ford dominate the 1960s racing scene or building some of the most famous Mustangs, his enthusiasm and passion for great automobiles over six decades has truly inspired everyone who worked with him.”

Carroll Shelby is truly a racecar icon and his contributions to the automotive industry will never be forgotten. He was also a generous man who started the Carroll Shelby Foundation in 1991 with the goal of helping children and youth who suffered from heart and kidney issues. The foundation provided many children access to care and much needed surgery as well as providing funding in the areas of kidney and coronary research. A legend of his time, Carroll Shelby has made an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of car enthusiasts throughout the world.

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The Urus Lamborghini SUV was recently unmasked during the Beijing motor show in China. China is currently and excellent market for the innovative car however the United States is the primary target market.  The SUV, “LB736” is part of an entirely new model that Lamborghini is putting out. The move is risky since the company does not produce new lines often and so sales for the future release of this 4×4 are unpredictable. Lamborghini’s design director Filippo Perini stated “When Lamborghini creates a whole new model line, it’s automatically risky since it doesn’t happen so often.” Still the futuristic SUV offers many features that appeal to buyers and sales may be higher than projected.

The new Lamborghini Urus SUV is slated to have a large roomy interior with expanded passenger space. The SUV will have the traditional four doors but will also have a super-powered engine emitting just over 600 horsepower. The projected output in a year is over 3,000 sold at a unit price of $200,000 each. This places the projected profits very high and should easily triple annual production costs. The construction of this new model SUV is planned to be very lightweight with the least amount of metal being used. Claims made by the company state that it saves almost 250 pounds using metals and composites developed in house.

The steering on the Lamborghini SUV, Urus, is to be electro-mechanical and the tires currently on the show model are Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires measuring in at a large305/35 ZR24.Weight distribution on the final production is set to be as close to half and half in the front and back as possible for an even weight distribution. The overall look and feel of the car is impressive and its edgy, futuristic design offers instant appeal. Whether or not this will translate into sales will be more evident once the SUV has been released.

SUV’s are traditionally thought of as family cars with an emphasis on safety. The significant horsepower slated for the Urus may deter buyers whose main purchasing objective is safety over speed. Still, the promise of lower carbon emissions may be enough to attract the 3,000 yearly buyers projected for the Lamborghini. Fifty percent of the buyers are estimated to come from the United States alone. Although it is still too early to determine the sales performance of a car not scheduled for release until the year 2015, with its effortless style and superior design, the high powered SUV may prove to be a bestseller.

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1. Ferrari 458 Italia vs. Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Both the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Lamborghini Aventador are the top of the line sort scars for their respective manufacturers. They represent the highest in quality, design and output from two of the best brands in the elite sports car industry. They are not however direct competitors in their makes and model. Choosing between the two ends up being more about personal taste and design preference than output and performance, which is still a compelling comparison nonetheless.

In terms of cost, the 2012 Lamborghini is easily almost double the 2011 Ferrari. It is priced at $381,000 while the Italia’s manufactured price lists it for $225,325. Both cars are two door coupes with front and rear wheel drive. The seating capacity for both cars is a maximum of two people and the gears go up to seven speeds on both vehicles.  More exciting comparisons are the engine capabilities and output. Comparing the horsepower and engine capabilities makes the Aventador the clear winner at 6.5L tank V12 engine. The Italia has a 4.5L V8 engine but racers can easily replace this for a larger engine to pit these two sports cars against one another for a more evenly matched race.

In terms of performance, the Lamborghini Aventador has the ability to go from 0 to 60MPH in just under three seconds. The Ferrari Italia can go from 0 to 30 in 3.4 seconds making it the slower of the two without any modifications to either car. The top speed for the Aventador is 217 MPH while the Italia can go as fast as 202MPH. In terms of features, the Lamborghini beats the Ferrari hands down. The two cars share leather upholstery, tire pressure monitoring and traction control in common. The Lamborghini has a host of other features which include Bluetooth capabilities, a built in hard drive, keyless ignition, hands free calling, USB/IPod connection, power exterior mirrors, video display and a navigation system.

To compete with the 2012 Aventador, the Italia would have to be modified with a turbo charger to bring its output levels up to 700 horsepower. This would make racing these two super powered cars an exhilarating experience. As it stands now, the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 being the newer model car exceeds the Ferrari Italia’s features by leaps and bounds. It is also the faster of the two cars with a more powerful engine output. In an even race, the Lamborghini would be a clear winner however in terms of personal preference and eye catching design, the two appear to be tied.

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With the rise of fuel prices and the ebb of the oil supply, searching for effective back up sources to power the automobile industry has become essential. Fortunately, green power supporters have put together some incredible achievements that highlight the use and effectiveness of renewable energy. From shattering speed records and spanning continents, these particularly constructed vehicles show that by using alternative energy, it can productively harness and relieve the penchant on oil used for transportation and better the environment by eliminating noxious carbon emissions.

Breaking Speed Records
The growing demand of popular vehicles like the Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt has helped integrate using electricity to run cars as we go about our everyday lives. Most automobiles are not entirely electric, but are hybrids that depend on an internal combustion engine as their fuel source. Students from Brigham Young University took on the task of designing a vehicle that not only runs solely by electric, but would put to rest the typecast that electric cars all are feeble and slow. Their designed car, Electric Blue, could reach top speeds of 175 miles per hour and when it performed at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the average top speed reached was 155.8 mph. This feat was high enough to set the world land speed record in its class. Hopefully, with the success of this project, it will help guide production on helping electric automobiles become faster, powerful and more appealing to be driven for residential use.

Cross-Continent by Biofuel
The Bio-inspired Ice Vehicle (BIV), funded by Winston Wong, recently completed the first ever land–based transantarctic expedition run entirely by bio-fuel at the end of 2010. Not only was this expedition created to illustrate the power of alternative energy, but also forged to counter the bitter conditions known to Antarctica, all accomplished while navigating a team of researchers across the entire continent.

Cross-Continent by Wind
To prove their point of using the power of wind as an energy source, a German team navigated the whole Australian continent using a vehicle that solely ran on wind in only 18 days. A mobile wind turbine was set up by the German team nightly where it would recharge the automobile’s battery to ensure it had plenty of power for the next day’s journey. Once the winds were powerful enough, a kite was attached to the vehicle which sent it down the road all while conserving power to the battery. With the success of the 3000+ mile trip under completion, the team had high hopes that the use of wind power would become an efficient way of land vehicle strength in the not too distant future.

Winston Wong’s reasoning behind the BIV’s daunting task to cross Antarctica was  “to do something that people can take notice [of] and say this is the future, the future of human endeavor” to preserve the planet. It’s clear that all the teams had a similar goal in mind when choosing testing their different alternative energy sources. By putting together all these evolving ideas, the concept of biofuel or hybrid, electric, and maybe even wind powered cars is much more viable.

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#5 Sexiest Rated Car for 2011 – Chevy Corvette – The Corvette is Americas very own premium sports car. It might not possess the handling of some of the European models that are designed to be driven on roads built 500 years ago, but then again, the US was not even a country back then.

However, if you want to do a little drag racing with it, the Corvette will blow away most of the European models that come close to being in its price range. For a meager $48,950, you can drive one of the fastest and sexiest cars presently being manufactured in the US. It lines are outstanding, and both the front and back ends are spectacular creations.

#4 Sexiest Rated Car for 2011 – Maserati Granturismo– This little beauty is a 4 seat coupe that is produced by one of the most famous and respected car manufacturers in the world. When you compare its price to some of its competition, it does very well, selling for only $118,900.

It comes with a stunning red interior made of leather, and its body’s design is everything that you would expect a Maserati to look like. Its V8 produces a very respectable 405 horsepower. Men read this sentence very carefully, 100% of the women that were asked if they would date somebody who owned one of these cars answered “YES”.

#3 Sexiest Rated Car for 2011 – Tesla Model S – Who says that you cannot build a car that not only looks tremendous, but is also great for the planet and the environment. It was certainly not the people that designed and produce the Tesla Model S. It is a full-sized battery electric sedan that not only handles superbly, but it also goes from 0 to 60 in less than 6 seconds, which is not so shabby.

They range in price from $60,000 to $109,000 and it can travel up to 300 miles after only having its batteries charged up for 45 minutes. This is a very smart car, with incredible lines that forces everybody close to it to take a second and third look.

#2 Sexiest Rated Car for 2011 – Mercedes Benz SLS AMG – This one of a kind creation sells for approximately $200,000 and comes with 10 spoke forged wheels, a V-8 that produces 563 horsepower, carbon fiber trim, and an out of this world Bang & Olufsen stereo. Not only does it look marvelous, it performs superbly as well.

#1 Sexiest Rated Car for 2011 – Aston Martin DDS Volante – Nothing in the world is better than driving down the road in a convertible that is so astonishing that everybody just stops to watch you go by. If you want to own one of these gems it is going to cost you $284,000, and it comes with a V-12 engine that generates 510 horsepower that goes from 0 to 60 in a mere 4.3 seconds.

There you have it, the top 5 sexiest cars for 2011. So, please explain what are you waiting for, it is time to run to the nearest dealer and drive away with the car of your dreams.

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#2 – Hennessey Venom GT: 260 MPH, 0-60 in 2.5 Seconds – Priced at only $950,000 – The Hennessey is a real bargain if you only need to be able to get up to 260 miles an hour, since you can get it for almost half the cost of the Bugatti Veyron. It is said that with a few modifications, it can even reach 275 miles an hour.

#3 – SSC Ultimate Aero: 257 MPH, 0-60 in 2.7 Seconds – Priced at $654,400 – If you are sick and tired of losing all of your drag races to the kids driving a Ford Mustang, this little beauty will certainly show them a thing or two.

#4 – Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo: 248 MPH, 0-60 in 2.8 Seconds – Priced at $555,000 – Many automobile buffs consider this the nicest looking of the fast cars in this price range. Of course, the owners of any of the other cars would never admit to that.

#5 – Koenigsegg CCX: 245 MPH, 0-60 in 3.2 Seconds – Priced at $545,568 – This jewel is manufactured in Sweden and many Germans like testing it out on the autobahn.

#6 – McLaren F1: 240 MPH, 0-60 in 3.2 Seconds – Priced at $970,000 – You would think that with a price tag like this, McLaren could get it to go just a little bit faster.

#7 – Gumpert Apollo: 224 MPH, 0-60 in 3.0 Seconds – Priced at $450,000 – Just think, if you were a mechanic, you could tinker with the Gumpert Apollo engine a little bit, then you could beat the McLaren F1 and save $520,000 in the process.

#8 – Noble M600: 223 MPH, 0-60 in 3.7 Seconds – Priced at $330,000 – Not only is the Noble M600 a real good deal priced at only $330,000, you can still do 223 MPH, which is not too shabby.

#9 – Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster: 217 MPH, 0-60 in 3.4 Seconds – Priced at $1,850,000 – With the Pagani it is not all about speed, but style, grace, and luxury. But, for $1,850,000 most people would still like to be able to hit 250 MPH.

# 10 – Ferrari Enzo: 217 mph, 0-60 in 3.4 Seconds – Priced at $1,5000,000 – It is a Ferrari after all, so you would expect to pay more for it.

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When you start a debate on muscle cars, many enthusiasts believe that all discussions should begin and end with the Mustang. After all, it has been around for a very long time, and it is certainly the most popular model in this highly distinguished class of cars that has ever been produced.

Ford recently was very proud to announce that its new 2011 model is selling at a record pace. It first months orders exceeded over 11,000 units from the previous year. They attribute this to its new V6 engine which substantially improved its performance, while at the same time vastly increasing its gas mileage. In fact, they are stating it is now getting 25% more miles to the gallon, as compared to the 2010 model, which is no small achievement.

When Dodge brought back the Challenger in 2008, there were many fans all over the county that were extremely happy that this iconic model was finally going to be available again. For the first year, it was only available in the SRT8 Trim style, which produced a tremendous amount of horsepower, but at the expense of gas mileage.

In 2009 they made a few adjustments to their line and introduced the V6 and R/T engine options. They also realized that to get more consumers to purchase the car, a manual transmissions option would.

In April of 2009 the Camaro got back into the competition with the 2010MY car. It had a pair of excellent engine options, which were the V8 that could produce as much as 422 horsepower. The other option was the V6, which generated a very respectable 304 horsepower, while allowing drivers to achieve a staggering 29 miles per gallon while driving it on the highway.

It appears that both Ford and General Motors are so happy with their efforts that they are going to see how these exceptional cars will do in the international markets. Both companies plan on releasing them in Europe. It remains to be seen how well they will be accepted though. Europeans are notoriously finicky when it comes to their cars, and are known to value performance over speed. In addition, gas prices in Europe can be two to three times as much as America, which certainly could put a damper on their sales.

Most if not all muscle admirers are extremely pleased that the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger are all back in action testing each other once again. Only time will tell with gas prices increasing seemingly daily, if the producers will be able to continue to sell enough of them to make a profit, and justify their long-term existence.

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Special events come often and they have to be made extra special with a lavish ride. This is where a Toronto limo comes in the picture as it can ensure that the transportation offered on the special day makes the event all the more memorable. Alternatively, people often desire to have a luxurious pick up at the airport where the task of catching an airport can is cumbersome. In such a scenario, the best option that could be considered for a quality airport pickup that will transport the tired traveler from the airport to the residence or a hotel and vice versa is a Limo service in Toronto.

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We start off with the trunk as we inspect the floor for holes. If the trunk metal is thin more then likely the water that rusted it came from the rear window channel leaking under the rear glass lower molding and in to the trunk. This is particularly true on Chevy Truck Restoration projects at the bottom of the bed where wood inserts were installed.

In addition to the rear molding if the car or truck came with a vinyl top the rusting process could of been sped up even more as the vinyl holds moisture under it against the metal.

Next on the inspection list we move on to the front windshield area where the bottom glass surround molding again is a regular problem and the usual culprit to rusting the channels. If you have a GM car that came with a 4 inch wide stainless channel molding covering the entire bottom section of the windshield, this held dirt over the years and as moisture from rain and washing soaked the dirt it stayed damp rusting out the channel over time.

We go on to the doors and looking at the bottom of the door where the inner and outer panels are seamed together we check to see if there are any bubbles or scaly areas. On each end of the door there is a channel inside that holds moisture against the outer panel and this usually rust out the door within the first 10- 15 years if exposed to regular moisture. The quarter panels tend to rust out around the wheel edges due to where the inner wheel house attaches to the quarter. The bottom rear section of the front fenders on most Chevy restoration vehicles are prone to this problem which comes from the brace reinforcement and is attached behind most fenders attracting dirt buildup which retains moisture.

One area that is often overlooked is the main floor where your feet go. Leave a window down once during rain and let the carpet get soaked and you will have a damp rug holding moisture against raw metal. The bottom line is to check these areas and be sure to find any problems before it costs major money to repair.

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The Lexus CT 200h combines the new realisation of L-finesse design
philosophy with the revolutionary, full hybrid drive and the convenience
and comfort, along with discreet hospitality and cautiously considered
driver interaction, which lie at the bottom of the ownership experience
of the Lexus.

The Lexus CT 200h has been designed and constructed while keeping the
European market in mind, and this luxury vehicle is the first ever
compact, five-door car of Lexus brand. Its packaging, size, full hybrid
technology and the ultra-low emissions are just ideal to meet the
requirements of the particular environmentally-conscientious and highly
discerning customers in the key compact market of Europe. This luxury
vehicle offers no compromise on the driving pleasure, refinement and
quality standard, which hallmarks the progressing luxury inheritance in
every Lexus car.

The new Lexus CT 200h has been designed while combining glamour and
refined charm with ultra dynamic sportiness, thus forming a unique
masterpiece of serenity. Styled for optimum aerodynamic efficiency, the
interior of the Lexus CT 200h offers exceptional level of refinement in
this segment. Elegant and efficient, the new Lexus CT 200h comes with a
powerful simplicity of form, combining superior ergonomics with metallic
finishes and soft touch materials that create an outstanding environment
of premium hand-crafted quality, ideal for driving.

A 1.8 litre VVT-i petrol engine, along with a powerful electric motor,
and the full hybrid drive system of a Lexus CT 200h brings quite a
revolution to the largest premium segment in the market. Featuring an
entirely new platform, the Lexus CT 200h has been particularly designed
to combine the expected comfort of any Lexus, along with superior
handling agility and driving involvement.

Lexus has an experience of more than a decade in full hybrid powertrain
technology; whereas, the rival manufacturers are yet to produce a first
generation hybrid. Introducing the Lexus second generation hybrid
technology for the very first time, the new Lexus CT 200h not only
supports the clear leadership of the company in the development of
hybrid drive systems but also the unmatched breadth of Lexus full hybrid
models available.

The full hybrid system of the new Lexus CT 200h features a powerful
electric motor, a 1.8 litre VVT-i petrol engine, a generator, a power
control unit, a high performance battery, a power split device that
employs a gear set for combining and re-allocating power from the motor,
and the engine and the generator according to the operational
requirements. The power generator and the electric motor along with the
power split device have been housed in one compact casing of the size of
a gearbox. Drive to the front wheels is provided by a Shift-by-Wire,
seamless E-CVT (electric continuously variable transmission) of the full
Hybrid Cars system of the new CT 200h.

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