48 Car Back On Top At Daytona

Photo Courtesy of NASCAR.com

One day after over 30 fans were injured in a massive wreck in the Nationwide race, Jimmie Johnson managed to take home his second win in the famous Daytona 500 on his 400th career start. This is a great day for the five-time champion who has not won a championship in two years and has not finished above 20th since his last Daytona 500 win in 2006. Johnson also managed to run 198 laps more than he completed last year when he was crashed out of the 500 on Lap 2.

The 2013 Daytona 500 saw its fair share of wrecks including a wreck on the last lap that broke out as the leaders were entering the backstretch. However, it was nice that NASCAR did not throw the caution allowing the leaders to race back to the checkered flag making for an exciting ending as Dale Earnhardt Jr. almost race his way to a win with Mark Martin behind him pushing.

The race was also a history making day for NASCAR as Danica Patrick broke numerous records including being the first woman to start on the pole at Daytona, the first woman to lead a green flag lap at Daytona and the highest finishing female to ever run the Daytona 500 with an eighth place finish.

The Daytona 500 also marked the first official points event for the new Gen. 6 cars. However, they were fighting a lack of grip throughout the day forcing drivers to remain mostly single file in the upper lanes of the the track.

Besides the last lap wreck, there were a few other moderately sized wrecks during the race including the first on Lap 33 when Kyle Busch got into the back of Kasey Kahne's #5 Chevrolet which checked up for slowing cars. The wreck took out big names such as Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick, two of the favorites to win the race. A later wreck also took out Carl Edwards who was having a miserable speedweeks where he wrecked five different cars.

On another note, there were also a fair amount of quality issues with the Toyotas with multiple engine issues taking out top-running cars Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch as they were both leading the field. Martin Truex Jr's Toyota also had its engine fail as well.

The race also had many edge-of-your-seat moments as we saw four and five-wide racing in some parts of the track and a late duel between Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski (who managed to survive two early wrecks albeit with a fair share of front end damage). 

Next week the Sprint cup series is in the desert of Phoenix, Arizona starting at 2:30 EST.

The Top Ten:

 1.  (9) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 200, $1,525,275.
 2. (19) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 200, $1,104,814.
 3. (14) Mark Martin, Toyota, 200, $817,013.
 4. (15) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 200, $707,855.
 5. (34) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 200, $572,771.
 6.  (5) Greg Biffle, Ford, 200, $461,664.
 7. (40) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 200, $411,822.
 8.  (1) Danica Patrick , Chevrolet, 200, $357,464.
 9. (38) Michael McDowell, Ford, 200, $366,121.
10. (41) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet, 200, $338,738.

Carvana - A Whole New Way To Buy Cars

Carvana - Car Shopping Reinvented

Last night, I was introduced to a new company in the Atlanta area called Carvana. Now for those of you who are not familiar with my background, I specialize in digital marketing as well as automobiles. Because of this, I was extremely interested in Carvana.

The Internet is continuing to grow and online shopping has become the go-to method for shoppers to get what they want without leaving their homes. Previously, online automotive sites would allow you to buy the vehicle but it often required a trip to the dealer to either purchase or pick-up the vehicle. However, that is the past, Carvana is the future.

Carvana offers you the ability to browse, finance and purchase a car from the comfort of your couch. Enter your information and zip code and you are automatically presented with a list of vehicles near you ranging from high-end luxury cars to everyday drivers. After you find the car you want, you can use their financing tool to see the APR, down payment, monthly payment and term length to finance the car through Carvana. Once you purchase the car, it will be delivered directly to your door the following day so you can get out on the open road immediately.

A 2011 BMW 535i on Carvana

My favorite aspect of Carvana is the transparency that comes with each vehicle listed on the site. As you're scrolling through vehicles, you can find out all of the features as well as any imperfections. One such example of this was a beautiful BMW 5 Series I was looking at. The vehicle has a small scratch on the roof that was noted in the 360 degree visual of the car. Additionally, these are the real cars you would be buying, not a stock image of the vehicle. What you see is what you get.

While I am on that topic, each vehicle in the system has a 360 degree view of both the exterior and interior complete with bubbles showing all features and hazard triangles showing any imperfections. This feature gets you up close and personal with the vehicle like you would expect at a dealership visit. Finally, each listed vehicle comes with a free Experian AutoCheck report so you can see the vehicle history.

Now, by this point you are probably thinking, "This is interesting but you cannot truly experience the car without driving it." I could not agree more. The great benefit to this system is that you can purchase the car from Carvana and they will deliver it to your door within a day. If you do not like the car, you have seven days to return it, no questions asked. This is ample time to test out the car and ensure it is to your liking. In the event there is a problem, just return it for a refund.

Regardless of where you're reading this, I encourage you to try out Carvana. I feel this is the way of the future for car buying and I look forward to watching the platform expand in the upcoming months and years.

For more information, check out the press release from Carvana below.

Disclaimer: I have not been paid or compensated by Carvana in any way. However, I would like to note that I have not gone through a purchase with the system.

CARVANA LAUNCHES FIRST 100 PERCENT ONLINE CAR RETAILER IN ATLANTA

Consumers can purchase vehicles in 30 minutes and receive next day delivery

ATLANTA - Jan. 29, 2013 – Carvana announces its launch into the used car market following an exclusive preview at The High Museum of Art on Jan. 28. The first–of-its-kind in the auto industry, Carvana offers potential car buyers the unique opportunity to browse, finance and buy a car entirely online. Carvana.com caters to a wide variety of consumers from car enthusiasts to convenience seekers by simplifying the car buying process with innovative technology and next day delivery.

Carvana is backed by DriveTime, a company with more than $1 billion in revenue and over 20 years’ experience in the car buying and selling market.  With a focus on mid-market and luxury vehicles, Carvana will launch its services in the Atlanta metropolitan area; however, with physical plant operations in Winder, Ga. it has the capacity to serve cities throughout Georgia and the surrounding five states.  With the support of the 7th-largest used car retailer in the country, Carvana will be able to leverage existing infrastructure, in conjunction with its proprietary technology, to expand rapidly across the United States.

“We have the ambition and fresh perspective of a start-up paired with the experience, infrastructure, and knowledge gained from our prior work and partnership with DriveTime,” says Carvana President, Ernie Garcia. “We are excited to introduce an entirely new concept into the car industry and breathe new life into the car buying experience.”

According to a recent survey conducted by Accenture’s Automotive Industry Group, 88 percent of potential car buyers want clearer online pricing and 94 percent would consider purchasing a car entirely online, from search to delivery. Carvana plans to capture this audience by offering a drastically different car buying experience, one that eliminates hours of haggling, waiting and frustration and replaces it with a simple, always on and relaxed process with added savings to the customer.

“Physical car dealerships have high overhead costs that are passed onto the consumer during the car buying process,” explains Garcia.  “Carvana eliminates physical overhead and replaces it with a consumer-friendly technology, creating a 360 degree online experience that gives complete control to the customer.”

Transparency and technological innovation are two key differentiators between the Carvana experience and the average used car purchase process. Carvana.com features notable advancements in photography, by providing high-definition 360 degree interior and exterior views, where consumers can take a vehicle for a virtual spin.  Carvana’s online platform simplifies the financing process by allowing consumers to manipulate down payment and monthly payment options to instantly formulate a payment plan unique to them.  

“As the first complete online auto retailer, we pride ourselves on our transparency and ease of use,” Garcia notes.  “Customers can experience our patent-pending, state of the art photography system and benefit from a unique and dynamic pricing and finance model so when they come to Carvana, what they see is truly what they get.”

Carvana’s Winder facility currently boasts a 150-car inventory with plans to increase this on a monthly basis throughout 2013.  All vehicles in inventory are less than three years old and include an Experian Autocheck report.  In addition, a majority of the vehicles maintain their original manufacturer warranty and come with full disclosure of any functional or cosmetic damage. All Carvana vehicles are backed by a 7-day, no-questions-asked Test Buy return policy.

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About Carvana

Carvana was founded on the principle belief that car buying should be a quick and painless process.  By leveraging advances in technology against the costly overhead it takes to maintain a traditional dealership, Carvana is able to transfer savings on to the customer.  By increasing transparency and efficiency, Carvana puts the car buying experience back into the hands of the consumer. For further information, please visit www.carvana.com.

GM Reveals 2014 Corvette Stingray and Z51

The first all-new Corvette since the C5 in 1996 has been officially revealed to the press tonight at an event in Detroit. During the presentation, GM laid out all of the aspects of the new car which I will outline below.

A "New Car" But The Same Formula:

2014 Corvette - Photo Courtesy Of Edmunds

The Corvette C7 may be a new car but that does not mean that the essence of the Corvette has changed. The 2014 Corvette will remain a two-piece hatch back body with a rear-mounted transaxle and a front engine.

When it comes to the hardware of the new C7 generation, it is clear that GM is making an effort to attract drivers worldwide to the brand without disappointing traditional Corvette owners. The Corvette will be offered in two variations. The base version has officially been touted the "Stingray." Additionally, GM also announced a high performance version known as the Z51.

An All New Chassis and Weight Saving Techniques:

2014 Corvette - Photo Courtesy Of Edmunds

While both of these cars vary in performance, they will both feature an all new, entirely aluminum chassis. This is a major change from the C6 variant where only the Z06 and ZR1 models featured the entirely aluminum chassis.

One major benefit for the Corvette is the weight reduction as a result of the aluminum chassis. Its assembly begins with hydroformed side sills that are then joined to hollow sand castings in the front and rear of the chassis, die-cast inner tunnel structures, stamped bulkheads, and extruded crash sections at both ends. The final assembly stage is the bonding, bolting, and welding on the pieces resulting in a chassis that is 99 pounds lighter and 57% stiffer than the chassis from the C6.

Additionally, GM also used hollow sand-cast aluminum subframes and front lower control arms to cut additional weight. The balsa wood-core floor panels have also been replaced with fiberglass and a synthetic foam core.

Finally, the C7 will feature a carbon-fiber hood and removable carbon fiber roof panel in addition to fiberglass front fenders, door skins, rear-quarter panels and deck.

Amazingly, the new C7 is still heavier than the outgoing C6. While the number has not been revealed, the additional hardware and safety technology makes it unlikely that the car will be any lighter than before. However, the car is expected to have a 49/51 weight distribution and be around 100 pounds heavier than the outgoing C6.

The Drive:

For those not familiar with the current Corvette, it is more of a classic muscle car than a sports car. The C6 was designed to go in a straight line and it completely lacked finesse. While this is a brand of honor for most Corvette owners, it was not very helpful boosting sales.

As part of improving the driving dynamics, GM worked to address the vague steering of the C6 by beefing up the rack-and-pinion steering system and switching to electric power steering (although it is hard to see this as helpful).

2014 Corvette Drive Select- Photo Courtesy Of Edmunds

One major new feature is a knob on the console that will modify the settings of the car in five different ways. As you go through each setting, the throttle mapping, steering assist/ratio, stability control, cylinder deactivation (which seems a bit pointless in a 450hp sport car), aggressiveness, differential, and suspension calibrations of the Z51 model all change. And if you don't like the way they change, you can even adjust and reprogram the settings as you see fit.

In order to compete with the 911 benchmark, GM also decided to ditch the Goodyear tires of the C6 for Michelin Super Sport tires on both models. While the size remains the same (245/40 in the front and 285/35 in the rear) the Z51 offers lower-profile tires (245/35 front and 285/30 rear) while both models also featuring larger breaks resulting in a 60-0 breaking distance of 11 feet less than the outgoing model.

The Power:

Corvette LT1 V8 - Photo Courtesy Of Edmunds

The new C7 will feature that brand new 6.2-liter LT1 V8 power plant which has been preliminarily rated at 450 horsepower and 450 Pound-feet of torque. In the Corvette, this will be good for a 0-60mph time of under four seconds. Additionally, (what I consider to be good news), GM has decided to dump a rumored automated manual gearbox and stick with two options: a six-speed automatic and a brand new seven-speed Tremec TR6070 manual. In the Tremec, the transmission receives a throttle blipping rev-matching feature as well as a twin-plate clutch and a dual mass flywheel.

One interesting thing to note is that the new seven-speed manual has the same exact gear ratios as the six-speed in the C6. In the C7, the seventh gear just acts as a massively-tall overdrive gear to raise the fuel economy (expected to be around 16/26 mpg for the manual).

The Z51:

2014 Corvette - Photo Courtesy Of Edmunds

The Z51 is a magnificent upgrade over the base Stingray model. The high performance Vette will receive a dry-sump oiling system, shorter gearing (similar to that of the current Grand Sport), larger Bilstein dampers, a rear stabilizer bar, and stiffer leaf springs. Additionally, as mentioned earlier  the Z51 will include low profile tires that will be mounted to forged wheels raising the size to 20 inches from the Stingray's 19".

You will also get a rear deck spoiler to reduce lift and prominent air inlets in the rear fenders to feed heat exchangers for the transmission and differential. While on the differential, the Z51 receives a trick differential that is a hydraulic clutch pack that modulates the rate at which the differential apportions torque across the axle.

Finally, the Z51 gains a Magnetic Ride Control to help provide handling prowess and a compliant ride.

Say Goodbye To Bad Interiors:

2014 Corvette Interior - Photo Courtesy Of Edmunds

The C7 features a fantastic new interior a far step away from the dollar store interior of previous Corvettes. The base plastic has been replaced with soft-touch surfaces and leather. There will also be two different seats available: a base seat and a sport competition seat.

One look at the angled dashboard makes it clear that the driver is the focus of the Corvette's interior. The car also pulls from its exterior styling to design the instrument binnacle and the HVAC controls. You will also find carbon fiber throughout the interior.

The Exterior Blows Away Past Corvette's:

Rear Fender Vents - Photo Courtesy Of Edmunds

While this car may not look much bigger than the outgoing C6, it is two inches longer (176.9 inches) and an inch wider (73.7"). You will also be treated to a larger wheelbase (up an inch to 106.7") and track widths increase an inch on both ends (61.7" in the front and 62.9" in the rear).

One complaint with the C7 is that it pulls a few styling cues from the Camaro including the aggressive trapezoidal taillights and the quadruple-barreled tailpipes in the center of the rear valance.

However, it is nice to see that the C7 is less slapped together compared with previous Vette's. This car looks like people actually took the time to make the components fit together in the car. Even the performance aspects of the design look good including the hood-mounted grille used to let one-third of the air out coming in through the front grille to reduce front end lift while also cooling the engine.

Finally, the C7 pulls some styling aspects from the C6.R ALMS racecar including fender-mounted vents in the rear leading to fixed rear quarter windows (shown above).

Final Notes:

You can expect to see the new C7 in a showroom near you in the not-too-distant-future. While pricing has not been released, it is rumored to be around $54,000 for the base model which would rival the Ford Shelby GT500.

I do hope that this new Vette will be as fun to drive as it is fun to look at. Only time will tell.