August Playseat Forza 4 Pack

Who else is pumped for the newest pack of cars for Forza Motorsports 4 on the Xbox 360? I cannot wait for this pack to drop tomorrow (August 7) on the Xbox Live store. The new pack will be available for 560 Microsoft Points and include a few of my favorite cars from the new release.

I personally could not be more excited about the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the 2013 Boss 302 Mustang or the 2013 Scion FRS (which I have pushed for for a few months). Check out the full list below and the trailer for the latest pack.

• 2012 Chevolet Camaro ZL1
• 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302
• 2013 Scion FR-S
• 2003 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato
• 1962 Lincoln Continental
• 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
• 1984 Peugeot 205 T16
• 1989 Mercedes Benz #63 Team Sauber-Mercedes C9
• 1962 Triumph TR3B
• 2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport

Be sure to keep your eye out for the new pack. This is bound to be worth the 560 points.

Allmendinger Out At Penske Racing

Is some not-so-shocking news today, Penske Racing has announced that it is parting ways with the suspended AJ Allmendinger. Allmendinger was suspended before the July Daytona race a few weeks ago for testing positive in a random drug screening the week before. Allmendinger also tested positive in a second drug test last week (click here for that story).

While no parties wants to discuss the substance, ESPN is reporting it was an amphetamine. The doctor who does the testing for NASCAR says it is not likely for any over-the-counter items to test positive in the test.

Allmendinger has entered the NASCAR "Road To Recovery" program to work his way back to the track. He is taking the more noble path compared to the only other Sprint Cup driver who has failed the test, Jeremy Mayfield.

Sam Hornish Jr, who has an extensive history with Penske, will be in the #22 Pennzoil Dodge at least for this week at Pocono while Penske evaluates future options.

Breaking News: AJ Allmendinger Fails Second Drug Test

It was announced today that AJ Allmendinger has failed a second drug test after a second test found a banned substance in his system. Allmendinger has been suspended from NASCAR since July 7th when he was removed from the car before the start of the Coke 400 at Daytona.

The banned substance has not been clarified yet and the Allmendinger camp is insisting that the results were within a few nanograms of the accepted parameters. NASCAR has not commented on the levels.

A spokesperson for Allmendinger reports that the driver contracted an independant lab to determine if any of his daily products were the cause of the failure.

If Allmendinger agrees to complete NASCAR's "Road to Recovery" program than he will be reinstated. Until that time, it appears Sam Hornish Jr will drive the #22 Pennzoil Dodge for Penske (at least for this weekend's race at Indy anyway).

Lets just hope this doesn't become another Jeremy Mayfield case.

Recovering from an Automotive Theft after 42 Years

Suffering a property loss can be a tragic experience for anyone. When you have sentimental value in the stolen item, your suffering is even greater. For 42 years, Robert Russell of Texas has searched for his treasured 1967 Austin-Healey, which vanished from his Philadelphia home in 1970. The 66-year-old sales manager never gave up searching for the missing Healey, which vanished the morning after his second date with his future wife.

After a few days, many people begin to realize that their car is gone and carry-on with an empty hole in their heart. You lose that feeling of closure and you will forever be without the peace of mind that comes with recovering your stolen property. Luckily for Mr. Russell, he never gave up and eventually spotted his car listed on eBay in Beverly Hills. After confirming the stolen car was his, Mr. Russell took position of the classic British roadster, which is now valued around $23,000.

After seeing a story like this, you should never give up hope in recovering your stolen property. There are also things you can do now to prevent a car theft happening to you in your home. Technology has greatly advanced over the past 42 years and it is a lot easier to keep your car secure.

Car Security

When you are home with your vehicle, always keep it stored safely in a locked garage. If you must store your vehicle outside, be sure to keep it locked and close all of the windows. Even if it is for a short period of time, do not leave a door open or your convertible top down. This is inviting anyone into the car and you’re making it easy to bypass that first layer of security. 

Additionally, you should be sure to install an alarm system on your vehicle with an engine immobilizer and glass breakage sensors. Most modern day cars have an option for this when you purchase the vehicle. I would also suggest installing alloy wheel locks to prevent your wheels from being stolen. An additional security method could be installing a Lo-Jack device to track your vehicle if it is stolen. 

Home Security

When it comes to protecting your car, you also need to protect your home. One suggestion is to install a surveillance system inside and around your home. This will help deter a possible thief or get a nice mug shot of the burglar if they try to steal your car.

You should also secure your garage by covering up any windows and replacing your garage door motor with one that has a rolling code system. Additionally, be sure not to leave your keys or garage door opener in the car. A burglar could smash the window to get into the home to take the car. Also, always keep your garage door closed unless you’re there to monitor it. 

As mentioned earlier, I advise you to keep your car stored in the garage. I would also suggest re-enforcing the door between your garage and your home by installing a slab door that cannot be kicked down. Also, replace any hinges with visible pins and install three-inch screws on the hinges.

Be sure to look at other DIY home security tips to protect your home and keep your valuables safe.

About the Author: Dan Miller is a home security professional and car enthusiast. He is also a copywriter for HomeSecurityDeals.com and a consistent reader of Zach’s Auto Review.

Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Wrap-Up

Property of NASCAR

Saturday night's race at Daytona was one of the better races I've seen this season. I always love restrictor plate racing because you never know what is going to happen even on the last lap. This year's Coke Zero 400 did not disappoint with the race coming down to the last few corners.

Throughout the entire race, the team to beat was the 16-17 tag-team of Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth (the Daytona 500 winner). Kenseth led the most laps with 89 while Biffle was out front for 35. They were hurt by a late caution as Jimmie Johnson was punted ducking down to pit road. This started a chain reaction accident taking out multiple cars including Jeff Gordon who was in third at the time. While Biffle and Kenseth were not involved, they already committed to pit road. Before they hit the line, the red lights came out signaling pit road was closed. While Kenseth drove through, Biffle elected to pit forcing Kenseth to re-pit and they both restarted in the back from Biffle's penalty.

While the pair did eventually work their way back up, Biffle got loose causing a 15-car accident. On the last lap, it was down to Kenseth/Biffle, Stewart/Kahne and Harvick/Burton. Coming back tot he start/finish line, it was just Kenseth, Stewart, and Burton (who had an amazing save on his #31 Chevy). At the finish, Stewart was the winner taking his fourth Daytona summer win while continuing to chase an elusive Daytona 500 win. Burton took second while the dominating Kenseth walked away with third. The drafting partners of all three were taken out in the last lap wreck though Kahne did finish in the top 10.

I did want to point out the frustrating coverage by TNT this weekend as they spent the entire race "with continuous coverage." Their idea of continuous coverage is nothing like ESPN's last year. Instead they played a commercial in the bottom third of the screen every two minutes plugging "non-stop coverage" then they would still go to commercial breaks anyway. Even after the commercial ended, the bottom third of the screen would continue to plug the sponsor limiting the size of the actual racing (i feel bad for anyone with a small TV since you couldn't see anything). Their coverage has been horrible this season often switching to less important camera angles while races were going on for the win. I hope they fix their problems soon or NASCAR dumps their coverage.

In other news, there is a surprising report of AJ Allmendinger being suspended for failing a random drug test at Kentucky. Since this report showed up 90 minutes before the race, Penske was forced to rush Sam Hornish Jr. to the track where he arrived just minutes before the green flag. Hornish ended up 33rd after a tire problem caused him to spin just pas half way. Penske officials say they will meet with Allmendinger to grasp the situation.

See everyone next week at Loudon, NH for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.

Results:
1. Tony Stewart #14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet
2. Jeff Burton #31 Wheaties Chevolet
3. Matt Kenseth #17 Zest Ford
4. Joey Logano #20 Dollar General Toyota
5. Ryan Newman #39 Aspen Dental
6. Carl Edwards #99 Subway Ford
7. Kasey Kahne #5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
8. Brad Keselowski #2 Miller-Light Dodge
9. Michael Waltrip #55 Aaron's Toyota
10. Bobby Labonte #47 Kingsford Toyota

Standings:
1. Matt Kenseth 676
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -25
3. Greg Biffle -44 (+1)
4. Jimmie Johnson -58 (-1)
5. Tony Stewart -84 (+4)

Forza Motorsports 4 July Car Pack

It is time for the latest Forza Motorsports 4 car pack to hit the marketplace. The July car pack will drop July 3rd for 560 Microsoft points and will feature some of the fastest cars in Forza. This article will run through the ten news cars. Also be sure the check out the trailer below.

- McLaren 59 GT MP4-12C GT3

This car has a mouthful of a name that sounds like the latest fax machine out of the HP R&D department but it is actually one of the fastest carbon-fiber production sports cars on the market. This car borrows a lot of technology from F1 including the steering wheel. The GT3 had to be detuned for the series to make it tractable so it is down to 539 hp (not like thats a small amount). The car also features a Ricardo six-speed sequential gearbox and will be in limited production.

- 1998 Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600

As many of you know, I love a good Aston. While this was personally not one of my favorite designs, this is a quality Aston driven by two Eaton superchargers producing 600hp and 600 lb-ft of torque from the 5.3L V8. Only 56 cars were made so here is your opportunity to snatch one up albeit a virtual one.

- 1973 AMC Gremlin X

Your thoughts are probably the same as mine, "WTF?" Yes the AMC Gremlin has finally poked its ugly face into the Forza network with the "X" trim package adding stripes, body colored fascia, slotted road wheels, and a black-out grill. While the X did add some flare, it did not add any power making the sales boost for AMC in '73 a surprise.

- 1952 Hudson Hornet

This historical car was a technological marvel back in its day. The car was also a racing masterpiece which set records that would stand tall for decades. The Hornet also had a staring role in Pixar's "Cars" as Doc Hudson. Now you can create your own Doc to take to the Forza 4 track of your choice.

- 1954 Jaguar XK120

For any fan of classic British sports cars, or cars in general, the '54 XK120 was a dream car. This classic roadster delivered an exhilarating ride and refined performance. While performance in that day was only 210hp, the car still had plenty of power (and the looks) to snatch up that beautiful lady at the Bellagio.

- 2012 Ascari KZ1R

Lets welcome yet another fax machine to the Forza family. While I cannot understand the naming system of these new hyper cars, I can appreciate a car this good looking packing enough power to reach a 200mph top speed and 0-60 in three seconds. This car gets its power from the same 5.0L V8 out of the M5 while only weighing in at 3,000 pounds. Seeing as this car will have a limited edition run of only 50 cars, this may be your best chance to snatch up a KZ1R.

- 1956 Lotus Eleven

This car was amazingly powerful for a 1.1L engine. In 1956, the car could hit 143 mph and it managed a seventh place finish at Le Mans. Because the car only weighed 1,000 pounds, its minuscule engine could do amazing things. Check out the Eleven in the Lotus dealership.

- 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

While this may not seem like a particularly special car, the SLK55 is a masterpiece with its 5.5L V8 throwing out 415 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. This loud example of AMG power features a seven-speed transmission while being one of the sharper cars in the pack.

- 1995 RUF CTR2

Even though the recent Porsche Pack added more rear-engined cars from that other sports car company in Germany, Forza continues to add cars from RUF. The CTR2 is based on the 993 chassis and is capible of 220mph and a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds from the 3.6L twin-turbo flat six. Power comes in at 520 hp eventually getting up to as much as 580hp. While they are street legal, I would advise against driving them anywhere near a cop unless you like a challenge.

- 2012 Spyker C8 Aileron

This car is designed for the GTE class and the 4.2L mid-engined C8 produces 400hp and 354 lb-ft of torque providing power through a six-speed automatic ZF box. We will see how the Aileron performs soon in the next Le Mans race.

As is typical with Forza, you can also expect new monthly rivals challenges based on the new cars. This pack is also not part of the season pass. Check out the trailer below.

Matt Kenseth Leaving Roush-Fenway

At the end of the 2012 season, Matt Kenseth will be out of the #17 Roush-Fenway Ford that he has driven since 1997 (the car was an entry by current Roush manager, Robbie Reiser). The expectation is that Ricky Stenhouse Jr., last year's Nationwide Series champion, will take over the ride beginning next season.


The rumor in the NASCAR community is that Kenseth will join Joe Gibbs racing to drive the #20 currently driven by Joey Logano or a fourth entry. Team president J.D. Gibbs has not said anything on the matter but speculation on Kenseth's departure began last weekend at Sonoma noting that Logano is in a contract year.


Following 452 career starts behind the weel of the #17 Ford, Kenseth tweeted, ''I'm very thankful to Jack Roush for the opportunities he's given me over the past 14 years. Together we have enjoyed a lot of success... as a team we are committed as ever to the remainder of the 2012 season and chasing a 3rd sprint cup title for Jack and RFR.'' 


One of the biggest issues is the lack of solid sponsorship since DeWalt tools left a few year back and Crown Royal bowed out last season. Sponsorship issues also led to David Ragan losing his ride following the end of last season. Since Stenhouse Jr is in a long term contract with Roush and in need of a ride, (Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle extended their contracts last season) it makes sense that Kenseth is out.


Lets see how this effects the #17's championship run.

Manual Transmissions Get Closer To Death

BMW F10 M5 Manual - Autoblog.com

In a time where no one respects the concept of controlling a car for yourself, many car companies are screwing those who love to have full control. Those who love to take a screaming muscle car or an exotic hyper car from zero to 60mph one gear at a time (or in the case of some cars, only one gear).

You will be hard-pressed to find a manual high-performance car today. One such tragedy is Lamborghini, who decided to cut manual transmissions from their lineup after only 3% of cars sold were row-it-yourself transmissions. But they are not the only one to do this. Look at the Bugatti Veyron, the new Vanquish, the Ferrari California/458, most AMG powered Mercedes,  and the Lexus LFA; all of these amazing automobiles forgo a manual transmission in favor of an automatic or "flappy paddle" gearbox. Even Porsche, who is traditionally known for manual transmission cars and the first to implement a seven-speed manual, now offers PDK automatics in all of their models. What a long way we've come.

It was rumored yesterday that BMW is now joining that group by taking the manual transmission option out of the next generation of M5 and M6 performance cars. I personally take issue with this because I love the new M5. If I had the means to purchase one, I would in a heartbeat. The idea of a rear-wheel-drive saloon car with over 500 horses and a manual transmission it like an amazing dream. I drove one of these a few weeks ago and I love it. I can't guarantee that I would like the new M5 (which is a few years away) but this doesn't help their case.

The problem is that most of the people buying a luxury performance car want something to show off and keep more as a status symbol for your daily commute rather than its true purpose of screaming around a racetrack. According to BMW, only about 15% of buyers are opting for a manual transmission in their new M5 which equals a monetary loss for BMW.

BMW Seven Speed Manual - Bimmer Post

Now, from a business perspective, I cannot blame them for this move. If your losing money, do not continue to piss it down the toilet. The problem I have from a car-enthusiast perspective is that I will not buy a BMW M5 or M6 now. The teenage dreams of owning a brand new manual M5 are dead. In the minds of stick-shift lovers, BMW is dying.

A bit of good news is that BMW will continue to offer it in their M3 and hopefully a future 1M. You can also obtain a manual in many "basic" BMW models. Even more ironically is that this news comes just two weeks after patent applications show a seven-speed manual gearbox in the works (with an awkward shift pattern that you can see to the right).

I sincerely hope that the manual transmission does not die off. As a memo to auto manufacturers worldwide, I (and many other auto enthusiasts) would take a car with a manual over your next "performance minded car" with any form of automatic or flappy paddle gearing system. These cars are meant to give exceptional performance whether it is on the racetrack or in town. The only reason for an automatic sports car is as a grand-touring car (even then I still rather have a manual to play with as I zip through the mountains.

2013 Porsche Cayman Spotted

Property of AutoBlog.com

It looks like AutoBlog has stumbled upon a test car that seems to be the new Cayman. This would make sense as it typically follows the Boxster which debuted earlier this year. However, an official Porsche launch is several months away.

It looks like the biggest changes result from fuel economy goals leading to a weight reduction to prevent a performance sacrifice. It is expected that the base 265hp and the 315hp S engines will carry over

The perfect gift for any Porsche enthusiast.

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Aston Martin Officially Reveals The Vanquish

The New Aston Martin Vanquish:

Although the return of the Vanquish has been reported for a few weeks now, the replacement for the aging Aston Martin DBS was formally introduced yesterday at Villa d'Este. The Vanquish has officially reclaimed its thrown in the Aston Martin lineup.

The Vanquish will sit on the VH platform of the past but I do not see that as a bad thing when stiffness is up almost 25% and power is derived from the traditional 6.0L V12 out of the DBS. I also like the current styling where bits of the design were taken from the One-77.

Inside the Vanquish, the beautifully designed interior does not put form over function as the car looks easy to enjoy and use. The cabin is also larger and trunk space has grown over the DBS.

Going back to the 6.0L engine, the motor adds 55 horses from the DBS bringing the total to 565 hp with 420 lb-ft of torque (unchanged). The transmission will be a Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic and the car should be good for 0-60 in 4 seconds.

For those of you who are not aware, I am an Aston Martin lover. I personally feel this car looks amazing and I hope to get behind the wheel in the near future.

For more information and some great clips, check out the official video from Aston Martin.

2012 MINI Cooper Countryman S Review

2012 MINI Cooper Countryman S:

Photo property of Zach's Auto Review

Over the weekend, I helped a friend purchase a new MINI Cooper. After a few months of narrowing down a car he wanted, he finally settled on a 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman S. He even narrowed it down to a particular car he wanted from Global MINI in Atlanta. On Saturday, we went to view and test the Countryman before eventually choosing to buy it.


The selected car was a 2012 S model in alpine white with black leatherette interior. The car included a panoramic moonroof, Harmon/Kardon sound system, bluetooth, black bonnet stripes, black alloy wheels, center arm rest, flat-load floor and rear bench seat. MSRP came in at $30,650.

The Car:

The Countryman is one of the latest inductees into the MINI lineup. It is also the first MINI to feature four doors and optional all wheel drive. With increased functionality and room for five people, this is the most practical car to come out of the company. 

While this swollen MINI may seem like a gas-guzzling SUV to some, the car actually employs the same 1.6L and 1.6L turbo engines as the rest of the MINI line which is good for 32mpg highway and 26 city. This makes the Countryman one of the most fuel efficient petrol SUV's on the market. At the same time, the car is not short on power with 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque from the 1.6L turbo S. This is good enough for a 0-60 time in the seven second range from its relatively light body (curb weight is 2,954).

From a manufacturing stand-point, the Countryman is not built by MINI. For those familiar with the E83 BMWs, they were built by Magna Steyr in their Austrian plant. After the F25 moved production to the South Carolina factory with the X5 and X6, Magna Steyr had an extra line at the plant to produce a new car. BMW AG decided to give MINI an SUV that would be similar to the BMW X1 which is also built in the Austrian factory.

Exterior:

While the Countryman is obviously a MINI, it does vary its styling compared to its brother vehicles. The front grill is noticeably varied from the generic MINI front fascia. The roofline does slightly invoke "Coupe" design with a slightly stretched baseball-cap look. The rear of the car uses a sturdy tailgate with a VW duplicated door latch. 


This car honestly looks fantastic. Its aggressive stance and longer body makes it one of the best looking MINI's since the Cooper came back in 02. Unlike other MINI designs - like the new coupe or the upcoming MINI Clubvan - the Countryman can best be related to a beautiful woman, it is stunning and it makes you want to see more. 

Interior: 

If you are familiar a MINI, you will feel right at home with the Countryman. Everything is where it would be in a similar car... for the most part. The Countryman adds a center rail which, depending on your rear seat configuration, can run through the entire cabin or end for a full rear bench seat (new for 2012). 

For a person who has never seen a MINI, the dashboard may take some adjustment. In all honesty, the interior is very easy to get used to and it is actually very functional and useful. The major complaints are that people seem to hate the pizza sized speedometer and the location of the window switches. 

While the interior seems very well constructed and the build quality seems top notch, I do have a few personal complains. Firstly, the seats. The standard "sports seats" do very little to keep you from moving around in the cabin. I also do not like run-flat tires and the fact that this car does not allow for a spare means that you are stuck with the expensive run-flats. These tires can cost $200 more than a traditional tire and they cannot be repaired if you pick up a nail. The panoramic moonroof cover also has a few issues. The cover is basically a sliding perforated sheet of plastic that allows in a fair amount of light and glare which occasionally makes it difficult to see.  

My last complaint is almost generic throughout the BMW AG line. I cannot stand the turn signal and wiper stalks on the steering column. With the launch of the last generation of BMW's, someone had the idea to put control stalks that do not stay where they should. If you indicate a left turn, the stalk returns to neutral making you have to push it to the right to cancel the action. Quick lane change signals are there but tend to only flash for a brief moment. The wiper stalks are the most confusing. Putting your wipers in the fastest setting requires you to constantly hit the level upwards. Turning on/off the wipers can require three separate motions.

The Drive:

To start with, the car is higher than any other MINI. You sit high (It is not a truck but it is comparable with most small crossovers) and you have very good visibility. I was amazed how easy it was to see all around the car and check blind spots. In the smaller MINIs, this is occasionally a problem due to the small size of the car. Nothing bad about it but you need to be more careful.

The Countryman is also the widest MINI and you can definitely feel it when your driving. It is also the heaviest MINI. Because of this, I would recommend the S model over the base. The base engine is fantastic in the standard Cooper but the extra weight requires extra power of the S. 


The "go-kart" feel of the traditional MINI is slightly lost on this car because of the longer wheelbase and the higher suspension. The Countryman is similar to a BMW SUV when it comes to ride quality. It is responsive but it is not a go-kart. I feel it is a good ride because "go-kart feel" tends to translate to a rough ride on highways from the firm spring and damper rates combined with a short wheelbase. With the Countryman, you have reasonable suspension travel without too much body roll combined with a responsive ride. All-in-all, the car handles extremely well when you consider it is an SUV. Do not worry about the Countryman letting you down on a mountain road, it will pull through.


I do have to admit that there is some turbo lag in the Countryman that is not as noticeable in some of the other MINI S's. I would attribute this to the size of the vehicle but it is not surprising when the car weighs in at 2,954 pounds. However, the car does get up to speed quickly. It did not take long to get up to highway speeds on an entrance ramp. The problem is that the Countryman (like most luxury/sport SUV's) is floaty and you can lose track of your speed so watch that massive speedometer.

Additionally, the automatic transmission feels slightly different in this MINI compared to other models. In other cars, the shifts are harsh and easily felt. The Countryman has a nice smooth gearbox that is barely felt climbing to sixth. For a bit of extra oomph, you can enable the "sport" mode which quickens your shifts or you can manually shift the car. Keep in mind that manually shifting in a BMW/MINI is different than most cars. Down is up and up is down. If you want to shift upwards, pull the shifter or paddle towards you or vice-verse to downshift. Also, the paddles on the steering wheel can be annoying. Both paddles do the same function as opposed to left is down, right is up. This can translate to some awkward shifts are you try to reach into the wheel to push the paddle back.

MINI Cost:

The biggest issue I have with MINI (and its parent, BMW) is that nothing comes with the car. In an age where bluetooth and iPod connectivity is standard in most cars, it is a $500 add-on for a BMW AG product. It is very easy to tack on $15,000 in additional items in this car and some of the MSRP stickers on the lot topped $38,000 in price before tax. Even a center armrest will run you $250. Another confusing aspect is that with BMW, you can get an automatic transmission at no cost. In the MINI, an auto will run you $1250.

While I do appreciate the level of customization that MINI provides, the items are not cheap. Lets say you wanted to deck out your MINI with British flags (ironic since the car is made in Austria) - interior mirror caps ($62), exterior mirror caps ($62), Valve stem caps ($17), side vent ($164) and roof graphic ($165) adds almost $500 to the MSRP of the car. 

Overall: 

To sum everything up, the Countryman is as much a MINI as any other car in the line-up. It is extremely fun to drive but it will not kill your body. The car also has plenty of power with the S turbo engine and you could easily get up to speed in a hurry if you need to. It is also fantastic to see a MINI that can actually fit a family of five with reasonable room and cargo. 


If you you are looking for a family vehicle and it fits your budget I would definitely consider the Countryman for a small, fun SUV. However, I do feel the best option will be a JCW powered option (in the works) with 208 hp and a six-speed manual transmission to compensate for the weight.

Recall Round-Up June 20

June 20 Automotive Recalls:

BMW: 

If you own a 2012 diesel X5 or a 2013 X5 or X6, your car may be under recall with BMW for a leaking power steering pump. The pump may leak power steering fluid potentially causing a fire if the fluid sprays on to hot engine parts. This recall is the result of an NHTSA investigation for a "machining error" in the steering gear surface.


BMW will begin to notify affected owners in July. These cars will be inspected and defective parts will be replaced if necessary. 


For more information, contact BMW North America at 1-800-525-7417.

Honda: 

Honda is recalling more than 50,000 new 2012 Civic sedans for improperly installed driveshafts. The driveshaft can separate and cause the Civic to fail to shift into any gear. Additionally, manual Civic are subject to roll away if the parking brake is not engaged.

This is the second recall for the 2012 Civic. The last recall was for leaky fuel lines due to "misplaced O-rings" during production.

Starting tomorrow (June 21), Honda will begin to notify all affected owners to bring their Civic in. If necessary, Honda will replace the driveshaft.

For more information, please contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 with recall number S40.

Mercedes Benz:

Mercedes Benz is recalling 2007-2009 E350 4MATIC wagons and sedans. About 3,600 E350's have a load-level suspension which can fail reducing driver control and increasing the risk of a crash. 

Affected owners will be contacted in August. Following an inspection, Mercedes Benz will replace the level control connecting rod for free.

For more information, please contact Mercedes Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Recall information courtesy of the NHTSA.

Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan Wrap-Up

With a wave of the checkered flag at Sunday's Quicken Loans 400, Dale Earnhardt Jr. snapped a 143 race winless streak. "That was the worst feeling, riding around with 15 laps to go and wondering what was going to happen - how you were going to lose," Jr said.


There was no losing for Jr. this time as his #88 Chevrolet won for the first time since 2008 with a 5.4 second victory. Ironically enough, that June 15, 2008 win came almost four years ago to the day. His last win also came at Michigan.


With 11 top-10's already on the season, Earnhardt has had one of the most consistant seasons in a long time. A season that any driver would wish for as he comfortably sits in second place for the championship.


Speed was also a topic of conversation with qualifying speeds soaring over 200 mph on the newly paved track.


Accidents were also increased at the track where we saw last week's winner, Joey Logano, get taken out in a multi-car crash which brought out the caution for six laps. Almost immediately after the restart, Denny Hamlin's toyota decided to go for a spin through the grass and caught fire. Luckily, Hamlin was uninjured in the wreck.

Kurt Busch:

On another note, Kurt Busch had another run-in with a reporter. Following Saturday's Nationwide race, Busch chose not to fulfill his media obligations. NASCAR rules state that the top three finishers must take with MRN Radio first on pit-road. 


In the media center, The MRN issue came up about Busch leaving before fulfilling his obligations. Busch reportedly replied, "That's what everybody says, don't they?" When questioned by ESPN's Marty Smith about the refusal, Busch told Smith to come over with a camera before saying, "Have you ever heard of sarcasm?"


We are not likely to see any penalty for the incident. However, for a driver who is seeking sponsorship and an owner willing to provide a top quality ride, Busch is not doing himself any favors with his behavior. I am curious to see if he will be in the car come next Sunday.


Results:
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Diet Mtn. Dew Chevrolet
2. Tony Stewart #14 Office Depot Chevrolet
3. Matt Kenseth #17 EcoBoost Ford
4. Greg Biffle #16 3M Ford
5. Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe's Chevrolet
6. Jeff Gordon #24 DuPont Chevrolet
7. Clint Bowyer #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota
8. Juan Pablo Montoya #42 Target Chevrolet
9. Marcos Ambrose #9 Stanley Ford
10. Kevin Harvick #29 Budweiser Chevrolet


Standings:
1. Matt Kenseth 565
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -4
3. Greg Biffle -17
4. Jimmie Johnson -33
5. Denny Hamlin -51

Saab Saved... For Now

A few weeks ago I reported that a mystery company named National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB was in negotiations to purchase Saab and save it from bankruptcy. It was recently announced that the company has purchased the company for an undisclosed amount.

National Modern Energy Holdings and Sun Investment LLC. joined together for the sole purpose of buying Saab for its electric technology. The purchase assumes the $1.9 billion in Saab debt but both sides agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Interestingly the sale did not include Saab Automotive Parts AB (which the Swedish National Debt Office is taking over), the rights to the 9-5 or 9-4x, or the rights to the Saab name in general (owned by Scania and the Swedish Aerospace And Defense group or Saab AB). The only naming right purchased seems to be "9-3".

Additionally, Automotive News Europe reports a new electric car will be out in 2014 based on the next 9-3. NEVS also announced the hiring of 200 engineers to work on the electric car program. They are also looking to partner with Mahindra and Mahindra (once in the running for Saab's assets) to develop a gas-powered 9-3 as well as other future models.

Considering that Saab has not produced a car since 2011 and they have not been profitable for nearly 20 years, there is not much of a lower point for the company to hit. I wish them the best.

NASCAR Putting "Stock" Back In "Stock Car"

New 2013 NASCAR Body Styles:

NASCAR wants to bring the sport back to its roots and it seems like they have come a little closer. New regulations from NASCAR allow the manufactures to redesign their cars to look like the real models for next season. So far we have seen models from Dodge, Ford, and Toyota (Chevy has only released a camouflaged version of its new SS). These new designs are welcome change to the generic body we have now where the only difference between manufactures (from an exterior perspective) were the stickers for lights and badges. While I understand the reasoning for this "car of tomorrow" design, I could not be happier to see the vehicles actually looking like the street model you you buy bringing back the "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" mantra.

Chevrolet: 

All we know is that Chevy will be using a new design called the SS for their stock car. The street model should be a V8, rear-drive platform similar to the Pontiac G8 producing over 400hp. While I look forward to the car, I am curious how the stock car will look.

Dodge: 

Dodge released their new design way back in February. However, right before the release, it was announced that Penske was abandoning ship in favor of Ford. This marked the latest major Sprint Cup team to leave the manufacture since it's return to NASCAR over a decade ago. It also leaves Dodge without a major team to represent the brand (there are some start and park teams). Now I do like the new design and it closely mimics the street Charger (read my review on the 2012 Dodge Charger Pentastar V6) that many have come to love. Good luck to Dodge on finding someone to drive it as most of the major teams are already under contract. Maybe Kurt might start his own team since no one will hire him following is latest suspension.

Ford: 

Ford has elected to stay with the Fusion for the 2013 season. With the new Fusion set to be released in the coming months, Ford has decided to take advantage of the marketing opportunity of keeping the badge in stock car racing opposed to the Mustang which currently runs in Nationwide. Now I personally love the new Fusion's design and I feel that this is a sleek, aggressive looking car that is sure to sell world wide (the car is known as the Ford Mondeo in other areas of the world). Personally, I think the stock car version looks even better. Fans can see the new #21 Motorcraft Ford livery (pictured above) at the Roush-Fenway headquarters in Concord, NC. I look forward to seeing it at Daytona in February.

Toyota: 

While some have complained about a Japanese automaker in NASCAR, I feel it is great for the sport. In addition, the Camry (in addition to about a dozen other Toyota AG models) is built in the US in Georgetown, KY. This car is more American than the Charger and Chevrolet Impala (both built in Ontario, Canada) or the Fusion (Sonora, Mexico). I feel this new Camry looks fantastic and the stock car closely mimics the street version (see my review of the 2012 Toyota Camry SE).

Be sure to check these new models out next season starting at Daytona in February. Also, stay tuned to Zach's Auto Review for more automotive news, reviews and information.

June Meguiar's Car Pack | Forza Motorsports 4

With the new month rolling in, here is a look at the June car pack for the xbox racing game, Forza Motorsports 4. This month will be the Meguiar's car pack featuring a few fantastic cars ranging from the oldest car in the game to a brand new Mercedes.. The car pack will arrive today, June 5th, and cost 560 Microsoft Points. You can also see the trailer for the pack below.

One thing is for sure, you are guaranteed to see a Herbie car within the hour and there will be some complaining over the Cygnet.

The Cars (courtesy of

• 2011 Chevrolet #4 Corvette Racing ZR1

• 1959 BMW 507

• 1940 Ford De Luxe Coupe

• 2011 Aston Martin Cygnet

• 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam

• 1997 Maserati Ghibli Cup

• 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

• 1987 RUF CTR Yellowbird

• 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four RC ST185

• 1963 Volkswagen Beetle

 

Aston Martin DBS Successor To Be Named Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish Returns:

Since the Aston Martin DBS being phased out, it is time for the successor to spread its wings as it leaves the Aston Martin R&D facility on its way to Pebble Beach. The AM310 concept showed its face at Villa D'Este but we now have a clue what it will be called, the Vanquish. If that name sounds familiar to you, thats because the Aston Martin Vanquish was the DBS' predecessor and was in service until 2007. 

The car was even featured in the James Bond film, "Die Another Day." 

Look for power to come from the latest Aston Martin 6.0L V12 engine combining with light body panels designed to outperform the DBS. 

Check out the videos below for more on the Vanquish.

FedEx 400 at Dover Race Recap

Johnson with his rainbow wig in Victory Lane

Johnson and the Rainbow Wig Claim Dover

While he becomes one of the most hated and feared drivers in the sport, Jimmie Johnson cannot be ignored as one of the sports most talented driver. This week at Dover, Jimmie Johnson claimed his seventh win at Dover and third win this season (counting the All Star race). The win also put Johnson above Richard Petty and Bobby Allison for the most all-time wins at the track. This is an amazing bounce back for a driver who began the season with negative points following a terrible finish at Daytona and a points hit for "cheating."

Johnson was the dominant driver throughout the afternoon fighting only one true rival for the win: Jeff Gordon. However, Gordon had problems with a vibration in a wheel forcing him to pit and subsequently going a lap down. Gordon stayed a lap down due to an untimely (and controversial caution) for "debris" which caused him to take the wave-around. Gordon could never fight his way back and managed to finish 13th with a car that could have easily won.

All-in-all, Johnson's win came down to one thing, the hair. For those of you who did not tune in, Johnson was sporting a rainbow colored wig throughout the weekend in promotion of Madagascar 3. He was quoted as saying, "The hair really brought some speed to the team."

It is nice to see consistant success for Rick Hendrick who picked up his 200th career win as an owner back at Darlington. This race marks the fourth in a row for Hendrick including Kasey Kahne's win last week at Charlotte. It also marked a 3-4 streak for Johnson.

On another note, there was a massive 13 car wreck on lap 9 taking out Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, and Regan Smith among others. The accident was caused by contact between Stewart and the 83 of Landon Cassill coming off the corner. Besides that, most of the cautions throughout the day were due to debris or engines spontaneously combusting.

Notable:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues his impressive season with another top five leaving him third in points.

Kurt Busch has more anger issues using another expletive as he threatened to "beat the %*&#" out of the reporting questioning him following Saturday's Nationwide race.

Tune in next week for the Pocono 400 at 1pm.

Results:

1. Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe's Chevrolet
2. Kevin Harvick #29 Jimmy Johns Chevrolet
3. Matt Kenseth #17 Best Buy Ford
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr #88 Amp Energy Chevrolet
5. Clint Bowyer #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota
6. Aric Almirola #43 Jani-King Ford
7. Martin Truex Jr. #56 Napa Toyota
8. Joey Logano #20 Home Depot Toyota
9. Kasey Kahne #5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
10. Marcos Ambrose #9 Stanley Ford
11. Greg Biffle #16 3M Ford
12. Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Light Dodge
13. Jeff Gordon #24 DuPont Chevrolet
24. Kurt Busch #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet
25. Tony Stewart #14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet
26. Carl Edwards #99 Subway Ford
29. Kyle Busch #18 M&M's Toyota

Points Standings:

1. Greg Biffle #16 486 points
2. Matt Kenseth #17 -1
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 -10
4. Denny Hamlin #11 -22
5. Jimmie Johnson #48 -33

2012 Toyota Camry SE Review

For over a decade, the Toyota Camry has been one of the best selling cars in America and it is responsible for multiple Toyota and Lexus models including the Avalon, Highlander, ES, and RX among others. The Camry and related models control almost 50% of Toyota’s overall sales on a yearly basis making it a very important part of Toyota's sales strategy.

With the 2012 model year, Toyota has redesigned its   best seller following a strict five-year schedule. This new design continues to be a reliable, comfortable and affordable vehicle. Additionally, the 2012 model increases fuel efficiency, power and value over the previous generation making it a top competitor for the mid-size class.

The Camry that I have been testing is a 2012 SE four cylinder in magnetic grey metallic. The packages include: leather (black leather seats with grey softex insert), upgraded audio with Entune, convenience package (includes a backup camera, auto-dimming rear view mirror, HomeLink universal transceiver, anti-theft alarm, and smart key system), eight-way power adjustable seats, and power tilt and slide moonroof. The sticker for the car was $29,078.

Technical:

The four cylinder 2.5L packs 178 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque with power going to a six speed automatic transmission equipped with a manual mode. This power is good enough for a 0-60 time in the eights while obtaining an EPA estimated 35mpg highway. The new Camry has also been through a diet regimen dropping 155 pounds from the previous model. The 2.5 and 3.5 liter engines remain unchanged while the hybrid receives some modifications like an electric water pump and better high-voltage-batter control.

The Drive:

The Camry is designed to provide a comfortable, smooth ride. I feel this car checks those boxes. There is little to no wind or road noise and the ride is smooth but manages to not be floaty. The new electronic power steering system is a bit of a disappointment. There is no steering feel compared to traditional hydraulic systems and there is no on-center feel. However, considering this change is common in everything from Toyota’s to Porsche’s, it is not the biggest deal.

There are some great mechanical features for upgrading to the SE model. The package stiffens the front strut suspension, lowers the car slightly, adds a longer stabilizer bar in favor of a pliant tube design, and removes fluid filled bushings for more-rigid pillow-ball designs. This helps to increase control over the base LE Camry while adding a bit of sport to the drive.

It is very hard to have true fun in this car with all of the Toyota assists activated. I would relate it best to a catholic school nun waiting with a ruler to smack anyone acting out. Even with the stability and traction systems disabled, it is very hard to do anything more than just cruising. Even dropping the transmission into manual mode and downshifting for a pass is incredibly uneventful. On that note, the transmission in this car seems out of place with paddle shifters and a manual mode. This is not a sports sedan and it is very noticeable in manual. Shifts can be harsh and there are a few bugs in the gear selection (you always start in 4th gear even if you are stopped). The six gears, however, do contribute to the smooth drive of the car when left to its own devices. 

Design:

While some dislike the generic look of this vehicle, I personally enjoy it. It was one of the biggest selling features to me compared to the likes of Kia, Hyundai, Honda and Ford. I like the aggressive stance (especially in SE trim), angled sheet metal, and simple cues on the Camry. I also enjoy having a car blend in. I feel that this blends in very well since there are already so many new 2012 Camry’s on the road. The car also takes some design cues from NASCAR tests. Examples of this are the slight fins on the taillights and the side mirrors.

The Interior:

I personally despised the last generation Camry mainly for its interior. It seemed too cheap with heavy use of hard plastics. I had the feeling they were going for a mid-size rental car with an attempt at a Civic like interior. This newer interior is greatly improved. While there is still a lot of plastic, the materials are of higher quality. The dash has a leather effect with stitching and a well-designed control layout puts everything where you would expect it to be. There is ample room in the car and you could easily fit 5 American sized adults in the car with a carry-on suitcase for each in the trunk (the car has 15 cubic feet of trunk space with the seats up).

The SE trim adds to the fun by including a three spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated Bluetooth controls, a silver trim, and paddle shifters. The vehicle also includes a 6.1” screen for the new Entune system with navigation. Additionally you will find French stitched upholstery, more seat bolsters and a decrease in chrome accents (they look out of place on other packages).

Fuel Economy:

To begin with, fuel economy is up in the four-cylinder model by 3mpg rating it at 25 city and 35 highway. This vehicle is even obtaining better fuel economy than its baby brother Corolla where I am averaging 33 mpg highway. On another note, the V6 is also up 1 mpg to 21/30 and the revised hybrid power plant jumps from 31/35 to 43/39. The surprise is how they obtained these increases (in the fossil fuel engines). Instead of drastic modifications, Toyota has installed low-rolling resistance tires, more aerodynamic queues, taller gears and electric power steering to increase economy to compete with its competitors. As I mentioned earlier, weight is down which also benefits fuel economy considering the engines have remained the same.

Conclusion:

This is a fantastic vehicle for anyone seeking a smooth-riding car that can carry five people and still obtain highway fuel millage in the 30’s. If you are not sold on the SE, you may be interested in the hybrid model with new regenerative breaking and close to 40mpg in the real world. If you feel the stickers on the SE and hybrid are too high, you could look into the base or LE. For those looking for a bit more power, consider the 3.5L V6 SE model. If you are looking for fun, go for German or a muscle car. This is a civilized cruise vehicle.

Coke 600 Recap

It is fantastic to finally see Kasey Kahne showing some success on the track. Since his season began with Hendrick Motorsports, there has been very little to celebrate for the #5 Farmers Insurances Chevy until his win on Sunday night. The win also marks Rick Hendrick's 201st win following Jimmie Johnson's victory two weeks ago at Darlington. Kahne also controlled the race at the end finishing over five seconds ahead of Denny Hamlin in second. Kyle Busch was third and Series points leader, Greg Biffle, finished fourth.

Speaking of Johnson, he had a rough race. Johnson was hurt by a pit road penalty where his jack-man dropped the jack early. This caused Johnson to leave his pit box with the fuel tank (and the pit crew member) attached to the car. For those not familiar with pit cues, it is customary for a dropped jack to signal to the driver that it is good to leave. It seems that there was a mix up regarding the number of tires to take. All in all, it was not the worse race for Johnson as he battled back to finish 11th. This races had all four Hendrick drivers within the top 11 with Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon sixth and seventh, respectively.

Of Note:
- Danica Patrick, who started the race 40th, finished the race in 30th place down five laps. This marks the best showing for Patrick this year. Her next Cup race will be August 25th at Bristol.

- Brad Keselowski and Tony Stewart tangled on pit road as Keselowski tried to pull out of his box. He tagged stewart and send the #14 around on pit road almost taking out Stewart's crew and that of Aric Almirola as well as Almirola himself and Carl Edwards. Keselowski frantically called to his spotter to apologize to Stewart.

Results:
1. Kasey Kahne #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
2. Denny Hamlin #11 Fed Ex Toyota
3. Kyle Busch #18 M&M's Toyota
4. Greg Biffle #16 Fastenal Ford
5. Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Light Dodge
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr #88 National Guard Chevrolet
7. Jeff Gordon #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
8. Kevin Harvick #29 Budweiser Chevrolet
9. Carl Edwards #99 Fastenal Ford
10. Matt Kenseth #17 Fastenal Ford

Standings:
1. Greg Biffle 453
2. Matt Kenseth -10
3. Denny Hamlin -16
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr -18
5. Jimmie Johnson -48

Rumor: Saab To Be Saved By Mystery Swedish Electric Automaker

As the decaying corpse of Saab moves closer to nothingness, there are new reports of a mystery Swedish electric automaker stepping in to save the company. The company is called National Electric Vehicle Sweden and according to recent reports, a deal is close.

Looking at the company, the president is Karl-Erling Trogen. For those of you not familiar with Trogen, he is the former head of Volvo Trucks.

There is no explanation of what the company wants from Saab. As SaabsUnited points out, the company has no infrastructure, employees, dealer network, etc. It would require a great amount of time and funding to rebuild.

Speculation revolves around an interest in the electric rear axle program co-developed with eAAM. Your guess is as good as mine but it would be great to see the brand revived. Who knows, we may see electric or hybrid Saabs in the near future.

BMW Confirms Inline Six-Cylinder Returning to M3 F30

Long live the Inline six! It has been confirmed by Ludwig Willisch, BMW's North American head, on f30post.com that the new F30 derived M3 will be powered by an inline six-cylinder engine ruling out the return of the powerful V8 from the previous M3. Also dead are the prospects for a V6 powered M3 which was planned to be a modified version of the S65 4.0L V8.

It is assumed that the new M3 will use at least two turbochargers to provide greater power than the old V8. There are also rumors of a tri-turbo six power-plant as well. You can expect to see around 450 horsepower on tap in the new model.

The Forza 4 Porsche Car Pack | Complete List And Details

Property of Turn 10. Porsche 911 GT2.

Were you one of the millions disappointed about the lack of Porsche's in the original release of Turn 10's Forza Motorsports 4? If you said yes, you now have the privilege of giving Microsoft and Turn 10 another $20 for the new Porsche Pack and the opportunity to jump into 30 Porsche vehicles and 20 Porsche racing events. The full details of what to expect for tomorrow's release will be discussed at detail below.


For those not familiar with the saga of the missing Porsche's, the issue stemmed from the rights to use the Porsche name, symbol and likeness which was sold to Electronic Arts years ago (that should explain the multiple Need For Speed Porsche-based games). In the past, EA has lent the rights to other companies including Turn 10 for previous Forza Motorsports releases. After rendering all of the vehicles, EA decided to withhold the rights for Porsche preventing Forza from putting them in the game. In some strange turn of events, these cars are now being released (maybe Forza threatened to withhold their Ferrari license). As far as the $20 price, I personally feel they should be free as they were designed to be original content and the "replacement cars" were beyond garbage (who seriously wants a Prius in Forza... or in general for that matter), but what can you do.


Back on topic. As I mentioned the new pack includes 30 Porsche vehicles from the last 57 years with vehicles ranging from high performance SUVs to world famous race cars. Turn 10 studios has been releasing the cars over the past two weeks releasing two cars a day on Facebook and I have compiled a list of the cars below. It may not come as a shock that some historic Porsche models are included in the pack. Examples include the classic 914/6, 550 Spyder, 944, and 959. You also have newer Porsche's making the list including the Panamera Turbo, Cayman, and Boxster. Also, it would not be a Porsche pack without a few 911's (18 in fact). However, I must admit that I am slightly disappointed to see the new 2013 Boxster, 911 and the upcoming 918 hybrid missing from the list. Future car packs perhaps?


The list of cars is broken down into two categories (road and race).
Porsche Pack Road models:
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
1970 Porsche 914/6
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
1982 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3
1987 Porsche 959
1989 Porsche 944 Turbo
1995 Porsche 911 GT2
2003 Porsche Carrera GT
2004 Porsche 911 GT3 (996)
2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)
2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)
2007 Porsche 911 Turbo (997)
2010 Porsche Boxster S
2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo
2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic
2012 Porsche 911 GT2 RS (shown above on the left)
2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
2012 Porsche Cayman R


While there have been many varied racing models throughout Porsche's history, the selection of cars included in this pack mark some of the most successful in company history even is it is mostly 911's (a little variety would be nice).


Porsche Pack Race models:
1987 Porsche #17 Racing Porsche AG 962c
1998 Porsche #26 Porsche AG 911 GT1-98
2005 ALMS GT #31 Petersen-White Lightning 911 GT3-RSR (996)
2005 Porsche #66 AXA Racing 911 GT3 Cup (996)
2007 Porsche #80 Flying Lizard 911 GT3-RSR
2008 Porsche #2 Gruppe Orange Racing 911 GT3 Cup
2008 Porsche #16 Dyson Racing RS Spyder Evo
2008 Porsche #7 Penske Racing RS Spyder Evo
2011 Porsche #54 Black Swan Racing 911 GT3 Cup
2011 Porsche #45 Flying Lizard 911 GT3-RSR
2011 Porsche #17 Team Falken 911 GT3-RSR
2011 911 #23 Alex Job Racing 911 GT3 Cup


Additional Information:  As a result of these new cars, users can expect to see them in a new Porsche dealership and within races driven by AI characters. It is also expected that some Porsche models will appear in the car reward system which provides a selection of cars as you go from level 1 to 50. Though this is frustrating to those who have already passed the level 50 threshold. 


In addition, you can also expect to see 20 new events designed for your new toys from Stuttgart. One would also assume that there will be a 911 series race based on the 18 models in the pack. 


The pack will be available for download tomorrow, May 22, for 1,600 Microsoft Points (or $20 for those who do not like the "Disney Dollar" concept that Xbox has developed). As I mentioned above, I still feel this content should be free but everyone has to make money so here we are. Also, this pack is NOT covered in the season pass as that ended last month and did not even include the Top Gear pack for the beginning of May.