Pull Up, Plug In, Turn Up

Do you need to just pull over and whip out your axe every once in a while? I guess some people do because Panasonic is going to let you.

Pull Up, Plug In, Turn Up
By Tom Murphy
WardsAuto.com, Jan 11, 2007 1:34 PM

DETROIT – Panasonic Automotive Systems Co. of America clearly has been paying attention to the auto industry trend toward highly specialized niche vehicles that may strike a chord, literally, with certain potential buyers.

The audio system specialist pairs up with Fender Musical Instruments Corp. – whose world-famous guitars have been plucked, beaten, torched, painted, gouged and even licked by rock virtuosos such as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan – for a concept vehicle that will resonate with novice and pro guitarists alike.

Full story

New Viper raises the horsepower bar

Unbelievable.

DETROIT -- Dodge renews its claim to the all-American horsepower trophy with the 2008 Viper SRT10 sports car, which cranks out a whopping 600 hp, 90 more hp than the Viper it replaces.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 had held the horsepower crown with 505 hp.

The Viper's output comes from an aluminum V-10 engine. Chrysler group engineers worked with specialists from McLaren Performance Technologies and Ricardo Inc. to increase the horsepower by upping displacement, adding electronically adjusted variable valve timing, and raising the rpm limit.

See pics and rest of story

2007 Detroit auto show index

Ford to invest $866 millon in Michigan plants

Good old Ford family. With such great cars as the Ford Focus, a football franchise that only wins so they don't have to get the #1 pick, and allowing a man to put himself in a position that it would take him 3 straight perfect seasons to get to a .500 record. Yet they still make money.

By SARAH A. WEBSTER

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Ford Motor Co. officials at the Livonia Transmission plant today announced investments in six southeastern Michigan Ford facilities totaling $866 million.

The investments will bring the manufacturing facilities up to date so they can more flexibly build new and current models, such as the 2008 Ford Focus and the 2009 Ford F-150, which will be all-new.

In August, Ford and the state jointly announced that the automaker would invest up to $1 billion in Michigan facilities and receive up to $151 million in state tax incentives.

Story

Detroit Show survival kit: Getting Ready for the Big One

Found this article when looking for some takes on what to put in an auto survival kit. Suffice to say this one was a bit more interesting and more comedic. Speaking on the North American International Auto Show, this gentleman has come up with quite the survival kit that you will need when you go.

Detroit Show survival kit: Getting Ready for the Big One