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1961 Chevy Impala SS

The 1961 Chevrolet Impala is known for just about one factor: the SS trim of the car. Of the 491,000 Impalas produced, solely 453 have been offered with the SS trim. These lucky enough to get one could pull up next to some other automobile on the highway and count on to leave them in a cloud of dust.

The 409-cubic-inch V8 was rated at 360 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and put out 409 pounds per foot of torque at three,600 rpm. (See why they call them "the good ol' days"?) This Super Sport package price just below $fifty four in 1961!

Restoration fanatics beware: The SS is just not an easy core to restore. Since only 453 SSs had been offered, parts might be very troublesome to find. 

As for the remaining 490,507 non-SS Impalas, these had been great automobiles as well. The bottom engine was a 348-cubic-inch V8 rated at 305 horsepower. That they had misplaced the tailfins of earlier years, and had a extra rocket-like look with smoother lines.

Comments: The Impala was utterly redesigned for 1965 and featured a extra streamlined look, slightly than the boxy look of earlier years. In February, the mighty 409 was phased out and was changed by the Mark IV 396 cid V8, which would power Chevrolets for the remainder of the '60s. The brand new 396 may very well be mated to a brand new automated transmission, the Turbo Hydra-matic 350. The 396 was a direct descendant of the "Daytona Mystery Engine" The 409s and 396s have been accessible in all Impalas, together with 4 door sedans and station wagons, but the Impala SS continued as a separate series. 1965 also noticed the introduction of the Caprice choice on the Impala and came normal with a V8.

Production: 239,500
Engines: (L30) 327 V8 250 bhp @ 4400 rpm, 350 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm. (L74) 327 V8 300 bhp @ 5000 rpm, 360 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm. (L35) 396 V8 325 bhp @ 4800 rpm, 410 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm. (L78) 396 V8 425 bhp @ 6400 rpm, 415 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm. (L33) 409 V8 340 bhp @ 5000 rpm, 430 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm. (L31) 409 V8 four hundred bhp @ 5800 rpm, 425 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm.


 

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Aston Martin Vanquish 2013

Aston Martin Vanquish 2013 has formally revealed its new flagship vehicle, the 2013 Aston Martin AM310 Vanquish.  The brand new Vanquish sits atop the Aston Martin offering, taking design and efficiency cues from the early Vanquish and the gorgeous seven-determine One77.  Whereas this Aston Martin Vanquish is smooth and sexy on the skin, its magnificence goes lots additional than the depth of its skin. 


It is powered by a 6.0L V12 that pushes 565 horsepower, the strongest engine the marque has produced save for that $1.9M One77 engine.  The updated V12 will drive the Vanquish to 60mph in 4.1 seconds earlier than topping out at 183mph.  This might be a transcontinental providing from Aston Martin, so AM followers will see the 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish on the highway within the close to future.  The worth?  Roughly $300,000 after the alternate from British Pounds Sterling.  Whereas which may park itself outside of most budgets, we will nonetheless stand apart and drool…

GAYDON, England - The 2014 Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish, the British sports automobile maker's new flagship, will go on sale within the U.S. in early 2013, priced from $279,995.

Previewed as the Challenge AM 310 concept finally month's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the new Vanquish replaces the DBS at the prime of Aston Martin's regular production range, nestled beneath the limited-version One-seventy seven supercar (which is now officially offered out) and the V12 Zagato.

The starting value of the 2014 Vanquish is barely greater than the base $277,576 sticker on the 2012 Aston Martin DBS, even supposing the Vanquish has been comprehensively re-engineered from high to bottom.

The most noticeable and striking facet of the Vanquish is, of course, is its sleek new carbon-fiber body, created by Design Director Marek Reichman and his team, drawing styling inspiration and cues from the One-77. The new automobile is marginally longer, taller and wider than the DBS, however has more inside and luggage space.

The 2014 Vanquish comes customary as a two-place coupe, with non-obligatory 2+2 seating.

Constructed on the following generation of Aston Martin's lengthy-working VH architecture, the Vanquish features an upgraded and stronger version of the corporate's 6.zero-liter V12 engine mated to a Touchtronic six-pace automated gearbox. The V12 now makes 563 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque, enabling 0-60 acceleration in lower than 4.1 seconds and a high velocity of 183 mph.

The 2014 Vanquish rides on Pirelli P Zero tires - 255/35ZR20 front and 305/30ZR20 rear - and will get revised ceramic brake discs, among other improvements. The car also will likely be among the many first Aston Martins to offer electronic launch control.

The leather-based and Alcantara cockpit boasts a 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 15-speaker audio system and a Garmin sat-nav system. Among the many obtainable choices are a choice of alloy wheels in different finishes, a One-77 steering wheel, a choice of brake caliper colors and a choice of interior trim and accent colors, as well as exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel, door mirror caps, facet strakes and door handles.

Inside Line says: Not as dramatic looking because the previous Vanquish and a little low on energy compared to a few of its competitors. It is nonetheless one thing to behold, although, and needs to be a blast behind the wheel.


 

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2013 Aston Martin DB9 Volante

What is it? 2013 model yr model of the Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Why ought to I care? It might look like a Virage Volante, but there’s a new 517hp V12 and a complete host of adjustments beneath the surface. Magnificence’s greater than skin deep with this one.

How briskly and how much? 517hp @ 6,500rpm, 457lb ft @ 5,500rpm 0-62mph 4.6 secs, V-max 183mph MRSP $200,200

It’s an unavoidable fact: the 2013 aston martin db9 volante is now eight years old. Revamped for 2013 it might be, however what number of of you might be questioning precisely why it isn’t on its method to that great cold junkyard in the sky already? I imply, it’s still gorgeous, but even the great looking go out of date sometime, proper?

Appearances may be deceptive. On this case it seems to be like Aston Martin has simply draped the regular DB9 in bodywork left over from the lately deceased Virage. And certainly - virtually all of the outside (and the inside) is Virage derived. However delve deeper, and underneath this new car is admittedly relatively different.

While the bonded aluminum development is basically trustworthy to the original, it’s not truly the same. Like the brand new Vanquish, the 2013 DB9 is based on the fourth generation of Aston’s “Vertical Horizontal Structure” relatively than the primary - that’s four generations in just eight years. So much for being over the hill.

In consequence the Volante is 30% stiffer than the one it replaces. On the similar time, a brand new frontal crash construction means the 6.zero-litre V12 sits 19mm decrease in the chassis, decreasing the center of gravity. That engine’s undergone a few changes, too…

Old school rules

Take the new block. And the new crank. And the new throttle bodies, the new “big wing” consumption manifold, new hole camshafts, machined combustion chambers, larger intake valves. And the brand new heads, full with twin variable valve timing. That’s proper, it’s a detuned version of the AM11 unit from the Vanquish. In case you can name 517hp ‘detuned’.

To deal with this, Aston has additionally upgraded the DB9 with a bigger ducktail spoiler, new three-approach adaptive damping and standard carbon-ceramic brakes. I’m going to leap forward of myself right here and say these brakes are amongst the perfect of their kind I’ve ever experienced. Not a lot for the unrelenting stopping power - that’s a given - but for the whole lack of low-pace anxiety that plagues too many rival set-ups. The hardware is Brembo, the trouble is Aston’s. They do extraordinarily well.

Which is sweet information, as a result of although max torque solely rises barely, and continues to peak at a heady 5,500rpm, it’s now spread extra thickly across the whole rev range. Along with the most recent calibration for the six-pace automated transmission this means effortless, decisive efficiency - without any of the stop-begin grumble and shunt you get from some twin-clutch alternatives. Old-fashioned guidelines, it seems.

Watch out grandma

However it was at all times going to be fast. Slot that loopy glass and chrome ‘key’ into the center of the dash, and the DB9 fires into life with a whirr of starter motor and a grandma-flattening whomp from the exhaust; what instantly impresses as you progress away, nonetheless, is the great sense of composure. This is not a teeth chattering sports car, it is a grand tourer. It feels utterly at ease.

Pick up the tempo, and although the slight rubberiness within the steering shortly disappears, the Aston risks coming across as weirdly ordinary. The V12 settles swiftly into the background, the suspension soaks up any unpleasantness and the route adjustments are neat however virtually languorous.

Lumps and bumps nibble at your hands by way of the wheel rim, and thump beneath these 20-inch alloys, but the DB9 rises above all of it, serenely. A sensation that’s significantly remarkable within the Volante. The notion of protecting massive distances in this automobile arrives in your head like a gently brightening bulb - it will be so easy to simply preserve driving and driving.

That’s stage one. Stage two, you press the Sport button. Hi there horizon.

DB9, destroyer of continents

The Sport button dominates the drivetrain. It amplifies the throttle map, slips the gearbox some whiz and pokes the exhaust with a stick. Every thing becomes more pressing, instantly. And louder. As an alternative of a satisfying swell, the engine now lunges like a tiger felling its lunch. Each downshift, a swaggering blast from the tailpipes. Time to get intimate with the paddleshifters.

Sport’s surging mid-range and the suave gearbox compound the DB9 as an informal continental destroyer. But be in little doubt - flatten the throttle and it will do ferocious violence on approach to redline. At which point you’ll notice the overly fussy (my humble opinion) again-to-entrance tacho isn’t really marked with one, and, oh yeah, in handbook mode the transmission will happily head-butt the limiter.

Grab an upshift, repeat - the V12 wail is absolutely glorious. Except by now you’ll most likely be closing in on a corner. Praise be for these mighty, mighty carbon stoppers. Significantly, this thing is quick, but it’s the brakes that give you the confidence to discover this potential.

On to stage three. The suspension.

The actual Aston Martin

The traditional damper mode is fine. Comfortable. A touch wallowy, nevertheless it’s adaptive, so responsive nonetheless.

However that’s irrelevant, because the Sport setting is exceptional. A tangible escalation in control, like a line snapped taut, it layers more weight into the steering and resists the rolling forces within the turns with the air of a boundless rogue. But, tough surfaces stay smothered, mid-turn bumps a non-situation, and you'll blat freeways in comfort that’s now minus the ordinariness and float.

Combine Sport and Sport, and you get a automobile that's cool, calm and picked up in each expression of its agility, however one which strikes with fearsome conviction. And it’s deeply polished, too, not just floor lustre - the French mountain launch route by rights ought to be too slim for such a giant car, however the Aston’s reactions are so fantastically measured that it refuses to intimidate. Ever.

So you press on. The sunshine in your head? It’s flashing - real DB9 alert.

Lock down

Which explains why Aston has included a setting lock. Whenever you restart this car, it stays primed exactly as you left it - the DB9 is aware of the way it wants to be driven. Rumor is the traditional powertrain mode only exists to optimize emissions for European tax reasons, anyway…

When you’re hungry for extra, there is also a Observe damper mode. Accessed with an extended hold of the button, that is remarkably road succesful when the going’s smooth, nervy enough to make you circumspect when it’s not. The Dynamic Stability Management also gives on, Sport and altogether off. Fair enough.

But however you drive the new DB9, it’s the way in which it always operates so cohesively that truly compels. There are sooner automobiles, more flamboyant vehicles, cars which are sharper within the excessive, and - dare I say it ¬- more energizing designs as well. But few rivals manage to ship such a breadth of talent whereas sustaining such all-encompassing composure. The brand new DB9 is a beautiful, pretty machine - and that heavenly junkyard is justifiably distant yet.


 

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2013 Dodge Durango Citadel

The 2013 Dodge Durango Citadel is a stable, succesful and properly refined full-measurement SUV.

Now we have just finished a week of ride and drive and in a brand new high-of-the-line Durango Citadel AWD (All Wheel Drive) in Deep Cherry Purple Crystal Pearl coat with Nappa leather seats in Black Trim with Mild Frost Beige seat color.
View slideshow: 2013 Dodge Durango Citadel SUV: refined functionality delivers prime value

If you are available in the market for a new SUV and wish third row seating for seven passengers and multiple customary features plus glorious non-obligatory decisions, you simply should put the 2013 Durango from Dodge brand on your list.

From the primary time I bought in and began this beauty up, I used to be impressed with the refinement and functionality of the interior design, supplies and gear that it was fitted out with. But it didn't cease there. Weighing in at just over 5,000 kilos, its engineering and energy train enabled it to carry out solidly like a full-size SUV that handles exceedingly properly in all road conditions.

Our Durango Citadel was powered with the usual very strong 3.6L Pentastar V6 generating 290 horsepower delivering 260 lb.-ft. of torque by way of its five-pace computerized transmission. The usual full-time AWD configuration is the single pace NV140 transfer case. With this power prepare, our 2013 Dodge Citadel had an EPA mileage rating of 16/23 mpg city/freeway with an average of 19 mpg.

The Dodge Durango has affordable tow capacity when geared up with the optional Trailer Tow Group IV ($850). For our 3.6L V6 AWD, the tow capacity was 6,200 pounds. When equipped with the 5.7L V8, the Durango can tow as much as 7,four hundred pounds.

Did I mention this 2013 Dodge Citadel is quiet? It was amazingly quiet for a full-measurement SUV that is not thought of within the luxury segment. There was little or no discernible road noise from the skin round city, on the highway at pace or even on local unpaved again roads. And talking of unpaved again roads, the smoothness and management in the rugged experience environment was notable.

Chrysler returned the Durango to the Dodge line in 2011 for 2012. The brand new Durango was obviously meant to determine itself as a class-leader in value, performance, reliability, utility and design.

This 2013 prime-of-the-line Citadel clearly meets these marks geared up with customary features including energy raise gate, power front solar roof, excessive-intensity (HID) low-beam self-leveling headlamps, chrome power folding and heated facet mirrors with flip and blind spot indicator alerts, 20-inch chrome clad aluminum wheels and tires, rain delicate computerized front wipers and intermittent rear wiper with washer.

On the inside, the Citadel was equipped with three row seating including heated and ventilated front bucket seating (with console) in Nappa leather-based with 8-manner energy adjustment both driver and passenger. Second row seating in our Citadel was the optional heated Captain's chairs with Fold/Tumble function and middle console. The third row seating was 50/50 split fold flat that can be folded remotely from a switch on the instrument panel heart stack.

The Fold/Tumble functionality of the second row seating is easy and straightforward to operate from both aspect and permits ample easy accessibility to the third row seating. The third row seating can be manually lowered simply with a simple pull of a lever from the rear hatch and raised again with a single straightforward to reach strap on every half.

Additionally, within the cockpit, the steering wheel is heated and leather wrapped with audio, speed, car info center, voice recognition and adaptive speed controls.

The usual media infotainment system within the Citadel is a 430N AM/FM/CD/DVD radio with MP3/WMA support, 6.5 inch heart stack contact screen, 40GB laborious drive, SiriusXM Radio, audio jack and voice command. The sound system was the Alpine Premium 506 Watt audio package deal with nine audio system and a subwoofer.

In the safety and expertise space, this Citadel was outfitted with Adaptive Cruise Management that mechanically adjusts velocity to street situations whereas sustaining distance from automobiles in entrance, plus All Pace Traction Management (TCS), Blind-spot Monitoring systems to warn of other autos in the blind spot, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system that alerts the motive force through radar sensor of potential collision situations, Garmin navigation, ParkSense rear park help and a ParkView rear backup camera.

Also included was a Prepared Alert Braking characteristic that anticipates emergency braking situations and pre-prices the braking system in advance of the braking action to shorten response time and Rear Cross Path detection for those parking zone situations the place you cannot see approaching site visitors as you back out, warns you of the approaching traffic.

I'd point out the Ahead Collision Warning (FWC) farther from a personal expertise that occurred whereas driving a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped similarly on a two lane freeway close to San Antonio, Texas. The system detected a ton-and-a-half oil service truck in my lane approaching from over the crest of a hill seconds earlier than I did. The alarm sounded audibly and on the display screen and the Ready Alert brake system pre-charged my brakes such that I used to be capable of safely transfer to the shoulder and avoid the almost certain collision.

The Durango has been a Insurance Institute for Freeway Safety (IIHS) High Security Pick for 2 years running.

With three row seating and 7 passenger capability, this Citadel has a lot of cargo capacity. With all three rows up, the capability is 17.2 cubic feet. With third row down it is 47.7 cubic toes and with second and third row down, the cargo capability is 84.5 cubic feet. And, just for good measure there is a very good hidden storage space below the cargo flooring behind the third row.

The base MSRP of this 2013 Dodge Durango AWD was $42,195 (the FWD is $39,995). Optional gadgets included on this Citadel had been Know-how for $1,595, Trailer Tow Group - $895, Second Row seating Captain's Chairs with Fold/Tumble function - $795 and Second-Row Console with Armrest and Storage for $300.


 

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