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Forget saving up for a car or home. A single-engine jet is what you need. An Eclipse 400 at that. The Eclipse 400 is a single-jet powered plane that cruises 41,000 feet aloft at a speed of 380mph propelled by the 1,200 lbs of thrust enimating from its Pratt & Whitney PW615 engine. That’s three miles above its nearest competitor, if you care about that kind of thing. If you’re in life where owning a jet is possible, then we assume you are.

You and three companions will be enclosed in a leather swathed cabin/digital-cockpit alongside a 36 foot wingspan in a one of the most fuel-efficient jets (one pound of fuel per nautical mile). Oh, and a paint scheme that automatically qualifies it for the Gear Patrol seal of approval. Don’t take our word for it, take a look at the incredibly delicious pictures after the jump.

Cost: $1,350,000 @ Eclipse Aviation

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By Jay Shoemaker | The Truth About Cars

I made my first pilgrimage to AMG in 2001. Arriving unannounced, I was relegated to longing stares through a chain link fence at rows of serious looking automobiles. I eventually bought an SL55 AMG. I loved its ability to terrify unsuspecting passengers. But it always struck me as an engine in search of a chassis. And better steering. And brakes. In fact, it was a steroid injected boulevardier. And now, the SL63 AMG.

2009 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63 Review continued »

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It’s official. The Lotus Evora. A ‘grown-up’ Lotus coupe with proper amenities. Say, like an actual interior (see an image of the interior after the jump).

The Evora will be powered by a 276 horsepower Toyota sourced V6 that will propel the 2,976 lb. vehicle with typical Lotus-like fury. Again, the key highlight of the Evora will be its sumptuous, yet sporty, interior, which will sport leather, a navigation system and the ability to get in and out of the car without Crisco and pullies. We’re looking forward to getting behind the wheel of this one. [via press release]

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Suffice it to say, these days aren’t exactly ideal for car ownership. But giving up some of your monthly car payment allowance doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice image, quality or performance (and efficiency). Mazda’s laid a pretty impressive punch to the automarket with its 2009 Mazda6. The Mazda6, aestheticlaly, is the lovechild of a Mercedes S-Class stance, Nissan Maxima profile and an Infinity G37 coupe fascia. Either way, it works well and will satiate the hunger of curb appeal buyers.

Power is served up in either an efficient 2.4 liter four-cylinder plant or a 3.7 liter V6 with 6-speed manual (hoorah) or 5-speed auto (hoorah for urban dwellers) that produces a sizeable 273 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Plenty enough to make that lawyer with the 3-series think twice about taking you on in a stoplight gentleman’s drag peel.

Image of interior after the jump.

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What makes an already incredible sports car an even better one? A touch of eco-ness. Enter, the Lotus Eco Elise. A Lotus Elise made of sustainable materials (hemp hard top, sisal and hand applied water-based paint), flexible solar rooltop panels for the electric systems to reduce drain on engine, and a shift light to advise drivers to maximize fuel efficiency.

The net result is a 70 pound reduction in vehicle weight, which you car nuts know is a sizeable achievement.

We endorse green products. We further endorse those that make an otherwise outstanding vehicle that much better. Picture of interior after the jump. [via Autoblog]

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Also See: 2008 Lotus Supercharged Elise SC

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By Sajeev Mehta | The Truth About Cars

There I was cutting, clipping and carving corners in the ultimate Porsche 911, balancing the need for speed with self-control. I felt like an Olympic skier or Iron Chef. But there was an element missing from the GT2 experience, a deficiency that niggled like a loose ski boot or a nicked Shun Santoku. Torque. As in instant-on shove. Porsche’s brilliant 3.6-liter boxer engine has too much boost and not enough low-end grunt. But isn’t perfection standard in a Porsche, especially for one that costs $197,000?

2008 Porsche 911 GT2 Review continued »

Your car is equipped with anti-theft measures. It’s equipped with a security system. But is it equipped with a locking gas cap?

Hmm, that may have made you think twice. Everyone knows gas prices are climbing faster than the 1990’s New York Stock Exchange. Avoid fuel theft with a cost effective safety measure. The Stant Locking Gas Cap will prevent fuel thieves from pilfering your combustible gold. Did you know that a fuel thief can pump a fuel tank dry in less than 5 minutes?

Cost: $20 @ AutoSportsCatalog

It’s July 4th weekend and that means you car owners will probably carve out an hour or two to clean your pollen laden ride. Upgrade that old clay wax sitting in your garage with Turtle Wax’s ICE, liquid polish. It’s a clear wax formulated with silicone and hydrocarbon polymers.

Turtle Wax ICE can be applied to exterior rubber, plastic and vinyl trim (without that annoying white residue) and best of all, applied with one coat in DIRECT sunglight or hot surface unlike standard waxes. That alone is worth the price of admission. The kit also includes a custom applicator and microfiber towel. [Thanks Anthony!]

Cost: $14 @ Ace Hardware or local car supply shop.

Also See:
The Complete Pirelli Calendar | $54
Kobalt 26-Gallon Compressor with 6-Tool Kit | $299

There are some things in this world we just can’t be without. An iPod is one of them. Here in New York, I find being without my iPod actually makes me irritable. Want to make sure that it’s got juice wherever your adventure takes you? Well, so do the guys at Brunton. Their Solaris i6 Foldable iPod Charger is a great way to keep those tunes playing. Aside from featuring a direct-connect power cable for the iPod, this portable solar power charger also comes with a multi-linking cable that lets you charge cameras, cell phones and other devices. When not in use, the charger folds away neatly for easy and efficient storage.

What this means to you: Just don’t tell the lady you dropped a couple bills to power your $50 Shuffle.

Cost: $119 @ Amazon

If there’s a reason to still own an SUV then tailgating is definitely one of them. Proper tailgating can be cumbersome what with all the cans, food, etc.

The Party-A-Cargo tow hitch mounted kegerator will let you carry 160 cans of ice cold beer and a 20 pound bag of ice. It will also let you play 12 hours of music through its self-powered sound system (with subwoofer) for 12 hours. Everything will close up and secure nicely in the locking trailer hitch mounted enclosure. [Thanks Dave!]

Cost: $2,895-$3,795 @ Tailgating Ideas