Taking Car Security Systems To A Whole New Level

The 2009 BMW 5-Series Security. Aging yuppies need not apply.

The likelihood of buying a BMW 5 series? Possible.

The likelihood of purchasing a BMW 5 series that withstands .44 caliber Magnum bullets, has VR4 ballistic protection, explosion-resistant armored underbelly, thorax airbags (huh?), reinforced heat-resistant rubber tires, intercom and camera systems? Err, not likely.

But who cares, because the idea of a 367 hp, 4.8 liter V8 BMW that can take a bullet or grenade sounds kind of cool, as much as getting shot at isn’t.

BMW Security

Sorry, You Can’t Get One

Jeep J8 Heavy Duty. Grrrrr….

The Jeep J8 Heavy Duty. Further evidence that great vehicles don’t always make it to the United States.

A diesel powered Jeep makes sense. Not just because diesel vehicles are fantastic and efficient, but the notion that a heavy-duty Jeep would answer the calls and wishes from off-road enthusiasts. This writer included. The 158 hp/295 lb-ft torque 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine gives the J8 a 7700 lb towing capacity through its Command-Trac four wheel drive system. It’s also fitted with a hood-mounted snorkel for fording 30 inches of water, a sandstorm (or LA dust) for up-to 5 hours and all-around ruggedness credentiality.

Don’t call it a Wrangler. This is the Jeep J8. Just too bad you can only get it if you’re in the military or civilian government. Additional image after the jump.

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By Samir Sayed | The Truth About Cars

Evaluating the Canadian-designed, built and sold Acura CSX without mentioning the Honda Civic is no easy task. (See?) Comparisons are so tempting, namely because the latter is an excellent car in its own right. The feeling’s mutual. Honda of Japan loved the Acura CSX so much that it served as a template for the JDM Civic. And why not? The CSX delivers an excellent compact luxury package without the reliability issues bedeviling certain (cough German cough) imports. Said otherwise, the CSX is the penny-pinching—I mean, thinking man’s luxury compact.

2008 Acura CSX Navi Premium Review continued »

The Argument for Diesel Powered Vehicles

2009 BMW 335d

By Bradley Hasemeyer & Eric Yang: With the arrival of the 2009 BMW 3-Series Diesel, quite possibly the most ubiquitous of the German cars, it goes without saying that diesel cars are coming to America. Moreover they’re coming for the long haul. Taking aside the fact that, to us, hybrid vehicles are over-hyped fads and we know you’re not into fads. Proven technologies like diesel fuel are what power many of the world’s cars and contrary to your preconceived notions, diesel cars rock. Let’s discuss.

Both Bradley and I have spent time overseas so we can attest that the days of hand-me-down massive black-soot belching behemoths purchased during the last American fuel crisis are gone. With the advent of urea-injected technology from companies like Bosch, you’re now seeing diesel automobiles that are not only more economical than their unleaded and hybrid counterparts, but absolutely stick it to them in terms of performance. And with today’s fuel prices and ongoing recession, that’s a good thing. Our essay after the jump.
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By Justin Berkowitz | The Truth About Cars

Sean Connery’s Bond, James Bond, would punch you in the face while kissing your girlfriend. His Aston Martin DB5 was beyond cool. By the 1990s, Bond drove a range of product placement-mobiles, and Astons looked like Jaguars (and vice versa). While devastatingly quick, Astons handled like trains. And then the Vanquish, DB9 and V8 Vantage restored a sense of dignity. But– the Vantage’s 4.3-liter V8 stumped-up “only” 380 hp. When critics questioned, Aston did the English version of flipping them off: nodded their collective head and shrugged their shoulders. But now, finally, Aston unleashes the 2009 Vantage with a 4.7-liter V8. Power jumps from 380 to 420. Torque is up, and the dashboard is new. I recently exercised the convertible version, the Vantage Roadster, for a few hours on a sun-drenched day to see if Bond’s whip is suitably… nasty.

2009 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster Review continued »

19 Years Old, 64,000 Miles, And Pretty Damn Perfect

I’d trade in a Land Rover for a Jeep Wagoneer anyday.

If you haven’t gathered, the GP team works hard to bring unique products you don’t see rehashed across every website or blog from here to the end of the web. From time to time, we cross the threshold of unique men’s gear to personal obsessions - admittedly, mine is the continual embrace of anything vintage. So, when I read this article about Jeep Wagonner restoration specialist, Wagonmaster in Men’s Vogue, I was smitten.

I have a soft spot for the old wood-claden Jeep Wagoneer. A triumphant 4×4 jewel of the late eighties. It predates the whole notion of “SUV”, “Crossover” and “Hybrids”. Dammit, it was all of them - um, swapping the hybrid’s regenerative battery for a 2-barrel carbuerator of course. This particular restored Wagoneer’s powerplant of choice was an AMC 5.9 liter engine producing 235 glorious, late 80’s, horsepower. It just makes me want to throw on and old pair of jeans, a t-shirt and take some friends to the lake with a few beers in tow.

Cost: $33,000 @ Wagonmasters