Motor Authority - blog Tag: Driving

Can it be true? Speeding doesn't kill?

Don't ask us--ask the Mormons. The state of Utah's Department of Transportation reports that a new 80-mph speed limit led to no increase in speeding on some stretches of Beehive State interstate.

The Deseret News reports that on two segments of Interstate 15, the Utah DOT has found drivers have largely maintained the same speeds they drove, even though the limits on the highways rose from 75 mph to 80 mph.

The state's DOT took advantage of a new law from 2008 that allows it to lift speed limits in low-population areas. The two stretches of highway are in the sparsely populated southern half of Utah.

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Can it be true? Speeding doesn't kill? Don't ask us--ask the Mormons. The state of Utah's Department of Transportation reports that a new 80-mph speed limit led to no increase in speeding on some stretches of Beehive State interstate. The Deseret News reports that on two segments of Interstate 15, the Utah DOT has found drivers have largely maintained the same speeds they drove, even though the limits on the highways rose from 75 mph to 80 mph. The state's DOT took advantage of a new law from 2008 that allows it to lift speed limits in low-population areas. The two stretches of highway are in the sparsely populated southern half of Utah. According to Utah DOT deputy director Carlos Braceras, under the 75-mph speed limit, 85 percent of drivers averaged between 81 mph and 85 mph. With the new 80-mph limit, the DOT observed that 85 percent of drivers stayed between 83 mph and 85 mph. So while the state has raised some limits, it hasn't seen an increase in speeding over 85 mph. It also hasn't seen an increase in car accidents, the paper adds. However, the DOT has noted wider ranges of speeds driven--a higher differential--that could cause more accidents in some circumstances. The DOT also hasn't measured if speeds increase on stretches of highway still marked 75 mph. Utah and Texas are the only U.S. states with speed limits as high as 80 mph. Until the 1990s, the state of Montana had no speed limit, Autoblog reminds us--only a "reasonable and prudent" law that allowed some amazing eight-hour cross-state runs in a BMW M3 by...um...some people we'd rather not mention until the warrants expire. [Deseret News via Autoblog] Read More

The art of driving has been around since before the days of alcohol bootleggers and even the first Le Mans race. To some, it’s a sacred skill passed down from prior generations, while to a rare few it just comes naturally.

For the average auto enthusiast, there are many modifications that can be made to your car and driving skills--all the way down to your feet. Special driving shoes have become quite popular amongst the car community. From rally drivers to morning commuters and everyone in between, almost everybody has their favorite shoes for driving.

In fact, today there are shoe companies that specialize only in driving shoes and...

The art of driving has been around since before the days of alcohol bootleggers and even the first Le Mans race. To some, it’s a sacred skill passed down from prior generations, while to a rare few it just comes naturally. For the average auto enthusiast, there are many modifications that can be made to your car and driving skills--all the way down to your feet. Special driving shoes have become quite popular amongst the car community. From rally drivers to morning commuters and everyone in between, almost everybody has their favorite shoes for driving. In fact, today there are shoe companies that specialize only in driving shoes and apparel. Companies like Piloti, Sparco, G-Force, Simpson, and even skateboard brand D.C. are all cranking out different styles and colors of racing-type shoes. So why are these shoes so popular and what do they offer? For starters, they look great. Most are made from stylish leather, suede, Alcantara and even carbon-fiber. Also, the manufacturers provide many color schemes and designs to match any vehicle. The biggest luxury that driving shoes offer is their light weight, slim design and comfort--huge details for somebody that uses heel to toe downshifting on a regular basis, or constantly needs to throw down those left-footed braking techniques. To meet these needs, most driving shoes are constructed with rounded heels and springy toes to help drivers better maneuver through the pedals. The arch and heels are also reinforced with plastics so your feet won’t get tired during long drives. Don’t worry though, these things are actually pretty comfortable and can be worn outside of the car. The only downside to specialized driving shoes is the cost. While there are some bargains in the $50 range (for older or discontinued styles), most will set you back $80 to $200 for a pair. If you take care of them, however, they should last the lifetime of your car. For a complete list of different styles and prices of driving shoes, do a quick internet search or you can check out SafeRacer (www.saferacer.com) or Amazon (www.amazon.com) for some specials. Read More

Mitsubishi has teamed up with America’s Jim Russell Racing Drivers School to create an exciting new driver training course that utilizes the high-performance Lancer Evolution X in an effort to help willing participants hone their race track skills. Called the Jim Russell Lancer Evolution Experience, the new program will offer a full day of instruction that begins in the classroom and continues onto the race track.

Students are given the opportunity to learn the skills needed to improve driving techniques, speed and car control skills, all at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Some of the other vehicles on hand will include... Mitsubishi has teamed up with America’s Jim Russell Racing Drivers School to create an exciting new driver training course that utilizes the high-performance Lancer Evolution X in an effort to help willing participants hone their race track skills. Called the Jim Russell Lancer Evolution Experience, the new program will offer a full day of instruction that begins in the classroom and continues onto the race track. Students are given the opportunity to learn the skills needed to improve driving techniques, speed and car control skills, all at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Some of the other vehicles on hand will include a single-seat, open-wheel FJR-50, Formula 3 derived race car, which was designed by motorsport company Lola Cars International. A special opening event will also be held that will showcase everything from Starions and 3000GTs to Eclipses and more Lancer Evolutions. The Jim Russell Racing Drivers School has close links with Mitsubishi and has been using the automaker’s popular 4G63 four-cylinder turbocharged engine in its Lola-built race cars for years.Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XJim Russell Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Experience Read More

If you're an AMG fan or just a fan of driving fast cars fast, you're probably aware of the Mercedes AMG Driving Academy. Unfortunately, those of us in the U.S. had to travel to Europe to take advantage of it - until now.

Mercedes is bringing the AMG Driving Academy program, including Stage I, Stage I SLS,and Stage II, to Lime Rock Park, Palm Beach International Raceway and Laguna Seca Raceway. That gives the AMG school coverage of the northeast, southeast and western U.S. Some of the cars students will get to drive include the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and the CLK63 AMG Black Series.

Stage I schools are a one-day program... If you're an AMG fan or just a fan of driving fast cars fast, you're probably aware of the Mercedes AMG Driving Academy. Unfortunately, those of us in the U.S. had to travel to Europe to take advantage of it - until now. Mercedes is bringing the AMG Driving Academy program, including Stage I, Stage I SLS,and Stage II, to Lime Rock Park, Palm Beach International Raceway and Laguna Seca Raceway. That gives the AMG school coverage of the northeast, southeast and western U.S. Some of the cars students will get to drive include the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and the CLK63 AMG Black Series. Stage I schools are a one-day program designed to teach the fundamentals of performance driving dynamics and car control maneuvers using customized exercises that emphasize the power and handling capabilities of AMG vehicles. Drivers get to test their skills on-track and during a performance course competition. The Stage I program fee is $1,895 per driver. The SLS version of the Stage I academy will only be offered at Laguna Seca Raceway November 17-20, and offers a chance to be among the first to drive the all-new 2011 SLS AMG. This special version of Stage I includes a night's stay at the InterContinental Hotel in Monterey, CA and is priced at $2,295. Finally, Stage II is a two-day program for drivers that have complete Stage I. It provides a deep level of technical driver training both on and off the track. The main changes to Stage I are significantly more track time and use of a computer driver training and evaluation system via on-board diagnostics and in-car cameras. The Stage II fee is $3,495 per student. If you're interested in getting behind the wheel at one of these events, you'll have several opportunities: Lime Rock Park hosts its event September 9-15, followed by Palm Beach International Raceway September 22-27, and Laguna Seca Raceway with the standard program November 7-8 and the SLS program November 17-20. Read More

We've all seen it, we've all done it: a stupid move on the road prompts angry reactions. It's really not much different than standing in line, except everyone weighs 3,000lb and is moving at 60mph - which raises the stakes a bit.

But some places are worse for road rage than others, and a study released today by Autovantage says that New York is the worst city in America for the problem. Miami had previously held the dubious distinction of harboring the angriest drivers in the nation.

The survey only looks at the 25 biggest metro areas, presumably because the more traffic there is, the angrier people get. Their criteria included polling... We've all seen it, we've all done it: a stupid move on the road prompts angry reactions. It's really not much different than standing in line, except everyone weighs 3,000lb and is moving at 60mph - which raises the stakes a bit. But some places are worse for road rage than others, and a study released today by Autovantage says that New York is the worst city in America for the problem. Miami had previously held the dubious distinction of harboring the angriest drivers in the nation. The survey only looks at the 25 biggest metro areas, presumably because the more traffic there is, the angrier people get. Their criteria included polling 2,518 people for the number of tailgaters, speeders, horn honkers and visible anger from drivers. Unsurprisingly, the single largest cause of road rage was cell phone use. Yes, it is a distracting force. Yes, that includes you, even if you're using a hands-free device. And no, chances are that call is not that important. And you can leave texting right out. New Yorkers were the most numerous offenders, but they'll be proud to know they are also the most likely to wave an arm, gesture with a hand or blast their horn. Anyone who's crossed a street in the Big Apple knows this to be true first hand. Dishonorable mention also goes to the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area, Detroit, Atlanta, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Miami didn't even make the top five, sliding in at 7th. For the friendliest places to drive in the U.S., visit Portland, Cleveland, Baltimore, Sacramento and Pittsburgh. Via: The Car Connection Read More

For the driving simulator fan, the Need for Speed series holds a certain nostalgia as one of the first really fun and engaging car games. For the past 15 years the franchise has expanded on that theme, evolving to a level of realistic graphics and fun-focused gameplay that everyone can get on board with. The latest chapter in the series, Need for Speed: Shift, promises to deliver on the fun while upping the reality factor.

Now with the release of the latest instalment in the series, 'Need for Speed: SHIFT', the franchise is set to become more driver focused, in the same vein as Forza and the GT series. If that wasn't enough to get you... For the driving simulator fan, the Need for Speed series holds a certain nostalgia as one of the first really fun and engaging car games. For the past 15 years the franchise has expanded on that theme, evolving to a level of realistic graphics and fun-focused gameplay that everyone can get on board with. The latest chapter in the series, Need for Speed: Shift, promises to deliver on the fun while upping the reality factor. Now with the release of the latest instalment in the series, 'Need for Speed: SHIFT', the franchise is set to become more driver focused, in the same vein as Forza and the GT series. If that wasn't enough to get you excited, then the contents of a full track and car list for the game has been revealed with some cars and tracks that we are definitely looking forward to testing out. This includes favored testing track, the Nordschleife Nurburgring as well as other race tracks such as Laguna Seca, Road America, Silverstone, and Brands Hatch. Drivers can also race in London and Tokyo, as well as other cities. Developed in conjunction with Slightly Mad Studios, which also worked on the GT Legends and the insanely hardcore GTR2 simulators, the Electronic Arts game will focus on real on-track racing rather than street racing or tuner mods like some previous NFS titles. To help immerse the driver in the game, fully modeled interiors and highly detailed exteriors give a sense of actually being in the car and wheel-to-wheel with the competition. As these screenshots show, the motion blur and lighting are also top-notch. EA has previously announced that the game will be released for sale in the U.S. on September 22, while European fans will be able to buy it five days earlier. Until it hits store shelves, however, we'll have to get by on these still screen shots. Track List Autopolis International Racing Course Ambush Canyon Brands Hatch Dakota Ebisu Circuit Glendale Hazyview Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca London Miytomi Nordschleife Road America Rustle Creek Silverstone Circuit de Spa Francorchamps Tokyo Willow Springs Car List 2006 Aston Martin DBR9 2009 Audi R8 LMS 2008 Audi R8 2008 Audi RS 4 2007 Audi S3 2007 Audi TT 3.2 quattro 2006 Audi S4 BMW M3 E36 BMW M3 E46 BMW M3 E92 2008 BMW 135i Coupé 2009 BMW M3 GT2 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupé 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Vaughn Gittin Jr's 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 2007 Ford Focus ST 2006 Ford GT 2006 Need For Speed Shelby Terlingua 1996 Ford Escort RS Cosworth 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2006 Honda Civic Si 2000 Honda S2000 2006 Koenigsegg CCX 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 2007 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 2007 Lamborghini Reventón 2006 Lotus Elise 111R 2007 Lotus Exige S 2005 Maserati MC12 GT1 2008 Mazda MX-5 2006 Mazda RX-8 1995 Mazda RX-7 1994 McLaren F1 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION IX MR-edition 2003 Infiniti G35 (V35) 1997 Nissan 200SX (S14) 2009 Nissan 370Z (Z34) 2006 Nissan 350Z (Z33) 2009 Nissan GT-R SpecV (R35) 2008 Nissan GT-R (R35) 2000 Nissan Silvia (S15) spec.R AERO 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) 1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R 1992 Nissan 240SX (S13) 2006 Pagani Zonda F 2010 Pagani Zonda R 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2004 Porsche Carrera GT 2007 Porsche Cayman S 2008 Renault Mégane RS 2007 SEAT Leon CUPRA 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi 2007 Lexus LF-A Concept 2008 SCION tC 1986 Toyota Corolla GTS (A86) 2008 Volkswagen Scirocco 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTINeed for Speed: Shift screenshots Read More