Kurt Ernst, Contributor
Articles
-
The Corvette ZR1 was introduced for the 2009 model year as a take-no-prisoners attempt to build the fastest production Corvette in Chevrolet’s history. As the C6 Corvette approaches its... -
The Story Of Red Bull Racing's Formula One Success: VideoIf ever there was an unlikely Formula One championship-winning team, it would be Red Bull Racing. Built from the ashes of Ford-backed Jaguar Racing (which in turn came from the wreckage of Stewart Grand Prix), the team reportedly sold for just $1 and a commitment to invest $400 million over the...
Kurt Ernst -
Mercedes-Benz Investigating Refrigerant That Caused 'Ball Of Fire'As part of a routine test of a new refrigerant being used in the Mercedes-Benz B Class, engineers simulated a pinhole leak in a coolant line. When the refrigerant (now mixed with A/C compressor oil) sprayed on a hot engine, the results were dramatic. The vaporized mixture reportedly ignited on...
Kurt Ernst -
Volvo Works With Ericsson On Global Automotive ConnectivityVolvo is looking to join the ranks of cloud-connected automakers, and it knows it has some catching up to do. To quickly close the gap on automakers like Audi, Ford, Nissan, BMW, Toyota and Honda, Volvo will partner will cellular giant Ericsson in developing cloud-connected cars. Volvo will debut...
Kurt Ernst -
2013 Dodge Charger AWD Sport AnnouncedJust weeks after announcing a new Dodge Charger Daytona for the 2013 model year, the brand is back with another new 2013 Dodge Charger model, this one of particular interest to buyers in snow belt states. The 2013 Dodge Charger AWD Sport promises to serve up a healthy dose of performance...
Kurt Ernst -
El Camino, Nomad Trademarks Just Routine Procedure, Says ChevyA few weeks back, we brought you news that General Motors had filed trademarks on the names “El Camino” and “Nomad,” both iconic vehicles from the Chevrolet brand’s past. That quickly led to speculation that General Motors was considering a revival for both products...
Kurt Ernst -
An outsider, especially one not familiar with the automotive industry, could easily view the Morgan Motor Company as antiquated or even archaic. Its cars are still built by hand, in a factory that... -
Bernie Ecclestone Wants To Downsize Formula OneProfessional motorsport, on almost every level, is struggling to attract fans, sponsors and teams as discretionary money vanishes in the wake of a constricting global economy. Even marketing juggernaut NASCAR is feeling the pinch, with fewer bodies in the seats year after year, and fewer...
Kurt Ernst -
Porsche Explains The New 911 Carrera 4: VideoIf you live where snow is a regular fact of life for the winter months, chances are good the sports car gets parked in the garage around Thanksgiving, with only token appearances on dry and salt-free roads until spring rolls around. Porsche doesn’t think its sports cars should be limited to...
Kurt Ernst -
Pioneering Monster Truck Bigfoot Goes Electric: VideoIf you frequently attend monster truck events, chances are good you don’t drive a Nissan Leaf. Likewise, if you do drive an electric car, it’s a safe bet that you’re not spending Saturday nights watching hyrdocarbon-spewing, fossil-fuel-gulping monster trucks crush junkyard...
Kurt Ernst -
Off-Roading, Rolls-Royce Phantom Style: VideoThe least-expensive Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase sedan you can buy in the United States will run you $455,000, and that’s before you start checking the option boxes. Keep things simple, and most stretched Phantoms probably price in the half-million dollar range. That’s why you...
Kurt Ernst -
Five Things We Really Want For The HolidaysAs another year winds down, the holiday season is once again upon us. For those of us with a passion for driving and all things wheeled, that generally brings with it a mixed blessing. While we love to get gifts, we’ll let you in on a little secret: when it comes to tools, we much prefer...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW debuted its all-electric i3 Concept Coupe at last month’s Los Angeles Auto Show, to generally positive reviews. The coupe represents the latest design iteration of BMW’s i3 electric... -
Inside And Outside The BMW M6 Gran Coupe: VideoWhen it comes down to it, there will likely be one primary reason to pick the BMW M6 Gran Coupe over its platform-sharing sibling, the BMW M5 sedan: style. Both will serve up a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine good for 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, and both will seat four adults...
Kurt Ernst -
Jaguar Hands Its F-Type Keys To The Pros: VideoMartin Brundle is perhaps best known for his two stints in Formula One (1984-89, 1992-96), but the British racing driver has also completed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times, winning the event in 1990 with co-drivers Price Cobb and John Nielsen. Christian Danner has raced in IndyCar and CART...
Kurt Ernst -
George W. Bush's Ford F-150 Heads To AuctionOn January 19, 2013, a 2009 Ford F-150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew pickup once owned by former President George W. Bush will cross the block at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction. The truck has likely racked up only modest mileage, as it was used exclusively on Bush’s Crawford, Texas...
Kurt Ernst -
Audi Launches New PlayStation 3 Driving SimAudi was the first automaker to create a space in Sony’s PlayStation Home network, and the Ingolstadt-based brand describes it as a “living, breathing Audi AG world featuring Audi AGtv and a calendar of content.” In the past, that content has included virtual lectures on Audi...
Kurt Ernst -
Porsche Recalls 2010 911 GT3 Models For Rear Wheel Hub IssuePorsche has announced the recall of 2010 model year 911 GT3s, built between May 15, 2009 and February 11, 2010. At issue is the rear wheel hub assembly, which may be prone to failure under certain driving conditions. Some 455 Porsche 911 GT3 models are affected by this recall. The recall also...
Kurt Ernst -
As anyone who’s driven Audi’s S6 and S7 models will tell you, the cars are distinctly different in personality, which helps Audi build a business case for both in the U.S. product line.... -
Was The U.S. Grand Prix A Financial Success? VideoBy almost all accounts, the inaugural United States Grand Prix at Austin, Texas’ Circuit of the Americas was a success. Those in attendance, from Formula One drivers through F1 fans, praised the track, the venue and the parties involved in making the race a success. Only Jackie Stewart seemed...
Kurt Ernst -
AMG's Engine Testing Isn't Interrupted by Christmas: VideoGerman engineers take their job very seriously, but Germans are also renown for embracing the Christmas season with gusto. That said, development and testing of the SLS AMG GT3 must go on, since the competition certainly won’t be taking any time off around the holidays if it means slower lap...
Kurt Ernst -
Ward’s Names Its 10 Best Engines For 2013Every year, auto industry guru Ward’s puts out its list of the 10 Best Engines for the coming product year, recognizing significant developments in powertrain technology at mass-market prices. There are no instrument tests used in the annual survey, now in its 19th year. Instead, Ward’s...
Kurt Ernst -
Want A Turnkey Aston Martin DBR1 Replica For As Little As $33,000?If you want to buy an original Aston Martin DBR1, expect to pay as much as $32 million for a car with a significant and documented racing history. Even the non-functional DBR1 scale model kit sculpture created by the Evanta Motor Company drew a pre-auction estimate close to $50,000, so what can an...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW And Boeing Sign Deal To Develop And Recycle Carbon FiberWhile automaker BMW currently uses carbon fiber components in cars like the M3, M5 and M6, it will soon begin producing full carbon fiber passenger cells for the i3 electric car and the i8 plug-in hybrid-electric sports car. The carbon fiber that ultimately forms these cells will be manufactured in...
Kurt Ernst