Tesla Model S. The best car. EVER

In some news out of left field. The folks from Consumer Reports have come out an announced that the Tesla Model S is bar none, the BEST car they have ever tested. Interesting because of the fact that it is a full electric car. But that's also one of the biggest reasons why CR says it's the best. Styling is uniquely Tesla, and looks like nothing else on the road. Inside, a 17 inch touch screen panel controls just about everything in the car. Now how it is better than say a VW Jetta TDI?

Well, I'm not sure other than you can take the Jetta on long road trips. The Model S can handle say Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Longer trips are possible thanks to a network of supercharged charging stations that can charge the battery from empty to half full in about a half hour. However, expect a full charge to take 12 hours using normal 240 volt home electric. That can be cut down with an optional charger from Tesla that takes about 5 hours to recharge.

Sticker price for the Model S comes in at a hefty $90,000 give or take a couple hundred bucks. And lets face it. Frankly, it's not a Prius, and that's why we like it. Even though we still prefer our cars to suck gas, not electricity.

So, while it may not fit the need for everyone, it's pretty darn close for some. Unfortunately, for those of us here in Pittsburgh, and the rest of Pennsylvania for that matter. There are no Tesla dealers. There is a service center in Philadelphia, but the closest dealer is in Tysons Corner, Virginia which is just outside of Washington D.C. That is partially due to Tesla's troubles with their store style of dealer system that has the national and state dealer associations up in arms. And that's not to mention the other financial troubles that have hounded Tesla.

Here's hoping that Tesla sticks around for a while. 

Source: Consumer Reports, Tesla Motors.

51st annual Pittsburgh World of Wheels

It's that time of year again kiddies. The start of the car show season in Pittsburgh. The 51st annual Pittsburgh World of Wheels begins this Friday, January 25th. We'll be covering the event in detail in case you can't make it. This year, hot rod legend Gene Winfield will be on hand performing a chop on a one lucky person's car.

There will also be a display of Batmobiles, the Munster Koach along with Butch Patrick, The ZZ Top Eliminator, Herbie the Love Bug, and much more. There is a special BeetleMania display with some of the finest Volkswagens in the city on display. The annual 1961 Extreme display of traditional hot rods, customs, rat rod and more. Drag City USA featuring nostalgia race cars. And two popular events, the Builder of the Year (Chuck Lombardo and California Street Rods) and the charity pinstripe auction benefiting the Autism Society.

So come on down to the David L Lawrence Convention Center this weekend. You won't regret it.

Jerry Seinfeld working on a car show?

Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Adam Carolla, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld. These are just a few of the names of big time Hollywood car guys. Rumors are swirling that Jerry Seinfeld is working on a new show revolving around cars and some of his comedic friends. Details are scarce, but this photo of Seinfeld and Larry David with one of Jerry's cars, a vintage split window Volkswagen Beetle have started flying around the net. 

Volkswagen setting records again.

Volkswagen is no stranger to setting records. Be it sales volume records or having a car swim across the English channel or the Panama Canal. Here's a new world record notch for the belt. An American built 2012 Passat TDI has set the world record for longest distance on one tank of gas. The trip started by mileage guru's John and Helen Taylor left Houston, TX on May 3rd and arrived in Sterling, VA on May 5th. A typical three day trip, simulating a typical trip. The Passat was bone stock, and carried over 120 pounds of luggage and drove only during daylight hours. What was the world record distance? 1,626 miles beating the previous record of 1,526.6 set by a BlueMotion Passat in Europe. Over the course of the trip, the Taylor's averaged just over 84 miles per gallon. Who says you need a hybrid?

Source: Volkswagen of America

Press release:

05.08.2012

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SETS WORLD RECORD FOR LONGEST DISTANCE ON ONE TANK OF CLEAN DIESEL FUEL

Mileage experts John and Helen Taylor complete 1626-mile drive in Chattanooga-built Volkswagen Passat TDI®—without stopping for fuel!

• Record set using a stock 2012 Passat TDI SE with six-speed manual transmission
• Average of 84.1 miles per gallon during three-day trip
• Shows mileage benefits of VW Clean Diesel technology

Herndon, VA -  The world’s most fuel-efficient couple has done it again. John and Helen Taylor were determined to break the record for the farthest distance traveled on a single tank of fuel. They decided to attempt the record in the U.S. with a stock 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI Clean Diesel vehicle equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. The previous record for the most miles covered on a single tank of diesel was 1526.6 miles, achieved with a VW Passat 1.6 BlueMotion® diesel in Europe.

The result? A new record of 1626.1 miles, achieved on one tank of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel under real world driving conditions. That’s an incredible 99.5 miles better than the old mark. Over the course of three days and driving through nine states, the couple averaged 84.1 miles per gallon, spending only 4.65 cents per mile. The three-day drive commenced on May 3, 2012 in Houston, TX and ended on May 5, 2012 in Sterling, Virginia. To make the drive as realistic as possible, the couple included 120 pounds of luggage and drove during daylight hours to experience normal traffic situations. Additionally, the couple took turns driving and didn’t travel more than 14 hours per day.

“We’re excited to have broken the record for the longest distance driven on one-tank of fuel,” said John Taylor. “The Passat TDI was the perfect car for the trip. It offers plenty of interior and cargo space, yet is frugal enough to help us achieve this record.”

The Passat’s 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel inline four-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and with a manual transmission delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 43 mpg on the highway. The TDI engine is equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction System (SCR) that fulfills emissions requirements in all 50 states. The Passat—built at the world’s only LEED Platinum certified automotive factory in Chattanooga, TN—was named Motor Trend’s 2012 Car of the Year.

“The Passat was engineered and designed to be a comfortable yet fun to drive alternative in the midsize segment. The TDI Clean Diesel version unites driving dynamics and fuel efficiency that isn’t found in the competitive set,” said Rainer Michel, Vice President of Product Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We’re honored that the Taylors chose the 2012 Passat TDI as the vehicle to set this outstanding distance record. Their record shows just how economical the Passat TDI can be in the right hands.”

Prior to the drive, the speedometer and odometer were calibrated by a state certified testing station in Houston, Texas. Law enforcement officers from the city of Houston, Texas oversaw validation of mileage, fuel fill-up, and gas tank sealing at the beginning of the drive. A Loudoun County, Virginia Sheriff’s Deputy verified completion of the drive and mileage prior to removing the fuel tank seal.

The Taylors have made a career out of driving efficiently and conducting workshops globally on fuel-efficient driving techniques. They have collected more than 90 world fuel economy and vehicle-related records from drives around the globe.

Picks from the Pittsburgh World of Wheels: Round 2

Fritz Holzer from RPM Hot Rods showed his 1954 GMC pickup which made its debut at the show. It's refreshing to see a GMC as opposed to the more common Chevrolet trucks of this vintage. This truck oozes cool.

Your fearless editor, Albert Heiles showed his 1959 VW Herbie the Love Bug. A rarity at any show, this car is car number 6 and was used in the filming of The Love Bug and its sequel Herbie Rides Again.

No ISCA show is complete without at least one 1970s show car. This big block 1968 Corvette is a former championship winning car from 1972. Aside from one repaint a few years ago, this car is exactly how it was built. Complete with the fat McCreary tires, black and white Sony TV, and the wild flip nose front end. This one was originally built by show car builder Jerry Roman. 

Scottsdale 2012: Update on Herbie

The hammer has just fallen on Herbie at the Gooding & Company auction in Scottsdale. I've been patiently awaiting this one. Bidding started slow at $30,000. and slowly crept up, struggling to get to $50,000 before bidding finally ended at $60,000. As a fellow owner of one of these cars, I would have liked to hear a little better description of the car at the start as there was no mention that the car was in fact a true movie car on the block, but I guess I can't fault them. I thought the auction estimate of $75,000 to $125,000 was optimistic, but I felt it was a realistic price of what the remaining Herbie cars were worth. I think what may have held this car back was the lack of a Disney pink slip. Had that been present, this may have shot bidding through the roof. But that being said, this car came from some very prestigious collections. There are also not many that are as untouched and original as this car, and one would have to remember that when purchasing a car like this. They weren't built to be show pieces, they just had to show up good on film. I'm certain that the new owner will be extremely happy with his purchase, and of course the value can only go up from here.

Scottsdale 2012: The most famous car in the world. Herbie

There's a lot of top movie and TV car lists. And Herbie the Love Bug is always on that list. Some say that the Batmobile or James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 are number one and the most famous. But I think truly the number one is none other than Herbie. I mean what other TV or movie car could so many people relate to or see on a daily basis than a VW Beetle? And 9 times out of 10, any one who sees one says "Look, there's Herbie!" Well, now is your chance to own Herbie. This weekend at the Gooding & Company auction in Scottsdale. One of the original Herbie movie cars (not mine) will be up for grabs. What's remarkable is this car, with the exception of some very minor re freshening is still how it looked when it was in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo over 30 years ago. These are the same seats that Dean Jones and Don Knotts sat on folks. This car is a 1963 model sunroof sedan and is labeled as car #2.

What is known about the car is it was set up for much of the high speed action for the movie with the engine and performance modifications being completed by Speed Unlimited Manufacturing in California. Rather than the typical 1200 cc. engine that would be found in a stock 63 Beetle,  1600 cc. blocks upped to 1835 cc. engines were built. After that extensive suspension & trans axel modifications were completed and the 14x6 wide wheels were installed. Car #2 now carries a 1740 cc. engine that now produces 60 hp.

Top side, the VW pearl white paint applied by Disney is mostly all original as are the painted on stripes. the 53 graphics have been touched up in a few spots, but are for the most part original. On the interior, again we find the original one off custom front seats that were unique to the later Herbies and the dull gray painted interior. This was done by Disney to reduce camera glare on interior shots. Below the rear window, there is a slot that has been cut out that once held an external oil cooler for the original engine. This car was also set up with one of the typical Herbie gags. Both front doors have extended hinges that are/were attached to release levers under the car that would make the doors spring open by themselves. This gag can be seen in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo with Don Knotts attempting to get in an angry Herbie and having no success until he apologizes.

The only real pieces on this car that are correct, but not the original parts on it from the film are the wheels, radio antenna, and the Carello fog light. The only piece missing is the dummy external gas cap that was an integral part of the plot of the movie. But those are all very minor items when compared to the cars originality.

This car also carries a strong history with it too. Aside from being owned by Disney. Car #2 was also part of the MovieWorld Cars of the Stars Museum and the famous Harrah's Collection before being sold to a few other small museums before ending up with VW specialist Daryl Adams. He sold the car to a private collector in the early 1990s, who had kept the car private before listing it with Gooding & Co. I am hopeful that the new owner will enjoy the car and share it with the world.

Gooding & Co. estimates the value between $75,000 and $125,000 and Herbie will be sold without reserve.

Source & Photos: Gooding & Co.

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix raises $200,000 for charity

Being a Pittsburgh based car guy and racing fan. I brag about the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix throughout the year. Not only do I show cars and participate in the events, but I also serve as a member of the Car Show Committee. Be it the car shows, the races, the fun of enjoying a nice weekend in the park, what ever fits your fancy, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix has a little bit of everything. The best though is that ALL proceeds from the PVGP events benefit two awesome charities, the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Valley School. This year, the PVGP set a new record, donating $200,000 to both charities at the recent "Victory Lap" check presentation ceremony. Representatives from the PVGP, event sponsors, car manufacturers, and participating car clubs were on hand at the Allegheny Valley School's campus for tours, a checkered flag waving and Terrible Towel wave (Myron Cope, inventor of the Terrible Towel sat on the board of AVS and the PVGP, and sales benefit AVS also). Each charity will benefit equally, receiving $100,000 each. This money will be used to provide residential care, treatment and support for developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh area.

Since 1983, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix has raised over $2.95 million dollars for both charities, with no signs of stopping.

For more information on how you can donate to the PVGP, volunteer or find out about the 2012 event, please visit http://www.pittsburghvintagegrandprix.com

Charity Ambassadors representing each charity;  Anita Iyengar -Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Brandon Fisher - Allegheny Valley School were on hand to receive the $200,000 check. 

left to right: PVGP Showside Director Bob Speer, Shop 'n Save's Rich Haeflein, Autism Society's Dan Torisky and PVGP Race Director Rocky Farrar with the 2011 check for $200,000.