MY FAVORITE CARS
CLUB AMERICA
The first Lamborghini Club
in the U.S. was started in December 1975, in Beverly Hills, California.
The Club then was resurrected in 1978 by Don Tognotti, with the first Club
magazine being produced in 1978. The Club was passed on to Al Burtoni of
Milano Imports in Gilroy, California, in 1984. The Club was acquired
by Jim and Joan Heady; the name was changed to Lamborghini Club America
at the Lamborghini 25th Anniversary party in 1989; Magazine issue
#34 was the first issue with the new Club name.
The Club was founded so owners would have someone to talk to about technical problems, parts availability or simply the joy of the automobile. Our membership is open to Lambo owners and enthusiasts worldwide; its members come from all parts of the world. The Club has grown into the world’s largest Lamborghini club.
The Lamborghini Club America Magazine and the Matador’s Chronicle, a shorter version of the Club’s Lamborghini Magazine, published between issues of the full sized Lamborghini Magazine, are published three to four times a year. The content includes a comprehensive review of what is happening in the Lamborghini world, including tech tips, current events at the factory, Lamborghini history, as well as information about the various meets held by our members throughout the U.S. Technical information and automotive magazine reports on new Lamborghini products are also included. The Classified Advertising section is free to members. These publications are among the finest of all the exotic automobile club magazines.
The Club gives a series of events throughout the year with a National Meet given the third weekend (usually)in August in Monterey, California; in addition to the Club’s functions, the weekend includes Concorso Italiano, Laguna Seca Historic Races, and the Pebble Beach Coucours d’Elegance. This year will be our 23rd year for the Lamborghini Club America Meet.
The Club has a Southern California coordinator, Jim Fox, ably supported by Al Miller in Los Angeles and by Jack Riddell in the San Diego area. The Southern California coordinators gives a series of great events throughout the year: the annual San Diego Weekend Meet in the Fall, the Temecula Wine Weekend Meet, the San Diego Meet in October, the Santa Barbara Meet in May, and the ever popular L.A. Lunch Bunch get togethers – drive and lunch in the Los Angeles area a number of times a year. Periodically we have the Napa (California) Wine Weekend, started in 1981, gives members a chance to drive in a beautiful valley, sample some of the finest food in America, and taste the best California wines. On the West Coast, Club members celebrate the Holiday Season each year with a black tie party at one of our members beautiful homes; we have been holding this party for more than 15 years
The Club’s East Coast region is coordinated by Kevin Sims, of Virginia. Kevin is the primary editor of the Matador’s Chronicle, which is received by Club members as a part of their membership. Club coordinator Kevin Sims gives road runs/luncheons through the Virginia countryside. The Club is an active participant in the Poconos event in Pennsylvania and has brought Valentino Balboni, the well-known Lamborghini test driver, over from Italy to show the qualities of Lamborghini on the Pocono’s track.
Visit our web site, www.lamborghiniclub.com for the latest news from the factory and up to the minute information and pictures of Club events and meets; visit our site at www.lamborghiniusa.com for listings of Lambo events given by the various authorized Lamborghini clubs around the world – Lamborghini owners are always welcome at these events worldwide.
Lamborghini owners are known for their enjoyment of good wine, fine food, quality functions and a friendliness that is unmatched in the automotive world. The Club is open to all owners and enthusiasts. Annual dues are $65 for USA and Canada and $90 elsewhere.
MCLAREN
Together with DaimlerChrysler we
recently announced the design and production of the Mercedes McLaren super
sports car for the 21st Century scheduled for launch in 2003. The
announcement was followed with the agreement of a long term strategy
for DaimlerChrysler to acquire a 40 percent share of the TAGMcLaren group
thus beginning a new chapter in the history of McLaren Cars.
The success of our first road car
the McLaren F1 is well documented. To succeed, however is about more than
just technology, and to build on our success we must continue to set standards
that others follow.
There is now an exceptional opportunity
for talented individuals to join McLaren Cars and sharing in our vision
become part of the expert team producing this exciting new project. You
are probably already a leader in your field of expertise, seeking a genuine
long term career opportunity and will bring with you to this project
innovation, inspiration and dynamism.
Start International Home
Produkte
Services
Innovation
Passion
Tradition
Personenwagen Vans Reisemobile
Transporter Lkw Busse
Service & Teile Flotten
Gebrauchtfahrzeuge Wege zu uns Über uns
Neuentwicklungen Forschung
Events Motorsport Sport
Mode Magazine Unterhaltung
Historie Museum Classic Services
Classic Aktuell Specials
Impressionen
360° Außenansicht
360° Innenansicht
Bildschirmhintergründe
Die perfekte Synthese aus Tradition und Innovation:
Wie schon die legendären SLR Rennsportwagen bringt auch der neue Mercedes-Benz
SLR McLaren modernste Technik auf die Straße.
Überlegene Fahrleistungen, faszinierendes Design und die Verwendung neuester Materialien wie Carbonfibre für das Chassis sind Merkmale, die diesen Sportwagen zu einem Erlebnis machen.
Drive the SLR
2003
LEXUS
Lexus sold 14,652 GX470 SUVs through the first
six months of 2003. That's 14,652 Lexus vehicles (base price of $44,925
a piece) not sold last year, when there was no GX470. And the GX470 alone
has played a huge part in boosting Lexus SUV/crossover sales by 30% so
far in 2003.
More amazing, GX470 numbers are only slightly behind Ford Motor's (nyse: F - news - people ) sales of the Lincoln Navigator and General Motors' (nyse: GM - news - people ) Cadillac Escalade sales (not including the stretched, Chevy Suburban-based Escalade ESV). That's pretty impressive for first-year sales of any vehicle, nipping right on the heels of the segment leaders. You might claim that Honda's Acura division spanked all comers, selling more than 27,000 MDX crossovers in the first six months of 2003. But we're not talking crossovers here; we are talking about truck-based luxury SUVs.
HIGHS:
Lexus fit and finish; silky smooth V-8 and silky
smooth ride.
LOWS:
Rear seats don't fold into the floor, big on
the outside, not so big on the inside.
READ MORE TEST DRIVES
It probably helps Lexus a great deal that the company once again got top marks in a recent J.D. Power survey, this time for long-term reliability. Customers clearly will pay a premium if they think a vehicle is going to last and not give them headaches, hence one reason Toyota (nyse: TM - news - people ) and its Lexus brand combined now claim 12% of the SUV/crossover market. Also helpful: eight crossover/SUV products in the Toyota/Lexus pantheon.
But all those offerings start to look a lot alike. How different is the seven-seat Toyota Sequoia that sells for $31,625 with a 4.7-liter V-8 from a GX470 with the same engine? And why get the Lexus when the Toyota 4Runner ($28,000-$35,530) is so less pricey?
Indeed, this has become quite a crowded marketplace, and not just with truck-based offerings. Oh sure, the truck-based vehicles have their place. But that's really about towing boats and campers, not about off-roading. And since chassis construction technology has improved greatly, some car-based crossovers, like the $34,900 Volkswagen (otc: VLKAY - news - people ) Touareg, can actually tow more weight than the truck-based Lexus GX470.
Although a true frame construction would be better in certain off-roading conditions, we doubt even Lexus would claim its owners take their GX470s anywhere near bowling ball-sized boulders.
So why would you get the GX470? Well, in contrast with the VW, the Lexus gets third-row seats, and its V-8 is simply one of the smoothest engines on the market period. Then there's this: In great contrast to Lexus, which came in at the top of the 2003 J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, Volkswagen landed near the bottom, just below Isuzu!
That makes buying a Lexus product quite attractive,
even if there is a big price premium. What about driving the GX470, living
with it for a week as we just did? Read on to see what we thought
'03 HUMMER H2. Adventure Package (Air Suspension
Package, AM/FM with 6 disc CD
Changer, Brushguard, First Aid Kit/Super Tool/Flashlight, Double Crossbar
Roof Rack,
Floor Mats) , Heated Leather Seats, 3rd Row Seat, U-steps, Chrome Package,
Swingaway
Tire carrier w/jack mount, 20" Chrome Alloy Wheels, Toyo tires for 20"
rims, 7' Roof Rack,
Stainless Side Steps, Stainless Brushguard, DVD player with 2 headrest
monitors, Remote
fuel door. Yellow. H714
SALE $65,481
Pictured below is the SUT (Sport Utility Truck)
prototype. The production
version should arrive around June of '04 as an '05 model. This prototype
has many production elements and is very close to the production version.
History of the Hummer.
The history Of the HUMMER begins in 1979 with
competition for the development of a vehicle to meet the Army's
highest standards in a High Mobility Multi-Purpose
Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). As that development race
began, Teledyne and Chrysler Defense (later sold
to General Dynamics) already had designs on their drawing
boards. The proposed Chrysler vehicle was an
adapted version of the Saluki desert design. while its Teledyne
counterpart sprang from the design of a vehicle
known as the Cheetah. Though AM General appeared to be well
behind the others, the company moved into this
competition with no preconceived design notions, rolled up its
sleeves, and soon created an original -- the
HUMMER.
AM General's prototype HUMMER went to test in
the Nevada desert in July 1980 -- only eleven months from its
design board beginnings. This was the first of
many breakthroughs that demonstrated the company's know-how and
leadership. The Army now had three serious competitors
with vehicles under test.
The Army's formal procurement of test vehicles
began in February 1981. Six proposals came in from industry and
were evaluated against the Army's HMMWV specifications.
The three most responsive designs were selected, and
in June 1981 contracts were awarded to General
Dynamics, Teledyne and AM General. The test vehicles to be
acquired from each company included TOW Carriers,
Cargo Troop Carriers and Mini and Maxi Ambulance
variant.
Army specs were extremely stringent with demands
for light armor, deep water fording capability, and Arctic and
desert operational ability to name just a few,
as well as absolute reliability, durability and maintainability, Vehicle
weight constraints called for material application
breakthroughs. All of this and just ten months to do it --still
another set of challenges for AM General.
Once again AM General proved its mettle when it
became the first company to complete its test vehicles.
Prototype HUMMERs were delivered to Army proving
grounds at Aberdeen and Yuma, and to a test site at Fort
Hunter-Liggett in April 1982.
The Army's test phase was scheduled over a five
month period after which a call for production proposals would be
made from the competing contractors. AM General
took that in stride as its HUMMERS were the first vehicles to
complete durability testing. The company also
came through the rigorous testing with the lightest vehicles and high
performance ratings. Clearly, the HUMMER HAD
scored as the superior technical offering.
Following AM General's production proposal, these
"superior' vehicles were finally awarded the initial HUMMER
production contract in March 1983, calling for
55,000 vehicles to be delivered over a five year period.
From tooling up time at AM General's Mishawaka
plant to delivery of the first production test vehicles took just
six months -- another remarkable achievement
for AM General.
With the marketing of the civilian HUMMER, AM
General opens the newest and brightest chapter in its history.
The world's most durable and most serious 4 x
4 is ready to stretch the American drivers' work and pleasure
experience -- for years and years to come.
In December of 1999 AM General sold the Hummer
name and the rights to market and distribute Hummer
vehicles to General Motors. AM General will continue
to Build the original Hummer (now called H1) at the
Mishawaka plant. AM General will also build the
all new Hummer H2 in a new state of the art manufacturing
facility adjacent to the HMMWV/H1 plant.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette: Commemorative
Edition Celebrates Racing Success, and
Improves the C5 Breed
The all-new 2003 HUMMER H2 skillfully harmonizes brawn and comfort into one amazing vehicle. With a 6.0L V8 engine boasting 316 horsepower and 360 lb.-ft. of torque and the ability to ford up to 20 inches of water H2 adds luxury features like eight-way power front seats, dual-zone climate control and One-year Safe & Sound Service from OnStar.* Options like heated seats with leather seating surfaces, sunroof and more are also available. H2: It's like nothing else.
DETROIT, MICH. - Since its inception in 1997, the
fifth-generation Chevrolet Corvette has created a
remarkable string of performance achievements, on
the road and on the racetrack. For 2004, the final
chapter in the C5 era, this tradition continues with
the Commemorative Edition Corvette, celebrating
Corvette Racing’s historic Le Mans victories and
delivering technology that once again improves the
breed.
Corvette Racing has claimed consecutive GTS
class championships in 2001 and 2002 at the
famed Le Mans 24 Hours, the world’s most
prestigious sports car endurance race.
“The great racing success of the C5-R is more
than just symbolic, it’s a real testament to the
world-class technology and performance of the
Corvette,” says David Hill, vehicle line executive
and Corvette chief engineer. “We’ve created the
2004 Commemorative Edition to share our racing
achievements with Corvette enthusiasts, while
bringing real performance and technology upgrades
to the Z06.”
The 2004 Commemorative Edition Z06 features a
new hood using carbon fiber material, and exterior
graphics and color designed in concert with the
new-look C5-R that will go for a landmark third
consecutive Le Mans GTS class championship. The
carbon fiber hood represents the first time this
advanced material has been used as original
equipment for a painted exterior panel on a North
American-produced vehicle. The unique Le Mans
Blue paint with a silver and red center graphic will
appear on the race car only at Le Mans 2003 and
only on the road on a limited number of 2004
Commemorative Edition Z06s.
Commemorative Edition Corvette Coupes and
Convertibles will also be available for 2004. These
will share an exclusive package of styling
amenities, including Le Mans Blue paint and a
Shale-colored interior, with a Commemorative
Edition exterior badge noting Corvette’s Le Mans
titles. Special embroidery on the headrests of each
seat is also included.
“At Chevrolet and especially with the Corvette,
racing is part of our DNA,” says Rick Baldick,
Corvette Marketing Director. “The 2004
Commemorative Edition provides us the opportunity
to connect our customers even more closely with
this unprecedented era of Corvette Racing.”
2004 Z06 - another round of technical
enhancements
The Z06 Corvette shook the foundations of the
sports car world upon its 2001 debut, as the
Corvette for the extreme performance enthusiast.
Just a year later, horsepower moved from 385 to
an awe-inspiring 405. For 2004, Z06 gets two
performance-enhancing upgrades - the
lightweight, race-inspired carbon fiber hood for the
Commemorative Edition, and revised chassis tuning
for quicker, smoother response in the most
challenging environments.
The carbon fiber hood - only available on the
Commemorative Edition version of the 2004 Z06 -
weighs 20.5 pounds, 10.6 less than the standard
hood, providing another measure of weight savings
for a car that already enjoys a very potent
power-to-weight ratio. Previously reserved for
racing and exotic sports cars, carbon fiber
combines extremely high strength and low weight.
The inside hood panel is a hybrid of carbon fiber
and Sheet Molded Compound (SMC).
Specifically developed for the Corvette, the
Commemorative Edition Z06 hood achieves a higher
level of exterior finish quality than previous
automotive applications of carbon fiber. On most
carbon fiber parts, the woven pattern of the
material is easily seen beneath the exterior finish.
To diminish that effect and preserve the rich
LeMans Blue paint finish, on the Commemorative
Edition Z06 the carbon fibers are aligned in a single
direction. The only visual cue that the hood is
made from carbon fiber is in the red border
surrounding the silver graphic on the car, which is
arranged in a woven pattern signifying the material
that lies underneath. The overall result is a finish
consistent with the rest of the car that gives just
a slight hint at the carbon fiber construction.
Nurburgring-inspired chassis tuning
All 2004 Z06 Corvettes will benefit from the
continual pursuit of performance enhancements
that have characterized the C5 era. The
enhancements for 2004 are subtle in terms of
physical parts, but significant in terms of the car’s
performance and feel.
GM engineers have refined the Z06’s shock
damping characteristics to provide improved
handling in the most challenging conditions, while
maintaining good ride control for the demands of
daily driving.
Continual analysis, development and refinement of
the shock valves in particular resulted in more
damping control and force, delivered more
smoothly. This new tuning is aimed at diminishing
the impact of yaw and roll on the car, particularly
in quick, transient maneuvers such as “S-turns” or
a series of tight corners.
“While the Z06 already had an excellent blend of
extreme handling capability and surprising ride
quality, we’re never satisfied,” Hill says. “The
enhancements for 2004 provide a bit more poised
and smooth response, connecting the car better
to the driver’s input, without the penalty of ride
harshness.”
These refinements are a result of extensive testing
and development, including several high-speed
test sessions at Germany’s famed Nurburgring
circuit. Corvette Z06 is one of only a precious few
cars to have broken the 8-minute barrier for lap
times at Nurburgring. Corvette testing at
Nurburgring isn’t just about raw speed, as the Z06
provides plenty of that. Engineers gathered
important learning on tuning the chassis to
enhance the poise, confidence and smoothness of
response, attributes that are of great importance
under the severe demands of a 14-mile course
that has approximately 170 turns and virtually
constant elevation changes.
“Nurburgring, at the extreme edge of the envelope,
provides conditions that can’t be easily duplicated
anywhere else,” says Hill. “But, even for the Z06,
we spend considerable time ensuring we don’t
make adjustments that compromise the normal
daily driving character of the car.”