I'm still struggling to understand what Lamborghini is thinking, are they really trying to capture a 4-door super car market?  Does such a market really exist?  The italian car manufacturer has released some teaser images of a new model they will be showing off at the Paris auto show, with supposedly 4 lambo doors.

The images are just awesome and there is no question Lamborghini knows how to make a hot super car, but they are breaking their own mold with this upcoming model.  According to industry analysts the new Lambo will feature a front-engine design, as opposed to their tried and true mid-engine designs of the past.  Throw in twice as many doors and you've got an all new contender in the super car market.

Check out the teaser images from Lamborghini below:

Americans love their muscle cars. This is apparent in the legions of rabid fans dedicated to the Ford Mustang and other hotrods. Decades ago, the muscle car reigned supreme on the roads of the US. However, changes in the industry and in consumer spending resulted in a dramatic change, which saw the supposed demise of most muscle cars. While cars like the Ford Mustang and the Chevy Camaro continued to be manufactured, they seemed pale imitations of previous iterations.

However, the modern world seems ready to embrace the muscle car once more. While this may seem nonsensical when you consider the looming oil crisis and the rising cost of fuel, the reality is indisputable. The rise of the newly redesigned Ford Mustang was proof that Americans wanted their power back.

The Mustang was not the only hotrod to tantalize Americans' need for speed. The Dodge Charger soon became a product vehicle. While the car may have thrown purists for a loop (a 4-door muscle car?), it found a home in the hearts of many consumers. Next, Chevy made everyone in the industry stop and take notice of the new design for the Camaro; though production remained elusive, (2010 is the supposed production year).

Dodge once again upped the ante this year with the release of the Challenger. This car had only two doors and hearkened back to the designs of yesteryear, which suited the purists and everyone else just fine.

The muscle car wars seem ready to heat back up, once more. With the coming redesign of the new Mustang, the release of the Camaro and Dodge's seeming dedication to get there first, there should be a plethora of options for those who feel the need for massive horsepower and roaring engines.
In many ways, the need for American muscle cars stems from the ubiquitous tuner market. This market is largely geared for small import cars. While capable of great speed, they lack the sheer gratuitous power and aggressiveness of past muscle cars. They also lack the style that seemed inherent to American muscle cars.

As the muscle car wars continue to heat up (albeit slowly), there's no telling what the industry might do. What other manufacturers may be influenced to pick up the thrown gauntlet and develop their own offerings for the market? The advent of the new car wars is a sign that Americans are ready to stand defiantly against the low-powered, compact cars that have been fobbed off by the automakers for years.

Making the most of your current ride is a distinct reality in today's economy. With the economic woes, the rising cost of living and fuel, it makes little sense for many in today's world to purchase a new car, when their old one is still serviceable. However, that does not mean that you cannot improve the car you currently have. Numerous inexpensive ways to add additional performance to your car exist. Many of these methods can also help improve fuel economy.

Modifying your exhaust is one of the best ways to gain greater performance, as well as help provide better fuel economy. While cat-back systems offer benefits, the best way to start is with a header. Yes, you can install a header on your 4-cylinder. These are specially designed for small engines (with tight quarters!) and can be installed on your own, with nothing more than a few simple tools.
A header helps reduce the amount of backpressure with which your engine must deal. Some backpressure is necessary for proper engine operation; however, OEM exhaust systems are very restrictive. The header takes the place of your exhaust manifold and connects the engine exhaust with the A pipe (which runs to the catalytic converter).

You'll find the exhaust manifold on the front of your engine, shielded by a metal cover. Removing the cover and the manifold is a simple process. The first step is to remove the metal shield, which you can do in less than a minute. The second step is to remove the bolts holding the upper part of the manifold to the engine. Once you have removed these, you'll need to tackle the lower section, where the manifold attaches to the A pipe.
Once the bolts have been removed, you will likely have to apply pressure to the manifold. Old gaskets tend to cling tenaciously, which can make it difficult to free your manifold. Use a flat-head screwdriver if necessary and gently pry the manifold away from the engine. Once it comes free, you can slide it down the front of the engine and take it out through the bottom (some models will allow you to remove it from above).

Clean the old gasket material off the mating surfaces (don't forget the gasket on the A pipe). You'll need to install the new gaskets prior to the header. Once the new gaskets are in, slide the header in place and install the bolts. You can use the same bolts from your manifold, though some headers come with new bolts. Once you have it all tight, you'll need to start the vehicle and check for exhaust leaks.

Mercedes has decided to take a break from pushing their diesel technology on green buyers and released an all new BlueHybrid series car.  The Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid is a radically engineered 'green' car capable of close to 300 horsepower and still get 29 miles per gallong.  Thanks to the use of their 'Blue' technology, Mercedes is able to mount a battery in the engine bay only slightly larger than it's regular 12v battery, instead of a heavy lithium under carriage mount unit.

Mercedes BlueHybrid

Adding performance to your ride means a number of different things. While cold air intakes, suspension tuning and body kits can all offer benefits, you'll still need to address the issue of braking. Your brake system is an integral part of vehicle performance. It is also a vital part of your safety. Adding too much power without modifying your braking system can have deadly consequences. In short, the faster and more powerful your car, the stronger and more powerful your braking system will need to be.

In addition, adding an aftermarket braking system can give you a sportier, more race-inspired look. What types of brakes can you find? What does replacing your brake system entail? If you have never modified your brakes or been involved in the customization industry, these are just a few of the questions that will need to be answered. Here, you'll find a breakdown of the parts you will need.

New Rotors - You will need to purchase oversized rotors. The best choice is cross-drilled, or slotted, rotors. Cross-drilled rotors have a pattern of holes drilled through them. This allows hot gases and brake pad debris to vent during brake operation. With a solid rotor, gases and debris can build up under the pad, resulting in reduced grip. Oversized, cross-drilled rotors help you combat that.

New Pads – You'll need to invest in a set of quality brake pads. Both carbon fiber and ceramic blends can offer you superior stopping power and are ideal for high performance applications. Both technologies are derived from the racing industry and have proven their worth on the track. Both types offer you superior braking, combined with enhanced longevity, resulting in a powerful braking solution that will stand the test of time and hard use.

Calipers – You will also need a new set of calipers (two, actually, if you are modifying the rear brakes also). Aftermarket calipers offer better clamping (when the clamp the pad to the rotor) and can be found in a number of different piston configurations. In addition, these calipers are often colored, which lends a custom, sporty look to your car.

Brake Lines – Braided steel brake lines give you better brake fluid pressure, but other solutions are available, as well. If steel brake lines are not to your liking, you can find high performance rubber lines, as well. However, steel lines offer more benefits.

Ford has decided to make the best even better by overhauling the fuel consumption standards of all F Series pickup trucks.  The 2009 F-150 will arrive and be the best in fuel economy and capability through extensive engineering enhancements.  New buyers of an 09 F-150 will expect an increase of 8% fuel economy over previous years in the same model type and up to 12% on V8 versions.

"Ford has committed to have the best or equal to the best fuel economy with every new product we introduce, and we are delivering with the new F-150," said Matt O'Leary, Ford F-150 chief engineer. "Fuel economy has moved from 10th to third place among pickup buyers' top purchase considerations -- right behind durability and value. The new F-150 delivers on all three as the industry leader."

The increased fuel economy of the 09 F-150 comes at a time none too soon, considering hurricane Ike has crippled the cost of gasoline.  Ford is modifying their upcoming vehicles to match consumer demand in safer, more reliable, more capable, and more fuel efficient categories.  Although not limited to these improvements, the 09 F series trucks will also be receiving aero dynamic changes as well, which will serve function and looks.

One of the more interesting engineering changes to the 09 F-150 is it's aggressive fuel shut-off during deccleration.  It's an automatic function within the fuel system that shuts off fuel when a drivers foot is removed from the gas pedal.  Fuel will then resume once a slow enough speed is reached at idle or the pedal is depressed again.  Exciting new technology that I'm assuming will find it's way across a broad line of vehicles and not just within Ford.

Modifying your ride is more than a hobby for the dedicated enthusiast; it's a passion, an obsession even. With so many different types of modifications on the market, it can be difficult to know what you should modify first. While engine modification is a definite requirement for most tuners, body modifications are just as important. So, where do you start with body modifications?

Both body kits and spoilers are a great place to start. While many body kits come with spoilers (some do not), purchasing a spoiler separately can be a more cost-effective way to begin a modification. What types of spoilers can you find? There are hundreds of different styles, from huge wing spoilers to more subtle spoilers that simply add a lip to your trunk lid. However, the types of spoilers available will vary by the year, make and model of your car (you can find a wide list of body kits and spoilers at AndysAutoSport.com).

Choosing accessories that are made for your specific vehicle is a much better option that choosing a "universal" accessory. This applies to spoilers as well as anything else. Universal fits tend to leave much to be desired. They often have loose fits, sloppy looks and require extra modification in the form of cutting, drilling and securing. A spoiler or other accessory made to fit your vehicle will minimize the amount of work needed.

Regardless of make and model, you'll be confronted with several choices when it comes time to purchase your spoiler.

• Aluminum – Aluminum spoilers definitely stand out from the crowd. They are usually tall, though many models have a height adjustment mechanism. These are ideal for a techie look, or those interested in a futuristic style, as well as a lightweight solution.

• Carbon Fiber – Few materials compare to carbon fiber in terms of strength, durability and weight. This material is ideal for spoiler creation and can lend a unique look to your car. Carbon fiber lends a race-inspired look to any ride.

• Paintable Spoilers – These usually come unfinished, and allow you to paint the spoiler the same color as your car. This is an ideal option for owners who want to maintain a consistent style and color throughout their vehicle.

A spoiler also offers a way to reduce friction as your car drives, saving you fuel (as long as you drive normally), as well as providing additional down force for the rear of the car.

Car tuning is the best way to make your ride reflect your personal style and interests. However, some cars are more "tunable" than others are. What are the easiest cars to tune? What are the most popular cars on the market to turn into street rods? While that answer will be dictated in large part by your geographic area, as well as your interests and influences, the resounding answer for most of America is simple. Small cars, with 4-cylinder engines are the most popular thing to tune. These are what are known as pocket rockets.

What is a pocket rocket, you ask? The standard definition is a normally aspirated car with a 4-cylinder engine. In addition, these are usually small cars, compacts or subcompacts. Here are a few examples of this type of car:

• Honda Civic

• Honda Civic SI

• VW Golf

• VW Rabbit

• VW Golf GTI

• Dodge Neon

• Dodge Caliber (which replaced the Neon)

There are, of course, many other types of cars. Hatchbacks tend to be extremely popular for this category. In fact, almost any small, lightweight car will work. The one caveat is that the car cannot have turbo or a supercharger installed, either before or after the modification.

What sets these cars apart and makes them pocket rockets? A series of simple modifications is all that is needed. The addition of a cold air intake and aftermarket ignition components is the start. In addition, a sport tuned suspension, an aftermarket exhaust system and performance wheels (note that these are not necessarily extremely large) are usually added.

Chip tuning a pocket rocket is the best way to maximize power and performance. Many of these vehicles are OBD I, which means that simply installing a new chip is all that is required. OBD II vehicles will need to have the ECU flashed in order to install new fuel maps and engine management software.

Chip tuning an OBD II car will require the services of a specialized shop. They will have the equipment necessary to reprogram the ECU; however, most of these shops do not provide the software or fuel maps required. That is left to the tuner. Thankfully, many companies online offer quality fuel maps for a wide range of vehicles.

Tuning your car can be an excellent way to get the ride of your dreams (you can visit AndysAutoSport.com for all the performance accessories that you will need).

Car customization has come a long way since the days of Prohibition. Illegal "bootleggers" were responsible for starting the American auto racing scene, as well as the customization industry. Today, there are thousands of ways in which you can customize your ride. In addition, there are numerous styles in use, including Dub, German, Clean, JDM and many others. However, what do you do if you don't want to adhere to a single style? The limitations imposed by styles can take away many of the liberties that customization is supposed to bring.

If you have decided to ditch the styles and not follow the crowd, you'll need to know a few things about what customizations are available, or even possible for your ride.

Body Kits – Body kits offer you an immediate and relatively simple way to change the look and feel of your ride. These kits usually include left and right rocker panels, as well as front and rear bumpers. Some kits come with spoilers, grille inserts and front air dams, as well. A kit can give your car the aggressive, ground-hugging stance of a racecar, or the look of a rally car. The sky is the limit, as far as styles are concerned, though you should only purchase a kit that is made for your vehicle.

Custom Wheels – While the current trend among many tuners is to use incredibly large wheels, these are not the only option. You can find oversized wheels that are aesthetically pleasing, functional and lightweight. Full aluminum (rather than enameled steel) is a good choice for your rim, especially if you demand performance. These are very lightweight and can improve your vehicle's performance in terms of both speed and stopping capacity.

Engine Customization – Customizing your engine will help you add beauty, as well as functionality. Cold air intakes can help you add performance, as well as a great look, while performance plugs and wires can do the same. A performance radiator is an excellent option for those who intend to put their car or truck to use on the track, complete with a high-pressure radiator cap (these may need to be purchased separately). Advancing your timing will allow you to gain better performance, while the aluminum gears can add even more to the look under your hood (visit AndysAutoSport.com for all the customization options you need).

As you can see, you can customize your ride without adhering to any specific, orthodox style and get the ride that you want in numerous ways. After all, isn't that what customization is all about?

Today's supercars are nothing like their predecessors. For one thing, they must go above and beyond what their forerunners accomplished. In addition, they must do so with strict environmental controls. Even with these limitations, there are many different supercars in the world today, capable of 200 MPH and then some. In fact, many of the tops supercars exceed 250 MPH. Let's take a look at some of the newest and hottest rides.

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Capable of over 200 MPH, this production supercar offers 560 metric horsepower for your adrenaline needs. The car has a mid-engine placement, with 5.2 liters of displacement. The V10 powerhouse is tuned to incredible precision and the car offers all-time 4-wheel drive for better grip as you tear down the road.

The Bugatti Veyron

Bugatti Veyron

At over 1 million dollars, this is possibly the most expensive car in the world. However, its claim to being the fastest car in the world was recently defeated (the SSC Ultimate Aero holds that honor). Capable of more than 250 miles per hour, the Veyron is capable of hitting 60 MPH in less than 3 seconds (2.5 seconds, actually).

The Koenigsegg CCXR

Koenigsegg CCXR

This is the third fastest car in the world, which is surprising considering that it runs on bio-fuel. This environmentally friendly supercar is a first in the world and shows just how much can be achieved when engineers put their minds to it. With a top speed of over 250 MPH, it is only ranked third by a mere fraction.

Each of these cars has enormous potential, though they certainly cost a pretty penny. Their ingenious engineering and development allows them to attain speeds never thought possible without special conditions being met. At one time, it was thought that those speeds would never be attained at all. However, it is becoming almost commonplace with the advent of modern supercars.

While these cars may not be something that the average Joe can aspire to, simply knowing they exist provides dreams of sitting in one, someday. It also drives tuners and hotrod enthusiasts to push their vehicles to the utmost, milking every last ounce of power from their everyday cars. Surprisingly, numerous street cars can be tuned to the point that they are far beyond ordinary, which means that any tuner can have their own supercar is they know what they are doing and are willing to dream big.