2013 Ferrari 620GT

Yesterday I ran across some news about a new Ferrari. It's called the 620GT, and it seems as if the styling was done by both Aston Martin and Maserati together.

This is the picture I saw, and it's quite a looker. The windshield and roofline look like an Aston DBS or DB9, and the front looks very GranTurismo-ish. Put those together and there's a wonderful combination of class and ferocity that you don't see very often. It's about like seeing a lion wearing a monocle. You know he's about to tear your arm off, but you also know he's going to be as polite as possible while doing so; even offering you some imported German chocolates to ease your discomfort. Anyway, its slated to have a V12 engine, and given the name of the vehicle, it should be around a 6.2, maybe 6.25 liter. Transmission will be a 7 speed, my guess would be a double clutch paddle shift, given the success Ferrari had with the 458's. Rear wheel drive, none of the too-fancy-to-be-practical FF-style all wheel drive system. Should hit 60 in about 3 seconds dead, and it'll probably sound amazing while it does so.

Of course, those are just my thoughts on it, I'd love to hear your opinions on the new 620GT, and I'll keep you updated as I learn more. Thanks for reading!

UPDATE: Ferrari has (from what I can tell) changed the name upon release to the F12 Berlinetta. I have no clue why.

2012 Camaro ZL1 against the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500

So, if you read my last blog, you'll remember I said I'm a Chevy boy. However, I developed a lot of respect for Ford when they stepped up their game for the 2011 Mustang. Developing the Coyote engine to bring back the legendary 5.0 and also launch the 'Stang into a competitive position with the Camaro was well done. Desperately needed, but well done nonetheless. So, that being said, I'm going to try to keep this as fair as I can.

To start, the ZL1 simply looks amazing. Trim specific rims, the mohawk-like air extractor, that massive rear spoiler all combine to give the car a distinctive look that can't be matched by any other Camaro. The convertible, which will arrive in 2013, looks even better in my opinion. And that's a lot coming from a guy who really doesn't like convertibles. I mean, just look at it!

I have to say, though. The Shelby isn't too hard on the eyes either. I'm using a 2012 Shelby picture here, but it hasn't changed much at all.

The tail lights and headlights somehow just look both menacing and enticing. The racing stripes and scary cobra badges all around. And last but definitely not least, if you are lucky and can get close enough to one, you can read the "Powered By Ford" badges on the side. Those are extremely sought after bits of plastic, available only on the black market, where they fetch (or so I've heard) around $300 a badge, or you can get Ford to replace them. If, of course, you can provide enough evidence that you actually own a Shelby and send in the broken pieces of the old badge.


So far so good. Both are great looking cars, but how about the price? The ZL1 starts at $54,095 and the GT500 price hasn't been released yet. However, with the current 2012 model starting at $48,810 I would guess that it would be upwards of that several hundred dollars due to the work they put in compared to the 2012 offering. That would put them at about equal price with the Shelby probably a bit cheaper than the Chevy.


Performance wise, the power numbers seem like it's going to be a blowout for the GT500. 650 horsepower, 600 lb-ft of torque compared to the 580 horses and 556 torque developed by the ZL1's mill. In fact, Ford took the title of most powerful production V8 in the world. Of course, it's not in production just yet, and I have a feeling the 2014 Corvette ZR1 might have something to say about that. How did Ford manage that, you might ask? Well, they took the 5.4 liter from the 2012 Shelby and increased engine displacement to 5.8 liters and swapped out the Eaton M112 supercharger for a four-lobe Eaton TVS supercharger. Which, surprisingly, is the same one used by the ZL1, Cadillac CTS-V, and Corvette ZR1, which all share the same basic engine. Add to that some new, more efficient heads and some other little adjustments, and the end result is a lot of power. Another thing worth noting is that the supercharger isn't the only thing the two cars share. In fact, they both have the same transmission, the Tremec 6060 6 speed. The ZL1 is powered by the LSA engine, the same exact engine the CTS-V (the worlds fastest production sedan) uses. This engine, like I said, is based off of the LS9 engine used by the Corvette ZR1 just with a smaller supercharger. Same actual engine displacement; 6.2 liters, just less boost pressure.


Now the power ratings are only part of the story. The Mustang has a history of having tires way too small and slick to use the power. The ZL1 uses Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires, the same tires used by Corvette ZR1 before the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires came out; the grippiest tires legally allowed on the road. The Eagle F1's are just a step behind the Michelins, and miles ahead of the traction provided by the R-Compound tires on the Shelby.

One problem the Shelby will run into is its live rear axle. This basically means that the rear wheels are connected by a solid piece of metal so that if the right rear wheel hits a bump, the wheel will rise up because of the suspension. This will cause the wheel to pivot around the differential, pushing the left wheel into the ground. It also pushes the left wheel onto the outside edge and off of the inside edge, causing a loss of traction. Long story short, a live rear axle is a nightmare for handling. It's about as sophisticated as my doorhinge. The ZL1, on the other hand, has independent suspension all around, which allows each of the wheels to move without affecting the others. This is one of the main reasons the Camaro is able to lap the Nürburgring in just over 7'41". That's an incredible achievement.

Overall, I think the Camaro ZL1 and the Shelby GT500 are equally matched. The sheer power of the Shelby basically negates the handling advantages the ZL1 has. Both look incredible, and the cost is similar. Of course, these are only my opinions, and if you have anything to say, I'd be happy to hear your input. Thanks for reading, guys!

About Me, My First Car, and Other Things

So I'm new to this whole blogging thing, but I caught a wave of inspiration and decided to give it a try. I guess I'll start off by telling you who I am. My name is Caleb, I live in Texas, and I'm a freshman in College majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. My true passion for cars started when I was 16 and looking for my first set of wheels. At that time, I knew absolutely nothing about the automotive industry. Heck, I thought the Corvette was a Pontiac. As I did more and more research, I soon learned all of the manufacturers and many of their models. I discovered the difference between front and rear wheel drive, I even learned to drive standard (though that was later, and a whole different story). I decided I didn't much care for Mustangs, but I adored the new Camaro. Once I got my facts straight about the Corvette, it quickly became my dream car; the new ZR1 is the best supercar in the world in my book. of course, I didn't end up with any of these. I got a 2001 white Ford Taurus. Now for a Chevy boy, that was disappointing. But, I made the most of it, and as much as I disliked it, I loved that car. Maybe it was the fact that it was my first car; the symbol of freedom. I could drive wherever and whenever (provided my parents approved). Eventually, my Dad got a Can Am Spyder, and we switched cars right before I left for school. I got the keys to his 2000 V6 Camry; the car I had thought for years would be my first one. Although it's faster and "cooler" than my old car (dubbed "Mortimer", yet another story), it's still not a Camaro or Corvette or even a 2011 'Stang (why I'd take one of those is, you guessed it, a story for later). But for some reason I wouldn't trade this one at the moment. I grew up in this car, and I have some great memories in it. Going to my senior Prom in it was a blast. The Camry was the car we always took camping, and I love the outdoors. The Camry was my Dad's car. My Dad is one of my best buddies. We play paintball, racquetball, video games and go running together. It's the car I got my first big burn in. Wait, that's not a happy memory... Anyway, it's my car now, and I love it as much as I love/hate old Mortimer.
The girls section on here is probably just going to end up being me griping about not understanding women. But I'll try to keep it as fair and even as possible. Oh, and if any of you are experts on women, let me know. I'll hire your help.
So that's about all I've got for now. Chances are nobody'll read this till a while from now, but if anyone does, give me some suggestions on some posts. I'm planning to share my thoughts on the 2012 Camaro ZL1 versus the 2013 Shelby GT500 and how that stacks up.
So thanks for reading, and I hope you'll come back!