Obviously there is a lot more to see, but here are some highlights... NAIAS 2005 home GM The Corvette Z06 is powered by the largest displacement small-block V8 engine ever from GM, a 7.0-liter V8 that produces 500 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque, with a redline of 7000 rpm. It’s no coincidence that the 7.0-liter designation translates to a 427 cubic inch displacement—the same engine size as one of the most famous engines from Corvette history. The new engine is sure to make its own history as the powerplant for the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever produced which is also the fastest production car ever from GM. Weighing approximately 3130 pounds, the Z06 will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in much less than 4 seconds and quarter mile times should be in the mid-11 second range at over 120 mph. Top track speed is expected to be in excess of 190 mph. Ford But perhaps the most eye-catching of all the Fords was the oh-so-shiny Shelby GR-1 show car with a body made of hand-polished aluminum. Conceived in conjunction with racing legend Carroll Shelby who was in the auto show audience, the teardrop-shaped, low-riding GR-1 with butterfly doors that open upward hints at the direction Ford may take its own GT supercar that went on sale in calendar 2004 in limited numbers. Mays made sure to point out that the GT-1 on stage is operational and rolled onto the stage on its own power. The engine is a 605-horsepower, 6.4-liter double overhead cam V10 and the “theoretical” top speed is more than 200 miles an hour, according to Ford. Dodge Charger
Man, Mitsubishi is making some UGGGGGGLLYYY cars lately. WTF happened to them - they used to have great designs - Eclipse, 300GT, old Montero, old Diamante. Guess it's cyclical though - BMW's are fairly fugly now as well. Mercedes, Infiniti/Nissan, & even Ford are doing some cool new things...
Good God, 605 hp along with a 6.4-liter double overhead cam V10?? HFS!! Surely, that thing won't be street legal. Speaking of Fords, I really like the way that the 2005 Mustang looks. I have always had a preference for Japanese cars like Nissan, Toyota, and Honda, but damn, that new Mustang is so sweet looking! Not that I would want to get rid of my 350Z, but sometimes I find myself wishing that I had waited and gotten that new Mustang instead.
If it makes you feel any better, 90% of all the people I've seen driving these things in Houston lately are either (1) overweight women or (2) slicked back gray haired, sunglass wearing 50 year old men. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those groups, but in a year or two there will be so many of those things rolling around. It's been a year or two for the Z and that car is still sweet, imo.
No doubt, what are they thinking with that thing ~ the only Mitsu worth owning is a Lancer Evol. The list of 'hot rod' parts on this thing is just insane - everything is top of the line.
