Drop-Top Dreams, Part Four: Pair of Porsches

6/18/2012

2013 Porsche Boxster and 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet
It's hard to believe that it's been 15 years since the original Porsche Boxster bowed, but as Ferry himself was fond of saying, “Die Zeit vergeht, wenn man Spaß!” (“Time flies when you're having fun!”)

This third-generation Boxster retains its lovely mid- engine proportions while boasting some nifty new design cues.

For one, we love the integrated spoiler out back, running straight across the rear deck and through the taillight lenses. The windshield, even more steeply raked than before, gives the Boxster a cool going-fast-while-standing-still look.

Though the base Boxster engine gets downsized from 2.9 liters to 2.7, it amazingly turns out more power than before, at 265 hp. The Boxster S retains its 3.4-liter flat-six, rated at 315 hp, and either engine can be fitted with a standard six-speed manual or an optional PDK seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox borrowed from the 911.

While the car has grown in almost all directions—stretching 1.1 inches longer than the previous car and sitting on a wheelbase that is 2.4 inches longer—from a sunshine standpoint, it means the top is even bigger, too, reaching further back toward the rear wheels while incorporating a larger backlight. Thankfully, those clever Porsche engineers managed to reduce the Boxster's heft at the curb by up to 77 pounds, despite the car's growth spurt.

Like its big brother, the 911 cabrio, the Boxster top gets an elegantly tonneau-coverless treatment, the whole assembly folding like an accordion onto itself while still presenting a perfectly polished finished look. And opening and closing the top is now a fully automated affair. Press the center-console-mounted rocker switch, and the magnesium-framed top deploys or folds in just nine seconds, at speeds up to 31 mph.

Despite the bigger glass, however, rearward visibility suffers more than before, not only because the rear decklid sits higher than the previous car's, but also because the rollover hoops are now fixed in place. And the effect is worse when the top is up.
Our easy solution? Keep the top stashed.

2013 Porsche Boxster


ON SALE: Summer
BASE PRICE: $50,450
DRIVETRAIN: 2.7-liter, 265-hp, 206-lb-ft H6; RWD, six-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 2,888 lb
0-60 MPH: 5.5 sec (mfr)
FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 29 mpg (est)

2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet

This is without a doubt the best soft-top in automotive history. To save weight, Porsche purposely did not go with a hardtop, but this one is as close to a hardtop as you'll get, with lower frame parts made of aluminum and three flat cloth-wrapped magnesium panels swaddled in insulation and then skinned with a headliner. Hit a button, and in 13 seconds, the roof is down and you are cruising, the top nestled in the famous Z-fold behind the passenger compartment. Bonus: The top can be operated at speeds up to 31 mph. No need to pull over if you're surprised by a gully washer! A wind buffer also deploys at the press of a button and then stows automatically. Top up, it's quiet as a clamshell. Top down, there is minimal or almost no buffeting but all the sunshine you can handle. As for the rest of the car, powertrain choices carry over from the coupe, with base Carrera cabrios getting the 350-hp 3.4-liter boxer-six, while Carrera S models get the 400-hp 3.8-liter engine. Shifting duties fall to either a seven-speed manual or seven-speed PDK dual-clutch box. With the top up, the 911's profile comes this close to matching that of the coupe. It even cuts through the air as smoothly, with a remarkable 0.30 Cd. Inside, that translates to two decibels less noise than in the old car. The cabrio also gets all the same bits that suspend the coupe. Specific to the cabriolet are a reinforced windshield frame, doorsills and B-pillars, resulting in a body that is torsionally 18 percent stiffer than the previous model while weighing 132 pounds lighter

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BMW Alpina B7 gets power boost for 2013

6/17/2012

Base price also gets a boost to $128,495
The 2013 BMW Alpina B7, the performance version of the German automaker's 7-series sedan, gets an additional 40 hp--and a more costly sticker price--for the new model year.

BMW plans to roll out the 2013 model at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August and begin sales soon thereafter.

Under the hood, power from the 4.4-liter V8 has been increased from 500 to 540 hp with the addition of BMW's throttle-less Valvetronic intake system. Torque rises to 538 lb-ft from 516 lb-ft.

The powertrain also gets a new eight-speed automatic from Alpina. BMW says the Alpina B7's top speed is limited to 194 mph by aerodynamic drag. You can equip the Alpina B7 with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

The Alpina B7 will also put a slight drain on your bank account. Prices start at $128,495 for a standard-wheelbase B7 and run all the way up to $135,395 for a long-wheelbase model with xDrive. All prices include shipping charges.

Check out the full press release below for all the details:

The 2013 BMW ALPINA B7 super-high performance luxury sedan with enhanced features, efficiency, and individuality for discriminating customers.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – June 15, 2012…. Today, BMW announced updates to the second generation of the successful BMW ALPINA B7 super-high performance luxury sedan with more performance, fresh design features, and improved efficiency. The new B7 is slated for a North American debut at the historic Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August and will go on-sale immediately thereafter. Pricing will be $127,600 (B7 Standard Wheelbase), $130,600 (B7 SWB with xDrive), $131,500 (B7 Long Wheelbase), and $134,500 (B7 LWB with xDrive).

The new BMW ALPINA B7 has been enhanced in-line with updates to the 2013 BMW 7 Series Sedans including more power, more performance, and more efficiency. The new B7 features 40 additional horsepower (now rated 540 hp) and 22 lb-ft more torque (up to 538 from 516 lb-ft) thanks to the addition of BMW's Valvetronic throttle-less intake technology and a new ALPINA 8- speed high performance transmission. Top speed is now a fierce 194 mph (drag-limited, 193 mph with xDrive), up from the previous 175 mph. Acceleration drops into the low-mid-4-second range for all variants (4.3-4.4 seconds). The BMW ALPINA B7 Sedan remains the benchmark in terms of luxurious performance, chassis technology, and hand-finished exclusivity.

Each variant of the updated BMW ALPINA B7 (including Standard Wheelbase, Long Wheelbase, sDrive, and xDrive) will arrive with over 30 new parts which enhance the design and frontal aerodynamics to more effectively channel the cooling air required to manage the increased power output. New BMW kidney grilles, updated Xenon Adaptive headlights, LED front fog lights, and updated tail lights are also included. Other now-standard features will include ceramic secondary controls, engine Automatic Start-Stop, and the Active protection system. Optionally, the B7 Sedan will offer Full LED Headlights, Bang & Olufsen Surround Sound System, new exterior colors and interior upholstery choices in-line with the 7 Series update. Renewed BMW individual color and trim offerings complete the package. The appearance remains unmistakable on signature 21” ALPINA Classic 20-spoke wheels and stunning ALPINA Blue Metallic paint.

The BMW ALPINA B7 is available as a special order vehicle with capacity-limited production underscoring its exclusivity. The B7's body is manufactured in the BMW 7 Series factory (Plant Dingolfing) and hand-finished with the remaining ALPINA components at the ALPINA factory in Buchloe, Germany. This production sequence increases the production schedule by approximately two weeks. European Delivery at the BMW Welt delivery center is available for the BMW ALPINA B7.

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Le Mans Update: Lotterer and Co. lead at one third mark

Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler led the 24 Hours of Le Mans by a lap at the one-third mark.
Audi drivers Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler led the 24 Hours of Le Mans by a lap at one-third distance. 

The #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, which had led most of the race, went a lap clear in the eighth hour when Rinaldo Capello, who is teamed with Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen,spun the second of the hybrid e-trons. Third place was held by the first of the non-hybrid Audis driven hands of Oliver Jarvis, Marco Bonanomi and Mike Rockenfeller.

Toyota's challenge disappeared in the seventh hour when the TS030 HYBRID shared by Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima was pulled into its garage for an alternator change. Wurz's attempt to rejoin the track in the eighth hour had to be aborted for an undisclosed problem. 

The car briefly led the race in the hands of Lapierre at the end of the fifth hour. The Frenchman lost the lead when the safety car was deployed as a result of the accident that put out the sister Toyota. 

Anthony Davidson, who was running in third place, somersaulted into retirement when he was tagged by a backmarker at Mulsanne Corner. The Briton, who shared the car with Sebastien Buemi and Stephane Sarrazin, was taken to hospital for tests but was reported to be walking and talking by his team. 

The experimental DeltaWing-Nissan was officially retired in the eighth hour. The car was delayed by gearbox problems early in the race and was subsequently pushed into the wall at the Porsche Curves when the race went green after the protracted safety-car period that followed Davidson's accident. 

Satoshi Motoyama, who was at the wheel at the time, failed in his attempts to repair the steering, which would have allowed the car to return to the pits. 

LMP2 was led by an ORECA-Nissan entered by the Anglo-Irish Murphy Prototypes. Drivers Warren Hughes, Jody Firth and Brendon Hartley held a narrow lead over the beset of the OAK-Pescarolos. 

The closely fought GTE Pro class was led by the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R driven by Oliver Gavin, Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook.

Streaking Logano gives Toyota first Nationwide win at Michigan

Joey Logano is coming of age. The 22-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver used three solid restarts over the final 18 laps as a springboard to the win at the Alliance Truck Parts 250 at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday.

Logano held off James Buescher for his fifth win of the season and 14th in 99 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts. The win was also the first in the Nationwide Series for Toyota and the first win in any series for Logano at Michigan.

"We've been on a roll lately, we've just got to keep it going," said Logano, who also won last week's Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono. "As a driver, I'm very confident right now in my abilities. I feel like I've got what it takes to win all of these races, and obviously I've got a great team."

Buescher was second, followed by Kurt Busch in third, Cole Whitt in fourth and pole-sitter Austin Dillon in fifth.

"It was definitely a good day for us," said Buescher, who posted his sixth top-10 finish this season. "We knew we had a fast car, startign fourth. We were pretty good in race trim and happy with how the car was in traffic. I didn't have a faster car than the 18, but I just went for it at the end. He was definitely faster than me through the corners."

Logano led 31 of the 125 laps, including the final 24, to claim his fifth win in just 11 Nationwide Series starts. Eighteen cars finished on the lead lap.

Paul Menard, who finished eighth, led the most laps with 37.

The race featured seven cautions for 26 laps. The last of those cautions came on lap 119 of the 125-lap race when the cars of Jamie Dick and Josh Richards collided in turn three. The collision caused a fire and led the race being red-flagged for 8 minutes, 46 seconds before the final restart. Neither driver was hurt in the accident. 

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7 performance cars less than $30,000, part four: Subaru BRZ

The game changer for sportscars
If Mazda produced a coupe version of the MX-5 Miata, we'd imagine it being similar to what Subaru has created with the BRZ. The two cars share the a philosophy based on rear-wheel drive, low weight and affordability—an ethos that has helped the little Mazda thrill drop-top enthusiasts and club racers for more than two decades. Expect the BRZ (and its Scion FR-S cousin) to follow a similar path and become a staple at road courses all over America.

Why? Because after two days of track testing, Autoweek editors walked away in agreement that the Subaru was the most driver-focused car of the seven-car bunch. The feedback and response through the steering wheel, tight chassis and sensational fade-free brakes entertained us lap after lap. 

The 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder uses port and direct injection to produce 200 hp. Unfortunately, Subaru could only provide an automatic model for our test. On the plus side, the auto offers a decent paddle-shift mode with rev-matching for downshifts. And in speed tests, it helped return a respectable 7.21 seconds to 60 mph and covered the quarter-mile in 15.65 seconds.

Where the engine shines is at the top end of the rev range. Staying in the power is easier with the six-speed manual that we've experienced on previous drives of the BRZ, making the auto box maddening at times. We definitely recommend the three-pedal BRZ if you're shopping one.

Is more power needed? No. Would it be welcome? Absolutely. But when a car is designed from the start to have a low curb weight and a low center of gravity like the BRZ, having adequate power is all you need to make it fun. 

Through the track's winding infield, cranking the well-weighted steering wheel loaded up the suspension, and the BRZ held a tight line. Changing directions happened quickly, with little body roll. If you want to kick the rear out, turn off all of traction aids and goose the throttle. There's enough grunt to rotate the back around.

The package is completed with a simple cabin, supportive seats and a comfortable driving position. And for weekend racers, Subaru says there's room to haul a set of wheels and a small toolbox with the rear seats folded down to give the coupe a practicality argument.

Simply put, the BRZ is the affordable, fun-to-drive, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe that's been missing from the market for so long. With only 6,000 coming to the United States during the first year, we predict demand easily eclipsing supply.

2013 Subaru BRZ Limited


BASE PRICE: $28,270
DRIVETRAIN: 2.0-liter, 200-hp, 151-lb-ft H4; RWD, six-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT: 2,822 lb
0-60 MPH: 7.21 sec (AW)
QUARTER-MILE: 15.65 sec (AW)
60-0 MPH: 126.58 ft (AW)
FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 28/25 mpg

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World Health Organization condemns diesel exhaust as Class 1 carcinogen

Agency findings don't take clean-diesel technology into account
Volkswagen
A recent WHO study on diesel exhaust doesn't take modern clean-diesel technology into account.
News flash: Diesel exhaust is bad for you, particularly if you're a miner.

Following eight days of deliberation, the World Health Organization's cancer-research board has named diesel exhaust a Class 1 carcinogen. The finding puts the fuel in the same category as asbestos.

Unfortunately, as shopautoweek.com explains, the WHO findings are mainly based on decades-old environmental studies and don't take recent “clean-diesel” technology into account. Instead, the organization examined the impact of the exhaust on miners, who are exposed to occupational levels of diesel particulates in tightly enclosed spaces.

Peterson Museum to host aerodynamics exhibition

Dydia DeLyser & Paul Greenstein
A 1941 Tatra T-87.
The Petersen Automotive Museum is staging an exhibition called Aerodynamics: From Art to Science, running from late June 2012 to May 2013. With an array of cars that neatly brackets the aerodynamic era from early guesswork to highly researched empirical data, the Museum provides visitors with excellent insight into the progress of this important technology.

As gas prices have risen, the reduction of aerodynamic drag has become a key aspect of modern automotive design. The Petersen exhibition booklet explains: Aerodynamic drag on a medium-sized car accounts for approximately 80% of total road resistance at a speed of 60 miles per hour. 

The exhibition will feature cars from throughout the history of aerodynamic experimentation. The 1928 Martin Aerodynamic with its vertical windscreen may not conform to most people's ideas of a low-drag car, but its integrated wheel housings and overall shape are a far cry from the cycle-fendered cars of the day.

Chrysler's celebrated Airflow is also on display, its quoted drag coefficient of 0.5 telling visitors just how far we've come. The Chevrolet Volt has a drag coefficient of .28. 

Naturally, no display would be complete without a 1940 BMW 328 MM, the car that made the Kamm tail an automotive byword. It was on this car that Dr Wunibald Kamm proved that a cut-off tail reduced turbulence and drag behind a vehicle, providing the BMW with an incredible drag coefficient of 0.25.

There are other milestone streamliners; the 1937 Airomobile, the 1955 Ghia Streamline X “Gilda”, the 1992 Oldsmobile Aerotech, which was a formula race car chassis with a sleek new body dropped onto it. Also among the exhibits are cars that use aerodynamic science not only for low drag, but for handling and stability improvements.

The Bugatti Veyron on display is shown with its active rear wing deployed. The wing provides the car with stabilizing down force, but also acts as an airbrake. 

The exhibition will run from May 16, 2012 to May 27, 2013.

Tumbler makes its presence felt at Michigan International Speedway

Not every car at Michigan International Speedway was flirting with speeds in excess of 200 mph.

The Tumbler, introduced in Batman Begins as the latest generation of the legendary Batmobile used by the Caped Crusader, Batman, made a stop at MIS on Thursday. as the special guest of Hendrick Racing and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt is sporting a The Dark Knight Rises paint scheme on his No. 88 Chevrolet for Sunday's Quicken Loans 400.

The vehicle is a powerful weapon in Batman's arsenal to fight evil, but it's not much of a threat to qualify for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Saturday.

The Tumber specs
--2.5 tons
--9 feet. 4 inches wide
--15 feet long
--Two front tires are Hoosier race tires
--Four rear tires are 44-inch Super Swampers, a four-wheel drive conversion component
--Jet burner in rear with vector controls for the jet
--Back-end flaps for quick stops
--Landing hook (same as used on aircraft carriers) to pull the car to a halt upon a jump-and-landing scenario
--Enabled with front-firing machine guns
--Built-in safety link for petrol control
--Built-in fire extinguisher system
--Front wheels on bolted arms for an axel-less front end
--Conventional single-axel rear end 
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Ambrose's 203.241 mph lap at Michigan is NASCAR's fastest in 25 years

Marcos Ambrose beat the previous track record at Michigan and became just the fourth different driver in Cup Series history to sit on the pole with a speed in excess of 200 mph.
Marcos Ambrose was the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' fastest driver on the fastest day the series has seen in a quarter of a century on Saturday.

Ambrose turned in a lap of 203.241 mph in qualifying for the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway to become the first driver in the series since 1987 to post a pole speed in excess of 200 mph. The speed also pummeled the old track record of 194.232 set by Ryan Newman in June of 2005.

Ambrose is just the fourth driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history (Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough, Bill Elliott) to win a pole with a speed in excess of 200 mph. Elliott's 203.827 mph at Talladega in 1987 was the last time the 200-mark was topped in qualifying.

“It's really exciting to get that speed and to claim to be the fastest guy is awesome,” Ambrose said. “It felt like [200 mph], too. It was a really fun time out there.”

A total of forty drivers topped the previous track record, and 19 drivers eclipsed the magical 200 mph mark.

It was the first career pole for Ambrose, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports. Ambrose's start on Sunday will be his 134th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and his pole speed—the 11th-quickest pole-winning speed in series history--clearly impressed his car owner.

“That's like IndyCar speeds; 203 is more exciting to me than sitting on the pole,” said Petty, who qualified on the pole at Michigan with a speed of 158.569 in 1976. “We knew it was going to be fast.”

Kevin Harvick qualified second at 202.037, Greg Biffle was third at 201.816, Kasey Kahne fourth (201.720) and Ryan Newman fifth (201.472).

Following the qualifying session, teams started working on setups to accommodate new left-side tires that Goodyear is supplying teams for the race. The new tire is an answer to blistering that several teams reported in practice on Friday. The new tire expected to slow the cars down.

“The speed is not going to go away much,” Harvick said. “It's still going to be really fast [on Sunday]. Our car has been good through most of the weekend, and now we're got a tire change we have to figure out.”

After Saturday qualifying; race Sunday

At Michigan International Speedway

Brooklyn, Mich.
Lap length: 2 miles
(Car number in parentheses)

1. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 203.241 mph.
2. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 202.037.
3. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 201.816.
4. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 201.72.
5. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 201.472.
6. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 201.461.
7. (21) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 201.444.
8. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 201.37.
9. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 201.247.
10. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 201.179.
11. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 200.882.
12. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 200.725.
13. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 200.686.
14. (55) Mark Martin, Toyota, 200.591.
15. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 200.39.
16. (56) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 200.384.
17. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 200.317.
18. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 200.133.
19. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 200.111.
20. (22) A J Allmendinger, Dodge, 199.944.
21. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 199.612.
22. (33) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 199.54.
23. (23) Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 199.474.
24. (13) Casey Mears, Ford, 198.555.
25. (2) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 198.473.
26. (51) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 198.238.
27. (98) Michael McDowell, Ford, 198.118.
28. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 197.922.
29. (19) Mike Bliss, Toyota, 197.78.
30. (26) Josh Wise, Ford, 197.699.
31. (47) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 197.395.
32. (83) Landon Cassill, Toyota, 197.087.
33. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 197.055.
34. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 197.028.
35. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 196.829.
36. (36) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, 196.818.
37. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 196.77.
38. (34) David Ragan, Ford, 196.673.
39. (93) Travis Kvapil, Toyota, 193.107.
40. (32) Ken Schrader, Ford, owner points.
41. (10) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, owner points.
42. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, owner points.
43. (49) J.J. Yeley, Toyota, 195.117.
Failed to Qualify
44. (30) David Stremme, Toyota, 194.295.
45. (74) Stacy Compton, Chevrolet, 193.606.

LeMans Blog: Day 1

Jake Lingeman
Circuit de la Sarthe at night.
“It always rains at Le Mans.” Those are the words echoing through my head as we caravan to the 8.4-mile track in a fleet of Audi Q7s. The clouds look low, but there are blotches of blue, so maybe we can get there dry.

Our first stop is the Audi Racing arena where we get the VIP treatment from our hosts and sit in on the company's press conference with Dr. Ulrich, the drivers and few more from Audi's racing team. 

They seem relaxed, cracking a few jokes and later taking pictures with fans. Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello are the elder statesmen of the group, with Audi's other driver teams looking younger. Last year's race was won by the trio of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer. After McNish and crew crashed their car early, and Audi's second entry left the race after 116 laps, it was Lotterer and the boys who duked it out with Peugeot, taking the checkered flag.

At the Circuit de la Sarthe on the Mulsanne Straight fans line up to see the racers drive by. Water is poured and hands are waived in a circular motion as drivers roll by, some stopping for long, smoky burnouts. It's about what you would expect at one of the biggest races in the world, some fans are in costumes, others are shirtless with large mugs of beer and still others just relax in the tent city, which seems to stretch as far as the eye can see. The giant ferris wheel is empty now, but in 24 hours you won't be able to get a ride.

“It always rains at Le Mans.” 

At 6 p.m. local time the driver's parade starts in downtown Le Mans. The clouds have opened up and fans hanging on the fences of the route huddle under umbrellas. We make our way to a bar on the route and hang out of the windows and balconies trying to get a look. Wave after wave of cars cruise by, with three or four drivers in each, waiving at the crowd. Lamborghini Aventadors, Chevy Corvettes, Spykers, Bugattis and Paganis are among the show. Each gives a hard rev for the crowd. 

The rain doesn't seem to trouble the drivers or the fans. It does pour hard enough to delay the France vs. Ukraine soccer match, which ends on this weekend with a win for the Frenchmen.

The parade ends after about two hours and by that time most of the fans are drunk, wet or both. The street is littered with confetti. The crowds disperse in anticipation for tomorrow's all day event. After a meal and long party, we do the same. The forecast for Saturday? Rain.

Hunter-Reay on top at Milwaukee

Ryan Hunter-Reay had a strong race in Milwaukee on Saturday, coasting to a win in the IndyCar contest.
An Andretti car drove to victory lane Saturday in an Andretti race at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

The winner was Ryan Hunter-Reay, who also won at the Milwaukee Mile in 2004. This was his sixth career win.

Tony Kanaan finished second with Hunter-Reay's Andretti Autosport teammate, James Hinchcliffe, third.

Andretti Sports Marketing, which Andretti co-owns, promoted the event known as Milwaukee IndyFest. The group saved the event from extinction, and the community seemed to embrace it.

Before the race, Andretti announced that the event will return in 2013, drawing a roar from the crowd.

While it was fun on Andretti's end, Chip Ganassi's team struggled for the results it deserved.

Scott Dixon was penalized for passing on a restart (Lap 103) even though he didn't understand why.

“I don't even know what they're talking about,” he said. “The one restart where I had to get out of line they waved off. (EJ) Viso is trying to restart it at 20 mph. That's stupid. I was in first gear and when it went green, I went. I heard green I pulled out (of line).”

Dixon finished on the lead lap, but he finished 11th.

Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti also had a problem. He dropped left-side wheels into the grass when Ryan Briscoe came down on him in Turn 3. The adventure must have damaged Franchitti's suspension because he crashed on the next lap. He finished 19th.

Series points leader Will Power was 12th.

Justin Wilson, who won last week's race at Texas Motor Speedway, delivered one of the race's memorable passes with outside move around Simon Pagenaud, but his race ended on lap with an engine failure.

Wilson was one of seven drivers to start the race 10 positions behind where they qualified due to unapproved engine changes. The others were Briscoe, Power, Dixon, Takuma Sato, Mike Conway and rookie Josef Newgarden.

JR Hildebrand's engine also failed, although that likely was encouraged by debris stuck in the radiator for a period of time. Just as the failure occurred, Sato's car veered into that of James Jakes, perhaps because of oil on the track. Sato called the track “slippery.”

The race was 90 minutes late starting due to a rain shower. That meant ABC couldn't stay with the broadcast due to contractual obligations with NASCAR, which had a Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway. IndyCar got switched to ESPN News.

What you might have missed

6/15/2012

Jim Fetts
Our "7 performance cars for less than $30,000" ended with some surprising results.
The Ford F150 pickup will join the lineup of municipal edition vehicles. It's not just the Taurus and Explorer sitting in the medians you have to watch for now.

It's the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend. There are lots of reasons to be excited for the latest race. 

It was "7 performance cars less than $30,000" all over autoweek.com this week. From Mini to Subaru, we've got enthusiasts covered. Take a look through our editors' opinions on all the performers.

A high-speed all-electric SuperBus recently was approved by the Netherlands to start testing on the streets. It's big, ridiculous and pretty awesome. 

The World Health Organization condemned diesel as a Class 1 carcinogen in their latest study; digging a little deeper reveals some flaws with their blanket assessment.

The 2013 Buick Verano will gain a turbo under the hood to boost power up to 250 horsepower. The Verano takes aim at the Lexus and Audi crowd, but will can hold its own?

7 performance cars for less than $30,000, part one: Fiat 500 Abarth vs. Mini Cooper S coupe

6/13/2012

The Fiat 500 Abarth takes on the Mini Cooper S coupe
While the idea of having a Ferrari 458 Italia or a McLaren MP4-12C in the garage would thrill any car guy or gal, the reality is that a $200,000-plus supercar isn't affordable for most people. Even performance players such as the BMW M3, the Cadillac CTS-V and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG are out of reach for many. With that in mind, we set a maximum base price of $30,000 to see what the state of the affordable performance car is today. From there we selected seven of the latest entries —ranging from a couple of cute turbocharged featherweights to a pair of potent rear-wheel-drive coupes punching in at more than 300 hp. After putting each car through instrument testing and tossing them around the infield road course at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., we can confidently say that there's plenty of fun to be had without having to remortgage the house. 

The Fashionably Quick

With looks that most people will either love or hate, the Fiat 500 Abarth and the Mini Cooper S coupe lead the cutesy performance-car charge.

Both Mini and Fiat strapped a turbocharger onto their four-cylinder engines to boost output, to 181 hp for the S coupe and to 160 hp in the Abarth. The Mini steps in at 177 lb-ft of torque (192 lb-ft with overboost), while the Fiat makes 170 lb-ft. Both send the power to the front wheels through a manual transmission, a six-speed for the Mini and a five-speed on the Abarth.

Fiat improved the 500's handling by lowering the chassis 0.6 inch, adding Koni FSD shocks and strapping on a rear antiroll bar. Mini, on the other hand, didn't worry about improving handling, instead lifting the S coupe's suspension and chassis from the existing Mini Roadster on which it's based. It then replaced the convertible roof with a hardtop, creating the stiffest, best-handling Mini on the market.

On the track, the Mini's stiffness, go-kart-like handling and additional 20 hp easily outclassed the Abarth by the tune of five seconds per lap. Apexes were hit with ease, and the Autoweek-installed bus-stop chicane was a breeze for the Mini. Whether in the curves or on the straights, the S coupe pulled away from the Abarth.

However, the Abarth closed the gap in the braking zones thanks to its big Brembos. Behind the wheel of the Fiat, we were able to brake deeper into turn one at MIS—the fastest part of the track— than in the Mini. But it was not enough to stick with the S coupe.

The Abarth is still a major improvement from the base Fiat 500, which only has 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. The Abarth goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, handling is outstanding when up against the standard 500, and the dual exhaust creates a loud, sporty sound.

The Abarth and the Mini held up well during the brutal two-day test. Each car was put through countless laps and slalom runs, skidpad trials and acceleration and braking tests. Both the brakes and tires on each car were ready for another couple days of heavy work by the time the test was over.

The two cars were also calm to drive at speed, with tight steering, good responsiveness and solid feel around the road course. The comfortable, supportive seats and a driver-friendly interior layout add to the sporty feel of each car.

Overall, both the Mini and the Fiat are solid, cute, compact sports cars. Each is a blast to throw around a track, but when it comes to overall performance, the S coupe takes the cake.

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth




BASE PRICE: $22,700
DRIVETRAIN: 1.4-liter, 160-hp, 170-lb-ft turbocharged I4; FWD, five-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 2,512 lb
0-60 MPH: 7.32 sec (AW)
QUARTER-MILE: 15.94 sec (AW)
60-0 MPH: 137.32 ft (AW)
FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 31/21.7 mpg

2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe


BASE PRICE: $25,300
DRIVETRAIN: 1.6-liter, 181-hp, 177-lb-ft (192 lb-ft with overboost) turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 2,679 lb
0-60 MPH: 7.16 sec (AW)
QUARTER-MILE: 15.67 sec (AW)
60-0 MPH: 125.83 ft (AW)
FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 30/23.6 mpg

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