The company sent out a list of the 10 coolest things about the car. The following numbers speak for the AC

AC Roadster has 825 horsepower and does 200 MPH in less than one minute.

 Roadster:

1. Its power comes from a 427 CID, 7 liter, all-aluminum NASCAR derived, V8 pushrod engine that runs on pump gas.

2. The engine produces a jaw-dropping 825 horsepower and 680 ft/lbs. of torque.

3. Going 0-60 takes less than three seconds and 0-200+ is achieved in under a minute.

4. The door hinges are machined from solid aerospace grade billet aluminum, assembled by hand and installed to exacting specifications and tolerances fused with the fluid movement and elegance of a fine watch.

5. The gas cap in the ICONIC AC Roadster is VEEDIMS computer-controlled and operates automatically with the push of a button.

6. Specifically engineered 12-point fasteners are utilized throughout the vehicle, adding immense strength and durability plus reduced weight – all while maintaining its stunning aesthetics.

7. The carbon fiber body with mounted air dams generates over 500 lbs of down force at 175 mph.

8. The upper control arms feature “rifle drilled” brake fluid passages resulting in a very clean look, similar to what is found on many racing vehicles.

9. Its $420,000 price tag includes driving instruction from Grand-Am Daytona Prototype Champion Terry Borcheller, allowing each new owner to become more accustomed with the ICONIC AC Roadster’s exceptional capabilities.

10. As an additional benefit of being an owner of the exclusive ICONIC AC Roadster, each unit will be entered into the elite and highly historic AC Cars’ century-old registry.

Frank S. Washington

The winners, announced from the New England International Auto Show are:

Internet Pros:

Car of the Year: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V

Truck of the Year: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Average Joes:

Car of the Year: 2011 Ford Mustang GT

Truck of the Year: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Internet Pros are comprised of a select team of 15 online writers from some of the leading automotive Internet sites, while the Average Joes consisted of thousands of votes from the motoring public. Complete biographies of the jury members are available at www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com.

So while the Internet Pros and Average Joes agree on the Truck of the Year (for the second year in a row) they have slightly differing opinions when it comes to their favorite car. The Pros like their speed in the form of a luxury sports car with the Cadillac CTS-V while the Average Joes voted for classic American muscle with the Ford Mustang GT (with only a 1 percent margin of victory over the Cadillac CTS-V). However, both groups demonstrated their respect for the vastly improved Jeep Grand Cherokee by wide margins.

Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year

The Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year award was given posthumously to Jerry Flint for his long body of work in automotive journalism, most recently as a columnist for Forbes ? both in print and online.

A prolific award winner, including the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism in 2003, for his Forbes “Backseat Driver column,? Flint was not afraid to point out when the Emperor was wearing no clothing. That insight and his grasp of the automotive industry earned accolades that included his naming by Business News Reporter as one of the 100 most prominent business reporters of the 20th Century.

The 2010 Automotive Journalist of the Year was John Neff, editor of Autoblog.

For more information on Internet Car and Truck of the Year, email Keith Griffin at

keithmgriffin@comcast.net or call (860) 292-0618.

Irv & Volvo P1800

According to AAA, as many as 38 million people took to the roads last year for Thanksgiving weekend road trips.
?The holiday season means more people are driving to places to which they are not familiar and are in their cars for lengths of time to which they are not conditioned,? Gordon said. ?Planning and diligence are key to ensuring a safe holiday road trip and that families reach the destination we all seek, a Happy New Year.?
Gordon offers five tips for safe holiday road trip driving:
Check your bulbs and more. ?A person may spend hours checking every bulb on the holiday lights he?s displaying in his front yard, but how much time does he spend checking his brake light bulbs?? Gordon asks. ?Check your lights and turn signals. In fact, have a certified mechanic inspect for you, along with tire inflation and treads, brakes, fluids, etc. It?s good to have a full tune up before you take your trip.?
Prepare for a winter wonderland. ?While it may be 60 and pleasant in Denver as you hit the roads at dawn, it might be 15 and snowing as you pull into Boise at 11 p.m. that night,? Gordon said. ?Winter can be as unpredictable as Uncle Steve?s crude jokes at the dinner table, so prepare for the absolute worst conditions, even if the forecast tells you otherwise. Keep a blanket, ice scraper, an emergency roadside kit, snacks and bottled water in the trunk.?
Rotate your drivers. ?Let?s all agree that everyone?s attention spans are much shorter than they once were, so don?t put it to the test on the roadways,? Gordon said. ?Switch out drivers every couple of hours. If you?re driving solo or there?s no other person with a valid driver?s license in the car, take breaks at rest stops every 90 minutes or so. Stretch the legs and snack on some leftovers.?
Batteries not included. ?Make a rule that nothing requiring a battery charge reside in the front of the car. Cell phones, MP3 players, DVD players, etc. They are all potential distractions. Put them in the back or even the trunk,? Gordon said. ?In fact, make a rule that everyone put their gadgets away. Road trips are wonderful times to reconnect with family members and enjoy the beautiful views this nation offers.?
Be mindful of others on the road. ?While the holidays bring out the best of us in person, it can bring out the worst of us behind the wheels,? Gordon said. ?Keep your emotions in check and be mindful of others on the road. Allow plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Merge with caution. Keep in the right lane unless passing. Essentially, show goodwill toward all.?
Gordon purchased his Volvo P1800 in June 1966 from a neighborhood Volvo dealership for $4,150. His 125-mile daily commute to and from work, his passion for driving and his meticulous care for his car enabled him to clock the miles. Gordon breaks his own world record every time he drives his celebrated car. His goal is to reach three million miles within the next two years

The Leaf goes on sale in December and Opel has started taking orders in Europe for the Ampera, its version of the Chevrolet Volt.

The tough part of selling new technology is making it affordable and then getting someone to try it. They?re called early adopters.

Nissan?s Leaf is priced at a reasonably affordable $32,000. But subtract a federal tax credit of $7,500, subtract other local incentives and the Nissan Leaf will sell in some places for about half of that $32K.

The same incentives apply to the Chevrolet Volt as well as other electric vehicles coming to market.

At those prices, Nissan has orders for all of the 20,000 Leafs it plans to sell in the first year. What?s more, General Electric just announced it will purchase 12,000 Chevrolet Volts.

Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supercenter chain, has announced plans to install electric vehicle charging stations at several of its Michigan stores. And negotiations are underway for the installation of other charging stations

Tesla Motors announced a new deal that will reopen Toyota?s NUMMI plant in California where it will produce the Tesla electric Roadster and other electric models.

The point is electric cars are no longer science fiction.

Consumers have chosen from American cars over imports, all of the finalists selected by voters were from the Detroit Big Three: Chrysler, Ford and GM. The Internet Pros prefer American sheet metal as well, in four of the six categories with Korean nameplates filling out the remaining spots.

Now it?s up to you, the consumer, you are invited to go to www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com and vote for your choice for the Consumer Internet Car of the Year and Consumer Internet Truck of the Year.

Over the past few months, semi-finalists were voted in each category, the list has been narrowed down to three finalists for each award. The finalists for the Internet Car of the Year and Internet Truck of the Year finalists, as determined by a panel of Internet automotive writers, have also been determined.

The Internet automotive writers, a jury of 15, from some of the leading automotive web sites, have selected as their finalists for the first-ever Internet Car and Truck of the Year awards:

Car
Ford Fiesta
Cadillac CTS-v Coupe
Hyundai Sonata

Truck
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Ford Super Duty
Kia Sportage

Consumers, voting for the first time on the Internet at a website not dominated by OEM manufacturing, have voted for power:

Car
Cadillac CTS-v Coupe
Ford Mustang GT
Ford Fiesta

Truck
Ford Super Duty
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Ram 2500

Internet Pros and Average Joes have divergent opinions about what qualifies for Internet Car of the Year.

Voting by the jury of Internet automotive writers reflects respect for technology, innovation, and, of course, power while the consumers, or Average Joes, want power, power and more power. Voting for the Truck finalists (which includes pickups, SUVs and crossovers) was fairly close with the writers opting for the Kia Sportage over the consumers? choice of the Ram 2500. The truck category had the closest voting.

Consumer votes will be taken until 5 p.m., EST, Friday, Nov. 12. The winners will be announced and presented in early December.

From now until Nov. 13, the Internet Automotive Writers will be reviewing the six finalists for their final votes. Each juror will cast one vote in each category. The complete list of jurors is available at the Internet Car and Truck of the Year website.

The Internet Car of the Year was created by Keith Griffin, the Guide to Used Cars for About.com, and the National Hyundai Examiner for Examiner.com, as well as a print automotive journalist and vice president of the New England Motor Press Association. Marketing for the awards is being handled by Al Vinikour of Vinikour Communications in Trenton, Michigan.

For more information on Internet Car and Truck of the Year, email Keith Griffin at keith@internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com or call (860) 292-0618.

Ed Welburn

DETROIT, MI ? ?We?re hiring,? proclaimed Ed Welburn, General Motors vice president of global design to a small group of students and designers at the annual conference of the Organization of Black Designers.

Welburn?s remarks were more of a pitch to let young designers and design students know that GM is a place where they could pursue their futures. He said that design work at GM includes a wide spectrum, not just cars. Disciplines include architecture, digital, fashion, ceramics, graphics, interior design and industrial design.

GM?s design studio has 10 design centers in eight countries that employ 1,700 people. Welburn told the group that GM has a diverse customer group and that its design group needs to match its customer base.

And there was a bit more than Welburn?s a speech. Through the General Motors Foundation, GM provided a $10,000 grant to OBD?s scholarship fund.

DETROIT ? It was like a cold stake had been planted right in the center of my chest. That coincided with my pulse rate shooting up and the tingle that went through both of my arms.

That was my initial reaction at the Ford Proving Ground when test driver Terry Borcheller, a three time winner at Daytona International Raceway, asked me did I want to go through the slalom course faster than the first time.

Borcheller was giving me a test ride in the 2012 ICONIC AC Roadster. It celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the 1962 AC Ace Roadster. But that?s where the similarity ended.

ICONIC AC Roadster -- They'll put a top on it, if you insist.

The ICONIC AC was powered by a fuel injected 6.8 liter, all-aluminum V8 pushrod engine that made 825 horsepower and 680 pound feet of torque. Designed, engineered and built in house, the engine was mated to a six-speed manual transmission that featured a rem-chemed gear set for minimum friction and high performance durability.

In essence, the AC Roadster will be hand built when it goes into full production at the first of the year in Livonia, a suburb just west of Detroit. Although the area may have the stodgy reputation of the rust belt there will be nothing corrosive about the AC Roadster.

It will be comprised of aluminum, carbon fiber and light weight high strength steel. And it was held together with twelve point aluminum bolts. Headlights on my test car were Xenon projector lamps. But they will be replaced by what ICONIC called ultra-high powered all LED projectors.

The car is expected to weigh a roadster like 2,400 lbs. Coupled with the super engine which will run on gasoline; the AC Roadster will have a zero to 60 mph time of roughly three seconds and a full throttle speed of more than 200 mph.

However, in addition to the supercar status, the AC Roadster will feature something that has the potential to benefit every car produced in the future. It?s called the Virtual Electrical Electronic Device Interface Management System or VEEDIMS.

ICONIC Motors said, ?The VEEDIMS solution leverages the innovative performance of Ethernet and IP technology to deliver an automation system that allows application-specific solutions to be rapidly designed and deployed. VEEDIMS allows vehicle engineers to replace miles of analog wiring with a single-cable and on-board network that carries both electric power and real-time data throughout the vehicle.?

What that means in English is that the AC Roadster has no wiring harness. This is no small feat since a harness can be miles long and as complicated as a computer circuit board. In fact that?s? what the VEEDIMS, a single cable computer system that allows various automotive function to programmed into the car.

Want Bluetooth, WiFi? Just program it into the AC Roadster?s features. The same thing goes for satellite radio, A CD player, power windows, door locks whatever. ICONIC has patented VEEDIMS and I expect to see it spread throughout the upper end of the industry and then filter down through regular vehicles for regular people.

I say that because with prices set to start at $425,000 a copy, the ICONIC

AC Roadster is not destined for regular people. There?s was nothing absolutely regular about the car.

I reluctantly slid behind the steering wheel. Accelerator, brake and clutch pedals were all slightly to the left of where you?d expect. It took a little getting used to but I managed. The shifter seemed to double lock into gear.

It took some pressure to, as I expected, engage the clutch pedal, but the accelerator wasn?t too sensitive. In other words, a few runs through the slalom at a very reasonable speed and I was relatively comfortable in the car.

Indeed the ICONIC AC Roadster is a supercar worthy of the heritage of great American automotive manufacturers. And to have the latest rocket on wheels made in America seems fitting.

A panel of 15 Internet automotive writers has voted on 8 semi-finalists for Internet Car of the Year and 7 semi-finalists for Internet Truck of the Year. That?s right ? this year there are 8 semi-finalists for car of the year because of a tie in voting by the jurors.

Consumers are now invited to vote on the website for Consumer Internet Car of the Year and Consumer Internet Truck of the Year starting at Noon (EDT), today, Sept. 23.

This is the only place on the Internet (where 91% of new car shoppers begin their shopping process) for consumers to vote on a Car and Truck of the Year at a website not dominated by manufacturer advertising. The website will not accept any OEM advertising for vehicles eligible for a Car or Truck of the Year award.

Consumers will have until Oct. 16 at noon to register their selections for Internet Car of the Year and Internet Truck of the Year. Then, starting Oct. 19 at noon they will select among three vehicles in each category that have been selected as finalists. Voting ends Nov. 13. The awards will be presented in December.

The semi-finalists for Car of the Year are:

Buick Regal

Cadillac CTS-V coupe

Chevrolet Cruze

Ford Fiesta

Ford Mustang GT

Hyundai Sonata

Infiniti M56

VW Jetta

The semi-finalists for Truck of the Year are:

Cadillac SRX

Ford Super Duty

GMC Sierra 2500

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Hyundai Tucson

Kia Sportage

Ram 2500

Another exciting aspect of the Internet Car and Truck of the Year is the Internet Automotive Journalism Contest. Writers and bloggers will be invited to submit their best automotive Internet pieces from September 1, 2009 to September 1, 2010. Internet automotive writers will be awarded in the following categories:

? Best Feature written solely for the Internet

? Best Automotive Review written solely for the Internet

? Best Single Blog Entry

? Best Series of Blog Entries.

All winners will have their work either presented or linked to on www.InternetCarandTruckoftheYear.com (depending on original publication guidelines).

The emerging dominance of the Internet has created a major opportunity for further recognition of ?best of the best.? The founding of Internet Car and Truck of the Year LLC fills a void in this important medium. It will be creating four major awards that, because of their nature, will gain instant credibility and prestige: Internet Car of the Year, Internet Truck of the Year, Consumer Choice Internet Vehicle of the Year and the Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year.

The Internet Car of the Year was created by Keith Griffin, the Guide to Used Cars for About.com, and the National Hyundai Examiner for Examiner.com, as well as a print automotive journalist and vice president of the New England Motor Press Association. Marketing for the awards is being handled by Al Vinikour of Vinikour Communications in Trenton, Michigan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL (860) 292-0618 or email: keith@internetcarandtruckoftheyear

In a phrase, the honeymoon is over. The only question is just how much damage will Toyota suffer and how much money will it lose from a recall that involves more than 8 million vehicles.

Worse, there are reports that say executives knew of sudden acceleration, braking and steering problems with Toyota’s products years before the company was forced to recall the vehicles.

There seems to be no end to the negative stories. The latest in Atlanta, a “recalled”? Toyota Corolla crashed through the front door of a home when it unexpectedly accelerated.

We’ve seen the automotive unthinkable: Chrysler and GM bankruptcies, a government takeover of two of the three domestic automakers and now Toyota which once seemed unassailable being reduced to rudimentary ordinariness.

I don’t even want to think about what’s next.

Frank S. Washington

Awards for best car, best truck and best journalist will be presented during the Chicago Auto Show Media Days on Feb. 10-11, 2010.

Awards will be presented for Internet Car of the Year, Internet Truck of the Year, Consumer Internet Car of the Year, and Consumer Internet Truck of the Year. Winners of the Internet Automotive Journalism Contest will also be announced at the show.

Voting will be open until December 11^th. The public can go to: www.internetcarandtruckoftheyear.com and cast their vote.

The Internet Car and Truck of the Year is “Where Internet Pros and Average Joes Pick the Car and Truck of the Year”? said founder and chief organizer Keith Griffin.

A jury of 12 automotive writers is simultaneously selecting its top car and truck (including SUVs, pickups and crossovers) at the same time consumers are voting on their top picks in the same categories.

The Internet Car and Truck of the Year Awards) have become an official part of The Chicago Auto Show www.ChicagoAutoShow.com.

“It’s the first time Internet-savvy consumers will have the opportunity to select their Car and Truck of the Year in one place at a website not dominated by manufacturer advertising. It’s only logical that we associate with the Chicago Auto Show, because it is the nation’s largest consumer auto show,”? said Griffin.