If you haven’t heard, the BBC (and YouTube) sensation Top Gear is making its way to American televisions this fall thanks to the folks at NBC.  Although we won’t be treated to the likes of Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear USA will be hosted by the trio of: Adam Carolla of The Man Show fame, some guy named Eric Stromer, and, of course, Drifter extraordinaire Tanner Foust.

Autofiends.com recently sat down with Tanner Foust for some one-on-one and to try and get an idea of how the stateside counterpart to the British show will pan out.  Click through to read the entire Tanner Foust Interview.

Additionally, FinalGear.com reports that the corporate iron grip which dominates much of our media won’t flex it’s steely muscle over the show.  During Adam Carolla’s radio show a week back, a caller wanted some updates on Top Gear. Throughout the conversation Adam revealed that NBC won’t censor the show if the hosts are critical of a vehicle whose parent company may be paying for ad space.  For the entire story, check out FinalGear.com (you can even download the call in its entirety).

You may be the JDM Master around your crew, but I bet you haven’t heard of the Japanese Tuner ASI - until now.  The new ASI Tetsu GTR is a Bentley Continental GT in True VIP Fashion; new front end, rear end, oversized wheels, and finished off with a slew of carbon fiber - hood, trunk and rear wing.

This project isn’t just looks, oh no, ASI is claiming some performance upgrades that push this monster over 800HP.  So just get out that pocketbook, write that $800,000 check and we’ll arrange delivery. :)

Thanks to CarScoop for breaking the info on this one, more info at CarSccop.

The Subaru Rally Team has confirmed it will debut it’s new WRC Impreza at the Acropolis Rally of Greece later this month.

The Subaru team describes this newest Impreza as “the most radically different Subaru World Rally Car in 15 years”. Sounds exciting, I guess we’ll have to wait and see what that means.

As expected Petter Solberg will be back in the saddle along with Chris Atkinson riding shotgun.

For the complete story visit WRC.

<< Warning, geeky post >>

I’ll admit, I have a sweet spot for the Mac. Blasphemy! Coming from a guy who makes his money running a .NET applictation on DELL servers and the Windows OS? Yep, but the Mac is so pretty, and it seems to just work a little better than Vista. We have a Macbook Pro in the house and I’m always stealing it when work doesn’t involve windows-only programs.

The problem, for me at least, is switching to a Mac would end up costing about $3,000; $3,000 I’d much rather spend on something other than a computer. Is it worth it? Probably not. Will I do it eventually anyway? Definitely.

Why so expensive?

1. I run dual 24″ monitors to feed my “keep as many windows open at the same time as possible” addiction. For instance right now I am running Visual Studio, iTunes, Photoshop, SQL Server Management Studio, Google Talk, a command prompt, Firefox, and Safari. It’s a bit ridiculous, but it’s what I’m used to. The only Mac in the lineup that could power both these monitors is the Mac Pro ($2500). Ouch!
2. I still need Windows to work. I’d have to invest in VMWare fusion ($80) to run Windows inside the Mac OS and would also need a license of Windows ($200 or so).
3. All my current programs. I’d have to get Mac licenses for all my current programs. The only one I’m really worried about is Adobe Create Suite (Photoshop, etc.). At $1400 that’s not something you want to buy more than once.

Well these issues may all be solved now, PsyStar is offering a new computer, the “Open Computer” which apparently will run any OS under the sun. The best part, a pretty nice one is $399.

The downside, it’s against Apple EULA (End User License Agreement) to run Leopard (Mac OS) on anything other than Apple hardware. As soon as the lawyers over at Apple catch wind of this they’re going to sue to paints off PsyStar. As soon as the geeks over at Apple catch wind of this they’re going to update Leopard to prevent it from running on non-Apple hardware.

My advice, if you want one get it now and don’t count on it running Leopard forever. Via CrunchGear, Gizmodo, Engadget.

I know we have a handful of clients in my hometown of Detroit Michigan, so any of you there (or close) should really plan to be on the Detroit Riverfront May 31st and June 1st.

The Red Bull Air Race race will be staged along the Detroit River, which is one of the world’s most trafficked international shipping lanes. Downtown Detroit between the General Motor’s Renaissance Center and Bell Isle Park along the newly renovated Detroit RiverFront is where Detroit race fans can catch a piece of the action on May 31st and June 1st. The race will be the third stop in a 10-stop world series tour, and the 2nd (and last) race in the U.S.A.

You can catch the action from the Detroit side or Windsor side (aka Clean Detroit) and tickets start at $15. No excuses for missing one of the most exciting things to hit Detroit since the Gran Prix left, oh wait, that came back, right?

More info and tickets available on the Red Bull Air Race Homepage.

Hopefully I’ll have better luck than the last time I went fishing.

I’m just one JetBlue plane ride away from spending a couple days on the Chesapeake Bay fishing with some great friends. Keep your fingers crossed for me, I’ll be back first thing Tuesday morning. If you need me my cellphone is on so long as I haven’t been swallowed by a man-eating fish.

Update: A combo of bad weather and bad luck equals no fish for me. Oh well, better luck next time.

Drag Racing doesn’t get the adrenalin pumping like it used to?

Drifting just not Pushing the Limits?

Then the time has come to “Flip a Bitch.”

GT Channel has gathered the best of the best from Formula D and put them in a the ultimate Grid Match.

Completely Lost? No Idea what I’m talking about? Then check out the video below…

Wow, Car and Driver just tested the new GTR and the results stand up to the hype.

Here’s what the ‘at a glance’ numbers look like:

• Horsepower: 480 bhp @ 6400RPM
• Torque: 430 ft/lbs @ 7000RPM (!!!)
• 0-60: 3.3 seconds
• 1/4 Mile: 11.5 @ 124MPH
• Top Speed: 191MPH
• Lateral Gs: .99
• 70-0 Braking: 145ft

Here’s what gets me, and makes this vehicle so open to modifications - All the was achieved @ 10.7PSI. With an Intake, Downpipe Back Exhaust, some Fuel and a Reflash - is a mid 10-second pass plausible? With more then just basic Bolt Ons are we going to have a handful of 9 Second GTRs running around?

I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

To see a full scan of the article, check out NAGTROC.

These past few days have had a flurry of information regarding Tesla’s transmission woes - however it was recently reported by Inside Line that Tesla has discovered a solution for their transmission problems and productions WILL begin March 17th. The Tesla Roadsters will be fitted with temporary two-speed transmissions and later upgraded to what Tesla is calling ‘DriveTrain 1.5.’ Production of the Tesla Roadster will take a while to get into full swing; initially the company will only be able to product one vehicle per week, but will creep into 40 cars per week by the end of the year.

In case you were wondering on the specs of this Electric Roadster:

• 0-60 in Under 4 Seconds
• 13,000 RPM
• 135MPG
• 220 Miles per Charge

Check out Tesla Motors for more info.

Check out the first trailer for the new Speed Racer live action film. Directed by the guys that did the Matrix (The Wachowski Brothers) the live action cast includes Emeile Hirsch as Speed, Christina Ricci as Trixie and John Goodman and Susan Sarandon taking the role of Mom and Pops.

I think I was more excited about it when all I saw was the Mach 5, but, hopefully the nostilga will pull this one thru.

Also note the cameos of Racer X and the Shooting Star in this trailer.