Category Archives: The Octane Lounge

Working out the bugs
The Octane Lounge October 8, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

The subject is a red 1967 VW Beetle known as Annie that was purchased new by Kathleen Brooks in December 1966 in Riverside, Calif.  Since acquiring Annie, Brooks logged more than 350,000 miles in a vehicle she described as always being there for her.  Brooks, now 73, has survived breast cancer three times and works with breast-cancer patients and survivors to provide comfort and care during treatment and recovery.

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TRD
The Octane Lounge October 1, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

Each TRD variant receives thicker underbody braces to increase torsional rigidity, and each has front brakes with 12.9-inch-diameter rotors, compared with the 12-inch rotors that are standard in the Camry and Avalon XSE trims. The TRD models are 0.6 of an inch lower and have specially tuned shock absorbers for more responsive handling. Wider, low-profile performance tires on lightweight matte-black alloy wheels are part of the mix, too.

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Porsche at 70
The Octane Lounge September 24, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

Based on the 911 GT2 RS high-performance sports car, the 935 has a 700-horsepower 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine that Porsche officials say is “largely identical to the high-performance standard unit mounted in the road-legal 911 GT2 RS.” The only gearbox is the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) paddle-shift transmission.

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The EV Crossover
The Octane Lounge September 3, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

Although the e-tron can’t match the Tesla Model X for acceleration, it’s quick enough, needing 5.5 seconds to hit 60 mph from rest. Expected range for the e-tron is about 250 miles. Given Audi’s reputation for delivering high-quality, fun-to-drive vehicles, the e-tron will do well for the automaker.

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New Supers
The Octane Lounge August 27, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

The Monterey Classic Car Week in Northern California is all about speed and beauty, and especially speed and beauty for the rich and famous.  We aren’t talking simply high-performance, here. We aren’t even talking about ludicrous speeds, even if 300 mph is possible. No, we’re talking about horsepower . . . as much as 1,750. And we’re talking about vehicles that are as gorgeous and sexy as they are brutally quick.

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Ferrari 812 Superfast
The Octane Lounge July 9, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

Under the hood is a 789-horsepower V-12 engine — non-turbocharged — the most powerful regular production Ferrari of all time. That’s up from 770 horsepower in the 812 Superfast’s predecessor, the F12tdf.
The engine also produces 530 pound-feet of torque and the lone gearbox offered is a seven-speed paddle-shift automatic.

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Chasing dollars
The Octane Lounge June 25, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

As four-door family sedans continue to fall out of favor with buyers, Chevrolet and Ford are reviving two of the most time-honored names in the history of domestic utility vehicles: the Chevrolet Blazer and the Ford Bronco. And Ford is doubling down by bringing back another all-new golden-oldie, the Ranger midsized pickup.

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HELLCAT: Coming out of the Demon’s shadow
The Octane Lounge April 16, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

This much is known: The 707-horsepower Challenger Hellcat will get a new dual-snorkel hood, which serves two purposes. From a cosmetic standpoint, it pays stylistic homage to Dodge drag-racing cars from the early 1970s. More importantly, the two snorkels are fully functional, which means they will deliver fresh air to the thirsty 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V-8 engine. Cold, fresh air is denser and can therefore hold more fuel to make more power.

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2019: These new models are right around the corner
The Octane Lounge April 9, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

Although we have not yet reached the midpoint of calendar 2018, it’s not too early to begin talking about some of the most important new-vehicle launches of the 2019 model year.
Not surprisingly, the offerings are heavily weighted toward utility vehicles and pickups, and light on four-door sedans. But that’s how the market is going these days.

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JEEPERS!
The Octane Lounge March 19, 2018

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.theoctanelounge.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

Most automakers would be thrilled to have an owner base as passionate and loyal as Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s Jeep fans. They are among the most devoted of all enthusiasts. Jeep’s management fuels that loyalty with its annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The nine-day event draws thousands of Jeep fans for off-road adventures in some of the most beautiful trails in the Western United States.

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