But really, this is what car makers do. My Fiat 500 Abarth has the very same 1.4 liter turbocharged Multi-Air engine that’s used in the Fiat 500 Turbo. But the ECU tune in the Abarth produces 165hp, versus just 130hp for the 500 Turbo. The Turbo model is crippled to make less power to avoid cannibalizing Abarth sales.

When we bought my wife’s Mazda6 I wanted to get it in soul red soooo badly. Just a fantastic color. But of course none were in stock, and it would have cost $1500 more to order one specifically, over the deal I got on the charcoal grey Mazda6 off the lot.

What? No Joakim Noah?

That U-Wing. Any body else seeing this?

All right, meow.

Well, just linger there long enough and find out.

So much wisdom. It doesn’t take much to turn a semi truck into your worst nightmare. A blown tire. A distracted driver. Heck, a stiff breeze can force a trailer into your lane.

The difference in torque delivery is HUGE. Anyone focusing on the hp numbers is missing the plot.

It’s not the side mounted intercoolers that are the problem. It’s the damnable plumbing going to and from them. The setup leaks boost like crazy over time (especially when tuned). The 124 Spyder has plenty of hood space to support a less serpentine setup, so I expect that will be a non-issue.

I drove through New Hampshire on I-89 and I-93 on my way to Boston yesterday. Twice passed cops hiding in the median while going nearly 80 mph. Neither of them budged (thank god).

I’m as confused as most people by the Smart ForTwo, but I think the idea of this Brabus tune is inspired. I fully support crazy people doing unexpected things to cars, and a tuning outfit coming along to amp up the ForTwo (of all things) is about as unexpected as they come. It needs more power, obviously, and it…

The Cardinal (Ratzinger) Way

I get what DARPA is doing, it’s what their mandate decrees - but this feels to me like a case where we need to ask if just because we can it follows that we should.

When I swapped the rear torsion bar on my 500 Abarth, it ended up being somewhat involved. Had to remove the rear passenger-side hub assembly to make clearance for the 28mm bar. Fortunately, I did the swap with a friend who owns an auto shop, so things went quickly. But if I had been alone...

Crazy. And the same strategy was in place for forward NATO ground forces in the Fulda Gap.

Thank you. As a child of the Cold War, it is so weird to hear people talk like this—as if the loss of a single aircraft is a huge surprise. One of the concerns with the F-22 fleet is that with the small available numbers (and no replacements on the horizon because Air Force leadership is stupid), there isn’t much…

Actually, in the context of the role I’m focusing on, slower drones (and aircraft, like the A-10) are more effective. The faster drones you mention will better fit ground attack roles served by manned F-16 and F-35 aircraft.

I agree. Unmanned platforms are really compelling in the low intensity conflicts, and in that regard share value space with the A-10. But drones aren’t always great for close air support, where the situation can be fluid and friendly and hostile forces may be in very close proximity.

Well, it’s not a lie as much as it is hyperbolic opinioning. I know a large percentage of gun owners aren’t sitting in their cars wishing for someone to make a move so they can draw down on them. But man, read enough Internet comment sections, and you’d think there was an army of ‘em out there, itching for the chance…

That stuff drives me nuts. I figure most of it is target fixation—the driver watches you and ends up speeding up without realizing it. Which is why I don’t usually use cruise control when passing. I increase my rate of speed during and after the pass to put some quality space between me and the other car.