Steve Parker, Motoring Journalist

PUTS BEST FRIEND INTO COMA IN ILLEGAL STREET RACE, HULK HOGAN'S KID GETS JUST EIGHT MONTHS

Yes, the American "justice system" just keeps truckin' along. How much justice do you want? How much can you afford? Apparently, Hulk Hogan was able to afford quite a bit of justice, at least for his 17-year old kid. And who can blame him? Hogan did what most fathers would do ... If they had the $$$ to spread around to make justice happen for their son.

Last August, Nick Bollea, wrestling star Hulk Hogan's son, crashed his father's modified yellow Toyota Supra into a palm tree while street racing. This past week, in Clearwater, Florida, a judge sentenced Nick (Hogan) Bollea to eight months in jail for reckless driving, five years of probation after jail and his driver's license was suspended until he turns 21 (about three years from now, and just in-time for him to drink AND drive on his birthday night). Not only that, Bollea had the balls to plead NOT GUILTY in open court. Like father, like son (when properly greased with the clear). (Photos, above and below --- The 1998 Toyota Supra driven by 17-year old Nick Hogan/Bollea at over 100 miles per hour, according to police. He lost control and hit a tree).

Not only did he total the car, but Bollea's best-friend, US Marine veteran John Graziano, riding shotgun with Bollea that night, now requires lifetime medical care for critical injuries received in the wreck; Graziano entered the hospital that night in a coma which doctors now say he will probably never recover from. Bollea was discharged the same night of the crash after being examined at a hospital.

The two families have sadly been fighting, and publicly so, since the crash. Graziano's shaken father spoke on his son's behalf at Bollea's sentencing, telling the court, "What Al Queda could not do to my son in Iraq, Nick Bollea did to him in Florida".

We've had more than we can stomach of Bollea ... There is simply no excuse which could possibly  explain-away what happened in August, 2007. Those who have seen the "reality TV show" featuring the violent, loud, obnoxious and clearly juiced-up white trash Hogan/Bollea family must stand in wonderment at this judge's ruling ... Especially given that Bollea had been cited for speeding in Florida at least six previous times before this crash (including several tickets for going over 100 miles per hour on city streets; where we live, in the local traffic court, if guilt is found based on a citation for going 100 miles per hour or over, the judge has the bailiff take the defendant's license then and there).

Exactly what kind of legal sideshow are they running in Florida? Are the only people treated to a "taste of the law" in that state the white trash and other ne'er-do-well-types featured on COPS and other TV shows? (Photo --- Bollea/Hogan under arrest after the crash which put his best friend into a coma).

Bollea's criminal (in our minds) negligence, stupidity and lack of driving skills are all painfully obvious. In other postings on this site, you'll find video of Bollea's mother acting in a somewhat bizarre fashion, laughing hysterically and waving as Bollea performs a long, drawn-out burn-out in one of his Vipers in front of the paparazzi-heavy The Ivy restaurant on Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood, CA. "That's my boy!" And watching Hulk Hogan in court this past week, telling the judge how, "We've tried to keep all the focus on John (Bollea's now-comatose friend) throughout all of this," and Bollea himself, in one of his less-convincing performances, talking about how, "I pray for John every day, every chance I get ..." was all too much to bear. The kid screwed-up and Hogan paid the freight and the family clearly got their money's worth; someone should definitely check into who this judge is ... This is justice for the Graziano family?

Believe it or not, we have sympathy for Bollea. He is just a kid, he has no understanding or wisdom about the real world; growing up surrounded by freaks for parents, syncophants for friends and enough money, and all it buys, to never need to work an honest day in his life, we lay much, if not most, of all this at the feet of his parents. Can anyone honestly say that this tragedy, based on what we know about the Hogan/Bollea family, comes as any surprise?

Click below for more of the latest on this judicial travesty in Florida concerning Bollea/Hogan.

VW'S 7-SPEED DSG/DCT MEANS HIGHER MILEAGE, BETTER CONTROL

Five years ago, Volkswagen began manufacture of the first mass-production Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) in the world: the 6-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). The names of the units are interchangeable. Since then, over one million 6-speed DSGs have been sold. VW now has developed another all-new transmission, the world’s first 7-speed DSG to be produced in high-volume. For many drivers, VW says this could signify the final turn away from conventional transmissions, because this new DSG can do everything better than a manual gearbox, being more fuel efficient, sporty and comfortable.

The most prominent component of the DSG is its dual clutch. In comparison to the 6-speed DSG, there is no "wet" clutch in the new transmission –  a clutch immersed in an oil bath – rather, there is a "dry" clutch, another world first for DSG technology. This and other engineering modifications led to significant improvements to the DSG’s efficiency. The result: Further reduced fuel consumption and emissions values, even greater convenience and driving fun.

Of all the world's car-makers, Volkswagen seems most interested in getting this technology out to the drivers of the world. This automatic transmission system offers benefits including small improvements in gas mileage and emissions, through an end to the wasteful "idle" during gear changes in automatics. It also makes for better handling because the drive wheels are always directly connected to the power being transmitted by the engine on both up and down shifts.

TESLA NOW SAYS PRODUCTION STARTS MARCH 26th --- MANY QUESTIONS STILL HANGING OVER ROADSTER MODEL AND "WHITE STAR" FOUR-DOOR SEDAN

As Mark Twain once penned, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," and maybe that's what's happening with EV company Tesla Motors of San Carlos, CA. Just a few weeks ago, as noted on this website, Tesla was firing people left and right, including one of the two co-founders of the company and rumored to be closing offices, and that problems with developing a suitable transmission for the car had not been overcome. We also reported on the company's close, longtime ties to the Bush Administration, including big time Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger and Condoleeza Rice being given rides in the car, with pitches about the roadster given them by the company's top officers. Tesla's sad exhibit at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, which was part of another company's display, led many to believe that the end might not be too far off for the company.

Now, like a bolt out of the blue, Tesla says they will be starting production of the two-seat EV on March 17th, very slow production at first, then ramping-up to their planned-for full production mode. The company also says that beginning in fall, 2009, they will start annual production, at a plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of 10,000 all-electric, five-passenger, four-door all-electric sedans called White Star. Wait a second ... Not one Tesla roadster has been produced for sale as of this date, and now they're announcing plans to being producing 10,000 sedans annually ... ? It's a bit hard to believe, but the company has received a waiver from the feds excusing them, for three years, from the federal advanced airbag standards. Things seem to be happening very fast with this small car-maker ... (Photo above - Tesla undergoes rear crash-testing).

(From various sources) Tesla Motors has received a waiver from the government on a federal air bag standard, bringing it, the company says, a step closer toward the production of its all-electric Roadster later this year.
   Tesla says they have pre-sold all of its 2008 Tesla Roadsters, a fully electric sports car that sells for $98,000. As noted elsewhere on this website, customers ordering the roadsters were required to "put down" a 100% deposit on the car; therefore, these initial buyers have already paid for their cars in full. The company says they now expect to begin deliveries in the first quarter of this year, but needed the waiver to be able to sell in the United States.
   Based on information provided by Tesla, NHTSA estimates the waiver will cover 3,825 Roadsters, including 625 vehicles this year and 1,600 in each of the following two years.
   Tesla says that NHTSA called the Roadster "one of the most advanced full electric vehicles available" and said the "public interest is served by encouraging the development of fuel-efficient and alternative-fueled vehicles." High praise, indeed. But keep in mind Tesla's close ties to the current administration in DC.
   The federal agency said Tesla posted operating losses of $43 million from 2003-2006 and that without the waiver, Tesla would "have to cancel its pending development of an electric-powered sedan, and would ultimately have to terminate its operations."
   Tesla said in a statement last week that it had received all regulatory approvals to import the first production Roadster for sale in the United States and production would begin March 17th.
   We say "import" the cars, because Tesla has based its Roadster on the two-seat Lotus Elise sports car, built in the UK, and Lotus itself also could not comply with the advanced air bag rule and received an exemption from NHTSA in August 2006. Tesla roadsters will be manufactured at a Lotus factory in Hethel, England, under Tesla's supervision. The White Star sedan is planned to be a more proprietary design, not based on a Lotus car.
   Another major problem standing in the way of Tesla roadster production has been the development  of  a transmission which would suit the all-electric vehicle. Previously, Tesla said that early production units will be equipped with an "interim transmission" that meets durability requirements but limits acceleration to 5.7 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. Tesla engineers do say that they have designed a permanent solution for mass production that supports the original specification of 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds. "Designed" is a long way, though, from "prototyping" and even farther from "production".
    The planned solution, Tesla has said, "reduces program risk, provides better efficiency, lower weight, equal or better range, better thermal performance and quicker quarter mile acceleration due to the elimination of the need to shift gears."
     Tesla also says that early production will proceed at a limited rate and then ramp up to full production when the permanent powertrain solution is production-ready later this year.
     The upgrade from the interim solution to the higher-power, permanent solution will be provided to customers free of charge when available later this year, according to Tesla. Translated into normal English, this means, apparently, that customers driving at least the first year roadsters will be limited on how fast they can drive the car, and then, if and when a better tranny is developed, the car will need to be returned to Tesla's shop for retro-fitting. Lovely, huh?
     We wish Tesla all the best, though there are still many questions which stand between what Tesla says they'd like to do and what they are apparently capable of doing; such as, delivering one completed, operable EV roadster to one paying customer. We are happy though, with the announced March 26th start-of-production date. It could have been April 1st.

SUPER Z-CAR WE WISH WE COULD DRIVE!

We just spent a week in a stock 2006 Nissan 350Z "Grand Touring" edition; 300 horsepower, short-throw six-speed stick shift, Continuously Variable Valve Timing, carbon-fiber composite driveshaft (interesting!), ABS, EBD and BA (with a PhD to come, we assume), 18" rubber in front, 19" in the rear, rear-wheel drive (as the driving gods intended!), and all the other bells and goodies. Small-ish inside, this is the epitome of a late 1980's-era Japanese sports car masquerading as a 21st century tuner machine. Priced too high at $39,115, the Z-car still represents Nissan at their best, starting with a super-smooth 3.5 liter V6 that winds up like a sewing machine all the way to the 7K redline and has a tight, straight torque band which allows start-up even in third gear (if you make a shifting mistake). But the Z, the Mitsubishi 3000GT, the Mazda RX-7 and Toyota's Supra all went the way of the too-high-priced two-seater dinosaurs which they had become. There were just only so many people with $40K who were in the market for a powerful two-seater. Great, fun cars from a time when the Japanese were building what were unquestionably the best cars in the world at the time, for the price. Times have changed, but the Z-car hasn't changed as much as needed --- That's what we thought until we saw the news about a 350Z GT-S from, of all places, Nissan engineers in Europe!

Nissan's GT-S, a performance-focused supercharged super coupé version of Nissan's 'Z-'car', had its first public outing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 7-9) where it appeared in the Supercar Paddock and on the famous hillclimb course.

The principal changes made to turn the 350Z into the GT-S centre on its engine and chassis. Using a supercharger installation from Swiss manufacturers Novidem, power has increased by more than 25% from 295bhp to 376bhp, while torque rises from 206lb-ft to 313lb-ft. Performance gains are expected to include a one second cut in the benchmark 0-60mph time (5.8 seconds for the standard Euro 350Z) with 2.5 seconds slashed from the 0-100mph time. (Photo: Stock 2003 Nissan 3.5 liter 300hp Z-engine).

And it sounds better, too, thanks to an electronically controlled by-pass valve that enriches the exhaust note at a pre-determined engine speed. A butterfly valve on the exhaust  opens up at high revs, which allows the engine to breathe better and makes for that soul shaking soundtrack at WOT (Wide Open Throttle).

The editors of CAR magazine recently took the 350Z GT-S out for a spin and revealed a few things about the concept of which we were unaware. For instance, a switch next to the gear lever can disengage the supercharger used on the Z's 3.5-liter V6. This means that at the flick of a switch, the car transforms from a snarling 376 bhp beast into the same mild-mannered 295 bhp Z coupe everyone else is driving. Very trick.

Engineers from Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) have undertaken the suspension changes. Working closely with specialists from Bilstein, the changes concentrate on optimising road performance, with improvements in both handling ability and ride comfort& particularly on British 'B' roads. Wider wheels and tyres complete the chassis alterations.

A wind tunnel developed body/aero kit from German firm Strosek has been designed to improve the 350Z's aerodynamic performance with increased front and rear downforce at speed.

Nissan has looked at the possible marketing potential of such a project and has designed the improvements as individual 'packs' - an engine pack, a suspension pack, aero pack, etc. (Photo: The 350Z GT-S as it appeared at July's Goodwood Festival).

Nissan hasn't confirmed whether the GT-S will be launched officially, although insiders point to its appearance at Goodwood as a sign the company is giving the concept serious consideration.

At minimum, keep your eyes on the NISMO website and Nissan enthusiast sites to find out if and when (and for how much) some of these "packs" might be available.

GM's XM SATELLITE RADIO OPTION NOW $199

General Motors has lowered the option price of factory-installed XM Satellite Radio by 39 percent to $199, from $325, beginning with most model-year 2007 vehicles. More than 90 percent of GM's model-year 2006 and 2007 U.S. retail vehicles offer factory-installed XM Satellite Radios as either an option or as standard equipment. But what will XM sound like in another year or so? Will it merge with Sirius, has has been strongly rumored? Is now the time to buy mobile and/or home satellite receivers, or should buyers give it another season or two?

"The economies of scale and engineering efficiencies brought by the rapid pace of XM Radio installations across GM's product lineup allow us to pass along cost savings to our customers," said Mark LaNeve, vice president of GMNA Sales, Service and Marketing. "XM Radio has become a must-have feature for many customers and demand just continues to grow. Chevrolet alone has produced over two million XM-equipped vehicles."

Consumer acceptance has made factory installation of XM Satellite Radio one of the most rapid technology rollouts in GM history. More than 60 percent of current GM customers with XM-equipped vehicles say they will prefer their next vehicle be equipped with XM Radio and 80 percent say they will recommend it to friends and family. General Motors, the industry leader in offering factory-installed satellite radio equipped vehicles, has built over 4 million XM-equipped vehicles since 2001 -- more than all other vehicle manufacturers combined.

XM is the exclusive satellite radio partner of GM, which offers more than 50 vehicle models that feature XM Satellite Radio -- the most extensive model line up of satellite-equipped vehicles in the industry. GM was the first vehicle manufacturer to introduce satellite radio in 2001 as a factory-installed option on 2002 Cadillac DeVille and Seville models. XM Satellite Radio is standard on all Cadillac models. All GM retail vehicle sales with factory-installed XM radios include a three-month trial service period.

Sirius and XM both have huge problems, almost ALL of it having to do with the initial investment in the equipment. All-new digital studios (over 50 of them alone at the Sirius facility in Washington, DC and the same thing at XM's building near Rockefeller Center in NYC) cost a LOT ... Satellites cost a LOT ... Though much of the costs can be amortized off over several years, the huge debt for both of these companies still must be 'serviced' regularly (and so do I, to be honest --- OK, just seeing if you're still reading).

Also, many of the stations on both services are essentially simulcasts (BBC, CNN Fox News, etc) and the popular non-commercial music channels are also much alike. How many ways can you spell "jazz"? How many different ways can you present it? There are also a lot of channels WITH commercials ... NASCAR included.

Finally, there are a LOT of big-name celebs being paid MILLIONS by both satellite outfits (Oprah, Martha Stewart) who are not from radio and know NOTHING about it. NOT a good mixture for near-term or future success ... and not something which makes share-holders (like me) very happy.