Car FYI

Photo Credit: Aston Martin Lagonda 2024 Product Lineup: DB12, DBX, Vantage Overall Brand Impression: An enduring producer of high-class performance vehicles with more than 110 years of history, Aston Martin always seems to be an auto company renowned for their lofty pursuit of excellence. With a handful of special edition models introduced in 2023 including the final production models of the DBS recognized as the DBS 770 Ultimate, Aston Martin pushes forward in 2024 with a lineup led by the all-new DB12. What’s New for 2024: The latest advancement of Aston Martin’s DB product line, the DB12, is the biggest adaptation for the premium auto company’s 2024 model range. Available as a hardtop as well as a drop top Volante variant, the 2024 DB12 is an evolution of Aston Martin’s familiar design language. The Aston Martin DB12 is billed as one of the sharpest handling DB models ever incorporating an electric rear differential and intelligent adaptive damper technology. A 4.0-liter twin-tur...

Photo Credit: Aston Martin The Americas Long regarded as the most prestigious form of auto racing, Formula 1 has been known for creating legends. Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, James Hunt, Mario Andretti and Michael Schumacher are among a few that transcend the borders of motorsport to be seen as sport stars based on their mastery inside the global open wheel series. As impressive as driver instinct and physical nature impacts auto racing, finely-tuned machines have provided the basis for legacies. Teams looking for the competitive edge have developed technologies and philosophies becoming the foundation for most supercars. Fuel injection, mid-engined configuration, carbon fiber construction and semi-automatic transmissions. The technology transfer of Formula 1 cars to road cars has also been accompanied by the teams of the sport. While manufacturer involvement is a cornerstone to Formula 1, the reversal trend has always been popular. The story was that Enzo Ferrari began buil...

Photo Credit: Aston Martin The Americas It seems James Bond is always running or chasing something. Piloting jet aircraft, boats, jet skis and even a lunar vehicle from a fabricated sound stage,  cars are the best known means of moving a world-saving spy  in whatever locale on the globe he lands. British luxury car maker Aston Martin owes their entire company image on their appearance in the movie franchise first with the DB5 and with subsequent models used over decades. Spectre, last year's continuation of the movie saga starring Daniel Craig playing British secret agent codenamed '007', contained a custom-made Aston Martin racing in high-suspense scenes. The Aston Martin DB10 was a hand-built sports car created specifically for the movie. A marriage of carbon fiber and aluminum, the alluring British vehicle is set in motion by a 4.7-liter V-8 engine and six-speed manual transmission permitting top speeds of 190 miles per hour. Despite being a world-renowned super s...

Photo Credit: Castrol Ltd. Since the first revolution of an automotive gasoline engine was accomplished, there has been a need for support systems to insure a second, third or, in the case of the vehicles we drive today, several thousand revolutions for minute can be completed. Providing the necessary lubrication for an engine to operate consistently, engine oil remains one of the most important ingredients of a vehicle. Often referred to as the life blood of a car, engine oil routinely needs the automotive equivalent to a transfusion better known as an oil change. For a century, new engine oil had to be poured from a can or plastic container. Oil changes are a simple form of maintenance complicated by the extraction of older oil and the replenishment with new fluid. Recent years, an added wrinkle to older oil has been in adhering to the proper, environmentally-conscious method for disposal. All and all, the typical oil change including the replacement of an oil filter average...

Photo Credit: Porsche For the 83 rd time in history, sophisticated sports cars arrived in France for the ultimate daylong test of endurance and stamina. The 24 hours of Le Mans on the Circuit de la Sarthe delivered a fair share of surprises, disappointment and the eventual celebration for winners of the four classes of racing. As is often the case, the LMP1 class earned a great deal of attention as high-tech cars generating what is estimated to be around 1,000 horsepower. Faster than the other racing classes at Le Mans, the LMP1 category winner would also be almost guaranteed to be the overall race winner. Becoming a fight reserved for two German brands Audi and Porsche, the race saw new norms displaced by old norms. Returning to the top class at Le Mans last year with the 919 Hybrid , Porsche’s effort in 2014 came with a best run of 11 th place for the team. Having taken overall race victories in 16 24 Hours of Le Mans races in history (first in 1970 and the last in 1998)...