I wonder if ShamWow can clean up this mess…

We’ve all seen the infomercial; it’s the best thing since sliced bread. ShamWow loves moisture and can cleanup just about anything, but can it clean up the ShamWow guy’s battery charges against a hooker?

2010 Chevy Corvette, Now with more Grand Sport

Great news for those of us who are longing to see the 2010 Corvette: Chevy recently announced to bring back the Corvette Grand Sport for next year. The Z51 performance package will be discontinued and replaced with a Grand Sport model touting Z06 body pieces and some unique performance upgrades.  New bits from the Chevy parts bin will allow for a  greater degree of handling performance; wider wheels and tires, revised shocks, beefier stabilizer bars, new spring specs and tranny-specific gearing will all be included on every Grand Sport model. The new race-bred suspension will give it distinctive, starting grid performance. The new Grand Sport will be offered in both coupe and convertible body styles, available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Chevrolet puts the same 6.2L LS3 V8 into the new Grand Sport, giving you an extremely capable 430hp to tap into. Some versions will be equipped with a two-mode exhaust, which even raises horsepower from 430hp to 436hp. Chevrolet also announced a 0.2-sec drop in the Grand Sport’s 0-60 mph times. The new 2010 model is equipped with 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels wrapped in super-sticky 275/35ZR18 and 325/30ZR19 tires, front and rear. Want more details? We’ll be back soon with more news and pictures as they become available. If you currently own a Vette and need some replacement parts, you can be sure to find them in our Corvette parts section.

The 2010 Dodge Ram’s Got Some Big Horns

The 2010 Ram should be officially released in fall 2009, according to Dodge. The Ram 3500 will carry the model name “Heavy Duty” and is made especially for professional haulers. This means all the Dodge parts have been upgraded to the HD gear; the 6.7 Cummins turbodiesel engine will still be available, but its improved performance will make 350 hp at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque at a stunning 1,500 rpm. That’s some true diesel power right there!

Dodge says that their diesel pickups can be equipped with a G56 six-speed manual transmission with an extra-low first gear ratio, or it can be mated to the 68RFE six-speed automatic which now includes Electronic Range Select so the driver can limit the highest gear and make manual up- and down-shifts. For those of you who haul extra heavy loads, a trailer brake controller is built in for your convenience. Towing capacities are up; the Ram 3500 with dual rear wheels, diesel, automatic tranny and the 4.10:1 rear axle boasts a 25,400 pound combined gross weight rating. The 4×4 diesels get an increased front axle weight of 5,500 pounds (for better front weight capabilities including heavier snow plows); and the Ram 3500 can tow 18,500 lb, with a maximum payload of 5,100 pounds.

For those of you that already got a Ram and want to make it stand up to the same tests that the 2010 will, check out our great selection of Dodge Ram parts.

Dreaming of the 2010 Dodge Charger

Have you been looking for spy photos of the upcoming 2010 Dodge Charger? I found a couple of artist renders and they look terrific.  They looked so good that I kept hunting for new information about the ’10.  It looks like Dodge wants to go back to a 2-door “Coke-bottle” side view with integrated front headlights, but separate rear tail lights. Word on the net is that they want to equip the new model with different types of engines, the usual suspects apply; 3.0 Phoenix V6 for export, 3.6 Phoenix V6 280hp, 5.7 Hemi MDS 340hp and the 6.4 Hemi SRT 440hp. The 2010 Charger should be less boxy to help reduce road noise and improve gas mileage. The all-around performance should improve as well, with more horsepower expected from the revised V6 and Hemi engines.

The new Charger will probably run with an 8-speed automatic transmission, although the current five-speed should still be available. The next generation interior with new comfort features like an entertainment system and better driver amenities, it appears that the 2010 Charger will really make a statement!

I will keep you posted if something new is coming across my way. If you currently own an R/T and want to make your own statement, check out our great collection of Dodge parts and Dodge Charger parts.  As always, if anyone has some insider tips, we’re all ears.  :)

Porsche to Elevator: “94th Floor, Please”

Pop quiz hotshot: there’s a world class auto show happening on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center. How do you get your brand spanking new Porsche Panamera up there for all the world to see.

Answer: Employ some good ol’fashioned German engineering!

1000 HP Drag Racing Cool Bus Ignites Sparklers, Pops Wheelies, and Makes for Spectacular Crashes

You might not have heard of Ken Nelson before, but you’ll definitely remember his name after seeing his 1/4-mile demolishing Cool Bus hit the drag strip. To induce the wheelie madness, he custom built a blown big block Chevy engine tuned to deliver 1,000 ponies to the rear wheels. The sparklers add another 500 horsepower, which makes this one-of-a-kind school bus scoot down the drag strip with the force of a freight train. This is Ken’s fifth Cool Bus, and although he is a pro at handling the speed, that doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen. Here’s a video of Ken displaying the Cool Bus’s abilities.

And here’s a video of what happens if you don’t respect the Cool Bus…

Jeep Accessories, Grille Guards and Trailer Hitches – An AutoAnything Weekly Update

It’s a few weeks into a sprung spring and we’re celebrating proper with colorful new products. Taste the rainbow.

• Rampage Jeep Seats – Comfy as a La-Z-Boy and made custom for Jeep, Rampage Seats spruce up a rag-tag interior.
• Rampage Jeep Seat Covers – These seat covers beg for a beating. Custom-made from durable neoprene, they stand up to abuse and look good doing it.
• Rampage Jeep Recovery Bumpers – Because there’s nothing worse than getting stuck between a rock and another rock, we’ve got Rampage Jeep Recovery Bumpers.
• Rampage Jeep Rock Rage Bumpers – Rock Rage Bumpers are ideal for plowing through the great outdoors or protecting your Jeep in the urban jungle.
• Rampage Jeep Tubular Bumpers – Tubular bumpers are another stellar option for the Jeep that knows no bounds.
• Rampage ATV Covers – For a day or a season, these ATV & UTV covers protect your mini off-roader.
• Rampage UTV Neoprene Seat Covers – Neoprene construction, intense off-road looks. And, these UTV seat covers come in 3 sporty styles.
• Bully Dog Triple Dog GT Tuner – Boosts HP, increases MPG—you know the drill. Only available for power-hungry diesels at the moment.
• T-Rex Hex-Series Billet Grilles – If you were a ferocious dinosaur, you’d be a T-Rex. If you played in an English glam-rock band, it would be T. Rex. And, if you install a new billet grille, that grille should be a T-Rex.
• Hauler Rack II – Incredible 1200 lbs load capacity, brawny construction and a partially assembled bolt-together design.
• Hauler Racks Van Drop Down Ladder Rack Accessory – Makes life with the Hauler Racks Universal Van Rack that much easier. Telescoping handle rotates the rack from the roof to the side of the van for more convenient ladder loading.
• Hauler Racks Tonneau Rack – Hauls bikes, camping gear, tools and more, plus works with your over-the-rail soft tonneau. Easy installation, adjustable crossbars and Sport and Utility style options.
• Extang Cargo Cleat – In, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, Pym is nearly crushed by cargo while stowing away in the hold of the ill-fated “Grampus.” If Poe’s protagonist had Extang Cargo Cleats (and was hiding in a pickup bed instead of a ship’s hold) he would have been safe thanks to the 500 lbs load rating.
• Steelcraft Bull Bar – This front end guard is forged from T304 stainless steel for ultimate protection, plus comes with a removable skid plate. Black or Polished finish.
• Steelcraft Grille Guard – A heavy-duty facemask for trucks and SUVs, this grille guard boasts T304 stainless steel construction and removable brush guards. Black or Polished finish.
• Curt Spare Tire Mount – When you’re loaded down with gear, the Curt Spare Tire Mount makes it easy to bring along that spare. Fits into front or rear 2″ receiver hitches and works with all sizes of tires and rims.
• Curt Cargo Carrier – Bring along all of your wet, messy or stinky gear with this handy hitch-mounted cargo carrier. The tubular steel construction securely carries up to 500 lbs. Available with a fixed or folding shank.
• Curt Skid Shield – Plug an extra layer of defense into your front-mounted receiver hitch with this tough skid shield. Fits all 2″ receivers.1-year warranty.
• Curt License Plate Holder – If a front-mounted hitch has displaced your license plate, this handy holder is a great solution. Fits all 2″ receivers.1-year warranty.
• Curt Trailer Lock – Make sure thieves don’t take off with your trailer with this dual-ratchet locking system. Fits all couplers. 1-year warranty.
• Curt Step Pad – Step up to your vehicle with ease. The Curt Step Pad fits in any 2″ receiver and has a skid resistant step pad. 1-year warranty on this hunk of metal.
• Curt Wheel Chock Lock – Keep those wheels from rollin’ away! The Curt Wheel Chock Lock fits a variety of tire and wheel sizes. 1-year warranty.
• Curt Winch Mount – Bolt that winch right on to the front of your rig with Curt strength. Available with or without handles, 1-year warranty.
• Valley Gooseneck Hitch – Add up to 30,000 lbs of hauling capacity that neatly tucks away when not in use. Backed by a 5-year warranty.
• Truck Covers USA Cargo Lights – Like a nightlight for truck bed cargo, American Cargo Lights nix blind grabs for your tools. Kits and strips available.

A number of the new products we’ve added are for Jeeps and there’s more on the way, so be sure to check out our Jeep Accessories department, which now sports 2 new categories:  Jeep Center Consoles and Jeep Seats & Jeep Seat Covers.

Rampage Jeep Seats

Rampage Neoprene Jeep Seat Covers

Rampage Jeep Recovery Bumper

Rampage Jeep Rock Rage Rear Bumper

Rampage Tubular Jeep Bumpers

Rampage ATV and UTV Cover

Rampage Neoprene UTV Seat Covers

Bully Dog GT Programmer

Trex Hex Series Billet Grille

Hauler Racks Hauler Rack II

Hauler Racks Van Rack Drop Down Accessory

Hauler Racks Tonneau Rack

Extang Cargo Cleat

SteelCraft Bull Bars

SteelCraft Grille Guard

Curt Spare Tire Mount

Curt Hitch Basket Carrier

Curt Hitch Skid Shield

Curt Hitch License Plate Holder

Curt Trailer Lock

Curt Hitch Step Pad

Curt Wheel Chock Lock

Curt Trailer Hitch Winch Mount

Valley Gooseneck Hitch

Truck Covers USA Cargo Lights

A Few Top Trailer Hitch Searches

Hitch | Receiver Hitch | Tow Hitch | Truck Hitches | Front Hitch | Truck Hitch Installation | Hitch For Towing

Ford Mustang Turns 45 Years Old

This is a big day for Ford as an automotive icon of their design turns 45 years old. The Mustang has had many competitors over the years as the muscle cars war raged on. To this day, many try to live up to the Mustang’s prowess; some do, but many don’t. Check out this time line to see how the mustang has evolved over the years.

Happy Birthday to all the Stang’s out there. Believe it or not, Hyundai considers their Genesis Coupe to be a main competitor with the Mustang, Camaro and Charger, so they also wanted to say Happy Birthday in their own special way. Check it.

Image courtesy of AutoBlog

Speaking of Godzilla

The Nurburgring recently opened back up, inviting auto manufacturers to test out their latest and greatest. The first super car of the year to run around the track is none other that the 2010 Nissan GTR. Last year it, the GTR ran a 7 minute and 29 second lap around the Ring, besting a slew of other super cars, including every car that Porsche makes. This is an amazing lap time which not only sparked a super car war, but it even had Porsche investigate the claim, purchase a GTR, fail at driving it and issue press releases saying it was a hoax.

Well Nissan has lapped the Ring again, this time in a 2010 GTR that has a revised double-clutch transmission, bigger fuel tank, 5 more ponies and some shoes borrowed from the optional Nissan Spec-V wheel/tire setup. Their official lap time of the day; 7:27.56.  That’s quite a lot faster, but still a full second short of the ZR-1 and 5 seconds behind the Viper ACR. Nissan engineers say the track has some dust and sand on it today which limitted the grip. They will be testing out the J-Spec GTR tomorrow with the hopes of claiming the second fastest production car lap time on the ‘Ring.  Stay tuned, more Godzilla drama to follow.

Hennessey Gets Gozilla Drunk Off it’s Own Power, Run’s High 10′s

The Hennessey tuning shop is known for making Big power come out of monstrous engines.  From their 1,000+ horsepower twin-turbo Dodge Vipers to their track-demolishing Corvettes, John knows his muscle cars.  But that’s why his work on the GT-R is special; it’s not the traditional naturally-aspirated V8 muscle that’s capable of producing gobs of torque and astronomical amounts of horsepower.  Rather, the GT-R is a highly tuned and balanced V6 that makes lots of horsepower per liter, making it super quick around the track.  But like what many tuners in this world have asked; what would happen if we gave Godzilla even more power?

Wallpaper of the Week: Ford Focus RS

Could it be? Would Ford actually bring they’re road-going rally car to the states?  I sure hope so, because that means we’d be seeing these little beasts all over the place.  The 2.5-liter 5 cylinder engine puts out to 305 horsepower and nearly 300 ft-lbs of torque… that’s STi and Evo territory!  Ford says they’re considering bringing the RS stateside, but we wouldn’t see it in the showrooms for at least 2-3 years.  What do you think they should do? Would you want to own one?