This Toyota GT86 edition is officially called the Sport FR Concept and it is being put through its paces in Nurburing. Gazoo Racing is the partner in helping to create this new Toytota sports edition. The twincharger, including the supercharger and turbo performance offers excellent acceleration towards the full driving speed potential with a wide range of high rotation from low rpm. The Sport FR Concept is also equipped with a GRMN only suspension tuning to offer driving stability.

Other features that take the Toyota GT86 Sport FR Concept from sports car to super sports car is GRMN brake calipers and brake rotors offering smooth stopping, a GRMN dual exhaust that creates an engine sound that will rival the most exotic sports models, additional meters to give drivers a full view of the vehicles performance. The additional meters include a boost gauge, water temperature gauge and oil temperature gauge. The exterior offers a racing rear spoiler, rear GR logo, and front and rear racing fenders. The car is also designed with a roll cage and four point seat belts to offer safety at higher speeds. Alloy wheels and tires with different sizes for the front and rear are the icing on the cake to this new sports version from Toyota.

While General Motors spends millions on their advertising campaigns, they are stringent about making sure the budget will produce for them. Spokesperson for General Motors, Pat Morissey says that pulling the Facebook ads was just a part of the regular analysis they conduct to assure they are spending in ways that will be most effective. He states, “We look at this with all media outlets, we look at the effectiveness. We move money around to various outlets.”

While some people shake their head at General Motor’s decision to pull the Facebook ads, the proof in ROI statistics show that Facebook is not a prime venue for ads. CNBC recently polled Facebook users and found that half of Facebook users never click on ads and a mere 12% of the Facebook users who answered the poll have been comfortable enough to purchase anything from Facebook. Google is still the best place for that type of advertising with seven times more click rates than what Facebook offers to advertisers.

While there are 900 million Facebook users that are potential customers, Facebook still struggles with how to effectively produce for advertisers. This makes it a smart move for General Motors to pull their ads until Facebook can find a more effective way to monetize their site to justify having money spent for ads.

Driving her car another 25 miles, with blood from the moose and her injuries, a shattered windshield and horrible new convertible effect to her Sebring, she walked into work like any other day. Some would call that extreme dedication, but in reality it was extreme amnesia. Michelle simply didn’t realize she had been in an accident. Coworkers alerted her to the fact that she was bruised and bloody and pointed out her newly wrecked vehicle.

While you may think that she got away easily, she is still in recovery from suffering two broken bones in her neck, bruises including a hoof print on her forehead and of course the memory loss. This story was so remarkable that CNN called to interview her to figure out how it was possible for her to have driven her car that additional 25 miles in the shape she was in, while shock and memory loss was a major factor in her ability to do that, seeing the shape of the Chrysler Sebring and the shape of Ms. Higgins, it’s hard to figure out how she could have made it into the office.

The moose was found dead on the side of the road, and witnesses were able to talk about how they witnessed the crash. Michelle Higgins is not charged with hit and run or any other charges at this time. She is expected to make a complete recovery.

Sirota did include some great information from other sources to accomplish a well written article. It gives us all something to think about as manual transmissions are making their way back into popularity, whether they are just plain fun to drive, or to try to inhibit texting and driving.

The Salon column quotes USA Today as reporting: “The percentage of new vehicles with stick-shift gearboxes remains a small slice of the new vehicle market. The first quarter this year manuals were in 6.5 percent of new vehicles sold, and that’s getting close to double each of the past five years.” It also continues on to note that USA Today reports that the trend may eventually erase the long-term price differential between manual and automatic transmissions, meaning the manual will lose its frugal-chic appeal.

David Sirota, in the Salon Column also reports that AOL autos said, computer technology has advanced to the point where “automatics have become so efficient that most of the time their fuel economy is on par with manuals — and in some cases even better.”

While that does nothing to determine whether manual transmissions or automatic transmissions are better for the environment, it brought up some interesting food for thought.

The Mercedes-Benz SL class first made its appearance in the 1950s and is now into the sixth generation of reengineering with the R231 debuting at the Detroit Auto Show in January of this year. The biggest changes noted were the lightweight aluminum unibody that replaced the previously all steel constructions. This aluminum, corrosion resistant alloy cuts almost 250 of weight off the convertible. It does this while still maintaining its structural rigidity and safety.

The Mercedes-Benz SL550, SL63 AMG and SL65 AMG all share the lightweight chassis. The differences in the models, other than pricing are in the horses. The SL500 is priced starting at $106,375. It hosts a twin turbocharged 4.7 liter V8 that offers 429 horsepower. Next in line is the SL63 AMG that has a starting price of $146,695. This roadster version has a twin turbocharged 5.5 liter V8 that offers 530 horsepower. Finally the SL65 AMG, with a starting price of $200,000 hosts a twin turbocharged 6.0 liter V12 that gives 621 horsepower.

Along with the lightweight body and powerful engines, the full driver experience has been carefully thought of in the rest of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Droptop and other available versions. This includes AMG sport seats, AMG specific instrument clusters, Nappa leather seating and trim and other premium interior features a Mercedes-Benz driver would expect in their ride.

The Sho Performance Package for the 2013 Ford Taurus updates the brakes with a high performance braking package. This includes brake pads that are fade resistant and track tuned 18 inch calipers. The calipers improve the pedal response. This serves to give drivers a firmer feel with their braking and offer longer times between brake pad changes.

Another feature of the Sho Performance Package is a sport tuned suspension. The new suspension offers better road handling and traction with stiffer springs and unique shock absorber dampers. To further increase stability control, the SHO package has the Ford AdvanceTrac electronic stability control that has an “off” mode so drivers can push the limits without having to worry about unwanted stability control intervention.

An alcantara wrapped steering wheel is another feature of the SHO Performance Package that adds a comfortable grip for drivers, and a more luxurious feel to the driving experience. Topping off the SHO package is 20 inch machined and painted premium wheels. These wheels are fitted with 245/YR20 summer performance tires and tire mobility kit. Overall, it sounds as if the 2013 Ford Taurus will be improved for drivers that add the option of the SHO Performance Package. The SHO version of the 2013 Ford Taurus starts at around $39,200.00.

The BMW 135is Coupe and Convertible both host BMW’s award winning TwinPower Turbo 3.0 liter inline 6 engine (N55). Valvetronic throttleless intake technology has been added along with direct injection, and a single twin scroll turbocharger. The engine has been further tuned in the 135is versions to offer 320 horsepower. This is an increase of 20 horsepower. It also increased the pound feet of torque to 317, which is a 17 pound feet increase. To compliment the higher performing engine, a performance exhaust system has been added that creates a deliciously sporty exhaust tone. With all that extra power, it made sense for BMW to also add an upgraded cooling system that has a larger radiator fan and auxiliary radiator. All of this with the same emissions level and MPG ratings as the 135i.

You will be able to tell the BMW 135is Coupe and Convertible by the exclusive 18 inch wheels, black mirror caps, special exterior badges and unique high gloss black kidney grill. That is on top of the standard M Sport Package components. Inside, there are stainless steel pedals, additional interior badges and optional black leather, blue stitched seats available.

If you don’t want to wait until fall to take a BMW 135is Coupe or Convertible out for a test drive, you can go ahead and order yours today. Ordering is available now for those who just can’t wait until fall to see them show up at their favorite BMW dealerships.

Now that you know what a sleeper is, you will want to know what the greatest one is. If you are very interested, the world’s greatest sleeper might be a 1972 Chevrolet Nova. This faded green, dented car looks like something you might buy as a first car for your teenage son, or take to the dump as it looks as if it is on its last legs. When you look under the hood though, handing the keys over to a teenager is the last thing you would want to do. This car not only has face melting speed, it could possibly launch into orbit if the steering wheel aimed up.

There is a twin supercharged LS2 inside the 1972 Chevrolet Nova that looks as if it was left to die out in someone’s back 40. That is more than a little engine that could, it is a little engine that does, more than 1,160 horsepower that is, at the rear wheels even. Dru Diesner from North Chicago is the proud owner of this super sleeper. He allows it to go through its paces in the following video, but the driver refuses to take it full speed ahead. We can only wonder what it would do if let loose on all cylinders.

Fewer people today are buying CDs and it looks as if they will become obsolete in the same way eight track tapes and cassettes tapes did. The growing lack of interest in CD players is an opportunity for designers to better utilize the space in the new cars that CD players had been taking up. Since the pressure to lighten the load on vehicles is increasing, even the five pounds that a CD player takes up can be used for better purposes and to help create a lighter car.

Michael Arbaugh, chief designer of Ford interiors said, “That’s oceanfront property when you are talking about the center stack. I think anybody under 30 is probably using all MP3 devices. They don’t buy CDs.”

What this means for drivers is that investing in a good MP3 player to use for listening pleasure while driving, or staying subscribed to Pandora, Sirius or other radio players will be your next best choice. The good news is you will have extra space from having to store CD players in your vehicle. The bad news is figuring out if there is room to store your old CDs along with your eight tracks and cassettes.

It looked like a slow afternoon for the makers of the YouTube video, low and behold, a mouthwatering Lamborghini Gallardo happens to be in front of them at a stoplight. Most of us would be tempted to pull out our cameras to shoot some pictures of this gorgeous hunk of metal. It seemed as if the Gallardo driver knew he was on film, as he alluringly gunned the engine every so often at the stoplight for us all to hear the glorious thunder of the engine. But then the light turns green and the driver goes from hero to zero as the fun loving camera behind him captures the mortifying effects of over confidence.

It looks as if there was a lot more damage done to the Lamborghini Gallardo than the other two cars involved in what could only be considered a total loss of control. Showing off should be saved for the experts and this driver learned an expensive lesson. You can’t tell what damage was done to the other cars, but this video is a great example of why you need to put your driving skills through the paces if you want to navigate something as powerful as the Lamborghini Gallardo.