GM BOSS RICK WAGONER REPORTEDLY RESIGNS

General Motors boss Rick Wagoner is apparently stepping down as of... now. So says a source of the Associated Press. The Good Car Guy learned of this through a CTV.ca article posted minutes ago. Reports also surfaced today that the Obama administration will be forcing GM and Chrysler to comply with a restucturing deadline or else face a government-backed chapter 11 bankruptcy with an announcement on that coming soon. One media release from General Motors today said in no uncertain terms (and with one sentence) that GM had no comment on that subject.

Wagoner has been employed by General Motors since 1977 when he began work in GM's Treasurer's Office. He eventually became the VP of GM Canada in 1987 and the director of Pontiac-Chevrolet-GMC Canada the next year. A move to Switzerland landed Rick Wagoner a job as GM's VP of finance for Europe. At General Motors do Brasil, Wagoner was the president and managing director in '91 and '92. Beginning later in '92, G. Richard Wagoner became the chief financial officer and executive VP of General Motors and held that position until 1994. 1993 also saw the additional role of worldwide purchasing added to his portfolio.

However, 1994 saw Rick Wagoner take over North American operations. Yes, that does make it appear as though GM's greatest fall from grace in their own backyard came under his watch. The real story is much more detailed and complex; a story where blame (and credit) needs to be spread around. In June of 2000, Wagoner took over as the CEO of General Motors and was also named company president. He remained the CEO when he became the chairman on May 1, 2003.

Rick Wagoner has a bachelor of economics from Duke University and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard. He was born in Delaware in 1953. More later...

GALLERY - MERCEDES-BENZ F-CELL ROADSTER CONCEPT - 19 PICTURES

Located in the spot you'd expect a steering wheel, the joystick controls the whole car by way of drive-by-wire technology. This is the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell Roadster, a concept put together by "trainees" at Daimler's Sindelfingen plant. Supposedly capable of 25 km/h, the F-Cell is, as you may have guessed, a fuel cell concept with a power rating of 1.2 kW. Think lawn mower power.

The spoked wheels hark back to Benz's car of 1886. Spoked wheels can look incredibly cool. With their help, the car has a theoretical operating range of 350 kilometres. Check out all 19 pictures of this techno-beauty below.

CUBAN CARS LAST FOREVER

"You know where it hurts," says Roberto, the Havanian owner of a '51 Chevrolet. CNN's Morgan Neil went on a quest to discover how Cubans keep their cars running.... and running... and running. Roberto says the Chevy is the only car he'll ever own, making him the best mechanic for his own car. Watch the CNN video below to learn more.

WATCH TATA NANO PRODUCTION DEBUT

Ratan Tata has again revealed his company's 1 lakh car, the Tata Nano, in a massive display to the media. After delays which struck the company as a result of farmers and the original manufacturing site, the Nano is only going "on sale" at the beginning of April but won't be delivered until early summer. That's about six months behind schedule. Nevertheless, thousands of Indians will almost certainly be pleased with the likelihood that, in a couple months, their family can move off the scooter and into a car for just $2,500. Watch CNN's coverage of the Nano debut below.

GALLERY - 2010 VOLKSWAGEN GTI - 35 PICTURES

One distinct sign of the automotive times relates to performance cars and economy. Because of emission restrictions and last year's rise in the price at the pump, we're supposed to care that Chevrolet's new Camaro can pull 29mpg on the highway. Muscle car fuel efficiency?

Well, with the 2010 Volkswagen GTI, it's hot-hatch fuel efficiency. Power is up only slightly with the new GTI. That's okay - the GTI experience is more about lovely balance than forward progress. With the new 207 horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder, Volkswagen believes an average of 32 miles per gallon is possible. That'd be a bump up from the 29mpg of the previous (current) GTI; a bump which should be considered mighty necessary considering that 304-bhp Camaro's 29mpg potential.

Regardless, this post is apparently about pictures, 35 of which are available below. The new GTI has an unmistakable Golf/Rabbit profile but, fortunately, has been given a serious refresh at the front end. Reminder: the current GTI sits in both the first and second Good 12. Figuring this sixth-generation of the Volkswagen GTI to be an improvement, it's not difficult to imagine a third-consecutive Good 12 appearance come December.

WATCH NEW TESLA ROADSTER PROMO VIDEO

In spite of its $100,000+ pricetag, the Tesla Roadster looks pretty good in light of recent news suggesting the California Air Resources Board will restrict new paint colour options to lighter shades. The hope is to lighten the load on air conditioners which are forced to work too hard when a car has been sitting in the sun all day. (Jet Black and Twilight Blue are available shades for the Tesla, by the way.)

Indeed, the Tesla Roadster comes standard with air conditioning. Surely it'll sap the Tesla's battery power quicker, necessitating more charges taking electricity off the grid. Perhaps a paint colour exemption is in order? You know the kind of exemption we're talking about - where a Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid can pull into a better parking spot at the mall because it has a hybrid sticker on its rump and achieves 20mpg on the highway while your Chevrolet Cobalt XFE can do 37mpg and doesn't received preferred parking? Yeah, you know the kind.

Anyway, watch the new Tesla Roadster promo video below. You'll wanna go buy one immediately... maybe.

VOLKSWAGEN R32 RECALL 5000 CARS

High ambient temperatures, when mixed with the right (read: wrong) driving conditions, could result in the fuel tank ventilation valve not fully closing in '08 Volkswagen R32s. "If this happens," NHTSA says, "liquid fuel may enter the fuel tank venting system and migrate into the evaporative system, saturating the carbon canister. Should this occur while driving, the vehicle may experience performance issues (jerking) and the malfunction indicator lamp in the instrument cluster could illuminate. Fuel could leak from the evaporative system leak detection pump filter."

So, Volkswagen will be recalling 5000 of the R32. Remember, the R32 is the most luxurious, sportiest, and most expensive Volkswagen Rabbit/Golf; above the GTI. Six cylinders and all-wheel drive combine to make the hot hatch a grand tourer. The fuel tank ventilation valve will be replacing by Volkswagen free of chargewhen this Recall begins sometime in April.

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC RECALL 5750 CARS

Volkswagen's Passat v2.0, the Passat CC, will be recalled for issues relating to the wiring harnesses for front seatbelts. Strangely enough, this leads to the potential for undeployed airbags in the event of a crash.

5,750 versions of the '09 Volkswagen Passat CC fall under this Recall, says NHTSA. Dealers will begin inspecting the wiring harnesses of right front passenger seats and replacing if necessary sometime in April. For more on the Passat CC, check out this 3 To Beat.

BY THE NUMBERS - TESLA MODEL S - WITH FULL PHOTO GALLERY

First things first: Tesla's second model is a beauty. The Model S, a four-door follow-up to the Lotus Elise-based Roadster, will be one of the best-looking midsize luxury sedans on the market once production begins. Think Jaguar XF... but better.

Read more Tesla posts here

or more Fuel posts here

Tesla was hot and heavy into keeping Model S facts, figures, and specifications secret leading up to the vehicle launch. With mainstream manufacturers, that'll often happen because there are very few facts, figures, or specifications ready to offer. Not so with the Tesla Model S, as you can see by the extensive array of Numbers-driven sentences below. Check out the gallery of the Tesla Model S and all its 13 photos before scrolling into the details below.

7,500 - anticipated U.S. tax credit for the Tesla Model S which will take the actual selling price to $49,900

300 - mpc, that's miles per charge, an oh-so-terribly-smug term that flaunts itself in front of mpg, although that figure comes with extra cost. Standard will be battery packs limiting range to 160 miles, optional packs worth 230 miles or 300 miles will be available

5 - estimated USD cost of electricity for driving 230 miles in the Tesla Model S

130 - estimated top speed of the Tesla Model S

6 - seconds under which any driver should be able to extract 60mph from the Tesla Model S, although a Sport model is supposedly capable of 0-60mph in less than 5 seconds

45 - quickest possible full-charge for the Tesla Model S while using a 440v outlet

7 - total passenger seating inside the Tesla Model S, with regular 5-seat capacity plus two rear-facing seats for children under the hatch; luggage goes up front

8,000 - total battery cells inside the Tesla Model S's "powertrain", compared with just 6,000 in the much quicker (but smaller and lighter) Roadster

.27 - Tesla Model S's coefficient of drag, compared with .35 for the roadster

35,000 - price of competing cars, says Tesla, after taking into account the potential fuel savings whilst gas strikes $4.00/gallon again and the Tesla Model S continues to use electricity at today's rate

1,200 - total weight of batteries inside the otherwise 2,800 pound car taking curb weight up to - you guessed it - just over 4,000 pounds

4 - hours needed to charge the Tesla Model S at a 220v outlet

5 - estimated time needed to change the battery pack at a government-affiliated service station partner where, says Tesla, you could be the owner of the smallest battery pack and rent the larger 300-mile range battery pack for a longer trip

1 - total speeds in the Tesla's transmission

2011 - year in which the Tesla Model S goes on sale; in fact; in the latter part of the year

SPEED AT ANY COST? NISSAN GT-R VALUE ASSESSMENT WITH 370Z IN THE SHADOW

The assumption is almost perfunctory: the man who buys the car you see pictured here spends his money on his toys and wants a car that will make him look good... likely in the middle of his mid-life crisis. Got pictures of females driving Nissan GT-Rs? Leave links in the comments section at the bottom.

There is something indelibly stamped atop, or perhaps alongside, the GT-R that marks it as utterly masculine. One suspects that a Nissan GT-R's owner is a Type A personality. How do I figure? Think of Mr. Type A as impatient (0-60mph in 3.3 seconds), excessively time-conscious (Nurburgring lap in 7:29), insecure about his status (he bought a ridiculously expensive Nissan?), highly competitive (same 0-60 time as the $303,000 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano), hostile and aggressive (he learned to love and drive the GT-R on his son's PlayStation after all), and he's also incapable of relaxation, as exemplified in this GT-R burnout video.

Ah, but the purpose of this post is not to determine the character of its owner but the real value of the car. Much has been made of the GT-R's outstanding value when contrasted with cars like the 599 GTB or Porsche 911 Turbo. What about the Nissan GT-R's little brother, the Nissan 370Z? The Z is better than ever. Thus, from a standpoint that's purely objective - finances and figures only - the Numbers below should help you see past the $$$ figures of these two sporting Nissans.

-----

80,790 - cost, in USD, of the most basic Nissan GT-R available

485 - total horsepower produced (allegedly lowballing) by the GT-R's twin-turbocharged V6

29,930 - cost, in USD, of the most basic Nissan 370Z available

332 - total horsepower produced by the 370Z's naturally-aspirated V6

166.58 - cost of each single pony found under the hood of the all-wheel drive Nissan GT-R

90.15 - cost of each single pony found under the hood of the rear-wheel drive Nissan 370Z

87,720 - cost, in USD, of the most expensive Nissan GT-R, the Premium with every possible option and the delivery charge

180.87 - cost of each individual horsepower under the hood of a $87,720 Nissan GT-R

41,135 - cost, in USD, of the most expensive Nissan 370Z, the Touring with Sport Package, equipped with the maximum number of options and the delivery charge

123.90 - cost of each individual horsepower under the hood of a $41,135 Nissan 370Z

3,390.67 - extra price paid by the owner of a Nissan GT-R, a car capable of hitting 60mph in 3.3 seconds, for every tenth of a second saved, under and beneath the Nissan 370Z's 4.8 second result in the 0-60mph test

More $$$ posts from GoodCarBadCar.net

The $$$ And The Numbers Of BMW Canada's 3-Series Comparison Drive

Pricing The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro For Canada

Volvo Announces Canadian Pricing For New XC60

Inflation Monitor - 1965 Mercedes-Benz Pullman Limousine

Finding The Price Of The Fiat Bravo For North America

WATCH CHEVROLET CAMARO WALKAROUND BY CHIEF ENGINEER

In the past, the non-owner's view of V6-engined pony cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro led to disregard and disgust. The 2010 Camaro V6, the RS, generates 304 horsepower. Perhaps that'll help. Still, The Good Car Guy placed the Dodge Challenger SE in The Bad 8 v2.0, not because of a lack of power but due to its goofy appearance. Watch the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS & SS in a story told by their chief engineer.

DODGE RAM RECALL - WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER MOTOR

Light and heavy duty Ram pickups from Dodge will be recalled after NHTSA has discovered the truck's windshield wiper module motor assembly may be susceptible to water intrustion. Eventually, this intrusion could completely restrict normal operation of the windshield wipers.

Once the Recall begins, dealers will replace the normal module with vented wiper motor housings. The official date of beginning is unknown, but if you'd like to know whether or not your Dodge Ram is one of the 72,136 involved from the '08 and '09 model years, call Dodge at 1-800-853-1403.

DODGE JOURNEY RECALL OUTLET PROBLEMS

NHTSA says 16,835 Dodge Journeys must go under the knife in order to fix 115v outlet problems. Due to the potential for short circuiting in an unused electrical connector, "dealers will re-route and stow the 115 volt auxiliary power outlet connector and pull the 25 amp fuse to remove power from this unused circuit".

The Journey, not a favourite of GoodCarBadCar.net, is admittedly a remarkably inexpensive family hauler. With discounts, the basic starting price in America is about $17,792; Canadians are looking at about $19,495. This post regarding Dodge's attempts to let the Journey fly in Europe has been one of GoodCarBadCar.net's most popular articles ever.

This Dodge Journey Recall affects '09 models only and should begin this month.

MERCEDES RECALLS M-CLASS

Leaky seals are bad news when NHTSA starts inspecting problems with vehicles. For example, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class has a potentially faulty seal around the rear taillamp assembly. As water gets in, its flow finds its way into a compartment holding the spare tire. This is also where the control unit for the power liftgate is found. One short circuit could equal one fire.

Thus, Mercedes-Benz is recalling 16,130 M-Class SUVs, says NHTSA. The Recall will begin in April, affects '09 models, and involves dealers replacing the seal around the taillamps and repositioning the power liftgate control unit.

HUMMER H3T RECALL FUEL STRAPS

1,738 Hummer H3T pickups will be recalled, NHTSA says, because of the possibility that the straps holding the front end of the fuel tank could fracture. This could lead to excessive wear and tear on the rear straps of Hummer H3Ts, inflicting what may be the most dreadful way to lose a fuel tank: while driving down the highway.

Hummer dealers will be installing new front support straps for the fuel tanks of these MY2009 Hummer H3T pickups. The Recall should begin before April 10th.

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER LANCER RECALL

Due to issues with the brake booster check valve and the possibility that a re-started Mitsubishi Lancer or Mitsubishi Outlander could have little power brake assist when put back into motion, NHTSA says Mitsubishi will Recall 39,711 Lancers and Outlanders from the 2008 and 2009 model years.

Mitsubishi dealers will be replacing brake booster check valves free of charge. This will ensure Lancers and Outlanders against a sticking valve that remains stuck even when the engine is reignited, thus decreasing the assist given to drivers by power brakes.

To learn more about your Mitsubishi car or SUV and this specific Recall, call Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.

WATCH VIDEO OF FORD'S ADVANCED SYNC SYSTEM IN THE 2010 ESCAPE

SYNC, a projected that initiated jointly between Ford and Microsoft, is rapidly advancing toward wicked sweetness. In the video below, GPS; Bluetooth; and SYNC work together to find this driver's way to Best Buy. With very little initiating, the robotic voice quickly gets an in-motion 2010 Ford Escape on its way to an electronics store. Watch and learn. Check out the Escape's new Park Assist function while you're at it.

WATCH VIDEO OF FORD ESCAPE'S PARK ASSIST

Strangely enough, the long-running Ford Escape MK1 forges on with more new technology. Yes, strangely enough; Ford has been known to use its small SUV as a technology testbed before installing systems in other cars. First we saw a hybrid escape, a decent effort that was produced despite the fact that a Focus hybrid could have returned otherworldly mileage. Now Ford is installing Park Assist in the 2010 Escape.

Like the system seen in the Lexus LS460, the driver must first allow the vehicle to find a parking spot before the vehicle can ever take over. Also, the driver must engage reverse and then drive in a parallel parking maneuver. Watch the video below for a sampling of the 2010 Ford Escape's Park Assist function.

MOST DEPENDABLE AUTOMAKERS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - J.D. Power VDS 2009

As I type this, TSN.ca says we're 330 days away from the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Yeehaw. No, really - YEEHAW! In GoodCarBadCar Towers, the Olympics take over. Because of this fascination, national pride is allowed to take hold of everything from food and hockey to music and cars. Especially cars.

Like last year's post on the Most Dependable Automakers By Country Of Origin as per J.D. Power's 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study, what you'll read below is completely and utterly an unofficial Olympic sport. Who makes the best cars? Rather, who badges the best cars. These are the days of free trade. BMW's are built in South Carolina, Buicks are a Chinese favourite, and Chrysler is threatening to withdraw its already-dwindling Canadian operation from Ontario, Canada. Already you've read a fair bit about the 2009 J.D. Power VDS. Now it's time to put your flags on. What you'll read below is an in-depth look at the problems of vehicles - as perceived by vehicle owners - over the last 12 months on their '06 model year cars, trucks, vans, crossovers and SUVs; then grouped by the automaker's country of origin.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: average 178 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: t1 (Buick)

Worst Rank: 30 (Hummer)

Average Rank: 17

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 6

Segment Winners: 6 (Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln Mark LT, Buick LaCrosse, Mercury Grand Marquis, Dodge Caravan, Ford Ranger)

JAPAN: average 182 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 3 (Lexus)

Worst Rank: 37 (Suzuki)

Average Rank: 19

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 6

Segment Winners: 14 (Honda Element, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Acura RL, Nissan 350Z, Scion xA, Toyota Prius, Toyota Solara, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Sequoia, Lexus ES330, Lexus SC430, Lexus LS430, Lexus GX470)

GERMANY: average 184 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 11 (Porsche)

Worst Rank: 36 (Volkswagen)

Average Rank: 19

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 3

Segment Winners: 0

UNITED KINGDOM: average 188 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: t1 (Jaguar)

Worst Rank: 35 Land Rover

Average Rank: 20

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 1

Segment Winners: 0

KOREA: average 190 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 14 (Hyundai)

Worst Rank: 27 (Kia)

Average Rank: 21

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 1

Segment Winners: 0

SWEDEN: average 206 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 22 (Volvo)

Worst Rank: 32 (Saab)

Average Rank: 27

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 0

Segment Winners: 0

BY THE NUMBERS - J.D. POWER'S 2009 DEPENDABILITY STUDY

With the perch knocked out from underneath long-time leader Lexus, 2009's J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study becomes a year to remember. Do rememeber, Lexus maintained its podium position with only 4 problems per 100 vehicles more than the two automakers tied at the top of the heap. Please take note of some more necessary information: this study is of '06 model year vehicles, not brand new cars.

Listening to other automotive media outlets, one would hear that asking thousands of vehicle owners about various potential problems with their automobiles is either the best or worst way to determine vehicle dependability. Here at GoodCarBadCar.net, J.D. Power's Numbers are appreciated. Think about what you read below in the context of what you hear from those in the know and learn from your friends' experience; and read at Consumer Reports. Also, to tinker with the words of The Good Car Guy last year in the '08 J.D. Power study, "That's not to say an automaker that out-performed its rivals in 2006 won't do it again in 2007, 2008, or 2009; only that we're talking about used cars that were sold some years ago; some of which aren't even built anymore."

122 - problems reported for every 100 Jaguar and Buick vehicles, the two vehicle manufacturers at the top of J.D. Power & Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study

46,000 - total vehicle owners surveyed for the '09 study

263 - problems reported for every 100 Suzuki cars and SUVs in the '09 study, worst of any automaker mentioned

260 - problems reported for every 100 Volkswagen automobiles in the '09 study; second worst of all automakers

238 - problems reported for every 100 Land Rover SUVs; third worst in the '09 study

129 - problems reported for every 100 Toyota cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs in the '09 study

134 - problems reported for every 100 Mercury automobiles in the '09 study

170 - the industry average PP100 (problems per 100 vehicles)

206 - the industry average PP100 in last year's study - representing a beautiful change we can all enjoy

6 - total American-branded manufacturers with better-than-average PP100 figures

4 - total European-branded manufacturers with better-than-average PP100 figures

7 - total Asian-branded manufacturers with better-than-average PP100 figures

10 - total Toyota/Lexus/Scion vehicles to win their respective categories (Scion xA, Toyota Prius, Toyota Solara, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Sequoia, Lexus SC430, Lexus LS430, Lexus GX470, Lexus ES330)

6 - total domestically-branded vehicles to win their respective categories (Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln Mark LT, Buick LaCrosse, Mercury Grand Marquis, Dodge Caravan, Ford Ranger)

GOODCARBADCAR HOSTS FACEBOOK QUIZ - WHAT CARE ARE YOU?

GoodCarBadCar.net has tinkered with a Facebook app and come up with the What Car Are You? quiz.

This link should get you on over to Facebook where you can discover what you'd look like if you'd been born with 4 wheels, an engine, and a steering wheel. Strangely enough, The Good Car Guy came out as the Chevrolet Avalanche. That's what ya get for trying to rig the system.

GALLERY - TOYOTA IQ - 204 PICTURES & DIMENSION COMPARO WITH SMART FORTWO AND NISSAN CUBE

Scroll through the gallery below.... and keep scrolling... and turn some more pages. Toyota has updated the iQ photo database. The result is 204 pictures of the '09 Toyota iQ. Toyota believes it'll sell 80,000 copies in Europe alone. The Toyota - or Toyota-connected Scion - badge should help improve those numbers once the iQ hits North American shores. As a reference point for the 3+1 seat iQ, think on these measurements of the smart fortwo and the Nissan Cube and, of course, the iQ itself. For more on the iQ, read about safety here, or its four seat potential, or its concept debut.

-----

LENGTH

iQ: 116 inches

fortwo: 106.1 inches

Cube: 156.7 inches

WHEELBASE

iQ: 78.7 inches

fortwo: 73.5

Cube: 99.6 inches

HEIGHT

iQ: 59 inches

fortwo: 60.7 inches

Cube: 65 inches

WIDTH

iQ: 66.1 inches

fortwo: 61.4 inches

Cube: 66.7 inches

WEIGHT

iQ (base euro car): 1940 pounds

fortwo pure: 1807 pounds

Cube (base): 2762 pounds

CUTAWAY CAMARO IMAGES

Methods of determining just how much oil is flowing in your veins could include anything from running to your office window when you think you hear a Shelby GT500 (only to rediscover the sound of a Cavalier Z24 with a rusted-out exhaust) to making attempts to convince your significant other that Porsche is a perfect first daughter's name. Here's a better idea: if you love cutaway images of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro more than a genuine photographic images of the new Chevy.... well, then you know your blood/oil mixture is about right.

The orange car seen here is an illustration by David Kimble made available by General Motors. The red Camaro, also off of GM's media website, is a computer generated image.

THE $$$ AND THE NUMBERS OF BMW CANADA'S 3 SERIES COMPARISON DRIVE

Upgrading inline-six cylinder engines. Beating AMG and Audi's RS in car magazine shootouts. Establishing the perfect 50/50 weight balance in every coupe and sedan. These are all activities loved by BMW employees. However, BMW loves nothing more than selling cars and making money. To do so, BMW must spend some money.

In Vancouver (British Columbia Driving Centre, April 17-19), Montreal (Attractions Hippiques, May 8-10), and Toronto (Downsview Park, May 29-31 & June 5-7) BMW will be hosting an eight car comparison. Five of the cars will be BMWs. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS, and Audi A4 will also make an appearance at BMW's behest. BMW will allow you to put the 323i, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive, and 335d through the slalom, brake & avoid, on-ramp, lane change, acceleration lane, and emergency brake & full stop sections over the span of two hours. If you wish to participate, the sign-up sheet will ask you to fork over some information related to your age and current vehicle. Regardless, if you get in and if you drive these eight cars, here are the $$$ and Numbers you'll be interested to know.

-----

32,350 - cost of Lexus' most inexpensive IS, the IS250, a 204-bhp rear-wheel driven sedan

34,900 - cost of one BMW 323i sedan, generating 200 horsepower from a 2.5L inline-six cylinder engine, a configuration not available in the USA

35,800 - cost of the Mercedes-Benz C230, featuring a 2.5L V6 with 201 horsepower

38,200 - cost of one Audi A4 2.0T, a 211-bhp four-cylinder turbocharged sedan

39,900 - cost of the BMW 328i, a 3.0L inline-six engined 3-Series with 230 horsepower

41,200 - cost of the 228-bhp Mercedes-Benz C300

42,500 - cost of the all-wheel drive BMW 328i xDrive

43,850 - cost of the Lexus IS350 and its 306 horsepower 3.5L V6, the most powerful six-cylinder engine available from any of the four cars involved in BMW's Vancouver/Toronto/Montreal comparo

48,200 - cost of the Mercedes-Benz C350, a 268-bhp 3.5L V6-propelled sedan

3,200 - average cost of upgrading your Mercedes C-Class sedan with 4Matic all-wheel drive, with the least expensive addition making the C350 a C350 4Matic for $2,200

49,700 - cost of the diesel-powered BMW 335d, a 265 horsepower 3-Series which generates 425 lb-ft of torque

50,900 - cost of the Audi A4 3.2, which produces 265 horsepower from a V6 engine

51,500 - cost of the 300 horsepower all-wheel drive BMW 335i xDrive which can be had without xDrive for $2,600 less

GALLERY - VOLVO S80L - 11 PICTURES

Chinese Volvo buyers like their S80s laaaaarge. Well, not so terribly large that the Swede becomes undriveable, but large enough that stretch out spaceis easy to come by in the rear seat.

The Volvo S80, being not so small a car to begin with, needs just 140mm extra between the wheels to make this happen. This 5.5 inch stretch results in just a hair over 40 inches of rear legroom. Interestingly enough - which is not very interesting at all - The Good Car Guy chose the Volvo S80 as the fifth most unlikely vehicle to be seen modified in a GoodCarBadCar.net Top 5. Apparently, that didn't include Volvo's own modification. Check out all 11 photos of the stretched Volvo S80L below.

GALLERY - MERCEDES-BENZ SLR STIRLING MOSS - 49 PICTURES

Had the car you see in pictures below been the original McLaren-Mercedes SLR, Daimler would likely be able to more rightfully suggest that the SLR was "highly successful". In truth, the McLaren SLR was limited from the get-go by Mercedes management's demands for specific capabilities. The main result was a confused and ugly car. Supercar or grand tourer? Why is the SLR's snout wickedly prodigious?

Imagine the impact a design like this Stirling Moss edition. Stirling Moss's 50s racer won race after race in Europe and abroad. That 300 SLR needn't have possessed excessive power because it wasn't fitted with every luxury known to man.

This McLaren SLR Stirling Moss speedster will be limited to 75 units. Manufacturing will begin this summer. No, it's not pretty. But at least it's delicate, something that could never be said of the regular SLR McLaren. Check out all 49 photos below.

MICHELIN TWHEEL AIRLESS TIRE - AS SEEN BY CNN

CNN's Reynolds Wolf visits Michelin and discovers all there is to know about the future possibilities of the airless tire, known as the twheel. These 2 minutes and 26 seconds likely explain the tires - and/or wheels - of the car you buy sometime in the not-so-distant future.

WATCH PORSCHE 911 TARGA IN ACTION

Being the youngest of five children, The Good Car Guy was well acquainted with hand-me-downs. Fortunately, not all hand-me-downs were blue jeans or snug hockey skates. Moving down the chain from the second-oldest brother to the second-youngest child and eventually to The Good Car Guy was a gigantic picture of an 930-era Porsche 911 Targa. Framed in glass, the black Porsche 911 Targa picture had a couple issues with scratches and, to be honest, reflections that didn't match. Nevertheless, that picture even managed to find a way into our first apartment without The Good Car Girl knowing.

That being said, the Targa has long been recognized as the softest, least driver-oriented car in the 911 range. Structural rigidity suffers, price accelerates, poseur value increases. It's harsh criticism in an era when all 911s are ridiculously expensive, the 911 compares favourably with rigor mortis, and everybody knows the Cayman is the more capable outright sports car. Check out the video below for the latest Porsche 911 Targa 4 in motion.

WATCH LEWIS HAMILTON USE BLACKBERRY STORM TO CONTROL MCLAREN F1 CAR

Vodafone, Blackberry, McLaren, and Mercedes-Benz know very well that Lewis Hamilton is a worldwide sports star. Viable as a spokesman or famous face in just about any country on the face of the planet. This attempt at a viral video - over 218,000 views on YouTube as of Wednesday afternoon - shows McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton using (allegedly) a Blackberry Storm to control his Formula 1 McLaren-Mercedes for a lap around a race circuit. Watch and enjoy.