We’ve had a number of listener requestes to see a behind the scenes look at a media drive. So I figured there couldn’t be a better media drive to showcase than the 2011 Mustang Drive. So here’s day one with the 305 HP 31 MPG v6. The SoCal weather was good, the roads were great and the car was awesome. Check out day two with the 5.0L v8 in the video response box below!

Special thanks to Adam Barrera from www.highmileage.org for guest hosting and to Shawn Carney from Ford Engineering for melting the tires on our v6 for us.

Note: The audio is kind of jacked for the first 1:20 because I forgot to turn on the preamp for the microphone.

Here’s day two with the 412 HP 5.0L v8. The SoCal weather was good, the roads were great and the car was awesome. Don’t forget to check out the v6 from day one as well. Very impressive.

Special thanks to Adam Barrera from www.highmileage.org for guest hosting and to all the folks from Ford for providing us with this once in a lifetime opportunity.

So I’m a very lucky individual, and I happen to have to best job on earth. Case in point, last week the good folks at Ford invited me out to Southern California to drive the all new 2011 Mustangs on some of the best roads in America. So sit back and listen as we wax eloquently about the goodness that is the new 5.0L and v6 Mustang.

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Several weeks back Nick and I celebrated our birthdays with a podcast while were watching the 24 Hours of Daytona, with a few of our friends. (Yes I know this is really late deal with it.) Several beers later, this is what we ended up with. Much Toyota hate, a debate on the applications and philosophies of Drivers Education, some of Nick’s infamous news bits, and finally we wax eloquently about the 2010 GMC Terrain and the 2010 V6 Mustang which just happend to be living in the Burnout Radio stable that week. Then just when you think we’d be done we delve into the 2010 Buick Regal which I got to spend some time with at the Huston Auto Show.

We’re back from our yearly Christmas / New Years / Uber Laziness hiatus for the kick off of Season 3. This week we’ve got some juicy tid bits from the NAIAS briefings like the Buick Regal GS Concept and the 2012 Ford Focus. Then we shift gears to talk about some sweet new Volt Tech courtesy of OnStar, and Ford’s new take on Sync the are calling myFord. Then we shock the industry with the announcement of the return of the vaunted 5.0 in the 2011 Mustang… no wait that was way back in episode 68, but it’s official now! But wait there’s more! GM also announced a new special edition color for the v6 Camaro on top of all that we heard tail of the new Ferrari 420 Dino.

Picture this… You adjust the temprature down a few degrees, turn on your seat ventilation and ask your chauffeur to open the panoramic roof so you can enjoy the beautiful Southern California sun. Then you sip your artisan spring water that’s been kept chilled by the built in refrigerator to quench that parched throat. How do the peasant folk survive? Now sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery along Pacific Coast Highway… that is currently flying by at 80+ miles an hour.

That’s exactly how my trip to San Jose went this past summer. You see my chauffeur for the afternoon was none other than Jack Baruth, vetran of the CTS-V Challenge, author of Avoidable Contact, and professional racing driver extraordinaire. We’re not in just any luxury cruiser either. No, we are in the 2010 Lincoln MKT equipped with the 3.6L EcoBoost and All Wheel Drive, which makes this quite possibly the fastest station wagon ever manufactured in the United States. It’s fast enough to keep pace with a very distraught BMW 6 Series up ahead who’s driver is quite frustrated with the fact he can’t shake this 5000lbs station wagon off his tail, not even in the twisty bits. Yes it seems the designers and engineers at Lincoln have reinvented that quintessential “Hot Rod Lincoln”.

As we’re winding down the Pacific Coast Highway out in California, I can’t help but wonder if this is the start of a revolution in America. For years we have had to sacrifice luxury for performance or vice versa. You couldn’t have both. You could either have a pillowy soft suspension devoid of any feedback or you could have a wonderful kidney jarring experience every time you stepped in to your underpowered v8 “muscle” car that got shit for gas mileage. Not anymore. With Ford’s new EcoBoost technology you can have your cake and eat it to.

We’re talking V8 power (355hp.) in a Twin Turbo V6 with the flattest torque curve I’ve ever seen (350lbs.-ft. @ 1500 – 5700 rpm). Add to that All Wheel Drive, and a luxurious interior and now you’re pushing the right buttons.

However there are a couple of things I find a bit lacking with all of Ford’s new EcoBoost hod rods. First is the suspension. It could be a bit more planted. In it’s current form it gives a wonderful ride, but in the twisty bits it does not inspire confidence. Second is the Breaks. There is no way to tip toe around this… they suck. Not just in the MKT but in the MKS and the Taurus SHO as well. They are adequate for daily driving, but if you are as predisposed to “spirited driving” as we are (this show is called Burnout Radio after all isn’t it?) then the breaks fade pretty quickly and they just aren’t big enough to stop 4000 to 5000 lbs. vehicles with 350+ hp. So Ford / Lincoln listen up because apparently you missed the memo, $40,000+ “performance” vehicles get break upgrades these days. And my last complaint is fuel mileage. There is no Eco in EcoBoost so far. Don’t get me wrong I love the 3.5L EcoBoost. It is my current favorite motor. 22 miles per gallon just ain’t going to cut it for anything named EcoBoost. Yes I understand this is a 350hp motor powering a 5000lbs. station wagon, but it gets practically the same fuel mileage in the MKS and the SHO.

Even with the set back in suspension, breaking, and fuel economy, the MKT is still one of the best cars in it’s class. It has iconic styling thanks to its bow wave grill, curving shoulder line, and it’s delightfully weird rear end.

Even with the set back in suspension, breaking, and fuel economy, the MKT is still one of the best cars in it’s class. It has iconic styling thanks to its bow wave grill, curving shoulder line, and it’s delightfully weird rear end. Lincoln has also updated their color palate to include colors like Tuxeo Black and Metallic Cinnamon. Mmmmm tasty.

I’d never thought I’d say this but I’m in love with a Lincoln, and it’s a station wagon to boot.  Somehow it just doesn’t seem right. A superpower twin turbo v6 in a giant station wagon / suv thing with a luxury interior and it’s been styled by designers not accountants. Congratulations Lincoln you making good cars again. Now I just have to come to grips with my new love affair.

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With Ford having success in the retro Mustang and Dodge recapturing the hearts of the Mopar crowd with a new Challenger, it was time for Chevrolet to step up to the plate. After a long absence, the Camaro is making its way back on the scene and what a way to do so.

We tested the 2LT/RS and right from the start you can tell this car is special. It’s curb appeal is second to none in the muscle car category. But we were a bit hesitant with the interior, from all the photo’s we had seen it appeared that the interior might have been a bit too retro but that isn’t the case at all. Chevrolet took a trip to some of the previous generation Camaros to get their inspiration. While some parts of the dash were inattentively boring, namely the passenger side, and the quality of material used was a bit disappointing, the interior still deserves an B+ overall. The old school gauges mixed with a touch of modern innovation really makes the interior a pleasure to look at. Outside of a few ergonomic issues with the steering wheel controls, all the other gadgets and amenities within the car are easy to understand and operate. And the seats are some of the best we’ve been in.

However, the exterior of this car is the real hero of the story, as you can see in the gallery below. Compared to its competitors, the Camaro is by far the sexiest design rolling out of Detroit. With the RS package you can get the V8 look without the V8 price, and few individuals will ever be able to tell the difference. This Camaro’s aggressive looks gather quite number of thumb-ups and appreciative head nods from passers-by.

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Not only that, but the ride and drive is both smooth and firm, thanks in part to the independent rear suspension. If you want the convenience of an automatic and the control of a manual, the 6 speed auto delivers some of the fastest shift we’ve ever seen in an automatic. However, the paddle shifters on the steering wheel are not very accessible while cornering.

Chevrolet designed a whole new 3.6L direct injected V6 that is a huge jump in both technology and performance from the previous generation Camaro. This 304hp pony will do 0-60mph in just 6.1 seconds. Unexpectedly though, a good burnout was quite difficult to come by.

If you’re the kind of guy that lusts after a big motor then, this is not the Camaro for you. Yes, the V6 has plenty of powerful, but with it’s weak exhaust note and lack of torque you’ll be left longing for the big V8 from the SS Camaro. No, this car meant for the individual that enjoys the history, the attention, and the overall persona that only a Camaro can bring.

If you still can’t get enough Camaro, then be sure and check out our video review below or listen to Episode 58 of our podcast.

This episode’s all about our trip to the drag races, GM and Chrysler loosing their big suv’s, and the birth of the V6 muscle car.

Our weekly podcast seems to be turning in to a bi weekly ordeal. But this time we have a really good excuse. We spent last Friday at the drag races down in Enis Texas! It totally rocked. They had the guys from Flo-Master and Garret Turbos there in the pits and a crap ton of bad ass dragsters. If you’ve never been to a drag race, you’re missing out. TV just doesn’t convey the roar of a thousand plus horspower screaming down the quarter mile in under 4 seconds! You feel it in your chest when they launch. Don’t forget to check out the image gallery on the read more link!

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