Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG developed by Mercedes-Benz AMG. The car is the first Mercedes automobile designed in-house by AMG and is described by Mercedes as a spiritual sucesssor to the 300SL Gullwing. The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. Sales will begin in mid-2010 and in the United States in mid-2011 for less than $200,000. The SLS AMG will have a V8 with 583HP and 480T 0-60 3.6sec (est)

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Mr Goodwrench Retires

DETROIT — General Motors Mr. Goodwrench Retires

The mechanic who served as the symbol of GM's dealer service brand for 37 years will be Retired as of Feb. 1 in favor of the new name "certified service" for each of GM's Service Departments Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. The company said Tuesday. "This is more than a name change. It is a declaration of our commitment to our customers," Steve Hill, vice president of customer care and after-sales services for GM, said in the statement. The company said the change will come with increased service adviser and technician training and more work on customer satisfaction, with hopes that the customers will return to the dealers for service. The Detroit automaker started the Goodwrench service brand in 1974.

GM You want people to come back to the dealership to get there cars fixed STOP CHARGING $80 - $100 AN HOUR FOR LABOR every time I took my Camaro's, Firebird, Monte Carlo, Caprice & Impala in it coast me $500-$1,200. When I left the Service Department I wanted to Beat Mr Goodwrench with a Camshaft. Mike Stigs http://www.stigscomedy.com/

Ford's ad dollars on Facebook & Twitter

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Forget the Super Bowl: Ford's marketing chief Jim Farley says he can get more for less on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.If Farley is right, millions of hits for Ford Motor Co. on social media Web sites will dwarf the impact of ads broadcast during the National Football League's February championship game -- high-profile space selling for $3 million for 30 seconds. "Customers are spending as much time with the mobile smart phone or online as they are watching TV now, so our advertising dollars have to flow to where the people are," Farley said in an interview. Under Farley, 48, who joined Ford from Toyota Motor Corp. in 2007, the No. 2 U.S. automaker has bet bigger on the emerging category of digital advertising -- including Web sites social media -- than any of its rivals. Farley has taken the approach credited with the early success of the youth-oriented Scion brand he launched at Toyota and applied it to the makeover of an established auto brand. He is betting Ford can use Facebook and Twitter to accelerate the word-of-mouth recommendations long familiar to the auto industry and help the blue-oval brand connect with younger and richer people. Farley said he learned at Scion that the only way to push past consumer skepticism is "to break into their world." "You have to shove your way in there. The way we do that is to break down myths. The great thing about Americans is they are always hungry for something new," he said. Ford's U.S. sales are up 19 percent so far this year, almost twice the growth rate of the industry overall. Farley's term at Ford has coincided with a sharp turnaround in its image. ALG, a firm that tracks consumer perceptions, said in a report issued on Monday that Ford cars and trucks lead all brands in gains in perceived quality since 2008.

Facebook friend Farley, who is seen as a potential successor to Ford CEO Alan Mulally, called the Super Bowl, "a fantastic advertising opportunity" -- for unknown brands. "If you are a company that wants to launch a new product that no one has ever seen before, it's a great venue." Under Farley, Ford has spent 25 percent of its advertising budget on digital media in 2010, the same proportion as in 2009. That ratio is twice what J.D. Power and Associates says will be the average digital media spend in 2012. Farley would not disclose the dollar amount of that spending. One of the first experiments in Ford's new approach was its 2009 move to recruit Web-based "agents" who would help promote its launch of the Fiesta subcompact. In a follow-up, Ford used Facebook to reveal key aspects of the Explorer SUV rather than wait for an established auto show. Now, Ford is seeking "bloggers, social media mavens and Facebook friends" to submit video applications to be one of 100 who will drive the 2012 Focus around southern France or Spain early next year, ahead of the car's launch. The effort, called "Ford Focus Global Test Drive" seeks to create buzz ahead of the launch of a vehicle central to Mulally's vision for a streamlined product lineup.Farley said that the Fiesta campaign had boosted consumer awareness of the Ford subcompact over direct competitors like the Honda Fit or the Toyota Yaris. At the same time, Ford only spent one tenth of what it would have through traditional media, including television, he said.

Ford Smart Key

Smart Key
Ford recently introduced a "smart" ignition key that allows a parent to program the key for a child. Mom or Dad can set the maximum vehicle speed, activate a persistent seat belt reminder, set the volume level for the radio and manage other features.

The Automotive "BLACK BOX"

Automotive "BLACK BOX"
Most passenger vehicles are now equipped with "black box" devices that record data immediately before, during, and after a crash. these event data recorders, or EDRs, can help police and investigators reconstruct what happened in a crash and why. They record information such as vehicle speed, throttle position, air bag deployment, whether brakes were applied, and if the driver was wearing a safety belt. First introduced by General Motors in basic form on air bag-equipped models, by the 2005 model year EDRs were being used by various manufacturers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says more recent data shows all new cars have some form of EDR. But the specific information gathered varies by auto manufacturer, and some companies make it easier to retrieve data than others. Back in 2006, NHTSA mandated that all new vehicles equipped with EDRs by the 2013 model year must make the information standardized and readily accessible by authorities. While the devices can undoubtedly aid with crash investigation, privacy issues have been raised about the use of EDRs. According to NHTSA, captured data is the property of the vehicle owner. But even on vehicles where it is accessible, special tools are required to get it. The IIHS says police or investigators can access the data with the owner's consent, or can obtain a court order to gain access if the owner refuses.

The 5 Most Deadly Interstate Highways

Best of www.stigza.com The 5 Most deadly Interstate Highways

1. I-95, Florida
2. I-76, New Jersey
3. I-4, Florida
4. I-15, California
5. I-10, California

2003 - 2004 Mercury Marauder

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Ford produced the Marauder as a high-performance version of the Mercury Grand Marquis sedan. The Marauder built in 2003–2004 targeted the 1994–1996 Chevrolet impala SS in being a contemporary full-size "muscle sedan."
The Mercury Marauder had a naturally aspirated 4.6 L V8 producing 302 hp and 318 ft·lbf of torque; this engine had many parts — including heads, cams, block and rotating assembly — in common with the 2003–2004 Mustang Mach 1. The Marauder featured a dual exhaust system with unique tailpipe tips, with custom designed chassis and suspension modifications – such as moving the rear shocks outboard of the frame-rails, which were later made available for the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis. The Marauder was fitted with the 4R70W 4-speed automatic in 2003 and received the upgraded 4R75W 4-speed automatic for 2004. The limited slip differential with a 3.55 rear axle ratio was borrowed from the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, as well as the aluminum drive shaft.
The 2003–2004 Marauder sales fell short of corporate forecasts, and after a production run of just 11,052 vehicles, the Marauder was discontinued at the end of 2004. However the Ford Performance Group began offering certificates verifing the Mercury Marauder as a Limited Production Vehicle.
Total production for the 2003–2004 Mercury Marauder was 11,052:
2003 – Total: 7839 (328 Dark Pearl Blue, 417 Silver Birch, 7094 Black)
2004 – Total: 3213 (981 Dark Toreador Red

- Mike Castiglione

Lamborgini Truck

Did you Know Laborghini made a Truck ?
The Lamborghini LM002 is a SUV that was built by Lamborghini from 1986 -1993. It was unofficially known as the Rambo Lambo.The LM002 was an unusual departure for Lamborghini who, at the time, was primarily known for high-performance sports cars.
Lamborghini built its first Military vehicle, a prototype vehicle codenamed the "cheetah", in 1977 Lamborghini had designed the vehicle with hopes of selling it to the US military. (100 were ordered for the Libyan military & 40 went to the Saudi Arabian Army) The RAMBO-LAMBO had a V12 from the Lamborghini Countach its aggressive styling and powerful engine made it a success. Civilian models were outfitted with a full luxury package. Pirelli was commissioned to create custom run-flat Scorpion tires made specifically for the LM. supplying the fuel was (Hoover Dam) A 76 gallon fuel tank.

In July 2004 The US military used a LM002 that had belonged to Uday Hussein to simulate the effects of a car bomb The LM002 was destroyed during the test.

GOOGLE A PICTURE - it looks Awesome 

Lexus 202MPH super car

The 552-horsepower Lexus LF-A supercar promises to be the rarest car ever from mass-production master Toyota. Only 500 will be built. The LF-A borrows technology -- including its V10 engine and six-speed sequential gearbox -- from the Formula 1 racing program Toyota recently abandoned. The LF-A has a top speed of 202 m.p.h.A handful of LF-As should reach U.S. customers this fall, but don't expect them to sit on the showroom floor. They're all likely to be sold in advance, despite an expected price around $350,000 before the inevitable bidding war among optimistic collectors.

Buick Regal is Back

Buick Regal (1973 - 2004) is BACK In November 2009, GM revealed the Buick Regal model at the LA Auto Show the new Regal will debut with the 2.4L Ecotec I4 rated at 182 hp. A turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec I4 rated at an estimated 220 hp will be available later this year. Both will come with 6-speed automatic transmission. Jim Frederico, chief engineer for Buick, announced that a 6-speed manual will be available shortly after launch. A hybrid variant will soon follow. The 2011 Regal will be offered only in CXL trim, with other trim levels expected for 2012. The CXL trim will start at $26,995 USD, with the CXL Turbo trim starting at $29,495. An entry-level CX trim will be available in 2012.

This site is now a "Best Of"

The main site http://www.stigza.com/ has got over 3,000 hits in the past few months. Afew weeks ago I decided only to post on stigza.com and make this site Stigza.blogspot a "Best Of" from Stigza.com

Barrett Jackosn Las Vegas

Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas