Testosterone drips from the first episode of Pinks, one more reality TV series that premieres June 29 on the Speed Channel at 8:30 p.m. EST. This is “pinks” as in “pink slips,” accepted slang for an automobile title. The format is simple: Two men—fueled by the aforementioned testosterone, taunts from their buddies and faith in their own fast cars—drag-race against each other. The winner gets the pink slip to the loser’s car. The loser gets nothing, except his 15 minutes of fame. “Lose the race, lose your ride” is the show’s motto.
The product of a joint development between the PSA Group of France and Ford Motor Co. will be the most significant aspect of the updated XJ-Series. The new 2.7-liter, six-cylinder engine makes 207 horsepower. The twin-turbo diesel weighs only 405 pounds, thanks to its aluminum composition. The engine can deliver a maximum 322 pound-feet of torque, outperforming the 4.2-liter gas variant. The diesel will accelerate the XJ from zero to 60 miles per hour in 8.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 140 mph.
Volkswagen of America Inc. vows to return the Touareg^s V-10 diesel engine to the United States for the 2006 model year. First, though, the company must persuade the EPA. VW introduced the heavily promoted V-10 in last year, but it dropped the diesel from its engine lineup for 2005. The company could not certify that the engine would meet federal standards for tailpipe emissions. For 2005, Volkswagen proposed injecting a compound called ferrocene into the V-10^s exhaust. That would help the particulate filter work properly, the company said. But ferrocene is not registered for use in the United States, the EPA says. VW insists it will find an acceptable alternative. "We are confident this flagship product will be back in the U.S. market for 2006," said David Geanacopoulos, VWoA^s director of industry-government relations.
More and more car enthusiasts are taking to the track to get the most from their cars without fear of losing their licences. One of the most common road cars at British trackdays is the Lotus Elise. We are unabashed fans of the lithe supercar-bating two-seater and often wax lyrical about its capabilities on road and track. Indeed, the Exige is little more than a road legal trackday car. Lotus wants to go one better, and has announced the production of a new Elise-based product called simply "Circuit Car" at this time. 
With the all-new 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln will introduce an entirely new generation of consumers to the qualities that have made Lincoln a classic American luxury marque for more than 70 years. Zephyr has a bold and distinctive exterior design – a rich, inviting interior with high-quality materials and a confident, luxurious driving character. The 2006 Zephyr features a starting manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of $29,995 and comes loaded with a number of premium standard features.