26" Bling Logo
Ah yes, a 26" bling logo, which looks great on a car with 16-inch wheels. Even better, this two-pack from "CrystalRimz" will act like a beacon, calling thieves to your automobile. Wert tells us Krewson wanted to wear it as a belt buckle to enhance or promote other items.

Maxi Scoop
Nothing says performance like a fake hood scoop named after a female hygiene product. The faux scoop is so bad it's even placed incorrectly on the car in the packaging.

Performance Seat Cover
Good tuning jobs seek to lower weight. A place where most PepBoys tuners fall down on the job. Rather than wasting money for well-bolstered, light racing seats, Pep Boys would like you to cover your seats with performance. Either this thing turns your farts into extra HP or its slippery surface is going to launch you off at the next turn.

Four Piece Tuner Combo Kit
You could buy the three other pieces of crap already mentioned, or you can save time by purchasing this "four piece tuner combo kit." Seriously, one box and you're covered: valve stem covers, keychain cover, shift-knob cover and, of course, pedal covers. There are three pedals so, don't forget, it's only for "manual transmission vehicles."

GM supplied us with a screen-grab of their base ZZ572 big-block, part number 12498792, showing an MSRP of $16,344.29.

Of course, no one pays MSRP for anything, so we continued through the shopping cart function, which gives you an actual price through a local distributor. The final tally was $14,301.25.

Jegs had the same part number for $11,495.99.

Summit didn't have the 572 base big-block online, but they did have the deluxe version for $12,799.95.

Of course, one plus that does come with purchasing direct from GM Performance Parts is the ability to have your engine shipped directly to your local GM dealership, saving the $150 or so in truck shipping fees required with an engine purchase from other online retailers. That makes your premium for buying direct from the General just $2,655.26. Full GM press release below.

GM Brings High-Performance Crate Engines and Components to Online Shoppers GM Performance Parts engines, blocks, heads, cams, intakes, accessory drives and dress-up parts - available at retail prices online DETROIT - GM Performance Parts has launched an online superstore that promises to simplify shopping for high-performance engines, parts and components. The site, www.gmperformanceparts.com, is the first OE performance parts site that actually allows consumers to purchase their hardcore hardware online, and have it shipped straight to their door. One of the most onerous tasks of any engine builder is assembling the shopping list, and then actually buying the goodies. Days, sometimes weeks of planning, research and shopping are involved before the parts are laid out, ready to assemble. The GMPP website simplifies this process by providing enthusiasts with access to the most popular GMPP products on a trusted GM site 24 hours a day - 7 days per week. Location, Location, Location The old real estate adage, "location, location, location" applies equally when it comes to online shopping and buying. Whether a shopper is a discriminating enthusiast who knows what he wants or one who doesn't know where to start, the information needed to make the right choices is literally clicks away: • Access to 38 genuine GM small block, big block and LS high performance crate engines • More than 300 different part numbers available for sale in one place - engines, blocks, heads, cams, intake manifolds, accessory drives and dress-up parts • Product search by category, name and part number • Product information - complete description of each GMPP product • Technical product information - dyno charts, tech specs, engine builds • Pricing - GM's MSRP and access to dealer's retail pricing Purchase Process that Actually Saves Time, Money! Unlike many online shopping sites that refer consumers to a retailer for pricing, www.gmperformanceparts.com makes it simple to buy what you want, when you want it, and have it shipped to your door. After entering the site, a buyer can find the products they need simply by searching for it, or by clicking on the category (e.g. "LS") and scrolling through the list. Each item can be added to a shopper's "cart." When ready to check out, shoppers enter their zip codes in order to locate the GMPP Authorized Centers nearest them. The site will list dealers that have all items in the shopping cart in inventory first, followed by others based on their distance from the shopper's location. After choosing the dealer they want to purchase from, the customer can check the dealership's retail pricing, enter billing and shipping addresses and select method of payment - including all major credit cards and PayPal®. Products can then be shipped directly to the buyer's door, or, by picking up the products at their selling dealership, buyers can save on freight charges. Dream it, Build it, Race it For a closer look at GM Performance Parts products and to get some ideas, the www.gmperformanceparts.com homepage offers three sections designed to help visitors in their quest for performance: • Dream It - We're in love with performance and power - we're enthusiasts just like you. Check out some of the dream cars of the GMPP team. • Build It - We've got the parts, you bring the project. Before you build, choose an engine and check it out on the site's virtual engine dyno. • Race It - If winning wasn't important; there'd be no need for a checkered flag. Get advice from six-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion and GMPP sponsored driver, Warren Johnson. GM Performance Parts Promise GM Performance Parts crate engines undergo a 50-hour, full-throttle engine dynamometer validation; requiring that the engines perform from peak horsepower to peak torque. And if that's not enough, GMPP installs crate engines in its own engineering vehicles for ongoing testing and continuous improvement. It's that commitment to quality and durability that allows General Motors to back GM Performance Parts crate engines with a 24 month / 50,000 mile warranty (whichever occurs first). All GM Performance Parts components carry a 12 months / 12,000 miles warranty. Enthusiasts who crave the latest technology, maximum horsepower and the expertise and confidence backed by GM, can purchase GMPP crate engines, blocks, heads and components, from GMPP Authorized Center dealers or any other GM dealership nationwide. For more information or to locate the closest GM dealership visit www.gmperformanceparts.com. General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

Selected Responses From The New Cougar Forums

"You do know that if you get in an accident, all that stuff is going to kill you, right?"

"What in the jihad??? What in earth brought you to think all those pc speakers would be so much better than just spending the money on a good car audio head unit. What do the girls say when you ride by blasting the windows startup sound?"

"Not sure if anyone posted this already but that ****'s gonna get stolen. WTF were you thinking, not just because it what it is, but because there is no harness and it is in plain view."

"The problem isn't the SOUND quality... the problem is that there are computer speakers (LOTS of Computer Speakers) filling the entire back seat! LOL

"That neon in the trunk was hilarious to me beacause it was bridged across both seats, so if you were to fold down one it would break. Then again you cant fold down your seats because there is a logitec demo in the back seat!"

Cougar Owner Responds

hey noggs you strike me as one of those Madison Democrat pplz but I'll ask anyway, PM me where you live so I can have a witness stop by and confirm that the speakers sound awesome.

Yes I do, just cropped it out. They're mounted on the dash. Didn't you think it odd that 5.1 speaker sets each had only 4 speakers back there? Guess where the other 2 are

Also, the neon lights are hidden (except in the back temporarily). I made sure that from sitting anywhere in the car, you can't see any part of the blue bar at all. You also can't see the exterior green ones without laying on the ground. I just took the shot of it with the camera cuz it wasn't catching the glow alone and to show where it was. Didn't you notice that the camera angle was from like a foot off the ground?

Btw if I get a stereo installed with an Aux in, I can use the door speakers at the same time. But seriously, you all own cougars, as if being 3 feet below your ears, nearer to the engine, with the insane amount of road noise you get makes them sound like anything. I can't stand them and it's not worth putting really expensive ones in that will sound better when they're in a horrible place to begin with.

That's just a small sampling of what has to be the longest 7G Cougar related thread in history. (h/t Braff) [New Cougar Forums]

Talladega. Yes, the partial name of the semi-funny Will Ferrel movie is the codename of Microsoft's next generation of Sync. Then again, we all know codenames are rarely used for the real release of any product, but who knows with this case. I can already imagine the kids: "Hey dudebro, check my sa-weet Talladega system!" Yeah, it just doesn't sound right. [Automotive]

Most new cars include enough options for in-car entertainment and information including personal navigation systems and more. Also, the current model of in car systems don't utilize the previously universal rectangular deck space in favor of other designs that are less convenient to install.

I hate to say it, but as much as I enjoy my regular Crutchfield as bathroom reading material, aftermarket audio may be experiencing its swan song as manufacturers take over and give the consumers everything they could ever want for in-car entertainment. [TWICE](Image)

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Product Details

The PimpStar is a huge leap forward in the evolution of the wheel. With the PimpStar's built-in full color LED lights, microprocessor and wireless modem, you can display virtually any image, including text, graphics, logos, and even digital photos!

The included software allows you to create your own images and send them to each wheel individually or all wheels at the same time as you drive! You can even pre-load up to six images into each wheel and program them to change automatically at the time intervals you select. The wheels are environmentally sealed, so you don't have to worry about going to the car wash; and they are powered by the vehicle electrical system so there are no batteries to run out or change, ever.

Just wow.

[Neatorama via boingboing]

Included in the 2008 lineup is a wide array of iPod compatible units, Bluetooth compatible units, GPS navigation systems, amps, speakers and that doesn't even include the marine selection for your luxury yacht or tugboat.

The W505 2 din mobile multimedia station is the one I have my eye on. Check out the PDF link to see the entire 2008 spring lineup. It's a beauty. [Alpine 2008 Catalog (PDF) via Florida Car Audio]

Why do I feel this way? The same reason I don't like knockoff Gucci sunglasses, or BMW's recent "car in every garage" marketing strategy, or the Porsche Boxster, or overexposed couture logos on $10 tee shirts. Mass merchandising cheapens a brand. Would we hold Koenigsegg or Bugatti in the same esteem if those companies were producing watered-down, entry-level versions within the reach of the unwashed masses?

It's not just about availability or price, either. It's mostly comes right down to aesthetics. Much of the Hello Kitty stuff I come across is done so poorly or is so blatantly cheesy that it just kills the cuteness that is Hello Kitty (which includes the photo of the pink Testarossa floating around the "Internets"). I'm sure there's a better way to execute $900 rims. Personally, a small etching of Hello Kitty on the hub would suffice. Subtlety speaks volumes. Come on, people. [Kitty Hell via Autoblog

Or is it better to spread the money around? Today's question comes straight from the lips of commenter/good guy Erik M. Here's what he asks,

Given a set amount of money, say like 30k or so, Is it better to spend all of it on a nice car, or [just] spend some of it on the car and leave the rest for improvments/ customization?

[The Jalopnik Question of the Day needs women is better when asked. Do you have a question you want answered? Email it to tips@jalopnik.com with the subject line "QOTD"]

Related:
What's Your Favorite Car Toy?; The Jalopnik Question of the Day [Internal]

Autoblog found a story in the Times of Malta of a Maltese company building retractable hardtops that can be fitted to late-model Ford Mustangs. If you remember, Malta is the island nation south of Sicily on which AC Cars is reportedly building replicas of original AC Cobras, and where it will reportedly build AC roadsters based on the erstwhile Smart roadster for the UK's Project Kimber. Of course, none of those projects appear to be on solid footing. But this hardtop may be just what Malta's aftermarket automotive industry needs to get going. No word on, well, anything else about it. – Mike Spinelli

+ TimesofMalta.com: Ford Mustang roof mechanism to be built in Malta [Times of Malta via Autoblog]

Related:
More on Project Kimber: Deal With AC Cars? [internal]

nationalcorvette auctions [eBay via GMInsideNews]

Related:
Question of the Day: Baby's First Mods? [internal]

Most folks know one of the easiest and quickest performance enhancements you can make to your car when you first get it from the dealer is a good set of tires. As Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson illustrates in the video above, the difference between budget tires and performance tires on their closed course caused an almost two second difference in lap time with a professional driver at the wheel. That's because traction is all about making sure you've got the most rubber possible touching the road at any given moment. Thus, on a dry track, performance tires with a slicker surface allow a greater percentage of the surface of the tire to be in contact with the road, thus providing a higher level of "grip." See for yourself. – Ray Wert

Related:
Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide: Jeremy Clarkson's "The Good The Bad The Ugly"; Classic Top Gear: Stig Can Fly Higher Than A Mosquito, In A Lotus He's The Wind Beneath Our Wings [internal]

More amusement than you can shake a Daihatsu Terios Kid at. Click over and giggle. After all, when you hear the birds sing, you can be sure that spring has come. When you hear the birds sing, you can be sure of that. [Thanks to David for the tip.] – Davey G. Johnson

Japanese SUV Spare Tire Covers

Related:
SUPER POTENTIAL! The Ad That Launched a Million Random References [Internal]

So, n00b, you've been staring out the window at a patently stock vehicle, getting all itchy in that special place car freaks call "the wallet." You'd love to imbue your assembly-line queen with a semblance of sporting trim, but the aftermarket is so vast, you have no freaking clue where to start. Thankfully, you have Los Jalopniks to guide your hand. That's the segue, kids. How should someone starting down the Path of Lost Wages spend their add-on bucks, and what products should they avoid like sparklers on crepe-paper day? Don't hold back. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Yaaaaawn: Which Muscle Cars Are You Bored With? [internal]

We're all for customizations of any kind, and especially in car audio and video. There's nothing quite like dropping 10K on a car — then 15K on the stereo system, LCD screens and tight XBOX 360 integration systems — to make the ladies scream. But there comes a point in time when a person's got to decide, should a system merely figuratively make your eyes pop out of your skull or should it literally make your eye pop out of your skull. We guess you could always go the third route — you know, just make glass eyes pop from sockets — like these stereo hoons here. – Ray Wert

[via CarDomain]

Related:
Retro Ad Watch: The Pioneer-Borg Will Assimilate You With Their Stereo Commercials; But Somehow Dodge's iPod Connection Is Made [internal]

With 664 HP and 778 ft-lb of torque, the Pennsylvania speed-shop, Evolution Performance, claims they've souped-up the first sub-ten second Shelby GT500. What do you think of their claim — do they hit that magic number? Watch the video above to find out, but seeing as this was the same shop that was first in the 11's and 10's — chances are pretty good they'll make it happen. Plus, we probably wouldn't be posting it if they failed magnificently, right? – Ray Wert

Related:
Dyno'ing A Ford Shelby Mustang GT500; Wellby, Wellby, Wellby, Jalopnik Drove Some Shelbys [internal]