Yesterday we took a breather from the SEMA craziness for a 1980 Cressida that 58% of you took a shine to. That car was dull as dishwater, and wouldn't do much to improve your scoring score, but today we've got a Jeep that, while not donktastic, will at least let you roll with the playas in the ‘Slades.

Here's a '96 Grand Cherokee that's had some work. While Jeep modifications usually lean toward the Brawny paper towel end of things, this one doesn't look like it enjoys getting dirty. But that doesn't mean it's not the quicker-picker-upper! Along with the requisite brush guards and 4" lift, it's rocking a marblized paint job, two-toned seats and shaved Lambo doors. Ice, Ice, baby!

Underneath all that is a K&N-filtered 5.2-litre V8, fat radial T/As, and all-the time all-wheel drive. And while you usually expect a Jeep's rims to be coated mainly in mud, you might think this seller has lost his marbles as he's extended the marbleized paint to those as well.

What does cost for you to be Rollin' with my homies (sippin' yak all night, yeah) in this marbleized masterpiece? Well, the Buy It Now is a there'll be enough left over for a couple a 40s $8,500. Now, it does have a busted A/C and 162,000 on the clock, but who needs A/C when you've got a ride as cool as this? And you know those miles have been mostly racked up cruising for some chronic-by-the-tree.

So, are you down with $8,500 for this custom Jeep? Or, does that price make this Cherokee less Grand?

You decide!

eBay or go here if the ad disappears.

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(Thanks for the tip Dave)

[Goods BMX, NASIOC]

Yesterday 56% of you befriended the little Ami from France in one of the closer NPOCP contests of late. Despite having room for four, that diminutive Citroën represented the nadir end of the car-size spectrum. Fully occupying two seats at the top of that span is today's contender- an '87 Jeep Wagoneer Limo.

Now we've seen limos here recently, as well as odd-ball extended wheelbase vehicles, but this jumbo Jeep combines two of our favorite things- wood-paneled Jeep Wagoneers, and. . . more Jeep Wagoneer! You never can get enough of a good thing, and with the CMAs coming up next month - and the hope that a certain restraining order will be lifted - it's important to weigh one's options. Rolling up in this would more than make up for arriving one year in a Hello Kitty Prius with a back-window sticker of Calvin peeing on the confederate flag-draped body of Johnny Cash. Not that that ever happened, we're just saying. And that alone is worth the $24,900 asking price.

Like a mullet, this Wagoneer is all business up front, and a party in the back, but it's done tastefully and, judging by the pictures, it looks pretty solid. These bad boys are ladder framed, making the extension pretty easy, and while it may no longer be able to complete the Rubicon, at least there's a bar in the back for when you get stuck.

Despite the added length, and the kind of cheesy aftermarket rims, this Grand Wagoneer remains respectable in its appearance. The blue paint is subdued and they have kept the walnut-grain siding intact. In fact, it looks like an entire forest of polyvinyl trees was felled for the cladding, making it look like the biggest log you've seen since that unfortunate discovery following burrito night at the frat, back in the day.

The 360-cid AMC V8 is bullet-proof and pops out an adequate 160 1987-era horses, plus enough torque to keep its quadra-trac spinning just in case you and your entourage need to take the back-way to the awards show you're crashing. Befitting its position as Jeep's standard barer at the time, the Grand Wagoneer has power-everything and enough bells and whistles to keep your chauffeur busy while you're inside getting Kanye on the event, and giggling about Mac McAnally's name. The generous door openings will mean no one gets left behind during your hasty escape

So, if you need to make a statement while arriving at the red carpet, or if that red carpet happens to be out in the boonies, this Jeep might be just the ticket. But what about the cost? Does $24,900 make this stretch 4 by 4 an award-winner? Or, does that price knock it out of contention?

You decide!

Hemmings Classifieds or go here if the ad disappears. Hat tip to blogenfreude!

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Think of the latest incarnation of the Grand Sport as the Z06 light, for about $55k you get a lot of the goodies in the Z06 but at a $20,000 discount. It's not so much of a kidney-pounding, mean and nasty brute, but it'll hang on the track all day and do it reliably, because it's built to a higher spec than the normal LS3-equipped Vettes.

So, what do we have then? Well for starters, the Grand Sport rides on the steel frame of the base Corvette but wears the bodywork and dimensions of the Z06 all around, modified with a set of gill slits in the coves as well as a slightly taller spoiler. This will be the first time the more aggressive Zed's style will be available with an open top, so that's potentially where a lot of sales will originate. It also gets unique wheels in Z06 dimensions all around which come in either chrome, silver painted, or our preference the Competition Gray, hot. Those wheels wrap around bigger brakes shared with the Z06, 14" up front and 13.4" rear, with six-piston and four-piston calipers, respectively. It really announces its presence when optioned with the telltale hash marks sprouting from the wheel wells. Unlike the original 1963 race spec Grand Sport or the 1996 limited run GS, this one has matching stripes on driver and passenger side — a little spit in the eye of tradition, but unless you're a stickler, it's pretty neat, especially when you notice the Corvette crossed-flags emblem in the corner of the leading stripe.

That's all well and good, but we suspect the part that'll get Corvette owners talking is the engine. It's an LS3, yes, but with some very tasty upgrades. All Grand Sports get a forged steel crankshaft instead of the standard cast iron piece which can withstand higher loads for longer times as wells as tri-metal main bearings that'll take a whole lot more abuse than standard ones. On the manual transmission cars, you get a dry-sump oil system standard, with a higher flow and higher pressure oil pump and a 10.5-quart capacity, that dry sump occupies the same space as the battery normally gets, so it's moved to the rear as a result. Because of the dry sump complexity, the engine is being built by hand right alongside the LS7 and LS9. That means you get a properly balanced engine and a reinforced bottom end for the price of admission on the "cheap" Grand Sport model. Add to that the differential cooler at the rear and you have exactly what you need for a solid track day. Sounds pretty good to us.

As with all Corvettes, you can hand it off to Grandma to go pick up groceries and she'll only complain about sitting so gosh-darn low. However, she'll also be able to turn around and rip off 3.95 second 0-to-60 times all day thanks to the addition of launch control, which GM cheekily assured us would never void the warranty, not only that but it works pretty well too (sadly we only had time to test it on the also-equipped ZR1, which was in no way more exciting than sex on a roller coaster, turning in 0-to-60's in a plodding 3.48 seconds). You'll note that 3.95s time puts the GS 0.35 seconds faster than the standard Vette, due to improved traction, transmission gearing and final drive. On the track, unsurprisingly, the Grand Sport reminds us of a Z06 missing about 70 HP, which is actually more manageable than the 7.0-liter brute. 436 HP with the valved exhaust is more than enough to get you rocketing to delirious speeds in no time, and the big brakes haul you down even faster. You can throw every mistake in the book at the car and it's almost too easy to drive at speed, easy to catch when you push too hard, and riotously fun when you do everything right. The upgraded brakes and anti-roll bars really make a difference when late-braking for corners and diving through chicanes as accurate turn-in and quick transitions are incredibly rewarding.

GM's thinking the Grand Sport might top 50% of total Corvette sales at least in the short term, and there's good reason to believe it might. On the one hand, it offers the boulevardier Corvette owners the enticing pitch of the Z06 body with the convertible top, upgraded suspension, unique looks and a reasonably good automatic transmission (really, in manual mode, it's pretty respectable). On the other hand, the base Grand Sport coupe with a manual gives you a lot of the Z06 goodies with a hand-built engine equipped with a dry-sump and upgraded internals for $20,000 less. And here we thought it was just a stickers and wheels package.

Judging by spy photos snapped inside the Crewe assembly plant which surfaced over at CAR Magazine, the new Bentley looks a bit, shall we say, odd. When we say odd, we do so with the traditional British penchant for polite understatement. Hopefully we're seeing some kind of engineering prototype far from production intent, because this one looks like a bad Chinese rip-off of a traditional Bentley. If this is the real deal, we almost feel bad for Bentley dealers who'll have to clear space for it next to a Brooklands. [CarMagazine]

In addition to the most expensive to insure list, the folks at Insure.com put together this list of the least expensive cars to insure. Come join us on this journey to find out what makes these econo-boxes so damn cheap to own that it'd almost be a crime to not consider them for your next purchase. Almost.

[via thecarconnection, edmunds, insure.com]

20.) Dodge Grand Caravan

Price: $22,725
Cost To Insure: $960
Curb Weight: 4321 lbs
Engine Displacement: 3.3 liter V6
HP: 175
TQ: 205

Driver Stereotype: Soccer Mom

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: The ability to blend into the suburban landscape has allowed the Grand Caravan to slip seamlessly to and from soccer games, the grocery store and at times, Mexican border crossings without detection.

19.) Chevrolet Impala
Price: $23,790
Cost To Insure: $959
Curb Weight: 3555 lbs
Engine Displacement: 3.5 liter V6
HP: 211
TQ: 214

Driver Stereotype: Vanilla ice cream-favoring used car salesmen

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Sharing its appearance with multitudes of non-descript cop cars causes the surrounding public to drive very, very carefully around the Impala lessening the likelihood for any direct accidents and adding to the overall value of driver safety.

18.) Mazda B-Series Truck
Price: $16,060
Cost To Insure: $957
Curb Weight: 2999 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.3 liter inline-four
HP: 143
TQ: 154

Driver Stereotype: Has poor credit

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Based on the long-in-the-tooth Ford Ranger, the B-Series Truck shows its age with strong, virtually unbreakable bones.

17.) Lincoln Town Car
Price: $46,385
Cost To Insure: $955
Curb Weight: 4345 lbs
Engine Displacement: 4.6 liter V8
HP: 239
TQ: 287

Driver Stereotype: Mafia fat cats

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Carefully driven due to multiple dead bodies in the trunk, the Town Car rarely sees an insurance claim except for the frequent bloody interior replacement. Typically these are burned to the ground near the docks without much concern for an insurance claim.

16.) Suzuki Forenza
Price: $11,134
Cost To Insure: $954
Curb Weight: 2756 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.0 liter inline-four
HP: 127
TQ: 131

Driver Stereotype: Molly Maid employee

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Not much can happen to a car when it spends the majority of its life sitting outside of large Hollywood mansions all day.

15.) Honda Accord
Price: $20,905
Cost To Insure: $951
Curb Weight: 3230 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.4 liter inline-four
HP: 177
TQ: 161

Driver Stereotype: Anti-Toyota

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: The sedate Accord lulls drivers to a meditative state causing perfect driving habits and extreme awareness, lessening any sort of slip ups.

14.) Jeep Wrangler
Price: $20,710
Cost To Insure: $939
Curb Weight: 3782 lbs
Engine Displacement: 3.8 liter V6
HP: 202
TQ: 237

Driver Stereotype: Obnoxious Dave Matthews Band-listening, bandanna-wearing frat boys

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: The Wrangler was specifically built for douchebag frat boys and therefore features a virtually indestructible body and chassis making repairs all but non-existent.

13.) VW Passat
Price: $28,300
Cost To Insure: $936
Curb Weight: 3344 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.0 liter inline-four
HP: 200
TQ: 207

Driver Stereotype: Grown Dub boys

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Considering the Passat never moves due to repetitive electrical problems it is never put in harms way, allowing for a much lower insurance premium.

12.) Mazda Mazda5
Price: $17,995
Cost To Insure: $929
Curb Weight: 3417 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.3 liter inline-four
HP: 153
TQ: 148

Driver Stereotype: MX-5 driver's family car

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Typically driven by MX-5 drivers when they've got their kids in toe, the Zoom, Zoom nature of the Mazda5 allows for quick maneuvers to escape from the rest of the crazy drivers out there.

11.) Scion xB
Price: $15,750
Cost To Insure: $881
Curb Weight: 3020 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.4 liter turbo inline-four
HP: 158
TQ: 162

Driver Stereotype: E-tards

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: The typical driver of a Scion xB never really leaves the rave, instead spends hours upon hours upon delicious hours licking the glass repeating, "The snozberries taste like snozberries."

10.) Chrysler Town & Country
Price: $26,355
Cost To Insure: $871
Curb Weight: 4387 lbs
Engine Displacement: 3.5 liter V6
HP: 244
TQ: 240

Driver Stereotype: Self fulfilling prophecy

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: A perceived level of luxury is exhibited by the typical Town & Country driver, causing them to drive even more carefully back and forth from their kids Montessori schools and cricket matches. See Caravan to see the lesser of the ChryCo minivan driver's habits.

9.) Mazda Tribute
Price: $19,730
Cost To Insure: $913
Curb Weight: 3276 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.5 liter inline-four
HP: 171
TQ: 171

Driver Stereotype: I haz no care for Zoom, Zoom

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Tribute drivers lurk quietly in traffic with hardly anyone ever taking notice, not even enough to ram them from behind.

8.) Saturn Vue
Price: $23,280
Cost To Insure: $911
Curb Weight: 3689 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.4 liter inline-four
HP: 169
TQ: 161

Driver Stereotype: I'm a new kind of car company

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Brought over as the Saturn version of the Opel Antara, most people avoid the Vue with the expectation that the Euro-wannabe driver won't speak English causing an annoying, pain-in-the-ass insurance swap.

7.) Smart ForTwo
Price: $11,990
Cost To Insure: $881
Curb Weight: 2315 lbs
Engine Displacement: 1.0 liter inline-three
HP: 70
TQ: 68

Driver Stereotype: Tries to out-smug a Prius driver

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Like the annoying fly that you just can't swat and kill, the ForTwo manages to avoid all conflict by being small and zippy, plus nobody seems to want manslaughter charges for when the driver gets squashed after a 10 mph accident.

6.) Honda Odyssey
Price: $26,355
Cost To Insure: $871
Curb Weight: 4387 lbs
Engine Displacement: 3.5 liter V6
HP: 244
TQ: 240

Driver Stereotype: Does not drive for the thrill of driving

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Odyssey drivers are busy reaching around and smacking the shit out of their kids, leaving very little time for accidents, so they generally avoid them.

5.) Kia Rio5
Price: $13,325
Cost To Insure: $870
Curb Weight: 2438 lbs
Engine Displacement: 1.6 liter inline-four
HP: 110
TQ: 107

Driver Stereotype: Typically doesn't care about cars

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: The Rio5 is so ugly that most drivers avoid any physical contact with them in fear that some of the ugly will rub off. Score one for Kia.

4.) Kia Sedona
Price: $21,245
Cost To Insure: $857
Curb Weight: 4365 lbs
Engine Displacement: 3.8 liter V6
HP: 250
TQ: 253

Driver Stereotype: Anti-Odyssey

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: This thing is so boring that they should have named it the Kia Sedative. It rarely leaves the driveway unless absolutely necessary, dramatically reducing its potential for road carnage.

3.) Hyundai Entourage
Price: $23,995
Cost To Insure: $848
Curb Weight: 4400 lbs
Engine Displacement: 3.8 liter V6
HP: 250
TQ: 253

Driver Stereotype: Anti-Odyssey/Sedona

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Should be renamed to Hyundai Ento...zzzzz. See Kia Sedona.

2.) Kia Sportage
Price: $16,695
Cost To Insure: $840
Curb Weight: 3230 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.0 liter inline-four
HP: 140
TQ: 136

Driver Stereotype: High school band geek

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: Typically the Sportage is doing exactly the opposite of what its name implies, instead it spends its life carting tubas and other brass instruments between Mom's house and band practice which coincidentally is just down the street. Also, the lack of party invites virtually eliminates any sort of under-the-influence driving.

1.) Hyundai Santa Fe
Price: $21,695
Cost To Insure: $832
Curb Weight: 3727 lbs
Engine Displacement: 2.7 liter V6
HP: 185
TQ: 183

Driver Stereotype: Not concerned with brand image

Jalopnik Insurance Cost Analysis: The Santa Fe, while having an unbelievably ridiculous name, is actually quite attractive limiting surrounding driver's desire to crash repeatedly into it. For complete opposite, see Kia Rio5.

We know what you're probably thinking and to be perfectly honest, we were thinking it too. This is not another commemorative package, nor is it a sticker package, instead the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport is a bonafide performance package that will help to distinguish the different Corvette models even more so.

Chevrolet's plan is to rid the lineup of the Z51 package Vettes, instead replacing it with a uniquely designed new Grand Sport model. Everything that you know and love about the Z51 will be here, but now, with the help of new Z06-derived bodywork you won't be confused with those driving lesser base-model Vettes.

The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 remains, pumping out the same extremely capable 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft or torque (436 horsepower and 428 lb-ft with the optional two-mode sport exhaust) and is easily manipulated to do your bidding through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Sport's calipers are distinguished by their silver with red lettering and the rotors have been enlarged to Z06-spec, 14-inch with six-piston calipers in front and 13.4-inch with four-piston grabbers in the rear. Also equipped are revised shock/spring settings and heavier duty stabilizer bars. The 2010 Grand Sport rides on unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels wrapped in sticky 275/35ZR18 and 325/30ZR19 tires, front and rear.

For those that opt to equip their Grand Sport with the six-speed manual transmission, Chevrolet will throw in a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery. All-in-all, these improvements should net an enthusiastic 2010 Grand Sport driver with a 0.2-second improvement over the existing Z51-model.

The Grand Sport can be equipped in either Coupe or Convertible body styles, but regardless of which you choose, you'll be rewarded with a wider Z06-style front fascia with a Z06 lower lip spoiler, the only thing missing is the scoop on the nose. Z06-width front fenders replace the stock Vette's with a Grand Sport badge sitting atop dual vertical gills. The rear fenders have been replaced with Z06 units with functional brake cooling ducts. You can have your Grand Sport in any available Corvette color as well as all four different available trim levels (1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT). A heritage package is also available, adding a pair of dual stripes on the front fenders in either silver or red. The interior features special Grand Sport embroidery on the seat head rests.

The 2010 Corvette Grand Sport is publicly being announced at the 12th annual C5/C6 Corvette Birthday Bash at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky this weekend. Pricing is yet to be announced, but expect it to be somewhere around current Z51-package pricing. We'll take ours in Coupe-spec painted in Le Mans Blue (Okay fine, Jet Stream Blue) with the red stripes please.

[via GM]

If the rest of the world's like us, then HELL YEAH! We're entering into big-time rumor territory here, but there is a glimmer of hope for both Jeep and SRT fans alike. We've heard from a source deep within Chrysler that things have been humming along quietly in the SRT garage as engineers work hard to develop the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 as a 2012 model.

The biggest news we've received is the high-po Jeep will receive the 6.4-liter 392 HEMI V8 with anywhere between 505-525 tire burning horsepower and roughly 510 ft-lbs of torque, all driven through a revised AWD system. The 392 HEMI has also been rumored to show up in other 2010 SRT8 models, but we're guessing it'll arrive first in the mid-cycle refresh for both the Challenger and Charger in 2011.

If the above sketches are anything to go by, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 will be a subtle beast with lowered, sportier suspension, beefy SRT 5-spoke wheels, larger diameter rotors with grippy multi-piston calipers, revised front and rear fascias, a functional cold air induction cowl hood and a larger spoiler out back. We like what we're seeing, but like GM's performance shop, we'll have to wait and see whether or not Chrysler can muster the cash to put out another answer to a question nobody really asked.

Audi claims at the end of the ad the 2009 Audi Q5 has "perfectly synchronized engineering," but haven't the Germans learned anything from history? Human slaves? Really? We'll let you get away with it this time, but we're watching you...very, very closely. [via YouTube]

We compared the 2010 Dodge Charger and 2010 Chrysler 300C to their existing models this morning, but we've now come across new profile images of the 2010 Dodge Durango and 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Chrysler's Viability Plan documents.

The 2010 Durango is all-new and looks the part, leaving behind the bloated look of the current model and replacing it with a much more streamlined design. Gone are the over-inflated wheel arches and B-pillar split day light opening. The rear quarter window has a slight hint of Magnum in its design as well as the forward sweep of the rear hatch. Chrysler looks to have opted for less of a rugged truck-like feel, instead approaching the design with some much needed sensitivity. Like both the 2010 300C and 2010 Charger, the 2010 Durango receives softer, less protruding front and rear bumper surfaces as well. We're guessing the 2010 Durango will no longer be marketed as an SUV, rather Chrysler will jump on the CUV bandwagon with the new model.

The 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee on the other hand retains its SUV-like design. The wheel arches appear to have been softened, but they still have a sense of ruggedness to them. The day light opening appears to now be one single unit with the use of blackout B- and C-pillars and also seems to be a little bit shorter giving it higher perceived belt line. The tail lamps are now smaller, but continue to wrap around to the side and the rear sweep of the hatch remains true to the current Grand Cherokee. Again, the bumpers are close to zero offset, helping to define the overall shape of the truck. The front end, which we can see clearly, doesn't need much explanation about its new design direction other than the 7-slot grille is now more pronounced and appears to be wider. The headlights lose the signature Jeep roundness, instead they've been replaced with smaller, sleeker units that wrap around to the side. The hood has also been reworked and features a defined shoulder that intersects the mid-section just above the grille.

We'll have to wait for some new clearer images to really make a judgment call on the new 2010 Dodge Durango and 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but from what we can see so far, Chrysler's done an a-ok job creating a couple of easily forgettable entries into the already bloated SUV market. Carry on.

Despite a very, very long list of upgrades to this black SRT8, including a custom intake manifold, supercharger with intercooler, nitrous, 90 lb injectors, huge suspension upgrades, a roll cage, brakes and the list goes on, the transmission apparently didn't get enough love and blew the hell up when the truck was idling in a parking lot at the drag strip. When we say blew up we don't mean the valve body blew a seal or the torque converted burned up, we mean the transmission case blew up and sent bits of shrapnel into the cabin and left guts and fluids all over the tarmac. Aside from catastrophic failures on top fuel cars we've never seen a transmission on thoroughly grenaded — consider us duly impressed. Fear not though, as the owner is taking it in stride and already building a new version, this one sporting twin-turbos. [Modern Muscle Forums via Carscoop]