2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

With 24 years of history, the Jeep Wrangler has become one of the most successful models in the Jeep line-up. Currently in its third generation (JK starting 2007), the Wrangler is about to receive one of the most important updates for the 2012 model year.

Up until now, the Wrangler was powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 engine that delivered a total of 202 HP and 237 ft-lb of torque. This engine wasn’t bad, but it lacked the power needed for the Wrangler to really flex its muscles during those off-road activities. In 2012, that will all change as the boring V6 engine has been dropped on favor of a new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that delivers a total of 290 HP and a peak torque of 237 lbs-ft.

The 2012 Wrangler hasn’t been announced by Jeep just yet, but a Georgia based dealer has already placed a Rubicon version on sale on eBay for a price of $35,628.

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AMG Driving Academy Performance Series Episode 7

Mercedes-Benz USA’s AMG Driving Academy Performance Series is getting more and more interesting with each passing episode. Now on its seventh installment, these three-minute instructional videos have given us plenty of tips from a wide variety of racing techniques, including ESP, line technique, and slaloms.

For this particular episode, Tommy Kendall returns and brings AMG driving instructor, Nick Kunewalder, with him to walk us through the art of drifting. Describing drifting as "the ballet of power-sliding", Kendall and Kunewalder teach us the techniques in executing a perfect drift, from the initiation to the transitions to inducing a slide - a critical element of drifting - and carrying that slide all the way through a corner.

Kendall also points out that with drifting, all convention on racing flies out the window because in trying to induce a slide and create the theatrical smoke from your tires, you’re basically going against everything you’ve learned as a race car driver in trying to keep control of your car at all times. But that’s the allure of drifting and its popularity has soared to such great heights that it’s become a unique sport by itself.

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