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Shelby and Factory Five Racing have been going at it for years. Back in 2000, Shelby filed suit against the Massachusetts-based replica builder, which resulted in Factory Five being allowed to continue building cars as long as it made no reference to the terms “Cobra,” “427 S/C,” “Shelby,” “Shelby Cobra,” “Daytona Coupe” or “Daytona Coupe Cobra.” Eight years of apparent peace passed until Shelby again filed suit against FFR because the company felt that the the replica builder’s Type 65 Coupe name was too close to its Shelby Daytona Coupe. The court ruled in favor of Factory Five.

The two companies went back to court a third time because Shelby recently attempted to patent the shape of the Cobra. Well, the case has been settled and the result is yet effectively another victory for Factory Five Racing. The United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board felt that the shape of the Cobra does not solely belong to Carroll Shelby. Factory Five had the following to say:

“On October 13th, 2010, the court denied his application and our opposition was successful. We felt that if he were to get a trademark on the Cobra shape, his PR machine would use that to make the legitimate replica industry look bad. Our position was that a Shelby trademark would have ignored the factual history of the car, which started life as an AC car with a Ford engine in it, as well as completely discounting the huge contributions that replica guys have made to the car’s continuing legacy since the 1970’s. We have never denied Shelby’s part in history, but he has enjoyed huge popularity, in-part, due to replicas.

Looking back, our little company has done more than anyone ever to secure this car for all. Factory Five Racing and our customers have made such a huge contribution to the industry over the years.

I am attaching the Court’s opinion as a PDF document here so you can read it for yourself. Factory Five Racing does not use the word COBRA to describe our products.”

You can weigh in on the outcome for yourself and read the full, 49-page ruling of the of the court here: Shelby vs FFR. Thanks for the tip, Bip-D-Bo!

[Source: Factory Five Racing]

Shelby loses court battle to trademark Cobra shape

This is what happens at SEMA: you’re strolling the aisles minding your own business, you turn your head and then a cluster of mighty malicious metal rocks you like a pow! straight out of vintage Batman. Holy Toledo! In this case it was the Savini Wheels booth, loaded up with a sedan and four coupes that should be parked outside the Legion of Doom. A Rolls-Royce Ghost inscribed with the ominous phrase “The Omen Machine” (probably meant for Lex Luthor), sits among a Lamborghini Murcielago with white-carbon-fiber-accented rims, Mercedes SLS AMG, Bentley Continental GT and a Ferrari 458 on a delicious set of spokes.

We couldn’t get any more information on the cars or wheels because the hall wasn’t open yet… but what more do you need? Beastly cars for bad, bad men are in the high-res gallery below.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

SEMA 2010: Savini Wheels booth is full of superhero movie bad-guy cars

Chevrolet was kind enough to give us a sneak sampling of what the company has planned for SEMA 2010, and the star of the show looks to be the car you see above. Called the Corvette Z06X, the bruiser is effectively a race-ready behemoth with a host of suspension tweaks and a slew of weight-reducing materials on board. Built by the Corvette legends at Pratt and Miller, this Satin White machine started its life as a Z06 with the CFZ carbon-fiber package. Throw in an adjustable rear wing borrowed straight from the C6R along with a full SCCA roll cage and you’ve got the bones for go-fast trackday goodness.

Under the hood, the standard LS7 V8 benefits from a new low-restriction intake and a more robust coolant system. The suspension wizards at PFADT were so kind as to supply a set of mono-ball control arm bushings, adjustable stabilizer bars and a complete coilover suspension, too.

Chevrolet has also bolted on a new raised carbon-fiber hood along with carbon headlight housings to shave a few pounds. The biggest weight savings, however, has to come from the polycarbonate rear window which is also lifted straight from the C6R. Hit the jump for the full press release and check out our gallery below.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading SEMA 2010: Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Concept is white hot glory

SEMA 2010: Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Concept is white hot glory

After watching this year’s X Games and Ken Block’s latest Gymkhana 3, it’s no secret that the Ford Fiesta can easily be tuned into a potent rally-ready machine. That said, we greatly welcome the automaker’s latest Fiesta R2 rally tuning kit, bringing a host of rally-spec mods to the general public.

In addition to things like a five-speed sequential gearbox, Reiger adjustable dampers, Eibach springs, ventilated disc brakes with four-piston calipers and a steel roll cage, Ford has found a way to coax more power out of the Fiesta’s 1.6-liter inline-four. By adding a raft of new parts (pistons, camshafts, injectors, air filter, etc.), the Fiesta R2 is capable of producing 168 horsepower and 134 pound-feet of torque – gains of 48 and 22 over the stock car, respectively.

The R2 package was designed by M-Sport, a company that has been Ford’s WRC partner since 1997, and New Hampshire-based team O’Neil Motorsports is the official reseller and authorized installer for this kit. Additionally, Ford Racing will offer a Stage 1 kit that includes performance upgrades, dampers, a limited-slip differential and roll cage for those who don’t want the full hardcore experience.

So, you buy a rally-spec Fiesta… then what? Enthusiasts who add the R2 package to their Fiestas will be eligible to compete in the new Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship division of RallyCar’s Rally America National Championship 2WD class. Only cars assembled by Team O’Neil can qualify for this series, with the class winner going on to Great Britain to compete in the Fiesta Sport Trophy International Shootout. Win the worldwide competition, and you’ll land yourself a one-year residential placement at M-Sport, where you’ll work with the BP Ford World Rally team.

Weekend backwoods rally racers, Ford is calling your name. Hit the jump to read the full details in the automaker’s press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford offers 168-hp R2 rally kit for Fiesta, announces Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship

Ford offers 168-hp R2 rally kit for Fiesta, announces Fiesta Sport Trophy Championship

For us, there are few things better than vintage racing. While we love to see classic metal from every corner of the globe all dolled up on a concourse lawn, the truth is that cars are meant to be driven. La Carrera Panamericana is the gold standard of vintage racing venues, with everything from favorites like BMW 2002s, Datsun 510s, Porsche 911s, Chevrolet Corvette Stingrays and early Ford Mustangs to charisma magnets like Hudsons and Mercedes-Benz SL300 racers tackling the undulating Mexican tarmac of the Panamerican Highway. It’s road rallying at its finest.

And while making it out to far-flung corners of Mexico may not be on everyone’s travel agenda, we can all get a taste of what it’s like to be a spectator via the wonder of the internet. The purveyors of procrastination over at Bring a Trailer have been so kind as to post a series of high-definition videos from this year’s rally, complete with Porsche sideways action. Hit the jump to take a look for yourself.

[Source: Bring a Trailer]

Continue reading Videos: Vintage rally action at La Carrera Panamericana

Videos: Vintage rally action at La Carrera Panamericana

Scion invited us to its art gallery in Culver City, California last night, for a chance to preview part of the lineup it’s bringing to SEMA this year. Parked out front was an xB that was transformed into a limo by Cartel Customs. The concept of a Scion xB limo sounds ridiculous, but in person its ridiculously awesome. Rear suicide doors open to a comfortable environment outfitted with a large television, bar and wrap-around sofa. It’s far cooler than your run-of-the-mill Town Car. The limo was just the beginning though, because inside four more vehicles were waiting.

A Scion xB-turned-mobile DJ booth, which we had seen a year earlier at the 2009 SEMA show, was the perfect custom vehicle to see of the mood inside the Scion Gallery. Two sporty 2011 tCs were parked near each other, one by GReddy and the other by Crawford Performance, while another xB was parked across the room. This Scion xB is called the Salty Dog and it was customized by the US Navy, as part of Scions Battle of the Builds. The Marines, Army and Navy all put together cars and the winner will be crowned in Vegas.

This collection represents just a portion of what Scion has in store for us at SEMA. We have information on the entire product lineup they will be showcasing, as well as shots from the event and a gallery of all the cars, for you after the jump.

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Jeff Glucker / AOL

[Source: Scion]

Continue reading Scion’s 2010 SEMA lineup: Sneak Peek

Scion’s 2010 SEMA lineup: Sneak Peek

Could you imagine McLaren making a supercar and not racing it? Of course not. Even though the Woking, England-based outfit might have envisioned the original McLaren F1 purely as a road car, history naturally had different plans for it – and with spectacular results. So we were hardly surprised back in March when reports began coming in that The House That Bruce Built was planning a competition version of the new MP4-12C.

As was the case with the F1 and indicated by those earlier reports, McLaren’s plans, according to AutoWeek, involves teaming up with independent racing garages to turn its road car into a racer. In this case, that firm is said to be CRS, a British outfit that’s racked up a considerable number of victories in GT and open-wheel racing. But CRS will hardly be going it alone. Reports have McLaren’s own people working on the design to be implemented by the outfit.

Lest you think there will only be a handful of MP4-12C competition cars on select tracks, reports have CRS building a fleet of some fifteen GT3-spec versions and another batch of GT2 machines that could find their way to Le Mans by 2013.

[Sources: AutoWeek, JonSibal]

Report: McLaren outsourcing GT2/GT3-spec MP4-12C racers

Remember that viral video of the BMW S1000RR superbike pulling off the old tablecloth trick? Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, better known as the Mythbusters, took a liking to the clip and decided it needed to be put to the test.

The premise is simple: Can a near-200-horsepower motorcycle muster up enough acceleration from a dead stop to pull the tablecloth from under 24 full place settings without sending them all toppling to the ground? And if not, what would it require to make that feat a reality? 100 mph and a quarter-mile of rope?

Instead of using the German machine, Jamie pressed his very own Erik Buell Racing 1125R. No worries about whether or not this bike is powerful enough for the test… it is. And then again, it isn’t. You’ll just have to click on past the break for the three-part video series to see what we mean. Oh, and feel free to fast forward through the parts you care less about, though it’s all pretty interesting to us.

[Source: Muthbusters, YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Mythbusters put the motorcycle tablecloth trick to the test

Video: Mythbusters put the motorcycle tablecloth trick to the test

Bentley has managed to make a lot out of one model line. From the Continental has emerged coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles, in standard, Speed and Supersports engine specs, with a smattering of special editions along the way. But that’s only the tip of the proverbial iceberg compared to what the Flying B marque has in store for the new model, according to reports from across The Pond.

What Bentley appears to have in its sights for the diversification of the freshly-unveiled new Continental is similar to what we’ve seen over at Porsche. The Stuttgart-based automaker rolls out different variants of the 911 on a regular basis, to the point that the current-generation model has over a dozen derivatives on the market. The addition of a new V8 model to slot in under the current W12 will have a multiplier effect on the Continental’s catalog, but beyond that, Crewe is reportedly planning further special editions.

The aim of the broadening range would be, according to reports, to maintain interest in the Continental and help even out peaks and valleys in the company’s sales charts. One way or another, we’re looking at a future filled with machine-turned aluminum and quilted leather, and those are two things of which we can never get quite enough.

[Source: Autocar]

Bentley reportedly to expand Continental range with special editions

KTM has decided to commemorate the company’s outright domination of the infamous Paris-Dakar race with a new special edition bike. Called the Adventure 990 Dakar, the moto looks to be little more than a paint and graphics package. Along with the love-it-or-leave-it blue-and-orange livery, the KTM will also wear engine protection bars should you decide to put the 990 through its paces in your own cross-desert bash. Otherwise, the engine, suspension and the like all look to be much the same as the standard iteration of the bike (not necessarily a bad thing, for what it’s worth…), though we’re promised more specifics soon.

Interestingly enough, the 990 isn’t the actual machine that KTM campaigns in Paris-Dakar, er Argentina-Chile, these days. Most of its recent wins were accomplished with mounts under 700cc, and with the new 450cc engine regulation in place, word has it the Austrian bike manufacturer is set to pull the sheets off a new 450 Rally. Both that bike and the Adventure 990 Dakar are slated for an unveil at EICMA next week. Keep your eyes peeled for more information.

[Sources: Motorbiker, Hell For Leather]

KTM 990 Adventure Dakar set to bow at EICMA

At least one lucky bidder has reason to celebrate today after managing to win a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 that was famously used in two classic James Bond movies, Goldfinger and Thunderball. May we suggest marking the occasion with a vodka martini… shaken, not stirred?

Harry Yeaggy’s winning bid of $4.6 million (2.9 million pounds), which includes 12 percent in auction fees for RM, will see the car that Sean Connery famously piloted make the trek all the way from London to Ohio, U.S.A. Proceeds from the sale will benefit former owner Jerry Lee’s eponymous charity.

Apparently, the car is fully roadworthy in the UK, even with its dual machine guns behind the driving lights, revolving license plates, ejector seat, rear blast shield, slicer wheel caps and console-activated oil slicks. Somehow, we imagine Yeaggy won’t have nearly as much use for those Q-special features as Bond did…

[Source: BusinessWeek Image: AFP/Getty]

James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 sells for $4.6 million

Located just a short distance from the BMW Museum and Welt (famous as the company’s European delivery center) in Munich, Germany, is BMW Classic. According to the German automaker, “BMW Classic coordinates all activities that are connected with the company’s varied and successful history covering everything from the historical archives, assortment of aeroplanes, communication, the museum and BMW’s role in the international club scene.” In a nutshell, BMW Classic is tasked with archiving, restoring and preserving the company’s ninety-year manufacturing history.

Earlier this year, the BMW Classic Center opened its doors to the public offering a full range of classic parts, restoration services and vehicle authentication. While local dealerships will continue to stock late model parts and accessories, BMW Classic is tasked with keeping an inventory part supply for vehicles (including motorcycles) that are generally more than fifteen years old. Not only are 30,000-plus components kept on hand, but the tooling that is relevant for subsequent fabrication is held at the facility as well. In addition, there are on-site restoration services, using 100 percent original parts, upholstery and paint, at prices that are very competitive to local shops (especially when you consider that BMW Classic Center is a one-stop shop for a turn-key restoration process).

While the downstairs shop area is in a constant flurry of activity, the multi-story warehouse – where much of the really good stuff is stored – is unfortunately closed to the public. However, thanks to a special invite, Autoblog was recently escorted on a private behind-the-scenes tour of the facility.

Viewed from the outside, the building is nothing spectacular. Yet, hidden inside its concrete walls are several floors of immaculately restored and preserved engines, motorcycles and automobiles. In addition to some of the company’s most classic offerings, such as the BMW 507 and BMW 328, we stumbled over Isetta microcars and mint-condition 2002 race cars. We found the famed E53 X5 fitted with a V12 LMR powerplant (the 700 horsepower SUV clocked a record-setting 7:49 lap around Nürburgring at the hands of Hans Stuck nearly a decade ago) and a pristine street-ready McLaren F1 (parked yards away from its race-ready F1 GTR siblings). Look past the James Bond’s genuine E38 7 Series (with highly-custom rear-seat driving controls), and you will see the fluorescent orange nose of the 1972 BMW Turbo Concept – the vehicle that inspired the BMW M1, arriving just five years later.

Our favorite has got to be an unassuming 1987 E32 7 Series, (aka the “Goldfish” 767), fitted with a prototype 6.7-liter V16 rated at 408 horsepower. The only hint to its potency are custom gill-like air intakes on each rear quarter panel – its massive engine is so long that the engineers were forced to move its cooling system to the trunk.

Take a long look through our extensive gallery, and let us know which ones are your favorites.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Michael Harley / AOL

A behind-the-scenes look inside the BMW Classic warehouse

BMW says that after 25 years, one in four of the company’s vehicles is sold with xDrive all-wheel drive. The German carmaker currently sells a total of 45 models that put power to all four tires, and it says that figure may rise in the near future. In order to celebrate just how far the company’s all-wheel drive system has come over the past quarter decade, BMW has rolled out a quick stroll down memory lane. The first BMW to wear an X on its trunk debuted in 1985 and offered buyers a vehicle that was as capable when the road turned slippery as it was when the tarmac grew twisty.

Since then, BMW says that it has worked to give all of its all-wheel-drive vehicles the same rear-wheel bias as the rest of its products to maintain the now classic BMW driving feel. Hit the jump to see the full press release for yourself, and be sure to check out the gallery full of vintage BMW goodies.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW celebrates 25 years of all-wheel drive

BMW celebrates 25 years of all-wheel drive

We told you yesterday about a whole slew of awards doled out by the Texas Auto Writers Association, but we missed one. The 2011 Nissan Juke has earned the nod as as this year’s CUV of Texas. The gaggle of Lone Star writers that hopped behind the seat cited the vehicle’s interesting styling and engaging driving experience as the top-ranking reasons for the high-riding hatch’s win. Of course, we’re pretty big fans of the 32 miles per gallon (highway) that the 188-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-four turns out, and the super-trick HVAC controls are worth a win in our book, too. Still, we can’t help but be a bit surprised that historically conservative Texas would recognize such an otherworldly looking machine. We’re guessing that a healthy contingent of the jury comes from “Keep it Weird” Austin, and that’s just fine by us.

Nissan says that the TAWA will present the automaker a trophy at its award ceremony on November 12 at Space Center Houston. Seems only fitting for a CUV that looks like it could have spent its formative years roaming the surface of Mars. Hit the jump for the press release.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Nissan]

One Last Texan: Nissan Juke named CUV of the Lone Star State

The Texas Mile had scary moment last weekend when a twin-turbocharged Lamborghini Gallardo built by Underground Racing left the track at well over 100 mph. Driver Richard Holt was attempting to pilot the machine to a new standing mile world record, though once his parachute opened to slow the car, the Lamborghini veered off of the course, clipped a small wall and catapulted end over end. Miraculously, Holt walked away from the incident after being cut free from the wreckage by rescue workers. He was later observed at a local hospital before being released.

Reports peg the modified Gallardo as packing somewhere between 1,500 and 1,900 horsepower. Holt actually passed the mile marker at 235 mph and it’s suggested that a crosswind is to blame for the sudden change of direction upon the chute’s deployment. Accidents like this one underscore the value of conducting high-speed runs in authorized locations with plenty of rescue workers on hand. Hit the jump to watch a video of the entire run.

[Sources: Dragtimes, Small World News Service]

Continue reading Video: Lamborghini Gallardo Twin-turbo crashes at Texas Mile

Video: Lamborghini Gallardo Twin-turbo crashes at Texas Mile

Ford has a history of showing off some wild concepts at SEMA, and this year the company has partnered with six different aftermarket companies to unveil a slew of F-Series concepts worked up just for SEMA 2010. The trucks range from slammed machines from the likes of Godfather Customs and The Custom Shop to a rock-crawling behemoth built by the minds at Mickey Thompson. There’s even a mobile pit station based on the F-150’s big brother, F-350. That machine has been built by Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms.

Judging from what we’ve seen so far, our favorite of the bunch has to be the wicked F-350 built by Skyjacker Suspensions. The truck wears a full 8.5-inches of suspension lift, massive Fab Fours bumpers front and rear and a Warn wench for pulling lesser machines from sticky situations. Sounds like a good time to us. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford F-150 gets in on the SEMA fun

Ford F-150 gets in on the SEMA fun

As many Porsche 911s as you think you might see at the golf course, yacht club or shopping mall, that’s nothing compared to the legions regularly running around racing circuits worldwide. Aside from the myriad open GT grids dominated by Stuttgart machinery, the iconic German sportscar is the spec racer of choice for various national Porsche Carrera Cup championships and the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup that supports F1 races around the year. Those series use the versatile 911 GT3 Cup. With over 1,400 sold since 1998, Porsche maintains that it’s the best-selling racing car of all time, and it has just announced a new model for the 2011 season onward.

Whereas the outgoing Cup racer was based on the street-going 911 GT3, the new model starts life as the harder, faster and sharper GT3 RS. That means a wider body that can accommodate bigger wheels, tires and brakes. It also carries the larger 3.8-liter flat-six with 450 horsepower – 30 more horses than the outgoing model coming from 200cc of added displacement. It also looks more like the RS, with an aggressive aero package and LED lighting for when tracks go dark and dreary.

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will make its track debut at the opening round of next season’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, but you can delve into the details right now in the press release after the jump and in our high-res image gallery below.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

2011 Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery

How sweet can incentives make the 2011 Nissan Leaf? If you’re really lucky and bunch together several rebates and credits, you can drive home this battery powered machine for a mere $12,280. Yep, you read that right. For less than $13,000 you could own one of the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicles – provided you meet some very select criteria. Interested in finding out how? Read on.

Disclaimer: there are a bunch of “ifs” and “buts” included in the quest to receive this bargain price, but the important thing is that it’s actually possible (as Green Car Reports discovered). Here’s how it could go down: Starting with the $32,780 list price of a Leaf base model, slash $7,500 off courtesy of the federal tax credit and get down to $25,280. Now, provided that you live in California, you can also lop another $5,000 off the top under the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project. Simply submit your paperwork to the Center for Sustainable Energy and the Leaf’s cost almost magically drops to $20,280. But how do we get from here to $12,280?

From here on out, the incentives get much more specific and will begin to seriously reduce the number of people who can get the EV deal of a lifetime. If you reside in one of the eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and portions of Kern), then you are eligible to apply for a $3,000 rebate (PDF warning) for purchasing a zero-emissions ride. Okay, so that’s $17,280. Here comes the kicker. For this final incentive, you need to work for Sony Pictures Entertainment, which has apparently agreed to offer a $5,000 allowance for purchasing a battery-powered vehicle if you meet certain eligibility requirements.

And there it is – the $12,280 Nissan Leaf, as rare as hen’s teeth. Now… who wants to be the first to give it a try?

Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Green Car Reports]

Score a 2011 Nissan Leaf for just $12,280? It’s possible

If we had to pick a printer company on the merits of its advertising stunts alone, Epson would hands-down be our favorite. Along with cranking out an awesome 1:1 scale paper replica of an NSX racer not too long ago, the company recently decided to pit its newest printer against an Ariel Atom 3. The premise is simple: The printer would begin printing a scale replica of said track at the exact same time as the Atom would begin slinging corners. The company even bolted the printer to the car and threw in a genuine command center for little extra drama.

Which machine comes out on top? You can probably guess given who’s sponsoring this shindig, but we won’t spoil it for you, either. Hit the jump to check out the spot for yourself. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a sudden urge to go buy some ink cartridges.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ariel Atom dices it up on the track against… an Epson printer?!

Video: Ariel Atom dices it up on the track against… an Epson printer?!

Good news if you haven’t had your fill of Stigate just yet: the world’s ex-famous tame racing driver will show up on this week’s 60 Minutes. According to CBS, host Steve Croft spent some time across the pond in an attempt to get a little closer to both the man in white and Top Gear. Croft even strapped into a Chevrolet Camaro SS for a little one-on-one time with the Stig himself. Unfortunately, The Stig didn’t turn out to be the quote machine the CBS producers had hoped.

Judging by the short trailer for the piece, it looks like Croft also spent some time with a few of the more talkative people involved in putting the show together, including Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond and executive producer Andy Wilman. The show airs this Sunday, October 24 at 7 p.m. EST. Hit the jump for a look at the teaser.

[Source: CBS]

Continue reading Video: 60 Minutes interviewing the Stig on Sunday

Video: 60 Minutes interviewing the Stig on Sunday