1970 12 Hours of Sebring film – Click above to watch video
If we had a time machine, we’d set it for 1970 and never look back. And once we landed, bought some new threads and scored one of the amazing cars in production at the time, we’d road trip it to Sebring so we could see that year’s 12-hour enduro in person. Why? Because as good as modern sports car racing is, Sebring ‘70 is special. From the cars and drivers (a who’s-who of legends including Mario Andretti, Jo Siffert, Pedro Rodriguez, Dan Gurney, Henri Pescarolo, and yes, Steve McQueen, who co-drove his Porsche 908 with Peter Revson despite having his broken left foot in a cast at the time), to the the overall atmosphere, Sebring, Florida on March 21, 1970 was very much the place to be.
Sadly, there’s no time machine to take us back there, but there was a brilliant race documentary made of the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring. to see the story play out in five parts. Unfortunately, the embedded YouTube clips don’t include the film’s seven-minute intro section. But that’s okay, because , which has the 22-minute movie posted in its entirety.
So, and see the drama unfold as the Gulf-Porsche 917s battle the Ferrari 512S trio led by Andretti while McQueen and Revson try to pull off an unimaginable upset. Forty years after the checkered flag dropped, this is still an absurdly exciting and entertaining race to watch, even if you already know its storybook ending. Need a spotter’s guide before you hit play? No worries, just . Thank you, 1970, for being so incomprehensibly awesome.
During World War II, the Jeep was one of the key pieces of hardware that helped win the war for the Allies. By the time Vietnam rolled along, lousy roads and inhospitable terrain meant the helicopter had cemented itself as the troop transport of choice. But while both the Jeep and the helicopter are far more advanced than they were decades ago, the basic ideas are the same, and according to Popular Mechanics that could change – or more to the point, merge – soon.
The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is asking for proposals for a flying Humvee that it calls, predictably, “The Transformer.” The new transporter would be used to avoid roadside bombs and fly over insurgents, giving U.S. soldiers the upper-hand in battles that are traditionally won and lost by bunkers, bullets and bombs alone.
DARPA has a few ‘must haves’ for any flying fortress. Among them is the capability of vertical takeoff, a combined 250 mile travel distance between driving and flying, along with seating for four. One military contractor, Textron, thinks it has the answer to DARPA’s latest challenge, and it involves hardware that is anything but future-tech.
The proposed military transport has wings, helicopter-like rotors and a powerful ducted fan for forward motion. While stationed on the ground, the multitasking war machine acts like a standard troop transporter, except the wings and blades, which are affixed to the roof above the rear seat, neatly tucked away. When it’s time to hit the unfriendly skies the aerodynamic bits switch to Ready mode and the weighted rotors lift the vehicle. Once airborne, the rotors slow and the wings take over, providing lift while the fan provides directional boost. Textron is working with Carter Aviation Technologies, which currently produces commercial air vehicles, to build the vehicle.
Head over to for more information on the flying fighter-truck of tomorrow.
Why is everybody picking on these days? Last month, the marketing team at had quite a bit of fun at the expense of the German sports car maker, daring the storied automaker to to take on a at Road Atlanta. A privately sourced ended up kicking the Mini’s go-kart-handling butt to the curb, but even in defeat, the British marquee had the nerve to mention that the 911’s two-second victory would cost the typical weekend warrior about $36,000 per second.
Mini isn’t the first automaker to go after Porsche; has been nipping at the heels of the 911 since the venerable hit the streets a couple years back. was back at its German rival during the Goodwood Festival of Speed last week, with a splattering of advertising preaching general superiority. Nissan smacked at Porsche, and on a giant billboard at London’s BFI IMAX cinema and on smaller postcards handed out. The ads are part of a UK-wide campaign that includes such slogans as “How to beat the Germans” and amusingly, “Kaisers Chiefed” and “The Germans Came Off Wurst.” The aggressive campaign at Goodwood included a brace of Nissan GT-R and 370Z models displayed wearing BMW, Audi and Porsche logos next to fighter plane-style kill marks.
So, is Porsche going to take this face-slap sitting down? Actually, lawyers at the German automaker have already blew the whistle on the ad, but not because of any embarrassment, pain or trauma it may have caused. Instead, Porsche suits simply asked that any unauthorized use of its crest trademark be removed. Nissan is reportedly removing the trademarks and continuing the ad campaign. For our money, we’d rather see the lawyers stay out of this fight and get a GT-R and a 911 Turbo on the ‘Ring for a final showdown.
When that crash data obtained by the U.S. Department of Transportation pegged the blame for Toyota’s unintended acceleration on drivers, one line stuck out:
“A NHTSA spokeswoman declined to comment on the findings, which haven’t been released by the agency.”
With no official word from the DOT or NHTSA on its findings in the case, the WSJ’s sources have been called into question.
According to an unnamed NHTSA spokeswomen speaking with Just-Auto, “The story was planted by Toyota. Toyota is the source – yes we know that for definite [sic]. It is [the] Toyota PR machine. We knew they were going to put it out.”
There’s no doubt Toyota is in close contact with the DOT and NHTSA, so there’s a good chance that Toyota has been privy to the findings ahead of their official release. However, until something official comes down from the Feds, the exact causes of unintended acceleration aren’t simply open and shut.
We’re in the process of contacting both NHTSA and Toyota about the story and will update you as more information is collected.
UPDATE: A NHTSA spokesperson has confirmed that the agency hasn’t released any information to the WSJ, but declined to comment if Toyota has gained advanced access to the agency’s findings.
UPDATE 2: A quotes NHTSA Administrator David Strickland as saying that the agency has “several more months of work” to complete before it can definitively come to a conclusion on the cause of unintended acceleration.
Come August 23, GMAC’s auto lending business will be brought under the Ally Financial banner. While GMAC had already rebranded its other financial divisions, the auto business still went by GMAC. The move continues GMAC’s distancing itself from its mothership, and if we read more into it, this could make it even clearer that Ally has to majority ownership by the automaker (GM still maintains a small stake in the company post-bankruptcy).
In its announcement, GMAC said it would continue to finance , , and Thor Industries buses and RVs, and that the name change would allow “the company to invest in a brand it owns while continuing to grow” the business of “serving dealers and their customers.” As long as those , at least.
Watch yourself, a whole lot of people sitting on the electric motorcycle fence are about to get knocked off. has just revealed the Empulse – a brand new naked street fighting machine with the ability to carry you to speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Not only is it fast, it also goes the distance, coming in a trio of range-differentiated models. The 6.0 is said to be able to cover 60 miles on average, the 8.0 for 80 and the 10.0 for, you guessed it, 100 rapturous miles. To paraphrase a popular meme, electric motorcycles just got real.
After top speed and range, the next question usually asked about electric tech is the price and this is another area where the bike surprises. The Empulse 6.0 starts at $9,995. If that seems a bit high, consider that’s $2,000 less than the price we were originally quoted for the when a couple years back. Add, or rather, subtract from that the different Federal and State incentives that have come into play and you could see the $13,995 cost for the 10.0 model drop to as low as $7,000.
There are still a lot of unreleased details about this road warrior. While we know the motor is liquid-cooled, we can’t yet give you numbers for the horsepower, torque or any of the battery pack specifics. We do expect we’ll have them for you long before the mid-2011 delivery date and perhaps as soon as July 24th. That’s when CEO Craig Bramscher will officially unveil the company’s latest creation at the 2010 Red Bull Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca where the North American edition of the FIM e-Power series is taking place.
Of course, it would be somewhat lame to show up at an electric motorcycle race and not compete and Brammo is promising not to disappoint. They have entered the 15-team fray with an Empulse RR race bike in a quest for both gold and glory.
If you’re as impatient as us, you don’t have to wait until then to see the Empulse in action though. Simply for video of the new machine rolling along a sweet piece of highway and while you’re there, check out all the details in the official press release. Game on.
2011 BMW X3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Behold the 2011 BMW X3. It’s longer, wider and taller than its predecessors, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it looks remarkably similar to the last X3.
Naturally, twin-kidney grille is affixed up front, but like the and , it’s more upright and slightly larger than before. The lower air dam is slightly chiseled while staying true to BMW’s recent organic shapes, and the wider headlamps come equipped with “Corona Rings” and optional Xenon bulbs.
Viewed in profile, the outgoing X3’s slab sides have been augmented with a character line running aft of the front wheels and kicking up over the rear fenders, while an upswept D-pillar compliments the redesigned LED taillamps and subtle crease over the rear-mounted Roundel. All in, the new X3 (F25) is half an inch taller, 3.36 inches longer and 1.1 inches wider with a half-inch increase in ground clearance. In keeping with tradition, it’s a “lifestyle” vehicle first with no pretenses of hardcore off-roading.
Like the outside, the interior is a subtle evolution of its forebear, with a staid German style balancing functionality and form. The joystick-style transmission lever carries over from BMW’s most recent models, along with an 8.8-inch iDrive-controlled screen and a redesigned steering wheel with aluminum accents on the paddle shifters and lower spoke. With the rear seats set in place, rear cargo volume comes in at 19 cubic feet, growing to 56.6 cubes with the 60:40 rear seats folded flat.
The entry-level X3 xDrive28i comes equipped with BMW’s naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline six rated at 240 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, allowing BMW’s best-selling ‘ute to sprint to 60 in 6.7 seconds – about a half second quicker than the outgoing model. Step up for the X3 xDrive35i and you’re basking in 300 hp and 300 lb-ft provided by BMW’s new single-turbo N55 inline-six. The 0-60 run clocks in at a claimed 5.5 seconds, with a top speed of 150 mph when kitted out with the optional Sport package.
Channeling that power to the ground is a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox with wider spreads and taller cruising gears to keep fuel economy in check, while standard all-wheel drive splits torque 40:60 front-to-rear thanks to an electronically controlled multi-disc diff and a host of other gizmos.
The MacPherson front struts have been redeveloped along with the multi-link rear suspension, while an optional electronic damping control adapts to the road and driver inputs. Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes are mounted next to the gear selector, tweaking throttle response, transmission shifts, steering assist, DSC settings and suspension firmness.
The newest electronic system for the X3 is the Performance Control feature, which shuffles 80 percent of the torque to the rear under steady-state throttle. Like Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, the BMW’s system brakes the inside rear wheel and powers the outside roller to curb understeer and provide a more neutral driving feeling.
Production of the X3 will remain at BMW’s Spartanburg, SC plant and sales are set to begin towards the end of the year. for the full details and check out the positively massive gallery of images below.
2010 Audi A5 – click above for high-res image gallery
With the introduction of the for 2008, launched itself into a vehicle segment it had never competed in – one which has waned significantly over the past two decades. Not so long ago, the personal luxury coupe was one of the top selling segments in the U.S., but for a wide variety of reasons, the overall sales picture left it behind.
Now you might ask yourself, “How is an A5 in any way similar to the likes of a 1970s-era Monte Carlo or Thunderbird?” At first glance, the A5 is something completely different, but when you dig below the surface, there are more similarities than one might think – particularly when considering the 2.0T model. Except for a few NASCAR-inspired specials, PLCs of the 1970s weren’t typically performance machines anyway – they focused more on style and creature comforts. And it’s here where the A5 delivers.
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Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Max Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
: 2010 Audi A5 is a personal luxury coupe for the modern age
2011 Mini Countryman – Click above for high-res image gallery
Way back in January, went ahead and unleashed a on its new Countryman crossover, and at the time we expected the full set of specifications to be released along with the car’s official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Instead, Mini waited until now to let the full bounty loose, and we’ve parsed through detritus to find the most pertinent details.
We’ll start with the drivetrain. As expected, both the standard Countryman and the uplevel S model will get four cylinder engines displacing 1.6 liters, with the higher-spec model gaining a turbocharger to boost power from 122 horsepower to 184. Naturally, our European friends also get a couple of diesel options, but we’re not really expecting to see those units Stateside any time soon.
Either engine will be available with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission, both boasting six forward ratios. The slowest combination (base model with an automatic) will take over 11 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour, while the turbocharged S dispatches the same test in under eight (add a few tenths for the auto and another few tenths for all-wheel drive).
Interestingly, if you want Mini’s full-time All4 all-wheel drive system, you’ll need to step up to the S model (or the higher-spec diesel across the pond). The front MacPherson strut suspenders couple with the multilink arrangement at the rear to provide just under six inches of ground clearance… no hardcore off-roading here, folks.
Naturally, there’s plenty more to digest. Hit the jump for the complete 9,000-word (no kidding) release along with a listing of specifications for the standard model, the front-wheel-drive S and the All4 S.
2011 Infiniti QX56 – Click above for high-res image gallery
has released details on its entire model lineup for 2011, and there are a couple of interesting tidbits to glean. Of course, we already know all about the new-for-2011 and , so we’ll focus on the other machines in Infiniti’s line to see what’s new, starting with the G series.
Two new extensions to the will debut at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: a Limited Edition model and a Sport Appearance package. Infiniti promises that both machines will be available in September and will feature “special exterior and interior content features.” The will gain a Sport Package for all-wheel-drive models, while Infiniti’s gets a revised fascia with relocated fog lights (no pictures available) and a Limited Edition model. Scratch Resistance Paint becomes standard on all G models.
Moving on, the will get a new seven-speed automatic transmission and 18-inch wheels as standard, while three new exterior paint colors will be offered. The larger will get a new standard power liftgate in 2011 and Infiniti also reminds us that it plans to release its M Hybrid along with an electric vehicle later this year.
There are plenty more bits, pieces and package changes that true Infiniti aficionados may want to peruse. Find all the details in the press release after the break.
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Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Infiniti]
Michael Schumacher’s triumphant has been anything but. The seven-time world champion has been consistently outpaced by his junior team-mate Nico Rosberg, who most recently scored a podium finish at while Schumi could manage no better than ninth. The on everyone’s minds, then, has been whether he’ll stay for another season.
According to Jackie Stewart, Michael could – or at least should – call it quits. Sir Jackie retired at the top of his game, a three-time world champion, and evaluates Schumacher’s return from retirement as a mistake. Bernie Ecclestone seems to agree, but blames the team and the car they’ve provided, claiming that if Schumi were driving a Red Bull, he’d be back on pace immediately instead of languishing behind the wheel of a sub-par chassis. For Schumacher’s part, the champ has conceded that his performance this season has eliminated his chance for the title, and that he’s shifted his focus on preparing for the 2011 championship instead.
If he does retire at the end of this season instead of fulfilling his contract through 2012, who would fill Schumacher’s seat? Related rumors suggest . The Finnish champion, who left F1 for the World Rally Championship at the end of last season, has been next season, but was reportedly visited recently by Mercedes racing chief Norbert Haug.
Don’t count out the good old internal combustion engine just yet. A number of companies are working on new engine designs that can help pick up the slack until other alternatives, like electric motors, better batteries and a hydrogen infrastructure, are ready for mass consumption. One such venture is , which just got a rather large investment from none other than Bill Gates.
A total of $23.5 million was invested by the aforementioned Chairman of Microsoft along with Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla, who’s Khosla Ventures firm reportedly owns 47 percent of EcoMotors. According to the company, its opposed piston and cylinder Opoc engine technology was developed by Peter Hofbauer, who previously headed powertrain development at and designed the German automaker’s clean diesel technology.
EcoMotors claims that its new mill weighs 50 percent less than other internal combustion engines while using 50 percent less fuel. Planned for applications include cars, trucks and any other machine utilizing an engine. Get all the details in the press release after the break.
Another piece of ‘ IPO puzzle has been solved: in spite of CEO Ed Whitacre’s to GM’s operations, the company looks set to go without. Acquiring in-house financing always stuck out in Whitacre’s aggressive battle plan for getting an IPO done later this year and the hurdles of getting back in with GMAC required untangling enough knots to make King Gordius say, “Skip it…”
Instead, GM will partner with banks that would make the loans to GM customers. Some of those banks are the same ones that GM is working with on a , and the idea would be that the banks offering financing would be presented as doing so under the GM banner.
At heart is that in order for GM to unlock its potential, and the potential of the new products it has rolling into showrooms, it needs to be able to finance more customers. Being at the mercy of banks who can choose their own risks means customers leave GM showrooms because they can’t get financing or can get a better deal on another car. Also, GMAC won’t lend to subprime borrowers. Although they only make up seven percent of GM’s target borrowers, in line with other automakers, a seven percent of sales isn’t a number you want to leave on the table.
Of all the names and model designations used by in its illustrious history, there are two that stand out more than others: the and Speedster. And it’s easy to see why. The Porsche 911 has become the de facto sportscar since its introduction in 1963 and many people simply refer to the seminal 356 convertible as the Porsche Speedster.
Might Porsche be working on a new machine that would combine these two icons? According Auto Express, the answer is yes. Take it all with an appropriately sized grain of salt for now, but the rumormill would have Porsche building exactly 100 911 Speedsters for roughly $300,000 (£200,000) each.
That princely sum will reportedly buy a 911 boasting a cut-down windshield and racing-style sloping rear humps behind each passenger headrest. The German automaker’s well-known 3.8-liter flat six would provide power, boosted 17 horses over the mill found in the for a total of 402 horsepower.
Rear-wheel drive over all-wheel drive should make traditionalists happy, and a supposed 0 to 60 times of about 4.5 seconds and top speed of 190 miles per hour ought to please everyone else. Also, Porsche is reportedly cooking up wide-body non-Speedsters that will use the same engine and be available in either coupe or cabriolet forms with a much more reasonable price tag.
Translogic takes a look at the DMC 12 – Click above to watch video
The crew from had a chance to spend some time with one of the most iconic cars of the ’80’s – the DMC-12. Co-host Bradley Hasemeyer took the time to look into the cars over three episodes by stopping into the DMC of California shop to see how the cars are continuing to survive, what owners are doing to update the machines and what’s on the horizon for the stainless gullwing. While the DeLorean originally hit the scene with a lowly 130 horsepower, the company has managed to squeeze nearly 200 ponies from the 2.8-liter V6 with some creative engine work.
You can even have a built nearly brand-new for you right now if you have the cash. The company strips a donor car down to its individual pieces, swaps the standard steel frame for a stainless bits and goes from there. Hasemeyer doesn’t say exactly how much that will set you back, but we can imagine it’s not cheap, especially for a car that would get the run around by your run of the mill Honda Accord. to take a look (hint: If you just want to skip to the DeLorean material, you’ll want to cue ahead to 1:40 in to the first video), and if you like what you see, subscribe to .
Porsche GT3 in the SachsenRallye – Click above to watch video
A few days ago we posted video of a . It was a great POV run through the hay bales with quality commentary from driver Gordon Robertson. But we couldn’t hear the car, and you really don’t know the GT3 RS until you’ve really heard the GT3 RS. And preferably, that might be in this kind of setting: on tarmac and dirt stages of the SachsenRallye, with that exhaust note filling the countryside and booming off of stone walls down narrow streets. True, this is a GT3 minus the RS, but you won’t miss those 15 horsepower once you hear the sound of Vulcan’s rear-mounted foundry. for the dirty fury. Hat tip to CPM
has, if nothing else, crafted a unique automobile in the . It’s electric, very attractive and highly desirable. Up next, assuming all goes according to plan (a rather big assumption, granted), the Model S sedan will be equally special in the global automotive marketplace.
Such machines deserve an equally unique buying experience and the Silicon Valley firm has hired former Apple and Gap Executive George Blankenship to turn that idea into reality as Vice President of Design and Store Development.
Blankenship will go right to work, with his initial projects said to include opening in Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, DC. For his part, Blankenship sounds ready to take on the project, saying:
Joining Tesla allows me to work with some of the boldest and brightest people on the planet while changing the world for the better. I’m excited to create a retail experience that is as thrilling as my first drive of the Tesla Roadster.
Judging from his past efforts, we are expecting big things from Tesla’s retail developments… and it sounds like Elon Musk got a head start on his wish to make his Tesla Stores “a cross between an Apple Store, a Starbucks and a good kitchen.”
Pebble Beach is an octane-drenched event that never disappoints, and this year’s event is shaping up to be no exception – but it will be exceptional. Already lined up for the August concours are the debuts of and , with notable auction lots including the and a famous . The latter will be part of Gooding & Company’s auction, but that’s far from the extent of what the venerable auction house has in store for Monterey this year.
An ex-Stirling Moss 1956 200 SI and the 340 America from the 1952 New York Auto Show have already been announced, but once the Pebble rolls around they’ll be joined by a growing roster of drool-worthy classic Italian machinery. Among them will be a rare Zagato-bodied 1954 Fiat 8V, a stunning 1971 Miura S and a pristine alloy-bodied 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, along with the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod and 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato pictured in the galleries below.
SEFAC, as the tifosi will tell you, stands for Scuderia Enzo Ferrari Automobili Corsa, the precursor to the modern Scuderia Ferrari, represented here by what could very well be the ultimate expression of the 250 GT racer in existence today. And that Zagato Maserati? That’s the coachbuilt special which the Modenese marque chose to represent at the 1955 Turin Motor Show. In other words, these cars have mad pedigree. Read more about ‘em in the press release after the jump.
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[Source: Gooding & Company Images: Simon Clay & Pawel Litwinski]
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery
By now, you’ve read all about the new and its startling run to 267 mph. No matter how you look at it, that’s plenty quick for a production car, complete with a full interior, frosty air conditioning and plenty of other creature comforts. Now word has cropped up on the Top Gear web site that everyone’s favorite trio of auto TV personalities may have had something to do with the high-speed dash.
The site doesn’t say much other than that we should keep our eyes pinned to “all things Top Gear” over the next few weeks for more information. Considering that slung a all the way up to 253 mph, it’s entirely possible that someone from the cast was either in or around the car during its jaunt to the danger zone at the Ehra-Lessien test facility. While you would have thought we would have heard something if Jezza, the Hamster or Captain Slow were at the tiller of the mad machine, you never know. Stay tuned. Thanks for the tip, Dylan!
McLaren F1 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Here’s a juicy rumor for you: Autocar is reporting that will be introducing the successor to the incredible supercar in 2012. If that seems a smidge early, it is. In its original plans, McLaren had said the new beast wouldn’t surface until 2014 at the earliest, thanks largely to the company’s efforts with the all-new . Instead, the Brits say that unnamed McLaren insiders have let it slip that the company is feverishly working on the new machine, going so far as to say that it will be “revolutionary” in both styling and performance. We would expect nothing less.
That’s not to say we’re swallowing the Autocar report hook, line and anonymous sinker. At this point, 2012 is a mere year and a half away, and while we have no doubt that the engineers at McLaren are slaving away on the successor to the F1 throne, that’s just not enough time to bring a world class supercar into reality. So until someone from McLaren goes on the record with this one, we won’t hold our breath for the world’s next record breaker to hit the scene.
Come August 23, GMAC’s auto lending business will be brought under the Ally Financial 
