Wednesday, October 31, 2012
@YoungRubicam and @LandRover 7th Wheel Ad
To highlight the 7-seat capability of the Land Rover LR4, Y&RNY retells the age-old story of the third wheel, or the odd man out.
Watch a modified Ford GT go 283 mph in a standing mile
The BADD Ford GT built by Performance Power Racing – with the help of its two whirlygigs hanging out back and a fancy new metal called "Pandalloy" – set two records last week at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. From a standstill, the twin-turbo powerhouse got up to 283.232 miles per hour in just 5,280 feet, as measured by Tag Heuer timekeeping.
That meant a new record in the standing mile as well as a Guinness World Record for top speed in a street-legal car. And that means the engineers in Molsheim, home to Bugatti, just might spend this evening getting to work on something even faster.
Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr. race Focus ST and GTI through abandoned neighborhood
Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin, Jr. are two of the masters of artistically abusing automobiles, so you know a video with both men in it is going to be a good one. In the fourth installment of the Focus ST Sessions series from Ford, Gittin and Block are given the keys to a 2013 Focus ST and a Volkswagen GTI, and then let loose in an abandoned neighborhood.
While the stunts in this video are nowhere near what either man is capable of performing in their respective racecars, it is essentially a two-minute-long Ford commercial showing the Focus ST's advantages over VW's standard bearer for the hot hatch class. The two cars tear through the deserted streets, allowing the Focus ST to show its strong off-the-line acceleration and slaloming ability through some construction barrels.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/31/ken-block-and-vaughn-gittin-jr-race-focus-st-and-gti-through-a/
While the stunts in this video are nowhere near what either man is capable of performing in their respective racecars, it is essentially a two-minute-long Ford commercial showing the Focus ST's advantages over VW's standard bearer for the hot hatch class. The two cars tear through the deserted streets, allowing the Focus ST to show its strong off-the-line acceleration and slaloming ability through some construction barrels.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/31/ken-block-and-vaughn-gittin-jr-race-focus-st-and-gti-through-a/
Mazda brings trio of tricked-out CX-5s to Vegas
We at Autoblog do love us some Mazda CX-5 – it is, without a doubt, the best-driving compact crossover in the segment. And since 2013 is the CX-5's first model year here in the States, it only makes sense that Mazda has used the 2012 SEMA Show to give us an idea of just how far its CX-5 can reach in terms of design and functionality.
Last, but certainly not least, is perhaps our favorite of the CX-5 concepts. In terms of design, anyway. The CX-5 Urban might simply look like it's painted in a matte finish, but upon closer inspection, you'll see the multi-dimensional shadows with triangular patterns woven into the paint finish. It's seriously cool, as are the extended wheel flares that house new 22-inch matte black wheels.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/mazda-cx-5-180-dempsey-urban-sema-2012/
Fiat brings Café Racer to #SEMA
The Café Racer, in particular, is a pretty cool custom car. The Fiat has been stripped to the bare essentials on the inside, showing only a pair of minimal bucket seats up front as well as the typical driver controls. The racer may be slowed down a bit by the motorcycle trailer that it's toting, but considering the Abarth-badged single-cylinder bike is so cool, we'll let it pass.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/fiat-500-beach-cruiser-cafe-racer-sema-2012/
Lotus and Aston Martin to hook up?
While this is pure speculation at this point, such a venture could prove to be beneficial for both independent companies. That's because with Lotus focused on lightweight, relatively affordable sports cars and Aston Martin producing high-end performance cars, there is virtually no product overlap between the companies. The article suggests that a person or company wanting to merge these two automakers would have to raise between $1.1 billion and $1.6 billion in order to make a go of it, however.
We're not sure what to think of this latest rumor, but anything that can help get the struggling brand back to health at least has our interest.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/lotus-and-aston-martin-to-hook-up/
The List #0035: Drive The German Autobahn
We told you last time that Jessi and Patrick still had some items to check off The List after picking up a car from BMW via European delivery. They had to make their way from BMW's headquarters in Munich to a certain race track, and when in Germany, there's only one road that's worth taking to get where you're going: the Autobahn.
Our intrepid hosts have already achieved the feat of driving 200 miles per hour, but in this latest of The List, they're looking to challenge that number on Germany's most famous public road. To do it they needed the help of Alpina and its incredible B7 sedan. Large, powerful and stable, the B7 is our hosts' best chance to tame the Autobahn.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/the-list-0035-drive-the-german-autobahn/
Jay Leno burns rubber in Tesla Model S - @TeslaMotors
Jay Leno has a pretty big soft spot for alternative-fuel vehicles. From his steam-powered relics to his beloved Chevrolet Volt, the comedian's automotive interests are nothing if not varied. In the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage, Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen stops by the Big Dog Garage to show off his company's new Model S. Jay gets a closer look at the five-door EV's interesting touchscreen controls, expansive moonroof and yes, even the third-row jump seats, before taking to the road. The clip explains why Tesla eschewed the chunky standardized EV charger for a more svelte unit and how the company managed to serve up impressive aerodynamics without sacrificing styling.
Leno takes the time to whir the Model S around the greater Los Angeles area before hopping on the freeway for a quick spin. This particular model features the largest battery pack available, which gives the Model S a total range of around 300 miles.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/29/jay-leno-burns-rubber-in-tesla-model-s/
Leno takes the time to whir the Model S around the greater Los Angeles area before hopping on the freeway for a quick spin. This particular model features the largest battery pack available, which gives the Model S a total range of around 300 miles.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/29/jay-leno-burns-rubber-in-tesla-model-s/
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix makes record donation
Since 1983, the PVGP has grown from a single day car show and race to a 10 day motorsport festival consisting of two vintage race weekends, car shows, cruises, parades, and parties. The event is entirely driven by over 1200+ volunteers, some of whom are pictured here. and all proceeds benefit the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny Valley School. Both of which help to provide residential care, treatment and support for developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh area.
Source: Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
Racing Legend John Fitch dead at 95
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of racing legend John Fitch. How do you summarize John Cooper Fitch? He was a decorated WWII air corps pilot and POW, Purple Heart medal winner, SCCA and LeMans champion, team manager, racing and auto safety pioneer. These titles all apply.
John Fitch was born on August 4th, 1917 and from an early age was introduced to car racing. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His stepfather was an executive for Stuz and introduced him to racing, but he was not initially impressed with it. It wasn't until he returned from WWII that he fell in to car racing as many did. During the war, Fitch was a decorated pilot in the Army Air Corps who was shot down and captured by German troops and locked in a POW camp.
After the war he began racing cars, only sports car racing rather than the typical oval track racing he witnessed at Indy. And Fitch was good, better yet great. During the early 50s, Fitch raced for driver and car designer Briggs Cunningham. He later became the only American to race for Mercedes Benz in their racing efforts. In 1955, the crash at the 24 Hours of LeMans greatly affected Fitch. He would go on to develop the Fitch Inertial Crash Barrier. Yellow barrels filled with sand that are still seen on racetracks and highways to this day.
After Mercedes, Fitch was approached by Chevrolet to help develop and manage their Corvette racing efforts and to make the Corvette a true race car. The eventually led to Fitch driving a Corvette at LeMans in 1960, and winning with co-driver Bob Grossman. Fitch would retire from professional driving in 1966. However, he did do some further driving for others, including a failed attempt at a land speed record in a 300 SL gullwing Mercedes owned by Bob Sirna. He was also re-united with his LeMans winning 1960 Corvette at LeMans in 2010. That car is now owned by Lance Miller, a friend of ours and owner of Carlisle Events.
Fitch had a great passion for inventing and a prime example were the Fitch Barriers mentioned above. He also developed many performance and appearance products for the Chevrolet Corvair. And there was the Fitch Phoenix, a Corvair bassed sports car.
Even until earlier this year, Fitch was a staple at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. Where he also had served as manager.
God Speed John Fitch. You will be greatly missed.
John Fitch was born on August 4th, 1917 and from an early age was introduced to car racing. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His stepfather was an executive for Stuz and introduced him to racing, but he was not initially impressed with it. It wasn't until he returned from WWII that he fell in to car racing as many did. During the war, Fitch was a decorated pilot in the Army Air Corps who was shot down and captured by German troops and locked in a POW camp. After the war he began racing cars, only sports car racing rather than the typical oval track racing he witnessed at Indy. And Fitch was good, better yet great. During the early 50s, Fitch raced for driver and car designer Briggs Cunningham. He later became the only American to race for Mercedes Benz in their racing efforts. In 1955, the crash at the 24 Hours of LeMans greatly affected Fitch. He would go on to develop the Fitch Inertial Crash Barrier. Yellow barrels filled with sand that are still seen on racetracks and highways to this day.
After Mercedes, Fitch was approached by Chevrolet to help develop and manage their Corvette racing efforts and to make the Corvette a true race car. The eventually led to Fitch driving a Corvette at LeMans in 1960, and winning with co-driver Bob Grossman. Fitch would retire from professional driving in 1966. However, he did do some further driving for others, including a failed attempt at a land speed record in a 300 SL gullwing Mercedes owned by Bob Sirna. He was also re-united with his LeMans winning 1960 Corvette at LeMans in 2010. That car is now owned by Lance Miller, a friend of ours and owner of Carlisle Events.
Fitch had a great passion for inventing and a prime example were the Fitch Barriers mentioned above. He also developed many performance and appearance products for the Chevrolet Corvair. And there was the Fitch Phoenix, a Corvair bassed sports car.
Even until earlier this year, Fitch was a staple at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut. Where he also had served as manager.
God Speed John Fitch. You will be greatly missed.
Ford Focus Gets Big Placement In New 'Need for Speed'
The Ford Focus ST which is, in fact, the most prominent vehicle in the game, also had a role in in Forza 4, as part of a licensing effort with Microsoft and in Forza Horizons this year.
“Having our vehicles in games gives consumers the first chance to drive and experience our vehicles before they go off to a dealership,” said Brian McClary, Ford Social & Emerging Media Analyst.
McClary says the idea is to give people a chance to virtually drive the vehicle and then check it out in real life. He adds that the ROI is strong. "Most recently, for our EA integration, we saw a 36% increase in brand rating, and a 28% increase in purchase intent," he says. "But it has been a much more upper-funnel activity, especially in ST world. We want to put it back on people’s radar to compete with VW and Subaru."
McClary says also that the value of game placement exceeds the perceptual limitations of a platform that appeals to kids and doesn't do justice to the product. "People of all ages are spending more time in alternative channels, not just TV, radio and print. On Xbox, for example, 60% of the time people are consuming content."
Ford recently did a similar program for Mustang, called the Mustang Customizer, which has also just launched on Xbox, that lets people create the ideal Mustang using Kinect and voice command. McClary says that will be the original portion of the program "We have had over 1.4 million vehicles customized."
Essentially, programs like Ford's Focus ST integration on the EA driving game involves both the marketing and licensing divisions at Ford, with licensing smoothing the way for a marketing structure around product integration. What made it easy is Ford's long relationship with EA starting in the late 1990's around "Need for Speed."
The new TV spot touting both the game and Focus ST is enjoying a sizeable media buy on platforms like Monday Night Football, with a two-minute version online. "The new 'Need for Speed' game is out today, but we have had discussions since February or March, so there's a long lead time. The reviews are positive so far."
From MediaPost.Com
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/186215/ford-focus-gets-big-placement-in-new-need-for-spe.html#ixzz2AtELHuZ2
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Spotted: Cadillac ELR!
Audi W12 sound in the Montecarlo BRC
A very interesting Audi engine related project emerged during 2012. The car is manufactured by Montecarlo Automobile and BRC, a company specialising in the Methane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry. The new racer is called the Montecarlo/BRC W 12 and is equipped with an Audi sourced 6.0 litre W12 engine which has been converted to run on LPG. The car sounds absolutely beautiful. Here is a video from Monza giving you a taste of what this Audi W12 sounds like at speed in this very interesting race car.
From Audi-Motorsport-Blog.Blogspot.com
http://audi-motorsport-blog.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-audi-w12-sound-in-montecarlo-brc.html
From Audi-Motorsport-Blog.Blogspot.com
http://audi-motorsport-blog.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-audi-w12-sound-in-montecarlo-brc.html
Desire is the key to motivation
Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek. Mario Andretti
Monday, October 29, 2012
Officially licensed: 1940 Ford coupes
Want to build your dream 1940 Ford coupe hot rod, but don't want to feel guilty about cutting up an original '40 Ford? Well now you can build your dream rod thanks to Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts. Just in time for SEMA, Ford will display a bare metal body and a hot rod built using the new preproduction body. The bodies can be bought fairly reasonably at about $12,000. Which is not bad when compared with finding, buying, shipping, and then repairing an original body.
The 1940 Ford is just one of many classic cars gaining the support and blessings of their original manufacturer for a full reproduction. It joins the classic 1932 Ford and 1964-1970 Mustangs. I've also included a picture of an all original '40 Deluxe Coupe spotted in Hershey.
Source: Ford Motor Co.
Press release:
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 26, 2012 – One of the most cherished and collected classic cars of the pre-World War II and hot rod era – the iconic 1940 Ford Coupe – is the latest addition to Ford Motor Company’s growing stable of officially licensed all-steel reproduction car bodies.Available now for ordering, and complementing the 1965-70 Mustang bodies, the 1940 Ford Coupe body is also constructed of modern, high-strength steel and is assembled using modern welding techniques. The new body comes rustproofed from the factory and is ready to be assembled as a custom hot rod or as a faithful tribute to the original.
At the upcoming Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, Ford will display a custom 1940 Ford hot rod built using a reproduction body and a new bare body shell that demonstrates the high-quality construction. Prices start at $11,900 plus shipping. The full body shell as well as individual steel panels are available through Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, http://www.dennis-carpenter.com.
The fully built, copper-colored SEMA show car sports a new 5.0-liter V8 engine, four-speed automatic transmission and Mustang II front suspension. The roof has also been chopped or lowered to give the car an even meaner look.
“Like its older 1932 Deuce Coupe and younger Mustang siblings, the 1940 Ford is a bodystyle and design that represents Ford at its best,” said Dennis Mondrach, Ford Restoration Parts licensing manager. “The 1940 Ford Coupe has always been highly sought after and collectible. Unfortunately, good, solid restorable examples have become hard to find and expensive, so this faithful reproduction is bound to prove popular.”
The ’40 Ford: Part of American culture
The 1940 Ford has had a major influence on post-World War II America, said Detroit automotive historian Joe Cabadas, author of “’40 Ford: Evolution * Design * Racing * Hot Rodding.”
“Bootleggers down south always wanted to know who had the fastest car,” said Cabadas. “Because of its lightweight V8 engine, they started racing them on Sundays, and that is the beginning of stock car racing.”
After World War II, the 1940 Ford was at the forefront of another major cultural movement – hot rodding. The ’40 Ford got noticed by World War II veterans, who began buying up the cars and turning them into hot rods by adding performance equipment to the car’s flathead V8 engine.
The 1940 Ford has been a fixture in Hollywood, appearing in countless TV shows and movies such as “American Graffiti,” “Bugsy” and “Mulholland Drive.”
“With their big fenders and integrated headlights, the 1937-40 Ford was one of the first streamlined cars from Ford Motor Company,” Cabadas said. “Edsel Ford had a hand in its style. He wanted a family look for Ford and Lincoln vehicles, and so you can see some Lincoln Zephyr in it. The 1940 was also one of the few cars in its price class with a V8.”
Reproduction body: A blank canvas
Hobbyists looking to build a hot rod using the new 1940 body are limited only by their imagination and budget. The new body is available with a stock firewall that accommodates the original flathead V8. However, for those looking for greater performance from a modern powertrain, the new 1940 Ford body can alternatively be ordered with a recessed firewall that will allow much larger modern engines to be installed.
As with the officially licensed reproduction parts available for the 1965-70 Mustang bodies, Ford also supports the 1940 Ford with an array of correct mechanical and trim restoration parts. To see what is available for the 1940, visit www.fordrestorationparts.com.
Dennis Carpenter, owner of one of the nation’s largest classic Ford restoration parts companies, owes his start in the business more than 40 years ago to the 1940 Ford.
Carpenter was having trouble locating a good used set of dash knobs for a car he was restoring – and still owns – so he approached Ford and obtained permission to reproduce the knobs using original factory blueprints and designs. Today his company, Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, produces many Ford-licensed parts for the 1940 Ford. With the body now back in production, Carpenter is gearing up to add even more trim parts for the car.
“When you see a beautifully restored 1940 Ford, it is like a piece of jewelry,” Carpenter said. “People just really love the lines of that car. It is timeless and appeals to all ages.”
# # #
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 168,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 168,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
2012 AACA Hershey Fall Meet
I spent all of Friday cruising the swap meet and the car corral and found some awesome buys. How about a 1960 Rambler. Completely restored, ready to go with low miles. It could be yours for $9,000 o.b.o. You couldn't even restore this car for that money. I also found a 1973 Ford Gran Torino 4 door. 73k miles, all original paint except for one door. This one was turn key and ready to cruise for $3,995. 1936 Chevrolet sedan, $14,000 o.b.o. How about a 1913 Hupmobile for $34k? I also found a 1953 Nash Healey for the bargain price of $195,000 o.b.o. 1939 Packard, $195,000. 1938 Lincoln V-12 Convertible, $237,500. This is just some of the cars available for sale. And this doesn't include the auction that RM Auctions has put on for the last few years.
Friday morning I awoke to sunny skies, but still a little chilly. I paid a visit to the AACA museum just a few miles from the meet to take in their fantastic display. Afterwards I headed back to Hershey Park for the car show part of the fall meet, and again amazed myself as a Hershey veteran. There were 38 classes listed in the event program, but it's nearly tripled due to sub classes. Meaning that there are classes for say, production cars 1957-1958 (excluding chevrolets), followed by a sub class for just 57 and 58 Chevrolet cars. And then within that class, there's probably 50 cars. So that should give you an idea of the shear size of the car show. There's classes for military vehicles, commercial trucks, buses, fire engines, race cars and everything in between. I ended up disappointing myself in not bringing additional memory cards with me for my camera as I ended up filling the car full at 1231 pictures.
Volvo S60 Polestar prototype tracked against BMW M3 and Audi RS4 Avant
The Swedish version of Auto Motor und Sport went to the track with one hometown favorite and two over-the-sea gorillas: a Volvo S60 Polestar prototype, BMW M3 and Audi RS4 Avant. The Volvo puts out 508 horsepower from its inline six-cylinder to the ground through a Haldex all-wheel drive system, the BMW M3 grunts out 414 hp to the rear wheels from a 4.4-liter V8 and the RS4 has a 4.2-liter V8 putting down 414 horses via Quattro AWD. The performance numbers to make this even more clear: 0-60 in the RS4 takes 4.7 seconds, in the M3 4.6 seconds, and in the S60 Polestar, just 3.9 seconds.
The mag calls the S60 Polestar "a hard slap in the face to the Germans," but through the kerbs is where the test of man and metal is made. No regular journo affair, Auto Motor und Sport got this year's Swedish Touring Car Championship winner to drive all three on a hot lap at the Gothenburg City Arena circuit to keep things fair (well, relatively anyway – the pro shoe drives a Volvo). Timing duties were handled by a guy with an iPhone, so final stats are approximate. And it's important to note that if/when the Volvo reaches production, it will likely have a price tag that dwarfs those of its German rivals – reports suggest it could cost upwards of $155,000.
No matter, it's thoroughly fun getting there, and you'll find the action, the winner and awesome exhaust notes in the subtitled video below.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/29/volvo-s60-polestar-prototype-tracked-against-bmw-m3-and-audi-rs4/
The mag calls the S60 Polestar "a hard slap in the face to the Germans," but through the kerbs is where the test of man and metal is made. No regular journo affair, Auto Motor und Sport got this year's Swedish Touring Car Championship winner to drive all three on a hot lap at the Gothenburg City Arena circuit to keep things fair (well, relatively anyway – the pro shoe drives a Volvo). Timing duties were handled by a guy with an iPhone, so final stats are approximate. And it's important to note that if/when the Volvo reaches production, it will likely have a price tag that dwarfs those of its German rivals – reports suggest it could cost upwards of $155,000.
No matter, it's thoroughly fun getting there, and you'll find the action, the winner and awesome exhaust notes in the subtitled video below.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/29/volvo-s60-polestar-prototype-tracked-against-bmw-m3-and-audi-rs4/
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Korean Chaos
I recently was at a shop that just did a timing belt replacement on a 2004 Hyundai XG350 3.5 liter v6 with 75,136 miles as part of routine maintenance. The vehicle ran well into the bay. Unfortunately, it ran quite poorly after the service. It was setting misfire codes and had a terrible lack of power and a rough idle. These cars normally idle like glass and perform quite well.
The tech that did this job was sickened. He is a very thorough tech and I have been there a couple of times in my life where the vehicle ran worse after I serviced it. It is a bad feeling. I really felt for him. I went over the timing belt procedure with the tech and on the car several times. I often find that more can be found out asking questions than looking at the car. After some head scratching the tech said something that stuck with me. He said he had a hard time seperating the crank pulley from the crank sprocket. With this I broke out the scope and decided to check CKP/CMP correalation. I had a hunch.
Here is how it fits together. What happened here is when the tech was seperating the crank pulley from the sprocket it pulled the crank sprocket forward and disengaged the CKP interruptor ring from the crank sprocket. When the tech reinstalled everything it moved and therefore corrupted CKP/CMP timing. This caused the vehicle to run like the timing was retarded drastically. This was very easy to do. Hyundai does not extend the crankshaft woodruff key all the way in and relies on these two small tabs that are easily broken to index everything. One new crank sprocket and interruptor ring and away it went.
Jaguar's Julian Thomson teaches us about design at @PSFK
For the design-minded among you, Julian Thompson, whose recent hits have included the Land Rover LRX concept and the Jaguar CX-75, gave a talk at the PSFK conference about design values. He begins with the question "How do you get a design story?" and then walks us through Jaguar's to address the issue of making the most of a brand's heritage while keeping things new and fresh.
It's a timely discussion because Thompson is also behind the new Jaguar F-Type which, according to his talk, is the latest in Jaguar's line of "beautiful fast luxury cars with glamour." Thompson doesn't shirk "the sad years of Jaguar," either, called out as being 1968 to 2004, when they "essentially made the same-looking car." Thompson's reasons for the malaise: "not only did we start doing market research, we started asking Americans what they wanted."
Volvo takes wraps off V60 Racing wagon in São Paulo
After the tease, the Volvo V60 Racing was unveiled last week at Brazil's São Paulo Auto Show. A motorsports-tuned version of the V60 wagon, it wears a throwback paint scheme that celebrates the Volvo 850 station wagon that competed in the British Touring Car Championship in 1994.
More than 250 horsepower goes from the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder T5, through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, on to 18-inch wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires. Volvo says the wagon is indeed track-ready, and we hope to get some video proof of that in short order.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/28/volvo-takes-wraps-off-v60-racing-wagon-in-sao-paulo/
Steve Jobs' Yacht 'Venus' Launched in the Netherlands
Earlier this year, it was revealed that French designer Philippe Starck was working with Dutch shipbuilder Feadship on a new yacht for the family of Steve Jobs. The yacht had been mentioned in Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs as a project he had been working on since 2009, but the ship was not completed before his death last year.
Dutch site One More Thing now reports [Google translation] that the ship, christened "Venus", has officially launched, with Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs and their three children participating in the event.
The aluminum-hulled ship is said to be 70-80 meters in length and features seven 27-inch iMacs lined up in the wheelhouse to help run the controls.
Dutch site One More Thing now reports [Google translation] that the ship, christened "Venus", has officially launched, with Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs and their three children participating in the event.
The aluminum-hulled ship is said to be 70-80 meters in length and features seven 27-inch iMacs lined up in the wheelhouse to help run the controls.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
BMW announces 2013 M3 Frozen Edition
The price for the Frozen Limited Edition is a premium of more than $16,000 compared to a base M3 Coupe, but in addition to the car's exclusivity, BMW made sure to include plenty of added content. In the styling department, the M3 Coupe Frozen Limited Edition rides on matte black, 19-inch wheels, adds glossy black accents on the grille, fender vents and exhaust outlets, and has the carbon fiber roof panel. The cabin features black and carbon leather throughout, with contrast stitching that matches the car's exterior color.
A handful of options are also offered on the Frozen Limited Edition, like the M-DCT gearbox, BMW Individual audio system, and heated front seats.
Press Release
2013 BMW M3 Coupe Frozen Limited Edition
Offered in three unique Frozen exterior finishes – red, white and blue.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – October 26, 2012 ... BMW today announced the 2013 BMW M3 Coupe Frozen Limited Edition. For the first time, the M3 Frozen Limited Edition will be available in a choice of frozen exterior finishes. Appropriate to this election season in the US, those choices are Frozen Red, Frozen White and Frozen Blue. The interior will sport black extended Novillo leather with contrasting stitching to match the exterior color. In total,150 examples will be available for US customers with production beginning in January 2013. In addition to the standard equipment included in the base MSRP of $76,395 (including Destination and Handling), customers will be able to tailor their 2013 M3 Coupe Frozen Limited Edition with a selection of optional equipment.
All 2013 M3 Coupe Frozen Limited Editions will include the following features:
-BMW Individual Frozen Red, White, or Blue exterior paint
-Competition Package including:
-Matte black 19" light alloy wheels
-Electronic Damper Control
-Lowered suspension (-10 mm)
-Sport mapping for EDC and DSC
-Premium Package
-Black Extended Novillo leather with contrast stitching in exterior color on seats, headrests, door inserts, armrests, middle console, and door pulls.
-Carbon leather trim with contrast stitching in exterior color
-High-gloss black kidney grilles
-High-gloss black side gills
-High-gloss black exhaust pipe tips
-6-speed manual transmission
-Carbon fiber roof panel
In addition, customers will be able to tailor the 2013 M3 Coupe Frozen Limited Edition with the following options:
-Cold Weather Package
-M-DCT Transmission
-Rear spoiler delete
-Moonroof
-Heated Front Seats
-Automatic High Beams
-Satellite Radio with 1-year subscription
-BMW Apps
-BMW Individual Enhanced Premium Sound
Customers have the option to begin the relationship with their limited edition BMW M3 with either European Delivery at BMW Welt in Munich or with a Performance Center Delivery in Spartanburg, SC where a range of driver education experiences, including the BMW M School are available.
BMW Group in America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 115 MINI passenger car dealers, and 32 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/27/bmw-announces-2013-m3-frozen-edition-in-red-white-and-blue/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
The Basic Idea Behind The @volvocarsus Turbo Wagon
Great ad I found this morning that I just had to share.
Ford creates Focus ST Wagon cop car
I want Ford to bring a Focus ST Wagon to America.
Please Ford
The British crime thriller, The Sweeney, was centered around two cops tooling around in an unmarked, blacked-out, five-door, Ford Focus ST. It's only logical, then, that Ford serve pent-up demand for a true police-spec Focus ST.
Reporting for official duty is the Ford Focus ST estate, complete with full cop livery, LED light bar and a mobile data terminal.
Ford says the 2.0-liter 252-horsepower EcoBoost can propel pursuing police to 60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds and top out at 154 mph.
The one-off demonstrator was paraded out at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers' (NAPFM) Conference and Blue Light Fleet Exhibition in Peterborough recently.
"With the Ford Focus ST being seen so publicly on cinema screens nationwide, the timing for this 'official' version couldn't be better," said Terry Adams, Ford's Direct Sales Manager for Police, Fire & Ambulance in the press release. "At the NAPFM show we displayed the car's crime-fighting talents to police transport managers and took bookings for demonstrations."
Press Release
Brentwood, Essex, 23 October, 2012 – Following its movie debut in the UK crime thriller The Sweeney, the all-new Ford Focus ST has taken on its next starring role – this time as an official police patrol vehicle.
While the five-door hot hatch used by Flying Squad detectives Regan and Carter was unmarked, this estate version gets the full law enforcement livery.
The one-off demonstrator has been developed and engineered at Ford Special Vehicle Preparations (SVP) in Earls Colne, Essex. Equipped as a compact traffic car, it meets the latest National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) standards for fast response vehicles inside and out. The light bar on the roof is all-LED, and the dashboard is fitted with a mobile data terminal (MDT) and screen to illustrate the Focus ST's versatility for multi-role police use.
The car appeared at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers' Conference and Blue Light Fleet Exhibition (NAPFM) in Peterborough.
Terry Adams, Ford's Direct Sales Manager for Police, Fire & Ambulance, commented: "With the Ford Focus ST being seen so publicly on cinema screens nationwide, the timing for this 'official' version couldn't be better. At the NAPFM show we displayed the car's crime-fighting talents to police transport managers and took bookings for demonstrations."
Also available for the public to buy, the all-new Ford Focus ST comes in five vibrant colours including Tangerine Scream and Spirit Blue.
The car's 2.0-litre 250PS EcoBoost engine means it can accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 154 mph. The hatchback is priced from £21,995 with the estate costing from £23,095.
From AutoBlog.Com
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/25/ford-creates-focus-st-wagon-cop-car/#continued
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