All posts in “Cars”

Lost and found Ferrari F50

Imagine you are finally able to get hold of a Ferrari F50 back in 2003 for only €260,000 ($310,000) … for about $447,000 in today’s money, an Italian and his brother managed to obtain this rare and beautiful Prancing Horse … unfortunately, their luck quickly backfired, and the car was stolen from a parking lot at their hotel only a month after purchase.

Reference photo from our Ferrari F50 Wallpapers post

A search was initiated, but it seems the car was quickly transported out of the country and was never to be found again … until 2019. This rare car with only 349 units ever built between 1995 and 1997 is currently valued at around $1,750,000 had been out of sight for 16 years until it was halted at the Canada-US border while she was being transported on a trailer.

Customs checking the car for export discovered the chassis number was illegible, so they investigated it further and found out about the theft in Italy back in 2003, so they seized the car and it was impounded … where this beauty would remain under lock and key until recently when the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced a civil action was filed for ownership of the car … two different parties claim it’s theirs.

Reference photo from our Ferrari F50 Wallpapers post

In the Buffalo News, an article was published that states not only the original owner in Italy from 2003, a Mr Paolo Provenzi, claims it is still his property, he has documentation stating his ownership and the fact the theft wasn’t covered by his insurance. On the other hand, we have Mohammed Alsaloussi, who bought the Ferrari F50 at auction in September 2019, who wasn’t aware he was buying a stolen car and had it transported from Canada to his house in Miami, Florida.

It seems the Ferrari F50 was located in Japan at one point, but how she ended up in Canada is unknown at this point in time, Provenzi asked a Miami attorney to block both parties from taking action against the government to obtain the car, at this time the car is still in the custody of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, waiting for a court decision on who is the rightful owner at the moment.

Personally, I think a car like a Ferrari F50 that’s been sitting in custody somewhere in a warehouse since December 2019 will need a serious overhaul to be driven safely on the road today, but I wouldn’t mind parking her on my driveway in the meantime …

FOR SALE: 2005 Twin-Turbo Ford GT

BringATrailer has had some true gems pop up over the past few weeks and this 2005 twin-turbo Ford GT is no exception. It’s finished in Mark II Black over an Ebony leather interior – making it one of 237 in this color for its model year. 

2005 Ford GT Interior

This 2005 Ford GT came originally from California when the current owner purchased it in 2011. Shortly after purchasing, the factory Lysholm supercharger was removed from the 5.4-liter DOHC V8 and a new Heffner Performance twin-turbocharger system was added.

2005 Ford GT Mid-Engine

This example has been fitted with other additions such as BBS forged wheels, slotted front, and cross-drilled rear brake rotors, an onboard fire-suppression system, an aftermarket stereo, and a Turbosmart adjustable boost controller. A ceramic-coated Heffner performance exhaust system was also fitted and designed to work with the rear bumperettes.

2005 Ford GT Rear

The seller of this sub-8K mile Ford GT mentioned that all removed factory parts will accompany the car in the sale. The sale will also include an AutoCheck report, a clean Carfax report, and a clean title. 

2005 Ford GT

The auction for this beautiful Ford GT will end Friday, March 19 at 5:51 pm EST. If you would like to read up on this model’s generation, check out our Ford GT article here.

Police in New York Recover Ferrari F50 Stolen 18 Years Ago in Italy

In 2003, a 1996 Ferrari F50 was reported stolen in Italy and efforts to locate it never succeeded up until December of 2019. Police believe the supercar changed hands and/or was moved across different countries before they snatched it up at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry on December 14, 2019. It was coming from Canada and the time it spent up north is yet to be determined.

The border police discovered that the rivets on the VIN plate were covered with black tar, consistent with signs of tampering. They held the car pending further investigations. Instead of destroying it or auctioning it, they decided it was time the Italian supercar was returned to its rightful owner. This is after discovering that the car had been reported stolen back in 2003, in Italy.

Several people have come forward claiming ownership to the car, but the court of law is yet to determine who is the rightful owner. Investigations have expanded to involve officers in different countries as they try to trace its history, hopefully even catch up with the person(s) involved in the initial theft.

This case is one of many to have been reported in the last several years, some of these supercars are stolen and never to be recovered. A $2.5 million Ferrari Daytona was stolen and burnt in Australia back in 2015. In some cases, stolen cars are altered to deceive authorities like in the case of a yellow Ferrari 488 that was stolen in Mexico and changed to black – this one was recovered too.

via justice.gov

1970 Ford Torino GT Wallpapers

We have curated the ultimate collection of the best 1970 Ford Torino GT Wallpapers and HD backgrounds for you to enjoy. Our team focused on finding the top 1970 Ford Torino GT Wallpapers only to keep the quality high. These 1970 Ford Torino GT Wallpapers are free to download so go ahead. To download any of these pictures for use as a wallpaper, right click the picture and choose Save As…

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1968 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers

We have curated the ultimate collection of the best 1968 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers and HD backgrounds for you to enjoy. Our team focused on finding the top 1968 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers only to keep the quality high. These 1968 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers are free to download so go ahead. To download any of these pictures for use as a wallpaper, right click the picture and choose Save As…

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1967 Ford GT40 Wallpapers

We have curated the ultimate collection of the best 1967 Ford GT40 Wallpapers and HD backgrounds for you to enjoy. Our team focused on finding the top 1967 Ford GT40 Wallpapers only to keep the quality high. These 1967 Ford GT40 Wallpapers are free to download so go ahead. To download any of these pictures for use as a wallpaper, right click the picture and choose Save As…

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Pagani Huayra R adopts a naturally aspirated V12 engine and track-only status

There’s a new Pagani on the block. It’s called the Huayra R, and it’s a track-only version of the regular Huayra. However, leaving it at that wouldn’t do the Huayra R justice, because it’s so much more than just a hotted up Huayra.

The big news is the new and bespoke, naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine sitting behind the cockpit, a significant departure from the twin-turbo variant used in road-legal Huayras. The new engine was put together by Mercedes-AMG’s racing subsidiary, HWA. The Huayra R makes a furious 850 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Redline is a scorching 9,000 rpm. Since it didn’t need to follow any road emissions regulations, the engine could be pushed to much higher limits. The Inconel exhaust has removable mufflers for when you want to be extra loud, but can be put in place for use at race tracks with noise restrictions. Unfortunately, Pagani doesn’t quote any specific acceleration figures for the Huayra R.

All shifting is handled by a new six-speed sequential gearbox made with HWA. It’s designed to be extremely light, and in combination with the engine, acts as a structural part of the car.

Pagani Huayra R

The Huayra R’s chassis is modified from the standard Huayra with new and lighter materials. These efforts, along with additional elements such as a roll bar and chassis-mounted seats, make it both stiffer and significantly lighter than a regular Huayra. Its dry weight is only 2,314 pounds, which is hundreds of pounds lighter than the road car.

Pagani says the suspension is made of forged aluminum alloy and uses helical springs and electronically controlled active dampers — the dampers are designed to constantly adjust to the road conditions on a racetrack. That means that instead of adapting for potholes and frost heaves, it sets the car up for perfect balance under uneven braking zones and predictable behavior through and out of corners. The brakes are the best Brembo has to offer. Pagani uses the Italian company’s latest carbon ceramic self-ventilated discs and racing compound pads. Slick racing tires (wet tires are available) wrap around custom-made 19-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels.

Aerodynamics and design were two huge focuses for Pagani with this car, as the team wanted it to be both beautiful and hugely capable on the track. The final design leaves no question as to its race car status with the gigantic aero elements found throughout. Everything combined results in 2,204 pounds of downforce at 199 mph. 

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There isn’t much to talk about on the inside, but you get the full array of racing features you’d expect in such a car. Most of your essential controls are found on the quick-release steering wheel, and other controls are on the center console. A high-resolution display as an instrument cluster will feed you all necessary vehicle data while on the track, and it has a telemetry system so a pit crew can monitor and analyze driver performance. Pagani is already promising “Arte In Pista” days for Huayra R owners to have dedicated track days with the assistance of the Pagani team and professional drivers. These will happen all over the globe in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

You’ll need to be part of a very exclusive club of millionaires and billionaires to enjoy the Huayra R, though. Only 30 will be built, and each has a base price of €2.6 million before taxes. At today’s exchange rates, that’s about $3.1 million. Happy shopping.

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The Pagani Huayra R

The new track-focused Hypercar from Pagani combines the highest level of automotive engineering and aerodynamic know-how with unprecedented aesthetic sensitivity in an exercise of style that represents the full expression of Pagani Automobili’s technological development. The Huayra R is a celebration of passion – an extreme, untamed car, developed free from rules except for safety, with the sole aim of offering uncompromising performance. But first and foremost, it was designed to excite.

“Le Mans cars had extremely attractive lines, which are still a huge source of inspiration for our cars today. The Porsche 917 is my favourite, with its romantic yet bold shape, which gives the impression of a very fast car. It is beautiful, elegant, and timeless. From this desire for freedom, and from the experience of the Zonda R and the cars of the past, came the idea of the Huayra R, like a breath of fresh air.” Horacio Pagani

Towards the end of the 2000s, an exciting new project landed on the Atelier’s doorstep and triggered an unprecedented journey of research to create the first Pagani track car, a car that Horacio Pagani thought should incorporate the best racing technology of the time, combined with the beauty and attention to detail typical of all of the brand’s creations. The Zonda R, created with cutting-edge materials derived from the aerospace industry and from F1, was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009 where, under its refined, but bare natural carbon fiber surface, it embodied the pinnacle of Pagani Automobili technological development, combined with unprecedented attention to aesthetics for a track car.

In 2008 we were working on the Huayra, a very challenging and demanding project from an engineering and stylistic point of view. After so many years, I felt an overwhelming desire for freedom and that’s how the Zonda R came about, a track car, free from constraints and regulations. Beautiful, high-performing, and safe. The Huayra R, just like the Zonda R, is the freest, most extreme, and performance-oriented Pagani car of all time.” Horacio Pagani

The Pagani V12-R – the beating heart of the Huayra R – is a 12-cylinder, 6-litre, naturally aspirated racing engine, designed from the ground up in partnership with HWA AG specifically to meet the Atelier’s need to equip its new creation with the lightest, most powerful and efficient track-ready V12 ever created. This need emerged to address the strong desire of Pagani’s customers, who dreamed of an incredibly powerful high-performance, naturally aspirated V12 engine for their new projects.

The Huayra R was created to offer the ultimate experience for anyone who wants to enjoy peak performance on the track up to the red line of 9000 rpm. For the engineers at HWA AG and Pagani, this objective meant not only focusing on increased power as a key element of research but also prioritizing lightness. This challenge was embraced by Affalterbach engineers without hesitation and after more than two years of design and development, the powerful Pagani V12-R tipped the scales at a total weight of 198 kg (436 lbs), placing it at the top of its category.

The cutting-edge components specifically created for the Huayra R include the brand new six-speed sequential gearbox which has been designed, along with the Huayra R’s engine, in collaboration with HWA AG to complete a tailor-made powertrain, this unit offers extremely reduced shift times and a total weight of just 80 kg (176 lb).

The new exhaust is made from Inconel 625/718 alloy, with tubes one-third the thickness of those normally used in road car equipment, and coated in ceramic to protect the engine bay and ensure better heat dissipation directly to the outside, the entire system boasts an extremely lightweight construction, developed not only to guarantee maximum aerodynamic performance but also to give the Huayra R’s occupants an unprecedented acoustic experience. The Huayra R still comes with mufflers that can be fitted as required, ensuring that noise emissions are reduced to within the FIA limit of 110 decibels for noise restricted tracks.

HWA’s vast experience in fine-tuning and production of racing cars and components, together with Pagani Automobili’s 30 years of know-how in the development of advanced composite materials, made it possible to apply structural principles and innovative engineering solutions from the world of motorsport to the Huayra R chassis to produce a safe structure suitable for track use.

Completely made from Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62, the new monocoque incorporates the seats fully, guaranteeing maximum protection together with specific shock-absorption side structures and the roll-bar while maintaining easy access to the cockpit. The combination of new structural principles and materials specially developed for the Huayra R design, together with the resulting enhancement of the mechanical properties of the structure, means that the new car tips the scales at a dry weight of 1,050 kg.

Careful design and meticulous research conducted on the materials, bodywork, and roll bar structure were central to the development of the Huayra R in order to give customers not only the most thrilling track driving experience but above all, to provide a safe car that meets the most stringent FIA requirements for GT vehicles. Inside the passenger compartment, the extinguishing system is activated automatically in the event of a fire, while the seats, which are fully integrated into the carbon monocoque, are equipped with six-point safety belts and covered in Nomex flame-retardant material.

Every line and surface of the Huayra R is, in fact, designed to generate maximum aerodynamic load, with an initial development target of 1000 kg of downforce at 320 km/h (2204 lb at 199 mph) and the ground clearance that allows maximum aerodynamic performance to be achieved, guaranteeing safe and predictable behavior under all conditions. An ambitious goal, but one that was quickly achieved with excellent results right from the first aerodynamic tests, during which the car showed great stability and balance in line with the set target of 46%-54% downforce distribution throughout the entire speed envelope while maintaining reduced sensitivity to ground clearance.

Contributing to the reliable performance of the car, there are two new side air intakes at the front to ensure maximum cooling efficiency for the front wheel braking system, as well as channeling the outgoing airflow towards the side of the car, minimizing turbulence and helping to generate maximum downforce. The new roof scoop, with its integrated center fin, guarantees maximum intake efficiency for the Pagani V12-R. The flat bottom, in combination with the rear diffuser and the distinctive wing, help to generate maximum downforce.

With suspension made of forged aluminum alloy, independent double-wishbone with helical springs, and electronically controlled active shock absorbers, the entire configuration of the new system with rigid mounting points, not only allows all the power and the extraordinary torque of the Pagani V12-R to be transferred to the ground but also offers unprecedented driving precision. In fact, the Huayra R’s advanced and refined elasto-kinematics allow for greater camber recovery and optimized dynamic bump steer correction to guarantee ideal grip for the slick tires in every situation and allow the driver to attack the ups and downs of Eau Rouge without losing a single millisecond.

The Huayra R boasts world-class braking power thanks to the brand new Brembo CCM-R self-ventilated carbon-ceramic discs coupled with racing pads. Specially developed to allow the new car to exploit the best available technology, the new CCM-Rs have significant advantages in terms of thermal conductivity and maximum braking power, typical of carbon used in competitions.

The long process of research and development carried out in partnership between Pirelli and Pagani Automobili resulted in a slick version of the P Zero tires that offer maximum precision and a feeling of total control even to the non-professional driver, ensuring exceptional braking behavior and optimal traction.

To perfectly match the driver’s ergonomics, the adjustable pedal set has been custom-designed in partnership with AP Racing exclusively for the Huayra R and incorporates the principles of lightness and style that are at the essence of this car. Crafted with the quality of finish and aesthetic attention typical of all the Atelier’s creations, the Huayra R’s cockpit cannot fail to impress thanks to the meticulous design of every screw, lever, and surface, making its extraordinary concentration of speed-focused technology an ideal driving environment, tailor-made for each driver.

With Arte In Pista (“art on the track”), the Pagani Atelier seeks to take the experience to a new level, offering a calendar packed with personalized events that will allow Huayra R owners to enjoy the full excitement of driving a Pagani Hypercar, pushing it to its maximum performance, with the dedicated assistance of the Pagani Team and the support of professional drivers. From individual track days at internationally renowned circuits to group events, tailor-made for customers in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East: each occasion combines moments of leisure in beautiful locations with the raw excitement of driving one’s own Pagani on the track.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: Pagani V12-R – 6.0 litres – naturally aspirated 12-cylinder V
POWER: 850 HP (625 kW) at 8250 rpm
TORQUE: 750 Nm from 5500 to 8300 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Rear-wheel Drive
GEARBOX: 6-speed sequential, non-synchronized dog ring gearbox
BRAKES: Brembo CCM-R ventilated discs: Front 410×38 mm with monolithic 6-piston calipers; Rear 390×34 mm with monolithic 6-piston calipers
WHEELS: APP forged monolithic aluminum alloy: Front 19 inches; Rear 19 inches
TYRES: Pirelli P Zero slick version – Dry and Wet: Front 275/675 R19; Rear 325/705 R19
SUSPENSION: Forged aluminum alloy independent double wishbone with helical springs and electronically controlled shock absorbers
CHASSIS: Monocoque in Pagani Carbo-Titanium HP62 G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62 with front and rear tubular subframes in CrMo alloy steel
DRY WEIGHT: 1050 Kg (2314 lb)

Kia EV6

Lest you still believe Kia builds econoboxes for those who need only the most rudimentary of transportation, gaze upon the EV6, the brand’s first dedicated electric car. More than just a plug-in version of one…

The post Kia EV6 first appeared on Cool Material.

Kirkham Motorsports Copper 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C

If you come across a 1965 Shelby Cobra, it’s a sight to behold. If it happens to have a hand-formed 100% copper body, that much more so. The folks at Kirkham Motorsports built the body…

The post Kirkham Motorsports Copper 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C first appeared on Cool Material.

McLaren 720S GT3X

We all know there are a lot of restrictions when it comes to road cars, but also purebred racecars have limits imposed on them, when McLaren Customer Racing created their 720S GT3, it had to comply with FIA GT3 regulations … but what would happen when you can create a track car with no limits?

Then you get the McLaren 720S GT3X, where the X comes with no motorsport restrictions whatsoever, this is a new, track-only car based on the 720S GT3, but she isn’t homologated for racing, the hand-built, 4.0-Liter V8 twin-turbo engine delivers 750PS in this ‘X’, while taking advantage of the chassis and aerodynamic characteristics of its latest-specification, race-winning 720S GT3 to optimize the owner’s driving enjoyment on circuits during track days for instance.

A six-speed sequential motorsport transmission is fitted to a bespoke M840T engine that comes with a blueprinted cylinder head, strengthened pistons, ‘Diamond Like Carbon’ (DLC) coating, add the lightweight performance exhaust system and the result is an overall weight of only 1,210kg (2,668lbs) for this stripped-down track car, with the ‘push-to-pass’ button on the steering wheel, an extra 30PS over the available 720PS boosts power to an impressive 750PS.

Development of the GT3X saw a focus on pure engineering, innovative aerodynamics, and efficient design, taking the car for many thousands of kilometers on tracks all over Europe and the Middle East. Without having to deal with regulations, the 720S GT3X is a true performance-optimized evolution of the bespoke GT3 racecar. The aerodynamically optimized body has been developed using ‘Computational Fluid Dynamics’ (CFD) combined with F1 wind tunnel testing.

On this new McLaren 720S GT3X the body gets hand-finished in metallic MSO Carbon Black paint, a pinstripe in heritage McLaren Orange (reminding is of the famous winning McLaren Formula 1 cars in the 1960s) is added to the lower edges of the ground-hugging body shape and the outer rim of the gloss black center-locking wheel rims, a really nice touch is the large ‘X’ on top of the canopy.

While there was no requirement to do this, McLaren did install an FIA-approved race seat made from carbon fiber and Kevlar, in the GT3X the pedals and steering wheel can be adjusted for the driver, and to share in the fun of taking a racecar around the track, there is an option to fit an extra safety-compliant passenger race seat complete with a six-point harness, McLaren even altered the roll cage to accommodate this second seat.

Due to GT3 balance of performance requirements, the 720S GT3 car has to run with a considerably reduced power output than the road-going 720S Spider and Coupe variants. The brief for the GT3X project was to unleash the full potential of the 720S GT3 car using a massively increased power output to fully exploit the aerodynamics and chassis dynamics of the car. Additionally, the car is now able to carry passengers for the first time, thanks to the re-design of a new bespoke roll-cage and passenger seat installation. Brake cooling has also been improved to cope with the additional demands of increased speed and the mass of a passenger.

The 720S GT3X now offers a unique opportunity to experience a fully-fledged GT3 car. The lap time is significantly reduced from the GT3 benchmark through both the huge standard power increase and the additional 30bhp from the push-to-pass button. The end result is a car that offers a truly unique experience.”
Ian Morgan, Director, McLaren Customer Racing

Do keep in mind this amazing McLaren 720S GT3X can’t be ordered at a regular McLaren dealership, you will have to turn to one of only 11 official McLaren Motorsport Retailers worldwide, as part of the purchase and ownership package, McLaren Automotive can provide dedicated technical track support for each owner. This program is carried out by the customer support engineers from the in-house McLaren Customer Racing division – the team that has designed and developed the model alongside the 720S GT3 global customer race program.

Kincsem Hyper-GT

New digital luxury brand Kincsem has appointed CALLUM, led by Ian Callum CBE, recently named GQ’s Car Designer of the Year, to deliver the design of an all-new electrified hypercar.

Kincsem is digital-first in every facet and truly without constraint. Hungarian founder Tibor Bak’s vision is to fuse the world’s best talent with the latest technology to develop beautifully designed, high-performance products. From finance, agile manufacturing, and A.I. design the brand is pioneering the integration of digital in every aspect. Bak is bringing all of his considerable industrial experience and skill to innovate new and previously untapped partnerships and methodologies to deliver the brand’s diverse product portfolio, of which the Hyper-GT is the first launch.

“The story of Kincsem the horse is the inspiration behind the brand; the ethos behind her training was pioneering and as a result, her achievements remain unsurpassed. Our pioneering approach to digital technology allows us to create without constraints and place the individual at the center of the design process. Our customers will experience new levels of dynamic personalization that has never before been possible,” comments Tibor Bak.

“The Kincsem Hyper-GT, designed by Ian Callum, will bring together new modes of digital integration into development, design, manufacture, and ownership. The possibilities presented by the new augmented, digital age enable us to help our customers enter a ‘flow state’, which athletes call The Zone, offering a level of dynamic personalization and control that has never before been possible”.

Kincsem, the world-famous Hungarian racehorse was unbeaten over a career of 54 races. The new Hyper-GT applauds her legacy by creating just 54 UK-manufactured luxury vehicles. These feature a revolutionary high revving F1-derived hybrid powertrain, with delivery commencing in 2023.

Eclipsing the options for customer personalization currently available, the Hyper-GT will introduce a new ‘Personal Engineering’ experience for each owner in a car combining driver responsiveness with zero-emissions capability. Price is yet to be confirmed but will compete at the highest echelons of luxury automotive.

The CALLUM appointment is the first of a number of high-profile partnerships to be announced that draw on the pinnacle of design, engineering, and production talent across the globe. CALLUM’s inclusion brings an unrivaled pedigree to the project, due to be unveiled in full in late 2021, and the new car represents an empowering and open brief for the design team.

“With Kincsem, we have that rare privilege to not only create a beautiful car but also form a design language for an innovative luxury brand,” says Ian Callum, who leads the CALLUM design team.

“Refreshingly, Kincsem has said there are no rules, enabling us to pose the question ‘If we could do whatever we wanted, what would we do?’. That’s one of the most invigorating opportunities for any designer. The team at CALLUM is extremely excited to start work.” 

The Kincsem ethos of unrivaled customer involvement will manifest across multiple products, services and experiences as the future unfolds. This will include the launch of a luxury performance SUV featuring the same drivetrain and Personal Engineering possibilities as the Hyper-GT.

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport

There will be only 60 units of the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport in the entire world, and while this latest production model from the company in Molsheim hasn’t been available in the United States of America for long, she hasn’t failed to impress some of the most important automotive publications during their test drives.

“The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is the best car I’ve ever driven. Period. Full stop. End of story. It just is.” from Motor Trend

“Less weight, more grip, and shorter gearing make the Pur Sport an even wilder Bugatti Chiron.” from Car and Driver

“The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Is Worth Every Penny. Your $4 million car better be good, and this Bugatti delivers.” from Autoweek

“The Pur Sport offers U.S. customers a new dimension of the Chiron that doesn’t require the Autobahn to fully experience,” said Cedric Davy, Chief Operating Officer of Bugatti of the Americas. “We now have the car for those customers who have been waiting for a Chiron geared more towards agility and dynamic cornering.”

Even 24 Hour of Le Mans class winner and longtime Bugatti test driver Butch Leitzinger was impressed with the Chiron Pur Sport during extended testing in Southern California, he stated: “The seamless marriage of agility and brute force give the Pur Sport abilities that are unmatched, not only by any other car, but also by any other Bugatti.”

1965 Ford GT Roadster Prototype Wallpapers

We have curated the ultimate collection of the best 1965 Ford GT Roadster Prototype Wallpapers and HD backgrounds for you to enjoy. Our team focused on finding the top 1965 Ford GT Roadster Prototype Wallpapers only to keep the quality high. These 1965 Ford GT Roadster Prototype Wallpapers are free to download so go ahead. To download any of these pictures for use as a wallpaper, right click the picture and choose Save As…

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1966 Ford GT40 Wallpapers

We have curated the ultimate collection of the best 1966 Ford GT40 Wallpapers and HD backgrounds for you to enjoy. Our team focused on finding the top 1966 Ford GT40 Wallpapers only to keep the quality high. These 1966 Ford GT40 Wallpapers are free to download so go ahead. To download any of these pictures for use as a wallpaper, right click the picture and choose Save As…

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1966 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers

We have curated the ultimate collection of the best 1966 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers and HD backgrounds for you to enjoy. Our team focused on finding the top 1966 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers only to keep the quality high. These 1966 Ford GT40 Le Mans Wallpapers are free to download so go ahead. To download any of these pictures for use as a wallpaper, right click the picture and choose Save As…

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Ford GT40 race car in 1966 Le Mans winning colours.
Ford GT40 race car in 1966 Le Mans winning colours.

Charges dismissed against Gemballa Mirage GT driver in NYC wreck

Charges against exotic car culture personality Benjamin Chen in connection with a chain of collisions involving a modified Porsche Carrera GT in New York City last year were dismissed Monday. The New York Criminal Court released a statement saying the charges of reckless driving and operating under the influence had to be dropped because they “[…] cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Road & Track reports.

Chen was allegedly driving the Gemballa Mirage GT that left a trail of destruction through the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan last April. Police arrested Chen after the GT struck several other vehicles, scattering debris along 11th Avenue before coming to a stop near 44th Street, just north of the Javits Center, which was still serving as a field hospital for coronavirus patients at the time the incident took place.

Chen is a supercar collector and the co-founder of Gold Rush Rally, an annual rally of exotic and luxury vehicles. This Instagram video surfaced of the hoodie-wearing driver, who resembled Chen, being ordered out of the vehicle by responding officers. 

The Gemballa Mirage GT is a modified Porsche Carrera GT that can cost north of $750,000, depending on how you have it personalized. The car involved in the incident was identified as Chen’s by its custom finish and vanity plate, the former being well-documented online. Chen’s was the 23rd Mirage conversion produced and it appeared to suffer quite a bit of damage. Photos and videos from the scene depict a car with a severely compromised suspension and extensive body damage. However, with the bulk of the carnage appearing to be reserved for the front of the car, this mid-engine piece of unobtanium might still be worth fixing.

McLaren Customer Racing takes race-winning performance to new a level with 720S GT3X

17 Mar 2021

  • McLaren 720S GT3X track day model by McLaren Customer Racing unleashes full power and performance of a race car
  • Development of the fully-fledged 720S GT3 racing car without constraint of racing regulations or homologation
  • Additional power increase of over 197bhp from the standard GT3 engine, with a further 30bhp available by a push-to-pass system
  • Built-to-order model restricted to racetrack use only; available to order now from 11 McLaren Motorsport Retailers worldwide

McLaren Customer Racing has confirmed that an unrestricted version of its 720S GT3 race car is now available to order through McLaren Motorsport Retailers. Designed and developed in-house by the GT motorsport arm of McLaren Automotive, the GT3X is for track use only but is not homologated for any racing class or championship. Without the need to comply with competition regulations, increased levels of power and performance have allowed McLaren Customer Racing to further exploit the chassis and aerodynamic characteristics of its latest-specification, race-winning 720S GT3 to optimise circuit driving enjoyment.

The 720S GT3X features a lightweight but inherently strong carbon fibre chassis as seen at the core of every McLaren for more than 30 years, utilizing the MonoCage II chassis which underpins the current 720S range. Performance comes from the familiar 720S engine, optimized to combine features from the road and track variants. Coupled to a six-speed sequential motorsport transmission, a unique version of the hand-built 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine includes a blueprinted cylinder head, strengthened pistons, ‘Diamond Like Carbon’ (DLC) technology and a lightweight performance exhaust system. The 720S GT3X has been fitted with track-focused components and systems to produce 710bhp, with a further 30bhp boost function (Push-to-Pass System) available to the driver through a steering wheel-mounted button.

The lightweight 720S GT3X tips the scales at just 2,668lbs, making it more than 440lbs lighter than the road-going 720S supercar on which it is based.  The severe weight-saving efforts have seen all non-essential or luxury items removed where possible, leaving the driver with just what they need to extract the best performance. Each of these measures combine to see the 720S GT3X boast a power-to-weight ratio of 587bhp-per-ton.

The development program has seen a focus on pure engineering, innovative aerodynamics and efficient design, taking place across thousands of track kilometers in Europe and the Middle East. The 720S GT3X is an optimized version of an already-bespoke GT3 race car, with the bodywork design and the flowing lines developed using ‘Computational Fluid Dynamics’  (CFD) and Formula 1 wind tunnel technology. The aerodynamically sculpted shape is hand-finished in metallic MSO Carbon Black paint. A refined pinstripe in heritage McLaren Orange, a subtle nod to the historic race-winning McLaren Formula 1 cars of the 1960s, accentuates the lower edges of the ground-hugging body shape and the outer rim of the gloss black center-locking wheel rims, while an ‘X’ graphic stretches across the upper canopy.

The stripped-out cabin features extensive use of lightweight carbon fibre and is designed around outright track performance and functionality. A carbon fibre and Kevlar FIA-approved race seat hugs the driver and weighs just 22lbs, while the pedal box and steering wheel adjust to ensure the perfect driving position. The ergonomically-designed race steering wheel is fitted with all key functions via intuitive rotary switches and buttons meaning everything is at the driver’s fingertips. Thrill seekers are also able to experience the speeds and exhilaration of the race track as the interior of the 720S GT3X has been designed to accommodate a fully safety-compliant passenger race seat, complete with six-point race harness. Modifications over the race track car include a revised design to the roll-cage and enhanced crash structures around the occupant safety cell.

In addition to delivering a new type of performance on the track, the 720S GT3X delivers a new level of ownership experience. As part of the purchase and ownership package, the motorsport division of McLaren Automotive provides dedicated technical support to each owner at the first running of their new 720S GT3X. This program is carried out by the customer support engineers from the in-house McLaren Customer Racing division – the team that has designed and developed the model alongside the 720S GT3 global customer race program.

“Due to GT3 balance of performance requirements, the 720S GT3 car has to run with a considerably reduced power output than the road-going 720S Spider and Coupe variants. The brief for the GT3X project was to unleash the full potential of the 720S GT3 car using a massively increased power output to fully exploit the aerodynamics and chassis dynamics of the car. Additionally, the car is now able to carry passengers for the first time, thanks to the re-design of a new bespoke roll-cage and passenger seat installation. Brake cooling has also been improved to cope with the additional demands of increased speed and the mass of a passenger.

The 720S GT3X now offers a unique opportunity to experience a fully-fledged GT3 car. The lap time is significantly reduced from the GT3 benchmark through both the huge standard power increase and the additional 30bhp from the push-to-pass button. The end result is a car that offers a truly unique experience.”
Ian Morgan, Director of Motorsport, McLaren Automotive

McLaren Automotive has enjoyed significant success with its range of pioneering sports and supercars since the start of production in 2011. Alongside its road-focused models, the company has been winning races with motorsport derivatives of key models since 2012. Based on the highly-accomplished 720S road car, the 720S GT3 debuted in 2019 with private race teams competing at the highest level – and proved immediately successful. In fact, in its first race, the 720S GT3 took pole position and went on to score its first ever race win against a field of world-class opposition, proving that McLaren had designed and developed another race-winner.

The 720S GT3X is available to order now in North America from the 6 official McLaren Motorsport Retailers: McLaren Beverly Hills, McLaren Houston, McLaren Newport Beach, McLaren Philadelphia, McLaren San Francisco and McLaren Toronto. Each McLaren Motorsport Retailer can offer technical and servicing support for the track-only model.

Discover more on the 720S GT3X here: https://cars.mclaren.com/gb-en/customer-racing/models/720s-gt3x

______________

Ends

Notes to editors:

A selection of high-resolution images accompanying this release is available to download from the McLaren Automotive media site – cars.mclaren.press

About McLaren Automotive:
McLaren Automotive is a creator of luxury, high-performance supercars.

Every vehicle is hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, England.

Launched in 2010, the company is now the largest part of the McLaren Group.

The company’s product portfolio of GT, supercar, Motorsport and Ultimate models are retailed through over 85 retailers in 40 markets around the world.

McLaren is a pioneer that continuously pushes the boundaries. In 1981, it introduced lightweight and strong carbon fibre chassis into Formula 1 with the McLaren MP4/1.

Then in 1993  it designed and built the McLaren F1 road car – the company has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis since. As part of the Ultimate Series, McLaren was the first to deliver a hybrid hypercar, the McLaren P1™. In 2016, it announced a new hybrid hyper-GT would be engineering, confirming this next Ultimate Series car as the Speedtail in 2018.

2019 saw McLaren launch the 600LT Spider, the new GT and the track-only McLaren Senna GTR. It also unveiled the 620R and McLaren Elva before launching the 765LT the following year.

Most recently, the company unveiled its all-new high-performance hybrid supercar, the McLaren Artura.

The Artura is the first McLaren to benefit from the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA). The MCLA is designed, developed and manufactured at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre in the Sheffield region of England using world-first process and will spearhead the brand’s electrified future.

McLaren Automotive also chooses to partner with like-minded world-leading companies and organisations who push the boundaries in their respective fields. These include AkzoNobel, Ashurst, Dell Technologies, Gulf, Pirelli,  Richard Mille and Tumi.

McLaren Group:
The McLaren Group is a global leader in luxury automotive and technology and comprises three businesses: Automotive, Racing and Applied.

Further information:

Roger Ormisher
Vice President, Communications & PR | McLaren Automotive, The Americas
Phone: +1 714 501 8137
Email: roger.ormisher@mclaren.com 

Laura Conrad
Public Relations Manager | McLaren Automotive, The Americas
Phone: +1(765)517-2186
Email: laura.conrad@mclaren.com

Lauren Dowdy
Press Officer– North America McLaren Automotive, The Americas
Phone: +44 (0) 1483 241453
Mobile: +44 (0) 7818 537845
Email: lauren.dowdy@mclaren.com

Media website: cars.mclaren.press
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mclarenautomotive
Twitter: www.twitter.com/McLarenAuto
You Tubewww.youtube.com/mclarenautomotivetv

Taycan by TECHART

If a factory standard Porsche Taycan with options just isn’t special or impressive enough for you as a customer, fear not, get in touch with TECHART and you will end up with a completely bespoke, one-of-a-kind bespoke TECHART Taycan, and I have to admit … she looks great, both on the outside and on the inside.

To create the new aerodynamic kit for the Porsche Taycan, TECHART combined the old with the new, the styling package was designed in virtual reality, but they still made an artisan clay model, finalizing details in state-of-the-art 3D modeling before taking the design into the wind tunnel and real-life track proving ground.

TECHART calls it their ‘Premium Individualization’ program, and while they offer their new front bumper, side sills, and rear diffuser, which alter the styling of this all-electric Porsche only mildly, their press release states the customer can specify bespoke options for the new TECHART Formula VI forged aluminum wheels.

The TECHART Formula VI wheels come in 10.0 x 22-inch (front) and 11.5 x 22-inch (rear) and boast slender spokes with low weight, they are available in a two-tone grey with polished spokes, black with polished spokes, but also any custom color the customer specifies, and in case you are wondering, there is also a TECHART Formula VI Race version … with a central locking system, but that’s not available for the Porsche Taycan.

While the aero package from TECHART has a very subtle look on the Porsche Taycan, their interior modifications lift this car into a totally different segment, the factory standard cockpit looks beautiful as is, but a TECHART interior takes it into a class of its own with special leather and Alcantara, custom stitching, special piping, and the most impressive embroidery and embossing seen on a Taycan.

This truly is a Tailor-made interior, TECHART manufactory and saddlery offers the owners of the all-electric sportscar a wide-ranging and handcrafted individualization program, with high-grade leather interior or a combination of sporty Alcantara and leather, the demo car they created comes with a stunning combination of perforated leather and Alcantara combined with contrasting piping.

But there is a fascinating ‘shimmer’ effect visible on these seats, TECHART will fit a contrast color underneath the perforated honeycomb pattern that will show through in a very impressive manner, the iconic TECHART logotype is not only embroidered on the seats in matching colors but even more impressively it’s also embossed on the door trim, in the headrest, and on the floor mats … which looks magnificent.

This demo car comes with a honeycomb perforation on an all-black upholstery, but TECHART offers an endless variety of customized perforation structures of the leather which can be specified in a plethora of different colors too, while the signature feature for the TECHART interior in the Porsche Taycan is a bespoke steering wheel.

The TECHART sports steering wheel comes with a top-center ring, the driving mode switch at the lower-right, and the fitting screws in a contrasting color, and you can still custom order any combination of painted spokes, leather on the rim combined with Alcantara. But again the option of carbon fiber is also possible, as is matching pipings and stitching on the steering wheel. To make it really stand out you can even get the perforation pattern from the seats applied to the steering wheel too, all while retaining the factory standard features such as multifunction, paddle shifts, and steering wheel heating.

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Wallpapers

We have curated the ultimate collection of the best 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Wallpapers and HD backgrounds for you to enjoy. Our team focused on finding the top 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Wallpapers only to keep the quality high. These 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Wallpapers are free to download so go ahead. To download any of these pictures for use as a wallpaper, right click the picture and choose Save As…

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