News

All posts in “News”

Aspark Owl to Take on Nürburgring EV Record

Melt Your Face Fast

The Aspark Owl Hypercar comes from Japan, and it appears to be the next big thing in EV Hypercars. The model recorded 0-60 mph times under two seconds in 2018, and now the rumors are that it will take on the Nürburgring lap record for EVs.

According to Top Gear, the Aspark Owl will take on the track’s lap record for electric cars. A spokesperson for the company told the publication, “[The] Aspark Owl performances are allowing us to aim [for] the Nürburgring record.” It’s unclear when the car will attempt its lap run, but it would seem the vehicle has a good chance of making that happen based on its 0-60 mph runs and its other specs.

Aspark Owl rear three-quarter — Image from Aspark

The car is simply a performance beast with a countenance like a pissed off alien. The vehicle comes with 1,150 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque. All that power comes from four electric motors, and the vehicle’s battery pack can propel it for up to 180 miles. It has a top speed of 174 mph.

The Nürburgring will be the true test for the car. While it has to be fast to even come close to the record, the track will test the car from an aerodynamic standpoint and a driving dynamics standpoint. With the Owl being specifically designed as a road car, it may have a hard time at the track.

The current record holder is the Nio EP9, which completed the Nürburgring lap in a super fast 6:45.9 in 2017. The Nio is a track only car. Aspark hasn’t ruled out a track version of its hypercar. A track car may be a smart idea if it’s going to take on the ‘Ring.

January 30, 2019 / Comments Off

865

Toyota Boss Says the Company Will Add More Sports Cars

Toyota Wants More Than the Supra

As pumped up as everyone was for the new Supra, it seems there could be more to come in terms of performance cars from Toyota. According to Autocar, Toyota’s boss Akio Toyoda said that he would like to see more performance cars in the future.

“SUVs are nice but, at the end of the day, is there anything better than a tight rear-wheel-drive sports car? I hope this won’t be the last Toyota sports car you see from us in the future,” he told the publication. That’s not a confirmation for any particular model, but it would seem that he wants to see more sports cars. If anyone can make that happen, it’s him.

Since the Supra made its official debut, there have been rumors of the company reviving the Celica and the MR2. In an interview with Road and Track, Masayuki Kai the Supra’s assistant chief engineer said that he wants to see the Celica and MR2 back in production. That car would likely come through a partnership between Toyota and Subaru, according to Motor1.

Despite this possible move by the automaker, Motor1 thinks it more likely that Toyota would start with Gazoo Racing variants of its existing lineup. Cars like the Yaris, Corolla, and 86 could receive serious upgrades. This would be a cost-effective way of expanding the lineup.

However, those cars likely wouldn’t be monsters on the road, just more engaging models. The real test will be if Toyota brings back the Celica or MR2. With Toyota’s new TNGA platform, it may be relatively easy for the company to turn out some true performance models, so new sports cars could come sooner than you think.

January 29, 2019 / Comments Off

829

Italdesign Teases Upcoming Geneva Motor Show Car

The Iconic Design House Will Reveal Its Mystery Model

Italdesign is one of the most storied companies in all of the automotive industry. Its rich history means you should pay attention whenever it teases a new model that will likely be a revolutionary car. That’s exactly what the company just did.

The short teaser video doesn’t show much, but it does show some beautiful curves in what is bound to be a very fast car. The video shows what looks like a large rear wing. That means it will likely be a new supercar or hypercar. The car could be a road car or a track car. At this point, it’s a complete mystery. I have my hopes set on a road car, however.

[embedded content]

Motor1 points to the Zerouno Duerta as a possibility of what’s to come. That car was based on the Audi R8 platform, and it came with a 5.2-liter V10 that made 610 hp.

Italdesign is owned by VW Group. With that in mind, it’s safe to assume that the car at this year’s Geneva Motor Show will use tech and designs from VW, more notably Audi or Lamborghini, which is also under the VW group umbrella.

Whatever Italdesign produces will be a serious stunner, that’s for sure. It will also likely be much higher priced than whatever car it’s based on. The Zerouno had a price tag of $1.6 million, and only five were built. I would expect this new model to be more of the same—super-limited production and a price tag well north of $1 million.

January 29, 2019 / Comments Off

353

Porsche Taycan GT3 Rendering Looks Awesome

Hopefully, Porsche Pays Attention

The Porsche Taycan will come to the market as one of the company’s most highly-anticipated models ever. It’s an important car, too. It has a fully electric powertrain and the rumors say 600 hp. It will have a range of around 310 miles and can charge up to 248 miles worth of its battery in just 15 minutes.

According to Autoweek, its 0-60 mph time should be 3.5 seconds and 124 mph should come in a quick 14 seconds. Not good enough? What about a GT3 version? A new rendering from Porsche Taycan EV Forum shows what the model could look like. It’s stunning, and if Porsche is paying attention it should take note.

Will There be a Taycan GT3?

The Taycan will debut later this year, and when it does Porsche will have three versions of the vehicle. The Taycan, Taycan 4S, and Taycan Turbo. Because the vehicle is a fully electric machine and therefore can’t have turbos, we’re not really sure why Porsche will call one of the versions the Turbo.

The Turbo designation will likely just be for the higher-performance model. However, it seems that Porsche could have just come up with a different name, one that would have made sense. Anyway, the Taycan should be a riot on the road with that kind of horsepower, and it will show what Porsche plans to do as cars transition away from fossil fuels.

With all that said, I sincerely hope the company chooses to make a GT3 version of the Taycan, and when that happens, I hope it looks as good as the rendering shown above. The model gets a revised front end with a new splitter, front fascia, and grille. The rear has a big wing on it. It looks fantastic, and with the interest in this model Porsche should consider something like it.

January 28, 2019 / Comments Off

710

Volkswagen Will Take on the EV Record Around the Nürburgring

The I.D. R. Will Take On the Challenge

Volkswagen will have driver Romain Dumas take a chance at the EV lap time record around the Nürburgring in its electric I.D. R. zero-emissions electric racecar. VW will attempt the run this summer.

Before the German company decides to go after the EV title at the track, it will make some updates the I.D. R., according to Carscoops. The updates will include aerodynamic changes to the machine. The power output of 670 hp 650 lb-ft of torque from its two electric motors will remain the same.

In its current set up, the I.D. R. is capable of hitting 62 mph from a standstill in just two seconds. The aerodynamic upgrades shouldn’t impact this stat, but those changes should help the vehicle corner around the 12.9-mile racetrack. there are 75 corners on the track, so being able to take them at as high a speed as possible is vitally important for setting a good lap time.

In order to beat the record, VW’s electric racer will have to complete the lap in less than 6:45.90. The current record is held by the NIO EP9, which set the record in 2017. The driver behind the wheel of the NIO EP9 was Peter Dumbreck.

Romain Dumas thinks he will be able to beat Dumbreck’s time. However, he did say that the time Dumbreck put down in 2017 will be hard to beat. “The thought of driving the I.D. R on the Nordschleife is already enough to give me goosebumps,” he said.

When VW attempts to make the run this summer we’ll be watching and will let you know how much faster they complete it, if they can break the record at all.

January 26, 2019 / Comments Off

407

Lamborghini Caps Production at 8,000 Cars for 2020

Driving Price and Exclusivity Higher

Supercar manufacturers place exclusivity at the top of their list of priorities. Companies can keep exclusivity high by limiting volume. The fewer the cars out there, the more highly sought those cars become. Ferrari capped its production for years with this principle in mind. Now, it seems Lamborghini will follow suit.

In an interview with CarAdvice, the Raging Bull’s CEO Stefano Domenicali said that the company will cap its production at 8,000 units for 2020. There would also be no increases in new markets. That means Lamborghini wants to keep close watch over its brand recognition.

8,000 might not seem like much. If you look at the company’s sales, though, it’s plenty. The company sold 5750 models in 2018. That’s an over 50 percent increase from 2017. With the introduction of the Urus SUV, Lamborghini is expected to see similar or even more dramatic sales increases in 2019. However, for 2020, sales growth will definitely slow with the cap set at 8,000.

Lamborghini Urus — Image from Lamborghini

With the addition of the Urus to the lineup, Lamborghini could sell all of the 8,000 vehicles it plans to make. The Urus just came into the lineup midway through 2018 and still managed to rack up 1,800 sales. A full year of sales could be a considerable money maker for the Raging Bull.

According to CarAdvice, the company will break the 8,000 units down like this: half will be Urus and the other half will be either Aventador or Huracán supercars.

Domenicali said the brand management of restricting the supply of the cars should help further with the residual value of the cars. He said Lamborghini’s residual value is already really high. He also said the brand’s cars seem to appeal to a younger generation of buyers. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to be at the right level when it comes to exclusivity,” he said.

January 25, 2019 / Comments Off

719

Mecum Barred From Selling Ford GT Within First Two Years of Customer Ownership

Ford’s Buyers Agreement Reigns Supreme

When you buy a Ford GT, you sign an agreement that prohibits you from selling the car within the first two years of ownership. Some people have violated that agreement. Mecum auction house participated in the sale of a 2017 Ford GT at the Spring Classic Auction in Indianapolis, IN. The car sold for $1.6 million.

This angered Ford because the company wanted the agreement honored. Ford actually filed a lawsuit against Mecum. According to Carscoops, the lawsuit was just settled on terms “designed to promote mutual good will and business respect.”

This agreement means that Mecum can’t auction off any Ford GTs that are still within their two years of ownership. Additionally, Mecum will have to alert Ford of any “downstream purchaser” it comes across. This refers to people who have acquired a Ford GT somehow if it is still within its first two years since the original sale.

Ford GT

Ford wants to control the resale of its GTs, and the agreement signed by customers seems to be a good way of doing it. The downstream purchaser portion of the settlement applies to people who are not bound by Ford’s original agreement. It allows Ford to keep track of who is trying to resell its supercar.

Carscoops also reported that Mecum will have to pay Ford an undisclosed monetary fee for the sale of the GT that violated the owner agreement. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it was quite a high amount.

Ford’s tizzy with the auction house seems a little silly because the company just partnered with Barrett-Jackson to auction off a 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition for a whopping $2.5 million. However, that deal didn’t violate the owner’s agreement because Ford set up the deal itself and there was no prior owner to the car.

January 25, 2019 / Comments Off

496

McLaren Applied Technologies Envisions the Future of F1 in 2050

Things Could Get Weird

Looking like a mashup of TRON and every futuristic racing video game you can imagine, McLaren Applied Technologies has a vision for F1 racing in 2050. It is nothing if not exciting. The company talked with fans, racecar drivers, engineers, and others intimately involved in Formula 1 racing to create a vision of the future for the sport.

McLaren chose 2050 as the year to focus on. It chose that because 2050 marks 100 years for F1 racing. The car that the company came up with is called the MCLExtreme. The car has an open-wheel design and includes a driver, but uses futuristic technology. That tech includes shapeshifting active aerodynamics, an onboard advanced AI co-pilot, all-electric powertrain with 500 km/h inductive charging, autonomous and mixed reality technology and a whole lot more.

[embedded content]

McLaren noted that a car could even steal electrical energy from the car ahead of it. That would further enhance race strategy for the drivers and their racing teams. The company sees the future of the sport shifting from how to get the most out of the stored power, to how to maximize the power itself.

McLaren says cars of the future may still use actual plug-in charging tech to get to full charge. However, at least some of the charging will be wireless. Additionally, the company says the cars themselves could glow the color of the driver’s emotions and the tires could be self-repairing.

It Won’t Just Be the Cars

The tracks will change too. Fans expressed a want for longer and wider tracks with steep banking. McLaren thinks this will come to fruition by 2050. With the popularity of street races, the company thinks smart cities with banked streets will be the future.

=McLaren Applied Technologies 2050 racetrack — Image from McLaren Applied Technologies

“Smart cities will give us the chance to put the track action on people’s doorsteps,” said Rodi Basso, Motorsport Director at McLaren Applied Technologies. “We’re going to see more racing take place where the fans are, as part of a continued effort to bring the show to them…”

It’s clear that the future of F1 is full of possibilities. I highly doubt all the things McLaren envisions will come true. 2050, like it or not is not that far away, and the company is talking seriously large-scale changes. While technology moves fast, I doubt it will move this fast.

Maybe this is more like 2100 instead of 2050. With that said, we’re seeing the beginnings of this technology already added to cars, and it could be the future of F1. I just think it’s unlikely for changes like this to hit in only a little more than 30 years time.

January 24, 2019 / Comments Off

772

Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Track Performance Pack and Options Confirmed

Customize Your Valkyrie Hypercar

Aston Martin’s extreme Valkyrie Hypercar finally had its options confirmed. In a press release, Aston discussed the new AMR Track Performance Pack and the entire list of options for the car. The company’s personalization service called Q by Aston Martin—the company’s nod to the 007 movies—offers special customization to the 150-unit road-going hypercars.

The AMR Track Performance Pack brings track enhancements to the road-legal version of the car. However, the addition of the track-only components will eliminate road legality. The pack should improve track lap times by eight percent, according to Aston Martin. With the AMR Track Performance Pack comes a more aerodynamic front clam, another set of all other exterior body panels, titanium brakes, track-focused suspension, matte black magnesium performance wheels, and carbon-fiber aero-disk set.

Aston Martin also offers customers who buy the AMR Track Performance Pack their choice of three different AMR livery finishes. The liveries can also be further customized thanks to Q by Aston Martin.

Other Customization Options

If the AMR Performance Pack doesn’t sound worth it, customers can choose between four different Designer Specification themes. Each theme comes with its own color scheme. The colors include Slipstream Green, Liquid Petroleum, Ethanol Silver and Maximum Orange.

If none of the Designer Specification themes look good, customers can also choose to go the Ultimate Personalization programme route. This allows owners to work with Aston’s design team directly to craft the special one-of-a-kind design. Those customization options include the exterior and interior of the car.

The 150 Valkyrie models will all likely be a little different thanks to the numerous customization options for the car. Delivery of the vehicles should start this year. All of the cars have already been sold. The 25 Valkrie AMR Pro models that will come in addition to the standard car should come in 2020, and will have many of the same customization options.

January 24, 2019 / Comments Off

698

Details on the New Porsche 911 GT3 RS Emerge

Get Ready for the Most Track-Capable GT3 RS Yet

Porsche is prepared to make the 992 version of the 911 GT3 RS the best it has ever been. According to Wheels magazine, quoted on Which Car the vehicle will be more of an evolutionary change rather than a revolution for the vehicle. Talking with 911 product line chief August Achleitner Wheels was able to get confirmation that Porsche won’t mess with the basic formula for the GT3 RS.

That means the car will still be rear-wheel drive, have a high-revving naturally aspirated engine, and be extremely lightweight. The engine will be similar to the 4.0-liter flat-six engine in the current car. However, it may receive a displacement bump. Despite the increase in cubic centimeters, the car will likely still car the engine a 4.0-liter, according to Achleitner.

As far as transmissions go, the car will get the 7-speed PDK. A manual will be optional, too. This should help the GT3 RS keep weight down rather than going with the heavier 8-speed automatic at Porsche’s disposal. Keeping the car lightweight, Porsche will also employ plenty of carbon fiber and a magnesium roof.

Which Car notes that the focus of the new GT3 RS will be aerodynamics. The goal will be to increase both the possible top speed and cornering speed. Achleitner told Wheels the car would come with the latest technology, too. It would be available through the two 7-inch displays in the new car. The information displayed could be tailored to track use, giving the driver up-to-date data whenever he or she wants it. Sounds like the upcoming GT3 RS will be a real winner.

January 23, 2019 / Comments Off

953

Superformance Might Use the GT500’s Supercharged V8 in the Shelby GR-1

Superformance, Supercharged, Superfast

Superformance will build a production version of the Shelby GR-1 in the next few years. Until now, there were not many details about what type of engine the vehicle might get. That has changed. According to Robb Report, Superformance will consider a supercharged V8 engine for the GR-1 instead of the V10 engine that was in the original concept. Most likely it will be the 700-plus hp engine that’s in the upcoming GT500.

“It sadly won’t be a V-10,” said Lance Stander CEO or Superformance. “Ford doesn’t have a V-10 apart from one they utilize in trucks, and we want the GR-1 to be a production car with a production engine—all coming from Ford.” When asked if the company would use the GT500’s engine, Stader said, “You’re thinking on the right track.”

That’s a pretty clear indication that it will either be the GT500’s engine directly or some variation of it. The Robb Report also talked with Stander about the possibility of using the Tremec dual-clutch transmission in the GT500. “[The Tremac] is a very exciting transmission, and we are in talks with them,” said Stander. “But at this point, we are also planning a six-speed manual.”

That’s good news for enthusiasts. At this time, Ford only plans to build the GT500 with the DCT, but the company did note it would add a manual transmission at some point down the line if enough customers wanted one. Now, it seems customers may have an opportunity to get the powertrain they want in the even more exclusive Shelby GR-1.

EV Not Out of the Question Either

With all this talk of the gasoline-powered car, the electric version that was rumored has fallen by the wayside. However, Stander says his company is still talking with Shelby American to make the EV GR-1 happen. Stander said Superformance and Shelby can’t ignore the move toward electric vehicles industry-wide. He also said you never know where EVs will be in two years time.

Stander mentions two years because that’s about how long the company expects for the production version of the GR-1 to come to fruition. Right now the Low Car Volume Manufacturers Act, which is what enables the possibility of the GR-1 in the first place is tied up in the government shutdown. Once the shutdown is done, Superformance can proceed with actually building the car. When it does, let’s hope it has the V8-beating heart of the GT500 under it’s long and gorgeous hood.

January 23, 2019 / Comments Off

794

Aston Martin and TAG Heuer Team Up on Special Edition DBS Superleggera

Dark, Sinister, and Beautiful

When two high-end brands team up, you can bet that the results will be pretty wonderful, and that’s exactly the case with the TAG Heuer and Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. Luxury cars and luxury watches go and in hand. These two companies know this all too well.

The new DBS Superleggera TAG Heuer Edition is a special, bespoke model that will also come with a limited-edition TAG Heuer watch with its purchase. The watch will likely be a Carrera Heuer 01 Aston Martin Special Edition or a similar model. The pair up of the two companies makes perfect sense. Both are involved in F1 racing, both companies appeal to the same customer base, and both offer beautiful, yet expensive machines.

[embedded content]

The DBS Superleggera TAG Heuer Edition is painted in stunning Monaco Black. Carbon fiber accents give the model a little extra exterior visual flair and TAG Heuer logos feature on the fenders. The interior has a similar color scheme, with black interior, red contrast stitching, and TAG Heuer logos scattered throughout.

Under the DBS Superleggera’s goodly, muscular-looking hood lurks a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-12. It produces a strong 715 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough thrust to launch the car from a standstill to 60 mph in a spritely 3.4 seconds. Need to go super fast in your DBS Superleggera? No worries. The car’s top speed is a mighty 211 mph.

Aston and TAG Heuer only plan to make 50 examples of the beastly, luxurious machine. The price of this super-limited-edition car has not been announced. Aston and TAG Heuer also haven’t said whether or not the car will come to the U.S. Until we get more information, keep our fingers crossed and look at the photos below and the videos above.

January 22, 2019 / Comments Off

653

Dark-Roasted Coffee Could Be the Comeback Story of 2019

Like craft beer before it, Third Wave coffee is riddled with stereotypes. The caricature of the beer snob is a close relative of the coffee snob — snooty, dismissive and weirdly righteous. You’ll remember, too, that the craft beer community of yesteryear held fast to its belief that certain beers were beneath them — such as lagers — until some of America’s best brewers decided they weren’t. Craft coffee’s version of the lager saga is darkly roasted coffee, and now it looks like it might get off that high horse, too.

Meet “The Classics,” Trade Coffee’s new monthly coffee subscription. Built for the person who wants to get into coffee, new subscription nets you two bags of dark-roasted, specialty-grade coffee beans per month ($25 total).

“I think the thing about darker roasts is that they’re inherently a bit nostalgic,” said Erika Vonnie, director of coffee at Trade. “For the most part, that’s how coffee was roasted in America for a very long time. In the past, specialty roasters have leaned on lighter roasts, but they tend to be so far removed from what people know about coffee that it makes the transition from Folgers to specialty especially difficult.”

This idea mirrors the prediction of specialty coffee consultant and entrepreneur, James Hoffmann. In a video predicting coffee trends in the new year, Hoffmann spoke to the specialty coffee industry’s traditional stance against dark roasts: “We’ve pushed back pretty hard against [dark roasts] as an industry. We’ve said dark roasting is morally wrong, it destroys the hard work of great producers, and I understand and see that argument. I think we’re going to start to say, ‘If people like dark roasts, why can’t they have good green coffee?’”

By “green” coffee, Hoffman is referring to coffee beans prior to roasting (historically, darker roasts were filled using beans of a lower grade). It doesn’t hurt that that buzzy coffee roasters like LA’s Go Get ‘Em Tiger and Arkansas’s Onyx Coffee Lab are releasing higher-end dark roasts, too.

“You can’t hand someone curious about specialty coffee your super funky, light-roast Gesha and send them off into the sunset,” Vonnie said. “This is about getting coffee in the hands of people who want something that’s great, but still reminds them of coffee they’ve had before.”

The Classics subscription is available through Trade’s site now.

January 18, 2019 / Comments Off

841

Supra’s Chief Engineer Claims a 7:40 Nürburgring Lap Time

Toyota Should Test His Theory

The Nürburgring is the track that sports cars and supercars make their name. If they lap the track fast, they earn a spot in every car enthusiasts list of favorites. The Supra, being the sports car it is will at some point have to make the lap, and when it does, the car’s chief engineer thinks it’ll do the run in 7:40.

Tetsuya Tada, Supra’s chief engineer, told Road and Track, that the car would hit its 155 mph electronic speed limiter on the course’s long straight. He said the company may at some point cut the speed limiter to see how fast the car could truly be around the racetrack. He also said the car would do a 7:40 lap time as it is right now.

“But even just driving it as it is, it’s really fast,” he told Road and Track.

The new BMW Z4 has more horsepower but it is heavier and has a soft top. The Supra is based on that car. While BMW has no official time for that car, Sport Auto, a German publication, recently posted a 7:55 lap time in a pre-production version of the Z4. It would be interesting to see how the Supra fared around the same track.

While it is down on power from the Z4, the Supra’s more aerodynamic hardtop and lighter overall weight could help it achieve a 7:40. The only way to know for sure is if Toyota makes the run. Toyota, get to it.

January 18, 2019 / Comments Off

845

BMW’s Next M3 and M4 Will Have Manual Gearbox

BMW Wants You To Row Your Own Gears

It seems BMW really wants to make the next M3 and M4 cars it produces into the true ultimate driving machines. I don’t know about you, but to me, that indicates the cars will come with a manual gearbox. Recently, CAR Magazine reported that both the M3 and M4 will come with a manual.

Not all versions of the car will be available with a manual transmission, however. The cars in what the publication refers to as the “Pure” form will receive a stick shift. According to the publication, the Pure models are the base, bare-bones, all-about-driving cars.

Pure cars will come with a little less horsepower (according to CAR, 454 hp rather than 474 hp), and not as many frills and features as higher trim level vehicles. The word Pure, is just an internal designation at this point. BMW will likely come up with some new term that the marketing department has massaged into position.

Those cars available with the manual transmission will be without all-wheel drive. Yep, you’ll only be able to get a stick if you’re cool with rear-wheel drive. That shouldn’t be too big of a deal, though, for the folks who want a manual.

CAR also notes that the reason the cars will have less power and lack all-wheel drive is that BMW doesn’t have a manual that can handle the high levels of torque coming from the new twin-turbo straight-six engine. That’s the best reason I’ve ever heard, and I’ll be thrilled with the option of a good old six-speed and only about 450 hp.

January 18, 2019 / Comments Off

664

Ugur Sahin Design’s Alfa Romeo “Nivola” Looks Better Than the 4C It’s Based On

Improving On A Beautiful Design

I used to think the Alfa Romeo 4C was one of the best looking cars around, but now I know that it was only vaguely what I actually wanted it to be. This new design from Ugur Sahin Design called the Nivola is what the 4C should have always been.

The Nivola Concept came about after the design firm’s CEO Ugur Sahin saw the Alfa Romeo Stradale 33, designed by Franco Scaglione in 1967, win at Pebble Beach. Its name comes from racing legend Tazio Nuvolari. Nivola was Nuvolari’s nickname, and it suits the car well.

According to Ugur Sahin Design’s website, “He epitomized courage and daring and for 30 years he amazed the racing world with his exploits on both two and four wheels resulting in several championship titles in motorcycle as well as sports car championships.”

Elegant and Well-Proportioned

The Nivola Concept perfectly merges old and new design. It’s at once modern and retro and takes the 4C’s donor car shell to whole new levels with smooth curvy lines. It makes me wonder why automotive designers ever thought creases in bodywork sheet metal were a good thing.

Sahin said the 4C was an obvious choice for his modern interpretation of the Alfa Romeo Stradale 33. The hard points of the chassis for the mounting of the body panels differ dramatically from the original car. That means he had to get creative to make his concept work.

Sahin certainly pulled through. The car is beautiful with near-perfect proportions. In order to achieve this, Sahin had to increase the length of the rear of the car. While the car is based on the Stradale 33 it’s not an exact copy. Shin made a point to make the concept his own. It’s a homage to the original car, but it’s not a replica or a recreation. If Alfa was smart, they’d hire him to do the next generation of the 4C if there is one.

January 17, 2019 / Comments Off

541

Toyota May Consider a Manual Transmission for the new Supra

Enthusiasts Want What Enthusiasts Want

The new Toyota Supra is a car built for racers, sports car enthusiasts, and anyone who likes sporty cars in general. That crowd of people seems a bit miffed by the lack of a manual transmission in the new car. However, according to Carscoops, a manual could be coming for the Supra.

Tetsuya Tada is the chief engineer for the car. He told journalists if there was enough of an uproar for the new A90 Supra to get a manual transmission that Toyota would put one in. It all depends on the buyers and what they want. That means you’d better get to the Supra forums and social media and raise hell if you want a manual.

According to Tada-san, it would take “a persistent, overwhelming demand” for Toyota to put a regular manual transmission in the car. To me, that says Toyota doesn’t want to do it. However, I’m sure the company would if its fans all-out revolted.

Could a Manual Make the Supra Awesome?

There’s already mixed opinions of the new Supra. While the car doesn’t look all that much like the BMW Z4, under the skin it’s essentially the same car but with less power. In other words, some Supra fans feel cheated. A manual transmission may be the salve they need to heal their wounds and feel good about the car.

2020 Toyota Supra interior — Image from Carscoops

Tada-san also noted that Toyota tested with manual transmissions, so it would seem that the company has a manual to use. However, one detail may throw a wrench in the solution.

The manual transmission was tested in markets that use right-hand-drive cars, meaning Toyota would have to flip things around for the North American market. It will be interesting to see what Toyota fans do and subsequently what Toyota does.

January 15, 2019 / Comments Off

976

Could the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Get a Manual?

We Know You Want to Row Your Own Gears

The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will come with a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DTC) with paddle shifters instead of the manual transmission many enthusiasts wished it had. However, Carl Widdman, head engineer for Ford Performance and the Mustang, didn’t rule out a manual for Ford’s 700-plus hp Mustang. That means it could get a manual transmission.

Road and Track talked with Widdman at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit where the car made its debut. Widdman didn’t rule out the possibility of a manual transmission at some point. In fact, he seemed to hint that the muscle car could come with one at some point.

The all-new Shelby GT500–the pinnacle of any pony car ever engineered by Ford Performance–delivers on its heritage with more than 700 horsepower for the quickest street-legal acceleration and most high-performance technology to date ever offered in a Ford Mustang. — Image from Ford

When asked if the GT500 could get a manual transmission in later months, Widman said, “Right now, we’re DCT-only, [but] we get feedback, and we’re real tight with the Mustang crowd. We always listen to what our customers want, right?”

That’s not a confirmation that the GT500 will get a manual transmission, but it’s certainly not a no. It would seem that Ford Performance is open to the idea. Why wouldn’t they be? If they’re going to miss out on sales because of the lack of a manual, then it only makes sense to put one in there.

Road and track also tried to find out if the Mustang GT350 or other versions of the Mustang would get the GT500’s slick new DCT from Tremec, and Widdman said no. That’s a shame because of the fact that the DTC in the GT500 shifts faster and can handle more torque than the current 10-speed automatic in the regular Mustang.

January 15, 2019 / Comments Off

845

2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is Ford’s Most Powerful Street Car Ever

Hang on Tight

Ford is known for high-performance muscle cars, but now it has its most powerful muscle car of all time. The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500. It comes with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that produces more than 700 hp.

Its monster V8 engine is connected to a dual-clutch automatic transmission that puts all that power down to the rear wheels. That should translate to mid-three second 0-60 mph times and a quarter-mile drag strip time of under 11 seconds.

The GT500 isn’t just a straight line hustler, though, Ford claims it possesses the best braking and cornering of any domestic sports coupe. Dodge and Chevy, Ford is looking right at you.

The Shelby produced car has an exterior design focused on aerodynamics. It’s supposed to increase downforce and improve thermal management.

Jim Farley, Ford president of global markets, had this to say about the car, “A takedown artist, the new Shelby GT500 will surprise supercar owners with its Ford Performance racing tech, supercharged engine and visceral swagger.”

A Seriously Special Muscle Car

Ford hasn’t released specific engine power numbers or performance numbers for the car. All that will come at a later date. However, Ford did give insight into just how unique the model is. The powertrain is special to this car, and the aluminum alloy engine is built by hand.

The engineering team inverted the 2.65-liter roots-type supercharger with an air-to-liquid intercooler to help keep the center of gravity low. To channel power efficiently and effectively, Ford used a carbon fiber driveshaft. In conjunction with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that can shift in under 100 milliseconds, this helps put the power from the engine down to the wheels.

The car also gets fully revised suspension geometry and a new electronic steering system. It gets MagneRide suspension to help manage everything. The massive 16.5-inch two-piece brake rotors (the largest of any domestic coupe) and Brembo brake calipers finish the car’s performance specs for the moment.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the car looks downright angry. It’s the face of a true muscle car if I ever saw one. It’s here to gobble up Chevy Camaros and Dodge Hellcats with aplomb. It will arrive in the fall of 2019.

January 14, 2019 / Comments Off

726

Say Hello to the Toyota Supra GR’s Interior Before It’s Officially Revealed

It Looks BMW-esque

The Toyota Supra’s reveal at the North American International Auto Show is right around the corner. However, the details keep leaking out. Toyota won’t have much to discuss at the official reveal. Carscoops just showed off the Supra GR’s interior thanks to some new image leaks it got ahold of.

The interior of the car looks well put together and handsome, but there are some very BMW-looking elements to the interior. This should come as no surprise because the Supra was developed alongside the new BMW Z4.

Two versions of the Supra’s interior leaked. A two-tone, red and black version and an all-black version. The red and black one is the better looking of the two, and Toyota chose its colors and color placement well.

The red and back interior uses black as a base color and red as the accent. The Supra gets red on the steering wheel, lower portions of the door, and the driver’s side of the center console.

The infotainment system, controls, shifter, and rotary knob for the car’s system all are straight out of BMW’s playbook. If I didn’t see the big Toyota logo on the steering wheel, I would have assumed this was the interior of a BMW car.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. BMW makes fantastic cars with excellent interior design. The Supra can benefit from that. Toyota doesn’t always make the best choices for its cabins, and using one that’s basically a BMW cabin is welcomed. With that said, I’m a little bummed Toyota didn’t really try to make it, its own.

January 14, 2019 / Comments Off

428