Mazda’s MX-5 Miata is no doubt the most raced car in the world and is still going strong. Mazda just released their 20th Anniversary Crystal White Pearl Mica MX-5 to celebrate the occasion. What else is on the way from the Mazda? Well they are set to release a pretty interesting new concept called the MX-5 Superlight Speedster in Frankfurt next month. Not much is known about the interesting looking speedster other than it is suppose to be lighter, have better fuel economy and handle better than the current MX-5. From the images we can see that the windshield, roof and door handles are gone making it ideal for club racers. Will Mazda actually release this concept? We sure hope so! Read the rest of this entry »
The Aston Martin Vantage GT4 is pure sex on wheels, while it kicks mucho ass on the track, driving it on the street may be a little difficult. Enter the Elite Aston Martin Vantage LVM/R. The makes extensive use of carbon fiber body panels and interior components to drop weight, it also features widened bespoke fenders and black central hub wheels. No extra power is made, but it already makes enough to spank almost any other car on the street, with looks to kill to boot! Only 30 will be produced at a cost of $173,000 on top of the cost of a Vantage. Check out the press release below.
Vancouver, WA – July 29, 2009 – Final concept images have just been released for the 2010 Aston Martin LMV/R (Le Mans Vantage Racer). Only 30 of these race cars for the street will be produced for the world. Following in the footsteps of the Ferrari Scuderia and Stradale and Lamborghini Superleggera, the Elite LMV/R is lighter than the factory Vantage due to most of the body panels being made from carbon fiber. The Scuderia, Stradale and Superleggera were built for the purists who wanted a race car for the street, a more nimble version of the production street car that they were built from. These cars aren’t for everybody due to their harsher ride and loud exhaust systems. This is the company that the LMV/R will now be amongst but even more rare and special. The Superleggera’s US production was 172 cars, the Ferrari Stradale seen 1,288 examples built and the Scuderia production is supposed to top out at about 1,500 cars. Compare these production numbers to the 30 LMV/R’s that will be built and you can see how special and rare the LMV/R will truly be. To take a Vantage and turn it into an LMV/R, many components are used. Here is a list of what comes standard on the LMV/R:
Carbon fiber body kit consisting of: front bumper with screens, visible carbon canards, visible carbon front splitter, hood, fenders (2″ wider), side skirts, side skirt panels, rear quarter panel extensions (2″ wider), trunk lid with visible carbon rear wing, rear bumper with visible carbon diffuser
Matte black 20″ wheels and tires for wide body kit
Lowering springs
Big Brake kit
Sport muffler with tips
Carbon fiber engine bay kit
Full Alcantara interior
Carbon fiber interior kit
Serial numbered plaque (only 30 cars will be produced)
LMV/R matte black stripes
Installation and full repaint
All LMV/R’s will be assembled in Florida and sent to and from the dealership that sold the car within the US. All LMV/R’s will be based on 2010 Vantage’s and will be very unique. The customer will order a brand new Vantage in any color offered by Aston Martin with any options. The Vantage is then picked up and sent to Florida where the work will be performed. The exterior can be painted the factory color or a custom color at an additional charge. The interior can be assembled in any color of the customers choosing since all the surfaces will be covered in new Alcantara.
Rumor is that Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen will retire after the end of the 2009 season. After the 2007 wold champ quites it would create a free seat for Fernando Alonso, a two-time champ of F1. Alonso has been unhappy after just one season with McLaren and has been talking about switching over to Ferrari. There has never been a good opportunity for Alonso to make the switch, until now. News reports in Räikkönen’s homeland of Finland have said that the F1 champ may return to rally racing full time. Räikkönen has already driven in three rallies so far this year and is said to be driving in another race this month. With one more year left on his contract will Ferrari let him go that easily? If it comes down to it Ferrari may have to Kimi his €28 million salary just to keep him out of any other F1 team in 2010, that’s a lot of money just to keep someone from not racing. Stay tuned for any more developments on this story.
The 2009 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is behind us, and a new kid (or car) on the block has already broken the record 2WD Time Attack record for production-based cars. Rhys Millen in his 17th run at Pikes Peak broke the record on the 12.4 mile course in his new Hyundai Genesis Coupe. His time in the new Hyundai was 12 minutes and 9.397 seconds, rear tires worn to the belts and all. The Hyundai Genesis has some stigmas to get over, like the fact it is a Hyundai, but this huge accomplishment is one way to prove to the world that the new Genesis can hang with the big boys.
RED BULL HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE AND RHYS MILLEN SET WORLD RECORD TO TAKE PIKES PEAK TIME ATTACK TITLE
World Champion Driver Rhys Millen Claims Ninth Mountain Win
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 19, 2009 – The 87th Annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has a new world record holder today – the Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe. World Champion driver Rhys Millen piloted the Genesis Coupe to his ninth overall class title, breaking one of his two world records in 17 trips to the Hill Climb.
“Driving the Genesis Coupe for the first time at Pikes Peak in front of thousands of fans is an amazing experience,” said Millen. “Nothing compares to the pressure and thrill of Pikes Peak while competing against yourself for the record.”
Millen set the record time of 12 minutes, 9 seconds (12:09.397) more than 1 minute and 23 seconds faster than his nearest competitor in the rear-wheel-drive Time Attack Class. At the finish line on the summit of Pikes Peak, Millen reported that the car that never skipped a beat, no matter how hard he challenged the diverse terrain and high altitude, and finished with both rear tires down to steel belts. Millen utilized the Genesis Coupe’s rear-drive layout to its full potential, power-sliding his Genesis Coupe mere inches away from guard rails, trees and 2,000-foot cliffs, while besting his own record of 12 minutes, 31.61 seconds by 22 seconds.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second oldest motor sports race in America, second only to the Indianapolis 500, and a long-standing tradition in Colorado Springs. First run in 1916, this year marks the 87th running of the thrilling “Race to the Clouds.”
The race is run on a course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the oxygen-depleted 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of up to 30 percent of their power at the summit. It’s a true test of endurance for competitors and vehicles. This year the race has 11 classes and features a variety of automotive, semi-truck, exhibition, open wheel, super stock car, pro truck and motorcycle classes with a field approaching 200 competitors.
With more than 16 years of racing experience, Rhys Millen has established himself as one of the premier rally/drifting drivers in North America. Born in New Zealand in 1972, Rhys is the son of famed rally and off-road racer Rod Millen. Rhys joined Rod in the U.S. as a teenager and soon afterwards established himself as racer by taking first at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the Open Division and winning Rookie of the Year. He won the Formula Drift championship in 2005 and the Red Bull Drifting World Championship in 2008.
Millen and his team are an ideal match to help launch Hyundai’s motorsports effort with the Genesis Coupe. Millen’s driving credentials include movie stunts, multiple drifting championships, a Pikes Peak world record and his recent New Year’s Eve Las Vegas truck flip. But behind Millen’s success in the driver’s seat is a full team of engineers and fabricators that know how to maximize the potential of a race car.
Millen had his first opportunity to test drive the Genesis Coupe’s performance credentials when he performed precision driving for the car’s debut advertising campaign airing during Super Bowl XLIII. Millen flogged a Genesis Coupe for a full three days during the filming process at Road Atlanta racetrack, and the car never stopped asking for more.
Ford is no stranger to special edition Mustangs, from anniversary editions to Bullitt Mustang. Ford recently built a one-off Mustang for an Experimental Aircraft Association fundraiser. It is not the first time Ford created a special edition Mustang for the EAA, they built a supercharged Mustang for them last year as well. The new Mustang is themed after vintage WWII war birds like the infamous P-51 Mustang and called the AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll.” Using a 2010 Mustang GT with a glass roof as the base, it has a 4.6-liter V8 engine with a Ford Racing supercharger laying down 550 ponies. Also included is a short throw shifter, Handling Pack that includes improved dampers, stiffer springs as well as sway bars. A FR500S exhaust lets you know this war bird inspired beauty is packing some serious power. On the outside the WWII themed Mustang has Shelby GT500 wheels, custom satin silver paint and a yellow “nose cone” as well as period correct “Dearborn Doll” pinup art on the front fenders.
The new AV-X10 “Dearborn Boll” Mustang will be debuted the 2009 Experimental Aircraft Association’s ‘Gathering of Eagles’ fundraiser going on between July 27 to August 2nd. Check it out over at MustangBlog.com. Do you know your Ford Mustang History? Check out AmericanMuscle.com and our information page.
It is pretty rare to hear about a recall from a auto maker like BMW, but it happens. BMW recently recalled their 1 and 3 series vehicles because of issues with the crimp connectors that can cause airbags to not properly deploy. 2009 BMW X5 and X6 crossovers are being recalled as well because of rear brake discs that do not properly meet specifications. In some cases it can cause the rear disc brakes to break and fail, which is a very serious issue. Check out the NHTSA bulletin below for more info on the BMW recalls.
NHTSA BULLETIN
Vehicle Make / Model: BMW / 1 SERIES, BMW / 3 SERIES
Model Year(s): 2008
Manufacturer: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Mfr’s Report Date: JUL 01, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V257000
Component: AIR BAGS: FRONTAL
Summary:
BMW IS RECALLING MY 2008 1-SERIES AND 3- SERIES PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT CRIMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SIDE AIR BAG AND BELT TENSIONER WIRING. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CRIMP CONNECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING PLUG MAY NOT OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.
The new 2010 BMW Z4 is scheduled to be released on December 15 but images of the new BMW roadster have already been leaked online. These images show a much more smoother Z4 that seem to clean away the Bangle lines and panels. The sexy wide rear arches definitely give the 2010 Z4 a meaner look more worthy of the Z4 name. The rear tail lights and rear end look pretty similar to other models in the BMW line as well. The new Z4 roadster is said to be powered by a naturally aspirated or turbo 3.0L in-line six engine. A hard top convertible is expected for 2009 as well as a soft-top later down the road. This new BMW Z4 definitely has the looks and the muscle to make it a great successor to the current aging Z4.
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey – July 1, 2009 … It was confirmed today that the BMW X1 is planned to debut in the United States in calendar year 2011. The X1 has been conceived with the flexibility to offer traditional rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations, as well as a wide variety of gasoline and diesel powertrain choices. In light of rapidly evolving US market demands, fuel prices, and regulatory standards, elements of the X1’s US launch plan, including engine and drivetrain configurations, will be forthcoming closer to the time of launch.
The BMW X1 will debut in Europe this fall with a choice of four engines – one gasoline and three diesels – and will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations. The X1 will set new benchmarks in the premium compact segment for efficiency, comfort, utility, and of course driving dynamics. Achieving up to 5.2 L/100km (45.2 miles per US gallon) on the European test cycle, the BMW Advanced Diesel-powered X1 sDrive18d will provide remarkable fuel efficiency while still achieving a top speed of 200km/h (124mph). Each drivetrain choice for the X1 will showcase the latest results of BMW’s EfficientDynamics engineering strategy, which is focused to reduce emissions and consumption while enhancing the performance expected of any BMW.
