The 1987 to 1992 Ferrari F40

The Last And Greatest Ferrari Enzo Blessed.

 

     Today if you were to ask a Ferrari fan what the best Ferrari ever created was, he or she might say something like the F12 Berlinetta or the Ferrari 458 Italia. However most auto enthusiasts and journalists will say it was the last Ferrari Enzo himself blessed before he passed away. That Ferrari is the legendary Ferrari F40. Let's learn more about Enzo's dream come true.

     The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine Italian supercar, and the first to reach a top speed of over 200 mph. No wonder Enzo decided this was his company's greatest achievement ever. The car is equipped not with a V-12 like most vintage Ferraris, but rather a 2.9 liter V-8 with parellel twin-turbochargers giving the car 471 hp which was ridiculously good for its time. The turbos came from a Japanese company called IHI. IHI's turbos we're popular in certain Japanese cars such as Subaru, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.

     Anyway moving on now. The 2.9 liter twin-turbocharged V-8 of the F40 allowed it to reach 60 mph in 3.8 seconds which seems modern even today, and that's a good thing. The engine is coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox with a stick made in a classic Ferrari style. Unfortunately the F40's plexiglass engine cover had to have excellent venting due to the possible fact the V-8 tended to get too hot too often. Thankfully the venting was enough to calm the prancing horse. Inside the driver's area, the insulation wasn't the best so it felt like you we're in a room designed to test sound-based technology. Thankfully again many F40 owners didn't seem to care for any of this because at the time they had the best car in the world, and in some ways it still is. Apparently I also learned of a fun fact about the F40. When the car's engine is turned off there are still noises and vibrations that can be heard.

     Back in the day a Ferrari F40 would cost up to $400,000 which is expensive even by Ferrari prices. Today it's even more expensive at $1.15 million for a pristine 1990 model, and $781,000 for a mostly pristine 1991 model with no more than 300 miles on it. Even today you can say all of the Ferrari F40 models have aged well and even look fresh out of the factory today.

    

The 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S

Could This Become My Uncle's New Favorite Aston Martin?

(These we're the only pictures I could find without violating copyrights. Sorry)


 

     Because my uncle plays Forza Motorsport 4 his current favorite Aston Martin is the 2010 Aston Martin V-12 Vantage for its looks and performance. However what will happen if a Forza Motorsport 7 was created and featured the new 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S? Let's learn more about the car to see if we can answer that question. 

     The 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S is grand touring car equipped with a naturally aspirated 5.9 liter V-12 that delivers 592 hp and can help the car reach a maximum speed of 201 mph. Naught to sixty takes 3.5 seconds which is point 1 second slower than the Aston Martin V-12 Zagato I wrote about earlier. Torque is 465 lb-ft. The engine is coupled to a currently unknow gearbox. Given that Aston Martin has been recently putting sticks in their cars for gear changing don't be surprised if this new car gets one too. However I can see Aston putting in a flappy paddle gearbox with a dual-clutch transmission, but that's just what I think will happen. 

     Other than the exterior changes to certain areas like the grille, it would seem this Aston's interior thinks black "filograph" leather is the new alcantara. The steering wheel has also been given a makeover. The buttons and knobs are now placed in a "Chopped Carbon Fiber" fascia. This "Chopped Carbon Fiber" was used so much in the interior it replaced the traditional wood trim inside some well-known and not so well-known Aston Martins. Unfortunately nobody knows how this "Chopped Carbon Fiber" was created. It's possible Aston is guarding the technique like a loyal British knight would protect his king or queen.

     Prices for the 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish S will cost 199,950 pounds in the United Kingdom, 262,950 euros in Germany, and 294,950 dollars in the United States. To answer the question about my uncle liking this new Aston Martin better than the one from 2010 I believe the answer could very well be a yes.

The 2017 Spyker C8 Preliator

Spyker's Latest Car Gone Lotus-Like

(All the pictures had to removed for copyright reasons. I apologize.)

     For the year 2017, Spyker decided to create a successor to the C8 Aileron. This new Spyker's name has nothing to do with airplane or jet parts. It's called the Preliator which means fighter or warrior in ancient Latin. This actually isn't a surprising choice of name since the car has Italian words on the exhausts that translate to "for the tenacious no road is impassable." Plus the Spyker Cars company has a massive respect for Enzo Ferrari and his famous saying "what's behind you, doesn't matter." But enough of that. Let's learn more about Spyker's latest hit. 

     The Spyker C8 Preliator is a Dutch grand tourer that borders on being a pure sports car. The Preliator uses an Audi 4.2 liter supercharged (yes you heard me) engine that delivers 517 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The maximum speed of the Preliator is 201 mph which is very good for the class of car the Preliator is in. Zero to sixty takes 3.7 seconds. The engine is coupled to a Getrag, six-speed manual transmission, or an A ZF six-speed automatic with paddles. 

     Something that is a surprise or shouldn't be for the Preliator is that not much as changed appearance and aerodynamics-wise since it's predecessor the Aileron. The car is now longer for increased leg room, the interior mixes retro with modern technology perfectly, and there are now added fender flares and intakes on certain areas of the car. The most interesting thing to me at least is that Spyker decided to go sort of Lotus Exige with the rear of the car in it's appearance. This is again not a surprise as Lotus was the one who helped build the Preliator's suspension, just like they did with the Aileron. If the Aileron drove really good with its Lotus suspension in Forza Motorsport 4 and real life, I can imagine the Preliator is even better. I bet Spyker had to get permission from Lotus to make the rear of the Preliator look sort of like the rear of a Lotus Exige. 

     The Preliator's body is likely made of carbon fiber like the Aileron.

     Not surprisingly again the Preliator is being built to compete with Ferrari's California T, and the McLaren 570S. The cost of the Preliator will likely be $354,990 for the manual, and $362,990 for the automatic. 

     I guess some car companies don't need to make many changes to keep their cars looking good.

The 1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series III

A Very Rare Classic By BMW

     Hello viewers. Today I'll be writing about another classic car. This one comes from Germany's BMW and is called the 1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series III. Let's learn more.

     The 1959 BMW 507 Roadster Series III is a classic German sports car equipped with a 3.2 liter naturally aspirated V-8 that delivered 145 hp, and later 160 hp. The car's top speed was an estimated 124 mph. Naught to sixty took 6 seconds which is not far off from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale I wrote about earlier. The V-8 engine was coupled to a 4-speed manual with a stick. 

     Now for a little history lesson. If it weren't for a man named Max Hoffman we wouldn't have had BMW export the 507 and earlier models to the United States. His actions caused the first of the 507 models to be born in 1956. Unfortunately for Hoffman BMW couldn't keep the cost of these incredible cars down to keep them competitive. Because of this no more that 251 examples were made. 

     Now on to the build of the 507 Roadster Series III. The body was made of aluminum, (aluminium for my British viewers), and was also hand built. One problem with the 507 was that the hardtops were all unique and would only fit that one car you owned. 

     As for the styling of the car, that was done by a German who migrated to the United States prior to WWII named Albrecht Von Goertz. Through his work he was able to make a masterpiece that would be imitated for years by BMW and other car companies.

     Not surprisingly the 507 was created and priced to compete against the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. 

 The price back then was meant to be $5,000 or $2,500 less than the 300SL. Unfortunately the car's price rose from $9,000 to $10,500 when it reached the United States. Today an old used 507 can cost up to $1 million, and those in pristine condition would likely cost up to $2.4 million. I honestly think that given the cars looks and troubled history that the price is worth it.

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Drawing

The 1965 Bizzarini P538

A Lesser Known Italian Classic

    Hello everyone. Today is classic car day, and I will start by talking about a classic from Italy called the Bizzarini P538.
    Giotto Bizzarini is an Italian who once worked for Alfa Romeo and Ferrari before building his own company in 1964. By 1965 he and his workers created their first car dubbed the Bizzarini P538. The car apparently had an old Chevrolet Corvette engine in it giving the Italian car the heart and...sound of an American car. Later models used various V-12s. Let's learn more about this amazing classic with an Italian body and an American heart.  (The V-8) (One of the V-12s)
     The 1965 Bizzarini P538 is an Italian sports car originally equipped with a V-8 from an old Chevy Corvette that had 5.3 liters and was naturally aspirated. Later models used either a 3.5 liter or 4.0 liter V-12 that both had natural aspiration. The power of the V-8 model is 365 hp. Top speed of the V-8 model is 174 mph which is very quick for it's time. Ferrari you've been schooled. Haha! Apparently the V-8 was coupled to a 5-speed ZF gearbox with a stick shift.
     The P538's body is made of fiberglass. Don't worry this car is legal in the States and Britain. The suspension was created to be independent at all four corners of the car. The brakes used are four-wheel discs that are mounted in-board.
     You would think given the time this car was made it probably raced at Le Mans against such cars as Ferraris and maybe the Ford GT40. While it did for a short time the FIA eventually placed some new rules kicking the car out of the race. Worse the Bizzarini company went through financial problems and Mr. Bizzarini had to hide the component for the car to keep them from investigators.
      I don't know the price of the car back in the day, but today the car is said to cost between $750,000 to $950,00 depending on the model.
      My question is whether such a price is worthy of such a rare classic.
      Plus if you think Bizzarini is dead think again. They apparently have a concept car for the year 2008. Here's a picture of it. 

The 2016 Techrules AT96 TREV

A Chinese Supercar Concept Made By The Chinese Themselves

     Hello viewers. You may remember an earlier article I wrote on the Icona Vulcano supercar. That car was a Chinese supercar designed by Italians. However the car I'll be writing about is a Chinese supercar designed by the Chinese themselves. That car is the 2016 Techrules AT96 TREV. Let's see what the Chinese did when building this car.

     The AT96 TREV is a Chinese supercar equipped with rear-wheel drive and six electric motors. There is one for every front wheel, and two for every rear wheel. Each motor weighs over 26 pounds and each has it's own inverter. Six percent of the electricity generated is used to power the car's auxiliary electronics. The other thirty percent is sent back to the battery to charge it. Sounds very smart. Also due to the use of a smart battery management system, the electric cells created by the motors is transferred to other electric cells which creates a balance between all of the cells.
     Anyways this all gives the AT96 TREV 1,030 hp and 6,300 pound-feet of torque. Top speed of the AT96 TREV is said to be 217 mph. Naught to sixty-two is also said to take 2.5 seconds. Rimac you've been warned. Haha!  
     Running the car on the generator alone will get you about 50 miles per gallon.
     Inside the AT96 TREV there is only one racing-style seat because the car was created with track days in mind. The seat and steering wheel are said to be wrapped in Alcantara.
     This car is currently a concept so no price, even an estimated one, has been given to the public. However the Italians under the leadership of famed Lamborghini designer Giorgetto Giugiaro are currently helping the Chinese at Techrules to create another car called the GT96. Let's hope this new Chinese/Italian concept car gets two seats and delivers a comfortable ride experience. 

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat 

Dodge And SRT's Answer To The 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R And The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28


 

     Hello viewers. On the last article I wrote about the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. And before that I wrote about the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R. Now it's the Dodge and SRT fans' turn with the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Let's learn about this car now.

     The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a muscle car and sports car equipped with a naturally aspirated 6.4 liter V-8 HEMI engine that delivers a powerful 707 hp and a top speed of 199mph all the way to 202mph. Naught to sixty takes 3.6 seconds making it get to sixty faster than the Camaro but point one of a second slower than the Shelby Mustang. However knowing my Hellcat fans that wont matter much if at all to them. The Hellcat comes with rear-wheel drive. The engine is coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox with flappy paddles. While this might tick off some Hellcat fans, most will probably be willing to let it slide due to the Hellcat's looks and performance. The Hellcat's maximum RPM is unknown to me currently.

     Compared to a regular Dodge Challenger, the Hellcat's inner driving light on the left front was removed to let air get into the engine with more ease to provide more torque. The wheel wells have been changed from the regular Challenger to support the new 20-inch aluminum wheels.
     Now here is something that doesn't make sense to me at all. The Hellcat use two key fobs. The "black" key fob limits the engine output to 500 hp. The "red" key fob allows the Hellcat to use all of it's horsepower. Perhaps this is to comply with emissions laws and safety regulations, but I'm not completely sure. When MotorTrend tested the Hellcat it did a figure-eight in 24.7 seconds which is very impressive.  
     The price of a 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is $66,365 if I'm correct. Sounds like a good price, and great value for the money.

The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Chevrolet's Answer To The Ford Shelby GT350R

 

     Recently I wrote an article on the Ford Shelby GT350R, and now it's the Chevy fans' turn to have a car written about for them. The Chevy I'll be writing about is the GT350R's rival from MotorTrend's Head 2 Head show, the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. Let's learn some more about this awesome addition to the Camaro family.

     The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is a sports car equipped with a 7 liter naturally aspirated (Yes you heard right.) V-8 that delivers 505 hp and an estimated top speed of 180 mph. Naught to sixty takes an estimated 3.8 seconds which is basically old supercar speed. The engine is coupled to (You heard right again.) a Tremec TR6060 manual with a stick. Because of these parts and performance numbers the 2014 Camaro Z/28 has a strong fan base, and has formed heated rivalries with Ford's Shelby GT350R, and the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.  To solve once and for all which of the three is the best I think MotorTrend should have three racing experts race the three cars against each other at either Mazda Laguna Seca or Willow Springs to determine the best car. Let's move on now.

     Compared the original Camaro, the 2014 Z/28 features a complete aerodynamics package that reduces downforce at high speed. The package contains a large splitter in the front, extended rocker panels, and fender flares that are over the front and rear wheels. At the rear of the car is a mean looking spoiler and a fully functional diffuser. Due to thinning the window and getting rid of both the HID headlights and fog lights the 2014 Z/28 is 300 pounds lighter then the current ZL1 at the time and 100 pounds lighter than the current Camaro SS model at the time.

     As for the interior of the 2014 Z/28 the seats have been replaced with Recaro seats with microfiber suede inserts. Air conditioning has been removed and comes as a stand alone option, and the audio system has only one speaker now. For $1,150 customers can add A/C and up to six speakers. Not bad. Plus the gauges are meant to reflect older Chevrolet Camaros and look as retro as possible. 

     The price of the 2014 Z/28 is $75,000 plus a $995 destination tax. However tax, license, title, and dealer fees are excluded. Only five colors exist for the 2014 Z/28. They are Black, Red Hot, Silver Ice Metallic, Ashen Grey Metallic, and Summit White. While I'm more of a Ford Mustang fan I will admit that the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is a seriously cool car with serious performance.

The 2018 Aston Martin AM-RB 001

The Car That Should Be On Forza Motorsport 7

     You may remember an earlier Aston Martin article I did on a mid-engine Aston Martin made by the Danish called the HBH Bulldog.  While that car was pretty looking it pales in comparison to what the British themselves at Aston Martin alongside Red Bull Racing have created in terms of pretty much everything. This new mid-engine Aston will likely hit production unlike the HBH Bulldog and it will be called the AM-RB 001. And the best part about this car in a time where cars are using electric or hybrid technology to move is that the AM-RB 001 has a (you heard me) a naturally aspirated V-12 engine with crazy performance numbers. Plus it burns fuel quite cleanly for a V-12. Because of the power and looks of the car some fans have called this car a Le Mans prototype car for public roads. Let's learn more about this so called Le Mans prototype for public roads.

     The Aston Martin AM-RB 001 is a British hypercar equipped with a naturally aspirated V-12 with a currently unknown amount of liters that delivers 220 mph top speed. Naught to sixty takes an estimated 3 seconds or actually 3 seconds. Unfortunately Aston has been secretive about how much horsepower this hypercar has. The engine will be coupled to a race-spec transmission that was created in collaboration with a man named Adrian Newey and Red Bull Advanced Technologies. Newey also said the suspension will have creative technology and use principles created over his 30 year career as a Formula 1 race car driver. That sounds awesome.

     The AM-RB 001 has a chassis made of carbon fibre. As for the aerodynamic kit it is rumored to use Formula 1 inspiration for incredible downforce on public roads. The exterior is no surprise said to be modeled after an LMP1 for Le Mans and it seems to share all those features. The underbody also uses Formula 1 race car inspiration for excellent all-around performance.

     As opposed to the standard diffuser that goes to the ground found on most if not all Aston Martin cars, the AM-RB 001 uses a tunnel-like element that is supposed to channel air that comes from beneath the nose. 

     The AM-RB 001's price will likely cost about 1 million pounds in Britain, and about 1.3 million dollars in the United States. That's right people. This car has likely passed all the California emissions safety tests so it will likely be legal to drive almost everywhere in the United States.

     Currently according to Aston Martin the car is 80% finished.

The 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato

Aston Martin And Zagato's 5th Joint-Collaboration

     Yes it's official. British car company Aston Martin and Italian car company and design house Zagato have made a fifth joint-effort sports car and luxury grand tourer. It's called the 2017 Vanquish Zagato, and I don't know about you but I think it's probably the prettiest and most passionate Aston Martin ever created. Let's learn more about this incredibly beautiful half-British, half-Italian car.

     The 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato is a half-British, half-Italian sports car and luxury grand tourer that is equipped with a (wait for it) naturally aspirated V-12 at 5.9 liters that delivers 591 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. (Sorry I couldn't find an engine picture.) That amount of horsepower is 24 more horsepower than the most recent standard Vanquish. This improves the 0 to 60 mph time to 3.5 seconds. Now a possible let down for the purists and those who are old school and like stick shifters. The car uses an 8-speed automatic that remains standard from what I'm guessing is a regular Vanquish. Top speed of the Vanquish Zagato is unknown. The car also uses a unique suspension setup. Let's hope this suspension wasn't developed at the Nurburgring or a certain someone wont be very happy about it. (Hints at James May From Top Gear UK)

     The Vanquish Zagato's exterior includes LED fog lamps at both corners, a new hood, and a big splitter up front to help with downforce. Aston Martin's trademark side strake was recreated to run from the wheel arch to the door just like on the Aston Martin DB11. This inspiration comes from the CC-100 Anniversary Concept. The side mirrors are designed to look similar to that of the Aston Martin One-77's and have a very aerodynamic design. 

     In the rear, the Vanquish Zagato uses a sculpteral design that was borrowed from the DB11. It includes a retractable spoiler and a rear hatch that makes getting the luggage compartment easier. The rear taillights use the classic Zagato for inspiration and are round. There are also bladed LEDs near the rear taillights that were inspired by the Aston Martin Vulcan. The rear is also rounded off by a quad-exhaust layout and a large, diffuser-related piece. The Vanquish Zagato also features a double-bubble roof that has been a Zagato trademark since the early 1950s. The car is made entirely out of carbon fibre.

     As for the interior of the Vanquish Zagato it's somewhat similar to that of a normal Vanquish. However interior differences includes "Herringbone" carbon fiber that has been painted with anodized bronze detailing on the center stack, a "Z" quilt pattern stitch on the seats and door panels, "Z" embossed headrests and a "Z" embossed center console, double contrast stitching on the upper door panels, and aniline leather. The "Z" stitch is also used in the car's headliner. 

     I originally thought the Vanquish Zagato would cost over $1,000,000, but auto journalists say it might cost $400,000 in the United States. I just hope the luxury combined with the performance of the car itself justifies the $400,000 possible price tag.

The 2012 Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept

Another Possibly Good Example Of A Quirky Looking French Car

     For the year 2012, the French car company Renault allowed some journalists and other people to see that it was trying to create a worthy successor to the famous Alpine A110  from 1961 to 1977. This concept dubbed the Alpine A110-50 Concept has met with some development issues. Apparently Renault and their back-up company, which some journalists think is Nissan, can't seem to decide on what they want the Alpine A110-50 Concept to look like. However in 2015 journalists captured a possible Renault test car on the road that seemed to be either another concept or the last concept before production. I saw a picture of this said test car on the internet and it looks sort of like a French version of the Lotus Exige, albeit a little wider, longer, and taller. I don't know if you viewers will think that's either a good or bad thing but enough of this. Let's talk about the Alpine A110-50 Concept some more. 

     The Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept is a French supercar equipped with a 3.5 liter, 24-valve V-6 that delivers 400 hp. Hopefully the car is light enough to make that 400 hp powerful enough to make the car go fast. Top speed of the A110-50 Concept is unknown. Zero to sixty is also unknown. The engine is expected to be coupled to a 6-speed sequential gearbox, and a twin-plate clutch that the driver can control with either the clutch pedal or a paddle located on the steering wheel. 

      Renault Sport Technologies was responsible for building the car itself and gave it plenty of race car inspired technology. The A110-50 Concept is based on the Megane Trophy race car platform but the A110-50 Concept has had its bracing in the engine bay and the roll cage lowered. The wheelbase was also modified but remains similar. However the track is now wider at 1,680mm in the front, and 1,690mm in the rear. The A110-50 Concept uses 21'' wheels that have been combined with Sachs dampers that the driver can adjust for better compression and extension. The car is apparently made of carbon fiber elements.

     Since this car is still in a concept stage there is no price for the car as of now. 

     While this car isn't flashy like a Ferrari or Lamborghini it certainly has its own unique good looks.

    

The 2017 Faralli and Mazzanti Evantra Millecavalli

A Faster And Better Looking Improvement Of The Original Evantra

 

(Comparison pictures of the new Evantra to the old one. The one on the left and below is the Evantra Millecavalli.)

     Hello viewers. You may have seen an older article I did on the original Mazzanti Evantra. Well it turns out that Mazzanti might want to show that an obscure Italian company can build a car to compete with Sweden's Koenigsegg cars at the Nurburgring. The new car called the Mazzanti Evantra Millecavalli looks similar to its father except that certain areas such as the grille have been redesigned for improved aerodynamics. When I learned that one of my favorite and obscure Italian companies made an Evantra successor I just had to write about it. Let's see if Mazzanti made a good successor or a fail.

     The 2017 Faralli and Mazzanti Evantra Millecavalli is an Italian hypercar equipped with a 7.2 liter bi-turbo V-8 that is either Chevrolet sourced or made by Faralli and Mazzanti themselves that delivers 1,000 hp exactly, hence the name Millecavalli which means one thousand in Italian. Top speed of the Evantra Millecavalli is 250 mph. Naught to sixty takes 2.7 seconds. The engine is coupled to an unknown gearbox, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's exactly the same one as in the old Evantra.

     Not only has the engine been changed on the Evantra Millecavalli, but the exterior has changed as well in certain areas of the car. The lower bumper of the car has been given a larger diffuser, and race-inspired canards. The front hood now has three large vents as well as two downforce increasing elements in the design. The roof scoop from the original Evantra has been lengthened toward the windscreen and is wider and flatter.

     The sides of the Evantra Millecavalli have also seen some changes. The wheels are now multi-spoked and are both lighter and seem to be wrapped around track-ready tires. There are also flared wheel arches that makes one wonder if the rims are wider. The side vents are larger and the side skirts have been extended. Moving on to the rear of the car now.

     The Evantra Millecavalli now has a race-inspired rear wing for downforce aid. The rear fenders are larger and include additional vents towards the rear of the car. As opposed to the old Evantra, the Evantra Millecavalli has four rear exhausts as opposed to two. A race-spec diffuser also exists at the car's rear. The body extensions on the side of the car have also been removed for better aerodynamics. Many automobile journalists beleive the Millecavalli will only be offered in carbon this time.

     Not much is known about the interior of the Millecavalli. Some expect the speedometer to be directly in front of the driver this time as opposed to being in the center of the driver's area.

     As for the cost of an Evantra Millecavalli, it is likely to cost $1.2 million. The main competition will likely come from the Pagani Huayra BC, a more track-ready version of the Huayra.

     I really hope this car gets more love than hate since the original Evantra got a lot of hate from people who saw it.

The 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R

The Mustang To Redefine All Mustangs From The Past

 

      I'm taking a massive risk with all Mustang haters on the internet who think Camaros and Dodge/SRT Hellcats are significantly better.  They probably think that since Ford decides to place Ecoboost engines in most of their cars that they're terrible. I'm not a fan of Ecoboost technology either in terms of sound but there are at least two new Mustangs that will give a big fat N and O to the idea of using an Ecoboost engine. One of these new Mustangs dubbed the Ford Shelby GT350R uses (wait for it) a naturally aspirated flat-plane crank 5.2 liter naturally aspirated V-8 as opposed to an Ecoboost engine like the turbocharged V-6 in the very much hated 2017 Ford GT. But enough of that Ecoboost stuff. Let's see how good Carroll Shelby's legacy has become with the GT350R.

      The 2016 Ford Shelby GT350R is an American pony car that I personally don't consider to be such a pony car anymore due to it's performance. The GT350R uses a flat-plane crank 5.2 liter naturally aspirated V-8  as mentioned above that delivers 526 hp, and a top speed of 190 mph estimated. While it may or may not be able to oust a Hellcat in performance that is still pretty decent for a Mustang. Naught to sixty takes less than 3.5 seconds, hence my belief that this is not truly a pony car. The engine is coupled to a 6-speed manual with, yes you heard it, a stick that lets you change gears. That will make the purists happy I think.

      The GT350R uses pretty much the same exterior elements as the GT350 such as a redesigned nose, vented wheel wells, a new rear diffuser, and turbulence-reducing fender vents. However unlike the GT350, the GT350R also uses underbody belly panels on the front and rear, a new and improved front splitter, and a carbon fiber rear wing. Carbon fiber? Ford have you gone mad, or are you secretly hiring defectors from Ferrari!? Haha. Anyway I don't know about my viewers but I welcome that carbon fiber rear wing.
      As for the brake calipers they're bright red; possibly to mock Ferrari, and from Brembo. The brakes themselves use custom-tuned independent suspension that have MagneRide magnetic dampers, increased spring rates, a lower ride height, and a wider front track. The really good news comes in the form of the wheels for the tires which like the rear wing are also made of carbon fiber. And they're standard. I think the answer to my previous question to Ford going mad with design is yes. I'm not sure about hiring former Ferrari mechanics though. Haha.  
      Let's talk about the optional extras you'll be presented with when buying a GT350R. The options include the R package, Navigation package, a painted black roof, over the top stripes, and an SVT Touring Package. All this combined will cost you $7,465.
     Would Carroll Shelby be proud of what his legacy has achieved with the GT350R. I think so. If only that V-8 went into the 2017 Ford GT too.

The 2017 McLaren 570GT

McLaren's Entry Into The Sports Car World

     Ever wondered if McLaren wanted to make a car that could very well become an A-Class car on a game like Forza Motorsport 6 or the upcoming Forza Motorsport 7? While such a car doesn't exist on either of the two games yet, a possible A-Class McLaren was already made for the year 2017. It's called the McLaren 570GT, and marks McLaren's entry into the world of the sports car as opposed to the world of the supercar. 

     The McLaren 570GT is a British sports car and grand tourer equipped with the same 3.8 liter twin-turbo V-8 as found in the McLaren 650S. (forgive me if I'm wrong) However due to an extra weight of 2,976 pounds the 570GT takes a sports car 3.4 seconds to reach 62 mph. The maximum speed of the 570GT is also said to be 204 mph but gets there 0.4 seconds slower than it's brother the 570S. The engine is coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with flappy paddle shifters.  (From a MP4-12C. Remember the cars have the same engine.)

     What else makes the 570GT different from other McLaren's you might wonder? For starters the rear has been revised and almost seems to be the product of aliens from outer space. There are also body colored door inserts, the engine hood now acts as a trunk lid, and no flying buttresses like the 570S. A race style diffuser, and a different grille from the 570S are also features on the 570GT. 

     Here's a shocker if you still think the 570GT deserves supercar status. It would appear that the car's main competition will come from the Porsche 911 Turbo, and the Ferrari California T. The 570GT will cost $199,850 in the United States, and 154,000 pounds for people living in Great Britain.   

     This car has received mixed responses from the people who have seen it. They mostly criticize the extra weight, and those new rear taillights. However I think McLaren made a clever move. Ferrari is their greatest business threat and making a car that can compete with the California T and other Ferrari sports cars is perhaps one of McLaren's smartest moves.

The 1967 to 1969 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

One Of Alfa Romeo's Greatest Classics

 

 (Later example of the car. Possibly a 96 year model.)

 

 

     Hello everyone. Today I'll be talking about another classic sports car. This one comes from Alfa Romeo, aka the company upon which you must own at least one of their cars to become a true car lover according to many automotive experts. Today's car might just be able to defend that right because it was so fast and futuristic looking for it's time throughout 1967 to 1969. That car is the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. Let's talk about that engine and other stuff that made it way ahead of it's time.

     The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is an Italian sports car equipped with a 2.0 liter naturally aspirated V-8 that delivers 230 hp from the street version, and 270 hp from the race version. Top speed of either the street or race version is 160 mph which was very good for it's time considering that other Italian sports cars like the Lamborghini Miura had a larger engine but didn't deliver power like the 33 Stradale did. Naught to 60 takes 5.5 seconds which is also impressive for it's time. Both the street and racing versions of this car use a 6-speed Colotti manual.

     Now for a very cool fact about the 33 Stradale. It was the very first car to use dihedral doors or butterfly doors as they're also known. 

     As for the car's build, the 33 Stradale uses an aluminum body on an aluminum tubular chassis. Every 33 Stradale was built entirely by hand which meant each was unique in some way in it's creation. The first 33 Stradales used twin headlights, whereas the later ones used single headlights. Other things that changed with time on the 33 Stradale where the position and number of windscreen wipers, and the addition of air vents behind the front and rear wheels to improve cooling. The 33 Stradale uses Girling disc brakes on all four corners of the car.

     Back in the day the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale cost $17,000 which was very expensive back then. Today the 33 Stradale costs over $10 million estimated.

     This is a very nice car to look at and fun to drive as well. I hope Alfa Romeo gets the courage one day to make a new modern version of this car. Traditionally such a remake should use another naturally aspirated V-8. However if Alfa decides to copy the size of the original somewhat I can also expect a V-12. If that happens we could have either a new Alfa Romeo 12C or a car with a name to celebrate the heritage of the 33 Stradale. Would you like to see a remake of the 33 Stradale some day? I certainly do.

The 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

The Latest Of The Grand Sports

 

     Are you an owner of the latest Corvette Z06 and thought it was a bit fidgety in handling? Chevy may have heard your complaints and in 2017 unveiled a new Z06 looking Grand Sport. And ever since this car was unveiled the fans responses have been mostly positive. Let's learn why by talking about this new Corvette.

     The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is an American sports car that borders on supercar status, and is equipped with a naturally aspirated, (yes you heard me), V-8, an LT1 like the one found inside it's predecessor that delivers 460 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque. Top speed of the new Grand Sport is an estimated 195 mph. Naught to 60 takes 3.5 seconds, hence the near-supercar status. The engine is coupled to either a 7-speed manual, or an 8-speed flappy paddle automatic that includes paddle shifters. The latter has been chosen as the stock transmission for the new Grand Sport. That might tick some purists off. However this car was created to please the purists, so maybe it wont tick anyone off.

     The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is technically a new Z06 on the exterior. To fix this problem Chevrolet offers a Heritage package that includes hash-mark fender graphics in one of six colors, and full-length stripes in the same colors if wanted. Both the hash-mark and stripes can be paired with any exterior color the Corvette offers. This includes three tintcoat hues, and five standard paint colors.

     The interior of the 2017 Grand Sport is a bit of a different story. Inside the Collector Edition, Chevy uses what they call Tension Blue suede and full leather, as well as the original Grand Sport which is embossed in the headrests. However all of the new Grand Sports will use more quality materials, more carbon fiber inserts, a flat-bottom steering wheel that has the Grand Sport logo on the lower spoke, and magnesium seat frame structures. All models equipped with the Heritage package will get brushed aluminum trim with the hash-marks.  

     The price of the new Grand Sport in America will cost $62,000 which is not bad, and $67,000 for the Collector Edition. Seems like a good deal to me.

The 2016 Apollo/Gumpert Arrow

Another German Car With Near-Italian Looks

 

    You may remember that article I did about the Artega GT; a German car with an almost Italian looking design. Well the German company Gumpert, (now Apollo Automobil GmbH), has decided to follow in Artega's footsteps, sort of, and came up with a new car called the Arrow. Let's learn more about this Italian looking German hypercar.

     The 2016 Apollo Arrow is a German hypercar equipped with a twin-turbocharged V-8 that delivers 986 hp, (borderline Koenigsegg territory), and a top speed of 220 mph. Naught to 62 takes 2.9 seconds. The engine is coupled to a completely synchronized sequential 7-speed CIMA transmission with a twin-plate clutch configuration, and a self-locking differential by a company called Torsen. 

     Let's talk about the brake and suspension technology in the Arrow. The Arrow uses magnetic-type dampers that keep adjusting to multiple street and track conditions. This helps to stop the movements of the center-locking 20 and 21 inch wheels of the Arrow. The Arrow also has adjustable ride height that can go from 40 mm to 120 mm. The EPS and ABS is created by German company Bosch, while the wheels cover a performance braking system from AP Racing. The Arrow also has the highest amount of brake cooling found in any Apollo/Gumpert car made. Unfortunately I couldn't find any info on what the car's chassis is made of. Sorry.

     The price of the Arrow in European Union countries is 1 million euros, while in the United States it costs $1,100,000. Many people seem to like this car. Question is do you?

The 2016 Lamborghini Centenario

The Car Built To Celebrate Mr. Lamborghini's 100th Birthday

 

(Sorry I couldn't find a picture of the engine.)

     Hello viewers. Today I'll be writing about Lamborghini's latest hypercar to celebrate Mr. Lamborghini's 100th birthday. That car is the new Lamborghini Centenario. Centenario means 100 years in Italian. Let's learn more about Mr. Lamborghini's present in the form of a car.

     The 2016 Lamborghini Centenario is an Italian hypercar equipped with a naturally aspirated V-12 that will deliver 770 hp, and a supposed top speed of over 217 mph. Maximum rpm is 8,600. Naught to sixty-two will take 2.8 seconds. The engine is coupled to as of unknown transmission. I'm expecting either a 6-speed or 7-speed dual-clutch manual with paddles. But again that's just me. Like most Lamborghini's there will likely be three different driving settings.

     Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Centenario is that it has a permanent all-wheel drive system, but also has rear-wheel steering. The way this works is that at low speeds the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the rear which creates a virtual diminishing of the wheelbase, and increases turning ability. At high speeds the wheels turn in the exact same direction which makes a virtual increase of the wheelbase. Very strange stuff from Lamborghini. 

     The Centenario uses a carbon fibre body, as well as design cues from other Lamborghinis to make certain areas of the car look more aggressive or refined. The seats use Alcantara that is stitched together with yellow stitching. The sport seats used in the Centenario are made of carbon fibre. Apparently the Centenario can connect to the internet, sending e-mail, using various web radio apps, and use social media as well. An Apple Carplay system is also included which allows complete Iphone use in the car.

     If you want to use a Centenario on the roads or on a track the infotainment system is fully capable of measuring telemetry. The Centenario's interior also comes with full customizations. 

     The price of the Centenario will be $1.9 million in the United States. Worse all 20 of the cars have been sold. Question is if there was a 21st would you buy it?

The 2016 Inferno Hypercar Concept

A Ridiculously Mad Hypercar Concept

(Sorry for bad quality. Only good picture I could find.)

 

     Recently a new joint-developed hypercar concept from the United States, Mexico, and Italy, as well as entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers, was created for 2016. This new car comes from a new company called Inferno and currently it doesn't have a name yet. Reception on this concept has been met with mixed opinions, with the majority being negative. I however think this car is so madly designed it might as well be completely mindless. Haha. Anyway let's see what the three nations managed to create.

      Apparently the Inferno hypercar concept has been in development for a total of seven years. The original design was thought of by an Italian named Antonio Farraioli who is also very famous for penning three Lamborghinis. Those Lamborghinis happen to be the Veneno, Aventador SV, and Asterion concept. That might just make some of the negative comments go away.

     Anyway the Inferno hypercar concept is equipped with an unnamed naturally aspirated V-8 (another good sign) that delivers 1,400 horsepower and 670 pound-feet of torque. That amount of horsepower is 51 less than the Hennessey Venom GT. Naught to sixty time is said to take less than 3 seconds, while the top speed of the car is 245.4 mph. That's scary for a car that looks like a monster but in a good way in my opinion. By the way that top speed is 22 mph slower than a Veyron, but 5 mph quicker than the legendary McLaren F1 designed by Gordon Murray. 

     Not much is known about the exterior or interior, but I do know that some if not all of the cars body is made of "metal foam." That almost sounds a bit liquid metal Terminator there.

     As for the price of the Inferno hypercar concept, if it ever makes it into production, will likely be over $1 million is US dollars. Despite that the car originally comes from Mexico, all of the Inferno cars will be built in Italy. I don't know about everyone else but I really hope this evil looking car makes it into production.