Saturday, January 31, 2009

eBay Find of the Day: Sole remaining 1995 Ford Thunderbird SVT prototype


It might not be the very first production Thunderbird ever made, but it is a pretty special T-Bird nonetheless, and it is up for auction, not at Barrett-Jackson, but rather on eBay Motors. Item number 190283235126 is a rare, 1 of 4, 1995 Ford Thunderbird SVT Concept prototype.


The description tells us that the other three were crushed by the Blue Oval, making this the sole survivor. What makes this SVT concept special is the engine. It features a turbocharged 4.8L V8 instead of the supercharged V6 that went into the production Thunderbird SC. Black with a gray leather interior, it appears to have aged well, with nearly 70,000 miles on the clock.


The car has been with one owner for the past ten years and was featured in Makes & Models Magazine in 2005. Unfortunately, it has a few non-stock "upgrades," including a racing fuel cell and a fiberglass hood with an airbrushed bird on the underside. Check out the gallery and click over if you feel its worth at least the $30,000 starting price.
More Photos



Other article:
2010 Ford Shelby GT-500 Detailed
Ford to Celebrate Model T's 100th Birthday in 2008
Remembering Dyno Don

Event Alert: February Calendar of Automotive Events


Thanks to your suggestions, we added a Google Calendar after the jump so you can bookmark it and constantly receive updates as we add them. We appreciate all of your input and hope you find our calendar a useful tool. We also appreciate your comments listing events we might have overlooked or that are just near-and-dear to your hearts. Event cancellation notices are also greatly appreciated.

Highlights for February include the Chicago Auto Show, which we will be covering obsessively from McCormick Place; the kickoff of the NASCAR and NHRA seasons with the Daytona 500 and the Winternationals, respectively; and the RetroMobile show in Paris. There's plenty of other fun stuff scheduled all over the country and indeed around the world.

Read more

Bee Four revives BRM brand, reveals in-wheel motor source



It's been announced that the electric race car we were telling you about from Bee Automobiles Ltd will now contend for the British Speed Hill Climb Championship in 2010 as the BRM Bee Four ERV.

This revives the BRM (British Racing Motors) brand that was born 60 years ago and has a rich and proud history. This also delays the original plan by a year, but should give them the necessary time to introduce a car that is fully tested and ready to win. There is hope that we'll see it before then as it is rumored that it may make some cameos at events this year.
more detail. ...



Other article:
Geneva: Wiesmann GT MF4 Roadster BMW M3 with heart
Wiesmann GT MF 5 World Premiere
LusoMotors LM 23
Eliica 8-wheeler EV Pursues Speed Record and Production
Lotec released 2009 Sirius sketches
Detroit Auto Show : Revenge Designs GTM-R supercar to debut
Bugatti Veyron modified by Mansory
Official Photos : McLaren Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss
Edo Competition LP-710 Christian Audi Gier Limited Edition

Friday, January 30, 2009

New Ford Focus RS Video


The Focus RS is a serious performance machine, all indications point towards this. But on this video a more somber, normal Focus RS shows itself proving that there's more to this spicy lime hatch than mere numbers.


Pushing the car forward is a 6-speed manual gearbox that helps the RS reach the 100km/h target in second gear. For certain engine frequencies a ‘sound symposer' is used to transfer certain pleasing sounds the car makes as it goes along into the cabin. Those bonnet louvers are there to help with idle cooling especially after heavy runs on a track so they aren't just there for aggressive looks.


For the longest time Ford wasn't even breathing a word related to the Focus RS. Then suddenly a flood of information came through, including confirmation that the RS would make a return after a six year hiatus. When details burst out, few really believed that the RS was to be driven through the front wheels, given its power figures of 300bhp (224kW) and 440Nm of torque from a 2.5-litre turbo.


After all, front-wheel-driven cars with slightly less power than the RS are known to have excessive torque steer. Nevertheless Ford had an answer to that in a hi-tech system called RevoKnuckle, a specially design steering knuckle containing two ball bearing sets which help compensate for torque steer. Additionally an LSD is fitted for extra traction.





via:World Car Fans



Other article:
Full details and pricing announced for 2009 Ford Focus RS
NEW FORD FOCUS RS: A LEGEND RETURNS
2009 Ford focal point RS official: With 280 PS 2.5 liters turbine wheels!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Mitsubishi i Miev Sports Concept





















Mitsubishi unveiled i Miev Sport concept at the 2007 Tokyo auto show. i Miev Sport has a simple and fluid exterior and interior design, the layout provides optimal distribution of weight. This futuristic electric car has a sporty performance and spacious interior. This concept car has an aluminum space frame body structure to minimize it’s weight. i Miev also has three permanent magnetic synchronous motors. As environmental considerations, on the roof of i Miev sport an auxiliary photovoltaic generator was installed for energy saving.



i Miev has a sporty, spacious and dynamic interior. The interior gives the security and comfort feelings to the user. Mitsubishi also gives excellent occupant protection from collisions from any direction, even when colliding with a vehicle of different height or weight.

























i Miev Sport Specifications :



Introduced at : 2007 Tokyo Auto Show



Dimensions :

length ; width ; height : 3,450 [mm] ; 1,600 [mm] ; 1,400 [mm]

Body Weight : 970 kg

Body Structure : aluminum space frame



Engine :

Motors : Permanent magnetic synchronous motors

Front : In-wheel motors

Rear : Single motor



Max. output Front : 20kW 2; Rear: 47kW

Max. torque Front : 250 Nm 2; Rear: 180 Nm

Range (10-15 Mode) : 200km



Max. Speed : 180km/h

Wheelbase : 2,550 [mm]

Track (F/R) : 1,405/1,405 [mm]

Tires : 175/40R17



Interior :

Seating capacity : 2 + 2

Mitsubishi i Miev Sports Concept





















Mitsubishi unveiled i Miev Sport concept at the 2007 Tokyo auto show. i Miev Sport has a simple and fluid exterior and interior design, the layout provides optimal distribution of weight. This futuristic electric car has a sporty performance and spacious interior. This concept car has an aluminum space frame body structure to minimize it’s weight. i Miev also has three permanent magnetic synchronous motors. As environmental considerations, on the roof of i Miev sport an auxiliary photovoltaic generator was installed for energy saving.



i Miev has a sporty, spacious and dynamic interior. The interior gives the security and comfort feelings to the user. Mitsubishi also gives excellent occupant protection from collisions from any direction, even when colliding with a vehicle of different height or weight.

























i Miev Sport Specifications :



Introduced at : 2007 Tokyo Auto Show



Dimensions :

length ; width ; height : 3,450 [mm] ; 1,600 [mm] ; 1,400 [mm]

Body Weight : 970 kg

Body Structure : aluminum space frame



Engine :

Motors : Permanent magnetic synchronous motors

Front : In-wheel motors

Rear : Single motor



Max. output Front : 20kW 2; Rear: 47kW

Max. torque Front : 250 Nm 2; Rear: 180 Nm

Range (10-15 Mode) : 200km



Max. Speed : 180km/h

Wheelbase : 2,550 [mm]

Track (F/R) : 1,405/1,405 [mm]

Tires : 175/40R17



Interior :

Seating capacity : 2 + 2