Author: Dustin Driver

You had a kid. Don’t give up hope. Trade in the minivan for a 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon and smother your Honda Odyssey-driving neighbors in a cloud of vaporized rubber. That’s right, 566 horsepower and enough room to haul ALL your kid’s gear. I never thought it would happen, but apparently someone at GM really gets it. The superwagon will go on sale later this year. Now if we can just get GM to bring over the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer with Haldex all-wheel-drive and the turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 . . .

The guys over at JPMagazine nabbed some spy shots of this zombie-skull-crushing concept Jeep at the 2010 Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. It’s called the NuKizer 715 and it’s based on the Vietnam War-era M-715 Kaiser 5/4 truck. The M-715 was the first off-the-shelf commercial vehicle used by the military. It worked, but it was “fragile” when compared to the nigh-indestructable trucks already in service. The NuKizer 715 is decidedly not fragile. It’s built on a military J8 chassis, has Dynatrac axles front and rear, an Advance Adapters Atlas transfer case, Hutchinson double beadlocks, and a tuned 2.8L VM Motori diesel engine.  It also has a big honking spare tire behind the cab and a full convertible fabric top. It looks equally capable of plowing through jungle underbrush or scrambling over the crumbled skyscrapers of the post-apocalypse.

Source: JPMagazine

Looks like it wants to slice you open at the shins, doesn’t it? It’s the AMX/3 prototype, a mid-engine super car designed by the legendary Dick Teague in 1969. It was AMC’s answer to the Pantera—a slick, lightweight sports car with wicked good looks and vicious acceleration. There’s a thumping, roaring 390 c.i. V-8 under that sexy bodywork, producing the kind of torque and horsepower that gives tires nightmares. It handles, too. The chassis work was done by Giotto Bizzarrini, the legendary madman known for stuffing 327 c.i. Corvette V-8s into sexy Italian bodies. Unfortunately, the AMX/3 never made it to full-scale production; the Oil Crisis killed any hopes of making the gas-swilling American rocket ship. A total of five running cars were built. Only a few of them survive today.

Engineers at California startup Transonic Combustion say they’ve found a way to more than double gas mileage—without a hybrid system. Their solution? Supercritical fluids.

The engineers at Transonic have developed a new fuel injection system that takes advantage of an in-between state of matter called supercritical fluid. Supercritical fluids straddle the line between liquid and gas. They can diffuse through a solid like a gas, yet dissolve substances like a liquid. And—this is key—they have very low surface tension. So when liquid gasoline goes supercritical, it doesn’t form droplets and can mix with air almost instantly. That means drastically improved combustion and efficiency.

The injection system, called TSCi, has a catalyst that breaks fuel into simple hydrocarbons. The fuel is then squeezed through a heated injector that puts the fuel in a supercritical state. This reduces the time it takes to vaporize the fuel, which means it can be burned earlier and in the center of the combustion chamber. The flame burns fast and clean, and doesn’t transfer as much heat to the cylinder walls.

Transonic has a 3,200-pound test car outfitted with its TSCi system running on a dyno at 50 miles per hour. It’s getting 98 miles per gallon. In highway testing, another one of their test cars gets 64 mpg. The system also dramatically decreases emissions.

The company wants to hook up with major auto manufacturers to get its system on the road by 2014.

Source: The Kneeslider, SAE

You’re looking at the most insane car ever built. It’s a 1935 Monaco Trossi racer with an air-cooled, two-stroke 16-cylinder radial engine driving the front wheels. Just picture it howling down the straight at Monza at 150 miles per hour, looking like a lit cigar on wheels, engine roaring, headers glowing.

It was the brainchild of technician Augusto Monico. It was built on an aircraft-style space frame and rocked independent suspension all around. It also had hydraulic brakes, a rarity for the time. Unfortunately, the car had 75/25 front/rear weight distribution and suffered from uncontrollable oversteer. It never actually raced and was only driven a few times during the testing phase. Today it’s locked up in the Museo dell’Automobile in Turin, its version of Arkham Asylum. Will the batshit car ever escape and get a chance to vaporize its front tires and kill race car drivers? One can hope.

John Fluevog designs funky ’50s-inspired footwear. He also designed his slinky custom ‘65 Jag. The car was a rusted-out lump before restoration/customization began. He chopped its top, modified nearly every body panel, and dropped the whole thing on a custom frame. He also stuck a Chevy V-8 under the hood for good measure. Most builders don’t have the balls to mess with such a classic design, and for good reason—it’s easy to mess up. Fluevog actually made the thing look better, and made it unmistakably Fluevog. Check out Fluevog’s site for more pics and a brief story on the resto.

Source: John Fluevog

A man of your means should be driving this black 16C Bugatti Galibier. This subtle, understated treatment conveys an air of sophistication. Polished aluminum slab sides are so gauche! You, sir, are beyond pomp and flash! And with a twin-superchaged W-16, it has more than enough power to plow through the throngs of paupers begging for scraps beyond the walls of your estate.

When you’re drifting your FD RX-7 through the streets of Tokyo and need to snatch a bite of sashimi at Tsukiji fish market, these carbon fiber chopsticks are the only way to go.

There’s something horribly wrong with the U.S. education system. In our community college automotive repair programs, kids are learning how to repair the brakes on Toyota appliances. In Sweden, the students at Thorildsplans Gymnasium technical school are building batshit-crazy Yamaha R1-powered go carts. 145 horsepower in something that weights as much as a Radio Flyer. This video shows the fruits of their labor. Pardon the crap-rock soundtrack.

The most significant automotive news of this century seems to have slipped under the radar. A ratty, busted-to-hell Citroën completed the 24 Hours of LeMons this weekend. Complex hydraulic system and all. As the venerable Murilee Martin said, “It is impossible to overstate the magnitude of this achievement.”

Team Air Prance Schitroën essentially dug the ‘72 ID out of the trash. It had been sitting for 20 years and wasn’t running until the Friday before the race. They literally revived it hours before they hit the track. And it finished without exploding into a cloud of unobtainable French parts or spraying the track with Citroën hydraulic fluid. The feat is on par with firing up the Large Hadron Collider. Somebody should make this day a holiday.

The Falcon gets a bad rap. Ford’s ’60s entry-level ride has been called frumpy, plain, and just plain ugly. I love it. It’s classic, sleek, and simple and looks better than many later designs, even the venerable Mustang. This bright-yellow beast has a 260 ci. V-8 and three-speed column-shifted manual. It’s riding on new, lowered suspension, and has spanking-new paint inside and out. The stance on this one is just perfect and I’d love to add it to my stable and maybe even use it as a daily driver. Alas, it’s not meant for me, but perhaps you can be the proud new owner of this beauty.

Source: eBay

Most manufacturers were too busy greenwashing their lineups this year to come up with something truly astonishing for Geneva. But the French, ah the French, remembered that car shows—and especially Geneva—are all about insanely gorgeous and futuristic concept cars. Gaze in wonder at the Citroën Survolt, the ultimate show car at Geneva 2010. What powers this magnificent creation? How fast is it? What’s its ‘ring time? Citroën scoffs at your petty questions! Ce n’est pas important! The Survolt is pure beauty and futurism. That is all.

Ferrari 599 Hybrid? No. Novitec Rosso 848 RACE. Allcaps necessary.

Built by famed tuners Novitech Rosso, the 848 RACE has TWO superchargers and two intercoolers and is good for 848 horsepower at 7,900 rpm and 621 pound-feet of torque at 6,300 rpm. It’ll hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and charge all the way up to a top speed of 214 mph. It’s also the sexiest 599 I’ve ever seen.

The 848 RACE will debut at Geneva this year. Hit the jump for more photos and the press release.

Source: Autoblog

NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 – this name stands for an absolutely unique high-performance sports car. Only three of these automotive masterpieces will be built. The two-seater car is based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and celebrates its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2010.

Underneath the striking aluminum skin that sports the unusual color combination of matte white and grey beats an extremely powerful heart: The NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 twelve-cylinder twin compressor engine produces 848 hp / 624 kW of power and has a peak torque of 842 Nm. Powered by this engine the car sprints from rest to 100 km/h in less than 3.4 seconds, to 300 km/h in just 23.7 seconds, and reaches a top speed in excess of 345 km/h. This exclusive special model also features an aerodynamic-enhancement kit developed in the wind tunnel, three-piece 21-inch wheels with matching sports suspension, a high-performance brake system and exclusive interior options.

The NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 is powered by an evolutionary stage of the tried and proven twin-compressor engine conversion for the six-liter V12 four-valve engine of the F599. For an additional power increase of 40 hp / 29.4 kW both mechanical chargers were fitted with modified turbine blades, several details of the engine peripherals were modified and the engine electronics were reprogrammed.

The high-performance chargers have an electronically limited boost pressure of 0.48 bars. The chargers are driven by a cogged belt and have their own dedicated oil circuit. A large water-to-air intercooler with dedicated water circuit also contributes greatly to the optimal power yield. A custom-developed intake manifold, high-performance injectors and sport air filter round out the engine conversion.

In addition, high-performance headers custom-designed for the compressor engine and the NOVITEC ROSSO stainless-steel quad sport exhaust system with a pipe diameter of 90 millimeters are also installed. The intensity of the exhaust note can be adjusted with a little switch on the steering wheel called the ‘manettino.’

The NOVITEC ROSSO engine management system coordinates the perfect interaction of all conversion components and ensures excellent power yield, running smoothness beyond reproach and maximum longevity.

The NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 specification represents a power increase over the production engine of 228 hp / 167.8 kW to 848 hp / 624 kW at 7,900 rpm. Simultaneously peak torque grows by 234 Nm to 842 Nm at 6,300 rpm.

Longer carbon-fiber NOVITEC ROSSO shift paddles make shifts of the six-speed F1-Superfast transmission even quicker and more precise. The gearbox also plays a major part in the superior performance of the car. Acceleration from rest to 100 km/h takes just 3.4 seconds, the sprint to 200 km/h a mere 9.6 seconds. With a sprint time for 0 – 300 km/h of just 23.7 seconds the NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 solidifies its position among the world’s fastest-sprinting sports cars. The car reaches a top speed of more than 345 km/h.

This level of performance places highest demands on well-balanced aerodynamic properties which received their finishing touches in the wind tunnel. The NOVITEC ROSSO front spoiler lip reduces lift on the front axle. The rear apron is upgraded visually and aerodynamically with a rear diffuser. The NOVITEC ROSSO rear wing further increases downforce.

The NOVITEC ROSSO rocker panels calm the airflow between front and rear wheel arches and their large air ducts optimize the supply of cooling air for the rear brakes.

The unique paint scheme sets the NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 even further apart from the rest: The matte-white aluminum body contrasts with grey accents such as the roof and parts of the hood to create an especially sporty appearance. Black side markers, black tail lights and third brake light as well as LED backup lights add further visual highlights.

The high-performance equipment also includes three-piece NOVITEC ROSSO NF3 wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero high-performance tires. The alloy wheels with five double spokes measure one inch diameter more than the production wheels. The front axle features size 9Jx20 wheels with size 275/30 ZR 20 tires. Size 12.5Jx21 wheels and size 355/25 ZR 21 tires on the rear axle provide excellent traction.

The king-size wheels offer space for the high-performance brake system developed in cooperation with brake specialist Brembo. The system uses the largest brake components currently approved for street use. Front and rear axle feature steel discs with a diameter of 405 millimeters and six-piston brake calipers. This system represents an optimal combination of braking power and endurance.

The height-adjustable NOVITEC ROSSO sport suspension also allows the damping rates to be set to the individual preferences of the future owners of the super sports car. The suspension’s lift function on the front axle can be activated with a push of a button in the cockpit. It raises the front of the vehicle by 40 millimeters to safely navigate such obstacles as speed bumps or parking garage ramps. Upon reaching a speed of 80 km/h the suspension automatically reverts to its original drive position.

The interior of the NOVITEC ROSSO RACE 848 offers an especially exclusive ambiance and features a limited edition plaque with the car’s serial number. The interior is built to the customer’s exact specifications and the customer can choose between a highly luxurious or a Spartan racing flair. The interior appointments include aluminum pedals and foot rest as well as the NOVITEC ROSSO leather/carbon-fiber sport steering wheel with flattened bottom for easier entering and exiting of the vehicle.

Beware fellow autonauts, for this be a forsaken land full of sorrow and heartache. Even the bold tremble and quake at the horrors that lie beyond these gates. If you choose to enter, be forewarned. You may not return.

In the beginning, Saabs were sleek, teardrop-shaped machines that sliced through the wind. Behold the SAAB 92001, or Ursaab. It’s the product of postwar aircraft designers, pure form following function. And it’s gorgeous.

The Ursaab was designed in the late ’40s by a team of engineers at aircraft manufacturer SAAB, led by the incredibly named Gunnar Ljungström. The thing had a monocoque chassis, 108-inch wheelbase, and 50-percent less drag than any other car produced at the time. It was powered by a transverse mounted two-stroke engine driving the font wheels. Seems run-of-the mill today, but this was 1946, a time when most cars rode on ladder frames and bullied their way through wind.

The original 92001 clocked 329,000 miles in testing, mostly on rutted forest roads in Sweden. Three years and several prototypes later, the Saab 92 went into production.

Saab savior Spyker says that they want to return to those streamlined roots for the upcoming Saab 9-2 luxury compact. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

Source: Autoblog

Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT4. Reading that is like being caught in an avalanche of awesome, each word piling it on until you’re completely buried. And just look at that photo. Vantage in race livery? Yes. And more yes. Aston Martin is creating a heavenly race series consisting entirely of sleek Vantage sports cars. Called the British GT4 Challenge, the spectacle of swirling, howling mechanical beauty will likely spark a rash of spontaneous combustion throughout the U.K. Just look at that car. Look at it.

Source: Autoblog

Zach Bowman of Exhaust Note, Hooniverse, and others, found this video of the crazy-ass Hyper PRO Racer, a go-cart with a Yamaha 450R ATV engine in it. It’s fast. Real fast.

The thing has an egg-shaped full tube steel frame, inboard suspension, and disk brakes. It weighs 350 pounds dry. And it’s, like, a millimeter off the ground. It’s for sale in Australia for $29,500 AU, which is currently about $26,350 US. That’s a lot of scratch, but it’s also a lot of track-day fun.

Sources: Exhaustnote, Hyperracer.com

Hankook Camaro Testing from lab17 on Vimeo.

The guys from Hankook took their wicked Camaro out to the track to vaporize some rubber and caught the whole thing on video. Enjoy.

You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xur and the Kodan Armada.

Source: Cardomain Blog

Opel/Vauxhall is bringing the Flextreme GT/E concept car to Geneva this year. It’s like the Volt, only faster and better looking. The car can cruise at 125 miles per hour while achieving 175 miles per gallon. Like the Volt, it’s powered by electric motors and batteries, with an internal-combustion engine that drives a generator for extended-range. The Flextreme uses slide-out panels that deflect air around its rear to achieve a staggering .22 drag coefficient. I like the way it looks, but at the pace the auto industry moves, we won’t see a design like this hit the market for, say, 50 years.

Source: Gizmag