Cool Speedy Cars

Wheelie

2009-04-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

In vehicle acrobatics, a wheelie is a vehicle maneuver in which the front wheel or wheels come off the ground due to extreme torque being applied to the rear wheel or wheels. Wheelies are usually associated with bicycles and motorcycles, but can be done with other vehicles, such as cars.To perform a wheelie on a bicycle, put the bike in low gear and pedal forward while pulling hard on the handlebars. This can most easily be done from a starting position. Experts with sufficient experience and strength can, using the proper gearing, execute successful wheelies while moving. While the front wheel is in the air, maintain an upright posture and lean around to control balance - do not hunch over the handlebars. For added control, tap the rear brake (forward balance) or pedal forward (rearward balance).

A wheelie can be maintained indefinitely most easily by finding a 50/50 balance between amount of back brake and speed of pedalling. It is possible to hold the back brake on constantly with very small adjustments in pressure relating to how hard the rider is pedalling. This gives a more stable feeling as the balance point is more consistent. To complete the move, lean forward and gently squeeze the back brake if needs be to allow the front wheel to slowly drop back to the ground. Ensure it is straight on contact, or control of the bike may be lost.

Once the wheelie has been conquered the manual wheelie can be attempted. This is the same as a wheelie but without pedalling. The bike is balanced by the rider's weight and sometimes use of the rear brake.To travel farther on the back wheel of a bicycle, the rider must put the bike into a higher gear with the body weight leaned forward (over the handle bars if needed) and the stronger foot highest in the pedalling cycle. The rider kicks hard with the stronger foot, throw all their weight backwards and lands their backside on the seat, then straighten out the arms and put weight and tension on them. The rider keeps pedalling, and when the wheelie feels too high up, feathers the back brake slightly.

To lower the "balance point", put the saddle higher up, which will mean that the "maximum height" of the wheelie is brought down, and it will also be more comfortable to go for long distances on the back wheel. There is a skill to being able to stop on the back wheel, and then keep going more slowly, this can be done by striking a balance between the back brake and the pedalling.It is possible to navigate corners while doing a wheelie and requires much the same inputs as cornering on two wheels. When approaching the turn it is best to look through the turn towards the exit as a bike goes where the rider looks.

Turning the bars in the direction the rider wants to go is the initial stage and only requires minimal movement, couple this with slightly shifting upper body weight (mainly head and shoulders) again in the direction of the turn and the bike should start to lean over and turn. This is not an easy maneuver because the bike now is very biased as to which side it wants to fall over on to. Concentration is needed to keeping the wheel off the ground and countering the sideways balance. Turning the bars outwards and shifting body weight to the outside will help keep the bike on a smooth path around the turn.Leaning back too far (i.e. as a result of pedalling too hard) will cause the bike to fly out from under the rider. Although most riders will instinctively hit the ground running, practice recovering from this event before attempting an actual wheelie. Balancing left to right can easily be controlled in the air by moving the knees and handlebars back and forth.

Injury can be avoided by keeping speeds down and/or learning to use the rear brake. However, higher speeds, counterintuitively, are often necessary to master the wheelie as more balancing skills are necessary with decreasing speed, which are usually not present without sufficient practice. For this reason, beginners attempting wheelies on bicycles should tune up their rear brakes and aim for an 12-18 km/h (8-12 mph) wheelie for maximum safety. Although a wheelie or manual can be easily achieved without the use of the back brake it is always recommended that the lever is covered. Never have the entire fist closed around the bars because if the balance point starts to become to far back there will not be enough time to grab the brake and at that point the rider may fall off backwards. A grip is needed on the bars so only one or at the most two fingers are required to use the back brake lever. The seat height will determine the outcome of going over the back, the higher the seat the harder it is to land on the feet.

Beginners should use a low seat height until comfortable with the balance point and back brake. It is harder to maintain speed with a low seat height so wheelies may be short but once comfortable raising the seat height will make the front wheel more eager to come up and make maintaining speed a lot easier. It will also make the balance point easier to fine tune as there is more weight above the back wheel to move back and forth.
A wheelie is also a common motorcycle trick. The principle is the same as the bicycle wheelie, but the throttle and rear-brakes are used to control the wheelie. On more powerful motorcycles (usually above 500 cc) the front wheel is lifted into the air by accelerating, but on smaller bikes the clutch may be used and/or "bouncing" the forks (using the rider's weight to compress the front suspension, so that the recoil will help lift the front wheel on accelerating).

How to Keep Your Car Safe from Thiefs

2009-03-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

You keep your valuables under the seat, your packages in the trunk, and your doors locked at all times, but is that enough? You even try to avoid high-end extravagant SUVs and sports cars in hopes of deterring a car thief. Unfortunately, keeping your doors locked, your valuables hidden, and driving an older model car is not enough to stop a car thief from targeting your car.

According to statistics given to ABC News by Mike Siemienas, an Allstate Insurance Spokesman, and the National Crime Information Center, the most often targeted cars for theft are Hondas. And not the latest, high-end models. Early 90's and late 90's models of Hondas top the list of theft targeted vehicles. Why? Because these vehicles are long-living vehicles and often their engines outlast their body parts (fenders, doors, etc.) and accessories (seats, airbags, etc.). So when owners of these vehicles need new parts there is a shortage of extra parts at salvage yards. It is a basic supply and demand issue. Since supply of these parts is low the demand for the parts brings in big money. According to Siemienas and the National Crime Information Center, big money can equal more than $13,000 for a 1994 Honda's parts when the vehicle's actual cash value is only a few thousand.

OK, so you don't have one of these wanted vehicles. So, it doesn’t cost you anything, right? Wrong: According to information given to ABC news from Siemienas, vehicle theft is the number one property crime in the United States that carries a price tag of more than eight billion dollars a year. In many cases, auto theft costs are absorbed by all insurance consumers in the form of higher insurance rates. We all need to try and find ways to stop vehicle theft.

In addition, just because you don't have a vehicle that is at the top of the theft list doesn’t mean you can't be a target. If your vehicle is easily accessible and it shows, a thief can still make some quick cash out of it. The best way to protect your vehicle is to visually display vehicle theft deterrents. If a thief just sees theft device items used in your vehicle they will automatically seek out another car that is much easier to steal.

One of the most popular theft deterrent devices is called The Club. It simply attaches to your steering wheel and can usually be found in most variety stores at a reasonable cost. Another great visual deterrent is to buy a do-it-yourself VIN number engraving kit. These VIN number engraving kits can be bought online at many merchants and can quickly be done by anyone in a short amount of time. The VIN number is engraved in a car's window and it makes the part unusable for resale by a thief because the VIN number can be tracked back to a stolen vehicle.

So whatever vehicle you own, it is important to realize the impact of vehicle theft for everyone. By using visual theft devices like the ones above and continuing safety measures such as hiding packages and purses stored in your car along with keeping your doors locked at all times, you will keep a vehicle thief away from your car and keep down insurance costs for everyone.

Burnout

2009-03-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

A burnout (also known as a peel out or power brake) is the practice of keeping a vehicle stationary (or close to) and spinning its wheels, causing the tires to heat up and smoke resulting from friction.The origins of burnouts can be traced to drag racing, where they have a practical purpose: drag racing tires perform better at higher temperatures, and a burnout is the quickest way to raise tire temperature immediately prior to a race. Drag race tracks sometimes use a specially-reserved wet-surface area known as the "burnout box" for this purpose.

Burnouts eventually became a serious form of competition and entertainment in their own right. Considerable prize money or goods are sometimes involved, and cars may even be sponsored or purpose-built specifically as "burnout cars". Burnout contests are judged on crowd response, with style and attitude therefore being important factors. Such contests are particularly popular in Australia but often occur in North America as well.Burnouts are also common in informal street racing, usually for show value. As with all street racing activities, burnouts on public property are illegal in most countries but the severity of punishments vary. In New South Wales, for example, police have the power to confiscate the offending vehicle for 3 months for a first offense.

Burnouts are also occasionally performed by winning drivers at the end of NASCAR races to celebrate their victory.Burnouts are quite easy to achieve in a front-wheel drive car; all one has to do is hold the parking brake (or "e-brakes") and accelerate. Since power is transferred to the front wheels only and the parking brake keeps the rear wheels still, the front wheels spin harshly against the surface while the car remains stationary, creating tire smoke. (Both front wheels may not spin if the car does not have a limited slip differential, however.)Burnouts in rear-wheel drive cars generally require more practice, the driver having to "feather" the brakes while keeping the accelerator ("gas") pedal pressed with the car in gear. At a certain point of balance, the front brakes will prevent the car from moving forward while the rear brakes will have insufficient grip to keep the wheels from spinning, since engine power is transferred to the rear wheels only.

It is possible to make rear-wheel drive burnouts easier by installing "line locks", devices which allow fluid pressure on the front brakes to be maintained while releasing the pedal to free the rear brakes. This is especially useful in a manual transmission vehicle, in which it can be quite difficult to manipulate the clutch, brake and gas pedals simultaneously. Line locks also reduce wear to the rear brakes, a common problem otherwise.

Burnouts are most difficult to perform in four-wheel drive cars, since all four wheels are given power and 4WDs generally have better initial traction (the engine weight being directly over the drive wheels). Additionally, it requires significantly more powerful engines to break all four tires loose at the same time, and the tires will spin for only a short while before all four gain traction.
Another burnout technique is aimed at cars with insufficient power to perform a burnout from a standing-still position. It involves putting the car into reverse, reversing at a higher speed than normal and then quickly putting the car into first gear and hitting the accelerator. A variant of this is to reverse at an angle which will result in two distinctive skidmarks once the car pushes forward — in Arab parts of the world, this trick is called the "88", as the skidmarks resemble two number-eights in Arabic ("٨٨").

These and similar techniques are generally not recommended because they place a great load on drivetrain components and can result in transmission damage.

An additional technique sometimes used by those celebrating a race victory (such as in NASCAR) is to position the racecar so that its nose is against the outside wall of the track, helping keep the car in place as the rear wheels spin.

Sports Car Styling Tips

2009-03-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Are you planning to improve the aesthetic appearance of your car? Want to get that sporty and sleek look? Then here are some pointers that will help you dress up your car.

What products to choose from

When deciding what kind of setup you will do to your car, you should first keep in mind that there are a multitude of products being sold out there which claim superior performance and economical. But the reality is there are some good ones and and many of bad ones. Be picky when looking for car accessories and remember it is not a bad idea to look at the established brands before considering untested brands.

The wheels

One of the initial things that a car enthusiast does when dressing up a car is to replace the existing wheels with custom made ones. But this is not just for looks since performance wheels and tires also enhance a car's handling and performance. Choosing between tall wheels and short ones will be the next step. Bigger wheels get noticed more and increase the look of a car dramatically. Smaller wheels on the other hand have that vintage or retro look.

Stickers Galore

Applying sticker designs on the car hood or the other parts of the car body is one of the cheapest ways to alter and customize your car. Sticker designs range from popular performance parts logos of manufacturers as well as those designed for rally and indy races. If you are capable of making your own stickers, it is important to get permission for copying a design as it may be copyrighted. If you are planning to put stickers on the hood, choose the kind that will not be damaged by the heat of the engine. Metallic foil stickers are ideal for use on car hoods.

Lowering kits

Lowering your car means making your car more stable in turns aside from giving it an aggressive and sporty look. Cars are not the only ones that have lowering kits, so if you have a pickup truck, chances are, there is a lowering kit made for your vehicle. Although having a lower ride means improved handling, the trade off is poor ride quality since the car springs are stiffer and shorter.

These are some of the things that you can do to improve the look and stance of your car. Your car is a represents you so naturally you want it to look appealing. Of course, having a good looking car also means spending thousands of dollars. If this is your passion, then paying extra will not be a problem with you.

Mclaren Mercedes SLR

2009-03-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is an Anglo-German sports car jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, built in Portsmouth and the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. Daimler AG, owner of Mercedes-Benz, also owns 40% of the McLaren Group.

Due to the presence of the automatic gear box, front mid-engined arrangement and its driving characteristics lead some commentators to classify the SLR McLaren as a GT whose rivals can be considered to be e.g. the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.[1]

SLR stands for "Sport, Leicht, Rennsport" (sport, light, racing). Mercedes-Benz has stated that they will build 3500 SLRs in a span of 7 years, with an annual production of only 500 cars.[2] The car's base price is GB£300,000 (approx. US$495,000 or €475,000, c. 2007).[3]The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR of 1955, based on the W196 F1 car, yet named after the road-going 300SL Gullwing. On 4 April 2008, Mercedes announced they will cease production of the SLR. The last of the coupes rolled off the production line at the end of 2007 and the roadster version is due to be discontinued in early 2009.The brake discs are carbon-ceramic and provide better stopping power and fade resistance than steel discs when operating under ideal working temperature. Mercedes-Benz claims these discs are fade resistant to 1,200 °C (2,200 °F). The front discs are internally vented and 370 mm (14.6 in) in diameter. 8 piston calipers are used. Rear discs are 360 mm (14.2 in) in diameter with 4 piston calipers. During wet conditions the calipers automatically skim the surface of the discs to keep them dry.To improve braking performance there is an automatic air brake, when engaged the rear elevation angle of the rear spoiler is set to 65 degrees. The additional rear downforce in addition to the markedly increased aerodynamic drag increases peak deceleration ~90%.
The SLR features active aerodynamics; there is a spoiler mounted on the rear integral air brake flap. The spoiler increases downforce depending on its angle of elevation (angle of attack). At speeds above 95 km/h (59 mph) the spoiler/brake automatically raises to 10 degrees (15 in 722 edition), when demanded via the driver's switch, the elevation can be increased to 30 degrees (35 in 722 version) for increased rear downforce, at the cost of increased steady state drag. It costs a pricey £35,000!

The SLR sports a 232 kg (511 lb) hand-built 5.4-litre (5,439 cc (332 cu in)), supercharged, all-aluminium, SOHC V8 engine. The cylinders are angled at 90 degrees with three valves per cylinder and lubricated via a dry sump system. The compression ratio is 8.8:1 and the bore and stroke is 97 millimetre (3.82 in) and 92 millimeters (3.62 in), respectively. The Lysholm-type twin-screw supercharger produces 0.9 bar (13 psi) of boost, the turbine rotates at 23000 revolutions per minute, and the air is cooled via two intercoolers. The engine generates a maximum power of 460 kW (617 hp) at 6500 revolutions per minute and a maximum torque of 780 N·m (575 lb·ft) at 3250 revolutions per minute.[4]

Unlike most of its contemporaries, its engine is front-mid mounted. McLaren took the original concept car designed by Mercedes and moved the engine 1 metre (39.4 in) behind the front bumper, and around 50 centimetres (19.7 in) behind the front axle. They also optimized the design of the center firewall.

The car uses carbon fibre for its entire body construction in an attempt to keep the weight low. Despite CFRP materials the total curb weight is 1,768 kg (3,898 lb). The following tests have proven that the SLR can achieve a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in times less than the claimed 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 334 km/h (208 mph)[5].

Car and Driver achieved a 0-60 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.6 seconds, and a quarter-mile time of 11.6 seconds at 125 mph (201 km/h) C&D suggests the times may be even lower if temperatures were lower. Motor Trend tested the SLR and achieved a 0-60mph time of 3.1 seconds in April 2006. Car and Driver achieved top gear acceleration 30-50 mph and 50-70 mph times of 1.7 and 2.4 seconds, which are the fastest ever recorded by the magazine in a production car. The SLR also pulled 0.97 g on the skidpad.January 2005

Road and Track tested the car in their July 2005 Road Test and reached 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 3.5 seconds. The 0 - 100 mph (160 km/h) sprint was achieved in 7.5 seconds and a quarter mile run was completed in 11.5 seconds at 126 mph (203 km/h).

In June 2004 the SLR was tested at Nardo and performed the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) exercise in 3.8 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 11.5 seconds and 0-300 km/h (186 mph) in 30.4 seconds.[citation needed] Their 400 metre and kilometre times were 11.5 seconds at 122 mph (196 km/h) and 20.6 seconds at 278 km/h (173 mph) respectively. They also reached its claimed topspeed 334 km/h (208 mph).

Despite its near 2-ton weight, the fuel economy is generally better than the lighter Lamborghini Murciélago, and even its lighter, less expensive, less powerful sibling, Gallardo.[6] Still, on the Episode 1 from Season 11 of BBC car show Top Gear the Lamborghini Murciélago performed better than the SLR during a race on the track. Also, the same show put the SLR and the Porsche Carrera GT on its track, and after multiple attempts, the Porsche beat the SLR-McLaren by just over a second (1:19.8 vs. 1:20.9[7]). However, on a separate race around their short track, the SLR was fractionally quicker than the Carrera GT. In a straight line, the SLR is quicker throughout the range.

Why you should donate a car

2009-03-16T11:58:00.001-07:00

There are some of the older cars that you might just have sitting around the house or up by the garage. If you have a car that you feel is no good to anyone, you may want to think about doing something about them. Keep in mind that these cars don’t have to collect dust. You’ll want to keep in mind that there is a lot of time and energy to fix a broken car. Instead, you may just want to donate the car and get some benefits out it.

When it comes to these donations, you’ll want to keep in mind that these vehicles are worth more than you think. You’ll want to keep in mind that these donations do tend to give you a generous amount of tax deductions just for donating the cars for parts of scrap metal. You’ll find that all you have to do is pick out a charity that is willing to accept your donation. Then all you have to do is fill out some paper work and then the charity will have the car towed. With the towing, it is at no-cost for the owner.

You’ll also find that they will also take care of the title transfer and also you’ll be given a tax deductible receipt that will help you to show proof of the donation when it comes to tax time.

You will find that the benefits are great. You’ll be able to get rid of unwanted and unused cars. You’ll get a tax deduction. Finally, you’ll be helping the community.

When donating a car have your title with you

2009-03-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

For those who wish to donate their car, you’ll need to bring your title with you so that they can prove that you truly do own the car. This is very important, because if the charity does not ask for proof of possession then they may not be a legitimate organization.

Truly, no charity will take the risk of being caught with a stolen car, so it is very important that you have a copy of the title with you when turning the car in. you’ll need to make sure that all the financial responsibilities have been met, so that the DMV will be able to transfer ownership. You’ll want to make sure that there isn’t a lien against the car, because you’ll need to pay for the lien before you transfer ownership. You’ll find that when you donate a car with a lien against it practically makes the car worthless.

When it comes to donations of this type, you’ll find that it includes things like motorcycles, trailers, boats, trucks, vans, cars, and so on. You’ll be able to sell some of the items that you do not want anymore, including some that don’t even run anymore. Most of the time, they will sell the item for parts or scrap metal. You’ll also want to consider that the organization has a right to deny you, as well. You’ll want to make sure that you offer then a title with the donation so that they can use the donation and find a value. Then you’ll be able to receive a tax break.

When a car donation is a lemon

2009-03-16T11:56:00.002-07:00

You’ll find that there are many times where the donation will go sour and then no one truly benefits. You’ll want to keep in mind that the charity or organization will take all of your information and they will handle all the paper work too. The organization will have to arrange the time for a pick up, but you’ll also find that they will arrange the car to be auctioned off too.

You’ll want to keep in mind that the car that you donate needs to be released from your ownership. You’ll find that the donation will take the car off your hands, but you’ll also be able to ask for a tax deduction during the paper work.

When it comes to some charities they are very good at getting the most money for the donations, but then some will take whatever they can. You’ll find that there are some charities that have their own broker to deal with the auctions because they take so many car donations in order to help fund their cause. These brokers will do all the work on behalf of the charities.

Then there are times where people will donate their car and then they will end up getting a very bad situation out of it all. You’ll want to keep in mind that there are times where you end up getting a lemon for the deal. Sometimes the car is towed away before it is sold because it was illegally parked. You will find that the DMV will come back on you, because if it hasn’t been sold yet, it still maybe in your name. All you can do is wish that things work out well for you. All you can do is keep the receipt of your donation and the charity’s number, because they will take care of all and any fines. This doesn’t happen to often, but there is some risks with everything.

Using car donation as a tax deduction

2009-03-16T11:56:00.001-07:00

A lot of people find that with car donation they are able to get rid of some older cars, but also they are able to get a tax deduction from the donation. The best way to save your some cash is to donate the car. Keep in mind that you are donating the car for a good cause (most of the time to benefit a cause).

When it comes to giving the car away for charity, you’ll want to make sure that the car has good tires, but it doesn’t have to be a working car. You’ll want to keep in mind that when you give away a useless car, they will be able to sell the spare parts or use it for scrap metal. You’ll want to keep in mind that sometimes the smaller charities do require that you give them a decent car, however, most of the time the charities will take anything.

For those who are thinking about donating you’ll want to subtract the car expenses if you are giving it to charity. You’ll need to apply for t donation option, but all you need to do is file a 503-c3 or a donation form and then you’ll be able to get a tax break from the simple act of generosity.

The reason why many charities will take on this role is because they are able to give back to the local community with the fund. You’ll want to keep in mind that once they sell the car, they will let you know what the price is. You’ll need to make sure that you do everything that you can to keep close ties with the car donation charity. This way you’ll be able to get the proper amount of tax deductions that you deserve.

Using a car donation to help others

2009-03-16T11:55:00.001-07:00

You will find that when it comes to helping the less fortunate can be very pleasing. You’ll need to make sure that you understand what a car donation is, but you’ll find that when you give away things that are no longer useable or things that are simply no longer being used, you’ll feel a lot better about yourself. You’ll need to ask all the questions that you have, but you’ll also want to think about things like donation laws and tax deductions. Who’s to say that giving can’t be rewarding. You’ll want to make sure that you stop and think about what it means in order for you to participate in the car donation.

You’ll find that the donation is an easy one. You’ll find that the charities can decide to accept or reject your car donations, but also keep in mind that you’ll be able to give them cars, trucks, vans, boats, broken cars, and even RV’s. Another thing that you’ll want to keep in mind is that the condition of these items doesn’t have to be in perfect condition. You’ll find that the charity will take care of the selling of the item and then they will let you know the final gain and then you’ll be able to deduct that from your taxes. This is a great way for you to get a little bit back from giving a lot. You’ll find that there are programs throughout the world too.

You’ll need to keep in mind that the value of the deductions tends to vary too. You’ll need to make sure that you keep in mind that the value of the deduction will depend on what they get for your donation. As for finding a car donation program, you’ll want to look towards the media and see what charities you’d like to support with a donation.

Options for car donations

2009-03-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

When it comes to car donations, you’ll find that it is a non-cash donation to a charity. You have two options when it comes to donating a car. You will find that you can simply give the car to the charity, in which, they will sell your car and turn it into money to help fund their cause. The other operation that you have is that you can donate the car to help the charity, but it is for the charity workers to use.

If you go with the second option and donate the car for them to use, you’ll actually get more value out of it. You will be able to qualify for a tax deduction and it will be much higher then if you were to give the charity the car to sell. You will need to file the appropriate tax papers, but you’ll want to keep in mind

For example, if they keep the car, then you’ll get the full blue-book value of the car. If you give them the car to sell then you’ll only get the tax deduction on what the car was sold for. Often it is way less then what the value of the car is. Often people will donate cars that are worth over a $1000, but the charity only sells the car for $500. You’ll have more to gain if you donate more money.

When it comes to donating the car for a charity you will need to state the cause. You’ll need to tell them that it is for their own use or for them to sell it. You’ll want to make this clear, because the second option will help you to retain more of a cash back option. You’ll want to keep the reasoning behind your donation clear, because you’ll file a different form for each of your options and you’ll need to file the appropriate forms in order to get your tax deduction.

How to get a good car donation charity

2009-03-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Before you start selecting a spot for to donate your car, you may want to consider thinking about the charity and the organization that it stands for. You’ll need to make sure that you think about the organization and how your donation will be used. Sometimes they will sell the car, and sometimes they will use the car (depending on the type of organization that you are dealing with). When it comes to cars that cannot be used, they are usually sold for parts or they are sold for scrap metal.

When it comes to looking at the organization, you’ll want to consider the efficiency rate. The efficient rate will allow you to see exactly where your money is going. For example; if you have a charity with a rating of 90%, then 90 cents of each dollar that is collected will go directly to the cause. If you would like to know where the other ten percent goes, then you’ll have to understand that it is used in various ways to keep the organization going. The rating that you need to be looking for is 85% or above. If you are dealing with an organization that has a rating of less then 85%, then the charity may be managed poorly or it simply may not be a legitimate charity.

You’ll find that most charities or non-profit government organizations will take your car donation so that they can keep funding the programs that they are involved, but also so that they can continue to offer services. You’ll need to keep in mind that there are many ways that you can help not only the organization to continue their good work, but you’ll be giving back to the local community. It is very important that you understand where your donation will go and how it will be used, because if it is not going to help society then there is truly no point in donating.
Before selecting the charity for donating your car, you must find out the efficiency rating of the charitable organization. The efficiency rating will tell you their ability and capacity.

How to choose a charity for your car donation

2009-03-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

You will find that process of donating a car to a charity happens to be a very easy and clear-cut process. You’ll need to choose the charity or organization and then they will help you feel out all the paper work. You’ll find that they will took information like your name, number, and address..

When it comes to the charity, you’ll need to consider that there are times where the donation is arranged over the phone or in person. You’ll need to either drop off the car, or the charity will come and get the car for you. You’ll be able to get a receipt once the car is taken out of your possession.

As for choosing the right charity, you’ll find that it is very important that you meet all your needs before you end up giving the car up for donation. You’ll need to research the organization, but don’t forget, the internet can help you with your donation. You’ll need to look up tons of information and access many sites when you are researching the donation of a car.

You’ll also find that the websites of the organization can help you with your donation process as well. You’ll need to look up the FAQ section of the organization, because that will help you understand your state laws and also it will help you to understand a perspective tax deduction.

It is also important that you find out first if the car will be used by the organization or if they will sell it. This will help you to understand how much you will be able to get back for a tax deduction.

How the car donation process works

2009-03-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

You’ll find that there are is a waiting period in order for the deal to be done and over with. You’ll find that once you start the paper work, you’ll be able to get the donation process over within a few weeks. You’ll also find that it kind of depends on the organization on how quickly the matter is taken care of. You’ll want to keep in mind that once you have selected the charity of your choice, you’ll be able to do all the arrangements in person or over the phone.

All you have to do is fill out a form that will ask you to provide proof of the title. This is just a precaution to protect both parties. You’ll find that they will then come and tow the car or they will call you with other arrangements. You’ll need to fill out the 4303 form for the tax deduction. You’ll also want to keep in mind that it may take several weeks in order for the car to find a permanent home. This will take some time, but it is quicker if the charity just keeps the car for a profit.

Most of the time, your car’s value will truly determine rather or not this is going to be a quick process. You’ll find that a good and worthy car will be sold within a week or so. This will help your case greatly. You’ll want to keep in mind that the charity will help sell the car as quickly as possible. This is the goal of the organization. However, you’ll want to check in every now and then to keep an update on the progression of your donation. The condition of the car sometimes will affect the way that the donation is handled.

Donating a car rather than selling it

2009-03-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

When it comes to donating a car, you’ll find that you’ll be able to make more of a profit than if you sold it. You will want to keep in mind that it doesn’t matter if it is a car, a boat, or an RV. You will still be able to make plenty more on donating it rather than selling it. You will be able to see more money come in when it comes to tax return time. You’ll be able to see the benefits of donations right away.

Keep in mind that there are hundreds of charities that allow you to donate such items. You will want to keep in mind that some of these charities will want to keep the items, but many will sell the items on your behalf. You’ll find that not only are you able to get rid of some of the stuff you no longer need, but you’ll also be able to see some gains in tax deductions.

Something that a lot of people do not realize is that donating a car can be very easy. You’ll find that the charity should do everything for you. You’ll be able to get rid of cars that work or don’t work. You’ll find that if the car is broken, then the charity will have it arranged so that the car is towed and then it is sold for parts or scrap metal. You will need to fill out the appropriate tax forms in order to get the tax deduction. Make sure that you mention this when making all the arrangements with the charity

Porsche 959

2009-03-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Porsche 959 is a sports car manufactured by Porsche from 1986 to 1989, first as a Group B rally car and later as a legal production car designed to satisfy FIA homologation regulations requiring that a minimum number of 200 street legal units be built.[2]During its production run, it was hailed as being the most technologically advanced road-going sports car ever built and the harbinger of the future of sports cars: it was one of the first high-performance vehicles to use an all-wheel drive system; it provided the basis for Porsche's first all-wheel drive Carrera 4 model; and it convinced Porsche executives of the system's viability so well that they chose to make all-wheel drive standard on all versions of the 911 Turbo starting with the 993 variant. During its lifetime, the vehicle had only one other street legal peer with comparable performance, the Ferrari F40.[citation needed] The 959's short production run and performance have kept values high.[citation needed] In 2004, Sports Car International named this car number one on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.Development of the 959 (originally called the Gruppe B) started in 1981, shortly after the company's then-new Managing Director, Peter Schutz, took his office. Porsche's head engineer at the time, Helmuth Bott, approached Schutz with some ideas about the Porsche 911, or more aptly, a new one. Bott knew that the company needed a sports car that they could continue to rely on for years to come and that could be developed as time went on. Curious as to how much they could do with the rear-engined 911, Bott convinced Schutz that development tests should take place, and even proposed researching a new all wheel drive system. Schutz agreed, and gave the project green light. Bott also knew through experience that a racing program usually helped to accelerate the development of new models. Seeing Group B rally racing as the perfect arena to test the new mule and its all wheel drive system, Bott again went to Schutz and got the go ahead to develop a car, based on his development mule, for competition in Group B.Porsche began with an engine they already had, and moved on with development from there. The powerplant, a twin-turbocharged boxer six-cylinder engine with an air-cooled block and water-cooled heads, displaced 2.85 liters, about half a liter less than a contemporary 911 engine. The motor had originally been developed for the "Moby Dick" race car and then been redeveloped slightly for the short-lived Porsche Indy Car and several other projects before being "tweaked" a last time for use in the 961, the 959's racing counterpart. The water-cooled cylinder heads combined with the air-cooled block, 4-valve heads and sequential turbochargers allowed Porsche to extract 331 kW (444 hp) from the compact, efficient and rugged power unit.[3] The use of sequential twin turbochargers rather than the more usual identical turbochargers for each of the two cylinder banks allowed for smooth seamless delivery of power across the engine RPM band, in contrast to the abrupt on-off power characteristic that distinguished Porsche's other turbocharged engines of the period. The engine was used, virtually unchanged, in the 959 road car as well.
In an attempt to create a rugged, lightweight shell, Porsche adopted an aluminium and Aramid (Kevlar or Twaron) composite for body use along with a Nomex floor, instead of the steel normally used on their production cars[4]. The vehicle's weight of 3,190 pounds (1,450 kg) helped to achieve its high performance level.Porsche also developed the car's aerodynamics, which were designed to increase stability, as was the automatic ride-height adjustment that became available on the street car (961 race cars had fixed suspensions). Its "zero lift" aerodynamics were a big part of keeping it drivable.[citation needed] The 959 also featured Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) which was at the time the most advanced all-wheel-drive system in a production car.[citation needed] Capable of dynamically changing the torque distribution between the rear and front wheels in both normal and slip conditions, the PSK system gave the 959 the adaptability it needed both as a race car and as a "super" street car. Under hard acceleration, PSK could send as much as 80% of available power to the rear wheels, helping make the most of the rear-traction bias that occurs at such times[5] It could also vary the power bias depending on road surface and grip changes, helping maintain traction at all times. The magnesium alloy wheels were unique, being hollow inside to form a sealed chamber contiguous with the tire and equipped with a built-in tire pressure monitoring system.[6].The 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show was chosen for the unveiling of the Porsche Group B prototype. Even in the closing hours of October 9, finishing touches were being applied to the car to go on display the next morning. After the first two prototypes, the bodywork was modified to include air vents in the front and rear wheel housings, as well as intake holes behind the doors. The first prototype modified like this was code named "F3", and was destroyed in the first crash test.[citation needed]

The street version of the 959 debuted at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show as a 1986 model, but numerous issues delayed production by more than a year. The car was manufactured in two levels of trim, "Sport" and "Komfort", corresponding to the race version and the street version. First customer deliveries of the 959 street variant began in 1987, and the car debuted at a cost of $225,000 USD per unit, still less than half what it cost Porsche to build each one. Production ended in 1988. In total, 337 cars were built, including 37 prototypes and preproduction models.[1] At least one 959 and one 961 remain in the Porsche historic hall in Stuttgart, Germany.

In 1992/1993, Porsche built a strictly limited batch of eight 959s assembled from spare parts from the inventory at the manufacturing site in Zuffenhausen.[1] All eight were 'Komfort'-versions: four in red and four in silver. These cars were much more expensive (747,500 German Marks) than the earlier ones (420,000 German Marks). The later cars also featured a newly developed speed-sensitive damper system. The cars were sold to selected collectors after being driven by works personnel for some time[1] and are today by far the most sought-after 959s.

The 959 was not street legal in the United States prior to 1999 when the "Show and Display" law was passed, although an unknown number were imported via the "grey market" during the late 1980s as show pieces. During the model's development, Porsche refused to provide the United States Department of Transportation with the four 959s they required for crash testing, and the car was never certified by the NHTSA for street use in the U.S. With the passage of "Show and Display" the crash test requirements were removed and importation of the 959 was allowed, assuming the car could meet the emissions standards applicable in 1987. The 959 can be fitted with a catalytic converter and a rechipped computer which allows it to meet those emissions requirements. However, most owners refuse to modify their 959s, and the cars remain collection pieces. Most 959s are in the hands of collectors, but a few do occasionally come to market, with prices in the region of 180,000 - 250,000 EUR (cars produced in 1987/1988). It is impossible to estimate the price of cars from the highly limited batch of 1992/1993.The lessons learned from the 959 project about engine management, aerodynamics, suspension tuning and four wheel drive were what enabled the production life of the 911, once thought to be nearing obsolescence because of the extreme rearward placement of the engine, to be extended to the present day.

Specifications:

price $225 000 USD
engine Twin-Turbo Flat 6
valvetrain DOHC 4 Valves / Cyl
displacement 2849 cc / 173.9 cu in
bore 95.0 mm / 3.74 in
stroke 67.0 mm / 2.64 in
compression 8.3:1
power 335.6 kw / 450.0 bhp @ 6500 rpm
hp per litre 157.95 bhp per litre
bhp/weight
torque 500.3 nm / 369.0 ft lbs @ 5500 rpm
drive wheels Rear Engine / PSK 4WD
body / frame Fibreglass Reainforced Kevlar, Ployurethance Plastic & Aluminum
front brakes Vented Discs w/ABS
f brake size 322 mm / 12.7 in
rear brakes Vented Discs w/ABS
r brake size 308 mm / 12.1 in
front wheels F 43.2 x 20.3 cm / 17.0 x 8.0 in
rear wheels R 43.2 x 22.9 cm / 17.0 x 9.0 in
front tire size 235/45VR-17
rear tire size 255/40VR-17
steering Rack & Pinion
weight 1450 kg / 3197 lbs
wheelbase 2271 mm / 89.4 in
front track 1504 mm / 59.2 in
rear track 1549 mm / 61.0 in
length 4260 mm / 167.7 in
width 1839 mm / 72.4 in
height 1280 mm / 50.4 in
transmission 6-Speed Manual
top speed 313.8 kph / 195.0 mph
0 - 60 mph 4.1 seconds
0 - 100 mph 9.6 seconds
0 - 1/4 mile 12.5 seconds

Nissan 350Z

2008-11-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

The Nissan 350Z was a two seat sports car manufactured by Nissan Motor Co, LTD. The 350Z is the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line, originally introduced in 1969 (as a 1970 model year) as the Datsun 240Z. The 350Z entered production in late 2002 and was sold and marketed as a 2003 model. It was currently available in several trim packages and is sold as both a coupé and roadster. It was Nissan's only sports car from 2003-08 for North America (and it was the first North American Nissan sports car since the 1998 240SX and 200SX), when the 2009 GT-R and its successor, the 2010 370Z would replace the 350Z as the brand's sole sports cars.After the Nissan 300ZX was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 1996, Nissan initially tried to keep the Z name alive by re-creating the 240Z the following year. The car was conceived by Nissan's North American design team in their free time, and the concept was introduced in a four state Road Show in July 1998 to various car media, dealers and employees. Yutaka Katayama, regarded as the "Father of the Z" unveiled the Z concept sketch to the public when he received a motor industry award. The design, representing a modern vision of the 240Z, did not please the original 240Z designer Yoshihiko Matsuo, who compared it to the Bluebird and Leopard[2][3]

The first concept model was produced for the Detroit Motor Show for the following January then later at the Los Angeles Auto Expo. Nissan was unhappy with the first design as they felt the original 200 bhp (150 kW) 2.4L engine known as the KA24DE that was going to be assigned made the car more underpowered, they also felt the car was considered too "retro" or too "backward" resembling a futuristic 240Z thus a redesign was commissioned. During a press conference in February 2000, president Carlos Ghosn announced plans to produce the car as he felt the new model would help to assist the company's recovery.[4]

A redesigned model, the Z Concept, was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show two years later, which was similar in body shape but with a new front end. The car then underwent a minor redesign and was eventually assigned the VQ35DE engine, hence becoming known as the 350Z. The car would break its tradition of being of the first Z not to be produced at the Shatai plant.The 350Z is a front engine rear-wheel-drive two door sports car designed by Ajay Panchal of Nissan Design America (San Diego, California).[6]

The vehicle features the long-hood short-deck design common to the Z-Car family. Currently, external design highlights include: sloping fastback style roof line, unique brushed aluminium door handles, high waistline, and bulging fenders that are pushed out to the corners of the vehicle.

Interior cabin design is straight forward with brushed aluminium accents. The main gauge pod is mounted directly to the steering column allowing their movement to coincide with steering wheel adjustments. Additional gauges are mounted in a centre triple gauge cluster. The 350Z’s interior does not have a conventional glove box, instead it makes use of various storage compartments located either behind or between the two seats.Released on August 20, 2002, the 350Z coupé was available in the U.S. in 5 trim packages: '350Z' (Base), 'Enthusiast', 'Performance', 'Touring', and 'Track' editions. In Europe only the 'Track' trim was available, although it was badged and marketed as '350Z'.
Nissan 350Z roadster

In 2004 Nissan introduced the 350Z Roadster featuring an electrically retractable soft-top roof. In the U.S. market the car was available in just 2 trim packages (Enthusiast and Touring), while in Europe, the same versions as the coupé were offered. Nissan added the Grand Touring (GT) trim to the Roadster trim packages for 2005.[citation needed]

In 2005 Nissan launched a 35th Anniversary edition, with a revised exterior and interior (see Special Editions below).

For the 2006 model year, the 350Z received a number of notable changes for its mid-cycle facelift. The 300HP/260TQ Rev-up engine with 6-speed manual was offered for every trim now. Purchasing a 5-speed automatic meant you still got the VQ35DE with 287HP/274TQ. The headlights now sported larger bi-xenon projectors, the front bumper had been revised, the rear taillights now use LEDs, and interior changes brought differences to the center console, among other small things. Touring and Grand Touring models have radio-steering controls standard, MP3 CD compatibility, and Satellite Radio became an available option. The 15AT transmission also received an update, which made it rev-match for every downshift.

For the 2007 model year, the 350Z was again moderately revised. The VQ35DE V6 was replaced with a new 3.5 L VQ35HR V6. It produced 306 hp (228 kW) at 6800 rpm with 268 ft·lbf at 4800 rpm. The hood was revised featuring a bulge reminiscent of the original 240Z. In the US, trims levels were narrowed down to 350Z (base), Enthusiast, Touring, and Grand Touring, while in Europe the same trim levels remained.A limited run (only 5 units) called the Type E was produced in Japan in order to meet homologation requirements to compete in the Super GT series. The Type-E featured a longer nose and rear overhang as well as a few extra aerodynamic aids.

Engine is rated at 206 kW (280 PS) @ 6200 rpm, 363 N·m (37.0 kgf·m) @ 4800 rpm [7]Set for limited release Spring 2009 only in Europe, Nissan 350Z Gran Turismo 4 Limited Edition will feature the Nissan 350Z, in Sunshine Yellow and Black body colors, as its focus. Only 700 copies of this collectors' item will be released. The unique coupe with 3.5 liter engine has now 300hp (20hp more than original) at 6400rpm, but the red line starts at 7000rpm. [8]To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the début of Datsun 240Z, Nissan released a tuned version of the 350Z coupe. The 35th Anniversary Z was débuted at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas on November 2nd, followed by its first public appearance at the Miami Auto Show in early November. It went on sale in January 2005.[9]

Type E (2004)

A limited run (only 5 units) called the Type E was produced in Japan in order to meet homologation requirements to compete in the Super GT series. The Type-E featured a longer nose and rear overhang as well as a few extra aerodynamic aids.

Engine is rated at 206 kW (280 PS) @ 6200 rpm, 363 N·m (37.0 kgf·m) @ 4800 rpm [7]

Gran Turismo 4 Limited Edition

Set for limited release Spring 2009 only in Europe, Nissan 350Z Gran Turismo 4 Limited Edition will feature the Nissan 350Z, in Sunshine Yellow and Black body colors, as its focus. Only 700 copies of this collectors' item will be released. The unique coupe with 3.5 liter engine has now 300hp (20hp more than original) at 6400rpm, but the red line starts at 7000rpm. [8]

35th Anniversary Edition (2005)

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the début of Datsun 240Z, Nissan released a tuned version of the 350Z coupe. The 35th Anniversary Z was débuted at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas on November 2nd, followed by its first public appearance at the Miami Auto Show in early November. It went on sale in January 2005.[9]

35th Anniversary Edition includes an uprated 300 hp (220 kW) V6 engine for the 6-speed manual transmission model. Other key 35th Anniversary Z equipment (standard on both 6-speed manual and 5-speed automatic equipped versions) includes unique 18-inch (460 mm) cast aluminium-alloy wheels, front and rear spoilers, Brembo brakes and special Z badging. The car comes in a variety of unique colours including "Ultra Yellow", "Super Black" body colours.

ST Type G (2006)

In 2006-01-12, Nissan announced the sale of ST Type G for Japanese market. This version features 19 inches (480 mm) rear tires (245/40R18 93W front, 265/35R19 94W rear), front & rear fender mouldings (+25mm), RAYS alloy wheels, and exclusive interior leather color.

The ST Type G cost 4,273,500 yen for 6 speed manual, and 4,326,000 yen for 5 speed automatic.[10]

GT-S

During the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) unveiled the 350Z GT-S concept.[11] The GT-S featured a unique radial flow supercharger (that could be turned on or off via a switch on the dashboard), raising engine output to 382.6 bhp (285.3 kW) and 424.8 Nm without modifications to the engine components. The car also featured new body kit for more cooling and downforce and wider 245 and 265/40/18 tires. No plans for production have been revealed, although there have been some hints that the package may be offered as an upgrade kit. The car has been tested favourably against its possible production rivals, the Porsche Cayman S and BMW Z4 M.[12]

Auto Express magazine reported the GT-S would be on sale in UK for £36,000, but it has yet to be produced.[13]
Nissan's performance tuning division, NISMO, began producing modified versions of the 350Z shortly after its introduction, although in the UK these were only available one year after the car was launched.[citation needed]

NISMO R-Tune (2004)

The R-Tune was introduced into the NISMO line-up with modifications including headers, cams, pulleys. The R-Tune voids the Nissan factory warranty,[citation needed] but gains significant horsepower, intended for track racers.

Engine is rated 305 hp (227 kW)

NISMO S-Tune GT (2005)
Modified Nissan 350Z S-Tune GT at the 2006 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show

The S-Tune GT was released by NISMO to celebrate its success in motorsport, particularly in the Super GT series. The S-Tune GT featured revised long nose bodywork as in the Type-E, a modified version of the VQ35DE engine called the S1 with more power (300 PS / 221 kW / 296 hp) and higher redline (7200 rpm), as well as a sportier NISMO suspension.

20 were produced each month in Japan. Although Nissan did not officially sell S-Tune in UK, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. imported 1 S-Tune GT to UK[14]

NISMO 380RS (Nismo 350Z - 2007-Present)

This edition of the 350Z Coupe debuted in New York International Auto Show on April 4, 2007. This version featured the same engine as the regular 350Z (VQ35HR), but produces 313 HP (Redline at 7500 rpm of full 9000rpm) for both 5-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmission. The car featured NISMO aerodynamics package based on the Super GT championship car, which included an aggressive front fascia with chin spoiler, side skirts, an extended rear fascia with under body diffuser and a rear wing. The car also had NISMO-tuned independent multi-link suspension, Brembo brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers (with 12.8-inch (330 mm) front and 12.7-inch (320 mm) rear rotors) and NISMO-branded gunmetal grey RAYS alloy wheels (18x9-inch front and 19x10-inch rear with 245/40WR18 front, 265/35WR19 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires), and NISMO-branded tuned exhaust. All Nismo versions are "Ready For Track" with the safety equipment in it.

NISMO 350Z went on sale in the US in July 2007 at Nissan dealers.[15][16] 1500 were produced for the '07 and '08 model year, and it is assumed that if the demand is there that more will be produced, limited to 10% of all 350Z sales. The vehicle had MSRP of $38,070 for the '07 model year.

NISMO Type 380RS (2007)

Released as the road version for Japanese market of the Type 380RS-Competition race car , it includes the VQ35HR engine stroked and bored to 3.8-litre, rated 257 kW (350 PS/350 hp) @ 7200 rpm and 397 N·m (40.5 kgf·m/293 lbf·ft) @ 4800 rpm torque. Brembo disc brakes are fitted, as are Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R tires (245/40R18 in front, 275/35R19 in the rear) with RAYS wheels. Front and rear dampers come from Yamaha.

NISMO Type 380RS is priced 5.397 million (5.14 million+tax) yen ($38695 USD).[17] Only 300 cars were produced.[18]

NISMO Type 380RS-Competition

It is the race car for which NISMO Type 380RS is based. The 3798 cc engine rated 294 kW (400 PS) at 7500 rpm and 421 Nm (43 kgm) at 5200 rpm torque. This in turn is based on the GT 500 race car that Nissan enters into the Super GT championship.

According to Nissan, the race car cost 26.25 million yen.[19]Grand Am

Since its introduction in 2002, it did not take long for drivers and teams to enter a Z33 for competition when B.J. Zacharias and Michiel Schuitemaker of Schuitemaker Motorsports helped the car to make its début in the Grand-Am Cup Series at the start of the 2003 season. They have taken a few podium finishes with Unitech Racing who is also the other team to field a Z33, but effort was proved to be successful under the name of Geddings Racing scoring wins along with the other current Grand-Am entrant East Competition Promotorsport. The Grand-Am Cup car has also been used in the new FIA GT4 European Cup. Schuitemaker Motorsports with drivers Michiel Schuitemaker and BJ Zacharias won 3rd place in the '03 Grand-Am Cup season. The following year, they improved and finished in 2nd place. Schuitemaker Motorsports was sponsored by 350EVO, a manufacturer of performance 350Z parts. After winning 3rd overall in the '03 season, NISSAN had Wright Tuning build a new 350Z race car for the '04 season. This car differed from the '03 car in that it was completely stripped and seam welded. The cage was lighter and stiffer by using different diameter tubing where possible. The car used a Menard's built engine with a Pectel engine management system. Overall racing weight was 2,450 lb (1,110 kg) which was the minimum allowable weight for its class. The '04 chassis proved to be the most successful chassis to run in Grand-Am to date. The '03 chassis was sold to a French team with Edouardo Atkatlan as the driver. It still competes in the European "Fun Races" today, winning 2nd place in the inaugural '07 race in Madrid.

JGTC/Super GT

The 350Z replaced the Skyline GT-R as the car for Nissan's factory and customer teams in the Super GT's GT 500 class. The cars used are heavily modified and feature a longer nose and tail (requiring the production of the Type-E homologation special), carbon fiber bodywork, and a tube chassis. In 2004, NISMO won the GT500 championship. Until the 2007 season, the car was powered by a VQ30DETT V6. In order to increase competitiveness, however, a new 4.5L V8 powerplant has been developed. The car, with slightly more pedestrian modifications also competes in the GT300 class (having started there even before the Skyline GT-Rs were replaced) by teams such as Endless Sports and Mola. In 2003 Hasemi Sports won the GT300 championship with the 350Z. In 2008 season, through the 350Zs were all replaced by Nissan GT-Rs in the GT500 class, but they has been continued to used in GT300 class as GT-Rs' horsepower overexceeds the horsepower limit which make it impossible to participate. Thus, two 350Zs competed in the series and Mola won the both Drivers' and Teams' championships in the GT300 class.

Super Taikyu

The Z33 also appears in the Japan's Super Taikyu series, entered by C-West Labs.

British GT Championship

The British GT Championship also fields a privateer 350Z which competed in the series until 2006.

SCCA

The car is considered popular choice for amateurs and professionals in SCCA events, T.C Kline took third place in the 2003 Touring 2 category in 2003, having being one of three Z33 that made it into the SCCA T-2 runoffs. In the SCCA GT2 class, Jim Goughary took the title in the car's début season.

Drifting

The car is used in import events and drifting, where in the latter, some drivers such as Tanner Foust, have started to use them with success in the D1 Grand Prix and Formula D series. At the 2006 D1GP exhibition event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Tanner Foust became the first driver to score a perfect 100 points in a 350Z. In the non-Japanese domestic D1GP spinoff series, D1 Great Britain (D1GB), there are two Z33s that compete in the series. Of the 2007 season, both SVA Imports and Sumo Power 350Z currently competes in the EDC (European Drift Championship), which is run by a different organization to D1, and in Formula D, Foust took runner up spot at round 1[20] and at round 2, Chris Forsberg would score its maiden victory[21] in his Roadster equipped with a VK56DE from a Nissan Titan[22]. His win for the 350Z was followed up by Youichi Imamura's win during the Las Vegas round of the US D1GP series in his RB26DETT engined car. Foust would eventually take the Formula D title.[23]

The SVA Imports Z33 is significant for being the other drifting car other than the Team Orange Impreza to feature a rear radiators with air ventilation on both sides rather than just on one on the Impreza.[24]

There are few 350Z drift cars actively participating in DDGT drift competition in Korea. The most famous 350Z in the scene is the 2007 Black 350Z piloted by Ko-Ryung Hae with TEAM CHRONOS

Open Road racing

Option magazine founder Daijiro Inada used an extensively modified 350Z, dubbed Option Stream Z to compete in the Silver State Classic Challenge.[25] The car is equipped with a GReddy/Trust T88 turbo-charger and is stroked to 3.8 L to produce over 900 bhp (670 kW). The Option Stream Z was also featured in the Playstation 2 game title Gran Turismo 4.

Drag racing

As the Z33 is popular in import drag racing, one Z33 fielded by Performance Motorsport in the NHRA Sports Compact series, with twin turbo claims to put out over 1,700 bhp (1270 kW) and achieved 8.33 quarter mile time with its best speed of 176.72 mph (284.40 km/h).

Land speed record

In 2004, the tuner Dandy and magazine Option entered a Z33 known as the Option Dandy 380Z with a donor engine from a wrecked Stream Z minus turbocharger producing 370 bhp (276 kW), to compete in the F/GT class for unblown grand touring sport cars at the Bonneville Speed Week. The car could at best reach 151 mph (243 km/h). However, stock 2006-08 350Z can reach 159 MPH, which is the speed that the speed limiter is set at.[26]

Advertising and promotions

To promote the 350Z, Nissan released a short film, "The Run", with a 2003 model being driven in a high-speed run through city streets of up to 200 km/h. This took place through the narrow cobblestone streets of Prague in the Czech Republic, and lasted six and a half minutes.[27][28]

It is worth noting that the film seems to be a respectful recreation of "C'était un rendez-vous", a short film made in 1976 by Claude Lelouch, showing an eight-minute drive through Paris. However, unlike "The Run", the filming of"C'était un rendez-vous" that took place was illegal, as the director/driver didn't receive official permission from the Parisian government, and the streets in question were not closed to traffic.

Specifications:

Engine:VQ35HR 3.5 L (210 cu in) V6 306 bhp (228 kW) at 6,800 rpm 268 ft·lbf (363 N·m) at 4,800 rpm
Transmission:6-speed manual
Wheelbase:104.3 in (2,650 mm)
Length:169.8 in (4,310 mm)
Width:71.5 in (1,820 mm)
Height:52.1 in (1,320 mm)

Mazda RX-7 veilside fortune

2008-11-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

Veilside, one of Japan's biggest automotive aftermarket companies, assembled this Mazda RX-7 to demonstrate its "Fortune" wide-body kit at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Salon. Colored red, it had everything a show automobile should — an HKS T04Z single-turbo conversion kit, a massive intercooler shoved below the frontal bumper, large Rotora brake system, A'PEXi coil-over shocks and vast 19-inch Andrew Evo-V wheels inside P255/30ZR19 front and P305/25ZR19 rear Toyo Proxes radials. The audio system could rip open the car's sheet metal at quarter-volume, and there were allots of customised consoles and Veilside's own D1 R seats. As a matter of fact, the Veilside RX-7 was so amazing that it won the Grand Prix award as the best car in the show.

So this machine was a legend before Picture Car Coordinator Dennis McCarthy saw it and concluded it should, repainted Sunset Orange Pearl, co-star in The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Veilside also assembled 3 duplicates for the movie while the Tokyo Drift should built up three more visual clons — including one destined for wipeout using a Mazda RX-7 that appeared in both early Fast and Furious movies as its base.

Because of this car's 80-inch width, its dimensions are inconvenient — it's hardly twice as long as it is wide. There are waves in the repeatedly restored body (although the carbon-fiber hood is beautiful), and the interior long lost its lustre, but the Veilside RX-7 has the bearing of a champion. If there's a complaint, it's that the added rear window splitter and tall rear spoiler pretty much wipe out rearward visibility.

Mazda rotary engines love to rev, and given adequate turbo pressure level can produce startling horsepower numbers — even if their peak torque output stays decent. But this car was beat up during the production and on the chassis dyno it developed only 306 horsepower at 6,650 rpm and 256 pound-feet of torque at 5,950 rpm at the rear wheels — better than stock, but nowhere close its potential. More significantly, there was little low-end torque to get those big wheels turning. It took 6 seconds for the flying brick to hit 60 miles per hour and 14.1 seconds to run the quarter-mile at 104.5 mph. Stock third-generation U.S.-spec Mazda RX-7s easily bettered those times when they were being sold new in the '90s.

It is hard to imagine drifting the Veilside RX-7, with its four corners so far apart and such compromised visibility. But this car is so visually catching, it doesn't need to drift to draw attention.

Porsche Carrera GT

2008-11-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

The Porsche Carrera GT is a mid-engined sports car that was manufactured by Porsche in Leipzig[3], Germany.The development of the Carrera GT can be traced back to its predecessors, the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. Due in part to the FIA and ACO rule changes in 1998, both designs had ended. Porsche at the time had planned on a new Le Mans prototype for 1999. The car was initially intended to use a turbocharged flat-6, but was later redesigned to use a new V10 engine, pushing the project back to planned competition in 2000. The V10 was a unit secretly built by Porsche for the Footwork Formula One team in 1992, but later shelved. The engine was resurrected for the Le Mans prototype and increased in size to 5.5 litres. Unfortunately the project was cancelled after two days of testing for the first car, in mid-1999, mostly due to Porsche's wish to build the Cayenne SUV with involvement from Volkswagen and Audi, thus requiring engineering expertise to be pulled from the motorsports division. It was also speculated that VW-Audi chairman Ferdinand Piëch wanted Audi's new Le Mans Prototype, the Audi R8 not to face competition from Porsche in 2000.Porsche did keep part of the project alive by using the 5.5L V10 from the prototype in a concept car shown at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, mainly in an attempt to draw attention to their display. Surprising interest in the vehicle and an influx of revenue provided from the Cayenne helped Porsche decide to produce the car, and development started on a road-legal version that would be produced in small numbers at Porsche's new manufacturing facility in Leipzig. Porsche started a production run of Carrera GTs in 2004, shipping the units with an MSRP of $440,000 USD and a dealer invoice price of approximately $414,800 USD. In addition, the delivery charge could be as much as $5,000 USD. The first Carrera GT went on sale in the US on Jan 31, 2004.Originally a production run of 1,500 cars was planned. But Porsche announced in August, 2005 that it would not continue production of the Carrera GT through 2006, citing discontinuation was due to changing airbag regulations in the US. As of May 6, 2006, 1,270 GT's had been manufactured, with 604 being sold in the United States.[4]The Carrera GT is powered by a 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 DIN (605 SAE) horsepower (450 kW)[5] whereas the original concept car featured a 5.5 litre version rated at 558 hp (416 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (205 mph)[3], although road tests indicated that in reality the car could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds[5] and 0-100 mph in 6.8[5] seconds, while 0-125 mph in 9.9[citation needed]. The Carrera GT has a basic five color paint scheme which includes Guards Red, Fayence Yellow, Basalt Black, GT Silver and Seal Grey. Custom colors were also available from the factory. A traditional six-speed manual transmission is the only, in contrast to its rival the Enzo Ferrari which is only offered with a computer actuated paddle shifted manual gearbox. Attached to this gearbox is a beechwood gearknob which pays homage to the wooden gearknob used in the Porsche 917 Le Mans racers. In its second year of production, a limited edition carbonfibre knob was also made available. With the Enzo Ferrari priced initially around $660,000, the Carrera GT base price of US$444,400 makes the dream of owning a piece of Le Mans inspired technology somewhat more attainable.The Carrera GT has large side inlets and air dams that help cool the large V10 framed by the carbon fiber rear hood. Fitted with Porsche's latest brake system, the 15 inch ceramic pad brakes make an impressive appearance underneath the 19 inch front and 20 inch rear wheels. Similar to other Porsche models, such as the 911, the GT includes an automated rear wing spoiler which deploys above 70 mph (110 km/h).The interior is fitted with soft leather. Bose audio system and navigation systems are available as options. In typical Porsche fashion, the ignition is to the left of the steering wheel. This placement dates back to the early days of Le Mans racing when drivers were required to make a running start, hop into their cars, start them and begin the race. The placement of the ignition enabled the driver to start the car with his left hand and put it in gear with his right.Notable technology includes a pure carbon fiber monocoque and subframe, dry sump lubrication and inboard suspension. The carbon fiber monocoque and subframe were produced and assembled by ATR Composites Group of Italy. The Carrera GT radiator is about five times the size of a 911 Turbo's. Unlike some of its rivals, the Carrera GT does not feature dynamic stability control, but it does have traction control. Porsche claims that over 75 technology patents have been filed during the development of the Carrera GT.

Specifications:

Engine:

The powerful 5.7-liter, V10, 605-horsepower engine can take the Carrera GT from 0 to 124 mph (200 kph) in under 10 seconds. The Carrera's top speed is about 205 mph (330 kph). Engine specifications include:

10 cylinders
5.7-liter displacement
605 hp @ 8,000 rpm
435 lb-ft torque @ 5,750 rpm
8,400-rpm maximum engine speed
12.0:1 compression ratio

Price:	329,835$
Miles Per Gallon:	--- mpg
Curb Weight:	2750 lbs
Layout:	Mid-Engine/RWD
Transmission:	6-Speed Manual
Engine
Type:	V10
Displacement:	5500 cc
Horsepower:	558 bhp @ 7400 rpm
Torque:	442 lb-ft @ --- rpm
Redline:	8200 rpm
Performance
0-60 mph:	4 sec
0-100 mph:	9.1 sec
Quarter Mile:	12.4 sec @ 116 mph
Skidpad:	.99g
Top Speed:	205 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph:	115 ft
Slalom Speed:	68.5 mph

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

2008-08-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

A special version of the Gallardo, dubbed the Superleggera, was launched at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show supposedly in preparation for the next Ferrari 430 Scuderia. The Superleggera is lighter than the base Gallardo by around 70 kg (154 lb) - down to approximately 1,360 kg (3,000 lb) - thanks to the use of carbon fibre panels for the rear diffuser, undertray, the rearview-mirror housings, the interior door panels, the central tunnel, and the engine cover. Even the wheel nuts are made of titanium instead of steel to save even more unsprung weight at each corner of the car.
The intake, exhaust and ECU have been upgraded to release an extra 10 hp (7.5 kW) for a total of 530 hp (395 kW). The lightening and extra power result in a 0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the base Gallardo. The 6-speed e-gear transmission, usually a US$ 10,000 option, now comes as a standard. The full price for a Superleggera with everything on it runs for over $200,000. Lamborghini began offering the Gallardo Superleggera in June 2007.[5] In March 2008, Lamborghini announced that they had ceased production of the Gallardo Superleggera.[6] In August 20, 2008 was published information about lawsuit filed by Swiss-based Touring Superleggera Markenverwaltungsgesellschaft AG against several companies including Lamborghini on trademark infringements.[7] The company owns the trademarks of the Carrozzeria Touring.

Specifications:

Brakes & Tires:
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Driveline: All Wheel Drive
Tires F-R: 235/35 ZR19 - 295/30 ZR19

Engine:
Displacement cu in (cc): 303 (4961)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 530(388) / 8000
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: n.a.
Type: V10

Exterior Dimensions & Weight:
Length × Width × Height in: 167.7 × 74.1 × 45.4
Weight lb (kg): 2997 (1360)

Performance:
Acceleration 0-62 mph s: 3.8
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a.
Top Speed mph (km/h): n.a.

Ferrari California

2008-08-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Ferrari California is a grand touring sports car that will be launched by Ferrari at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It is a two door "2+2" hard top convertible. The California will be powered by front-mid mounted gasoline direct injection 4.3 L (260 cu in) V8 sending a claimed 453 bhp (338 kW/459 PS) to the rear wheels.[1] The car revives the "California" name.The California will represent a number of firsts for Ferrari. It will be the first front engined Ferrari with a V8, the first to feature a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, the first with a folding metal roof, the first with multi-link rear suspension and the first with direct petrol injection. It represents a new, fourth model range for the company.

Ferrari F50 Turbo

2008-08-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

The Ferrari F50 was a mid-engined range-topping sports car made by Ferrari(on the picture both cars are Ferrari F50 but red is turbo).The F50 was introduced in 1995 to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. The car is a two door, two seat convertible with a removable hardtop. It has a 4.7 L naturally-aspirated 60-valve V12 engine that was developed from the 3.5L V12 used in the 1992 Ferrari F 92 A Formula One car.Only 349 cars were made, one fewer than Ferrari estimated they could sell. This was, in the words of Ferrari spokesman Antonio Ghini, because "Ferraris are something cultural, a monument. They must be hard to find, so we will produce one less car than the market." The last F50 was produced in Maranello, Italy in July 1997.The F50's engine predated the car: It was used in the Ferrari 333 SP for the American IMSA series in 1994 allowing it to become eligible for the stock engine WSC category.Following the motorsport theme, Ferrari developed the F50 GT, a prototype based on the F50 that was built to compete in GT1-class racing. The car had a fixed roof, large rear spoiler, new front spoiler and many other adjustments. The 4.7 litre V12 engine was tuned to generate around 750 bhp (559 kW). In testing in 1996 the car proved to be quicker even than the 333SP, but this went unnoticed as Ferrari canceled the F50 GT project, instead focusing on Formula 1. Ferrari sold off the three complete chassis that were built - the test car 001, 002 and 003. Chassis 002 and 003 had bodies fitted before being sold. The remaining three tubs were apparently destroyed.A custom-made F50 variant named the Bolide was commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei in 1998 and delivered in the same year.It used the F1 derived V12 engine and the same chassis, but was completely redesigned due to the monocoque construction of the body on the F50.One car was produced in the coupe configuration. Very few images and no official performance statistics of this car are available.

Specifications:

Engine:V12
Valvetrain:DOHC 5 Valves / Cyl
Displacement:4700 cc / 286.8 cu in
Bore:85 mm / 3.35 in
Stroke:69 mm / 2.72 in
Power:387.8 kw / 520.0 bhp @ 8500 rpm
Torque:470.47 nm / 347.0 ft lbs @ 6500 rpm
Redline:8500
Drive wheels:Mid Engine / RWD
Front brakes:Vented Discs
Front brake size:356 mm / 14.0 in
Rear brakes:Vented Discs
Rear brake size:335 mm / 13.2 in
Front wheels F:45.7 x 21.6 cm / 18.0 x 8.5 in
Rear wheels R:45.7 x 33.0 cm / 18.0 x 13.0 in
Steering:Rack & PInion w/Power Assist
Transmission:6-Speed Manual

Lotec Sirius

2008-08-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

The Lotec Sirius is one of 400 km / h faster super sports car, which the German company Lotec GmbH in 2000 to launch.Lotec founder Kurt Lotterschmid led the planning for this super sports car project, whose planning began in 1992. Die Entwicklungskosten bezifferte der Erbauer mit etwa sieben Millionen Mark. Development costs quantified the builder with about seven million dollars.The Sirius has a very powerful engine with a maximum capacity of 882kW (1200PS). Die Basis des Aggregats stammt vom 6,0 Liter-V12 von Mercedes-Benz. The basis of the aggregate comes from the 6.0 liter V12 from Mercedes-Benz. Dort leistet dieser Motor "nur" knapp 400 PS. There is this engine "only" about 400 hp. Lotec hat ihn aber mit zwei KKK-Turboladern bestückt. Lotec him but with two KKK turbochargers served. So kommt man je nach Ladedruck auf 1000-1200 PS! So you depending on the pressure in 1000-1200 PS! Außerdem besitzt der Motor nun eine Trockensumpfschmierung, um auch bei hohen Geschwindigkeiten und Kurvenkräften die Schmierung der Maschine sicherzustellen. Furthermore, the engine is a dry-sump lubrication, even at high speeds and cornering forces lubrication of the machine.Gefertigt ist der Sirius aus modernsten Materialien, die auch im Flugzeugbau zum Einsatz kommen. Made from Sirius is the most modern materials, which are also used in aircraft. Der Rahmen besteht beispielsweise aus Stahlrohr-Kohlefaserverbund. The frame is made of steel pipe, for example, carbon fiber composite. Damit wird trotz der schweren Technik ein geringes Gewicht erzielt. This is despite the heavy engineering a low weight. Die Bremsanlage stammt vom italienischen Spezialisten Brembo, ein hydraulisches System zum Anheben der Bodenfreiheit ist ebenfalls vorhanden. The braking system comes from the Italian specialists Brembo, a hydraulic system for raising the ground clearance is also available. Servolöenkung und ABS sind ebenfalls an Bord. Servolöenkung and ABS are also on board.Ausgestattet ist der Rennwagen mit Lederausstattung, Sportsitzen mit Dreipunktgurten, Velourteppichen und einer Klimaanlage. Equipped is the race car with leather interior, sport seats with three-point belts, Velourteppichen and air conditioning. Das Interieur sowie die Innenausstattung wird komplett nach Kundenwunsch gefertigt. The interior and the interior will be completely manufactured according to customer requirements.The 1280 kg serious about speeding cars at maximum capacity in less than 4 seconds on pace 100, in 7.8 seconds, the speedometer at 200 kph. Die Höchstgeschwindigkeit gibt Lotec mit über 400 km/h an. The maximum speed is Lotec with more than 400 kph. So weit reicht auch der Tachometer des Fahrzeugs. So far, the speedometer of the vehicle.

Specifications:

Engine:Twin Turbo Mercedes-Benz V12
Valvetrain:4 Valves / Cyl
Displacement:5987 cc / 365.3 cu in
Bore:98 mm / 3.86 in
Stroke:80.2 mm / 3.16 in
Compression:8.5:1
Power:994.8 kw / 1334 bhp @ 6300 rpm
Hp per litre:222.82 bhp per litre
Torque:1300 nm / 958.8 ft lbs @ 3400 rpm
Drive wheels:Mid Engine / RWD
Front brakes:Brembro Discs
Front wheels F:45.7 x 24.1 cm / 18.0 x 9.5 in
Rear wheels R:45.7 x 33.0 cm / 18.0 x 13.0 in
Front tire size:225/45ZR18
Rear tire size:345/35ZR18
Weight:1280 kg / 2822 lbs
Length:4120 mm / 162.2 in
Width:2080 mm / 81.9 in
Height:1120 mm / 44.1 in
Transmission.5-Speed Manual
Top speed:400 kph / 248.5 mph
0 - 60 mph:3.7 seconds

Pagani Zonda F (C12 F)

2008-08-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

The Pagani Zonda is a mid-engined sports car produced by Pagani in Italy. It debuted in 1999 and continues through the present, with production proceeding at roughly 25 cars per year. As of April, 2008, 91 Zondas had been built. Both 2-seat coupe and convertible versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon fiber.Some early Zonda engineering was done by Formula One champion, Juan Manuel Fangio. The car was originally to be named for him, the "Fangio F1", but the name was changed upon his death in 1995, renamed after an air current above Argentina.The Zonda C12 F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive reengineering of the Pagani car yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L V12. Power is increased to 602 PS (594 hp/443 kW) with a special clubsport model producing 650 PS (641 hp/478 kW). The company promises a 3.5 second sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h), a top speed over 215 mph (346 km/h) and it will be the queen in braking from 300 km/h to 0 (186 mph to 0). The Zonda F clubsport has a power to weight ratio of 528 bhp/ton (384 W/kg). An Enzo Ferrari, comparatively, has a power to weight ratio of 483 bhp/ton (356 W/kg).The top speed can be further tweaked by adjusting the aerodynamic settings. 215 mph (346 km/h) is the car's top speed on the setting for the best handling which provides the most down force but also has the highest drag coefficient. If the aerodynamic settings were adjusted the top speed would be a bit higher. This also seems to be the reason that when EVO Magazine attempted the Pagani Zonda S's top speed on the Autobahn, that they were only able to get the car to 197 mph (317 km/h), as opposed to its claimed top speed of 220 mph (350 km/h). It would make sense that if the car was set up for maximum downforce then its top speed would drop to around 200 mph (320 km/h). Company representatives at Pagani's factory backed up this claim. However, the EVO article claimed that aerodynamic parts, specifically ones which created drag were in fact removed during the run, bringing Pagani's claims into question.The Zonda F Clubsport held the record for the fastest lap by any production car around the Nürburgring, lapping the 12.9 miles (21 km) Nordschleife in 7 minutes 27.82 seconds, beating the previous record holder, the Porsche Carrera GT.[1] It was since surpassed by the 2009 Corvette ZR1 on 7 June 2008, with a time of 7 minutes 26.4 seconds.Production of the Zonda F will be limited to 25 cars, still not US compatible. The next model (codenamed C9), due to be unveiled in 2009, will be fully EPA/DOT compatible.The Zonda F, named after F1 driver Juan Manuel Fangio, comes with an extra head light and different fog lights at the sides, new bodywork (revised front end, new rear spoiler, more aerodynamic vents all around) that improves the cars aerodynamics and different side mirrors. Further enhancements over the 'S' centre around optional carbon/ceramic brakes developed in conjunction with Brembo, magnesium wheels, inconel titanium exhaust system, hydroformed aluminum intake plenum and a redesigned 'Z preg' weave in the crash structure to improve rigidity and reduce weight.

Specifications:

Price:$741 000 USD
Engine:Mercedes Benz M180 V12 w/Pagani Intake, Exhaust, Management Systems
Position:Mid-Longitudinal
Aspiration:Natural
Valvetrain:DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
Displacement:7291 cc / 444.9 cu in
Dore:91.5 mm / 3.6 in
Stroke:92.4 mm / 3.64 in
Power:484.7 kw / 650 bhp @ 6200 rpm
Hp per litre:89.15 bhp per litre
bhp/weight:510.2 bhp per weight
Torque:1057.54 nm / 780 ft lbs @ 4000 rpm
Redline:7000
Drive wheels:RWD w/Traction Control, Self Locking Differential
Body / frame:Carbon Fibre Monocoque with Aluminum Sub-Frames, Carbon Fibre Roll Bar
Front brakes:Carbon-Ceramic Discs w/6-Pot Calipers, Hydraulic Assist, ABS
Front brake size:385 mm / 15.2 in
Rear brakes:Carbon-Ceramic Discs w/4-Pot Calipers, Hydraulic Assist, ABS
Rear brake size:385 mm / 15.2 in
Front tire size:225/35x19 Michelin Pilot Sport 2
Rear tire size:335/30x20 Michelin Pilot Sport 2
Steering:TRW Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
Front suspension:Alunimum Alloy A-Arms w/Pull-Rod Springs, Olhins Adjustable Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar
Rear suspension:Alunimum Alloy A-Arms w/Pull-Rod Springs, Olhins Adjustable Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar
Weight:1274 kg / 2809 lbs
Wheelbase:2730 mm / 107.5 in
Length:4435 mm / 174.6 in
Width:2055 mm / 80.9 in
Height:1141 mm / 44.9 in
Transmission:6-Speed Manual w/Twin Plate Clutch
0 - 60 mph:3.5 second

Orca C113

2008-08-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Rene Beck's vision of a supercar is the Orca C113. For the past 15 years, Rene has personally financed development of a car which rivals the Pagani Zonda, Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari's Enzo. Rene states ''We will build the fastest road car in the world.'Rene's project began in 1987, but just recently the first car was completed. At the 2003 Geneva Auto Show, Orca unveiled a fully drivable blue supercar registered for use in Switzerland.Formed in 2004 with partner Ralph Beck, Orca is a new company dedicated to take the C113 to market. The company is focusing on the German, Austrian and Swiss regions by setting up a service network and promoting the C113 at car events and in major publications.Rene used a modular design concept of for the construction of the C113. Its chassis consists of three large carbon fibre/nomex components which can be removed individually for maintenance. The body is made from ten pieces which are screwed in place for easy replacement. The whole structure is supported by aluminum inserts placed within the twelve carbon fiber layers that make up the chassis.The first blue show car is based around Volvo mechanics, including a 2.3-liter T5 Volvo engine, but Ford has backed out since the C113 is direct competition to the GT40. Subsequent cars use an Audi V8 engine specially prepared by MTM. Partnership with MTM is beneficial as MTM has an established support network, and extensive knowledge tuning Audis for the last 15 years. The V8 specifically prepared for Orca is the 4.2-Liter V8 from the Audi S6. A radical twin turbo modification offers 11.6 psi of pressure to create 641hp at 5400 rpmOne highlight feature of the C113 is an active suspension provided by MAXTRAC. The system uses electronically controlled damping to ensure maximum adhesion. During tight maneuvers the system can raise or lower the ride height of the C113. Another unique feature is the 7-speed sequential transmission or optional nine speed unit. With all the technology packed into the C113, it is hard to imagine the car is basically a homebrew machine built out of Rene's two car garage.While success of the C113 as a serial production supercar has yet to be had, Rene has created a car and a company which is unique to Switzerland. The company is currently seeking investment to start production.

Specifications:

Engine:Twin Turbo Audi V8
Position:Transverse, Mid Engine
Aspiration:Twin Turbo
Valvetrain:DOHC, 5 Valves per Cyl w/Varible Intake Manifold
Fuel feed:Electronic Sequential Injection
Displacement:4163 cc / 254.0 cu in
Bore:84.5 mm / 3.33 in
Stroke:92.8 mm / 3.65 in
Power:478.0 kw / 641 bhp @ 5400 rpm
Hp per litre:153.98 bhp per litre
bhp/weight:754.12 bhp per weight
Torque:900 nm / 663.8 ft lbs @ 4200 rpm
Drive wheels:RWD
body / frame:Carbon & Kevlar Monocoque w/Aluminum Inserts
Front brakes:AP Racing Internally Ventilated & Cross Drilled Carbon Discs w/8-Piston Calipers
Rear brakes:AP Racing Internally Ventilated & Cross Drilled Carbon Discs w/8-Piston Calipers
Front wheels F:45.7 x 24.1 cm / 18.0 x 9.5 in
Rear wheels R:45.7 x 33.0 cm / 18 x 13 in
Front tire size:Yokohama 245/35-18
Rear tire size:Yokohama 285/30-18
Front suspension:Double Wishbones w/Inboard Spring Damper Units
Rear suspension:Double Wishbones w/Inboard Spring Damper Units
Weight:850 kg / 1874 lbs
Transmission:Sequential 7-Speed
Top speed:360.5 kph / 224.0 mph
0 - 60 mph:2.9 seconds

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

2008-08-03T03:37:00.001-07:00

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is a high-performance sports car built by Porsche since 2003. It is often confused with the non-roadlegal racecar Porsche 911 GT3-RS of 2001 and later, which was based on the Porsche 911 GT3-R of 2000.The RS (Rennsport, or "Racing Sport") is mainly a carryover of the Porsche 911 GT3, albeit it is lighter thanks to a polycarbonate rear window, carbon fiber hood and rear wing. Porsche ceramic composite brakes, which are also more heat and fade resistant than the iron units fitted as standard, are optional. Mechanically the two cars are identical, and share the same horsepower, and 3.6 litre flat-six engine.The Porsche 997 version of the GT3 RS was released in Europe in October 2006 and in North America in February 2007. It will keep the "GT3 RS" side sticker and the special colored wheels; this time, however, instead of white with either blue or red accents, they will be available in black or arctic silver metallic (both with some orange details like decorative stripe, outside mirrors, rear wing endplates, wheels and roll cage). They will be also available in green or orange (with details in black), or white (without accents, although they can be specified in any color the buyer desires).A new feature that the RS will employ over the regular GT3 will be the adoption of the 44 mm (1.7 in) wider (at the rear) body of the Carrera 4 models. As a result, rear track width increases. A re-designed rear wheel carrier to allow for a greater adjustability and a single-mass, light weight flywheel also differ from the standard 997 GT3.The factory claims a top speed of 193 mph (311 km/h) and a 0-60 time of about 4 seconds using a 415 hp (309 kW) engine.

Specifications:

Engine:Water Cooled, Aluminum, Opposed 6-Cylinder
Position:Rear Longitudinal
Aspiration:Natural
Valvetrain:DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl w/Varibale Valve Timing, Switching Intake Manifold
Fuel feed:Multipoint Fuel Injection
Displacement:3600 cc / 219.7 cu in
Bore:100 mm / 3.94 in
Stroke:76.4 mm / 3.01 in
Power:284.1 kw / 381 bhp @ 7300 rpm
Hp per litre:105.83 bhp per litre
Bhp/weight:280.15 bhp per weight
Torque:385.05 nm / 284 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm
Redline:8200
Drive wheels:RWD
body / frame:Unit Steel
Front brakes:Cross Drilled & Inner Vented Discs w/6-Piston Calipers, ABS, Servo Assist
Front brake size:350 mm / 13.8 in
Rear brakes:Cross Drilled & Inner Vented Discs w/4-Piston Calipers, ABS, Servo Assist
Rear brake size:330 mm / 13.0 in
Front wheels F:45.7 x 21.6 cm / 18.0 x 8.5 in
Rear wheels R:45.7 x 27.9 cm / 18 x 11.0 in
Front tire size:235/40ZR18
Rear tire size:295/30ZR18
Front suspension:McPherson Struts w/Cylindrical Springs over Internal Dampers,
Rear suspension:Mulit-Link w/Coil Springs over Internal Damper
Weight:1360 kg / 2998 lbs
Wheelbase:2355 mm / 92.7 in
Front track:1485 mm / 58.5 in
Rear track:1495 mm / 58.9 in
Length:4435 mm / 174.6 in
Width:1770 mm / 69.7 in
Height:1275 mm / 50.2 in
Transmission:6-Speed Manual
Gear ratios:3.82:1, 2.15:1, 1.56:1, 1.21:1, 1.00:1, 0.85:1
Final drive:3.44:1
Top speed:306 kph / 190.1 mph
0 - 60 mph:4.4 seconds
Production:306

Lamborghini Diablo SV

2008-08-02T02:55:00.001-07:00

The Lamborghini Diablo was a high-performance mid-engined sports car built by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 1990 and 2001, before it was replaced by the Lamborghini Murciélago.Lamborghini began developing the Diablo (which translates to "Devil" in Spanish) in 1985 as a replacement for the Countach model, introducing it for sale on January 21, 1990 at a base price of USD 240,000. Power came from a 5.7-litre, 48-valve version of the legendary Lamborghini V12 featuring dual overhead cams and computer-controlled multi-point fuel injection, producing a maximum output of 492 hp (367 kW/499 PS) and 427 ft·lbf (579 N·m) of torque. The vehicle could reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in slightly over 4 seconds, with a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h). The Diablo was originally rear-wheel drive and the engine was mid-mounted to aid its weight balance.Even at over $240,000, the vehicle was somewhat spartan, featuring only basic radio functions (with optional CD playback) along with manual windows, adjustable but unpowered seats and no anti-lock brakes, mostly to minimize the vehicle's already high curb weight. A few options were available, including having the driver's seat molded specifically for the buyer, a rear spoiler, a factory fitted luggage set (priced at $2,600) and an exclusive Breguet clock for the dash (priced at $10,500).The SV or "Sport Veloce" variant of the Diablo was an optional add-on package to the base car. It lacked the VT's all-wheel-drive system and electronic suspension, but it featured the VT's revised dashboard and larger brakes, a new 3-piece adjustable spoiler and was powered by a modified version of the 5.7-litre V12 producing 510 hp (380 kW/517 PS). The car's air intakes were slightly differently shaped, and from 1999 onwards the vehicle had exposed headlamps as opposed to the pop-up units previous versions used.Tuning company Koenig-Specials of Germany produced a tuned variant of the SV featuring further suspension modifications, massive brakes and a twin-turbocharger system, boosting the car's output to over 800 hp (597 kW/811 PS).Just like the updated versions of the VT coupé and roadster, the 1999 model year SV's changes were primarily limited to cosmetics. It received slight bodywork updates (keeping the exposed headlamps), new wheels and larger brakes in addition to the new VVT-equipped, 530 hp (400 kW/540 PS) engine. The 1999 Diablos also gained a new dashboard. Instead of the traditional flat dashboard with a separate upright instrument binnacle, as on so many Italian sports cars, the new dash was of a more fluid, wave shaped design. A thin strip of black glass runs the length of the dash, and instruments lights such as main beam, headlight operation and low fuel warning appear within this strip. The concept was inspired by Bang & Olufsen Hi-Fi products.Otherwise, the 1999 Diablo remained fundamentally unchanged. Like the updated VT, it was produced only as a production model for the 1999 model year. A limited edition 2000 model was produced, available only in metallic silver - most of these cars are in the United States.

Specifications:

Price:$238 000 USD
Engine:V12
Valvetrain:DOHC 4 Valves / Cyl
Displacement:5707 cc / 348.3 cu in
Bore:87.0 mm / 3.43 in
Stroke:80.0 mm / 3.15 in
Compression:10.0:1
Power:390.0 kw / 522.9 bhp @ 7100 rpm
Hp per litre:91.64 bhp per litre
bhp/weight
Torque:605.0 nm / 446.2 ft lbs @ 5500 rpm
Drive wheels:Mid Engine / RWD
Front brakes:Brembro Vented Discs w/ABS
Front brake size:355 mm / 13.9 in
Rear brakes:Vented Discs
Rear brake size:335 mm / 13.2 in
Front tire size F:235/35ZR-18
Rear tire size R:335/30ZR-18
Steering:Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
Weight:1530 kg / 3373 lbs
Wheelbase:2650 mm / 104.3 in
Front track:1540 mm / 60.6 in
Rear track:1640 mm / 64.6 in
Length:4470 mm / 175.9 in
Width:2040 mm / 80.3 in
Height:1115 mm / 43.9 in
Transmission:5-Speed Manual
Gear ratios:2.31:1, 1.52:1, 1.12:1, 0.88:1, 0.68:1
Final drive:2.53:1
Top speed:320.0 kph / 198.8 mph
0 - 60 mph:3.85 seconds

McLaren F1 LM

2008-03-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

Front side:
The McLaren F1 LM (LM for Le Mans) was built in honor of the five McLaren F1 GTR's which won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.[8] Thus, only five cars were built for the road.
The weight was reduced by approximately 75 kg (165 lb) over that of original, through the removal of various pieces of trim and use of optional equipment. The car also had a different transaxle, various aerodynamic modifications, specially-designed 18-inch (457 mm) magnesium alloy wheels and upgraded gearbox. The F1 LM also used the same engine as the 1995 F1 GTR, however, without race-mandated restrictors to produce 691 PS (680 hp/508 kW). It had a top speed of 225 mph (362 km/h), which is less than the standard version due to added aerodynamic drag, despite identical gear ratios. The LM is 76 kg lighter than the stock F1 -- a total mass of 1062 kg -- this is achieved through i.a. no interior noise suppression, no audio system, a very stripped down base interior, no fan assisted ground effect and no dynamic rear wing. In the place of the small dynamic rear wing there is a considerably larger, fixed CFRP rear wing mounted on the back of the vehicle. The fact that the idle noise level inside the car is loud enough to be unable to communicate verbally is the reason for that the car comes with a headset for the driver and passenger(s) which features ear protection and a means of communication through microphone. The conventional instruments are replaced with a LED implementation which features more information than the former type.The LM machine has the following performance figures: a peak torque of 705.0 nm (520.0 ft lbs) at 4500 RPM and a peak power of 498.1 kw (668.0 bhp) at 7800 RPM, it has a redline at 8500 RPM, the total weight of 1062 kg gives the car a 110.16 bhp per litre ratio.[9]The F1 LM is regarded to be the fastest incarnation of the McLaren F1 roadcars through the gears and in overall track performance. It has a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 2.9 seconds, 0-100 mph (161 km/h) in 5.9 seconds and was once the holder of many world records, including the 0-100-0 mph record which it completed in 8.5 seconds.The F1 LMs can be identified by their Papaya orange paint. The F1 LM's were painted in this colour in memory and tribute to Bruce McLaren, whose race colour was Papaya orange. Two other models, built exclusively for the Sultan of Brunei,[citation needed] were painted black with blue and yellow graphics. An illustration was drawn by a designer who has seen the vehicles in person.Although only five F1 LMs were sold, a sixth chassis exists in the form of XP1 LM, the prototype for modifications to the existing F1 to form the new F1 LM. This car is also painted Papaya Orange and is retained by McLaren. Other F1s have been modified by McLaren with LM bodyparts at the behest of the owners,[citation needed] however these are not full F1 LMs since they do not use the race engine.

Rear side:

Specifications:

price $1 250 000 USD
engine BMW 70/2 60 Degree V12
position Mid Longitudinal
valvetrain Chain Driven DOHC w/Continuously Variable Inlet Valve Timing & 4
displacement 6064 cc / 370.0 cu in
bore 86.0 mm / 3.39 in
stroke 87.0 mm / 3.43 in
compression 10.5:1
power 498.1 kw / 668.0 bhp @ 7800 rpm
hp per litre 110.16 bhp per litre
bhp/weight
torque 705.0 nm / 520.0 ft lbs @ 4500 rpm
redline 8500 rpm
drive wheels RWD w/Torsen Differential
body / frame Caron Fibre
front brakes Unassisted Vented Discs
front brake size 332 mm / 13.1 in
rear brakes Unassisted Vented Discs
rear brake size 305 mm / 12.0 in
front wheels F 45.7 x 27.6 cm / 18.0 x 10.85 in
rear wheels R 45.7 x 33.0 cm / 18.0 x 13.0 in
front tire size F MXX3 275/35ZR18
rear tire size R MXX3 345/35ZR18
steering Unassisted Rack & Pinion
front suspension Double Wishbones w/Light Alloy Dampers, Co-Axial Coil Springs, A
rear suspension Double Wishbones w/Light Alloy Dampers, Co-Axial Coil Springs
weight 1062 kg / 2341 lbs
wheelbase 2718 mm / 107.0 in
front track 1570 mm / 61.8 in
rear track 1464 mm / 57.6 in
length 4365 mm / 171.9 in
width 1820 mm / 71.7 in
height 1120 mm / 44.1 in
transmission Transverse 6-Speed Manual
gear ratios 3.23:1, 2.19:1, 1.71:1, 1.39:1, 1.16:1, 0.93:1
final drive 2.37:1
top speed 362.1 kph / 225.0 mph
0 - 60 mph 2.9 seconds
0 - 100 mph 6.7 seconds

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR

2008-03-01T04:13:00.000-08:00

There are two places on the long track at Willow Springs International Raceway where you can clearly feel the difference between the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR and any other Viper.One is at the turn-in point of Turn 8, a fast right-hand sweeper that is entered at a very high speed, where a decent front-to-rear handling balance is necessary to swing the nose to the apex without losing the tail. The other is at the exit of Turn 2, where you come off the corner hard on the power to squirt down the short chute to Turn 3's tricky uphill left-hander.
In both of these places, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR feels noticeably better pinned to the asphalt than not only the current Viper SRT10 but also any other Viper we've ever driven.We're grateful. We can remember hammering that first 1992 Viper roadster down into Turn 8 at 120 mph all those years ago and it felt like an airplane crash in the making, as if it was going to take off and smash itself to pieces in the desert.

Specifications:

price $79,625 USD
engine V10
valvetrain OHV 2 Valves / Cyl
displacement 7990 cc / 487.6 cu in
bore 101.6 mm / 4.0 in
stroke 98.5 mm / 3.88 in
compression 9.6:1
power Not Available kw / 460 bhp @ 5200 rpm
bhp/weight
torque 677.9 nm / 500.0 ft lbs @ 3700 rpm
redline 6000 rpm
drive wheels Front Engine / RWD
body / frame Molded Composite
front brakes Vented Discs w/Vacuum Assist
f brake size 330 mm / 13.0 in
rear brakes Vented Discs w/Vacuum Assist
r brake size 330 mm / 13.0 in
front wheels F 45.7 x 50.8 cm / 18.0 x 20.0 in
rear wheels R 45.7 x 66.0 cm / 18.0 x 26.0 in
front tire size F 275/35ZR-18
rear tire size R 335/30ZR-18
steering Rack & Pinion w/ Power Assist
weight 1522 kg / 3355 lbs
wheelbase 2443 mm / 96.2 in
front track 1514 mm / 59.6 in
rear track 1539 mm / 60.6 in
length 4488 mm / 176.7 in
width 1466 mm / 57.7 in
height 1194 mm / 47.0 in
transmission 6-Speed Manual
gear ratios 2.66:1, 1.78:1, 1.30:1, 1.00:1, 0.74:1, 0.50:1
final drive 3.07:1
top speed 273.6 kph / 170.0 mph
0 - 60 mph 4.2 seconds
0 - 100 mph 10.0 seconds
0 - 1/4 mile 12.7 seconds
epa city/hwy 11 / 20 mpg

Lamborghini Gallardo

2008-02-20T03:03:00.000-08:00

The Gallardo was designed as a competitor to the Ferrari 360, and now competes with its replacement, the Ferrari F430 both of which have V8 engines and develop similar peak power. The Gallardo is said to be a better engineered vehicle that can reach extreme speeds, yet the V12 Murciélago is a faster vehicle. Many reviewers have commented that the Gallardo has much better rearward visibility and is more maneuverable and tractable in low-speed traffic, making the Gallardo a more practical car to drive. It is also much more practical to use in bad weather than many other cars in its class, thanks to a specially developed rear-biased all-wheel drive. Although corporate owner Audi[2] is renowned for its Quattro AWD system, Lamborghini uses a system of its own.Unlike the Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago models, the Gallardo does not have scissor doors.The Gallardo was designed by Luc Donckerwolke, who won the 2003 Red Dot Award for the design of both the 2003 Gallardo and 2002 Murciélago.At current U.S. prices, a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo coupe costs USD $186,250 - $222,800, while a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo spyder costs USD $201,595 - $263,595.The Gallardo is the first and only car to use the Lamborghini V10 engine.The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional (H-Box) six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled 'semi-automatic single-clutch sequential manual', or, as Lamborghini abbreviates it to, "E-gear". The latter ("E-gear") allows the driver to make shifts much faster than a manual transmission would, however with this option one sacrifices a certain measure of control that the manual transmission would offer. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, and does not need to manually actuate the clutch.The Audi R8 sports car, launched in early 2007, is based loosely on the Gallardo, and uses a 4.2 litre V8 in place of the Gallardo's V10 to avoid competing directly with the Gallardo.For the 2008 model year, the Gallardo will be adding an onboard computer, iPod connectivity with USB, heated mirrors, Q-citura stitching that originally could only be found on the Nera model as well as a beige soft-top on the Spyder.[3]

Specifications:

price: $166 00 USD
engine: 90 Degree, Aluminum V10.
position :Mid Longitudinal
aspiration: Natural
valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl w/Variable Intake System & Continuously Varibale Valve Timing
fuel feed: Multipoint Sequential Fuel Injection
displacement: 4961 cc / 302.7 cu in
bore: 82.5 mm / 3.25 in
stroke: 92.8 mm / 3.65 in
compression: 11.0:1
power: 372.9 kw / 500 bhp @ 7800 rpm
hp per litre :100.79 bhp per litre
bhp/weight: 340.14 bhp per weight
torque: 510 nm / 376.2 ft lbs @ 4500 rpm
redline: 8100
drive wheels :4WD w/Viscous Traction System
body / frame: Aluminum & Thermoplastic over Aluminum Spaceframe
front brakes: Vented Discs w/Brembro 8-Piston Calipers, ABS
front brake size: 365 mm / 14.4 in
rear brakes: Vented Discs w/Brembro 8-Piston Calipers, ABS
rear brake size: 335 mm / 13.2 in
front wheels: Front 48.3 x 21.6 cm / 19 x 8.5 in
rear wheels: Rear 48.3 x 27.9 cm / 19 x 11 in
front tire size: Pirelli Pzero 235/35 ZR 19
rear tire size: Pirelli Pzero 295/30 ZR 19
steering: Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
front suspension: Double Wishbones w/Anti-Roll Bar
rear suspension: Double Wishbones w/Anti-Roll Bar
weight: 1470 kg / 3241 lbs
wheelbase: 2560 mm / 100.8 in
front track: 1622 mm / 63.9 in
rear track: 1592 mm / 62.7 in
length: 4300 mm / 169.3 in
width: 1900 mm / 74.8 in
height: 1165 mm / 45.9 in
transmission: 6-Speed Manual w/Optional Robotized E-Gear
gear ratios: 2.563:1, 1.850:1, 1.423:1, 1.138:1, 0.939:1
final drive: 3.077:1
top speed: 309 kph / 192.0 mph
0 - 60 mph: 4.1 seconds
0 - 100 mph: 9.0 seconds
0 - 1/4 mile: 12.2 seconds
epa city/hwy :14 mpg

Ferrari Enzo

2008-02-20T02:44:00.000-08:00

The Enzo Ferrari is a 12-cylinder mid-engine sports car named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It is currently the most powerful naturally aspirated production car in the world. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, andcarbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a downforce of 775 kg (1709 lb) is reached at 300 km/h (186 mph) the rear wing is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.The Enzo's V12 engine is the first of a new generation for Ferrari. It is based on the architecture of the V8 found in sister-company Maserati's Quattroporte, using the same basic architecture and 104 mm (4.1 in) bore spacing. This design will replace the former architectures seen in V12 and V8 engines used in most other contemporary Ferraris. The 2005 F430 is the second Ferrari to get a version of this new powerplant. In 2004, Sports Car International named the Enzo Ferrari number three on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 2000s.Athan Aridas, the designer of the Enzo, specially designed this car for the late Enzo Ferrari.Motor Trend Classic named the Enzo as number four in their list of the ten "Greatest Ferraris of all time".

Specification:

price: $670 000 USD
engine: 65 Degree, Type F140 Aluminum V12
position: Mid Longitudinal
aspiration: Natural
valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl w/Continuously Variable Timing
fuel feed: Bosch Motronic ME7 Sequential Electronic Injection
displacement: 5988 cc / 365.4 cu in
bore: 92 mm / 3.62 in
stroke: 75.2 mm / 2.96 in
compression: 11.2:1
power: 492.2 kw / 660.0 bhp @ 7800 rpm
hp per litre: 110.22 bhp per litre
bhp/weight: 481.75 bhp per weight
torque: 657.57 nm / 485 ft lbs @ 5500 rpm
redline: 8200
drive wheels: RWD w/TCS
body / frame: Carbon Fibre Body over Carbon Fibre Tub w/Rear Alloy Sub Frame
front brakes: Brembro CCM (Carbon-Ceramic) Discs w/6-Pot Calipers, Power Assist ABS
front brake size: 380 mm / 15.0 in
rear brakes :Brembro CCM (Carbon-Cer?amic) Discs w/4-Pot Calipers, Power Assist, ABS
rear brake size: 340 mm / 13.4 in
front wheels: Front 48.3 x 22.9 cm / 19.0 x 9.0 in
rear wheels: Rear 48.3 x 33.0 cm / 19.0 x 13.0 in
front tire size: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Scuderia 245/35ZR19
rear tire size: Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Scuderia345/35ZR19
steering: Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
front suspension: Double Wishbones w/Push-Rod Actuated Coil-Shock Units, Adaptive Dampers, Electronic Shock Absorbers, Anti-Roll bar
rear suspension: Double Wishbones w/Push-Rod Actuated Coil-Shock Units, Adaptive Dampers, Electronic Shock Absorbers, Anti-Roll bar
weight: 1370 kg / 3020 lbs
wheelbase :2650 mm / 104.3 in
front track: 1660 mm / 65.4 in
rear track: 1650 mm / 65.0 in
length: 4702 mm / 185.1 in
width: 2035 mm / 80.1 in
height: 1147 mm / 45.2 in
transmission: 6-Speed Semi-Automatic w/Electrohydraulic Acuation, 215mm Twin-P
gear ratios: 3.15:1, 2.18:1, 1.57:1, 1.19:1, 0.94:1, 0.76:1
top speed: 350 kph / 217.5 mph
0 - 60 mph: 3.4 seconds
0 - 100 mph: 6.5 seconds
0 - 1/4 mile: 11.3 seconds
epa city/hwy: 10 mpg
production: 399

Koenigsegg

2008-02-20T02:41:00.000-08:00

The company was founded in 1993 by Christian von Koenigsegg, with the intention of producing a world-class supercar. Based on Formula One technology, the car was required to be a two-seater, mid-engine layout with a hardtop. The initial design was drawn by Christian von Koenigsegg. Then he went with his sketches to Industrial Designer David Crafoord in order for him to realize the sketches into a scale 1:5 model. David then laid his personal touch to the design brief and finished the model. This model was later scaled up by Sven-Harry Åkesson in order to create the base plug for the initial Koenigsegg prototype that was finished in 1996. During the next years the prototype went through extensive testing and several new prototypes were built.Von Koenigsegg got the idea to build his own car after watching the Norwegian puppet movie Pinchcliffe Grand Prix in his youth.[1] However, he took his first steps in the world of business in his early 20's running a trading company called Alpraaz in Stockholm, Sweden. The success of this venture gave von Koenigsegg the necessary financial standing to launch his chosen career as a car manufacturer.A Koenigsegg CC prototype was first publicised in 1997, while the production prototype was finally unveiled at the 2000 Paris Motor Show. The first customer took delivery of a red CC 8S in 2002 at the Geneva Auto Show and four more cars were built that year. Koenigsegg was established in Asia later that year with a premiere at the Seoul Auto Show. In 2004, the new CCR was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show.On February 22, 2003, one of Koenigsegg's production facilities caught fire and burned to the ground. The fire was extinguished with help from 40 firefighters from different fire departments (Ängelholm, Hjärnarp, Strövelstorp, Bjuv and Helsingborg), villagers from Margretetorp, and passers-by. About 15 Koenigsegg cars, body parts, machines and engines were saved before the fire got out of control. The cause of the fire was determined to be a short-circuit in the company kitchen dishwasher, which then spread to the roof, which was insulated with hay. On the same day, the Koenigsegg cars took refuge at the nearby former Swedish Airforce Base F10, near the town of Ängelholm, which lies in the southwestern-most part of Sweden. After a few days, the decision was made by von Koenigsegg that they would stay within the former wing to rise from the ashes.The Koenigsegg badge was designed in 1993 by Jacob Låftman, based on the shield of the Koenigsegg family. The shield has been the family's coat of arms since the 12th century when a family member was knighted by the German-based Holy Roman Empire.

Specifications:

price: $610 910 USD
engine: Aluminum Alloy 90 Degree, V8 w/Dry Sump Lubrication
position: Mid Longitudinal
aspiration: Twin Rotex Centrifugal Superchargers
valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
fuel feed: Multi-Point Fuel Injection
displacement: 4700 cc / 286.8 cu in
compression: 8.2:1
power: 601.0 kw / 806 bhp @ 6900 rpm
hp per litre: 171.49 bhp per litre
bhp/weight: 683.05 bhp per tonne
torque: 920 nm / 678.6 ft lbs @ 5700 rpm
drive wheels: RWD w/Toqrue Sensitive LSD
body / frame: Carbonfiber & Kevlar Semi-Monocoque w/Steel Front and Rear Aluminum Subframes
front brakes: Carbon Ceramic Discs w/8-Piston Calipers
front brake size: 380 mm / 15.0 in
rear brakes: Carbon Ceramic Discs w/8-Piston Calipers
rear brake size: 380 mm / 15.0 in
front wheels: Front 48.3 x 24.1 cm / 19 x 9.5 in
rear wheels: Rear 50.8 x 31.8 cm / 20 x 12.5 in
front tire size: 335/30ZR-20 Michelin Pilot Sport 2
rear tire size: 335/30ZR-20 Michelin Pilot Sport 2
steering: Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
front suspension: Double Wishbones w/Inboard Gas-Hydrualic Shock Aborbers, Anti-Roll Bar
rear suspension: Double Wishbones w/Inboard Hydrualic Shock Aborbers, Anti-Roll Batr
weight: 1180 kg / 2601 lbs
length: 4293 mm / 169.0 in
width: 1996 mm / 78.6 in
height: 1120 mm / 44.1 in
transmission: cima 6-Speed Manual w/Twin-Plate AP Racing Clutch
gear ratios: 3.545:1, 2.875:1, 1.773:1, 1.267:1, 1.000:1, 0.833:1, 0.711:1
top speed: 394.3 kph / 245 mph
0 - 60 mph: 3.5 seconds
0 - 100 mph: 7.7 seconds
0 - 1/4 mile :11 seconds
drag: 0.3 Cd

Dodge Viper Fourth generation ZB (2008–present)

2008-02-20T02:33:00.000-08:00

For 2008, the Viper received a 90 hp (67 kW) bump up to 600 hp (450 kW), a 25 lb·ft (34 N·m) torque bump up to 560 lb·ft (759 N·m) and the engine displacement increased up to 8.4 liters (512 ci/8354 cc) from 8.3, also receiving better flowing heads with larger valves, Mechadyne variable valve timing on the exhaust cam lobes, and dual electronic throttle bodies. The rev limit was able to be increased by 300 rpm due to the improved valve-train stability from both the new camshaft profiles and valve-springs. The development of the engine was done with some external assistance from McLaren Automotive and Ricardo Consulting Engineers.Changes outside of the engine were less extreme, but still influential. The Tremec T56 transmission has been replaced with a new Tremec TR6060 which now has triple first gear synchronizers and doubles for higher gears. Shifts are claimed to be 18% quicker than the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The Dana M44-4 rear axle from the 2003-2006 model now has a GKN ViscoLok speed-sensing limited-slip differential that greatly helps the tires in getting grip under acceleration. Another performance upgrade was the removal of run-flat tires; the new Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires have increased driver feedback as well as grip and, along with revised suspension (springs, anti-roll bars, and shock valving), has made the Viper more neutral in cornering.The modifications made to the 2008 model year car were enough for Chrysler to make it distinct from the first SRT-10, and the 2008 model became known as Gen IV, just in time for release with Chevrolet's 620 hp (460 kW) Corvette. Another notable change is the reworking of the exhaust system, previous third generation Vipers had their exhaust crossover under the seats which resulted in a large amount of heat going into the cockpit, this was done initially to help improve the cars exhaust note, since the first 2 generations of Viper, which had no crossover, were criticized for their lackluster exhaust notes. For 2008, the Viper exhaust will utilize a new exhaust system with no crossover, reducing the heat that enters the cockpit, but allowing the Viper to still produce an exotic sound.The electrical system has been completely revised for 2008. Changes include a 180-amp alternator, twin electric cooling fans, electronic throttles, and completely new VENOM engine management system. CAN bus architecture has been intertwined with pre-existing systems to allow for regulatory compliance. The fuel system was upgraded to include a higher capacity fuel pump and filtration system.[3] Car and Driver recently tested the car and got a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, a 0-100 mph time of 7.6 seconds and a Quarter Mile-time of 11.6 seconds at 126 mph (203 km/h).[4] Dodge's claims for top speed are 197 mph (317 km/h) and 202 mph (325 km/h), for the Roadster and Coupe respectively. Car and Driver also tested the Viper's track performance, and managed a fast sub 3 minute lap time around Virginia International Raceway. The Viper's time, despite hot weather, was faster than the Corvette Z06, Ford GT, Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 GT3, Audi R8, and other such cars. According to Car and Driver and Motortrend, the car's slightly adjusted suspension setup and new differential gave it cornering ability as sharp as before with even better control, feedback, and response.

Dodge Viper Third generation ZB (2003-2006)

2008-02-20T02:29:00.000-08:00

The Dodge Viper underwent a major redesign in 2003, courtesy of DaimlerChrysler's Street and Racing Technology group. The new Viper SRT-10 was heavily restyled with sharp, angled bodywork. The engine was enlarged to 8.3 L (505 cid/8,285 cc)[2] which, with other upgrades, combined to increased output to 500 hp (370 kW) (373 kW) and 525 lb·ft (712 N·m) of torque. The chassis was also improved. It became more rigid and weighed approximately 80 pounds less than the previous model. An even lighter and stronger chassis was planned, but was abandoned because of cost. It is unlikely that the cost increase would have reduced the car's performance value, as it was already one of the fastest cars under $300,000. Parts from the planned suspension were used in the Hennessey Viper Venom 1000 Twin Turbo, however. The initial model was a convertible. In 2004, Dodge introduced a limited edition Mamba package. Mamba edition cars featured black interiors, with red stitching and trim and saw their MSRP price rise by roughly $3000. 200 Mambas were produced.The new Viper SRT-10 Coupe was introduced in 2005, at the Detroit Auto Show, as a 2006 model. It shares many of its body panels with the convertible but takes its side and rear styling cues from the Competition Coupe. The new coupe looks much like the previous Viper GTS and retains the "double-bubble" roof shape of the original, along with the original GTS's taillights as well offering the original Viper Blue paint scheme with white stripes (referred to as GTS Blue) for an added homage to the original Viper coupe. The engine was also certified by the SAE to produce 510 hp (380 kW) and 535 lb·ft (725 N·m) of torque. It is important to note that the engine makes the same power as before, only the numerical value of the power was changed. Unlike the original coupe, the chassis was not modified. This made the new coupe heavier than the convertible, and thus slightly slower in low speed acceleration. Handling and high speed performance were improved by the coupe's stiffer frame, reduced drag, and increased downforce.No 2007 model Vipers were produced. Instead, Chrysler chose to give the 2006 model an extended run while preparing the updated 2008 model.

Dodge Viper Second generation SR (1996–2002)

2008-02-20T02:25:00.000-08:00

A coupe model called the GTS was also introduced in 1996. Dubbed "dubble bubble", the roof featured slightly raised sections above each seat to accommodate usage of helmets, a throwback to its intended purpose. Indeed, the Viper's performance has made the vehicle popular for both amateur and professional racers. Vipers can be seen participating often in drag racing, road racing and drifting. The GTS, like its predecessor, was chosen as the pace car for the 1996 Indianapolis 500.Technically this was not a 'new' generation, but the same car with minor modifications such as increased engine power, stiffened and lightened chassis, an improved suspension, and reduced braking distances; the 1996 to 2002 Viper GTS had a lighter (approximately 650 lb) 450 bhp (336 kW) engine, which could complete the quarter mile 0.7 seconds faster and increased top speed by 35 km/h (22 mph) or so. The revised suspension, stiffer chassis, and aerodynamic body raised lateral grip to 0.98 g (9.6 m/s²), although other reports show the 1992 model with 1.0 g. Slalom runs could often reach or exceed 70 mph (110 km/h). Brakes once again lacked ABS, and as a result made the Viper appear deficient in braking capability when compared to ABS equipped cars.Along with the updated performance came the inclusion of some of the "luxuries" the car did without before. Dual front airbags were added to the vehicle's safety equipment list in 1997 as mandated by the government. The car was also exported to Europe, where it was rebadged as a Chrysler, and sold under this marque from 1997 to 2003.In the first six years of production almost 10,000 Vipers were sold. Minor evolutionary changes including new 18" diameter wheels were introduced in the 1999 model. Subsequent versions featured light-weight hypereutectic pistons and an improved exhaust system. 1999 saw the introduction of the Cognac Connolly interior package. Continuing the refinements, an ABS system was introduced in 2001. In 2002, the end of second generation production was celebrated with the release of 360 commemorative "Final Edition" models. These models were painted red with white stripes, paying tribute to the famous race-winning Oreca cars.

Dodge Viper First generation SR (1992–1995)

2008-02-20T02:09:00.000-08:00

The first prototype was tested in December 1989. It debuted in 1991 with two pre-production models as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 when Dodge was forced to substitute it in place of the Japanese-built Stealth due to complaints from the UAW, and went on sale in January 1992 as the soft roofed RT/10 Roadster.The centerpiece of the car was its engine. Originally designed for a truck platform and based on the Chrysler LA design, a division of the Chrysler Corporation revamped Dodge's cast-iron block V10 for the Viper by recasting the block and head in aluminum alloy. Some within Chrysler felt the pushrod two-valve design, while adequate for the truck application, was unsuitable for a performance car and suggested a more comprehensive redesign which would have included four valves per cylinder. Chrysler, however, was uncertain about the Viper's production costs and sales potential and so declined to provide the budget for the modification.The engine weighed 711 lb (323 kg) and produced 400 hp (298 kW) at 4600 rpm and 465 ft·lbf (630 N·m) of torque at 3600 rpm, and thanks to the long-gearing allowed by the torquey engine, provided surprising fuel economy at a claimed 21 mpg US (11.2 L/100 km) if driven sedately. The body was a tubularsteel frame with resin transfer molding (RTM) fiberglass panels. Underneath, it was a crude and rude "kit car assembly" similar to what home builders had been building for years with Cobra replicas. Much of the suspension, following the manufacturer's "engine first" mantra, was sourced from the Dodge Dakota pickup. Typical of American performance car design, it had a front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels; it was also very light in comparison to modern Ferraris with a curb weight of 3,280 lb (1,488 kg) and lacked all modern driver aids such as traction control or anti-lock brakes. Car and Driver magazine referred to this generation as "the world's biggest Fat Boy Harley", and likened driving it to "playing ping pong with a Louisville Slugger baseball bat." Despite this, in straight line performance, it completed a quarter mile in 12.6 seconds and had a maximum speed of over 180 mph (290 km/h). Its large tires allowed the car to average close to 1 g in corners, which is comparable to modern sports cars. However, the car proved tricky to drive at high speeds. The brakes' lack of ABS resulted in stopping distances longer than that of the Dodge Neon.The car was also devoid of any luxuries at all. Along with the absence of exterior door handles, the vehicle lacked windows and even a roof. Although a soft top cover was available, it was designed primarily for outdoor vehicle storage. In terms of interior space, the trunk was large enough for the rain cover and little else. Chrysler's purpose for the vehicle was clear in almost every aspect of its construction; from the unyielding bolstering of the seats to the side-exit exhaust that came with its own disclaimer against passenger injury. Performance came first, creature comforts last (if at all).

Viper Competition Coupe

2008-02-20T00:00:00.002-08:00

As of 2003, a special, non-street legal Viper SRT-10 Competition Coupe is available from Dodge for race car drivers, picking up where the GTS-R racing variant left off. The power and torque ratings have been improved, along with the vehicle being stripped of anything not essential for racing, such as the interior body panels, carpet, instrumentation, air conditioning, and stereo systems which lightened the car by 380 lb (170 kg). The Competition Coupe comes equipped with a full roll cage, a racing fuel cell, and other racing-related equipment. It is not sold through dealers and is purchased from Dodge directly as, essentially,a very expensive race car component. Pricing is approximately US$139,000. The Viper Competition Coupe sees action in the highly competitive SCCA Speed GT World Challenge.In 2004 Samuel Hubinette used a Competition Coupe with a modified rear axle for the Formula D, in which he won the title before the car was barred by the end of theseason (due to the fact FD would adopt D1 Grand Prix regulations from the following year which had already prohibited the car from competing) and was replaced by an SRT-10 the following season.After a few one-off entries in the Spa 24 Hours, from 2006, the Viper Competition Coupe raced in Europe fulltime for the first time, joining the new FIA GT3 European Championship with the Italian team Racing Box. At the end of the year,Oreca announced the development of a package transforming the car to GT2 regulations in national championships.

Specifications:

price: $100 000 USD
engine: V10
position: Longitudinal Front Engine
valvetrain: OHV 2 Valves / Cyl
displacement: 8275 cc / 505.0 cu in
bore: 102.36 mm / 4.03 in
stroke: 100.6 mm / 3.96 in
compression: 9.6:1
power: 387.8 kw / 520.0 bhp @ 5600 rpm
hp per litre: 62.84 bhp per litre
torque: 732.14 nm / 540.0 ft lbs @ 4600 rpm
redline: 6100
drive wheels: RWD
body / frame: Composite Body Panels
front brakes: 18.0
rear brakes: Brembro Vented Discs w/ABS, Power Assist & 4 Piston Calipers
front wheels: Front 45.7 x 27.9 cm / 18.0 x 11.0 in
rear wheels: Rear 48.3 x 35.6 cm / 19.0 x 14.0 in
front tire size: P305/35ZR18
rear tire size: P345/30ZR19
steering: Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist
front suspension: Independant Unequal Upper & Lower A-Arms w/2.25in Race Springs,
rear suspension: Independant Unequal Upper & Lower A-Arms w/2.25in Race Springs,
weight: 1361 kg / 3000 lbs
wheelbase: 2510 mm / 98.8 in
front track: 1565 mm / 61.6 in
rear track: 1641 mm / 64.6 in
length: 4676 mm / 184.1 in
width: 1961 mm / 77.2 in
height: 1186 mm / 46.7 in
transmission: Tremec T-56 6-Speed Manual
gear ratios: 2.66:1, 1.78:1, 1.30:1, 1.00:1, 0.74:1, 0.50:1
final drive: 3.07:1
top speed:n.a.
0 - 60 mph: 3.8 seconds
0 - 100 mph: 9.2 seconds
0 - 1/4 mile: 11.8 seconds
drag: .40 Cd
epa city/hwy: 520.0

Porsche 911 GT1

2008-02-17T05:33:00.000-08:00

Porsche committed themselves to a full blown re-thinking of the vehicle for the 1998 race,as the FIA and ACO abandoned the rule that GT1 cars must be based on a production vehicle।Designed to match the Toyota GT-One and Mercedes CLK-GTR, the 911 GT1 '98 featured radical changes to the bodywork and a new sequential gearbox. In 1998, in spite of improvements to the car, the privately entered Porsche's proved to be no match for the works CLKs which also were improved. This was also due to the air-restrictor rules being regarded as unfavourable to the turbo engine. The Michelin tires of the factory team and especially the Pirelli of Zakspeed were considered inferior to the Bridgestone of Mercedes, which also would dominate in F1 for many years.At Le Mans, it was a different story. The new BMW V12 LM retired with wheel bearing trouble, and the Mercedes CLK-LM vehicles had oil pump troubles in the new V8 engines that replaced the former V12. The Toyota GT-One was very fast but also suffered gearbox reliability problems.The revised 1998 model,despite being slower than the Toyota or the Mercedes, fulfilled Porsche's slim hopes, taking both first and second place overall thanks to reliability, giving Porsche its record-breaking 16th overall win at Le Mans, more than any other manufacturer in history.At Petit Le Mans race in Road Atlanta, the 911 GT1/98 of Yannick Dalmas made a spectacular backward flip and landed rear first before hitting the side barriers, as did the BMW V12 LMR at the same race in 2000, and most infamously the Mercedes-Benz CLR at Le Mans in 1999.The GT1 1998 was set up with higher downforce in the race than the previous two years, which reduced its race maximum speed to 310 km/h (193 mph). However, in the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours test days, the car hit 330 km/h (205 mph) on the Mulsanne Straight on a lower downforce setup.

Specifications:

Price : 1।5 million DM
engine: All Aluminum, Water Cooled, Twin KKK Turbo Flat-6
position: Mid Longitudinal
aspiration: Twin KKk Turbochargers w/Intercooler
valvetrain: DOHC 4 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed Multipoint: Sequential Fuel Injection
displacement: 3164 cc / 193.1 cu in
bore: 95 mm / 3.74 in
stroke: 74.4 mm / 2.93 in
compression: 9.5:1
power: 405.7 kw / 544.0 bhp @ 7000 rpm
hp per litre: 171.93 bhp per litre
bhp/weight: 453.33 bhp per weight
torque: 600 nm / 442.5 ft lbs @ 4250 rpm
drive wheels: RWD w/LSD
body : frame Carbon Fibre Body over 993 Carrera Front Chassis With Rear Tube Frame
front brakes: Internally Vented & Cross Drilled Discs w/8-Piston Calipers, ABS
front brake size: 380 mm / 15.0 in
rear brakes: Internally Vented & Cross Drilled Discs w/4-Piston Calipers, ABS
rear brake size: 380 mm / 15.0 in
front wheels: F 45.7 x 27.9 cm / 18 x 11 in
rear wheels: R 45.7 x 33.0 cm / 18 x 13 in
front tire size: 295/35 ZR 18 Pirelli P Zero
rear tire size: 335/30 ZR 18 Pirelli P Zero
steering: Power Assist
front suspension: Double Wishbones w/Adjustable Shock Absorbers, Anti-Roll Bar
rear suspension: Double Wishbones w/Pushrod Acuated Inboard Spring and Damper Units, Anti-Roll Bar
weight: 1200 kg / 2646 lbs
length: 4710 mm / 185.4 in
width: 1950 mm / 76.8 in
height: 1170 mm / 46.1 in
transmission: Longitudnal 6-Speed Manual
gear ratios: 3.82:1, 2.15:1, 1.56:1, 1.21:1, 0.97:1, 0.75:1
final drive: 3.444:1
top speed: n.a.
0 - 60 mph: 3.6 seconds

1967 Ford Shelby GT500 Eleanor

2008-02-17T01:51:00.000-08:00

The new 1967 Mustang was followed with a new Shelby.It featured a 1967 Mercury Cougar tail light panel minus the chrome trim,a flip-up spoiler, and two sets of air scoops on each side. This was also the first American car to feature a factory roll bar.This year also saw the introduction of the
GT500 alongside the continued
GT350.The new GT500 featured a 428-in³ (7 L) big-block V8.
This is also one of the most famous Shelby Mustangs. A modified GT500 clone, known as "Eleanor",was
featured alongside Nicholas Cage in the 2000 remake of Gone in 60 Seconds.Jim Morrison of the 60's Rock & Roll group "The Doors" owned a 1967 Shelby GT500 that he transferred to the Zeppelin Publishing Company just before his death in 1971.The exact location of the "Blue Lady" today is unknown. The Morrison Mustang is a muchsought after treasure and a documentary on the car is scheduled to be released in 2008.This GT500 was also featured in Jim Morrison's art film, "HWY." The GT500 was also featured in the animeGunsmith Cats.A convertible prototype of the GT500 was made in 1967,which was designated to be scrapped. Before Ford Motor Co. could destroy the prototype,it was stolen. The car was eventually recovered by Ford and sold as '68.

Specifications:

Engine Type: Super Cobra jet V8
Displacement cu in (cc): 7019 cc / 428.3 cu in
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 249.8 kw / 335.0 bhp @ 3200 rpm
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 596.56 nm / 440 ft lbs @ 3400 rpm
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Brakes: Kelsey-Hayes Discs / drums
Tires: Goodyear Super Wide-Oval E70X15
Length: 4826 mm / 190 in
Weight: 1919 kg / 4230 lbs
Acceleration 0-62 mphs: 6.0 seconds
Top Speed mph (km/h): n.a.
Fuel economy EPA (1/100): 11 / 12 mpg
Base Price:$40,930.00