RPMGO Car Blog |
- Motorsport Weekend: IRC Rally Madeira and Nascar Watkins Glen race results
- Lamborghini Estoque four-door might still appear
- Video: The first Top Gear USA trailer revealed
- Audi starts petition to bring the TT RS to the U.S.
- Video: Jet-powered school bus reaches 367 mph (seriously!)
- 2011 Ford Boss Mustang might be unveiled on August 13th
- Lancia Stratos prototype reportedly just a Pininfarina one-off
- Video: Dutch Volkswagen RollGolf proves creativity isn’t dead
- Tesla’s Elon Musk mocks Nissan Leaf’s ‘primitive’ battery technology
- Saab might enter the WRC in 2012 with the new 9-2 model
| Motorsport Weekend: IRC Rally Madeira and Nascar Watkins Glen race results Posted: 09 Aug 2010 01:49 AM PDT  Welcome to a new edition of Motorsport Weekend, our own feature where we talk about the most exciting motorsport events from the last three days. Unlike previous weekends, this time we were treated quite just a couple of big events. We had the IRC Rally of Madeira take place in the lovely Portugal, while Nascar‘s Sprint Cup saw the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen race take place at the Watkins Glen International road course. So, curious to see how Freddy Loix, Kris Meeke, Juan Pablo Montoya or Kurt Busch faired in their respective races? Then hit the jump and find out. Skoda dominated the competition, occupying the first three spots at the end of the rally. Freddy Loix came out on top, followed by Jan Kopecky and his teammate Juho Hanninen. Peugeot’s Kris Meeke was favored with a podium finish, but problems with his Peugoet 207 meant he had to retire on the last day. Overall standings still see Hanninen on top, with 54 points, followed by Kopecky with 47, and Bruno Magalhaes, with 30 points. Moving onto the Nascar Sprint Cup, we saw some road course action this weekend, with the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen race taking place at the Watkins Glen International circuit. This time it was Juan Pablo Montoya’s time to shine, with the Colombian putting to practice his Formula 1 experience. The driver led for the majority of the race, and racked up an impressive lead when crossing the finish line. He was followed by Kurt Busch and Marco Ambrose, both of which were locked into a pretty serious fight in the final laps of the Glen race. Overall standings still show Kevin Harvick in the lead, followed by Jeff Gordon, trailing by 184 points, and Jeff Burton, trailing by 315. Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Lamborghini Estoque four-door might still appear Posted: 09 Aug 2010 01:20 AM PDT  We’ve seen quite a lot of super sedans lately, with likes of the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide or the Maserati Quattroporte fighting for the money of rich families. According to a recent statement from Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann, the Italian company might also launch its own performance four-door model, in the vein of the Lamborghini Estoque concept we saw a couple of years ago. According to the CEO, Lamborghini’s profits are down, due to the economic recession, so a third model might help boost sales and get the raging bull back on its tracks. A sedan model might be a winning idea, Winkelmann admits, but nothing has been decided at the Sant’Agata Bolognese headquarters of Lamborghini. As you know, the Estoque generated mixed responses when it was revealed in 2008, prompting the whole super sedan project to be put on hold. We’ve also heard recently that Lamborghini might also launch an entry-level V8 supercar, as well as a luxury SUV. Currently though, Lamborghini only offers the Gallardo and the Murcielago, so until sales improve, things will remain the same. Source: Bloomberg via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Video: The first Top Gear USA trailer revealed Posted: 09 Aug 2010 12:51 AM PDT  As was announced a few months ago, the Top Gear USA project has finally been green lit, meaning filming has started on this Yankee version of the popular British car show. Now, the first trailer of the Top Gear USA series has been revealed, showcasing some of the wild things we will see this fall on the History Channel, as well as its new cast, Adam Ferrara, Rutledge Wood and Tanner Foust. From driving a Morgan, to a Viper convertible to attempting a classic moonshine run in a $1,000 Cadillac, it’s all there in the trailer, so hit the jump and check it out. Source: The Hollywood Reporter via Jalopnik Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Audi starts petition to bring the TT RS to the U.S. Posted: 09 Aug 2010 12:33 AM PDT  Audi fans, ready your Facebook accounts, as the Ingolstadt manufacturer has revealed an online petition in favor of bringing the extremely hot Audi TT RS to the USA. It seems that the German manufacturer has left the decision in the hands of Audi fans in the US, and wants to see just how many of them want the 335 HP sportscar arriving in their local dealerships. As you might remember, the Audi TT RS is already present on American roads, but just those up in Canada, where 250 sportscars were delivered as part of a limited series. Now, if enough people will sign the petition, the German company might also ship some of its extreme sportscars to the USA. While no other details were revealed, like how many signatures are required, one click wouldn’t hurt. Check out the petition at this link. Source: Audi Facebook via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Video: Jet-powered school bus reaches 367 mph (seriously!) Posted: 09 Aug 2010 12:16 AM PDT  School buses don’t exactly have the best reputation, but at least in the eyes of Paul Stender and his crew at Indy Boys Inc., the large yellow vehicles make for perfect platforms. A platform for what, you ask? For a jet engine taken from a Phantom fighter plane. That’s right, the guys manufactured their own custom school bus, and fitted a jet engine allowing the vehicle, called The School Time Jet-Powered School Bus, to reach a speed of 367 mph. Why would anyone combine such things? According to Stender, it’s because he wants to keep kids off drugs, and also just because it was extremely cool to see a school bus, with flame decals on the side, and real flames coming out of the jet engine in the rear. If you want to check out this monstrosity, then hit the jump. Source: The Telegraph via Gizmodo Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| 2011 Ford Boss Mustang might be unveiled on August 13th Posted: 09 Aug 2010 12:02 AM PDT  The 2011 Ford Mustang definitely impressed a lot of people at the beginning of the year, especially with its new 5.0-liter V8, capable of 412 HP in the GT version. Afterwards, the Blue Oval revealed the track-only Ford Boss 302R Mustang, which has already been seeing race duty during the 2010 season. As you can imagine the revived Boss name sparked a lot of rumors, concerning a road-legal Boss Mustang. Now, according to the announcers from a recent Grand-Am race, the actual 2011 Ford Boss Mustang might be unveiled in the middle of August, more specifically on August 13th. The unveil will take place at the Laguna Seca track, and be a part of the Pebble Beach week. According to the announcers, the Boss Mustang will pack an upgraded 5.0-liter V8, capable of around 430 HP, and with a price tag of just $30,000. Besides the improved output, the Boss Mustang will also feature plenty of racing-spec features from Multimatic, the motorsport company responsible for the Boss 302R. So, are you excited about this upgraded muscle car? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Lancia Stratos prototype reportedly just a Pininfarina one-off Posted: 08 Aug 2010 11:40 PM PDT  Last week Lancia fans became ecstatic when a couple of spy photos from a Fiat test track showcased what looked like a spiritual successor to the iconic Lancia Stratos model. Seeing as how the car borrowed heavily from the 2005 Lancia Stratos Fenomenon, rumors immediately pointed to a revived sportscar, which would act as a halo model for the rest of the Lancia range. Now, a new report from ItaliaSpeed has shed some light on the mysterious model. It seems that a very rich customer asked Italian design house Pininfarina to develop a special one-off model, in the vein of the Lancia Stratos. According to the same report, the car is based on a shortened Ferrari F430, and might keep the massive V8 engine of the Italian sportscar. As you can imagine, big power, low weight and improved aerodynamics are some of the best ingredients for any car, so this model will honor the Stratos’ legacy. Expect this Pininfarina one-off to appear at upcoming auto shows, before the Italian company sells it to its mysterious customer. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Video: Dutch Volkswagen RollGolf proves creativity isn’t dead Posted: 08 Aug 2010 11:24 PM PDT  If you’ve been looking for something to cheer up your day, then this video is definitely for you. A group of Dutch guys decided to make something a bit more special out of their old Volkswagen Golf mk II. As such, they went to work on drastically reducing the wheelbase, and fitted two steel tubes on top of the customized machine. Afterwards, they decided to put their creativity to the test, and started seeing if the new Golf can actually flip over, if the brakes are stomped on hard enough. Needless to say, hilarious things ensued, so hit the jump and watch this somersaulting Volkswagen RollGolf prove its worth. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Tesla’s Elon Musk mocks Nissan Leaf’s ‘primitive’ battery technology Posted: 08 Aug 2010 11:02 PM PDT  More and more electric vehicles are being announced every day, and as such, companies and executives need to do everything they can in order to make their own products be, or at least sound like the best. Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is no exception, as he recently decided to target the newest mainstream model in the electric vehicle segment, the Nissan Leaf. According to Musk, the Leaf, even though it’s becoming increasingly popular with pre-orders going through the roof, doesn’t stand a chance against Tesla. How so? The executive goes on to say that the lithium-ion battery pack of the Leaf doesn’t have the necessary cooling technology to make it withstand everyday use. As such, the ‘primitive’ pack will see its performance decline in a short amount of time, especially when subjected to extremely temperatures. Unlike the air-cooled batteries of the Leaf, the Tesla Roadster uses a more complicated cooling system, which costs much more. Still, you shouldn’t forget that Nissan has announced an 8-year/100,000 mile warranty for the battery pack, so even if Musk’s statements come true, the Japanese company will cover repairs and even replace the whole assembly. Source: Earth2Tech via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Saab might enter the WRC in 2012 with the new 9-2 model Posted: 08 Aug 2010 10:47 PM PDT  After Mini announced that it will be entering the World Rally Championship with the new Countryman crossover, Swedish company Saab has also been linked with the prestigious motorsport competition. According to a report from Autosport, Saab and Spyker officials have been in talks with the WRC, and might prepare a special version of the upcoming 9-2 compact for rally duty. According to previous rumors, the new 9-2 is set to use the front-wheel drive compact platform from Mini, coupled with the same 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. In case you forgot this same assembly will also underpin the Mini Countryman WRC model, so we may be in for quite a balanced fight. Nothing is certain as of yet, and seeing as how the new 9-2 is still a bit far away, we’re going to have to wait a bit for an official announcement. Source: Autosport via Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com |
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