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Agent 47 Goes Euro: BMW 135i

The BMW 1series has recently landed on our shores and have started making their way into owners hands. Agent 47, who has been successful at building and racing Mustangs, has managed to grab one early. I was able to drive it briefly this weekend and snap some photos and I have to say I was surprised, much nicer ride than I expected and I think they made a good choice in selecting this car to be their first venture into the European racing market. Great deliberation went into whether to go with the new 3series or this 1series and after examining the two closely the decision was made to go with the 135i which comes with the same twin-turbo I-6 that the respective 3series gets and the same wheel base, but is about 200lbs lighter and a good deal less expensive; especially in the stripped down manner that Agent 47 ordered theirs. The 135i is a small, sporty, fun car to drive that gets the same “M” treatment on the interior as its bigger brother 3 gets that will instantly start chomping away at the 3 series’ tuner/racing market. I think we will see a big change in which BMW we see at the tracks and Agent 47 plans on getting in on the ground floor.

Full Gallery (Total of 34 pics): Agent 47’s 135i

SOURCE: Agent 47

Clint Eastwood’s to direct and star in ‘Gran Torino’

Clint Eastwood will next direct and star in “Gran Torino” for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures. Details of “Torino” are being kept under tight wraps. Existence of the film, and Eastwood’s role, were only revealed on Tuesday when Warner Bros. quietly dated the movie for sometime in December. Eastwood is no stranger to the big Ford - he drove a ‘72 in Magnum Force, the sequel to Dirty Harry, in which he wheeled a ‘68 Ford Custom. Producers are Rob Lorenz, Eastwood’s partner at Malpaso Prods., and Billy Gerber. Exec producers are Jenette Kahn and Adam Richman at Double Nickel Ent. It’s unclear when the movie will begin shooting, or if it has already begun production.

SOURCE: INSIDE LINE

Woman’s Mustang is hotter than she thought

Judy Smongesky’s 1965 Mustang, a car was a high school graduation and that she’s owned for the 38 years since, turns out to actually have been stolen.

Two weeks prior to her father purchasing the car it had been reported stolen. The car actually belongs to Eugene Brakke who lives in the L.A. area. He was notified by police this week that his car has finally been recovered. According to Smongesky of City Heights Brakke has yet to decide if he wants it back.

Smongesky and her dad paid $1,114 for the 289 Stang with 69K miles on the odometer from a used-car lot in Bellflower. She got behind the wheel and fell in love with it. Since she has driven the car for 20 yrs, repainted it twice and rebuilt the engine before storing the car away.

In the 90s, a neighbor noticed the car had different VINs on the door and under the hood. Smongesky called police and was told everything checked out. Before dropping more cash into it to restore the car she started to worry about the VINs again.

“I had a very bad feeling,” she said.

Upon further investigation she discovered that the one on the door belonged to a 1964 model. Another phone call to the police and this time the VIN under the hood and discovered that the car was stolen and that the driver’s side car door belonged to a different car.

Brakke says he wants to see the Mustang but has not stated what he plans to do. According to Smongesky he did not seem happy nor excited; rather, she said, he seemed dismayed that the car had been painted.

“He said it wasn’t the same car,” Smongesky said.

Although Smongesky may lose the car that has been a major part of her life, as the Brakke being the rightful owner can just get in it and drive away, she feels like she did the right thing.

The Mustang now has 266,000 miles, the engine is rebuilt but the interior is not in good shape and the silver-blue paint is faded and rusted in some places. But she loves it and wants to keep it. Smongesky hopes she and Brakke can come to an agreement, but is resigned to the fact that she may lose the car she believed was hers for almost four decades.

“I’m hoping he says, ‘You can have it,’ but it’s his car,” she said. “I will keep it if I can.”

SOURCE: SignOnSanDiego

VIDEO (via CNN):
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/03/21/dnt.stolen.mustang.xetv

Top Gear U.S. filming at El Toro?

Adam Carolla mentioned Monday on his show that he will have been at El Toro today (Thursday) filming for the show.

Listen to the clip here (about 13:30 in):
http://files.phyrefile.com/file/2008/03/18/AdamCarollaElToro20080317.mp3

VIDEO: Saleen S5S Raptor

Yesterday I wrote about the Saleen S5S Raptor being unveiled at the NY Auto Show; PRESS RELEASE AND PICS. Now there is video to get another look at it.

VIDEO: Autoblog via StreetFire

2008 Saleen S5S Raptor

Saleen’s all new concept vehicle, the S5S Raptor made its world debut at the 2008 New York City Auto Show. “We are extremely proud of the Raptor. It is the car that enthusiasts are waiting for America to produce and Saleen is just the company to answer that call,” said Paul Wilbur, Saleen President and CEO.

The S5S Raptor represents the first ground up vehicle to be conceived by the new Saleen management team and the most extensive demonstration of the combined capabilities of Saleen engineering and the ASC creative team.

“The Raptor is just a glimpse of things to come from Saleen,” says Chief Technical Officer, Chris Theodore. “Our company is unique in that we have the experience and knowledge behind some of the most exciting performance vehicles built over the past 20 years. Beyond the S7 Supercar, our team members have been involved in the Viper, Prowler, Ford GT, and the products of Chrysler SRT and Ford’s SVT performance groups. These ‘lessons learned’ are evident in the Raptor concept and we will continue to build upon them as the company evolves.”

The Raptor is a two seat mid-engine super car that competes in size and style with core offerings from the most notable of Italian exotic car makes, but with a segment leading 650hp and 630 lb-ft of torque provided by a Saleen 5.0L Supercharged Engine - the source of the “S5S” designation. Unlike its competitors, the Raptor is designed to digest cellulosic ethanol. “This is the same ethanol formula,” states Wilbur, “that is the official fuel of the 2008 American Le Mans Race Series and the IRL.” The higher octane rating of E85 results in more power. It is a combination that will send the Raptor screaming to 60 mph in a g-force generating 3.2 seconds. With ethanol power, the car is both mean and clean!

Saleen’s use of cellulosic ethanol is right for us for two reasons: It maintains consistency with our racing heritage, as many of the racing formats (IRL, American Lemans, etc) are now adopting ethanol as the racing fuel of choice. It also helps our environment through cleaner tailpipe emissions as well as reducing America’s dependency on foreign oil.

While Saleen is a small, specialty vehicle maker, we share in the responsibility to do what we can to support our environment, without compromising on our brand values.

Compromise does not enter into the conversation at all. The Raptor’s hand-built 5.0L cubic inch engine with its patented twin-screw supercharger delivers its 650 horses at 6300 rpm and hits max torque at just 4400 RPM. This power sits on call beneath the knob of a close ratio 6-speed manual, or optional paddle shifting sequential gearbox. It’s a combination that send Raptor’s rigid aluminum chassis screaming to a top speed of over 200 mph.

As power is nothing without control, the double wishbone suspension and rack-and-pinion steering of the S5S is augmented by ABS traction control and stability control systems. The brake system features 15-inch (381 mm) front rotors with 6 piston calipers, and 13-inch (308 mm) rear rotors with dual piston calipers for maximum stopping power. Road holding traction is provided by the 275/35 ZR20 and 315/35/ZR20 Pirelli Rosso tires that wrap the 20” forged aluminum front and rear wheels respectively. The unique black-diamond and carbon fiber finish on the wheels make them as stunning as they are strong.

“We spent a great deal of time on the design of the Raptor,” says Marques McCammon, General Manager of Saleen Automotive. “The vehicle’s bold shoulders are reflective of an aggressive American attitude, reminiscent of Can-Am race car styling cues, but delivered with modern sophistication. If you see a little Chaparral or McLaren design influence in this car, you are right.”

The aesthetics for the Raptor were developed by ASC Creative Services, America’s largest independent automotive design firm. “This vehicle was an aggressively compressed program that combined the traditional methods of three-dimensional clay sculpting with sophisticated digital modeling tools,” said Steve Nowicki, ASC Creative Services Director. “The vehicle is distinctive in a way that I think the world is going to love. The primary designer on this program was Dave Byron, a CCS graduate and passionate member of ASC’s Design team”.

Raptor’s unique sun flair yellow paint accentuates the cars beautiful body forms. The interior of the car can be illuminated by the sun or the city lights through the solar-tented scenic roof that covers the cockpit. Detailing is transformed from mere aluminum on the vehicles wheels and exhaust by their black-diamond powder coat finish.

“In all the S5S Raptor is a work of art aimed to take your breath away,” said McCammon. “It is aggressive and sexy at the same time.”

According to Saleen executives, the S5S Raptor could enter the market in as little as two years, and should it go forward, it would carry a base price of approximately $185,000 MSRP.

SOURCE: Saleen

For more pics and Forum Discussion click here:
http://auto-focus.us/forum/showthread.php?p=1091#post1091

Saleen’s Dan Gurney Special Mustang

PRESS RELEASE:

Saleen Automotive, America’s premiere automotive enthusiast brand for over a quarter of a century, announced today at the New York Auto Show that it has entered into a partnership with American automotive legend Dan Gurney for creation of a special Gurney Signature Edition Mustang. “It is amazing that just two years ago Saleen was standing on stage here at the Javitz Center with Parnelli Jones and today we are with his long time rival and friend, and truthfully one of America’s racing heroes, Mr. Dan Gurney,” said Saleen President and CEO Paul Wilbur.

All 300 of the Gurney Signature Edition vehicles will feature Saleen’s 465 Hp supercharged 281 cubic inch engine, short throw shifter, and 3.73 Max Grip rear axle. In addition, the vehicles will have custom two-tone seats that feature either blue or red AlcantaraTM inserts designed to keep your rear end planted firmly behind the wheel. The legendary Gurney Eagle© logo is featured on the steering wheel and several other places around the car.

The exterior reflects the look of Dan’s 1969 Trans Am series Mustang, masterfully recreated in a fashion that honors history but looks aggressively towards the future. The heritage styled Gurney Edition body kit, ‘duck bill’ rear spoiler and ’stinger’ style hood all come together in harmony with the carefully placed graphics and die cut Gurney Eagle insignia.

“I am pleased that they could make a car that is so beautiful but still so true to my old race car. At the end of the day, all I really want is a car that is faster than Parnelli’s” said racing great, Dan Gurney.

Saleen executives were not prepared to make that statement, but what they did say is: “this is likely the best all around 281 supercharged car that Saleen has ever built,” commented Saleen General Manager, Marques McCammon.

“Dan Gurney has always been about business on the track. His cars were light, fast and handled like they were on rails,” said Saleen Vice Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Chris Theodore. “I’ll admit we added a little weight when we added the blower to this car, but you will be shocked at how this car cuts through a corner.”

The Gurney Signature Edition gets its dynamic ability from the specially tuned Racecraft suspension, Generation-II Watts-Link Rear End, and super sticky Pirelli Corsa tires. This is a suspension combination that has never before been featured on a Saleen vehicle, and one that received the personal stamp from Dan Gurney himself.

“It is like a dream come true to spend time on the tarmac with the Gurney’s. Together, we will create a package that I am sure that market will love,” said Chassis and Dynamics Lead Derk Hartland.

The Gurney Signature Edition Mustang is slated to begin production this April and should start appearing in dealers later that month. With production being limited to only 300 cars, the Gurney Edition is sure to be a must have amongst collectors. In honor of Mr. Gurney’s ‘All American racer persona the cars will be offered in only three colors: Torch Red, Performance White, and the feature color Vista Blue. One hundred of each color will be made with contrasting color graphics and interiors, and a set of “#2″ roundels to truly relive the Gurney experience.

The most important piece of the car to me is Dan Gurney’s signature on the center of the dash,” commented Wilbur. “I view it as the stamp of approval by one of America’s greatest drivers.”

SOURCE: Saleen

Plug-in America asks Gov. Schwarzenegger to Revive the ZEV program

Plug in America is calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to “live up to his vow to turn back the clock on pollution” by reviving the historic ZEV (Zero Emissions Vehicle) program. How did they do it? The got people from 45 states and 13 countries, as well as few celebrities, to fax a letter to him asking to remove a million cars from roads, or replacing them by EVs.

On March 27, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is voting to revise its ZEV program. The program once proudly called for 10 percent of all vehicles sold in California to be zero emission and resulted in thousands of electric vehicles on the road. The revision, however, “will profoundly weaken the program again instead of propelling our country toward a pollution-free future,” Plug In America’s letter states. Instead of the 10 percent mandate, the proposal would merely require each of America’s major automakers to produce about 150 ZEVs per year through 2015. This is fewer than the number required under the mandate when the electric car was killed the first time in 2003, according to Plug In America Executive Director Chelsea Sexton.

Plug In America’s letter also is signed by “Who Killed the Electric Car?” director Chris Paine. He will be filming the air board’s March 27 vote for his sequel, “Who Saved the Electric Car.”

SOURCE: Plug-In America

Lane Splitting

The subject of lane splitting was covered on a NBC San Diego newscast recently and I frustrated with how many idiotic drivers we have in California. The fact that someone would think that this is illegal or even worse, “not fair” is just moronic and these are the same people that don’t know the simple rules of the road and as a result cause the unnecessary traffic jams forcing motorcyclists to lane split.

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about lane splitting is when a motorcycle passes through the flow of traffic in-between slowly moving cars. Lane splitting is only allowed when lanes are divided by dotted white lines, and traffic has to be moving very slowly or stopped. While many car drivers hate it when a motorcycle passes between them, the act of lane splitting is legal in California, and was originally implemented as a safety measure.

So stop getting pissed off people and acting out like an immature brat by cutting these motorcyclists off and instead just give them a wide berth and just get on with your day.

To see the video click here: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video/11126087/index.html

SOURCE: NBC San Diego