What could have been: DeLorean had reportedly been planning hydraulic hybrid
Filed under: Hybrid, Green Daily, Lightweight
The name John DeLorean is synonymous with the automotive industry. From his days at General Motors, where he turned Pontiac into the automaker’s de facto performance division with the creation of the GTO, and, therefore, the muscle car genre in general, to his days running his eponymous car company that gave us the classic stainless steel gullwing wedge that became an iconic time machine through the magic of the movies, DeLorean was at the forefront of the industry for three decades.
Sadly, John DeLorean died in March 2005. We’ll never know what exactly he may have had in store to bring DeLorean Motor Company back to the market, though a telephone call two weeks before his death gives us a few clues. Apparently, DeLorean was planning to relaunch DMC with a new take on the classic DMC-12, complete with an engine from Renault with an optional hydraulic hybrid drivetrain and carbon fiber panels to keep it all lightweight and efficient.
The above information comes courtesy of our sister site AOL Autos’ Maintenance Editor Tom Torbjornsen, who had planned an interview with John DeLorean that was to take place one week after his death. Torbjornsen pieced together information from a conversation he had with DeLorean and his “best guess at what [he] thought John might have said based on [their] conversation.” It’s an interesting read, and you can check the whole thing out by clicking here.
[Source: AOL Autos]
What could have been: DeLorean had reportedly been planning hydraulic hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Video: Porsche vs. Corvette prequel at the 12 Hours of Sebring
Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet, Porsche, Racing
Click above to view the video after the jump
The 58th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring is set to begin tomorrow at 10:30 AM, and with Audi out and Peugeot already dominating the LMP class in the qualifying sessions, the attention turns to the ALMS GT cars – specially the Porsche and Corvette teams.
The rivalry between the Flying Lizards and the Corvette C6.Rs has been stoked (even further) by Chevrolet’s new racing webisodes, and after last year’s final lap at Laguna Seca, the GT-class feuding is sure to make for some great racing.
After the jump you’ll find a video documenting the Lizard’s practice session yesterday, including Hans Herrman – the winner of the 1960 race – taking a lap around Sebring in a immaculate Porsche RS 60 Spyder. If you’re planning to tune in tomorrow, you can download Andy Blackmore’s stellar spotter’s guide in all its high-res glory here and read our breakdown of this year’s season here.
Pinewood Derby Jeep deserves a merit badge of excellence
Filed under: SUV, Etc., Jeep, Toys/Games
Rugged Ridge’s Pinewood Derby Jeep CJ8 – Click above to enlarge
While some of us have never tried to fashion a Pinewood Derby racer out of a block of wood, the chances of such an endeavor turning out half as well as the work of art that is the Rugged Ridge Jeep CJ8 is next to nothing.
The Jeep Scrambler is a classic, and this wooden Derby version is impressively accurate, right down to fender flares, mirrors, off-road lights, jerry can, Hi Lift Jack, tube steps and spare tire carrier – all hewn from a single block of pine.
While we’re not experts on the subject, we imagine the scale Jeep’s aerodynamics are about as good as the real thing – which is to say, pretty darn bad. Still, the Pinewood Derby Jeep CJ8 managed to snag a third place finish in its racing debut. Nicely done!
[Source: Rugged Ridge] Read more…
Report: UK man claims he lost Lamborghini while drunk, beats insurance fraud charges
Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Lamborghini, UK
Initially, authorities in England charged Glenn Knowles and Richard Mant with trying to defraud their insurance company. The pair of men co-own a Lamborghini, or at least they did, until Knowles misplaced it during a night of binge drinking. Prosecutors weren’t buying the story that Mr. Knowles took the car and then drank until he erased his mind as a way of coping with a bad time in his personal life.
The matter went to trial, and after six days, a jury conceded that it didn’t seem like fraud, ultimately acquitting the pair. It’s not the first time Knowles has lost a car. He once tucked a Mercedes behind a nightclub so well that it took a deep search to find it. This time, the Lamborghini seriously cannot be found, despite having a tracking system installed. Mitigating the charges of fraud are the long history of high-end car ownership by the two men, and their ability to keep making payments. So, despite the nutty insurance claim, it didn’t strike the jury that this was an attempt to bilk the company. Perhaps, even though exonerated, Mr. Knowles might do well to be sentenced to a period of walking. Then, he’ll only have to worry about losing a shoe.
[Source: Telegraph.co.uk]
Report: UK man claims he lost Lamborghini while drunk, beats insurance fraud charges originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Recall: 1990-1992 Daihatsu Rocky has check valve issues
Filed under: Budget, SUV, Recalls, Off-Road, South Korea, Daihatsu
Stop the presses! While the rest of the world has been yanking its hair out over that little dustup at Toyota, some actual recall news has been slipping through the cracks. For example, did you know that 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavors are having salted road issues that lead to fuel leaks? Or that 2005 Honda Odysseys have bad liftgate struts? Tsk, tsk. However, all that pales in comparison to the following paragraph.
Turns out, that the check valve in the fuel vapor evaporative emissions control system of 1990-1992 Daihatsu Rockys might crack, causing fumes to fill the cabin. Gasoline fumes inside your Rocky’s cabin are bad (think fire, explosions), especially if you smoke. Of course, if you own a convertible Rocky, this won’t be too much of an issue. Still, might as well take advantage of this NHTSA recall at your local Daihatsu dealer. Wherever that might be.
Also, in case you’ve been worried sick about it, there are no recalls for the Toyota Starlet. Phew!
[Source: NHTSA | Image: Wikimedia Commons]
Recall: 1990-1992 Daihatsu Rocky has check valve issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Ford Figo prices announced in India
Ford India has announced the prices of its latest offering hatch Figo in Indian Market. Figo will be avilable in both Petrol and Diesel options, prices starting from Rs 3.49 lakh for the base Petrol variant and Rs 4.47 lakh for the base Diesel variants ( ex-showroom New Delhi).
The prices of the various Figo variants are as follows ( Prices ex-showroom, New Delhi)
Petrol 1.2 Litre – Duratec
LXI – Rs. 3,49,900/-
EXI – Rs. 3,81,900/-
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup expanded to LMP2 and GT classes
Filed under: Motorsports, Acura, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Racing
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) held a press conference Friday morning before qualifying for this weekend’s 12 Hours of Sebring to announce an expansion of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. When it was first announced late in 2009, the three-race championship was only going to apply to the top LMP1 class. The new championship will now apply to all four main classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2.
The cup will be based on results from Le Mans series races in Europe, the United States and Asia. The European and American rounds will be the Silverstone and Petit Le Mans races, with the Asian event likely to be held in Shanghai. For each of the classes to be considered part of the cup, at least four cars will have to be entered. So far in P1, Audi and Drayson racing have committed. Peugeot has not yet decided whether to go to PLM or Asia.
After Le Mans, Peugeot plans to focus on development of its all-new 2011 car and may skip the remainder of the 2010 races. In spite of reduced restrictor sizes and boost, the Peugeots still managed to capture the top to starting positions for Saturday’s race. The Highcroft Acura grabbed the LMP2 pole while Gunnar Jeannette got the LMP Challenge pole. In GT2, the
Flying Lizard Porsche of Jörg Bergmeister had the fastest time after Dirk Mϋller’s was disallowed due to a problem with his BMW.
