RPMGO Car Blog |
- 11 Cars To Die For
- In Depth – 2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design
- History Lesson – 1960 Ferrari 250 GT
- Review – 2011 Mazda 2
- 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car, Up For Auction
- 10 Cars That Went Out Of Production Last Year
- 2012 Kia Picanto Announced
- One-Off Amphibious Car For Sale
- REITER Lamborghini Gallardo LP600
| Posted: 05 Jan 2011 02:59 AM PST If you have tons of money and you don't know what to do with it, here are 11 solutions to your "problem". The following 11 cars will be auction this month at The Scottsdale Auction, organized by Gooding & Co. There will be a couple of beauties auctioned, like the FXX Evoluzione and the legendary F40. All of the cars were in the possession of Benny Caiola, a man known for his love for Ferraris. Check out some of the cars from his garage:  1973 Dino 246 GTS A good way to spend a good amount of money would be to get this 1973 Dino 246 GTS, a real looker in our opinion. Although it isn't one of the fastest cars in the world, it sure looks drop dead gorgeous. The idea behind this model was to build an "accessible" Ferrari and it was made by Enzo Ferrari himself, to honor his late son Dino. The car featured a V6 2.4-liter engine that offered 175 hp. There were only 1,274 GTS built. The car in the picture was first sold in California and after that spent a couple of years in Hong Kong and Japan, returning to the US about seven years ago. The car is expected to sell for at least $160,000.  Ferrari F40 Another Ferrari on the list is the iconic F40 which was a hit from day one. Launched back in 1987, it featured a V8 engine, twin-turbo, capable of outputting 478 hp. It was the fastest car in the world from 1987 and 1989. Ferrari's initial plan was to build only 400 units, but due to high demand, it rolled out 1,315. This F40 you see in the picture is one of the 213 units that were sold in the United States. The first owner of this beauty was Richard Slobodian. It is almost brand new if you looking at the odometer which shows only 3,448 miles. The car will probably be sold for at least $475,000.  Ferrari F50 Looks like Gooding & Co. love Ferraris as they have another one listed, the successor of the F40. Although it wasn't just as popular as the Enzo or the F40, the Ferrari F50 shared just about all of the F1's technology available at that time. It was built in order to commemorate the company's 50th anniversary in 1995. The car had a powerful V12 4.7-liter engine that produced 520 hp and it was based on the F92A F1 racer. Pininfarina was responsible for designing the bodywork and they emphasized on proper handling and optimal downforce. The car will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds, onto a top speed of 200 mph. The car pictured above is the 38th unit of a grand total of 349 cars the Italian supercar maker produced. Similar to the F40, it is barely driven, only 4,000 miles. It will probably fetch at least $750,000.  1999 Ferrari 333 SP Here is something that you don't see every day, a 1999 Ferrari 333 SP. This one was developed by Dallara and had a carbon-fiber monocoque with a F1-inspired suspension. The 4.0-liter V12 engine, which was mounted right in the middle of the car, offered 650 hp. Introduced in late 1993, this one grabbed 69 pole positions and won 56 races. It will probably sell for about $800,000.  2005 Maserati MC-12 Finally, something that doesn't have the Ferrari badge, a 2005 Maserati MC-12 that features an F1-inspired suspension, a V12 5.9-liter power unit that unleashes 630 hp; it is the same engine you will find in the Enzo. The car will do 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, onto a top speed of 205 mph. The company's initial plan was to build only 25 units, but due to high demand, they made 50 cars. The car in the picture is the 39th one and was only driven for 730 miles. It will probably go for about $1.1 million.  2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione My vision of the ultimate car is the 2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione. This one has the Evoluzione Kit, priced at $300,000. With this package, the FXX offers 860 hp in comparison to "only" 790 hp available for the standard version. In addition, the response time of the paddle-shifted transmission has been reduced to only 60 milliseconds. Other updates include improved carbon ceramic brakes, revised traction control and suspension geometry. The body got rear flaps in order to increase downforce and a new rear diffuser. It can be yours if you have at least $2.2 million.  2007 Ferrari 430 Challenge Here is a car that suffered two crashes during its lifetime – the 2007 Ferrari 430 Challenge. With a 4.3-liter V8 engine that outputs 483 hp, it isn't a Buick. Caiola crashed it twice, but this doesn't mean that the car is worthless. On the contrary, it will probably sell for about $125,000.  2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia Another 430 – this time the 2008 Scuderia. Michael Schumacher helped out Ferrari's R&D when they made this car. The car is almost brand new with just 625 miles shown on the odometer. It will probably go for about $225,000.  2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR Something from Germany, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR, which Caiola purchased in January 2008 and drove it for only 525 miles. It will be probably sold for $240,000.  2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 Probably the most down-to-earth car from this list is the beautiful 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560. With a 525 hp engine that allows the car to reach 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, I wouldn't mind driving it for a lifetime… Again another car barely driven showing just 612 miles on the odometer. It can be yours if you are willing to spare about $175,000.  2010 Ferrari 599 HGTE Last but certainly not least, the newest car from this list – the 2010 Ferrari 599 HGTE. In fact, this is a 2008 599 GTB but received the Handling GT Evoluzione treatment last year. With just 237 miles on the odometer, it is almost new. If you are willing to part about $275,000 – it's yours! My favorite car from this list is the FXX, but I wouldn't mind getting the Gallardo which is the "dullest" model from this long list of automotive beauties. Post published on Rpmgo.com   |
| In Depth – 2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design Posted: 05 Jan 2011 01:59 AM PST  2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design The 2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design doesn't offer any additional horsepower under the hood but it does pack some nice features that make it a pretty nice crossover. The car has now a stiffer suspension and a special red paint, a real eye-catcher. This red paint, dubbed Passion Red, is exclusive to the R-Design and you can easily distinguish it from the rest of the colors available. Another exclusivity of the car is the impressive 20-inch rim with the generous XC60 logo. The last outside tweak of the car would have to be the new color-matched cladding located along the lower realms of the R-Design's bodywork. Moving inside the car, you will notice the center shack which is now covered by a new, more expensive dark material and the leather seats which sport contrasting leather panels for extra style. To really stand out from the crowd, the "R-Design" logo has been embossed in the leather. Our favorite addition to this package is the steering wheel covered by perforated leather and a bundle of contours available. One of the variations of the car is the T6 AWD that packs a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine that is capable of outputting 300 hp and 325 pd-ft of torque. The engine is linked to a 6-speed automatic gearbox that offers all that power to the four wheels. Although it has a considerable weight of 4,225 pounds, the R-Design doesn't have any problems, especially when the turbo kicks in. Although the car is not as fast as many might have hoped, it will do the job quite nicely in any given conditions.  2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design The acceleration of the 2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design doesn't have anything impressive and you will notice that the car still has plenty of room for upgrades. The reworked dampers along with the stiffer spring make it a jarring ride over pockmarked roads and broken pavement and you will notice that basically it still drives like a CUV. The car has the tendency to understeer when you start sawing that beautiful wheel, but it still is a pretty nice car to drive.  2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design A more significant downside of the car is the navigation control which is located behind the steering wheel, making the buttons almost impossible to reach. You'd think that for a 2011 model engineers would have worked to make the interior very intuitive and easy to access, you would be wrong. Luckily, the 2011 Volvo S60 ditched this awful system and most likely so will the XC60 once a refresh arrives. Another problem of the car is the key system. The XC60 is operated by a key fob that has the approximate size of a box of matches, but it doesn't use the same radio frequency technology that the rest of the luxury automakers use. In order to start the car, the driver of the XC60 must insert this fob, wait for an electric motor to suck it into the dashboard and after that he can press the start button. It is not a very good system in our opinion, especially if you are in a hurry as this can get a little bit annoying after a while. The price for the R-Design starts from $41,550, but by adding the 20-inch rims mentioned above, it enters the BMW X3 xDrive35 pricing range. Although the bimmer offers a more comfortable suspension, the looks of the Volvo are just great, both inside and out. With a little bit more power, a new set of dampers and without that awful starting system, the 2011 Volvo XC60 R-Design would be a great car, it still is despite its minor flaws. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| History Lesson – 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Posted: 05 Jan 2011 01:57 AM PST  1960 Ferrari 250 GT At the end of 1957, the Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series started its production and at the same time, the Italian automaker was preparing another open-variant of the 250, designed especially for the North American market which was very important in those days and it still is now. Both Johnny von Neumann and Luigi Chinetti impressed upon the automaker the need for a dual-purpose, high-performance and more focused car, like the TdF – Tour de France and the SWB – Short Wheelbase Berlinetta. The car you see in these pictures was finished in Ferrari's factory in January 1960. This 1963GT was the fifth of a total of 54 SWB automobiles that were ever produced by the Italian automaker, and one of the very few who got the beautiful covered-taillight treatment. When it left the factory, it also had an optional hardtop. During those times, these weren't off-the-shelf items; they were custom-ordered parts which were entirely design to fit the perfect lines of the GT. After the car was 100% completed, it was delivered to the company's importer Auto-Becker, located in Dusseldorf, Germany. Originally, the car was white and it had a black interior along with a black hardtop. There are very few cars that attract more eye than a red one; the 1963GT is one of those cars that look way better in white. In the course of two years after its original delivery in Germany, this beautiful car was sold to its next owner, located in Lugano, Switzerland. A brief period after this, the car returned to its homeland to be serviced at Ferrari's Assistenza Clienti in Modena. At the time, the car was driven for 27,290 km and had Swiss license plates. Two months later, a many by the name of Bob Jeffries who lived in Joplin, Missouri, put an ad of the car in Road & Track, asking for a price of $10,500. The car remained in the Midwest for some time and Don Devin got it six years later. In 1974, the California Spider was purchased by Jim Southard from Georgia.  1960 Ferrari 250 GT Two years later, the California was again put on sale, this time in Autoweek. On August the 3rd, 1976, Ron VanKregten bought the car and interesting to say is that the sale's bill still exists, showing Ferrari of Los Gatos (a dealer) as the seller of the car. It is possible that the dealer purchased the car from Southard or they acted as a broker. Nowadays, the car looks just about the same as it did a few decades ago, although it has been painted red. The dashboard, the carpeting and the exquisite leather seats all look brand new. Having a look at the engine bay of the GT and the straight-row radiator is still there, and so are the exhaust heat shields and the generator, all original. Probably the most important aspect regarding the car is the fact that it still has the original drivetrain and engine. That wonderful V-12 engine is still there and can be turned on with the help of the original key. The California Spider still retains its original fog lights, Marchal headlamps, Borrani wire wheels and dual Talbot mirrors. The trunk still has the same carpeting, the jack as well as the holding spare which is located on the original tire strap. It has a small flaw however, a minor area of rust located behind the right rear passenger, but it can be easily fixed. The production of the 250 Series began in 1954 and ended in the beginning of the 60s. There were a bundle of configurations of the 250, making the most successful line of the company in those days. The 250 was Ferrari's first car to receive disc brakes, at the end of the 50s. Another important fact is that the 250 was Ferrari's first 4-seater.  1960 Ferrari 250 GT During those days, all of the Ferraris were custom built as the company didn't mass produce a car. The Italian automaker provided the chassis and the power unit while the Italian coach builders offered the body. For this reason, the specifications varied greatly from car to car and so did the engine hp rating, displacement and torque. The same situation was available for the 250 GT which had various body styles and types. The 250 had in most of the situations two wheelbases, the 2400 mm one and the 2600 mm. The first one was known as the SWB – short wheel base while the latter was the LWB – long wheel base. The very first Ferrari 250 was introduced in 1952 and it was the 250S model, available in both spider and berlinetta configurations. The engine under the hood was a 3-liter Colombo that produced 230 hp. One year later at the Paris Motor Show, the company launched the 250 Europa and Export which were the only cars in the 250 lineup equipped by a V12 Lampredi engine, which was available in F1. The Europa had a 2800 mm wheelbase while the Export was shorter, with a 2400 mm wheelbase. Only 18 units were ever produced and Vignale and Pininfarina were responsible for creating the coachwork. In 1954 Ferrari built 4 units of the 250 Mona which were designed for racing. They were quite similar with the 750 Monza, but were fitted with Colombo 3-liter power units. Three years later at the Geneva Auto Show, the Italian automaker launched the beautiful 250 GT Cabriolet. From 1957 to 1959, Ferrari made the TdF. In 1959 production of the SWB started and the company made 250 units. One year later, also at the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari exhibited the Scaglietti 250 GT Spyder California SWB; only 55 units were ever made. From '57 until '58, the Italian automaker sold the 250TR and only 19 units were manufactured. The car featured a 300 hp engine and had a curb weight of only 800 kg, allowing the 250TR to reach a top speed of 168 mph, pretty impressive for that era. Source: ConceptCarz.com Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| Posted: 05 Jan 2011 01:53 AM PST  2011 Mazda 2 The Mazda 2 follows the same line of design as the rest of the lineup of the Japanese automaker. Featuring that same maniacal smile in the front which projects silliness rather than aggression, it will most likely annoy subcompact buyers as well as brand loyalists. At the same time this design is able to attract new customers that like a car that doesn't take itself too seriously. When put side by side with the rest of the lineup from Mazda that has a massive black-toothed grin, the 2 looks quite nice thanks to its petite size. However, there is something wrong with the design of the car – the oversized headlamps are simply too big for a car of this size and the illumination they offer is pretty low, a real surprise for a 2011 model. It is by far the smallest Mazda available; the next largest one is the beautiful MX-5 Miata. The 2 is 1.8 inches shorter, 1 inch narrower and 8.7 inches taller in comparison with the Miata. However, it looks good in our opinion, especially with those 15-inch alloy rims that are covered by Yokohama all season 185/55 R15 tires. We also like that soft shoulder line that starts below the top of the front rims and rises above the taillights. In the back there isn't anything special, except the roof spoiler which is a nice addition, but is an optional feature. The exterior looks quite nice and fun, but don't expect to find the same thing inside the Mazda 2. All you will get is restrained grays and somber black. The only splash of color you will get inside the cabin is a silver of red piping on the dark seats. There aren't any special features for the car, except the 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio that has an auxiliary jack and the climate control system.  2011 Mazda 2 The 2011 Mazda 2 is available with 2 trim levels: the first one, dubbed Sport has a starting price of $14,180 while the Touring will set you back $15,635. The latter offers cruise control, that nice spoiler we mentioned before, the red seat piping, six speakers (instead of four on the Sport), trip computer, halogen fog lamps and alloy wheels. Being such a small car, it has a curb weight of only 2,306 pounds, making it 174 pounds lighter than the MX-5 Miata. Basically it is one of the lightest cars in its class, making it an ideal car for any commuter and other drivers as well. You would be surprised to find out that an average-sized driver will fit very nicely inside the car, despite its small dimensions. The audio controls will not get in the way and the steering wheel tilts. The climate and audio controls are very easy to use and the floor-mounted shifter is raised, making it very reachable. The biggest downside as far as comfort is concerned would have to be the lack of a center armrest, especially if you take longer trips, but that can be easily fixed with an aftermarket armrest. The Mazda 2 is fitted with a tiny 4-cylinder 1.5-liter power unit that is capable of producing 100 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 98 pound-feet of torque @ 4,000 rpm. If you think that this engine is slow, you are right as the car needs 10.2 seconds to reach 60 mph. Of course, the point of this car wasn't to make it fast, but it will not disappoint you once you take it down the highway.  2011 Mazda 2 The anti-roll bar and the independent front suspension guarantee very sharp cornering and thanks to the 10.2-inch front rotors, the Mazda 2 will stop in no time. Although the car uses drum brakes for the back wheels, it isn't really a downside for most of us because using discs it would have been overkill and the price of the car would have been bigger, without any solid reason. As standard, the engine is linked to a 5-speed manual transmission, but if you want the optional 4-speed automatic, you will have to pay extra $400. Being a cheap car, it is very affordable to drive as the 1.5-liter power unit has an EPA rating of 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The almost defunct Chevrolet Aveo is capable of doing 27 mpg in the city while the Nissan Versa, which is 452 pounds heavier than the Mazda 2, will do 34 mpg on the highway. Both of them come really close to the Japanese but they lack something very important: they aren't as much fun to drive as the 2. However, there are a couple of cars in the subcompact segment that will be able to do 40 mpg on the highway, like the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and the 2's platform mate, the Ford Fiesta. Although the Mazda 2 might not be the most fuel efficient car available, it is the living proof that even a small and affordable car like this one can be very fun to drive. There are other cars in this segment that have more premium features, more power and better fuel economy, but the Mazda 2 is the only one capable of putting a big smile on your face, similar to the one that you find on the car's front bumper. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car, Up For Auction Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:42 AM PST  1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car The picture you see right in front of you is of the first Dodge that used the Charger nameplate, a living legend in our opinion. The car we are talking about is a 1964 Dodge Charger Concept Car. It was developed back in 1963 on Polara underpinnings and it was used by Chrysler to introduce its newest engine at that time, the now popular and legendary 7.0-liter (426-cubic inch) Hemi V8. Over its 47-year existence, it was owned by several collectors and now it is going to be put up for auction at the 2011 Automobiles of Arizona event which will be organized at Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, on January 20th. Although RM Auction didn't publish any official estimates, the same car was auctioned three years ago and managed to fetch $1.1 million. We assume that the car is now worth even more than that. The car is at the moment in the estate of the now late John M. Quinn and it has been fully restored by Fran Roxas, a multiple award-winner, who fitted the car with one of the 15th original race HEMI power units that outputs 600 hp.  1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car Looking at the specifications sheet, the very first Charger was fitted with a 3-speed automatic gearbox, independent torsion bar front and rear semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension. In addition, it features a 4.56:1 "Sure Grip" rear axle and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The block casting of the 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car is dated October 1963 which goes to show that this car is as authentic as it can get. If you take a closer look at the pictures, you will notice that the car is in perfect condition and it has been kept in a climate-controlled storage. Basically, it looks as if it just rolled out of the production line. If I had the money to buy it, I wouldn't hesitate and choose this over any type of modern vehicle that costs the same as in my opinion, cars like this one will never be made again and it is indeed a great shame, but there is nothing that we can do. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| 10 Cars That Went Out Of Production Last Year Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:16 AM PST Each and every year, almost all of the major manufacturers phase out some models without making a big fuss and concentrate on their new models that hopefully will do better than the outgoing models. Let's face it, not many of us remember the day when the Ford Five Hundred was rebadged as the Taurus. This is just one example, there are dozens more, but this isn't a history lesson. In 2010, there were many models that went out of production; some of them had a significant impact in the North American automobile market. The reasons behind these decisions can be found in their low sales figures while some models were just filling a niche. Regardless of the reasons, here are the 10 models that you won't be seeing anymore:  body-on-frame Ford Explorer The body-on-frame Ford Explorer was manufactured between 1991 and 2010. The car itself created a category and started a real craze. It managed to survive during the harsh Firestone tire scandal as well as being able to face the demand of even larger vehicles. Most of you don't know but this car was rebranded as a Mazda Navajo. It was also covered in body cladding and commercialized as a Mercury car. It was even deconstructed back into a pickup form and was sold as the Sport-Trac. Thankfully, the Explorer name is not dead as Ford introduced a 2011 model, but without the body-on-frame construction.  Kia Boreggo At number nine we find the Kia Boreggo, one of the most unpopular sport utility vehicles in the last decade. It was sold between 2008 and 2010 and although reviews were generally positive, the low sales figures are most likely due to the bad timing. The Korean automaker Kia decided that the ideal time to launch a body-on-frame sport utility vehicle was when customers were looking for crossovers, hybrids and subcompacts because the gas prices reached and surpassed the $3 mark. For this reason, Kia managed to sell only a few Boreggo SUVs and stopped importing them in the US for 2010, leaving the dealerships with the 2009 models. Although the car is still being produced in Korea as the Mohave, the Boreggo has the same fate as the Rondo.  Mercury Grand Marquis We mentioned Mercury before, they too also axed one of their models, we are talking about the Grand Marquis which was introduced back in 1983 and 2010 was its last year of production. Ford made a lot of RWD full-size body-on-frame sedans, but this is the one that we will all miss. Let's face it; the Town Car was for going to the airport, funerals and weddings. The Crown Vic was basically a police car and a cab. Although both of these were suitable for specific jobs, the Grand Marquis however was a deliberate choice made by the car's owner, which tells us a lot.  Toyota Corolla (NUMMI-built) The Toyota Corolla (NUMMI-built) production has ended last year, after 16 years of long and prolific history. Although most of the car's customers wouldn't notice any significant changes, the final Corolla model that was made in the now defunct General Motors – Toyota factory located in Fermont, California, rolled out on April 1st last year. The NUMMI – New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. was just what General Motors needed to increase efficiency and reduce defects. However, there were a lot of reasons that led to the downfall of the factory which was sold to Tesla Motors.  Chrysler PT Cruiser Finally, the awful-looking Chrysler PT Cruiser is officially dead. After 10 years of service to God knows who, the car was officially pulled off the production line. If you didn't know, the automaker launched this model so that it could be classified as a light truck in order to lower the average fuel economy for light trucks. It did the exact opposite; it came with a gas mileage that befitted the light truck.  Honda Element Between 2002 and 2010 Honda produced the odd-looking Element and they announced it in an official press release, unlike other companies that didn't say a word. The reason behind the failure of the Element is very simple as Honda marketed the car for an active twenty-something audience, but forgetting that only very few people of that age could afford a new car.  Lexus SC Here is a car that we considered to be a looker and we were shocked to find out that Lexus pulled the plug on it. We are talking about the sexy SC model which was introduced back in 1991. The most recent generation was launched in 2001 and in 2005 it received a well-deserved facelift. This hardtop convertible couldn't live up to its sales expectations and in 2009, Lexus managed to sell only 720 units, in comparison to 2002 when they sold about 14,400 in the United States.  Volvo V70 It is family time as we are talking about the Volvo V70, a car that was introduced in 1998. The reason for this should be obvious; nobody would buy a new Volvo station wagon, except the Stockholm police department.  Chrysler Sebring Between 1995 and 2010 Chrysler manufactured the Sebring model which started off quite nicely as a LeBaron replacement. It offered lots of options for its price and the handling was surprisingly good. Because of the company's lack of funds to invest in the car, the Sebring stuck around well past its prime. The latest generation of the model was a total flop, although rebate buyers and rental fleets saw them a very good deal.  Chevrolet Coblat The last car mentioned in this article is the Chevrolet Coblat which was launched by the American automaker in 2004. It was introduced in order to replace the awful Cavalier and was advertised as the next import compact-killer. The car looked good in our opinion, but didn't stand a chance in front of the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla. All things considered, some were bad while some were awful. We hope that automakers will learn from these mistakes and improve their current and future models so that they could avoid these automotive disasters. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:08 AM PST  2012 Kia Picanto The Korean automaker Kia has just unveiled their new generation of the Picanto model which will be first seen on March 1st at the 2011 edition of the Geneva International Motor Show. It will be available for sale a couple of months later in several European countries. According to the people over at Kia, the Picanto has been entirely re-engineered and redesigned and it offers a lot more space. The 2012 Kia Picanto will be longer and will have a wider wheelbase in comparison with the outgoing generation. The car will be available in 5-door and 3-door variations, unlike the current generation which is available only in a 5-door configuration. According to the company's chief designer officer, Peter Schreyer, "in profile, 2012 Kia Picanto features significant sculpting and a very prominent rising character line."  2012 Kia Picanto The 2012 generation will be available with four new engines in 1.0- and 1.2-litre configurations, all of them offering low-level CO2 emissions. Depending on the requirements of the local markets, the Rio will be available in bi-fuel, LPG and flex-fuel variations. After its official debut at Geneva, we will be able to provide more information about the 2012 Kia Picanto, a car that looks like a serious step forward over the outgoing model which looks very outdated. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| One-Off Amphibious Car For Sale Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:06 AM PST  Dobbertin HydroCar Here is something that you don't see every day, a one-of-a-kind amphibious car that is for sale. For those of you wealthy (and crazy) enough to buy this vehicle that as the title says, can be driven on land and water, you should know that it is called the Dobbertin HydroCar and it was just listed on eBay for a hefty price of $770,000. Rick Dobbertin is the creator of this interesting amphibious car and he is known for his very ambitious and imaginative projects. He became famous back in the 80s when he made a pair of award-winning hot rods and since then he delighted the world with his crazy yet very interesting creations. Another example of his skills is a 32-foot amphibious vehicle made out of an old milk tanker, dubbed Dobbertin Surface Explorer. After creating it, he took it around the world, managing to drive it 30,000 miles on land and about 3,000 miles on water, pretty impressive in our opinion. A couple of years ago, the Dobbertin Surface Explorer was voted one of Jalopnik's 10 best post-apocalyptic survival vehicles. He almost made it around the entire world before money issues occurred and he had to go back to upstate New York, sad but true. After that he made a very courageous and questionable decision, he sold his famous hot rods and the Surface Explorer in order to finance his latest creation, the Dobbertin HydroCar. Almost everything you see on this amphibious vehicle is handmade or custom. The vehicle will change his shape when switching from land to water and vice versa. More than that, the pontoons will lower and extend depending on the surface.  Dobbertin HydroCar The engine under the hood of the Dobbertin HydroCar comes from a massive 572 cubic-inch Chevrolet power unit that manages to output 762 hp. Although from the looks of the pictures it appears to be well built, it isn't actually finished, although he invested about nine years of his life into the project, to be more specific, about 18,800 hours. There are a couple of videos uploaded to the eBay auction listing that show this car is improving as a result of some serious testing. However, Dobbertin is still not able to get it to plane and without being capable to plane, the boat cannot come anywhere close to the estimated top speed of 60 mph on water. For this particular reason, the $770,000 (buy it now price) Dobbertin HydroCar is "being offered as a more of collector car than something to be used on either land or water on regular basis." He added that due to the lack of a solid budget as well as weather restrictions on testing made him decide to sell the HydroCar. Unfortunately, it is very well possible that the same financial issues that Dobbertin has to face might make it even harder for people that like amphibious cars to justify paying the price tag for the HydroCar. However, we wouldn't be surprised if he managed to sell the car after all, but we are hoping that he will get the necessary funds to finish this ambitious project. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| REITER Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 Posted: 04 Jan 2011 11:05 AM PST  REITER Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 REITER Engineering has recently unveiled the Lamborghini Galardo LP600+ racer which benefits from a bundle of upgrades in comparison with the normal version launched by the Italian automaker. The heart of this car is a V10 5211cc power unit that is capable of producing 600 hp @ 8,000 rpm after some serious modifications. The car is equipped with a four overhead camshafts distribution, three water radiators, a variable geometry intake system as well as an OBR – fully programmable, electronic power management. Other important updates brought over the standard model include a new engine bonnet design, new gear ratio, an updated front splitter and a new exhaust system. Here are some of the most important specifications of the REITER Lamborghini Gallardo LP600, taken from the official press release: It has a V-10 90 degree engine mid-mounted longitudinal. The distribution consists of four overhead camshafts and the capacity of the power unit is 5211 cc. The bore and stroke level is 84.51 x 92.8 mm and the intake system features variable geometry. The valve gear is chain driven, intake and exhaust continuously variable valve timing (electronically controlled). The 600 hp are available at 8,000 rpm and the cooling system consists of three water radiators that have updated exit ducts forward of front wheels.  REITER Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 The distribution of the weight is 43/57 (front/rear) while the front and rear suspension consist of a REITER Engineering double wishbone. The car rolls on 11 x 18 inch magnesium rims in the front and 12.5 x 18 inch magnesium wheels in the rear. The wheels are covered by 300/650 – 18 Racing tires in the front and 310/710 – 18 Racing tires in the back. Splitter covers complete the frontal under floor of the LP600+. The price for all of these goodies is 288.500 EUR (+ VAT). A bargain, wouldn't you say? Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
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