A fire started by a spontaneously erupting Ford F-150 burned down a nearby warehouse full of millions of dollars of vintage Porsche parts and cars in California last week. The warehouse belonged to Benton Performance, a tuning shop specializing in vintage Porsches in Anaheim, California. According to Road Track, owner John Benton says he watched the fire grow on security footage, spreading from the 2016 Ford pickup to a diesel pickup which also exploded, sending flaming fuel onto a lumberyard next door and eventually igniting the warehouse.Inside, racks of Porsche racing seats went up in flames, along with stacks of highly flammable magnesium wheels, and boxes and crates of purposefully back-stocked parts including engine blocks, heads and more from 911s, 912s and 356s. The fire also took a museum-ready 912E and one of Benton’s personal cars — damages are estimated at over US$3 million in total. But in an interview with Road Track, Benton sounded almost as motivated by the fire as he did devastated. “The shop is open, but we’re a wounded beast,” Benton told the magazine. “You watch a Godzilla movie and he’s kicking everybody’s ass, but then he just gets totally fried — well that’s where we’re at right now.” “We’re trying to get back to the point where Godzilla emerges from the ocean again and just lays down the law.”The crew might be a bit cramped in the recently constricted working space, but Benton says they’ll continue to build and tune. Hopefully his insurers cut him a big fat cheque and Benton Performance gets resurrected better and stronger than ever.
Origin: California tuner loses US$3M in classic Porsche cars and parts in fire
Prototype Shelby ‘Green Hornet’ Mustang restored, unveiled at SEMA
One of two notchback coupe Mustangs that both Ford Motor Company and Shelby American used as prototypes, the other being Little Red. Craig Jackson of Barrett-Jackson unveiled the newly restored Green Hornet at SEMA with Shell and Pennzoil. A one-of-two Shelby EXP500 prototype has made its just-off-a-restoration debut at SEMA 2019.The vehicle started life as a Lime Gold-painted testbed for Fords Mustang California Special, and featured a few distinct features that set it apart from the regular notchback coupe.Marchal fog lights were fitted to the grille; spin-and-click hood pins were installed on the vented hood; the rear tail panel had a larger spoiler; and the taillights were replaced with units from a 1965 Thunderbird.Once Ford had gotten its use out of the Mustang, they sent it over to Carroll Shelby to tinker with. Shelby immediately painted the vehicle in a wild metal-flake green paint and replaced the 390-cubic-inch V8 with a 428-c.i. unit with Conelec fuel injection. An in-house designed six-speed automatic and independent rear suspension was fitted to top it all off. All the changes meant the vehicle saw a zero-to-96-km/h time of just 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 252 km/h (157 miles per hour).Shelby American only built two notchback coupe versions of the GT500, and this green example is the twin to “Little Red,” a hardtop lost for years and just recently found.The cars name, incidentally, came from Bill Cosby the Billy Cosby. Cosby had been a long-time friend of Shelby, and when he first took a look at the Mustangs wild green colour, he dubbed it The Green Hornet, taking inspiration from the favourite superhero of the animated characters in Fat Albert.The vehicle was presented at SEMA 2019 by its owner, Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson auctions, and
Origin: Prototype Shelby ‘Green Hornet’ Mustang restored, unveiled at SEMA
Honda CR-V gets more trims, standard features for 2020
2020 Honda CR-V TouringHonda Honda has refreshed its CR-V for the 2020 model year so the SUV now comes in more trims and gets more standard features.Exterior looks have changed slightly to keep the CR-V moving with the times, adding a bit of Civic-style flair to the family-hauler.The front fascia now has broad openings for the available fog lights, giving the CR-V an aggressive look. Because thats what people want, an aggressive CR-V.Around the back, the taillights are dark-tinted on all trims, and the exhaust tips are chrome on CR-V Sport, Touring and Black Edition trims. There are two new colour options: Sonic Gray and Radiant Red; new 19-inch rims round out the changes.Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology are now available on all trims, after previously being only available on LX AWD and above trims. On top of that, two new trims are available exclusively to Canadians: a Sport trim, which replaces the EX; and a new top-of-the-line Black Edition.In the cabin of the CR-V, the centre console has been redesigned with a few more cubbies for your things. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are both available, and Qi-compatible wireless cell phone charging now comes with Touring and Black Edition trims.All 2020 CR-V models are powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 190 horsepower, sending power to either all the wheels; or just the front ones. A CVT gearbox is the only available option.For us Canadians, Remote Engine Start, heated front seats and front wiper de-icer are standard on all trims, with heated steering wheel available on Sport trims and above. Prices start at $28,690, up from $27,690 for last years
Origin: Honda CR-V gets more trims, standard features for 2020
2019 Los Angeles motor show preview
This year’s motor show calendar is in full swing, with Frankfurt’s IAA event bringing us pivotal new models from countless mainstream manufacturers, and last week’s Tokyo motor show demonstrating that, for many firms, creativity is key in today’s challenging market environment. Now though, it’s time to look ahead to the Los Angeles Auto Show, at which we’re expecting a huge variety of important US and Europe-focussed models to appear in the metal for the first time. Last year’s edition saw the debut of Porsche’s acclaimed 992-generation 911, the striking Audi E-tron GT concept and Mazda’s reinvented 3 hatchback to mention but a few, and 2019 is already shaping up to be just as significant. Take a look at everything we’re expecting to see here: Audi E-tron sportback Shown in camouflaged prototype form at March’s Geneva motor show, the rakishly styled Sportback variant of Audi’s E-tron electric SUV has since lost its disguise in the run-up to its LA reveal. The standard E-tron’s 402bhp twin-motor powertrain is carried over unmodified, meaning the Sportback will be capable of 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, a range of around 248 miles and 150kW rapid charging. Changes look to be limited to the reshaped roofline and a subtly restyled rear end, which includes an LED brake light bar similar to that of the A8 luxury saloon. BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé The largest model in BMW’s 2 Series line-up will make its public debut at LA, following a reveal in October. The firm’s first small four-door coupe sits atop the same front-wheel-drive platform as the smaller 1 Series, and shares that model’s range of petrol and diesel powerplants. The range-topping M235i xDrive, however, gains all-wheel drive and will take on the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol unit pumping out 302bhp and 332lb ft. M8 Gran Coupe At the other end of BMW’s performance saloon range is this, the fearsome M8 Gran Coupe. Going up against the Porsche Panamera with up to 616bhp from its 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, the five-door version of the firm’s new M8 is priced from £120,935, with deliveries due to take place at the start of next year. Bollinger B1 and B2 Newly established American firm Bollinger will showcase prototype versions of its B1 and B2 electric SUVs. The rugged-looking off-roaders sit atop a skateboard-style chassis, and have been engineered to meet road-legal requirements around the world. In spite of their aerodynamically unfriendly design and imposing size, the boxy models will hit 60mph from rest in just 4.5 seconds, thanks to a pair of electric motors producing a combined 614bhp. Ford ‘Mach E’ electric SUV Ford will kickstart its electrification strategy with a sleek SUV-shaped model inspired by the Mustang sports car, showing the model for the first time at LA. Due to go on sale in 2020 as a rival to Tesla’s new Model Y, the model has been confirmed to offer a range of 370 miles on the WLTP cycle, but the company is withholding additional details pertaining to the model’s performance, pricing and design until its unveiling. Mercedes Maybach GLS Conceived as a rival to the Range Rover SVAutobiography, Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Maybach GLS is an ultra-luxurious reworking of Mercedes’ GLS flagship SUV. The standard model’s silhouette is retained, but spy shots show the Maybach version will feature bespoke design elements inspired by 2016’s Maybach 6 coupe concept. There are suggestions the top-of-the-line GLS could also offer improved rear legroom courtesy of an extended wheelbase. Mini John Cooper Works GP Mini’s fastest model yet, the 300bhp JCW GP, has been teetering on the edge of an unveiling for a while, with prototypes making public appearances at high-profile events like the Nurburgring 24 Hours and Goodwood Festival of Speed, but now the wraps are finally coming off. Confirmed details include a £34,995 starting price and sub-eight minute Nordschleife laptime, but we’ll have to wait to see just how Oxford’s answer to the Mercedes-AMG A35 will differentiate itself style-wise from the standard Cooper JCW. Porsche 911 manual Not a new car, but almost as exciting, is the news that Porsche is adding a seven-speed manual option to its 911 sports car. The option is rolling out at no extra cost to buyers in the US, with a UK launch expected in the new year. It’s likely that Porsche will show the manual 911 at LA. Taycan 4S Launched as the entry point into Porsche’s new Taycan electric super-saloon range, the 4S offers considerably less power than the top-run Turbo and Turbo S models, but is also much more affordable, with prices starting at £83,000. Range is a still-respectable 252 miles in standard guise, with an optional Performance Battery Plus pack bringing that up to 287 miles. Toyota RAV4 PHEV Toyota will follow up its future-looking Tokyo motor show display with the unveiling of a new hybrid version of
Origin: 2019 Los Angeles motor show preview
Lexus to reveal first production EV at Chinese show
Lexus will reveal its first series production electric car, which Autocar understands will be an electric version of the UX crossover, at the Guangzhou motor show in China later this month. The Japanese firm hasn’t given any firm details of the machine ahead of the 22 November reveal, but says it is “specifically crafted to suit the needs of audiences in China and in Europe.” But the machine will be based on the electric Toyota C-HR, a sister crossover to the UX, that is currently offered in the Chinese market. The machine will likely be named the UX Electric. Lexus and parent firm Toyota are due to launch three electric models by the end of 2021. Lexus showcased a dramatic EV concept called the LF-30 at the Tokyo motor show recently, which was intended to preview the general style of its future battery electric cars. The LF-30, which is similar in size to the Jaguar I-Pace, uses a new EV architecture being developed by Lexus and Toyota, which is planned to be introduced from
Origin: Lexus to reveal first production EV at Chinese show
Car Review: 2019 Infiniti Q60 I-Line Red Sport
2019 Infiniti Q60 I-Line Red SportJil McIntosh Ive always had a soft spot for coupes. Theyre not all that practical, but theres something about that styling that does it for me. And if they can back up those looks with performance, thats even better.Infiniti makes a looker out of its Q60 coupe, and it packs decent power into my top-end I-Line Red Sport tester. But there are some lacklustre spots, and while they dont entirely ruin the car, fixing them could turn this cars fortunes around.Overhauled into a next-generation model a couple of years ago, the Q60 enters 2019 with just a few tweaks. The base four-cylinder engine offered last year is gone, and the three trim levels the Luxe, Sport, and I-Line Red Sport all use a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, along with a seven-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.In the Luxe and Sport models, the V6 makes 300 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, but in the Red Sport, its beefed up to 400 horses and 350 lb.-ft. The Red Sport also adds an electronically-controlled dynamic suspension, 20-inch wheels instead of 19s on the base cars, and performance exhaust, along with a blacked-out grille and a carbon fibre deck lid spoiler.Pricing starts at $53,795 for the Luxe and $55,795 for the Sport, while the Red Sport begins at $65,295. Funny, that: The Red Sport comes in seven colours, most of which add $750 to the bottom line. But if you actually want it in red, its an extra $1,000.My tester also added a ProActive package of such items as lane departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlamps, blind-spot intervention, and automatic high-beam headlights many of which I wouldve expected to be standard, not added in for the $3,200 cost of the package. The package also adds Direct Adaptive Steering, a quicker-ratio version that lets you select settings for Sport and Sport-Plus, Standard, Snow, and Eco. Whats never in question here is the Q60s powerplant. The engine knows exactly what its supposed to do, and it propels this coupe with authority. Its quick, acceleration is linear with virtually no turbo lag, and it keeps pulling strong and hard from first press of throttle, through to ber-effective passing power at highway speeds. The transmission is a proper mate to it, with swift-smooth upshifts and satisfyingly-blippy rev-matching on downshifts and I like that its a standard PRND shifter, not one of those ghastly electronic push-pull things. Clad in bright red calipers, the brakes have good bite and are easy to modulate.Alas, the weak link in all of this is that optional steering system. Its a steer-by-wire system, all electronic without a physical connection between steering wheel and steered wheels (a mechanical clutch bolts it all together if something malfunctions). Infinitis made considerable improvement over the first iteration of the system several years ago, but its not there yet. Even with the optional adaptive version set into the sport modes and despite direct as part of its name it lacks the crisp, direct response and feedback thats part of being a sports coupe. Exceptional performance cars feel like theyre following your eyes and anticipating where youre going to toss them next. By comparison, the Q60 looks at your steering input and says, Yeah, whatever, Ill get on it. The suspension also feels tuned more for comfort than sporty performance, too.Its a shame, because everything else points to this being a canyon-carver: The muscular good looks, the supportive seats roomy up front, headroom-deficient in the rear and the Red Sports sparkly-silver carbon fibre interior trim, which sounds over-the-top but actually looks great in person. Nobody can top Infiniti for incorporating shimmery stuff into its interiors and making it look good. The Q60 uses a dual-screen centre display that falls on both sides of the fence. To the good, I like that the navigation screen stays on up top and other functions are handled through the bottom screen, so if youre following the map, it doesnt disappear when you adjust something below. And there are hard buttons for the climate control, as well as to quickly access the screens home or audio pages.But within those pages, things tend to get too fiddly. A dial-and-button setup on the centre console for some map and camera functions seems a detached from the rest of the system. The screens and their icons look dated, at a time when buyers at this level want to show off the latest-and-greatest to their passengers. And Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rapidly becoming the gold standard for the features lists even on economy grocery-getters, are noticeably absent.Thats the Q60s biggest problem: There are many competitors in the $60,000 segment and drivers are comparing the Infiniti to some pretty heavy hitters in the sport-coupe market, and they generally want the latest and greatest. The Q60 is gorgeous and that 400-horsepower engine is a winner, but it should handle better and you have to pop
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Infiniti Q60 I-Line Red Sport
Electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class confirmed
2019 Mercedes-AMG G 63 The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been a long-standing staple of the German brands stable, and, like everything these days, its now set to get the green-car treatment, in the form of electrification.According to a speech at the Automobilwoche Kongress in Berlin on Thursday, Daimler CEO Ola Kllenius confirmed the iconic SUV will be going full EV.It isnt likely well see the electric vehicle, which could be dubbed the EQG, in the near-future. Battery tech still has a long way to go before it can take the G-Class any sort of distance on pure electric power, meaning it likely wont be one of the 10 EVs that Mercedes-Benz plan to release by 2022.#Daimler CEO Källenius: ”There will be a zero-emission #EV version of the #MercedesBenz G-Class. In the past there were discussions whether we should eliminate the model, the way I see things now Id say the last Mercedes to be built will be a G-Class #AMWKongress #eMobility pic.twitter.com/tAS6tzpR3Y Sascha Pallenberg 潘賞世 (@sascha_p) November 7, 2019Mercedes-Benz will first release a plug-in hybrid model before we see the full EV, and both could be slotted under the AMG brand. The automaker plans to introduce electrification across its range, and with the powerful V12 soon making its departure, itll need something to fill that gap in performance. The current clientele of G-Class owners seems to, at least partly, be made up of egoists with too much money who want a 500-horsepower truck, so were not sure how an electric model will fare.Of course, the fact you get all the torque all the time with electric motors might impress those who like to stamp the loud (or in this case, quiet) pedal 0.1 milliseconds after the traffic light turns
Origin: Electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class confirmed
Audi’s bringing back its rear-wheel-drive R8 V10 for good
Dynamic photo, Colour: Florett Silver Audi is adding a rear-wheel-drive version of its venerable R8 supercar to its permanent lineup, and this time, you wont need to be on a waiting list to see if you get the privilege of owning one.Rear-wheel-drive in Audi R8s has been available only on special edition models up to this point, but now your regular Jolene (assuming theyve a fair chunk of change in their pocket) can own a more hair-raising version of the supercar, too.You still get a V10 with 532 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft. of torque, with the sonorous soundtrack coming frombehind your head; difference is the vehicle is 65 kilograms (143 pounds) lighter thanks to the omission of all the quattro parts. Down 30 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. from the AWD model, the RWD version matches the special-edition RWS. To tell the RWD from the AWD, all you have to do is look at the distinctive side blades. The AWD versions will be painted all-black, while the RWD version sees blades body-coloured on the bottom with a black upper portion. As well as being distinctive, it also gives the car a much more cohesive look.Both coupe and spyder versions will be available, and since theyre missing the front-wheel-drive parts, theyre both cheaper than the standard R8. Only European pricing has been unveiled, but there it starts at 144,000 for the Coupe; and 157,000 for the Spyder, both representing a 22,000 discount from the AWD
Origin: Audi’s bringing back its rear-wheel-drive R8 V10 for good
Watch: ICBC rules Tesla’s driverless Smart Summon feature not allowed in B.C.
B.C.s government-run insurance body says the sort of driverless operation made possible by Teslas new Smart Summon feature is prohibited in the province, and that collisions involving Smart Summon may not be covered.Local outlet Richmond Newsthis past week shared a reader’s video showing a Tesla Model 3 being controlled via the Smart Summon app attempting to drive into a Richmond, B.C. parking lot in the oncoming lane.Had that car crashed, the ICBC told the newspaper, the owners insurance may not have provided coverage.Currently, B.C. laws do not permit driverless vehicles on our roads, ICBC said in a statement. A vehicle being driven autonomously in a shopping mall parking lot, for example, is not allowed. The driver is responsible for the operation of the vehicle including when driver assistance is activated.The videos were taken at a parking complex in Richmond, B.C., and show a white Tesla Model 3 with no driver at the wheel, driving to meet up with its owner, who was controlling the cars progress via the Smart Summon app a few hundred feet away.As the vehicle enters the parking lot it crosses the yellow center line, perhaps to avoid the person walking across the crosswalk. There are fewer painted lines on the pavement in shopping mall areas, so its possible the Teslas software was confused about its whereabouts.The video shows the car hesitating, and in the second video, a diesel VW Jettas driving past it seems to further confound the tech. The woman who shot the video says a security guard came running out of the mall to chase the vehicle before it was stopped, when a man thought to be a friend of the owners appeared. The Smart Summon feature was only rolled out in Canada a few weeks ago, and Transport Canada has yet to outline any specific standards governing its use. However, drivers generally arent even allowed to take their hands off the steering wheel while in a vehicle controlled by semi-autonomous tech, so their being completely outside the vehicle should be, by extension, prohibited, too.While many U.S. Tesla Smart Summon features have had no problem with the technology, there have also been dozens of videos of Smart Summon-controlled vehicles narrowly avoiding collisions and behaving bizarrely, prompting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there to launch a formal
Origin: Watch: ICBC rules Tesla’s driverless Smart Summon feature not allowed in B.C.
How Halifax Autoport processes almost 200,000 imported cars per year
Imported Volkswagens sit at Autoport, one of North Americas largest vehicle processing and trans-shipment facilities, in Eastern Passage, N.S. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009.Andrew Vaughan / Canadian Press Its part of the automotive food chain that can remain invisible in other parts of the country. All those vehicles made in Europe and other countries across the pond have to be brought to North American in some manner.Cadillac used to fly the Allante convertible from Italy to America in custom Boeing 747 jumbo jets, for example, an outrageously expensive proposition that surely contributed to its sky-high price.Thats why the majority of the worlds automakers, even premium brands like BMW and Mercedes, ferry their cars to a destination by ship. Halifax Autoport plays regular host to these sea monsters, where a vast number of European machinery make their first turn of a wheel on North American soil. Autoport is one of the largest vehicle processing and shipment facilities, handling nearly 185,000 vehicles every year.Those jumbo jets deployed by Cadillac could carry 56 cars at a time. The enormous ocean carriers docking at Autoport, however, are much more commodious. Spanning in the vicinity of 200 metres from stem to stern, ships like the Asian Majesty and MSC Cristiana can deliver about 5,500 cars at a time to the shores of North America. The vessels are simultaneously cubist and grand, hauling their cargo like an automotive layer cake.With upwards of a dozen decks, a peek inside one of these roll-on/roll-off vessels will reveal cars packed cheek-to-jowl, parked inches apart and tied down securely. Its tighter than the Don Valley Parkway at rush hour during an autumn rain storm. Ships crew will often plan their seafaring routes around large storms to avoid damaging their cargo, keeping a window of time when they depart to allow for these potential delays without being late to their destination.Fun fact: most auto carriers, and other types of cargo ships, cap their width at about 32 metres. Why? Such girth allows them to traverse the Panama Canal.The ship shown here is the sixty-three thousand gross tonne Grande Halifax, built in 2018 at the Chinese shipyards of Jinling. It, too, has a length of 199.9 metres nearly two football fields and a width of 32.26 metres. Cruising speed is 19 knots or about 35km/h. The ship has a capacity of 6,700 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) or 4,000 linear metres of rolling freight and 2,500 CEUs. It is equipped with four hoistable decks which enable the transport of rolling cargo with a height of up to 5.2 metres. Despite all this capacity, the crew count is only 27.Once the vessels arrive at Autoport, the companys many employees working as drivers must physically get in the cars and drive them off the ship. This requires a dizzying amount of organization, as each brand has its own parking spot in one of Autoports massive marshalling yards. Parking a Land Rover in the BMW area would not be helpful.The yards occupy space on both sides of Nova Scotias busy Route 332, meaning drivers must navigate across a public road or two in order for the vehicle to reach its correct spot. Once parked, drivers are ferried back to the ship and perform the dance again. This happens hundreds of times during each delivery and, since vessels only make money while theyre at sea, it is critical to get the cars unloaded as quickly and safely as possible. The Ceres container facility in Nova Scotia. Halifax Autoport As a subsidiary of CN, it should be no surprise that trains are involved in shipping the vehicles from an Autoport marshalling yard to their final destination. Rail cars, most of which have three levels, stand ready at the foot of Autoports parking areas. Theyre easy to spot, with yellow roofs and silver metal walls. Interestingly, while the walls have slats in them to provide ventilation inside the rail car, those slats are designed in such a way to make it difficult for prying eyes to see what brand of car is riding the rails.A small percentage of vehicles leave Autoport on trailer, depending on brand and final destination. It is not uncommon for residents of Nova Scotia to see tractor trailers with a load of fresh Audis, all of which are wrapped like a Christmas present in an effort to ward off in-transit damage. Save for a transparent window ahead and to the left of the drivers seat, its nigh impossible to tell the colour of that new Audi SUV until it reaches it final destination.Autoport knows what theyre doing but, as with most aspects of life, not everything works smoothly. In July of this year, an Ontario court ruled that Halifax Autoport was on the hook for a $10,000-a-day bill stemming from the storage and preservation of 2,966 BMW and Mini vehicles. Problems began during the brutal weather of February 2015, when the cars were exposed to harsh conditions. BMW argued the exposure to salt and ice created a safety hazard, necessitating a recall. Transport Canada warned of
Origin: How Halifax Autoport processes almost 200,000 imported cars per year
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