One of the 1967 Ford Mustangs used in the third instalment of the will-it-ever-end Fast Furious movie franchise is being offered for sale by RK Motors in Charlotte, complete with a thumping American V-8 underhood. Wait, wasn’t the Stang in Fast Furious: Tokyo Drift driven by a Nissan GT-R RB26? You’re right, it was—at least one of them, anyway. Apparently, three of the muscle cars were built for the film, two of which had V-8s displacing 430 cubes. Details are fuzzy, as they often are with Hollywood movies, but there may have been as many as six Mustangs on set at one point or another. This unit at RK is listed as having a 347-cubic-inch mill under its king-sized hood and being a gen-u-wine member of the cast. Billed as a restomod, the Mustang also has a Tremec TKO600 five-speed manual backing up the Roush crate engine. Original(-to-the-movie) 19-inch Volk Racing wheels bring a dose of screen-correct accuracy, and the rear end is a Moser 8.8 with a limited-slip diff and 3.73 gears. According to the seller, that Nissan-powered Mustang we all saw in the film was only used for stills and close-up shots, with the drifting duties left to the other V-8 Mustangs on set—of which this car is one. While it may not have the same engine used during its filming sequences, the car does have a heckuva story, one for which certain collectors will happily
Origin: Mustang from ‘Tokyo Drift’ for sale, but without Nissan RB26 engine
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VW’s working on tech to keep you from getting sick in autonomous cars
Motion sickness sucks. For the percentage of the population who are susceptible to this rotten affliction, simply going for a drive with someone else at the wheel is cause enough to turn greener than a twenty-dollar bill, money soon to be spent on a bottle of Febreze to get rid of the smell. The crew at Volkswagen, mindful that bouts of sick can come on even faster in a self-driving car, are working on ways to quell the queasy. At its root, the confusion between the motion your eyes see and the motion your body feels. This is why your author cannot read for an extended time as a passenger. According to VW, about a third of all people are susceptible to it – women more than men, children more than adults – but under the right conditions, anyone can suffer. At the VW research labs in Wolfsburg, scientists are studying what can trigger car sickness and potential ways to help prevent it from happening in a future where the car can mostly drive itself. In one test, researchers are exploring whether changes to the vehicles themselves might help prevent motion sickness, such as via special movable seats that can react to driving changes; and an LED light strip on the door panel that illuminates in green or red. The latter is intended to provide a visual cue for the passenger of braking or acceleration. Out on the test track, volunteers don various sensors and cameras designed to measure pulse, skin temperature, and changes in skin tone. On a 20-minute drive, the sedan will use Automatic Cruise Control to follow a semi-autonomous Passat. During this particular test, a tablet plays video of swimming fish for the volunteer to watch. As the car drives, the volunteer rates their state of health on a tablet. For most, it doesn’t take long to feel ill. VW’s boffins are hoping their inventions can help remove that feeling, though they haven’t released that data quite yet. Autonomous cars are coming – not today, not tomorrow, but eventually – and it’s research like this that’ll help deal with problems most of us haven’t thought of yet. Until then, the rest of us can just keep a bottle of Febreze
Origin: VW’s working on tech to keep you from getting sick in autonomous cars
‘Guardian angel’ pigeon saves speeder from ticket by photobombing traffic camera
Police in western Germany say divine intervention saved a speeding driver from getting a ticket, after a pigeon photobombed a traffic enforcement camera at just the right moment. Perhaps inspired by this week’s Ascension Day national Christian holiday, Viersen police said the Holy Ghost must have had a plan to help the driver. Just as the radar clocked the driver at 54 km/h in a 30 km/h zone and the camera flashed, the pigeon flew in front of the car, obscuring the face of the driver with its spread wings and thereby concealing the necessary evidence of who was at the wheel. Police say thanks to the feathered guardian angel, the driver was spared a 105 euro (US$117) fine but should take it as a sign from above to slow
Origin: ‘Guardian angel’ pigeon saves speeder from ticket by photobombing traffic camera
Got a Need for Speed? This camera car from the film is for sale
If you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of movie history, now’s your chance. A company in Nebraska is offering a 2013 Mustang GT that was converted into a camera car for the 2014 film Need for Speed. The movie, starring Aaron Paul, was inspired by the video game series. Don’t expect the car to come with a matching Oscar award, of course; many critics only gave the film a one-star review when it was released. Currently for sale on eBay, the black car was upgraded by Saleen with a supercharger that boosts it to 625 horsepower, along with a 3.73 rear end, 14-inch brakes, and a custom-made roll cage. It’s got a 5.0-litre V8 and six-speed manual transmission. Modifications for its duty as a camera car include a glass compartment in place of the rear hatch, and a variety of camera mounts around the exterior. To make room for equipment, the front passenger-side airbag is missing, so you’ll have to put up with the warning light when you’re driving—along with the tire and open-door sensor warning lights, thanks to the rear hatch modification. It’s got only 7,791 miles (12,538 km) on the odometer, and for US$34,900, it can be
Origin: Got a Need for Speed? This camera car from the film is for sale
Uber’s luxury clientele can now request silence from drivers in-app
Jesse Vega checks a vehicle at the first of Ubers Work On Demand recruitment events where they hope to sign 12,000 new driver-partners, in South Los Angeles on March 10, 2016.Mark Ralston Ever climbed into an Uber only to immediately wish you could flip a switch and put your overly chatty driver on mute? With the app’s latest update, you kind of can. This week, Uber announced new features to its rideshare platform, specifically for those booking Uber Black rides, the app’s luxury experience that offers trips in high-end vehicles. Most notably, the “enhanced” experience includes an option called Quiet Mode where users can can request the driver remain silent during the trip. Quiet Mode, available now for users booking trips on Uber Black, includes three options: “quiet preferred,” “happy to chat” or “no preference.” Uber Black is, on average, 100 times more expensive than UberX, and 200 times more expensive than Uber Pool. It sounds like this could be a welcomed feature, not only for busy professionals looking to take a business call or have a moment of silence, but also for anyone whose skin crawls at the thought of making awkward small talk. Or worse: becoming a therapist for a disenchanted driver. The concept is sort of like a digital version of the quiet floors that GO Transit implemented on its commuter trains in the Toronto area a few years back. Still, Uber isn’t known for making the best HR moves, and some outlets are accusing the ride share app of “dehumanizing” its drivers. With this new update, Uber Black users will also be able to request the driver adjust the temperature or notify the driver if they have luggage that needs to be loaded into the vehicle. All of these preferences need to be selected before you book the fare, not while the vehicle is in transit or while you’re on a ride. Is this a smart business play or just plain rude? Tell us in the comments. Or keep your silence, that’s cool, too.
Origin: Uber’s luxury clientele can now request silence from drivers in-app
Kona Electric upgrade available from late 2019
Kona Electric upgrade available from late 2019 The new Kona will enable AC charging at up to 11 kW Hyundai has announced an upgrade of the Kona Electric SUV, which will be available in Europe by the end of this year. The new model features higher power charging capabilities and an improved navigation system. The most important innovation is a three-phase on-board charger which will enable AC charging at up to 11 kW. This is in addition to the rapid DC charging option which comes as standard. The faster AC charging capacity will reduce charging times on public 3-phase AC chargers and some home-based units. The Kona Electric also has a new optional navigation system with a 10.25-inch centre display which incorporates the eCall safety feature. The charging control system, which can be accessed via the Blue Link app, also provides information on charging times and expected range and can be pre-programmed to charge the Kona at specified times. The Korean company offers the vehicle with two different battery sizes, 39 kWh and 64 kWh, and a number of assistant systems. Only launched in 2018, the Kona Electric has already received a number of plaudits including the NGC Car of the Year 2018. As commented by NGC on making the award: “With its 279 mile range, the Hyundai Kona Electric represents outstanding value for money when compared with rival offerings. As the first to bring a long-distance EV to mass-market customers – and with such a capable package – Hyundai’s Kona Electric is NGC’s Car of the Year 2018.” In addition to the Kona Electric, Hyundai offers a number of low emission power-trains including the IONIQ trio of models (Hybrid, Plug-in, Electric), 48-Volt hybrid versions of Tucson and the fuel cell-powered NEXO. This portfolio makes Hyundai an important player in electrified vehicles, offering consumers an wide choice of low-emission to zero-emission vehicles. “With emission-free, connected vehicles such as the Kona Electric, Hyundai is not only one of the pioneers for clean mobility, but is also striving constantly to meet the demands of the growing number of consumers for more eco-friendly cars,” says Thomas A. Schmid, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe.
Origin: Kona Electric upgrade available from late 2019
Oldest surviving Porsche prototype, from 1939, set to be auctioned off
Possibly the most significant Porsche sports car ever built, a 1939 race car known as the Type 64, built for the Berlin-Rome race, is set to go up for auction this August. Before the Second World War, while Ferdinand Porsche was tasked by the Nazis with building an economical people’s car, his son, Ferry Porsche, took it upon himself to design a race car Germany could use in competition. What he came up with was the Type 64, an aluminum-bodied sports car utilizing aircraft engineering and aerodynamics, but based on the KdF-Wagen, the prototype car that would become the Beetle. Powering the Type 64 was the same flat-four found in the KdF-Wagen, but with compression bumped up so it could make 32 horsepower; and with the rear axle ratios changed to allow for a top speed of 173.5 km/h. A trio of prototypes were built, and when then-Volkswagen boss Bodo Lafferentz damaged the first one (number 38/41) in an accident, it was rebuilt into the current vehicle you see here. For political reasons, the car was still called a KdF-Wagen, and this one specifically, Sports Car 3,’ is the only surviving original example of the three cars. After the war, some rotten Americans got hold of the second car (38/42), chopped the roof off, and drove it until it died, then threw it away. Eventually, the parts from that vehicle were built into a replica of the second vehicle. 38/41 was kept in the Porsche family all throughout the war, and when it re-established itself in 1946, Ferry Porsche himself installed the raised PORSCHE letters on the nose, making this the first ever car to wear the badge. Today it is presented in a preserved state, just as it was when Porsche put his name on the nose. RM Sotheby’s will auction this vehicle off at its Monterey Car Week auction, which runs August 15 to 17 in Monterey,
Origin: Oldest surviving Porsche prototype, from 1939, set to be auctioned off
New Ford Focus ST priced from under £30,000 in UK
The new Ford Focus ST will be available from £29,495 in the UK, with first customer deliveries due to begin next month. Sources say that the entry-level variant will be the ST hatch in 187bhp 2.0-litre Ecoblue guise, the most powerful diesel powertrain ever available with the Focus. In estate form, the diesel ST starts from £30,595. The 276bhp 2.3-litre Ecoboost petrol-powered variant will be available from £31,995, rising to £33,095 for the estate version. The 2019 Focus will no longer be available in ST-2 and ST-3 forms, but high-spec ST-Line trim can be paired with a 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol engine producing 180bhp, from £23,500. Ford says the latest iteration of its Volkswagen Golf GTI rival will offer “the most responsive and agile Focus ST driving experience ever, on road and track”, thanks to the model’s new C2 platform and a host of new technology derived from halo models such as the Ford GT supercar and the Mustang. It is the first front-wheel-drive Ford to get an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD), intended to enhance cornering stability. Rev-matching technology is available with the six-speed manual gearbox. A seven-speed automatic is also available. Selectable drive modes are another first for the Focus ST. They comprise Slippery/Wet, Normal and Sport, plus a Track mode for versions equipped with the Performance pack. The drive modes adjust various parameters, including the ST’s electric steering, which is Ford’s fastest yet and 15% faster than a standard Focus’s. There is also continuously controlled damping (CCD), standard on five-door petrol variants, which monitors suspension, steering and braking inputs to adjust damping responses every two milliseconds and promises “ultimate refinement”. Leo Roeks, Ford Performance boss in Europe, said: “Technologies like eLSD and CCD make the Focus ST the most ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ yet, able to switch from refined tourer to focused performance car at the push of a button. “We’ve incorporated learnings from programmes including the Ford GT and Focus RS to develop a mid-size performance car with a degree of flexibility that’s unique in its segment.” Ford’s 2.3-litre Ecoboost petrol engine is the most powerful yet offered in an ST. In the 276bhp range-topping variant, it produces 310lb ft from 3000rpm to 4000rpmm, and is claimed to be the most free-revving Focus ST engine yet. The benchmark sprint of 0-62mph is said to take less than 6.0sec, making it at least 0.5sec quicker than the outgoing equivalent model. Anti-lag technology, developed for the GT supercar originally, is intended to provide immediate power delivery in Sport and Track drive modes. The tech keeps the throttle open slightly when the driver comes off the accelerator, easing the reversal of airflow and allowing boost pressure to build faster on demand. Meanwhile, the diesel ST delivers peak power at 3500rpm and 295lb ft between 2000rpm and 3000rpm. The model produces 10% more power than and over twice as much torque as the original ST170. Ford says the ST’s six-speed manual transmission aids “more urgent gearchanges and… a sportier feel”, thanks to a shift-throw reduction of 7% compared with the standard Focus. Revmatching technology, first seen on the Mustang, is also introduced as part of the optional Performance pack for Ecoboost manual models. While the petrol-powered Focus ST receives Ford’s new electronic limited-slip differential, the diesel Focus gets torque vectoring control technology, which reduces understeer by applying brake force to the inside front wheel when cornering. Exterior tweaks over the standard model are subtle: there are unique alloy wheels, a revised grille for increased cooling and changes to the low wing and air curtains to improve aerodynamics. At the rear, there is a spoiler and twin tailpipes. The Performance pack adds red brake calipers. Inside, the Focus ST receives Recaro front seats, a sports steering wheel and a host of ST-embossed features, and engine and exhaust noise is amplified in Sport and Track modes. Equipment upgrades over the ST-Line X include a rear-view parking camera, adaptive cruise control, a Bang and Olufsen sound system and heated steering
Origin: New Ford Focus ST priced from under £30,000 in UK
Confirmed: this is the just-restored Lamborghini Miura from ‘The Italian Job’
LAMBORGHINI MIURALamborghini Lamborghini has finally found, verified and restored the Miura P400 driven by Rossano Brazzi in the iconic opening scene of the classic 1969 film The Italian Job. The search lasted years, but the Kaiser Collection of Vaduz, in Liechtenstein, finally provided a light at the end of the tunnel, consulting the marque’s classic Polo Storico arm and asking it to examine the collection’s Miura to see if it was the long-lost car, and to assign a chassis number to the screen-used vehicle. Once Lamborghini specialists got their hands on it, they used documents and testimonies from former employees – including Enzo Moruzzi, who originally delivered the vehicle to the film set, and drove it as a stunt double for the actor in the film – to verify that chassis #3586 was indeed the Miura used in the movie. The Miura that Paramount Pictures pushed off the side of the mountain for the scene was an already heavily damaged vehicle the production company bought; to find a non-crashed match, Paramount went straight to Lamborghini. A P400 in exactly the same colour and with the same interior was pulled off the production line for the film. In order to keep the car in perfect shape for the car’s next owner after filming, Moruzzi requested the white seats of the car be changed to black ones. The headrests in a Miura are attached to the dividing glass between the engine and the cockpit, so when Moruzzi asked for the seats to be changed, the headrests remained in the original white—this is actually visible in some shots. On the now-restored car, the seats are in their original white colour. On the 50th anniversary of both the car and the film, the two are brought back together. Let’s just hope they avoid any tunnels on the way to the
Origin: Confirmed: this is the just-restored Lamborghini Miura from ‘The Italian Job’
Ram confirms new mid-size truck coming, different from Gladiator
The 2008 Dodge Dakota TRX4 Crew CabHandout / FCA Ram trucks has made it its mission to build a new mid-sized pickup to fill a gap in its lineup. According to Automotive News, Ram CEO Mike Manley says the lack of a mid-sized truck in its range is an issue that needs fixing fast. I want that problem solved, frankly, because it’s a clear hole in our portfolio, Manley said. It will not be filled by Gladiator because Gladiator is a very, very different mission. Trust me, they’re focused on it. We need to get it fixed soon. Despite previous reports, Manley says the Ram truck will not be built on the Gladiator platform; building it around a different architecture, though, will add extra cost to the development. Being able to find a cost-effective platform in a region where we can build it with low cost and it still being applicable in the market is what they’re struggling with at the moment, the exec admitted. Despite this, Manley says Ram is focused on solving a metric ton midsize truck solution for us because it’s a big part of the portfolio and growth we want to achieve. We previously wrote about Ram’s mission to build a mid-sized truck, but at that time it seemed it was only a consideration—it’s move to a full-on mission makes its debut near-certain. Ram would do well to introduce a mid-sized truck as that market is red-hot right now with offerings like the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado and even the soon-to-be-redesigned Nissan Frontier. Whether or not the truck will wear the classic Dakota badge remains to be seen, as does the specific availability date, forecast now for 2022. Finally, Manley noted Ram plans to keep on selling its last-generation Ram Classic alongside its new Ram 1500, calling the former the real traditional workman’s truck, one that fleet and commercial customers seem to keep on snapping up, in part for its lower price versus the 2020 Ram. Automotive News hears from dealers the Ram Classic could remain on sale through to the end of
Origin: Ram confirms new mid-size truck coming, different from Gladiator
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