Chevy shocked the aftermarket world when it zapped into SEMA last year with its eCOPO Camaro, a concept car that amped up drag racers across the nation so much it hertz.We all good on dad jokes, now? Cool.At the time, the eCOPO concept was based on the 2019 COPO (and not the hideous 2019 SS, thankfully) and driven by an electric motor providing the equivalent of more than 700 horsepower. With about 600 lb.-ft. of torque, Chevy estimated the thing could pull a quarter-mile in the nine-second range.Now, the works of it is being auctioned off by Russo and Steele as part of the action at Monterey Car Week. The thing is an electrical tour de force, as the electric motor is based on a pair of Borg-Warner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies.Each of them generate 300 lb.-ft. of torque and completely replaces the gas engine. It is connected to a conventional racing-prepared Turbo 400 automatic transmission that channels the motors torque to the same solid rear axle used in the production COPO Camaro race cars.When it was being developed, Chevrolet partnered with Hancock and Lane Racing partly because of the teams success in NHRA drag racing but also its involvement with Patrick McCue. You may recognize that name as a driving force behind the record-holding Shock and Awe electric drag racing car and his Seattle-area Bothell High School automotive technology program.(Its worth mentioning that, thanks to the latter, more than a dozen students participated in the development and assembly of the electrified drag car.)Its the Hancock and Lane connection that likely allows this eCOPO to appear on the auction block. The general understanding is that the racing company, not Chevy, actually owns the car, meaning it may not be GM whos offering it for sale. Russo and Steele plan to auction the eCOPO on Friday night around 8:45 pm, according to its website, and goes on to say the car has many unique parts other than its drivetrain, including a one-off hood and a copious number of special badges.And, yes, the eCOPO does have a real VIN. Just dont try to pull any funny stuff at the
Origin: One-off Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro headed to auction block
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Kia’s new compact Seltos SUV uncovered, may be headed here
Kia has revealed its brand-new compact crossover, the Seltos, at an event in Delhi, India, its latest offering aimed at younger buyers with a focus on tech.The tech in question comes in the form of an infotainment system, highlighted by a 10.25-inch touchscreen that can be split into three applications at once, and supplemented by an available eight-inch heads-up display on a glass panel behind the steering wheel.Eight-speaker Bose audio will also be a hit with the youths, with optional Sound Mood Lighting that can create a light show timed to the beat of the musicvery hip.The exterior design looks dare we say it quite good, and is miles above what Toyota and Honda have been putting out these days with their wacky chrome eyebrows and strange creases.The Kias tiger-nose grille sits well underneath a muscular brow, and the thin LED headlights splay out over the large turn signals. The rear of the Seltos is refreshingly ordinary, nothing weird or out of place here. Kia still hasnt shown us what the interior of the Seltos will look like, but we can assume it will follow the trends set by the larger SUVs in the lineup, perhaps with a more youthful feel and greater emphasis on technology.In India, the top-of-the-line engine for the Seltos is a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 175 horsepower, but there is also the option of a 147-horsepower 2.0-litre, as well as a 134-horsepower diesel 1.6-litre.We dont expect that the diesel version will make its way up to Canada, but we can always hope! Canadian pricing or availability has not been
Origin: Kia’s new compact Seltos SUV uncovered, may be headed here
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato: reborn classic headed to Le Mans
Aston Martin will unveil the first completed DB4 GT Zagato Continuation model at the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend. The car, the first in a run of 19, is the result of around 4500 hours of labour carried out by the engineers at the firm’s Newport Pagnell-based Heritage Division. The model on display has been painted in Rosso Maja, a colour that was mixed by paint supplier Max Meyer specially for use on the original Zagato DB4. Inside, carbonfibre race seats are trimmed in black leather, as are the door cards and headliner, with carpets decorated to match. A full FIA-approved roll cage and period-correct race instrumentation also feature. Eighteen more DB4 GT Zagatos will be handcrafted using what Aston calls “artisan coachbuilding skills”, including techniques more commonplace in the middle of the last century. In addition, the same number of a bespoke new supercar, called the DBS GT Zagato, will be produced, but the two models will only be available to buy as a package – at a cost of £6 million for the set, before tax. The track-only DB4 GT Zagato is powered by an updated 4.7-litre version of the Tadek Marek-designed straight-six engine that features in the original. It delivers more than 390bhp to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. The modern car has not yet been revealed fully, but renderings released by Aston offer a good glimpse at its dramatic design. It’s based on the DBS Superleggera, and will feature the same short tail and double-bubble roof of previous Zagato Astons. The 715bhp turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 will also remain. Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer said: “The partnership between Aston Martin and Zagato is one of the most fruitful and enduring in the automotive world. With Zagato celebrating its centenary next year, what better way to celebrate this landmark – and the long-standing bond between our two great companies – than creating these 19 pairs of cars.” While the DBS Zagato is road-legal, the DB4 GT Zagato is a track-only car, given that the latter is based on a now 58-year-old design. The DBS Zagato will be built at Aston Martin’s Gaydon facility. Despite the cars’ simultaneous announcements, deliveries of the two are a full year apart – the continuation DB4 GT Zagato will reach customers in the final months of 2019, while deliveries of the DBS GT Zagato will begin at the end of 2020. It’s the latest in a string of Aston Martin continuation projects – the DB4 GT was resurrected for a continuation run of 25 models, which were sold for £1.5m each; while, more recently, 25 Goldfinger-spec DB5s were announced for production, to the James Bond car
Origin: Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato: reborn classic headed to Le Mans
The radical Apollo IE supercar is finally headed for production
Supercar startup Apollo has just given us an update on its forthcoming vehicle, the Apollo IE (a.k.a. the Apollo Intensa Emozione). The brand confirms it has linked up with HWA AG and Capricorn Group to produce this successor to the Gumpert Apollo, but with a number of updates from the prototype it introduced back in 2017. The Apollo IE rides on an all-new first-of-its-kind 100-per-cent carbon-fibre production chassis that has been developed by HWA, a company that has helped build icons like the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR. The mono-cell structure is said to improve safety and torsional rigidity, reduce weight and remove the need for a roll cage altogether. Apollo’s GM and CMO Ryan Berris tells Motor Authority the choice to redevelop the chassis was made to “make certain that (the company) adhered to the highest safety standards that are at the cutting edge of technology and would permit use in future applications, leaving the door open for potential competition participation.” This “competition participation” would likely be in the World Endurance Championship’s brand-new Hypercar class. Other noticeable differences from the prototype include the car’s aerodynamics, as well as the cooling systems associated with the engine bay and brakes. The engine is a 6.3-litre V12 with a stable of 780 horses. While you wait for more details to emerge, check out the above video of an Apollo IE drifting around a track in Bahrain alongside some of the world’s most ridiculously cool
Origin: The radical Apollo IE supercar is finally headed for production
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