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The 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt edition doesn't have quad camshafts or forty-eight valves in the cylinder heads. There is no turbocharger under the hood. The Mustang doesn't pack an eight speed twin-clutch super sequential transmission. The Mustang needs not even one of these things to be exactly what it is - a purely American machine that's a blast to drive.
Ford and Force Racing unveiled the first new entry into the nitro burning hemi engine field in modern times. The crew developed the engine using space age analytical tools, beefing up the main bearing journals and surrounding webbing to help keep the crank and pistons from windowing the blue anodized block. Force Mustang Funny Car driver Mike Neff will be the first to huff the good stuff through the blower, with Robert Hight and Ashley Force phasing in the mill in their own Mustangs after nitro
We know what you're thinking. Another Chevelle at SEMA. Wait now. This Chevelle kicks out 1000 horsepower without a blower, the bottle, or burning one drop of gasoline. How? Propane! The small block Chevy under the hood huffs down the same stuff folks use to heat up their Hamburger Helper. Since propane packs a 100+ octane rating, using high compression pistons is not an issue. We had a chance to hear this beast run at Mother's over the summer and it sounded much better than mean. This is the Ch
Featuring such luxury amenities as power rack and pinion steering and a 425 horsepower 383 cubic-inch Chevrolet small block is the Bourget's Shredder F-80 Quadracycle. This beast is designed to attract that group of the motorgoing public that wants to ride a motorcycle, but can't be bothered screwing around with just two wheels. A quick change rear differential puts the power to the ground through a pair of Porsche 930 constant velocity joints and what will certainly be a short-lived set of Avon
Big Daddy Don Garlits has always liked his Chryslers. He stuck with the hemispherical variety of engine even when the dark forces of moneyed sponsorship tried to convince him otherwise. Back in May we found out that he continues to enjoy stuffing hemis down into the framerails. The Swamp Rat XII is now finished and rolling out to SEMA from Florida. The vintage 6:71 blower looks better than bitchen raking down on top of the modern 392 mill. Release and specifications after the jump. [Big Daddy Do
From a distant galaxy of single overhead cam engines comes the Mitsubishi Astron series. The mighty Astron began life in 1972, and is still ticking away under the hoods of everything from Mitsubishi Starions to the panoply of Chrysler K-Car variants. In the beginning, the Flying Sikh himself pummeled an Astron equipped original Lancer to numerous rally victories. Patented silent shaft technology canceled out harmonics as the engine grew in displacement from 1.8 to 2.6 liters of four pot fury. Th
Ten years ago a cadre of British paramilitary-industrialists came to America and set the world on its ear; for the first and only time, a man set an official supersonic Land Speed Record of Mach 1. That hot shoe was RAF pilot Andy Green, a taciturn speed demon who punched through the sonic wall in his twin jet-engined Thrust SSC, an accomplishment achieved with the help of team owner Richard Noble and engineers such as aerodynamicist Ron Ayers. This watershed was accomplished on the barren waste
Round one of CHRR Chicago Style Funny Car action is a wrap. Randy Walls is OK after his Super Nova went fireball at half track. Terry Capp holds the number one spot with a 6.031 ET at 239.93 mile per hour assault. Full rundown of all the flopper action at Drag Race Central. [CHRR FC Action]
In a vain attempt to join Jalopnik stringer Bumbeck at Famoso Raceway yesterday morning for Day 2 of the California Hot Rod Reunion, yours truly loaded up the Chrysler with camera gear, sundry recording devices, the Fall box set, and a hot thermos of 80 weight Cafe Bustello. Ahhh.... the Cali Hot Rod Reunion, where period-perfect dragsters of antediluvian design and origins get up on the tire and blister the hides down the length of the quarter-mile.
I barely remember the days when Smirnoff vodka sponsored a AA/Fuel Dragster, and how gorgeous the car was in its original incarnation. But I do recall the car and that it was at one time shoed by the legendary dragster driver, Larry Dixon. What I really remember most is the stuff of family legend. Back in the day, my Uncle Phil drove a small-block Chevy Junior gas dragster ("Connelly & Coonce") at various strips in Southern California. In 1967 or '68, at one of Lions Drag Strip's "Professional D
Taking the big box philosophy one step too far are these drag race fans. It's always a good idea to bring a shopping cart to the California Hot Rod Reunion. Just make sure the cart is large enough to seat many, and make absolutely sure to stuff a Mopar V8 and TorqueFlite into it. Wing optional.
Famoso Raceway remains socked in with drizzle. Top Fuel qualifying is set to begin again at high noon, weather permitting. The swap meet and car show on the grove is in full effect. Race fans seem oblivious to the few raindrops, and celery stalks have been seen in the cups of many.
It may never rain in Southern California, but it is certainly raining in Bakersfield at this moment. After some bitchin Top Fuel qualifying, the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion is on hold for the time being. The only thing on the track are the sweepers and dryers. Forecast calls for a clearing tomorrow and Top Fuel qualifying will resume at 10AM tomorrow. The Reunion is currently moving from Famoso to Bakersfield for the post race party.
The Crew Chief of the Brut Racing but no longer by Faberge Funny Car driven by Ron Capps is coming back to Bakersfield this weekend as Grand Marshall of the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion. The Ace's qualifications for the job include hammering the Northwind Top Fuel dragster to the number one spot on the Drag News Mr. Eliminator list in the late '60s, and running the Revellution Plymouth Duster Funny Car to five out of seven finals victories in the '70s. The Ace hopes to have some good times in
Wandering around what we seem to remember as the basement of the Frankfurt Auto Show revealed this Mercedes C111 Rekordwagen. The five-cylinder diesel propelled this C111-IID research vehicle to an average speed of 252 km/hr at the test track at Nardo, Italy. The crew set a total of 16 world records in the process. The first versions of the C111 test platform were powered by a wankel engine, which Mercedes engineers ultimately determined to be too inefficient by design. They opted instead for th
Moving into the future by combining the pioneering engine technologies of Rudolph Diesel and Nicolaus Otto is Die Reiselimousine der Zukunft. The Mercedes F700 concept predicts the coming standard of the large touring saloon by melding superior design with several hectares of auto-adjusting plush leather. The diesotto engine looks to have been replaced by a bio-fusion reactor cleverly disguised as a plate of sushi. The future press release from the recent past after the jump.
From the can't get nearly enough of the Porsche GT2 department comes these shots from the Frankfurt floor. Yes, we have posted the spy photos and brochure. And yes, we've even unearthed a video of the widowmaker. Alas, we have yet to find a good frankfurter mit mustard here in Frankfurt. Specifications and press release redux after the jump.
Designed in France, the ultra-compact Toyota IQ Concept aims to challenge conventional thinking about what the press release refers to as automotive hierarchies. The vaguely cephalopod-like maritime shape suggests the car may harbor a 40-shrimp team hybrid synergy powerplant. Actual press release after the jump.
From the old BMW 2002 reborn with a 300 horsepower twin-turbo inline six department comes the new BMW 1-Series 135i Coupe. Flame surfacing denies any retro styling from resurfacing, but the rear-wheel drive and 300 foot pounds of torque is something that gets our vote. The little turbo spools up and starts delivering rear wheel amusement at a mere 1400 rpm. The big turbo takes care of the rest. Make sure to set traction control to off. Press release once again after the jump.
Shrinking the t-top Pontiac Firebird concept down to a road hugging turbo minicar is the Brabus Smart Fortwo Cabrio. Touted as a true city sports car by the Smarts, the diminutive urban block carver features a searing orange paint job and cabrio top that folds away in seconds. The rest of the roof stows away in a back drawer. The 110 horsepower turbo mill delivers max torque of 111 foot pounds of torque when kept in 2800 to 4200 rpm range by the Brabus sport steering wheel mounted paddle shifter
Volkswagen promises to improve the active interface between SUV and car with the Tiguan, and has thankfully have dropped the Fauvist exterior color choices and 30-inch hoops. Along with plenty of off-idle torque from gasoline or TDI engines, the Tiguan will nearly automatically park itself with park assist, and exhibit van-like interior cargo room. A Haldex 4motion awd system sends power to the road or rock. Come on, Rabbit. Let's you and me bounce. Full and entertaining press release after the
Honda informs us the company will maintain a clear focus on innovation, environmental responsibility, safety, and building machines that are fun to drive. Along with the hydrogen fuel cell FCX, the company plans to push ahead with an i-dtec turbodiesel. The engine requires no urea system to meet emissions standards thanks to superior catalytic converter design. A European version of Accord in will pack the new diesel in 2008, with Japan and the US models being considered for the near future. Hon
This Citroen XM Exclusive caught our jet-lagged eye on our way down to the river, where we also caught a glimpse of das boot. The 5-door XM packed a 3.0L 24-Valve DOHC V-6 or 2.5 TD turbo set atop Citroen's signature nitrogen springing - also known as Hydractive suspension. The computer-controlled liquid suspension has a compliance six times greater than suspensions made of schteel, and is driver adjustable. Had things gone better for this descendant of the mighty Citroen DS, a great deal more m
From the 800-dollar turbocharged minivan department comes this 1989 Dodge Caravan SE with genuine simulated woodgrain trim. Along with doing toasty burnouts, the minivan has run the quarter mile in 12.65 seconds at Route 66 Dragway thanks to a set of slicks and 24 pounds of boost pushing through the stock 140K plus miles mill. The initial 800-dollar purchase price has been long-forgotten after all the modifications required to get the Iacocca Special into the 12-second zone. This guy figures if
We've all heard the argument of the do-it-yourselfer. Doing the job on your own can bring a sense of satisfaction and save money. When things don't go right the results may not be so warming or economical. Thirteen beers or three fried alternators into a pile of sheared bolts and bruised knuckles can result in a job costing far more than planned. Sometimes the financial outlay in tools, materials, and time, don't add up to any savings for the do-it-yourselfer. Worse still is a job done wrong can
In a fiery display of the globe warming, Mount Etna blew its freaking top again yesterday. Residents of Catania were largely unaffected, and continued to motor about in ash covered Fiat Cinquecentos. The Pope slept through the entire event. [Sicily's Mount Etna Erupts]
As the last chunks of salt are chipped off the race cars there is a post speed week battle forming. The SPAL Ford Powerstroke Rocket Ranger team is claiming the title of World's Fastest Diesel Pickup Truck. Gale Banks says this simply isn't true, stating that the Banks Engineering Cummins-powered Dodge Dakota Sidewinder still holds the official FIA World Record - set in 2002.