The first episode of DRIVE has been unleashed, and Leo Parente and crew hopped a flight to Germany to provide an in-depth look at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race.

DRIVE's opening salvo is part of a new bi-weekly motorsports show entitled Shakedown, with Parente manning the mic and providing race reports throughout the year.

Part mini-doc, part fanboy journey, Shakedown provides a glimpse into the Green Hell's most intriguing and chaotic road race, and finally answers the question: what do those flashing blue lights mean?



Source: AutoBlog

If you use a radar detector for your ride that is from Escort or Beltronics a new power cord is launching soon from Escort that will fit more than a million of those radar detectors already in the wild. This cord does more than just hook the radar detector to your power source. The Escort Live SmartCord Live bundle will connect your detector to the cloud for real time updates on just where the man is in your town.

The SmartCord Live is a power cord that will replace the cord on existing compatible detectors. The cord has Bluetooth connectivity inside and will connect to either Android smartphone or the iPhone using an available app. When connected to your smartphone and the detector senses a laser speed detector it will automatically upload that data to the cloud and warn other drivers in the area.

This allows the smartphone running the app to show a laser detected indicator before you are in range of the speed trap. The alerts the system sends are displayed with band, signal strength, and frequency notifications. This allows you to get an approaching live alert warning that will show you a directional arrow to the alert and a distance to the source in case the speed trap is still in place. The cloud network access requires a subscription and the subscription will cost $79.95 through 2012 with the special power cord.

Source: Slashgear

It looks as if the 2013 Ford Mustang will receive a 4.2-inch LCD screen in its gauge cluster. Stang TV has gotten its hands on some photos of a few dealer training posters introducing the new tech, and the screen can be configured to display all sorts of important vehicle information.

In addition to standard data like transmission and coolant temperature, owners will be able to keep an eye on cylinder head temperature, the air/fuel ratio and more. Now this is the kind of advance we get behind. Ford also appears to be readying a number of apps that drivers will be able to access through the screen.

Chief among those is a track app that can keep tabs on you information like eighth mile, quarter mile, 0-60 and 0-100 mile-per-hour times. Drivers will even be able to measure braking performance. It all sounds like a lot of gadgetry to play around with in a safe, controlled environment.

Source: AutoBlog

A 1959 Cadillac S&S ambulance restored to look like the iconic Ghostbusters Ectomobile — minus working proton packs to capture ghosts — is set to cross the auction block here on September 25 at the Historics at Brooklands auction.

Auction promoters said in a statement — with the headline "Who Ya Gonna Call?" — on Thursday that the Ghostbusters replica is expected to fetch the U.S. equivalent of $115,459-$130,853, even though it is not the original vehicle featured in the movie Ghostbusters.

The replica is described as "a faithful re-creation of the 1984 film car — including identical logos and roof props." The interior is set up as a limousine, with three leather-clad bench seats. It is powered by a 6.5-liter V8 engine that gets a frightening 8 miles per gallon.

The Ectomobile featured in the 1984 Ghostbusters movie was a renovated 1959 Cadillac ambulance conversion, according to Wikipedia. The movie, about a group of New York City parapsychologists who investigated and captured ghosts for a living, has become a cult classic. The Ectomobile featured a pull-out rack in the rear to hold the ghostbusters' proton packs for disabling ghosts and a proton cannon mounted on the top for "large or even giant-sized paranormal entities," said Wikipedia. The book Making Ghostbusters describes a deleted scene in which a police officer places a parking ticket on the Ectomobile, only to have the ticket instantly burn to ashes.

A Hot Wheels version of the Ectomobile became a huge seller after the release of the movie.

Source: InsideLine

Bizarro, Millennium Force, Nitro and other attention-grabbing roller coasters need to watch their backs. Ferrari has previewed its Ferrari World Abu Dhabi GT roller coaster, and it promises to be one of the most memorable amusement park rides on the planet.

"The GT roller coaster is a racing coaster, which will send two competing roller coaster carriages sprinting along twisting parallel tracks on a race to the finish line," said Ferrari in a statement. "Each coaster car is a replica of a Ferrari F430 Spider."

It is the second of two roller coasters that will anchor the amusement park. The other is billed as the world's fastest roller coaster, with a speed of up to 125 mph that is intended to simulate the feeling of driving a Ferrari F1 racing car.

The roller coasters are two of 20 rides and attractions set for the amusement park, which opens on Yas Island here later this year. The Ferrari GT theme is not only carried on via the roller coaster, but also in the roof of the enclosed theme park. The roof is inspired by the "classic double-curve side profile" of the Ferrari GT.

Source: InsideLine

During its visit to the 2010 Washington Auto Show, General motors announced that it will be the first major U.S. automaker to design and build electric-motors for future hybrid and electric-vehicles. GM said that its first in-house built electric-motors are scheduled to debut in 2013 in the next-generation, rear-wheel-drive Two-mode Hybrid technology.

“In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations. “By designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries as they evolve, potentially reducing cost and weight – two significant challenges facing batteries today.”

The company said that it will manufacture the electric-motors in the U.S. at a GM facility. The Detroit automaker was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for a $105 million grant for the construction of U.S. manufacturing capabilities to produce electric motors and related electric drive components.

Source: eGMCarTech

Your eyes do not deceive you – what you see above is four lanes of funny car action at the zMax Dragway in Charlotte, NC, built specifically for such shenanigans. That was just an exhibition run, but the National Hot Rod Association has announced that this year it will run 4-up racing in anger at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in two months.

The zMax venue is like two traditional drag racing setups put side-by-side and separated by a retaining wall. The track's chairman calls it "the Bellagio of drag strips," All four classes, Top Fuel dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will run in quadruples throughout the three days of competition, from qualifying to finals. The new method will shorten the final elimination round to about 3.5 hours, but should up the excitement scale to make up for it.

Top Fuel's 14-time champion John Force called the coming event "our version of March Madness." At 300 miles per hour. With lots and lots of smoke.

Source: AutoBlog

Placing third in Egypt's Pharaoh's Rally is no easy task, especially for a auto-making unit that recently switched ownership — but that's exactly what the QT Wildcat 500DKR ($TBA). Billed as a "full-blown rally raid machine," this mean off-roader is powered by a 4-liter Jaguar V8 good for 275hp, and features a fully ruggedized chassis, drivetrain, and electronics, including a high-strength steel space frame, a light weight composite body shell, larger dampers with coil over springs capable of handling more punishment than you're likely to dish out, and more.

Source: QT

Well, if you've been looking for a Delorean Time Machine, look no further. This is the most screen accurate Back to the Future Delorean Time Machine replica to ever appear on eBay. It is a real masterpiece. You might be asking yourself why it's so expensive? Well, try to build a super-accurate Delorean Time Machine yourself, and you'll quickly see how time consuming it is. That last 20% of accuracy takes 500% more time and effort. Full read at the auction!

Source: eBay

This is the terrifying moment a British photographer cheated death as an out-of-control drag racing car careered towards him out of control. Andy Willsheer kept snapping even as the 250mph car spun towards the crash barrier at Pomona Raceway in California.
dragster.

And yet closer: In the blink of an eye the dragster was almost on the Briton... but he kept the viewfinder of his camera clamped closely to his eye. Miraculously, the wrecked vehicle landed just feet away from the photographer, who escaped unharmed.

The high-powered machine, capable of going from 0-60 mph in under a second, skidded off the track after its right side wheels hit an oil slick.

Only the concrete barrier prevented Willsheer from being killed by stopping the car dead just three feet away from where he was standing.

‘The crowd were yelling out for him to get out of the way and he kept on taking pictures,’ said one eyewitness.

‘He really is lucky to be alive, but he must have taken some great photos.’

Safety teams shut down the engine as soon as it stopped and driver Steve Gasparrelli also walked away unhurt.

Source: DailyMail

This blower is a gear drive only type system that is designed to make 3200+ horsepower, 45 psi, and flow over a hurricane-like 5400 cfm. The gear drive system on this blower is the same unit you will find on the F3. This is a limited production piece (obviously) and is designed for extreme drag racing.

More info in the jump!

Pretty damn cool if you ask me.

Source: Sweet Station

Introducing the coolest Honda wagon ever. The Wagon is a 1989 Honda Civic Wagon. Real Time 4WD with the OEM 6speed gearbox. It has a turbochaged SOHC D16Z6. It is also rusted all to hell, has mismatched seats, dangerously clunky suspension, and is covered in bedliner and skulls. Enjoy the video!




Source: Wagon Attack

Given Pontiac’s demise, it’s clear there won’t be any factory-baked Pontiac Trans-Am coming from General Motors. Enter the aftermarket, which has become suddenly eager to serve buyers wanting a new-school T/A. Indeed, joining the conversion kit offered by Phoenix is this Lingenfelter take on turning your brand-new Camaro SS into the modern Trans-Am of your dreams. The concept debuts in the metal at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Of course, Chevy looks won’t do, so there’s a new front fascia, a shaker hood, revised rear quarter-panels, functional front fender vents, and an integrated decklid spoiler. New lighting front and rear as well as 20-inch honeycomb wheels complete the exterior transformation, while new blue woven-vinyl seats and a metal-turned instrument panel add retro feel to the inside. We have to admit, this thing really does resemble the 1970s original, and we like it.

Given the company’s penchant for pumping up horsepower, of course Lingenfelter would rework the engine, too. Under the striped hood—there’s no huge screaming chicken as of now—sits an aluminum 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) V-8 block with a lofty 11.5:1 compression ratio, ported-and-polished Lingenfelter heads from the Corvette Z06’s LS7, a forged crankshaft, and high-flow intake. The custom stainless-steel exhaust comes courtesy of Corsa. Power output is quoted at 655 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque, up significantly from the 426 hp of a stock manual Camaro SS. Also present are a new twin-disc clutch and flywheel assembly and tougher rear half-shafts to withstand the extra grunt. Handling alterations are limited to the addition of Nitto tires.

More photos at the source!

Source: Car and Driver

These are some of the very first photos of the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park after the completion of the almost alien-like external structure. Set to be the world's largest indoor theme park and the first ever Ferrari theme park in the world when it opens in 2010, it comes complete with a racetrack that will host the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, shops, hotels, various attractions, rides and just about anything else to make it a gear-head's "Disney Land".

Talking about Disney Land, the Ferrari theme park which is located on Yas Island between the coast and city of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will include the world's fastest rollercoaster. Travelling at speeds in excess of 200 km/h (124 mph), it is said to emulate the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car as the passengers go over 62 m through the roof and back down again.

As for the theme park's now completed red roof, which is claimed to have been directly inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body, it covers a surface area of 200,000m² (2.15 million square feet) and features the largest "prancing horse" emblem in the world, measuring an astonishing 66 meters (217 feet) in diameter.

Source: CarScoop