+Horsepower War>Porsche Just Gave Its Newest 911 Big HP + more=
#1
01-14-2015, 08:08 AM
+Horsepower War>Porsche Just Gave Its Newest 911 Big HP + more=
Porsche Just Gave Its Newest 911 Big Horsepower — And A Big Price Tag 
$$$
Member's, do you like it ? Want one ?
By Benjamin Zhang 14 hours ago
See Also:
$$$Member's, do you like it ? Want one ?
By Benjamin Zhang 14 hours ago In the US, Porsche offers an incredible 20 different variants of its iconic 911 sports car. Like the lineup of a rock band, the roster does not remain static.
At the end of 2014, the 50th Anniversary Edition left the market. In its place is the brand new 911 Targa 4 GTS.
The 911 Targa 4 hit the market in 2014 with a 3.4-liter 350-horsepower variant of Porsche's tried-and-true flat-6-cylinder engine. Here, the Targa gets the GTS-treatment, which means a beefier engines and a host of cosmetic upgrades.
Instead of a 3.4-liter powerplant, the GTS will get an additional 0.4 liters of displacement. This translates into a power boost up to 430 horsepower.
With 430 horsepower on tap, 60 mph can be achieved in 4.5 seconds if you prefer to shift gears the old fashioned style through a 7-speed manual. However, that acceleration figures drop to 4.1 seconds if you opt for Porsche's fantastic twin-clutch PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) manu-matic transmission.
At the end of 2014, the 50th Anniversary Edition left the market. In its place is the brand new 911 Targa 4 GTS.
The 911 Targa 4 hit the market in 2014 with a 3.4-liter 350-horsepower variant of Porsche's tried-and-true flat-6-cylinder engine. Here, the Targa gets the GTS-treatment, which means a beefier engines and a host of cosmetic upgrades.
Instead of a 3.4-liter powerplant, the GTS will get an additional 0.4 liters of displacement. This translates into a power boost up to 430 horsepower.
With 430 horsepower on tap, 60 mph can be achieved in 4.5 seconds if you prefer to shift gears the old fashioned style through a 7-speed manual. However, that acceleration figures drop to 4.1 seconds if you opt for Porsche's fantastic twin-clutch PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) manu-matic transmission.
With it's all said and done, the Targa 4 GTS will hit a top speed of 188 mph (187 with the PDK). Those figures represent an improvement of 0.5 to 0.7-second in 0-60 times and a boost of 13-14 mph in top speed.
The star attraction of the newest 911 is Porsche's trick electric targa roof that lifts up the entire rear window apparatus to store the roof cover. Of all of the folding roof systems on the market, the Porsche Targa is certainly the most impressive.
The star attraction of the newest 911 is Porsche's trick electric targa roof that lifts up the entire rear window apparatus to store the roof cover. Of all of the folding roof systems on the market, the Porsche Targa is certainly the most impressive.
Cosmetic treatments for the Targa 4 GTS include matte black 20-inch center lock wheels, "sport front end design" and black intakes, in addition to black logos, and brushed aluminum accents.
As my former Business Insider colleague Alex Davies pointed out on Wired's Autopia, the GTS' performance and cosmetic improvements come at a price.
In this case, a considerable price. While the standard 911 Targa 4 sells with a base price of $101,600, the asking price for the GTS variant is $132,800. Porsche is asking for quite the king's ransom.
Whether this will be worth it remains to be seen. We'll let you know when we get our hands on one. Expect the 2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS to hit US showrooms sometime in late April.
In this case, a considerable price. While the standard 911 Targa 4 sells with a base price of $101,600, the asking price for the GTS variant is $132,800. Porsche is asking for quite the king's ransom.
Whether this will be worth it remains to be seen. We'll let you know when we get our hands on one. Expect the 2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS to hit US showrooms sometime in late April.
See Also:
Last edited by BeachBumMike; 01-14-2015 at 08:11 AM.
#2
01-14-2015, 08:13 AM
Say Hello To Ford's New Supercar!
Benjamin Zhang
Ford
The Ford GT is back — and it's badder than ever.
Introduced to public this week at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the angular Ford supercar blew everyone away.
The original GT40 was built under orders from Henry Ford II for the sole purpose of destroying Ferrari at the 24 Hours of LeMans race. It succeeded. The GT40 won in 1966, '67, and again in '68, and finally for a fourth time in a row in 1969.
In fact, Ferrari hasn't won at LeMans since.
Set to begin production late next year, the latest descendant of the GT40 will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of its ancestor's triumph over Ferrari.
Ford
Unlike the 6.2-liter, 650-horsepower Corvette Z06 and the 8.4-liter, 640-horsepower Dodge Viper, Ford has decided to chase turbo power rather than the rumbling oomph of big-displacement engines.
Under the hood — or this case, behind the driver's compartment — the GT will be powered by a 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine. For those traditionalist trying to maintain their composure upon the revelation of this blasphemous news, fear not. The high-compression powerplant will still mange to churn out a stout 600 horsepower. According to Ford, it's likely to be more.
Ford is anything but ashamed by this engine. The GT proudly displays its EcoBoost heart under glass for all to see.
Ford
The technology doesn't end with the engine. Lightweight is the name of the game. The newest Ford supercar features a carbon-fiber driver's cell, with the suspension attached to aluminum-alloy sub-frames.
The driver's compartment is accessed via a pair of sleek scissor, concealing a snug racing-style cockpit. As in most modern supercars, digital displays dominate the interior.
"The GT is the ultimate execution of an enthusiast supercar," Ford vice president Raj Nair said.
"GT includes innovations and technologies that can be applied broadly across Ford’s future product portfolio – another proof point that Ford continues raising the performance bar while ultimately improving vehicles for all of our customers."
Ford
The Ford GT's striking body design is as much form as it is function. Every crease and angle is designed to manipulate the passing air. Multiple spoilers are designed to keep the GT firmly planted at high speed.
This is only our first encounter with Ford's fetching GT supercar. We can't wait to actually experience the car in the flesh. No pricing and performance figures have been announced. But based on our experience with the previous generation GT, expect it to be one of the finest performance values around.
Benjamin Zhang
FordThe Ford GT is back — and it's badder than ever.
Introduced to public this week at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the angular Ford supercar blew everyone away.
The original GT40 was built under orders from Henry Ford II for the sole purpose of destroying Ferrari at the 24 Hours of LeMans race. It succeeded. The GT40 won in 1966, '67, and again in '68, and finally for a fourth time in a row in 1969.
In fact, Ferrari hasn't won at LeMans since.
Set to begin production late next year, the latest descendant of the GT40 will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of its ancestor's triumph over Ferrari.
FordUnlike the 6.2-liter, 650-horsepower Corvette Z06 and the 8.4-liter, 640-horsepower Dodge Viper, Ford has decided to chase turbo power rather than the rumbling oomph of big-displacement engines.
Under the hood — or this case, behind the driver's compartment — the GT will be powered by a 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine. For those traditionalist trying to maintain their composure upon the revelation of this blasphemous news, fear not. The high-compression powerplant will still mange to churn out a stout 600 horsepower. According to Ford, it's likely to be more.
Ford is anything but ashamed by this engine. The GT proudly displays its EcoBoost heart under glass for all to see.
FordThe technology doesn't end with the engine. Lightweight is the name of the game. The newest Ford supercar features a carbon-fiber driver's cell, with the suspension attached to aluminum-alloy sub-frames.
The driver's compartment is accessed via a pair of sleek scissor, concealing a snug racing-style cockpit. As in most modern supercars, digital displays dominate the interior.
"The GT is the ultimate execution of an enthusiast supercar," Ford vice president Raj Nair said.
"GT includes innovations and technologies that can be applied broadly across Ford’s future product portfolio – another proof point that Ford continues raising the performance bar while ultimately improving vehicles for all of our customers."
FordThe Ford GT's striking body design is as much form as it is function. Every crease and angle is designed to manipulate the passing air. Multiple spoilers are designed to keep the GT firmly planted at high speed.
This is only our first encounter with Ford's fetching GT supercar. We can't wait to actually experience the car in the flesh. No pricing and performance figures have been announced. But based on our experience with the previous generation GT, expect it to be one of the finest performance values around.
#3
01-14-2015, 08:15 AM
Business Insider's First-Ever Car Of The Year Is The Corvette Stingray
Chevrolet
The first annual Business Insider Car of the Year is the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Feel free to applaud — and applaud some more! Ben Zhang and I debated the choice long and hard, and I demanded that he make the patriotic case for the Corvette at least a dozen times.
Jaguars and Ferraris were swatted aside. Big, luxurious SUVs fell by the wayside. Even the Very Important Tesla Model S P85D, the fastest sedan in the world, couldn't beat out America's sports car.
In the end, we both just loved the new Vette.
The bottom line is that we wanted our first-ever Car of the Year to be an amazing machine when it comes to the nuts-and-bolts part of the story. It had to look cool and be a blast to drive. And because Business Insider is, after all, a business publication, we decided that the COTY should be significant for the auto industry — it couldn't be a niche product that appeals only to enthusiasts with millions to spend on exotic hypercars.
But there's another factor that we considered.
Fun.
Porches and Ferraris and Lamborghinis and Jaguars are also lots of fun. But 2014 was the year that the new Corvette Stingray topped everybody with the fun factor.
What a car!
A WHOLE NEW LOOK
The Corvette is an American icon, first introduced in 1953. But through the decades, it's never seemed as refined as the high-performance European cars to which it's habitually compared. The previous C6 generation was plenty powerful and thoroughly impressive, but its rough-around-the edges nature was a turnoff for some of the more discerning buyers.
The new C7 generation (yes, there have been seven iterations of this car) starts at $54,000 and feels completely different — and brings back the Stingray name, not seen since the 1970s. (For the record, the final model year for the C6 started at about $50,000.)
The interior is modern, fairly luxurious, and yet purposeful. You feel the lure of the racetrack in this Vette in the same way that you do in a Ferrari 458, but at a much, much lower price. Soft, high-quality leather blends with LCD instruments and controls. Heck, there's even 4G LTE connectivity embedded in the car. What was once seen by many as the dinosaur of the sports car world is now a rolling, wireless hotspot that can do 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Amazing.
Chevrolet
But it's the exterior that's truly remarkable. From the angular front end to the square rear taillights, the car's designers decided to take a bold detour from the curvy Corvettes of the past, without completely doing away with what people expect a Vette to look like. The new car is a respectful homage to the Stingrays of the early 1960s, and the overall effect is absolutely stunning. This is the boldest Corvette...possibly ever.
THAT ENGINE!
So the Stingray looks great, but it's what's under the hood that really steals the show.
The 6.2-liter LT1 V8 supplies the driver with 460 horsepower, enabling 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of more than 180 mph. You just can't get this much speed for this nice a price anywhere else on planet Earth. In fact, the Corvette's equivalent cost-wise from Porsche — the 430 horsepower, 190-mph 911 GTS — starts at $115,000.
That's two Corvettes. And a pleasant Caribbean vacation.
But there's more. The Stingray's V8 serves up a yowling, malevolent soundtrack that occurs only in the 911's nightmares. It won't scare a Ferrari 458, which also contains (barely) a V8, but the symphony of combustion is of a different nature. The Ferrari's is a wild wail. The Stingray's is a full-throated growl. It's hard to get tired of this, particularly when working the engine through its auditory sweet spot in gears 2 through 5 (there are seven in total, but you don't entirely need them).
Like we said: fun.
General Motors
The terms "Corvette" and "prodigious speed" have been linked together for decades. Sadly, so have "Corvette" and "ancient suspension." Although the Stingray still features an old-school leaf-spring rear setup (you normally see this on delivery trucks, not sports cars), it's substantially improved for the C7 generation. The addition of a slew of electronic driving aids keeps the aforementioned 460 horsepower from making trouble.
With the engine, upgraded suspension, and massive Brembo brakes working in joyful unison, the Stingray makes driving around corners just as exciting as tearing up the pavement in a straight line. This might be the first Corvette in living memory that you don't have to drive fast to enjoy.
SYMBOL OF A NEW GENERAL MOTORS
The new Corvette, in many ways, is emblematic of the new General Motors and of a company looking to atone for past sins.
2014 wasn't a great year for GM. A massive ignition-switch recall stalled the carmaker's comeback from bankruptcy (although, like everyone else in the auto industry, GM sold plenty of cars in the resurgent US market). And there were some bad vibes in Vetteland: a sinkhole swallowed several classic Corvettes on display at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky — across the street from the plant where the Stingray is built.
In this context, the Stingray is evidence of redemption. Much as the company has been cleaning up its act under the guidance of CEO Mary Barra, the Corvette's designers and engineers have eradicated any hints that they compromised with the car.
Good enough doesn't cut it anymore when it comes to Corvettes.
Chevrolet
Have all of these changes translated to success at the showroom?
Yes. In a big way. Corvette sales are up a whopping 119% this year, with more than 31,000 cars sold as of the end of November. That's better than Porsche's Boxster, Cayman, 911, 918, and Panamera — combined!
Obviously, Ben and I aren't the only ones who love the Stingray.
THE WINNER!
Corvette has finally lived up to its potential, six decades after it first hit the streets. When we drove it, we didn't want to stop driving it. It made us dream the dream of racetracks, as well. If you want an American Ferrari, this is your car. And with the price difference, you can do ahead and really enjoy your midlife crisis.
We're delighted to announce that the Corvette Stingray is Business Insider's Car of the Year for 2014.
Chevrolet
SEE ALSO: I Didn't Drive The Corvette Stingray, I Drove Its Engine
ChevroletThe first annual Business Insider Car of the Year is the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Feel free to applaud — and applaud some more! Ben Zhang and I debated the choice long and hard, and I demanded that he make the patriotic case for the Corvette at least a dozen times.
Jaguars and Ferraris were swatted aside. Big, luxurious SUVs fell by the wayside. Even the Very Important Tesla Model S P85D, the fastest sedan in the world, couldn't beat out America's sports car.
In the end, we both just loved the new Vette.
The bottom line is that we wanted our first-ever Car of the Year to be an amazing machine when it comes to the nuts-and-bolts part of the story. It had to look cool and be a blast to drive. And because Business Insider is, after all, a business publication, we decided that the COTY should be significant for the auto industry — it couldn't be a niche product that appeals only to enthusiasts with millions to spend on exotic hypercars.
But there's another factor that we considered.
Fun.
Porches and Ferraris and Lamborghinis and Jaguars are also lots of fun. But 2014 was the year that the new Corvette Stingray topped everybody with the fun factor.
What a car!
A WHOLE NEW LOOK
The Corvette is an American icon, first introduced in 1953. But through the decades, it's never seemed as refined as the high-performance European cars to which it's habitually compared. The previous C6 generation was plenty powerful and thoroughly impressive, but its rough-around-the edges nature was a turnoff for some of the more discerning buyers.
The new C7 generation (yes, there have been seven iterations of this car) starts at $54,000 and feels completely different — and brings back the Stingray name, not seen since the 1970s. (For the record, the final model year for the C6 started at about $50,000.)
The interior is modern, fairly luxurious, and yet purposeful. You feel the lure of the racetrack in this Vette in the same way that you do in a Ferrari 458, but at a much, much lower price. Soft, high-quality leather blends with LCD instruments and controls. Heck, there's even 4G LTE connectivity embedded in the car. What was once seen by many as the dinosaur of the sports car world is now a rolling, wireless hotspot that can do 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Amazing.
ChevroletBut it's the exterior that's truly remarkable. From the angular front end to the square rear taillights, the car's designers decided to take a bold detour from the curvy Corvettes of the past, without completely doing away with what people expect a Vette to look like. The new car is a respectful homage to the Stingrays of the early 1960s, and the overall effect is absolutely stunning. This is the boldest Corvette...possibly ever.
THAT ENGINE!
So the Stingray looks great, but it's what's under the hood that really steals the show.
The 6.2-liter LT1 V8 supplies the driver with 460 horsepower, enabling 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of more than 180 mph. You just can't get this much speed for this nice a price anywhere else on planet Earth. In fact, the Corvette's equivalent cost-wise from Porsche — the 430 horsepower, 190-mph 911 GTS — starts at $115,000.
That's two Corvettes. And a pleasant Caribbean vacation.
But there's more. The Stingray's V8 serves up a yowling, malevolent soundtrack that occurs only in the 911's nightmares. It won't scare a Ferrari 458, which also contains (barely) a V8, but the symphony of combustion is of a different nature. The Ferrari's is a wild wail. The Stingray's is a full-throated growl. It's hard to get tired of this, particularly when working the engine through its auditory sweet spot in gears 2 through 5 (there are seven in total, but you don't entirely need them).
Like we said: fun.
General MotorsThe terms "Corvette" and "prodigious speed" have been linked together for decades. Sadly, so have "Corvette" and "ancient suspension." Although the Stingray still features an old-school leaf-spring rear setup (you normally see this on delivery trucks, not sports cars), it's substantially improved for the C7 generation. The addition of a slew of electronic driving aids keeps the aforementioned 460 horsepower from making trouble.
With the engine, upgraded suspension, and massive Brembo brakes working in joyful unison, the Stingray makes driving around corners just as exciting as tearing up the pavement in a straight line. This might be the first Corvette in living memory that you don't have to drive fast to enjoy.
SYMBOL OF A NEW GENERAL MOTORS
The new Corvette, in many ways, is emblematic of the new General Motors and of a company looking to atone for past sins.
2014 wasn't a great year for GM. A massive ignition-switch recall stalled the carmaker's comeback from bankruptcy (although, like everyone else in the auto industry, GM sold plenty of cars in the resurgent US market). And there were some bad vibes in Vetteland: a sinkhole swallowed several classic Corvettes on display at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky — across the street from the plant where the Stingray is built.
In this context, the Stingray is evidence of redemption. Much as the company has been cleaning up its act under the guidance of CEO Mary Barra, the Corvette's designers and engineers have eradicated any hints that they compromised with the car.
Good enough doesn't cut it anymore when it comes to Corvettes.
ChevroletHave all of these changes translated to success at the showroom?
Yes. In a big way. Corvette sales are up a whopping 119% this year, with more than 31,000 cars sold as of the end of November. That's better than Porsche's Boxster, Cayman, 911, 918, and Panamera — combined!
Obviously, Ben and I aren't the only ones who love the Stingray.
THE WINNER!
Corvette has finally lived up to its potential, six decades after it first hit the streets. When we drove it, we didn't want to stop driving it. It made us dream the dream of racetracks, as well. If you want an American Ferrari, this is your car. And with the price difference, you can do ahead and really enjoy your midlife crisis.
We're delighted to announce that the Corvette Stingray is Business Insider's Car of the Year for 2014.
ChevroletSEE ALSO: I Didn't Drive The Corvette Stingray, I Drove Its Engine
#4
01-14-2015, 08:28 AM
Cadillac unfurls most powerful car in its history
20 hours ago
Auto Show
. View photo
The Cadillac CTS-V is unveiled at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, on January 13, 2015 (AFP Photo/Geoff Robins)
Detroit (AFP) - Cadillac came out all guns blazing at the Detroit auto show Tuesday, unleashing the most powerful car in its storied 112-year history in an aggressive bid to return to preeminence.
Once synonymous with American power and prestige, Cadillac has seen its share in the luxury market gradually eaten up by its rivals, particularly German competitors in the form of BMW and Mercedes.
But it made a powerful statement in officially presenting its CTS-V, a sporty beast of a sedan packing what it called "awesome" 640 horsepower and capable of top speeds of 200 miles (320 kilometers) per hour.
Admitting that Cadillac, owned by General Motors, had fallen behind -- it has faced "some adversity... for sure," said its chief Johan de Nysschen -- the iconic brand is determined to fight its way back to the fore.
Cadillac was launching "a product offensive" that would take on its rivals across several segments of the market and require more than $12 billion investment, declared de Nysschen.
"This is not just rhetoric," he told hundreds of journalists at the North American International Auto Show, one of the world's most prestigious.
"It's a comprehensive plan that starts with great products... we are here to disrupt and shatter the status quo."
He added: "This 112-year-old brand is reinventing itself."
Cadillac has plenty of catching up to do if it wants to reclaim its glory days.
Sales were down 6.3 percent last year in North America, in a luxury market that is highly competitive and notoriously cut-throat.
But de Nysschen was understandably eager to accentuate the positive, saying Cadillac was "on fire" in China, rocketing 47 percent to 74,000 units last year.
"We will take on the established market leaders in segments where they are strongest," he added.
20 hours ago Auto Show
. View photo
The Cadillac CTS-V is unveiled at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, on January 13, 2015 (AFP Photo/Geoff Robins)
Detroit (AFP) - Cadillac came out all guns blazing at the Detroit auto show Tuesday, unleashing the most powerful car in its storied 112-year history in an aggressive bid to return to preeminence.
Once synonymous with American power and prestige, Cadillac has seen its share in the luxury market gradually eaten up by its rivals, particularly German competitors in the form of BMW and Mercedes.
But it made a powerful statement in officially presenting its CTS-V, a sporty beast of a sedan packing what it called "awesome" 640 horsepower and capable of top speeds of 200 miles (320 kilometers) per hour.
Admitting that Cadillac, owned by General Motors, had fallen behind -- it has faced "some adversity... for sure," said its chief Johan de Nysschen -- the iconic brand is determined to fight its way back to the fore.
Cadillac was launching "a product offensive" that would take on its rivals across several segments of the market and require more than $12 billion investment, declared de Nysschen.
"This is not just rhetoric," he told hundreds of journalists at the North American International Auto Show, one of the world's most prestigious.
"It's a comprehensive plan that starts with great products... we are here to disrupt and shatter the status quo."
He added: "This 112-year-old brand is reinventing itself."
Cadillac has plenty of catching up to do if it wants to reclaim its glory days.
Sales were down 6.3 percent last year in North America, in a luxury market that is highly competitive and notoriously cut-throat.
But de Nysschen was understandably eager to accentuate the positive, saying Cadillac was "on fire" in China, rocketing 47 percent to 74,000 units last year.
"We will take on the established market leaders in segments where they are strongest," he added.
#5
01-14-2015, 08:36 AM
The rare 1965 Shelby Cobra rolls off the printbed
At the North American International Auto Show, a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 with a difference is on display.
ORNL
AC's Shelby Cobra is at the very pinnacle of classic sports car design, with its gorgeous, sleek, glossy curves. And the roadster -- production of which began in 1962, combining a British chassis with a high-performance Ford V8 engine -- is not just beautiful, but also rare. Its total production run from 1962 to 1965 amounted to just 1,003 in total.
Related articles
"Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of large-scale additive manufacturing as an innovative and viable manufacturing technology," leader of ORNL's Manufacturing Systems Research group Lonnie Love said. "We want to improve digital manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry."
Of the completed car's 1,400lb (635kg), roughly 500lb (227kg) was 3D printed, out of a strong composite material that contains 20 percent carbon fibre. It was printed on a special-purposed 3D printer developed by the ORNL -- the Big Area Additive Manufacturing printer, which can print single pieces in sizes greater than one cubic metre. This printer can also print components 500 to 1,000 times faster than other current industrial manufacturing machines.
In all, the 3D-printed Cobra took six weeks to design, manufacture and assemble, with the actual printing taking around 24 hours total.
"You can print out a working vehicle in a matter of days or weeks," Love said. "You can test it for form, fit and function. Your ability to innovate quickly has radically changed. There's a whole industry that could be built up around rapid innovation in transportation."
Like you might expect with 3D printing -- and similar to the world's first 3D-printed car, the Strati (also printed by the ORNL) -- the car parts came out looking a bit rough around the edges. The glossy finish was applied by Knoxville, TN-based company Tru-Design, which specialises in carbon fibre and fibreglass car parts. The Strati -- which made its debut at the 2014 SEMA show in Las Vegas -- is also making an appearance at NAIAS, printed live on the showfloor as attendees watch.
You can see more pictures of the Cobra being made on the ORNL's Flickr page.
At the North American International Auto Show, a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 with a difference is on display.
- by Michelle Starr
@riding_red - January 13, 2015 9:34 PM PST
ORNL AC's Shelby Cobra is at the very pinnacle of classic sports car design, with its gorgeous, sleek, glossy curves. And the roadster -- production of which began in 1962, combining a British chassis with a high-performance Ford V8 engine -- is not just beautiful, but also rare. Its total production run from 1962 to 1965 amounted to just 1,003 in total.
Related articles
- Winning cars of the 3D Printed Car Design Challenge
- Print my ride! Local Motors builds the world's first 3D-printed electric car
- 3D-printed car saves money, energy
- 3D-printed concept car would build itself
"Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of large-scale additive manufacturing as an innovative and viable manufacturing technology," leader of ORNL's Manufacturing Systems Research group Lonnie Love said. "We want to improve digital manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry."
Of the completed car's 1,400lb (635kg), roughly 500lb (227kg) was 3D printed, out of a strong composite material that contains 20 percent carbon fibre. It was printed on a special-purposed 3D printer developed by the ORNL -- the Big Area Additive Manufacturing printer, which can print single pieces in sizes greater than one cubic metre. This printer can also print components 500 to 1,000 times faster than other current industrial manufacturing machines.
In all, the 3D-printed Cobra took six weeks to design, manufacture and assemble, with the actual printing taking around 24 hours total.
"You can print out a working vehicle in a matter of days or weeks," Love said. "You can test it for form, fit and function. Your ability to innovate quickly has radically changed. There's a whole industry that could be built up around rapid innovation in transportation."
Like you might expect with 3D printing -- and similar to the world's first 3D-printed car, the Strati (also printed by the ORNL) -- the car parts came out looking a bit rough around the edges. The glossy finish was applied by Knoxville, TN-based company Tru-Design, which specialises in carbon fibre and fibreglass car parts. The Strati -- which made its debut at the 2014 SEMA show in Las Vegas -- is also making an appearance at NAIAS, printed live on the showfloor as attendees watch.
You can see more pictures of the Cobra being made on the ORNL's Flickr page.
#6
01-14-2015, 09:58 AM
==So many choices `if U have the $'s ==
Hi Member's,
Which one(s) below to you like ? Want ?
Post & let us know (why) ?
Which one(s) below to you like ? Want ?
Post & let us know (why) ?
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#7
01-14-2015, 10:10 AM
Free Movie 'Vid >EnJoy<
Watch the Alfa 4C attack R&T's private airport track
The miniature Ferrari comes to Detroit, takes no prisoners.
* I like it > Do You ? Post & let us know 'OK
A little tire spin, a lot of turbo whoosh, and no mufflers. This is the essence of the Alfa Romeo 4C that rolled onto the Motown Mile, Road & Track's private airport test track in Detroit, not far from the home office.
READ MORE: The Alfa Romeo 4C loses nothing in translation to U.S. spec
Curb weight is a hair over 2400 lbs, the 1.7-liter four makes 237 hp courtesy of a ton of boost (21.75 psi maximum, to be exact), and the flappy paddles are mandatory (and flappy). Into the seat goes our Editor-in-Chief, Larry Webster, the wheelman for all the Motown adventures, and out comes a lap time.
The times don't lie. Here's the timed lap of how the little Italian did:
The miniature Ferrari comes to Detroit, takes no prisoners.
* I like it > Do You ? Post & let us know 'OK
READ MORE: The Alfa Romeo 4C loses nothing in translation to U.S. spec
Curb weight is a hair over 2400 lbs, the 1.7-liter four makes 237 hp courtesy of a ton of boost (21.75 psi maximum, to be exact), and the flappy paddles are mandatory (and flappy). Into the seat goes our Editor-in-Chief, Larry Webster, the wheelman for all the Motown adventures, and out comes a lap time.
The times don't lie. Here's the timed lap of how the little Italian did:
#8
01-14-2015, 10:15 AM
>bonus<
Bonus Vid 4 your enjoyment
>It's a screaming little 1.7 L Turbo > Human GoKart<
0-60 in 4.1 > 1/4 Mile in the low 12's.
If I hit the lotto, I'd get one 4 'fun 4-$ure
I like Go-Karts >(LOL)
>It's a screaming little 1.7 L Turbo > Human GoKart<
0-60 in 4.1 > 1/4 Mile in the low 12's.
If I hit the lotto, I'd get one 4 'fun 4-$ure
I like Go-Karts >(LOL)
Last edited by BeachBumMike; 01-14-2015 at 10:29 AM.
#9
01-14-2015, 10:55 AM
Would U pay to do it yourself ?
, 2015
For $5,000, assemble your Corvette Z06 engine yourself <Click
Chevy's Engine Build Experience lets anyone with five grand (and a special-order Z06) play engine assembler for a day. BY ROBERT SOROKANICH
===2015 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 ===
