Motoring Con Brio

The more things change..

•December 9, 2009 • 2 Comments

..the more they get.. worse? That’s what comes to mind when we look at these photos.

As a one-off project, the mad scientists over at Mercedes-Benz’s labs have taken a manual gearbox-equipped 190 and proceeded to shoehorn a modern C250 CDI BlueEfficiency oil burner into it, cranking out 204 hp and a massive 368 lb-ft of torque (“torques”) between 1600 and 1800 rpm in the process.

With that kind of power-to-weight, its 6.2 second 0-60 trumps other blue chip challengers of its time, including the E30 M3 (7.5 seconds) and its own star quarterback sibling, the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II (7.1 seconds). In fact, the only other diesel-powered German saloon car to best that sort of time might be the ungodly E90 335d.

Now, does anyone still hanker for that C250?

Thanks to Mike A. for the tip.

(via Carscoop)

Posted in Mods, Still images
Tags: 190, 190d, 190e, benz, c250, cdi, diesel, mercedes, mercedes-benz, w201

Eye candy: 1968 Bizzarrini P538

•December 9, 2009 • 1 Comment

Roosevelt Island, NYC.

Bizzarrini S.p.A. was an automotive manufacturer in the 1960s. Founded by former Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and ISO engineer, Giotto Bizzarrini, the company built a small number of highly developed and advanced sport and racing automobiles before failing in 1969.

The P538 or P538S was a rear mid-engined race car launched in late 1965 or early 1966. At least two P538s were built with Chevrolet Corvette 327-cu.in. V-8s, and two more with 4.0- and 3.5-liter Lamborghini V12 engines.

The first V-8 powered car debuted at Le Mans in 1966, with Swiss drivers Edgar Berney and Andre Wicky, but records indicate that the team retired after three hours with a cooling problem. A second team in a production-based Bizzarrini A3/C, driven by Sam Posey and Massimo Natili, was disqualified after a pit lane violation, possibly while returning with serious frame damage.

American Ferrari driver Mike Gammino then commissioned a Lamborghini 4.0-liter V-12 powered car, which he raced once. Bizzarrini attempted to build a second, 3.5-liter V-12 car for Le Mans, but was unable to complete it before bankruptcy (source).

Credit: David Traver Adolphus

Posted in Still images
Tags: bizzarrini, manhattan, new york, new york city, nyc, p538, roosevelt island

Random snap: MkII Scirocco

•December 9, 2009 • Comments Off

Quick teaser of what’s up ahead later this week. Stay tuned.

Credit: Langé

Posted in Still images
Tags: mk2, mkii, scirocco, volkswagen, vw

Boxster Spyder

•December 9, 2009 • 1 Comment

Here are the latest Boxster Spyder photos out of Porsche’s press office. A sampling:

Performance is said to be impressive. From CD:

Any doubts about the Spyder’s performance enhancements drift out to sea among the breakers as the extra 10 ponies in the now-320-hp, 3.4-liter flat-six are put to work. Carving through the tight and twisted sections of Highway 1, the reduced weight of our six-speed-manual Spyder—at about 3000 pounds, it’s the lightest in the entire Porsche fleet—is easily apparent. The 0.8-inch lowered suspension includes shorter and stiffer springs, firmer dampers, modified front and rear anti-roll bars, and a slightly wider track, and it all combines to noticeably improve the Boxster’s already stellar handling. The car is just itching to turn in at every corner and the steering is effortless, like it was engineered just for this road. Well, that impression could also be because the suspension work did lighten the steering, but the rack is quicker and even more communicative than before, allowing us to more intimately feel the pavement texture.

See here and here for previous mentions on this site. There’s also an entertaining post over at Jalopnik on how the Boxster Spyder can take its weight reduction regimen even further.

Credit: Porsche

Posted in Still images
Tags: boxster, porsche, spyder

Porsche 356 eye candy.

•December 9, 2009 • Comments Off

Credit: The 908 Kid

Posted in Still images
Tags: 356, badges, cabriolet, deck lid, engine lid, porsche

Function over form: BMW M-System "Turbine" wheels

•December 8, 2009 • 3 Comments

The [E34] M5 came with an unusual wheel design. From 1988-1992 the M5 featured the M-System wheels. These wheels were 8x17J, but came with directional bolted-on wheel covers. Under the cover was a black 5-spoke alloy wheel. The press was critical of the design, often claiming it gave the M5 the appearance of having “white-wall” tires.

In 1992 BMW changed the design and a new cover was produced – the M-System II. The original intent of the M-System cover was to direct more air to the brake assembly to increase cooling. The cover actually integrated a fin assembly behind the cover. The M-System II covers, known as the “throwing stars” did not have as much capability to direct air to the brake assemblies. In May 1994, the M5 came with M Parallel wheels that did away with the cover (source).

Continue reading ‘Function over form: BMW M-System "Turbine" wheels’

Posted in Design
Tags: bmw, e34, m-parallel, m-system, m5, throwing star, turbine

Eye candy

•December 8, 2009 • Comments Off

996 and 1-Series enjoying some track time in the dark.

Image: Filip Francois

Posted in Still images
Tags: 135i, 1er, 911, 996, bmw, circuit, clubsport, gt3, porsche, zolder

Must do one of these days: Bonneville Salt Flats

•December 8, 2009 • Comments Off

In the meantime, enjoy these stunning photographs of the violently fast (and just plain violent) Viper ACR at this very location.

Credit: Edmunds

– Gyro

Posted in Still images
Tags: acr, dodge, dodge viper, viper, viper acr

Q-ship par excellence: Jaguar XJR

•December 8, 2009 • Comments Off

Just look at this car. It’s gorgeous. Would anyone really have preferred comparable S-Class and 7-Series offerings to this? Cars that were (that are?) solid as an anvil and technologically on the bleeding edge (hello, iDrive) but otherwise soulless and utterly forgettable in every single way?

In contrast, what a magnificent hunk of aluminium this is. And at the time, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars less than its German competition.

The only other car that could have given it a run for its money (literally and figuratively), in our minds, would have been the Audi S8 of the same period (probably a more dynamic drive, but arguably less visceral).

Aside from the obvious answers (Maybach, Bentley, old Mercedes 600, etc.) – and conveniently overlooking the fact that the rear seating quarters are probably laughably cramped – if we absolutely had to be chauffeured around town in a car (gun it, Jeeves), it might be in this one.

Runners-up: the aforementioned S8, a VW Phaeton W12.

Photo credit: Papiertje

– Gyro

Posted in Still images
Tags: jaguar, x350, xjr