SCORPIO'S GARAGE

Friday, February 27, 2015

Jensen GT Rises from the Dead at Geneva Motor Show

BOLD RIDE

Four decades later, and the Jensen GT returns to existence at the Geneva Motor Show next week. It’s a joint project between the Jensen Group and Jensen International Automotive, but nevertheless, it looks like something to be desired.

According to JIA, Jonathan Gould has been commissioned to create the Jensen GT. It’s a retro tribute of sorts to the last Jensen Interceptors built in 1976. In 2002, the carmaker would collapse.

Now it’s back with a hand-built, fairly modern interpretation that still embraces its heritage. Gould has two decades experience working on bespoke Bentleys and Rolls-Royce Corniches. He also was a design consultant for the Modec EV project. It was an electric truck project that flourished briefly from 2007 to 2011 before running out of cash and going bankrupt.

But not for lack of distinctive style. Gould has kept it up with the GT, which embraces Lamborghini’s Superleggera design philosophy of superlight elements like aluminum side panels. Carbon fiber is used on the roof, center section and bulkhead.

A GM aluminum supercharged 6.4-liter V8 with direct injection, variable valve timing and dry sump lubrication has been sourced for the GT. Buyers will have the option of either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual. All models will be rear-wheel drive.

Other design touches include the modern influence of LED front and rear light clusters. The 19-inch wheels are single piece forged aluminum. The overall weight for the two-door coupe is 3366 lbs.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet. Some early estimates suggest it might be north of a half-million bucks.

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Thursday, February 26, 2015

1958 Ex-Mercedes Training Bus is a Rare eBay Find

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Posted by Zach Doell

It takes a certain person to love a van or a bus, but it doesn’t take that same eye to recognize an important one when you see it. A good rule to live by? If it says “Mercedes-Benz Mobile Training Unit” in faded lettering on the side… take a second look.

This elderly 1958 Mercedes-Benz L-319 panorama bus shows that exact branding. Though it has surely seen better days, we reckon this one is quite special. But best of all, it packs an apparently quite desirable and rare sunroof option. Interested? You can find it up for sale on eBay.

1958 Mercedes-Benz L-319 panorama bus photo

The Mercedes L-319 family began back in 1955, offering up a larger industrial workhorse that was bigger than Mercedes’ passenger vehicle offerings yet smaller than the automaker’s big L-3500 trucks. An L-319 van was the first model to debut, and Mercedes quickly followed up with panel van, flatbed truck, bus, and even firetruck variants.

While designed to be tough and durable, they weren’t exactly what you’d call fast. Many of the L-319s used four-cylinder diesel engines plucked from Mercedes’ contemporary vehicle lineup. That meant around 40 horsepower on tap and a top speed of “not much”. 1968 signaled the end of the forward-control L-319 series, replaced by the long-running T2 generation. With numbers dwindling, restoration candidates such as this loom like dinosaurs.

According to the seller, this L-319 was originally used as a transport and training vehicle for Mercedes-Benz North America employees.

Up top it features the highly sought after sunroof option, and below it tacks on its original dually rear axle. The engine has since been exchanged for a GM motor, however all of the glass apart from the rear window appears to be present and in decent shape.
Looking for a party bus?

Show this old Merc some TLC and you’ll have quite the keeper on your hands.
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2017 Honda S2000: 5 Things To Expect

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Posted by Jeff Perez

In 1999, Honda took a page out of its own history book and decided to revive the art of open-top driving with the S2000. A successor to the Honda roadsters of the ’60s, the S2000 was a performance-oriented, 4-cylinder powered piece of automotive perfection.

Production lasted 10 years — 1999-2009 — before Honda officially parted ways with the beloved rag top. Six years later and rumors of a reborn S2000 are all over the web. Honda even went as far as to tease us with a lovely little S660 concept in 2013.
But is there any merit to these rumors?

We think yes. Honda is finally back on the up and up in the U.S., and the idea of a reborn roadster could sway a younger generation back to the brand. A few things need to happen in order for it to be successful, though.

Eye-Catching Design

Like the new Mazda MX-5, a reborn Honda S2000 would have to separate itself from the rest of the lineup. Sort of like the concept we mocked up here, with the help of Hansen Art. Honda doesn’t have a ‘halo car’ to speak of (aside from the upcoming Acura NSX), so the S2000 would essentially take that place.

Powerful (Enough) Engine

Unlike the Scion FR-S, the Honda S2000 needs to have enough power to keep people interested other than just in the corners; 250 horsepower might be the perfect mix of power and precision needed to get people into the driver’s seat.

Convertible and Coupe

Everyone loves the roadster, but in reality, the more practical coupe is the one people will be buying in bulk. But, Honda could bring back the hard top convertible and make everyone happy at once.

It SHOULD Have a Manual

The manual gearbox is dying and only a few brands are willing to keep it around. Honda is one of those brands— always have and (hopefully) always will be. I can’t imagine an S2000 without a manual shifter. That would be blasphemy.

Rear-Wheel Drive, Of Course

I think this one is a given. In order to keep the purists happy, the more powerful engine and the manual gearbox would have to be paired to a rear-wheel drive setup.

Otherwise, what’s the point?

At the end of the day, whether a new S2000 actually happens or not is up to the big wigs over at Honda. But with rumors circulating and concepts showing up often, it’s only a matter of time before we see the S2K on the streets once again. Fingers crossed for this one.
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Forget the Vulcan, this Rare Widebody Aston Martin is a Screamer

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Zach Doell

The talk of the town continues to be Aston Martin’s all-new Vulcan – a 7.0-liter V12 toting, 800 horsepower track monster that makes actual race cars look docile. It will however cost you an alleged $2.3 million… which is a lot, and Aston Martin will only build 24 of them. Pity.

If you are in the market for a loony Aston but don’t have that kind of money, we suggest this. It’s a 1991 Aston Martin Virage and it sports one of Aston Martin’s rare widebody packages as well as a thonking big 6.3-liter V8. Like what you see? It’s up for sale on eBay.

The Virage debuted in 1988, and is commonly pegged as the first new Aston in decades, replacing the aged yet gorgeous Aston Martin V8 Vantage from the ’70s and ’80s. It came equipped with a 5.3-liter V8, which was good for 330 horsepower, but allegedly wasn’t enough to deal with its rather heavy curb weight and offset its steep $200,000 price tag. Aston Martin’s Works Service heard these grumblings and decided to do something about it.

This was that stunning result. For around $80,000 extra, Aston would equip a customer’s car with this bulging aluminum widebody kit, add on massive five-spoke wheels, chompy 14-inch disc brakes, a stiffer suspension, and a stainless steel exhaust. But the biggest gain comes from under the hood.

The factory bored and stroked the original 5.3-liter V8 out to 6.3-liters, added larger valves, high lift cams, and a revised crankshaft, which equated to a heady 456 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. Yowza!

According to the seller, this 1991 model was originally exported to Germany before it entered the US in 2000, and remains one of just about 50 cars in total to get the coveted ‘Works package’. Mileage on a vintage bruiser like this is crucial and the Virage shows a scant 28,242 miles total.

The $2.3 million Vulcan is certainly the faster car, by far and away, but this Aston tells quite the interesting story.

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2016 Audi R8 is as Sharp as a Surgeon’s Scalpel

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Jonathon Klein

One thing is for certain, during Auto Show season, most manufacturers can’t hold on to their reveals until the car is supposed to officially debut. We’ve already seen teaser after teaser for the new Audi R8, and now, it’s officially here.

After the last few teasers, Audi has dropped the curtain on its newest supercar. From the ground up, this is a very new animal. Every little bit of this car is new and ready to be a precise weapon.

While the last R8 V10 was a wonderful beast, Audi wanted to use everything it had learned through the last generation to finally bring its new supercar firmly into this decade.

To do that Audi first started with a new lightweight chassis, which according to Audi is 110 lbs lighter than the last R8 V10. That’s primarily thanks to an extensive use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics and aluminum. Due to that new structure, the car is now 40% stiffer than the previous model. Meaning the new R8 should be a dream in the corners.

Obviously though, Audi couldn’t just keep the horsepower the same — the new car needed more grunt. To do that, Audi turned to the same 5.2-liter V10 from the Lamborghini Huracan, which enabled ludicrous speed to be unlocked in a straight line.

To start production off, there will be two versions of the engine. Beginning with an entry level R8 V10 that has 540 horsepower, this will get to 62 mph in a short 3.5 seconds. Moreover, the ferocious R8 V10 Plus derived from Lamborghini with the full 610 horsepower will hit the same speed in just 3.2 seconds.

What’s most interesting about this new car is that the R8, according to Audi, will form the basis for two other models in the R8 range.

This includes a production version of the R8 e-tron, which is fully electric, delivers 279 miles to a charge, and hits 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds.

Additionally, Audi will introduce a new R8 LMS racecar that will be available to teams based on the car’s new architecture and engine.
The new R8 will officially debut to the public at the official debut next week at the Geneva Motor Show.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Watch James Bond and His Fleet of Aston Martin DB10s Take on Rome

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Tony Markovich

Filming is finally heating up on the set of 007′s new movie Spectre, and James Bond isn’t the only one onlookers are gawking over. A fleet of Bond’s new car, the Aston Martin DB10, was spotted in Rome, and a friend of Marchettino caught the cars roaring to life. Beneath the hood is the same Ford-sourced 4.7-liter V8 that’s found in the V8 Vantage.

Unfortunately for the public, only 10 of these specials will be built, and this model will not be hitting production. The DB10, which sits on the VH Aston platform, is fully drivable and will physically be used in all its action scenes seen in the film, not CGI.

Bond and the DB10 will have their work cut out for them, as they will be going up against supervillain Mr. Hinx, played by Dave Bautista, and the Jaguar’s C-X75 supercar. Those two vehicles will be joined by an assortment of badass customized Range Rover Sports and Land Rover Defenders. Spectre hits theaters on Nov. 6.

Photo Credit: BeyondJamesBond

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The Vulcan Is the 800HP Aston Martin of Your Nightmares

BOLD RIDE

Posted by Zach Doell

Aston Martin isn’t known for its track-only, special edition cars. Rather, its been quite good at the opposite – hard-charging grand tourers for a twisty backroad. That just changed.

This is the Vulcan. It’s Aston Martin’s all-new 800-plus-horsepower track monster. It’s a traditional Aston Martin in no sense of the word, and 24 lucky people will be able to call one their own. Then again, that joy might quickly flip to terror once they behind the wheel.

Peel back the layers of carbon fiber and underneath lies the Vulcan’s raucous naturally aspirated 7.0-liter V12, an evolution of the company’s venerable 12-cylinder, which chucks out more than 800 ponies and generates a power-to-weight ratio better than that of World Endurance Championship GTE race cars. Not shabby.

Power is funneled to the rear wheels through a magnesium torque tube and carbon fiber prop shaft, and is effectively put to the ground through a trick limited-slip differential. Thankfully, there’s enough stop for all that go. Sticky Brembo brakes teeter on the end of the heady Aston’s pushrod suspension.

Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but it’s likely to be about as sky-high as its performance, and for that assumedly big number you also gain entrance into Aston Martin’s extensive driver training program for 2016.

Aston racer and Le Mans winner Darren Turner will tutor the 24 lucky drivers in a fleet of Astons – from the V12 Vantage S to the One-77 – before venturing up into the track-only Vulcan.
Stay tuned for more updates.

The Aston Martin Vulcan will debut in the flesh at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show on March 3.

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