Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - This Agonizingly Slow Rally Crash Will Remind You To Respect Icy Roads - FZ Restoration Livermore- 925-294-5666

Former F1 and current WRC driver Robert Kubica crashed out of the Monte Carlo Rally today with this agonizingly slow crash. Watch how quickly his day gets ruined on a patch of icy road.

source: http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/this-agonizingly-slow-rally-crash-will-remind-you-to-re-1754508325

by Raphael Orlove.

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Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Watch A Bunch Of Crazy Rich People Thrash A Ferrari F40 GT - FZ Restoration Livermore- 925-294-5666

This is the sixth Ferrari F40 prototype, upgraded to race car specifications. If you had it on your estate, I have no doubt in my mind that you’d take it out for a morning powerslide, too.

This is Tax The Rich’s newest video ‘Farmkhana.’ It’s a traditional gymkhana, like an agility course for a car. It looks to me like the main idea was to lay as much destruction to the F40 GT’s rear tires as possible, without hurting the rest of the car.

source: http://jalopnik.com/watch-a-bunch-of-crazy-rich-people-thrash-a-ferrari-f40-1754234940

by Raphael Orlove.

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Ferrari FXX Evoluzione Can’t Help but Obliterate a McLaren SLR in Sound Battle - FZ Restoration Livermore- 925-294-5666

People always joke about how racing stripes give the car a few extra horsepower, but in the case of engine and exhaust notes, even though they don’t actually make the car go faster, they do make it seem like it is.

A sports car is made out of three main ingredients, all three ideally spread out equally. We’ll start with the actual performance of the car, as it is the one thing that separates it from the rest. If it won’t go fast in a straight line and smoothly around a bend, then it doesn’t deserve to be called a sports car.

Second is the vehicle’s design. A performance car has to look the par, otherwise its whole potential is wasted. There are the so-called sleepers, but that’s a completely different story - their look isn’t an accident or proof of a designer’s laziness or lack of inspiration, it’s a planned-out scheme, a bait for those who are foolish enough to fall into the trap.

Thirdly, you’ve guessed it, when that throttle pedal hits the floor, the car has to sound like it wants to start an avalanche all the way across the globe. There are all types of sporty sounds, from the grumbling V8 to the whine of a high-revving naturally-aspirated engine - they all have their own special character and it’s hard to pick out a favorite. Especially since they all receive an important helping hand from the exhaust system, making the list of possible combinations virtually endless.

While settling on a favorite engine sound is indeed difficult, we’d like to submit to you this entry from a Ferrari FXX Evoluzione, the track-only car developed in Maranello that uses a 6.2 naturally aspirated V12 engine with 860 hp obtained at a staggering 9,500 rpm.

What that means out there on the track is that the FXX sounds like a grown up Formula One car. It’s got the same mechanical whirl, but the tone is a lot graver, more like the sound of a beetle in flight compared to a hornet.

It’s strong, too. It feels the air and sucks any other sound on a one-mile radius like a black hole. That Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR stood no chance. It moved as if it were powered by electric motors, its 5.5 supercharged V8 engine having to admit defeat in front of the sheer power of the FXX. And the funny thing is that, if the FXX hadn’t been there, we would have probably been talking about how well the SLR sounds...

source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-fxx-evoluzione-cant-help-but-obliterate-a-mclaren-slr-in-sound-battle-video-103874.html

by Vlad Mitrache

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Updated: New Dodge Viper Considered and Why the Current One Is Doomed - FZ Restoration Livermore- 925-294-5666

With the Dodge Viper having been born at the 1989 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car, it seems only natural for Fiat Chrysler CEO, Sergio Marchione, to discuss the future of the supercar at NAIAS - the executive used this year's edition of the event to let us know the company is considering a new Viper.

Marchionne spoke to Automobile Magazine, letting it slip that, while the Viper may rise once again, the new development may or may not arrive in time to assure the continuity of the nameplate.

“The Viper was, has been, a labor of love,” the CEO said. “Given the architectural development within the brand, there is a possibility that a new version of the Viper may surface. Whether it will surface in time [to replace the current model, whose production is expected to end in 2017] is unclear to me.”

Sadly, a contract signed by Fiat Chrysler and the United Auto Workers last fall stipulates ceasing production at FCA's Conner Avenue site in Detroit, where the Viper is handcrafted by a staff of just 80.

If, or when, the Viper gets a fourth generation (aficionados will call it the sixth, since they also count the first and second models' mid-cycle updates), don't expect it to use a dedicated platform. The CEO explained the financial case of a bespoke Viper platform “doesn't add up.”

Instead, the snake will probably be underpinned by the modular Alfa Romeo RWD architecture that will debut with the Giulia this summer. The move is also likely to send the Viper's V10 to motoring heaven. While not directly related to last summer's rumors on the Viper getting a supercharger, the new info should serve as the final nail in the coffin of that unofficial information.

There are two main reasons why you shouldn't expect the 8.4-liter V10 to soldier on and, perhaps surprisingly, none of them has to do with the age of the powerplant.

First of all, when the rumor mill talks about the next generation of Dodge muscle cars (Charger, Challenger and a Dodge Barracuda Convertible) getting Ferrari-sourced twin-turbo V6 engines with over 600 hp, you can't expect the slow-selling Viper to be treated differently.

After all, the three muscle badges mentioned above have a much richer history than the Y-generation Viper. And yes, unofficial sources also talk about the current 6.4-liter Hemi and the Hellcat being scrapped after 2019 due to emission regulations pressure.

Secondly, Dodge engineers want to ensure a future Viper can always adopt any change in the company's muscle department. For example, when Dodge was asked why the selling-like-hotcakes Hellcat engine wasn't coming to the Viper, they replied the width of the engine didn't allow it to fit the engine bay.

Why the prospect of an Alfa-based Viper with Ferrari power shouldn't trouble you

In order for Fiat Chrysler to meet its goal of no industrial debt by 2018, we'll have to get used to sharing being the name of the game.

However, in the financial quest following Chrysler's bailout and the formation of FCA, the delays targeting all the company's brands have had an amazing side effect. FCA engineers have become masters of... remastering.

Leave it to Dodge to take old Mercedes-Benz platforms and turn them into machines that are appreciated all around the world, even on continents where one has to turn to the gray market to buy such cars. The Hellcat twins, as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, or the now-confirmed future 707 hp Grand Cherokee, are the best examples of this.

So if the day comes when we'll have to get behind the wheel of such a Viper, we're pretty sure it won't feel anything like an Alfa, a Ferrari or a Dodge muscle car.

For one thing, this time around, Fiat Chrysler will have more financial resources than ever. We'll remind you FCA posted a 12 percent sales increase in December 2015, marking the 69th consecutive monthly sales boost.

As for GM's refusal to merge with Marchionne's empire, the CEO expects the situation to change once that 2018 goal mentioned above is reached, be it through an alliance with GM or another big name in the industry.

The story of a misunderstood venomous supercar

Before we go on to talk about why only a little over 500 units of the 2015MY Vipers had been sold through September last year, let's take a bit of time to remember the history of the supercar.

Upon teasing aficionados back in 1989, the Viper became a production reality back in 1992, while receiving a facelift in 1996. The second generation landed in 2003, with its refresh having taken place in 2008.

When Chrysler had to turn to a bailout in 2010, the Viper was put on a hold, but a third generation, which Dodge officials admitted had started out as a second major improvement for the 2008 model, came up in 2013.

The car, which we are still enjoying today, ended up being much more than its original target, but as we said above, next year will probably bring its demise instead of its revamp.

Despite the Viper ACR acing no less than 13 track records across the US last year, beating the Porsche 918 Spyder and McLaren P1 on Laguna Seca in the process and showing more balance on the track compared to the 2015 Corvette Z06, the Dodge isn't nearly as popular as the blown 'Vette.

The only thing we can hold against the current Viper is that, in comparison to, say, a Z06 or a Lamborghini, it does require more effort to drive on a regular basis, but the difference is no longer what it used to be (we're talking about the older Vipers here).

The problem with the Viper is that it needs to be driven in order to be understood. In spite of American keyboard warriors preaching the manual gearbox religion, most of these people will complain about fatigue after a roadtrip in a Viper.

Then there are the reptile's previous incarnations, which wanted to kill their drivers and, on top of that, didn't come with electronic aids. These cars taught the world to steer clear of what could be described (up to a point) as a shed-built supercar.

Back in September 2015, Dodge dropped the Viper's price by $15,000. As a result, the machine now starts at $84,995. While that still sits above the $78,995 MSRP of the 2015 Corvette Z06, we're talking about two different approaches here.

The Viper follows the classic custom-built recipe of a supercar, while the Z06 is a Corvette that's been dialed up, admittedly quite a lot.

Dodge even fine tuned the Viper's powertrain, squeezing an extra 5hp and improving efficiency by 1 mpg, while also adding a complex customization program reminding us of what Italian exotics offer, but that didn't boost the sales by too much either.

Since we mentioned Ferrari and Lamborghini, perhaps we need to explain that despite their Viper-comparable offerings costing around three times as much, the image-related matters keep this argument from being a relevant one.

In fact, the word “image” is like a trigger for the Viper's market issues. It's a pity that the clientele's justified poor impression of the earlier models still lasts, despite the current model's sublime character and value for money.

The current Viper is like the high school bully who has woken up to the true purpose of life after forcefully maturing over a shattering experience. The ego is still strong, but it's being put to brilliant manly use. And yet it's too late for a second chance.

Update: According to insider talk, the Viper is being sent away next year due to the supercar not being able to adopt curtain airbags and thus failing to comply with upcoming federal safety standards.

source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/new-dodge-viper-considered-and-why-the-current-one-is-doomed-103618.html
by Andrei Tutu

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Ferrari Makes Special Edition California T As An Homage For a Race Victory - FZ Restoration Livermore- 925-294-5666

Ferrari has paid homage to the 458 GT3 that won the Pro-Am Cup in last year's edition of the 24 Hours of Spa with a special version of the California T.

The custom example of the convertible Ferrari was created  through the Tailor Made program, the company's bespoke workshop. The result was unveiled at this year's Brussels Motor Show, and the vehicle is made in collaboration with a Ferrari dealer from the same town as the famous racetrack.

The car has a distinctive livery, inspired by the 458 race car. We're talking about a Rosso Corsa paint, over which the specialists at the Tailor Made workshop drew red, blue, and white stripes, just like on the 458 GT3. The vehicle also features yellow edges on the rims, themselves painted in a matte Argento Nurburgring, along with yellow accents on some of the body parts.

The California T's interior is also inspired by the 458 GT3. While it doesn't feature any race-ready elements, it has matte black carbon-fiber trim and is covered in a dark Alcantara. The seats are upholstered in Alcantara and feature accents made from a fabric that has a high level of grip. The vehicle's foot wells are decorated with black painted Aluminum and the carpets, floor mats, and boot mat are finished in Black and made from a special material called SuperFabric.



As usual, Ferrari didn't specify the cost of this bespoke example. We do know that the vehicle was commissioned through Francorchamps Motors, one of the brand's three authorized dealers in Belgium. Most likely, the vehicle will end up in the possession of a customer from the same country.

As you know, the Ferrari California T features a direct-injected V8 engine good for 560 HP at 7,500 rpm, and 755 Nm (557 lb-ft) at 4,750 rpm. The car is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 MPH) in just 3.6 seconds.

source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-makes-special-edition-california-t-as-an-homage-for-a-race-victory-video-photo-gallery-103705.html
by Sebastian Toma

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Ferrari has announced the winners of the 2015 Top Design School Contest. - FZ Restoration Livermore- 925-294-5666

Ferrari has announced the winners of the 2015 Top Design School Contest.

The design competition is dedicated to students of Universities with a design specialty, and the entrants had to show their view of how a Ferrari would look like in the year 2040. Out of the 50 initial participants, only four design schools made it to the final round. Among them is the Hongik University in Seoul, Korea, which won the 2011 Ferrari World Design Contest.

The contest had a jury made up of eleven people specialized in various fields, from Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, to Paolo Pininfarina and Sebastian Vettel. The jury had to pick a winner by January 15, 2016. However, another award was at stake, and this one was decided by a free vote on Facebook. The public got the opportunity to decide the Premio Speciale (Special Prize).

This edition's big winner was the Manifesto (shown in the article's leading picture), and designed at the ISD-Rubika at Valenciennes, France. The team that drew up this concept vehicle is made up of six students of the prestigious French design school. So, the Gran Premio Assoluto was awarded to the team made up of Michael Barthly, Grimaud Gervex, Jean Baptise Epinat, Michael Kalyvianakis, Stanislas Oleksiak and William Stock.

Another design got a special mention from the jury, the FL by Roman Egorov. This concept is the only one that focused on the cabin of the Ferrari of the year 2040. The Russian student from Hochschule Pforzheim in Germany managed to rethink the human-machine interface and impressed the jurors with his vision.

The people's vote, also known as the Premio Speciale, was decided online, on Facebook. This time, three students of the Hongik University in Seoul won this distinction. As we mentioned earlier, the same Korean university won the big prize of this contest in 2011. This time, the de Esfera concept, finished in a gray and red combination, won the public's affection and the Premio Speciale.

source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-top-design-school-contest-winners-announced-photo-gallery-103706.html

by Sebastian Toma

http://www.fzrestoration.com

Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Watch Sport Auto Put a Ferrari 488 GTB Through the Wringer - FZ Restoration Livermore- 925-294-5666

German car magazine Sport Auto in the process of thoroughly testing the newFerrari 488 GTB for their first 2016 issue. As a sort of teaser for what’s to come, they released a video of their test driver Uwe Sener spanking the GTB at L’Anneau Du Rhin test track in France. The words poetry in motion come to mind.

Technicalities, facts and figures aside, watching a Ferrari 488 GTB tackling a beautiful, and empty, race track like this is pure joy in itself. That amazing V8 soundtrack is a bonus.

source: http://www.motorward.com/2015/12/watch-sport-auto-put-a-ferrari-488-gtb-through-the-wringer/

by Arman Barari

http://www.fzrestoration.com