V8-powered Ariel Atom 500 could cost at least $160k

Even with the stock 300-horsepower Honda four, the Ariel Atom is a verifiable supercar-slayer. So when the British track-car manufacturer announced they'd be building a bonkers 500hp V8 version, our interests were piqued, to say the least. But if you were expecting a bargain, think again.

The latest reports, quoting Ariel's CEO Simon Saunders, indicate that the V8-powered Atom 500 will cost a very supercar-like £100,000, or about $160k in American greenbacks. At least.


That's about three times the price of the four-cylinder Atom 300. So why the huge price increase? Well, for starters, earlier reports that the Atom 500 would use the RS Performance-sourced 2.4-liter 10,000 rpm V8 from the Caterham Levante have proven inaccurate, as Ariel will be producing its own custom engine. Based on two Suzuki Hayabusa blocks but with a high proportion of custom parts, the engine alone is said to account for about £30,000 (~$50k); add to that another £11,000 ($17k) for the custom six-speed gearbox, plus the Alcon brakes and various carbon-fiber body parts and the figures start to add up pretty quick.
via:autoblog

Beat the Heat: Florida police battling street racing by... racing?!

Police officers around the country routinely put their lives on the line in an effort to keep our streets safe. Officers in South Florida have come up with a way to make city streets a safer place and have a bit of fun at the same time; by drag racing at the track. A bad street racing problem that was endangering the lives of law abiding citizens when a plan was hatched to set up monthly "Beat the Heat" drags between the fuzz and street racers at Miami's Countyline Dragway. Everyone from former street racers to moms and dads are paying the $25 to line up against Johnny Law.

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Ford Targeted in Malware Scam

Press Release

DEARBORN, Mich, Apr. 14, 2009 - Ford Motor Company was made aware of a black hat Search Engine Optimization (SEO) attack using the Ford Motor Company name as bait to distribute malware on the Internet. Ford is collaborating with Google and other search engine companies to mitigate the impact.

These attacks work by misleading search engines to falsely promote malicious pages to the top of the search results. Once the user visits one of the malicious sites, they are prompted to download and install a malicious "codec", which then installs software that mimics anti-virus software.

These fake antivirus programs are designed to make users believe that their computers have been infected by malware. Users are then offered the chance - through pop-ups and banner ads - to buy the fake antivirus to clean their computers. If the victim does not purchase the bogus antivirus, the malicious code will prevent the computer from operating properly in an attempt to coax users into buying the product.
via:World Car Fans

Random Sightings: original Batmobile spotted at SoCal car wash

It's no secret that Southern California is home to one of the best car cultures in the world. You can find a cruise or car show pretty much any day of the year, and it's always amazing to see the vehicles that show up. It's even incredible to see the kinds of cars that are simply out and about performing normal, everyday tasks. In addition to the usual Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, you can sometimes catch some truly unique cars out in the wild.


Take, for instance, this original Batmobile that was out getting a wash and wax at the Car Spa in Newport Beach this weekend. It's the fourth of four original Batmobiles built by George Barris back in 1966 and is known as the "dragster" version because of its 427ci Holman and Moody V8 underhood and dual parachutes attached to the rear. The car was built to serve as an exhibition model and actually raced at several drag strips around the country back in the 1960's. It also comes with a working saw blade that drops down at the front and can actually shoot flames out the back. We tip our hats to the fine gentleman that actually drives this thing on the street. High-res photos in the gallery below.
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First Mahindra pickups in U.S. will be assembled in India, not Ohio

Mahindra's plan to launch its midsize pickups in the United States has taken another interesting turn, as the Indian automaker now plans to assemble the first U.S.-bound units at home and not in Ohio as originally planned.

The change means that Mahindra will now be forced to pay the 25% federal "chicken tax" that was first created in the early '60s in retaliation against European tariffs on U.S.-bred chicken.
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Manhattan Project's "Los Alamos Limo" found

This car was used to shuttle Manhattan Project scientists between the Lamy train station in New Mexico and the project sites at Los Alamos and Trinity Base Camp. As we all know, the work of those men eventually ended World War II and altered the course of history forever.

As for the big Packard, it was supposed to be scrapped. Instead, it was acquired by a collector, and subsequently decayed over the the next several decades until its importance was realized.


The car you see here may not look like much, but it helped carry us into the nuclear age. Or, at least some of the scientists who brought us there. This 1941 Packard Clipper limousine is one of three that are still known to exist (coachbuilder Fitzjohn built 100 of the stretch cars that year), but we're willing to bet that the other two don't have nearly as colorful a history.


Now, the National Atomic Museum is embarking on a two-year restoration project of the big Packard, as well as a '42 Plymouth that carried plutonium used in the Trinity test explosion. An Albuquerque-based Packard specialist will do the work on the Clipper limousine, and enthusiasts interested in contributing to the effort can contact the museum for more details.
via:njection

2009 Caparo T1

The 2009 Caparo T1 will have its debut at Salon Prive on 12th February 2009 at London’s Hurlingham Club. The 2009 Caparo T1 is a two seater supercar that offers five levels of specification, from the most cost effective race track option to the Race Extreme version.

The top of the line 2009 Caparo T1 features an upgraded electronics package, carbon brakes and the latest light weight magnesium wheels.

The dealer network in which the 2009 Caparo T1 will be available will be announced shortly.

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Humvee-Mounted Laser Shoots Down Drone

The Laser Avenger, a military vehicle designed to safely take out unexploded ordnance such as IEDs or bombs, now has a new purpose—blowing drones out of the sky.

With a tracking system-guided laser mounted onto a fully capable military Humvee, the Laser Avenger is the newest in Boeing’s line of directed-energy weapons. Last month, it shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during a test in New Mexico, the first time a combat vehicle has done so successfully with a laser.
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Confusion about petrol price

Cape Town - Although fuel prices fall by R1.34/litre for 95 octane and R1.3/litre for 93 octane on Wednesday, the increased transport levy in certain areas, as well as the shifting of certain regions to new price zones, could cause motorists some confusion.

The department of Minerals & Energy has made adjustments to the price zones into which the country is divided, and for which different transport levies are applicable.

The changes are required because the existing divisions and transport levy do not reflect the most recent forms of transport and costs, fuel company Engen announced.
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BMW Created New Z4 is an Art Car of a different kind - Painting Dynamics

MULGRAVE, Australia – December 19, 2008: Imagine a canvas nearly as large as a football field. On it bold, swirling shapes in primary colors like red, yellow and blue.

As the eye uncovers the rhythm of the lines, curves, circles and color splotches, something else is revealed: these forms must have been created by tire treads! A work of art like no other, created by an artist like no other – the new BMW Z4 Roadster.
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Car News: Russian Marussia supercar unveiled

Nikolay Fomenko, who was probably busy enough being a popular singer, television new anchor and theater actor, also found time to become an FIA N-GT champion. And if that wasn't enough to keep this Russian renaissance man busy, he has just launched his country's first sportscar company, Marussia. To top it off, it's a hybrid, just to make things more difficult. Make the jump for all the details.


The Marussia is slated to use a 240-hp, 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine, most likely from Renault or Nissan, but it's unclear where the electric drive components will originate from. While much of the car's parts are expected to be sourced from established companies, approximately 35% of the content will be Russian.


Fomenko says that he brought a lot of knowledge from his racing career to bear on the Marussia. We see elements of just about every supercar on the market in its appearance, but it manages to still look unique. While he envisions producing a pure electric car sometime down the road, the company's first project is a hybrid.


The goal for the electric supercar is a 400km range, but Russian winters mean the batteries will need a boost. That's where nanotechnology comes in. Fomenko thinks the solution might be in a "nanotech project made at one of Russia's big construction bureaus." The company foresees a 0-62 mph dash of around five seconds and a Tesla-like price tag of $100,000. Plans call for the first customer cars to be delivered next Fall, with race versions taking part in the 2010 edition of FIA GT championship. Fomenko is clearly nothing if not ambitious.


Adding a bit of sizzle to its speed, the Marussia will also have "a host of gadgets," including a 4G Yota network with 10 Mbps data transfer rates at vehicle speeds of up to 120 km/h. Bluetooth, GPS and video screens all around, plus a 320 GB hard drive to round out the electronics.

Source:autoblog



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Car News: Pratt & Miller Introduces Two New Corvette Models

"We are excited and proud to announce the release of our latest customizable RIDE, the legendary Chevrolet Corvette," says RIDEMAKERZ ZEO and Founder Larry Andreini.

"The RZ 'Vettes are not just any Corvettes; they are the 'BadBoy' Pratt & Miller built, Le Mans winning race car, C6.R, and the quarter-of-a-million dollar, street legal C6RS Super-Car. It's an honor to make these models available so that kids, parents, and car enthusiasts alike can build and trick out their ultimate model Corvette."
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