Video: The Birth of the Ford Focus RS 500

Jeremy Nutt 2 Comments

 

This car needs to be talked about more, because it is something very special.  It is the 2011 Ford Focus Rs 500.  It comes with 345 horsepower and 339 ft lbs of torque that will likely fry the tires off on command.  The engine is a 5 cylinder turbocharged 2.5L.  Thats 2.25 horsepower per cubic inch folks, otherwise known as absolutely un….real from a factory engine.  For reference, the new Corvette ZR1 makes 638 horsepower from 378 cubic inches, which is just shy of 1.7 horsepower per cubic inch.  So yes, this Focus is special.  It is a limited production car, with only 500 being produced. Unfortunately for the American enthusiasts, we won’t be receiving any of these.  None, zip, zilch, zero, nadda.  They are all being sold in European markets, and many of them are already spoken for.  So you will never get to wash those 19 inch wheels, or feel the smooth vinyl coating.  All you are able to do is watch Focus RS Youtube videos in your pajamas and dream of the ungodly fwd burnouts that you would be doing in your neighbors driveway if you owned one of these. Dream on.

A Question of Exhaust Pipes vs Gas Filler Doors.

Jeremy Nutt 4 Comments

I pride myself in knowing random automotive trivia, but recently I was hit with a question that has left me confused.

The question is: “When looking at the back of a car, how do you know which side of the car the gas filler door is on?”

The “answer” is:  “The opposite side of the car as the tailpipe” (obviously this doesn’t work for cars with dual exhaust).

Now I thought the answer was all together was crazy, but after a day or so of observing random cars, I think there may be some truth to it.  The cars that I own all seem to fit this “mold”.  What the heck is going on here?  Do car manufacturers actually plan to do this? If so why?  You should never leave the car running at the gas pump, so the exhaust should have nothing to do with the gas filler door. Am I right or am I right?

Somebody Help!

Image Borrowed From eBay Item # 290425293432

Laser Beams Are Too Slow, We Need More Berzerker.

Jeremy Nutt 1 Comment

If you have read any of my previous blog posts, you may have noticed that the GM LS series engines make me as happy as a new pair of socks (VERY happy!).   So naturally when I saw some pictures and video of this Boss Hoss “Berzerker” motorcycle, I knew that I had to bring it to the forefront of the 1A Auto blog.

In my strange world, I imagine the birth of this bike began like this:

Guy 1: “Hey man, I wanna go fast, like super-space-ship fast. I think I want to ride an actual laser beam, or maybe like a missile or something. ”

Guy 2: “Maaaan, you know you can’t put a seat on a laser beam, and handlebars would look ridiculous on a missile! You’re talkin’ crazy bro!”

Guy 1: “Ok, what if we take an LS2 engine, bore it to 430 cubic inches, strap it to a 2 speed transmission, crank out 700+ horsepower, and put a seat on it?”

Guy 2: “Wheels?”

Guy 1: “Oh yeah, we’ll use those too, but no more than 2!  If I am traveling super-space-ship fast, I don’t want rotational weight crowding my peoples.”

Guy 2: “That’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!  What we need is more “Berrrrzerker“.”

Now the conversation probably didn’t go like that, I really have no idea. One thing we do know is that the bike exists now, and it apparently makes ludicrous power. Judging by the violent symphony blaring out of my over-treble’d computer speakers and the NHRA decals all over it, I would bet the 706 hp numbers are legit.  Does it go super-space-ship fast? Probably…

I will be the first on here to say “I would like a second helping of Berzerker Please….”

Images and info found on:

LS1 Tech

Mustang 1000 Lap Challenge Claiming 48 mpg!

Jeremy Nutt 4 Comments

 

Ok, there is a lot of amazing news going on in the automotive world today, and the 1A Auto blog is on it like a bonnet.  Assuming this video is real, and not riddled with lies, this 2011 V6 mustang is capable of an unbelievable 48 MPG.  It is supposed to get  about 30-31 mpg, but during this 1000 lap challenge, they are claiming 48 miles per gallon.  Is it a miracle?  Is it a lie?  Is the 2011 Mustang really that impressive?  Who knows.

Call me strange, but I would absolutely love to read the O2 sensor readouts on a wideband to see what the AFR is.  It’s got to be running crazy lean (magical?) air fuel ratios if this story is true.


Check out https://www.mustang1000lapchallenge.com/ for more info.

CTS-V Coupe: In Real Life

Jeremy Nutt 8 Comments
A Real CTS-V Coupe

Having good friends at a variety of car dealers is really cool, especially today.  This morning, a new CTS-V Coupe was stopping by a local dealer, and a good friend of mine snapped a pic for me because he knows that I would sell his soul for it.  Without further adieu, here it is.  Just sit back and appreciate it’s beauty, because nothing else needs to be said.

Rhys Millen’s New 750 HP Hyundai PM580 Pikes Peak‎ Slayer

Jeremy Nutt 1 Comment

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last 10 years, you have likely heard of Rhys Millen.  He does rally and off-road truck racing, drifting, and a variety of other car related endeavors.  Recently he set his eyes on smashing the current “Unlimited Class” Pikes Peak Hill Climb world record, and intends to break the 10 minute barrier all together, which has never been done.  His team built a goal-oriented race car called the PM580 that is running a production Hyundai V6 with about 750 horsepower shoehorned into it.  From the looks of this video, and the history that Rhys and his father Rod have on this hill climb, I’d say he has a good chance of reaching his goals.  To put it tenderly, this new car looks like a tire-ripping, time-bending, ungodly fast, 1-way ticket to victory.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

Oh Turbo Meyers Manx, You So Crazy…..

Jeremy Nutt 4 Comments

Turbocharged Fuel Injected Manx

As I mentioned in yesterday’s Nutts and Bolts blog, I had gone to a car show over the previous weekend and saw a lot of interesting things.  One of the cars that really caught my eye was a heavily modified Meyers Manx.  Typically, I have zero interest in these and skip right over them, but this one had my name written all over it. This guy ran a VW engine, with a turbocharger, and a megasquirt fuel injection system.  Everything was polished, painted, or plated, and it had wheelie bars that looked not only functional, but used.  Does it get better than this is the world of Volkswagen ?  If so, I challenge you to show me, because I don’t believe it.  This is the pinnacle of fun.

Some people tell me that I have a subconscious love for air cooled Volkswagens. I think those people are crazy. Read More