RideLust

In reality the DeLorean Motor Company never went away, it just stopped building new cars. Due the very public humiliation of founder John Delorean when he got himself into trouble trying to save the company. The DeLorean Motor Company was bought by a company based in Texas; they also have a network of regional affiliates, and are in the business of just keeping the company name and the car alive.

There were 9,000 DeLoreans built, but it is estimated that there are only around 6,500 on the road, which require parts and servicing etc. But the company cringes every time they see a mock up of the most famous of all DeLoreans, the one from the movie series “Back to the Future”.

So what could be the future for the DeLorean? It appears that there are plans to build the car again, however they will be in the form of kits, this way the company can save money and time, supplying a car in kit form has a lot less restrictions placed on them, than their factory built cousins.

As soon as the current restoration program has been cleared, it is then that the company will start to produce the kits and who knows where this would lead. There are many fans of the car, the film and both the car and the film, this is a pretty large base to be building on.

The estimated start date is believed to be around spring of next year, so we had better get saving then!

Source [Auto Blog]

Motor sport has always had a bad press when it comes to eco friendly matters. Which is only natural, they burn up fuel, creating huge amounts of emissions, use rubber, oil and other materials that are not remotely green. Even when the governing bodies attempt to reduce costs and wastage etc, the sport still cannot ever be classed as being green, until now that is!

Enter Eco One, the racing car that can reach speeds of up to 150 mph and made mostly from vegetables and plants! If you exclude the engine, wheels, and electrical system.

Read More…

Sounds a bit strange, well it is. There is not doubt that a diesel engine that does not use diesel fuel, has to be one of the strangest things that you are ever going to hear about in the engine department.

But buying diesel fuel from the service station is getting a lot harder these days. How many pumps of diesel do you see at your local service station?

So the clever guys hidden away deep within Mercedes Benz, have been toying with the diesel engine and have come up with an idea that has been named DiesOtto, with full working prototype and everything. Read More…

It was back in 2004 when the factory doors closed for the last time in Modena, Italy for the super car design and builders De Tomaso. In fact it was shortly after the founder, former racing driver Alejandro de Tomaso died, it was most definitely the end of an era.

However it would appear that there may be a De Tomaso revival on the cards, and as this marque is probably one of the best sports car ever built, this is hardly a surprise.

The backing for the new company is to be coming from a consortium of both American and Chinese business people, who clearly have a love for high octane car building, and a feeling that there is a place for another super car company.

The most famous model was the Pantera, this car was at one time one the fastest production road cars of its time, and still has an iconic position in the history of auto manufacturing. This was powered by a Ford engine and yet, this was not enough, the company tried to compete with the luxury high end cars, by producing the Deauville and the Long champ.

De Tomaso has had it fair share of owners too, which include, Citroen, MG Rover, Fiat and Maserati, but it was just not enough to keep the company going and it was just a matter of time before the inevitable happened.

If this happens it will be one the greatest come backs in auto history, we shall have to wait for more news though.

Source [Auto Blog]

Well possibly, the project that was once a Ford backed scheme, may be heading for the States, according to the CEO of Think Global, Jan Olaf Willums. There is a major movement in within the company as they attempt to establish a network of dealers who are willing to take the Think car on and market the second generation car, the Think City Mini car.

The Think City Mini car has been on trial in a few cities around the world and has now reached the stage where it needs to be built in numbers and distributed to a world wide market in order to gain the reputation needed for the company and car to survive.

Norway will be the first country to get the new car, quickly followed by the rest of Scandinavia, but this is not really good enough, they need to be in a bigger marketplace to get the name out, which is why as soon as it is viable the UK, Switzerland and Holland will be getting the car, however this will depend on the production rate and distribution. The idea may be good, but the price and availability also needs to be up to scratch.

It is the US where the ultimate goal is for Think, the huge market place and with many cities and States becoming very green aware, this could be the market that launches the Think car into the hearts and minds of the general public.

Source [eGM Car Tech]

How would you like to own a brand new pearl white, 2007 Lincoln MKX crossover? The answer would be a most definite yes from most people and why not!

The only problem is that you would need to be in Minnesota and entry will cost you a pint of blood! Because this is a promotion (If you can call it that) being organized by the Red Cross. Last week the supplies of blood began to run down significantly and in fact the type “O” blood group had almost entirely gone, with no foreseeable way of replenishing their stocks, the Red Cross have decided to resort to shall we say, some unorthodox ways of persuading people to donate a little bit of the red stuff.

It is good way of getting people to walk in the door, in fact the campaign has been running for three weeks now and over 13,000 have visited the Red Cross centers in the hope of being able to drive around in a new car on September 8th when the campaign will give away the prizes.

If the prospect of winning the brand new car was not enough, in the American Red Cross of Southeastern Michigan, also have fuels cards of varying values from $25 right up to $200.

This is for sure a great way of bringing in the people and educating them on the importance of donating blood, however will the donors become regular donors? It has to be doubtful, so organizing a great campaign like this has short term benefits, but this is not a long term solution unless the Red Cross is prepared to giveaway a major prize every one or two months.

This current campaign will end on September 5th.

Source [The Conservative Voice]

It was exactly 90 years ago, on 21 July 1917. When it all started with the production of aircraft engines, followed by the design and production of motorcycles and finally the company entered the auto business and have not looked back since.

Even the WW2 did not stop BMW despite the allies many attempts, which did in fact destroy the plant in Munich during 1944, but a stroke of luck and good business, meant that by 1945 they were in fact repairing US army vehicles, and they started up the motorcycle business.

During the fifties the allies lifted most of the restrictions and production could once again begin. But it was really until the mid seventies that BMW became a household name and with the development of the three series really pushed the BMW name into every corner of the globe.

BMW has always been squashed between Mercedes Benz and VW being neither one nor the other, but the more recent models have been more of a match for both of the brands.

The future of BMW has never been better, they have a strong range of cars, highly technical specs coupled with the style and design, and are now running a successful Formula One racing team, which give the company technical advances and some great PR, that has made BMW one of the most desirable cars on the road today.

Source [Top Speed]

Ferrari are still making the most of F1 legend Michael Schumacher as it will be him who will unveil to the world the new Ferrari 430 Scuderia at the Frankfurt Motor Show on the 11th September. Now that is most defiantly a great piece of PR, which is bound to attract the media and fans too.

The car itself is another V8, which will be joined by the F430 coupe and the F430 spider. The car will have a really low weight to power ratio, the car weighing only 1250 kg, which works out at about 2.45 kg per hp.

Powered by a superb 4308 cc V8 that will deliver a massive 510 bhp at 8500 rpm. This is joined by some spectacular software called “Super fast” which means that the gear change times are reduced to a very slim 60 milliseconds, new Traction Control which is combined with the E Diff Electronic Differential and the F1 Trac, traction and control, all in one integrated system.

But the car is always going to be spectacular and it most definitely is, yet it has to be the fact that Michael Schumacher is going to be on hand at the launch that will make most of the photos and media coverage, which finally shows that Ferrari have been very clever in keeping him on the parole as he attends F1 races and now getting involved in the new car launches, Ferrari have made a very shrewd investment there. I wonder if we will see other top drivers doing the same for their works cars?

Source [Auto Blog]

The German tuning company AC Schnitzer has just revealed their latest project, the AC Schnitzer Mini Cooper R56. They have developed a range of accessories and performance enhancing upgrades for the already great new Mini.

The Mini Cooper is already a pretty good small car, which has totally re launched the brand as hip car to have and to be seen in, but with the styling from companies like AC Schnitzer this will take the Mini Cooper onto a new level and will attract a whole new group of interested customers.

The upgrades include a twin sports silencer addition to the exhaust system, with fully chromed racing tailpipe, and sports racing suspension. The body has been given a bit of a makeover too with front bumper, rear spoiler, and a really nice looking rear skirt with a diffuser, that helps with down force. Even the wheels have been changed to offer a choice of either 17 “ or 18 “ alloy wheels.

On the inside the car has been given a few AC Schnitzer’s touches such as a Aluminum handbrake handle, aluminum gear shift knob, aluminum foot rest, aluminum pedal set and the floor is covered with some classy velour floor mats.

There is not much information on the price structure yet, or availability.

Source [eGM Car Tech]

Well according to a survey done by Gartner Inc, there is a list of gadgets or features that people would like to see in their cars. The list does not really have any surprises in it, so there are no really outrageous wants, like beer on tap, or a microwave oven built into the dashboard for those snacks on the move.

1. Embedded, hands-free phone system – some cars have these, they are ok, but it means having another cell phone to take around with you.

2. Way to plug a cell phone into a car’s audio system – now this one is a bit more realistic, and would be very useful is the audio system actually had a docking station, rather than having to use wires and phone holders.

3. Emergency call function – great idea for lone drivers, but would need to be more than just a button to push to prevent accidents.

4. Theft recovery – same as above, some car have them already.

5. Digital satellite radio – some like Sirius is good.

6. Satellite navigation with wireless map updates – this is a must, as the road networks are changing all the time.

7. Radar-controlled cruise control – this would be ok, provided the system works fine, it is no excuse to blame the radar if you get caught speeding.

8. CD player that can play MP3 discs – ok if you love music.

9. Lane departure warning system – essential now days, it is all too easy to make this mistake; many accidents are caused by a simple error.

10. Way to plug portable music player into audio system – ok if the system has a docking station, otherwise there are wires and equipment loose inside the car.

These are course what people desire, most are available in today’s cars, but not everyone needs or wants them, my car has a built in sat nav, and I have never used it. It is down to the individual.

Source [LA Times]