65th Annual "Grand National Roadster Show"

   The 65th annual Grand National Roadster Show was held at the Pomona Fairplex this past weekend, January 24-26, 2014.  The Fairplex is the perfect place for a show of this magnitude with it's eight buildings and beautiful outside grounds.
   Building 3 was home to some of the most famous race cars ever to roll down the quarter mile. Gassers, slingshot dragsters and the like we're displayed by their current owners with memorabilia, trophies and all sorts of items from times past. Then there was Building 9 which housed "A Century of Speed." You could walk through the building and just feel the speed that was on display including some of the fastest machinery ever to grace the Bonneville salt. As I browsed through this display I was in awe of some of the best engineering I have ever seen, and some of it was done in backyard garages across America.
   In Building 5 you could find customs built by some of the most famous customizers of all time. While strolling through and studying some of the beautiful machines, I was able to introduce my son Tyler to one of the Greats, my friend Gene Winfield.
   Building 6 housed some of the coolest bikes ever seen and was home to the "America's Most Beautiful Motorcycle" trophy. Buildings 7 & 8 were filled with some of the finest Hot Rods, Street Rods, and Custom Cars from all over the country and a few foreigners. One of my most enjoyable displays of the weekend were the "Lowriders." Several different clubs including the "Elite" club and "Lifestyle Customs" had numerous cars on display with some of the best paint and craftsmanship you will see on any vehicle. My hat is off to those guys. Keep up the great work.
   Then there was the main hall, Building 4, home to the "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" competition. I could have spent a whole day, and probably did, just browsing this building. Some of the best Hot Rod Shops in the country were on hand including Roy Brizio Street Rods, Alloways Hot Rod Shop, Limeworks Street Rods, and Walden's Hot Rods just to name a few. George Poteet had his new '34 Ford Coupe built by Dave Lane on display and it just may be the best Hot Rod Coupe ever built. Tom Prufer had two Deuce Coupes he built there, the black one and the red one, both with Rod Powell flames of course. That leaves the namesake of the event. The display of roadsters all vying for the title "America's Most Beautiful Roadster." There was plenty of competition but you really didn't need but one pass through to realize which one would win the title. Wes Rydell had the most beautiful '35 Chevrolet Phaeton built by Troy Trepanier of Rad Rods by Troy. It was hands down the nicest and best assembled car there, as are all of Troy's builds.
   As we were leaving the show I couldn't help but start planning our trip to the 66th show in January of 2015. I know it will be a great one as I am already aware of some of the competition we will see next year. Can't wait...

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Road test update: the all-new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S



This week I'm testing the all-new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S. What a great car!
I confess I love Porsche cars, and it's been a very long time since I've driven a Porsche for review for The Weekend Drive. I have not been dissappointed with this new model.
I'll follow this test up next week with the new Porsche Panamera - the first time ever driving that model.
Both will be featured in syndicated feature for our weekly newspapers, and both will be cover stories online. Fun times!


On the sand at Seal Beach, CA.



LONG BEACH, CA. - I attended the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and it was a great race weekend! After a pouring downpour the Friday before the weekend, the skies cleared up and it was a warm and clear weekend, perfect for the 1.9 mile street race that this year celebrated its 38th year.

On Saturday, we enjoyed the Tecate American Le Mans Series, and visited Level 5 Motorsports - by far the best set up in the paddock. On Sunday, we watched the IndyCar Series from start to finish, and it was excellent racing from the first green flag to the checkered-flag. This was my first Long Beach Grand Prix, and I was especially impressed with the scale of the entire event - huge, including a complete Expo area, entertainment, and Family Fun Zone. We'll be back next year for sure!

Winners of the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach take a parade lap in the Toyota Tundra Pacetruck. The podium finishers are Will Power, Dallara-Chevrolet (winner), Simon Pagenaud, Dallara-Honda (2nd), and James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Chevrolet (3rd). The Weekend Drive photo by Phil Shuyler.



Fuel Economy goal set at 54.4 mpg by 2025

The EPA announced that a CAFE of 54.5 mpg will be required by 2025, about twice the current fuel economy standards. That all sounds great, but VW has lashed out at the new standard saying it favors truck makers, and others fear the electric infrastructure won't be up to speed in time for the inevitable swarm of electric cars that will help raise the CAFE of a carmaker.

Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, and Toyota signed onto the agreement. The standards already call for a CAFE of 35.5 mpg through the 2012 to 2016 model years, with the 54.5 mpg standard taking effect in 2025.

I seriously doubt the 2025 mpg goal, and all the stakeholders get to evaluate the progress in a few years and readjust if needed.

SEMA Show 2010 - Where everything new will make its debut!

LAS VEGAS, NV -- The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. Even though its not open to the public, it draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW (Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week), the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, and RV markets.

SEMA Show 2009 drew more than 50,000 domestic and international buyers. The displays are segmented into 12 sections, and a New Products Showcase featured nearly 1,500 newly introduced parts, tools and components. In addition, the SEMA Show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more! We'll be at the SEMA Show 2010 all week reporting what we find!

The Coolest Electrics and Hybrids You Know and Some You Don't

Tesla Roadster
Step on the accelerator and go... 0 to 60 in less the 4 seconds...top speed of 125 mph, with a mixed city and highway estimated range of 244 miles. Recharge in 3.5 hours at an average of 2 cents per mile. Base purchase price of $105,000. Order with a reservation fee of $9,900. Available in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

Lightning GT
Estimated range of 188 miles after a standard charge of 4.5 hours, the Lightning GT will have a top end limited to 130 mph. 0 to 60 under 5 seconds. Currently only available to order in the U.K. with a reservation fee of £3,500. Base purchase price of £120,000



Aptera 2E
The 2E is the all electric model and has a range of 100 miles with an overnight recharge on 110v, faster with 220v. The hybrid will have a range of 350 miles. 0 to 60 in under 10 seconds with standard mode and 3 driving modes available, standard, sport, and economy. Top speed will be limited to 90 mph. A reservation fee of $500 is required, California residents only. Depending on options and power trains, the car is estimated to sell between $25,000 and $40,000.

Fisker Karma
A hybrid, with a small gasoline motor, the Karma drives its first 50 miles all electric. 0 to 60 in less than 6 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph. Two driving modes, Stealth Drive, economy, and Sport Drive. A deposit of $5,000 for the Karma and the Karma S, convertable, will require a $25,000 deposit. Available in North America and Europe, the base price is $87,900.


Velozzi Supercar
To be powered by a 770 HP AC induction electric motor, the Supercar will be able to accelerate from 0-60mph in only 3 seconds, with a top speed of over 200 mph. The first 200 miles will be driven 100% by battery power and then at a predetermined discharge rate will switch to a diesel fueled Capstone microturbine to recharge the batteries on the fly, extending the range to 1000 miles. Pricing unavailable.

Porsche 918 Spyder
Concept car shown at the Geneva Auto Show, the 918 a hybrid capable of a 16 mile range in E Drive with electric power alone and then Hybrid Drive which will utilize the 3.4L V8 and electric drives, Sport Hybrid mode uses both systems with the focus on performance, and then Race Hybrid which is running at full perfomance. With the battery sufficiently charged, a push-to-pass button feeds in additional electrical power (E-Boost), when overtaking or for even better performance. The high-revving V8 develops more than 500 horsepower and a maximum engine speed of 9,200 rpm – as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 horsepower. 0 to 60 under 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph.




BMW Vision EfficentDynamics
An all wheel drive plug in hybrid concept with a three cylinder diesel motor and an electric motor on both the front and rear axle combining for an overall 356 horsepower. 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds with an electronically limited top end of 155 mph. In all electric mode the car is able to cover 31 miles.


Honda CR-Z
Honda's CR-Z Sport hybrid-electric has a 1.5L 4 cylinder with IMA (intergrated motor assist). The CR-Z has a three mode drive system (Sport/Normal/ECON). The motor is rated at 122 horsepower. With a late summer of 2010 introduction, 0 to 60, top speed and pricing were unavailable.


Toyota FT-HS
Toyota's Concept Sports Car hybrid debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. A front-engine, rear-drive sports car with a projected zero-to-60 acceleration in the four-second range. A powerful V6, 3.5L-engine is coupled with a 21st century sports hybrid system with a target power output of approximately 400-horsepower.

Ferrari HY-KERS
The HY-KERS vettura laboratorio (experimental vehicle) at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. Ferrari adapted an advanced, lightweight hybrid drivetrain to the 599 GTB Fioranounveiled. Ferrari developed a new kind of electric motor coupled to the rear of the dual-clutch 7-speed F1 transmission. It operates through one of the transmission’s two clutches and engages one of the two gearbox primary shafts. Thus power is coupled seamlessly and instantaneously between the electric motor and the V12. This experimental vehicle thus maintains the high-performance characteristics typical of all Ferraris while, at the same time, reducing CO2 emissions on the ECE + EUDC combined cycle by 35 per cent.

NLV Quant
Prototype rear wheeled drive and battery powered with 4 electric motors with an estimated 800 bhp, on a carbon fiber chassis with carbon body. The projected specs are 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 234 mph.




Audi A8 Hybrid
A technology concept at the Geneva Auto Show, the A8 was powered by a 2.0 TFSI and an electric motor, which produced 245 horsepower and 354.03 lb-ft of torque. 0 to 60 of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 145 mph.


Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid
3.5L V6 and an electric motor, a seven speed automatic combine for 295 horsepower. 0 to 60 in 7.2 seconds with this mild hybrid. MSRP $87,950




Nissan Pivo
All electric concept powered by Nissan's compact, high-performance lithium-ion battery and its unique Super Motor, resulted in zero emissions. Introduced at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Show, the cabin revolved 360 degrees eliminating the need to reverse. No specs were available as to performance or cuteness.

The Power(trains) Behind the Detroit 3

"Won't Get Fueled Again" was the working title.

Fluctuating gas prices seem to catch the Detroit 3 at the most inopportune times. They are ready for the next crunch.

Highlights from the media pages of Ford, GM, and Chrysler.

At Article's End - American Iron and Cubic Inches :-)

Ford

Ford's New Ecoboost(TM) gas-turbo engines can provide up to 20% better fuel economy without sacrificing the power that drivers want.


Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, for example, can deliver upwards of 340-plus lb.-ft. of torque across a wide engine range – 2,000 to 5,000 rpm versus 270 to 310 lb.-ft of torque for a conventional naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 over the same speed range. At the same time, this V-6 gives customers an approximate 2 mpg improvement and emits up to 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions to the environment.

3.5 L Ecoboost Performance of a V8 with the Economy of a V6

Upgraded Lightweight Die Cast Aluminum Block
Improved fuel economy, performance, and lower CO2 emissions than from a V8.
Electronic Wastegate Control
4 Valves per Cylinder
Electronic Wastegate Control
High Pressure Direct Injection Fuel System
10:0:01 Compression Ratio
Variable Camshaft Timing
Dual Watercooled Turbochargers
Higher Alloyed Crankshaft and Connecting Rods
Oil-Cooled Pistons with Fully Machined Direct Injection Features

GM

GM's 'Boost' In Efficient Four-Cylinders Includes More Turbos

GM will double its global production of small four-cylinder engines (1.0L to 1.4L) by 2011, with more than half of the increase coming in North America.

One-third of GM’s North American engine volume will be four-cylinders by 2011, and 21 percent of the four-cylinder volume will be turbocharged – a seven-fold increase over today’s volume of turbo engines.

“Power-dense four-cylinders such as the 1.4L Turbo are an integral part of GM’s portfolio of advanced propulsion technologies, including cam phasing, direct injection, Active Fuel Management, clean diesels, hybrids, flex-fuel vehicles, six-speed transmissions and electric propulsion,” said Tom Stephens, executive vice president, GM Global Powertrain and Global Quality. “GM is focused on delivering vehicles that look great, are fuel efficient and fun to drive.”

At 100 horsepower per liter, the new turbocharged 1.4L has the power of a larger engine but retains the efficiency of a small-displacement four-cylinder in most driving conditions.

Chrysler LLC

“Chrysler Group will attain leadership by rapidly applying Fiat Powertrain technologies, such as Multiair, direct injection, turbocharging and transmission systems to its powertrain portfolio,” said Paolo Ferrero, Senior Vice President, Chrysler Powertrain.

New Four-cylinder Engines
Four-cylinder engine options are being expanded at Chrysler Group with the introduction of Fiat Powertrain's 1.4-liter, in-line four-cylinder Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (FIRE) featuring Multiair.

Specifications
1.4-liter I-4 FIRE with Multiair

100 horsepower (75 kW) at 6,750 rpm
95 lb.-ft. (129 N•m) of torque at 4,250 rpm

1.4-liter I-4 FIRE Turbo with Multiair

170 horsepower (128 kW) at 6,750 rpm
170 lb.-ft. (231 N•m) of torque at 3,000 rpm

Both versions of the 1.4-liter FIRE feature four valves per cylinder and incorporate state-of-the-art technology for Fully Variable-valve Actuation (FVVA), also known as Multiair. Fiat’s Multiair technology significantly reduces emissions, while improving fuel economy and power. This sophisticated electro-hydraulic variable-valve actuation technology delivers an increase in power up to 10 percent, an improvement in low rpm torque up to 15 percent and a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions up to 10 percent when compared with similar engines without the technology. The Multiair system is based on a series of Fiat Powertrain patents related to hardware, combustion strategies and controls that allow for full control of the lift and timing of engine valves, independently on each cylinder and during each single engine stroke. Well suited for a small car application, the first North American vehicle to feature the 1.4-liter FIRE with Multiair is the Fiat 500.

All-new V-6 Pentastar Engine
Chrysler Powertrain will streamline its V-6 gas engine offerings from six options to the new fuel-efficient, state-of-the-art 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine. The first application of this engine will be in the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, due out in the second quarter this year.

The Pentastar delivers a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 8 percent on average when compared with previous Chrysler Group V-6 engines and delivers 90 percent of its available torque from 1800-6400 rpm. In the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine offers an increase of 33 percent in horsepower and an 11 percent improvement in torque over its predecessor. The Pentastar V-6 is designed to use technologies such as Multiair, direct-injection and turbocharging for future applications.

Specifications
3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar

280 horsepower (209 kW) at 6,400 rpm
260 lb.-ft. (353 N•m) of torque at 4,400 rpm

"There is no substitute for American iron and cubic inches."

Ford

2011 Mustang GT
The 2011 Mustang GT 5.0-liter will set a new
standard for high-volume production engines.
Delivering 412 hp and 390 ft.-lb. of torque on
premium fuel, this new powerhouse provides
in excess of 80 hp per liter. The objective
was offering a Mustang GT engine, at the
historically significant 5.0-liter displacement
with more than 400 hp, but without
compromises in drivability, fuel economy
and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)
control.

Specifications

5.0L 4V Ti-VCT V-8
Redline 7,000 rpm
DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake, variable camshaft timing
302 cu. in./4,951 cc
Horsepower 412 @ 6,500 rpm (est.)
Horsepower per liter 82.4
Torque 390 lb.-ft. @ 4,250 rpm (est.)

“Ti-VCT is a win-win-win technology,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, global powertrain development. “It helps our new range of engines to deliver high performance with unsurpassed projected highway fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon and reduced emissions.”

“Ti-VCT technology will continue to proliferate across the Ford powertrain portfolio,” said Samardzich. “By 2013, you can expect to see this advancement available on 90 percent of our nameplates.”

GM
2010 Camaro SS


Two 6.2L V-8 engines are offered in the Camaro SS, including the new L99 on automatic-equipped vehicles and the LS3 on manual-equipped models. Both engines are derived from the LS3 that debuted on the 2008 Corvette.

Specifications
L99

Horsepower 400 (298 kW) at 5,900 rpm
Torque 410 lb.-ft. (556 Nm) at 4,300 rpm
Compression ratio 10.4:1
The L99 is paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.

LS3

Horsepower 426 horsepower (318 kW)
Torque 420 lb.-ft. (569 Nm)
Compression ratio 10.7:1

A Tremec TR 6060 six-speed manual is standard on the SS, and the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic is optional.

Chrysler
2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8®
The SRT’s exclusive and proven 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 engine, which represents the highest naturally aspirated specific-output V-8 engine ever offered by Chrysler. Its 69.8 horsepower-per-liter rating exceeds even that of the legendary 1966 “Street HEMI.”

Specifications

Horsepower 425 (317 kW)
Torque 420 lb.-ft. (569 N•m)

The 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is available with either a standard five-speed automatic with Auto Stick or an available Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission that was first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10®. The result is a Dodge muscle car packed with modern amenities and features any enthusiast will love.


Epilogue:

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again No, no!

The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again