Brake Check!

A few years back, a friend (who shall remain nameless) asked me to look at her brakes. The right-front caliper had failed, putting pressure on the inside of the rotor only, and ground it down to the vents.

Upon further inspection, the former inside surface was actually not attached any longer, and peeled off like a post-it note.

Check your brakes, folks.

F1 race organizers raise almost $100 million in funding

Organizers of a race track that is set to host its first Formula One race in November have raised about $94.3 million from 24 investors, a document filed Monday with the Security and Exchange Commission shows. 

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The new track near Austin looks like its really happening!

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Original Page: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2012/02/15/f1_race_organizers_raise_almos.html?cxntfid=blogs_formula_austin?cxtype=rss_news

Aston V12 Zagato

Aston Martin have signed off the road-going version of their aggressive V12 Zagato racer – production will start at Gaydon in the UK later this year and the car will be given its official European debut in the flesh at the Geneva Salon International car show next month. As well as being another excuse for Aston to produce yet more beautiful cars, it also celebrates the 50th anniversary of perhaps the most famous collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato: the DB4GT Zagato. However, this model is a wholly Aston design – the Italian coach-builder in this case lending their name rather than their expertise.  

The V12 Zagato is the ultimate extrapolation of the Vantage series: each car is hand-built, taking 2,000 man-hours from components to completion. Aston have used techniques pioneered with the One-77 in its construction – the Zagato's bonnet, signature 'double-bubble' roof and doors are hand-crafted aluminium, while the front and rear fenders, door sills and boot lid surround are made from carbon fibre. Four colours are available, Scintilla Silver, Alloro Green, Alba Blue and Diavolo Red, with the painting process alone taking 100 hours.

Inside, the cockpit is finished in hand-stitched leather with the Z-Zagato logo embroidered into the headrests and rear parcel shelf. Under the bonnet sits the quad-overhead camshaft, 48-valve, six-litre V12. Its 510bhp delivers 570nm of torque at 5,750rpm (maxing out at 6,500rpm) – that means 60mph arrives in 4.2 seconds and terminal velocity is 190mph. All the acronyms you'd expect are here: DSC, EBA, TC, ABS, EBD… An army of engine management and stability control systems on hand to keep you out of too much trouble – until you press that Track button, I'd expect…

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Original Page: http://speedhunters.com/archive/2012/02/15/news-gt-gt-aston-v12-zagato-road-car.aspx

BMW goes solar at its Zentrum Museum in South Carolina

BMW says its Zentrum Museum in Greenville, SC, is now fully solar powered and includes three electric-vehicle charging stations, marking the German automaker's continued efforts to boost its green credibility.

BMW offering charging for electric cars is more than just PR, good to see tree huggers and gear heads coming together. 

With help from Southern Energy Management, BMW spent $500,000 to install 400 solar panels that produce 96 kilowatts of energy, or enough to power the half-acre museum and charging stations. The installation is part of a broader effort by BMW to cut its carbon footprint through initiatives that include factory-efficiency improvements and a hydrogen-storage center.

The German automaker is looking to make strides through plant improvements and vehicle electrification. BMW last month recently started offering leases on its Active E electric vehicle in the U.S. That car is launching in markets such as Los Angeles, New York and Boston, and can be leased for $499 a month with a $2,250 down payment.

The company also joins automakers like Ford Motor Co. and General Motors that have made efforts to cut waste and energy usage at their facilities. Ford Motor Co. said late last month that it planned to reduce landfill waste from its Europe plants by 70 percent and cut water use by 30 percent within five years. And General Motors said last month in its first sustainability report since emerging from bankruptcy in 2009 that more than 80 of its factories produce no landfill materials.

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Original Page: http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/bmw-goes-solar-at-its-zentrum-museum-in-south-carolina/

276-hp Vauxhall Astra VXR headed to Geneva

Vauxhall has three big reveals planned for the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, one of them being the 280-horsepower Vauxhall Astra VXR that was announced last November as the Opel Astra OPC. That means the 2.0-liter turbo four lives underhood, and in addition to 276 ponies, it dishes out 295 pound-feet of torque. Handling is aided by the limited-slip differential for the front axle, the HiPerStrut suspension and the "fully adaptive FlixRide system."

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Original Page: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/11/280-hp-vauxhall-astra-vxr-headed-to-geneva/

Re-Framed 1964 Triumph TR4

This 1964 Triumph TR4 is a offered as a restored rolling chassis needing finishing. The seller shows many photos of the great looking drivetrain, and the separate body is said to be finished in black. Find it here on eBay in Dallas, Texas.

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Original Page: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BringATrailer/~3/m8F8eWvV5YQ/

A beautiful chassis restore, no doubt, but that model looks much better without the body...

355-HP Audi TT RS Plus Debuts

Audi has ramped up the performance and appearance of the second-generation TT with the introduction of a potent new 355-horsepower four-wheel-drive, range-topping model.

Nice, but I'd still rather have the RS4 Avant sport wagon...

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Original Page: http://www.insideline.com/audi/tt-rs/355-hp-audi-tt-rs-plus-debuts.html