The FEI X-3 shooting-brake sports car featured with Dodge V8

~ONE Off~ Maybe once upon a time it crossed our minds, did religious leaders or priests ever get involved or even drown in the excitement of the world's automotive. In fact, there are many examples and we had already discussed one of them here, namely Father Alfred A. Juliano, a Catholic priest whose designed and built a weird-shaped concept car named the Aurora Safety Car back in the mid-1950s.

The 1972 FEI X-3 Lavinia shooting-brake sports car concept featured with Dodge V8 engine designed and built by Rigoberto Soler and his FEI's student team. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

Roberto Sabóia de
Medeiros (1905-1955).
(Picture from: AllPar)

Well now there's one more, a Jesuit priest and visionary Roberto Sabóia de Medeiros realized that Brazil could no longer depend on just being an agrarian country after World War II ended, and had to pave the way to become an industrialized country. For the such reason, he initiated the Fundação de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA) or in English, the Foundation of Applied Sciences in 1945, to aid in Brazil's industrialization; two years later, the foundation opened its Faculdade de Engenharia Industrial (FEI) or Faculty of Industrial Engineering in São Paulo.

The Brasinca 4500GT sports car built by Rigoberto Soler during 1964 to 1966 as many as 77 units, is powered by a six-cylinder Chevrolet engine. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

Ten years later, spurred by Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek, Brazil's industrial revolution gained speed, especially in São Paulo, with investments by numerous foreign automotive industries such International Harvester, Simca, Willys Overland, and General Motors. FEI opened a  new campus in Sao Bernardo do Campo, thanks to a land donation by Lavinia Gomes, Mayor Lauro Gomes' wife.

The 1972 FEI X-3 shooting-brake sports car concept (on the left) posed along with its predecessor 1968 FEI X-1 (on the right). (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

In 1963, one key professor named Rigoberto Soler was knows as a former official of ENASA (Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones), which made trucks in the '50s for Francoist Spain and had built the Pegaso sports car, led by a former Alfa Romeo technical director Wilfredo Ricart. Previously during 1964 to 1966, Soler had designed and built a sports car with a six-cylinder Chevrolet engine named the Brasinca 4200 GT as many as 77 units. 

Mockup of the FEI X-2 hovercraft, for use in rivers, swamps and wetlands; the project was not fully completed, having reached the testing phase with a wooden air-sliding platform, a propeller and no cabin. (Picture from: LexisCarBrasil)

Then within FEI, Soler led the Department of Studies and Research Vehicles. Their first car called the FEI X-1, was a unique two-seater car based on the mechanicals of the Renault Gordini featured with hovercraft-fan at rear, and was first shown in 1968. This car is the forerunner of the FEI X-2 model which was made as a real hovercraft which move without contact with the ground supported by air pockets.

FEI's classroom with the X-3 side view (notice the curved floor), and Professor Soler, standing beside the desk. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

Rigoberto Soler.
(1926-2004).
(Picture from: AllPar)

 

In 1972, Soler instructed his students to work on a unique-shaped sports car in general called as the shooting brake, the FEI X-3 'Lavinia' (as tribute to the FEI benefactor), which would be an evolution of the 4200 GT. For your info, the shooting-brake is a type of car design that usually comes with one door on each side, and a little boxy shaped at the rear, where it might have one or two-opened doors. He specified the use of a tubular steel frame and air brake, a rectangular flap embedded in the rear of the vehicle. The students were divided into two groups, one responsible for manufacturing the chassis and other bodywork.

Sketches of what would become the FEI X-3, made by Rigoberto Soler. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

Initially, for this concept car, Soler gave his students freedom to relate to the shape, dimensions, and components that will be used to build it as well. So this car then took its dimensions idea by taking a reference to the use of the Ford 292-cubic-inch V8 engined model. And the most of the components would be from the Dodge Dart. While the front suspension was a Torsion Aire, with torsion bars; though the Chrysler rear axle was supported by coil springs, more suitable for a sports car. Fourteen-inch magnesium wheels were used; the Gemmer steering box was the same as the Dart's but with its 24:1 reduction ratio changed to 15:1 to be more sensitive to high-speed maneuvers.

The FEI X-3 chassis under construction featured with Ford front-engined. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

The 318 V8 engine was the LA type cast in Brazil, the one used in Dart (198 bhp), and was later replaced by one from the Charger R/T (sports version of the Brazilian Dart) with a higher compression ratio and dual exhaust system for 215 horsepower. The original Dart transmission, with only three gears, was also replaced by the Brazilian Charger R/T's four speed. The transmission was modified due to the smaller wheelbase, and a new differential ratio was used as the X-3 would be lighter and more aerodynamic than the Dart. The drum front brakes were also replaced with discs.

The first version of the FEI X-3 finished with yellow paintwork, and the airbrake open. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

The body construction was made using a hammer form, just like Italian car makers. The X-3 was completely shaped by hand from aluminum, with a strong roll cage to protect the occupants, gull-wing doors, monolithic aluminum front end, two rear gas tanks (90-liter/24-gallon capacity), side exhausts, and external air brakes. The tail lights, as in current cars, stayed in the roof columns. The X-3 had two spare tires and a good luggage space in the trunk. Interestingly, the windshield was from a Ford Galaxie.

The FEI X-3 while sat on display at the 2004 São Paulo Motor Show. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

Inside the sports car there are leather-covered reclining seats, air conditioning, instrument panel on the center console, three-spoke aluminum steering wheel, a kind multipurpose briefcase fuctioned as glove box. Students also want to install an eight-millimeter camera inside the car to record all activities related to car's tests, practice or races. 

The FEI X-3's engine set back from the axle, with the "shaker hood" cover on display. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

After completion, the X-3 measures 4.3 meters long, 1.8 meters wide and 1.1 meters high. It had a ground clearance of 0.18 meters and weighed 1100 kg, with a very low drag coefficient of 0.32, and originally painted in yellow.

The FEI X-3's cabin featured with the leather-covered reclining seats, air conditioning, instrument panel on the center console, three-spoke aluminum steering wheel, a kind multipurpose briefcase fuctioned as glove box. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

It was built by the team of Ricardo Okubo, Ademir Fornasaro, Carlos Augusto Scarpelli, Flávio Vicenzetto, Gilberto Luz Pereira, A. Heymann, R. Milk, Joseph Pompeo Giannocoro, Barretti Roberto, Roberto Julio Asam, and Rudolph Herbert Meyer. The team managed to get the job done on time until the X3 Lavinia finally made it on display and debuted at the 1972 São Paulo Auto Show.

The FEI X-3' final version was painted in green and gold metallic, and is featured with a such unique gull-wing doors. (Picture from: AutoEntusiastasClassic)

But the effort was not wasted, at the expo the car was finished in green and gold metallic, became one of the stars of the event, winning the admiration of then-President of Brazil General Emilio Medici Garrastazu. Currently the FEI X-3 Lavinia, restored by the FEI, and is still part of the college's collection and is displayed at various events on the history of Brazilian automobiles.  *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ALLPAR | AUTOENTUSIASTASCLASSIC | HOTCARS | HISCIENCIA ]

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De Tomaso P900 track-purposed beautiful beast

~New Track BEAST~ After a few moments before releasing the teaser, and recently the legendary Italian manufacturer, De Tomaso Automobili officially launched its newest track-only hypercar named De Tomaso P900 which reportedly will only be made 18 units.

De Tomaso has revealed its newest track-only limited-run hypercar named De Tomaso P900, is powered by a bespoke V12 that revs all the way to 12,300 rpm. (Picture from: BlackXperience)

By design, the De Tomaso P900 comes with a design that is almost similar to its predecessor, the De Tomaso P72 which was officially released in 2019. But with the additional features of a roof scoop, stabilizer fins, and large wings to create a distinctive aura of endurance race cars at the 24-Hours Le Mans event.

The appearance of the De Tomaso P900 is similar to that of a racing car that was deployed in the 24-Hours Le Mans endurance race. (Picture from: GoOto)

This hypercar specifically for racing tracks is equipped with a body made entirely of carbon fiber. Thanks to its lightweight body panels and carbon fiber monocoque chassis, the De Tomaso P900 is said to weigh only 900 kg. The P900 also introduces a larger aerodynamic fin at the fore while the guard now has a set of gills.

The De Tomaso P900 has the additional features of a roof scoop, stabilizer fins, and large wings to create a distinctive aura of endurance race cars at the 24-Hours Le Mans event. (Picture from: BlackXperience)

Then as the driving force, the P900 car maker implants a naturally aspirated V12 engine which is claimed to be capable of spraying power which can be said to be quite extraordinary, namely 662 kW at 12,300 rpm.

The De Tomaso P900 looks to have an all-carbon bodywork with an aggressive design with fins attached. (Picture from: BlackXperience)

Unfortunately, so far the V12 engine mentioned above is reportedly under development and is expected to be completed in 2024. However, De Tomaso is currently offering a Judd's V10 engine for those of you who can't wait to own this hypercar.

The De Tomaso P900 is planned to debut in mid-2023 with several build slots still available. The hypercar itself is planned to be sold at a pretty fantastic price, which is US$ 3 million (around Rp.47.05 billion). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSCOOPS | AUTOCAR ]

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A unique and rare Italian Little-Ant scooter

~Unique ONES~ You may often see the appearance of this unique Italian classic scooter made by Moto Rumi of Fonderie Officine Rumi or the Rumi Foundries was formed at the beginning of the twentieth century (established by Gabrielle Rumi in Bergamo, Italy in 1906) and originally supplied cast components to the textile machinery industry. 

1959 Rumi Formichino made by the Italian factory Rumi, the 1959 Bol d’Or with a 125cc two-stroke engine was the most sought after of the Formichino models and was the fastest scooter of its day, producing 8.5 bhp at 7,200 rpm. (Picture from: MotorcycleNews)

One of Gabrielle’s son, Donnino, began working at the foundry at the age of 12. His work was casting metal, but his passion was painting, drawing, and sculpture, at which he was gifted and classically trained. Donnino assumed management of the foundry in the 1920s, with art taking a back seat. During WWII, Donnino refused to work with the Germans, and fought (and was subsequently jailed) as a Partisan. Meanwhile his foundry churned out bronze propellers, anchors, torpedoes, and periscopes for submarines.

1954 Rumi Scoiattolo 125. (Picture from: Ruotedasogno)

After the war, Donnino returned to help rebuild the factory, concentrating on textile machinery and later starting made light motorcycles and scooters powered by the horizontal twin two stroke engine of 125 cc capacity. In 1952, with the popularity of scooters through its compatriot made scooters such Vespa and Lambretta, Moto Rumi decided to start manufacturing its owne scooter known as the Rumi Scoiattolo or (a squirrel in Italian). 

Right side view of 1955 Rumi Formichino. (Picture from: LaneMotorMuseum)

The Scoiattolo has a cast aluminum monocoque body with tubular swinging arm rear suspension and teleforks with 14 inch wheels and three gears. Its subsequent models had a four speed gearbox and electric starter, at the time it was also reputed as the fastest scooters then in production.

Speedometer and odometer view of 1955 Rumi Formichino. (Picture from: LaneMotorMuseum)

Moto Rumi, a division of the Rumi Foundries that produced motorcycles and scooters, was only active from 1950-1960. While wildly popular on Italy’s strade, during this short span the factory also enjoyed numerous endurance and sprint racing victories, most notably the 24-Hour Bal d’Or at Montlhéry, France. All the Rumi bikes, both motorcycles and scooters, were based on their 125cc horizontal twin and some excellent engineering.

Rear side view of 1955 Rumi Formichino. (Picture from: LaneMotorMuseum)

The Rumi Formichino (a little ant in Italian) seen here is made up of only a few aluminum castings (as pointed to the company real expertise with metal). The engine is actually a structural member, part of the frameless monocoque, with the castings attached front and rear. 

The 1954 Rumi Regolanta 125cc. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

This lightweight approach gave a decided performance advantage over the conventional steel-framed Vespas and Lambrettas on the Italian roads, and added to their appeal as well. It’s also a beautiful sculptural piece, both functional and fast. No wonder if they triumphed three-times at the Italian Speed Championships in 1957, 1958, and 1960.

The 1953 Rumi Huchback 125cc. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

After Piaggio Vespa upped their game, so Moto Rumi was unable to compete anymore. And then they ceased the bike production in 1960, and closed the foundry in 1962. While Donnino returned to his first love of painting and sculpture, until his death in 1980. 

The 1951 Rumi Regolanta 125cc. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

Is history repeating itself? After some time away from the world of racing motorbikes, one of Donnino's grandsons named Stefano established the Rumi Sport Race Engineering in 2009, and developed (both of 125 cc and 250 cc) and lastly competed under Team Rumi in collaboration with Clay Paky at the Moto3 of 2014 racing seasons. 

This Moto3 racing bike powered by a 250cc four stroke engine was unveiled in 2013 after one year of toil by Rumi-Sport Engineering. (Picture from: ClayPaky)

Thus a brief history of Moto Rumi that once dominated various racing circuits in the 1950s to 1960s.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA [13112018] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LANE MOTOR MUSEUM | MOTORCYCLE NEWS | WIKIPEDIA | RUOTEDASOGNO | CLAY PAKY ]

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Huracán Sterrato ready for Your out-dates on rough and dusty terrain in the 2023

~New BEAST~ Supercars and Lamborghinis are an inseparable unit in terms of performance and speed. Although originally only applied on the smooth asphalt of race tracks and roads. Then what about rough and dusty terrain? Well, the Italian raging bull logoed auto manufacturer would be gave the answer along with the launch of its newest supercar model, the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato recently at Art Basel, Miami Beach, United States. 

The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato has finally made its public debut at the Art Basel in Miami. (Picture from: KabarOto)

As quoted of Carscoops, it is the first supercar designed for maximum driving pleasure on dirt or off-road terrain with a sporty concept and emphasizing the brand principles of being bold, authentic and unexpected. "In accordance with our values as a brand visionary, bold and unconventional, with Sterrato we break new ground in driving sensations," as stated by Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini SpA, Stephan Winkelmann.

Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini SpA while on presentation of the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato premiere debut at the Art Basel in Miami. (Picture from: Carscoops)

As we can see today, the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato offers optimized driving dynamics for perfect control in all environments, from the highway to the dirt road. Compared to the Huracán Evo, the Sterrato comes with an updated version of the Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics (LDVI/Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata) system, with special Strada and Sport calibrations, and brings Rally mode for low grip conditions to the Huracán line for the first time.

The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato offers optimized driving dynamics for perfect control in all environments, from the highway to the dirt road. (Picture from: NMAA)

“With the high-speed all-terrain Sterrato concept, we uniquely combined the driving experience of a super sports car and the pleasure of driving a rally car. Lamborghini cars always evoke emotion: the Sterrato brings a new level of driving sensations," said Rouven Mohr, Chief Technical Officer of Lamborghini.

The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato's exterior expresses an adventurous spirit, with the ground clearance having been increased by 44 mm to ensure greater suspension performance, as does the front (+30 mm) and rear (+34 mm) height. (Picture from: NMAA)

The Sterrato's exterior expresses an adventurous spirit, with the ground clearance having been increased by 44 mm compared to the Huracán Evo to ensure greater suspension performance, as does the front (+30 mm) and rear (+34 mm) height. In addition, to protect the car body and the aluminum front underbody, the reinforced chassis, rear diffuser and tough fenders accentuate the ruggedness. It's clearly seen here that Lamborghini's design DNA has been maintained, by not providing significant changes to the Huracan Sterrato, which means that the characteristics remain strong. It's like inheriting a sports car into a new life form to deliver a unique and fun driving experience.

The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato's cabin featured with almost all parts of the seats and door trim wrapped in an exclusive upholstery called Alcantara Verde Sterrato. (Picture from: AutocarIndia)

The mechanical heart of the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato rests on a 5,200 cc V10 engine with a maximum power output of 601 hp and 560 Nm of torque which is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and electronically controlled all-wheel drive with an independent rear-wheel drive locking differential. All of these are designed to offer optimal performance on unpaved and sandy surfaces with the ability to accelerate from 0-100 kph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 260 kph.

The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato gets 19-inch rims mounted exclusively with specially engineered Bridgestone Dueler AT002 tires with tire sizes 235/40 R19 at the front and 285/40 R19 at the rear, incorporating run-flat technology. (Picture from: Otomotif-Kompas)

While the legs get 19-inch rims mounted exclusively with specially engineered Bridgestone Dueler AT002 tires with tire sizes 235/40 R19 at the front and 285/40 R19 at the rear, incorporating run-flat technology in the event of a puncture guarantees a minimum ride of 80 km at 80 kph with minimum 0 pressure. To tame the running speed, this car has a brake system consisting with 6-piston (front) and 4-piston (rear) aluminum monoblock calipers which are also equipped with ventilated carbon-ceramic discs with a diameter of 380 mm and a thickness of 38 mm at the front and a diameter of 356 mm and 32 mm at the back.

The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato is powered by a 5,200 cc V10 engine with a maximum power output of 601 hp and 560 Nm of torque which is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and electronically controlled all-wheel drive with an independent rear-wheel drive locking differential. (Picture from: Edisi.co.id)

The interior, almost all parts of the seats and door trim wrapped in an exclusive upholstery called Alcantara Verde Sterrato. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) has new graphics and special drive features; for the first time, the instrument featured a digital compass with pitch and roll indicators, geographic coordinates indicators and rudder angle indicators. Among the on-board services, Lamborghini Connect includes integration with Amazon Alexa to customize in-car features such as air conditioning and lights, as well as control navigation, phone calls and entertainment with simple voice commands. The car can also be controlled remotely via the Lamborghini UNICA app, for example remote speed monitoring and destination sending directly to the navigation system.

The new Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato offers almost unlimited possibilities for customizing the appearance of the car, thanks to the Lamborghini Ad Personam program. So for those of you potential customers can choose from 350 exterior colors and more than 60 colors for the interior. Reportedly, the Huracán Sterrato will begin production in February 2023 in a limited edition of only 1,499 units. Although the official price has not been announced yet, many people speculate that the Sterrato will be sold for up to $328,000 (approx. more than Rp. 5 billion). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LAMBORGHINI | CARSCOOPS | AUTOCARINDIA | CNN ]

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