~Green Sedan~ The latest BMW's electric-powered car called the BMW i4 was seen on display at the IAA Munich 2021 some times ago. The car is the first pure electric-powered sedan to be marketed this year by the Stuttgart automaker, and would be offered in two variants and two types of drive, the BMW i4 M50 with all wheel drive and the BMW i4 eDrive40 with rear wheel drive.
BMW i4 M50 with All Wheel Drive's headlights are made slimmer and is offered with various options, one of which is the BMW iBlue color accent. (Picture from: TopGear)
Both variants are built around a flexible vehicle architecture structure dedicated to pure electric vehicles with long wheelbases and wide tracks. In addition, BMW also makes the i4 has a level of aerodynamics that is supported by the lines around the body. The engineers also made the chassis structure more rigid and the vehicle lighter in weight in its class.
The BMW i4 is touted as a vehicle that manages to combine the pleasures of a Gran Coupe with the comfort of a sedan. There is a sporty design combined with an elegant style on the exterior, one of which is a coupe stretch on the roof with four frameless doors and a large trunk space.
BMW i4 M50 with All Wheel Drive has a sporty design combined with an elegant style on the exterior, one of
which is a coupe stretch on the roof with four frameless doors and a
large trunk space. (Picture from: AnnonceAuto)
On the front, BMW embeds an integrated camera, ultrasonic sensor and radar right behind the large kidney grille. While the headlights are made slimmer and are offered with various options, one of which is the BMW Laserlight and BMW iBlue color accents.
In addition, the Stuttgart-based automaker is also offering pre-ordered M Carbon and M Performance Parts performance packages for the BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport and M50. To keep it looking sweet, the German automaker also gives consumers the option to use M-Sport wheels up to 20 inches in size.
The BMW i4 Series has a series of features for the entertainment and driving system. (Picture from: TopGear)
The BMW i4's power is coming from a battery capacity of 81.5 kWh coupled with a single speed fixed automatic transmission system. And both two variants of the BMW i4 offer different performance results in terms of power, torque to the ability to travel.
BMW i4 M50 with All Wheel Drive is powered by electric motor to drive all four wheels with a maximum power of 544 hp and able to travel as far as 521 km on a single fully battery charges. (Picture from: CarPixel)
As in the BMW i4 M50 variant, its electric motor in charge of driving all four wheels with a maximum power of 544 hp and under a full battery capacity, the BMW i4 M50 can travel up to 521 km. Meanwhile the BMW i4 eDrive40 electric motor is able to produce a maximum power of up to 340 hp and is channeled to the rear wheels. In addition, it also has a longer range of 590 km on a fully single charges.
BMW i4 M50 suspension with battery as a structural element.(Picture from: BMWGroup)
Then there are a series of features for the entertainment and driving system would be offered by the BMW i4 such as the latest version 8 of the iDrive operating system. Its entertainment services will be available on a 14.9-inch curved screen along the dashboard that can be operated with voice commands and touch screens. Although there are no more buttons on the dashboard to operate these multimedia system, the center console still has the iDrive knob available, while behind the steering wheel, the BMW i4 series will be equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel display.
BMW i4 eDrive40 with rear wheel drive is offered with various options, one of which is the BMW Laserlight color accent.(Picture from: CarVaganza)
In addition, the BMW i4 is also equipped with 40 driving support features and is standard in both variants such as Front-Collision Warning, Speed Limit Info and Lane Departure Warning. Several additional optional features are also provided by the manufacturer, one of which is Active Cruise Control with Automatic Speed Limit Assist which can follow vehicle conditions and even traffic lights around it.
BMW i4 eDrive40's electric motor is able to produce a maximum power of up to 340 hp to drive its rear wheel drive and able to travel as far as 590 km on a fully single charges.(Picture from: CarVaganza)
Then there are also other supporting features on the BMW i4 namely Driving Assistant Professional with Steering and Lane Control Assistant. In addition, to make parking easier, there are also features Park Distance Control and Reversing Assist Camera. As well as additional features such as Parking Assistant with Reversing Assistant and Parking Assistant Plus with functions including Surround View and Remote 3D View.
The Stuttgart-based automaker ensures that both of the i4 variants will go on sale this year and is produced in Dingolfing, Germany, which is a special factory for BMW electric vehicles as well as the production base for environmentally friendly power battery cells. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BMW GROUP | TOPGEAR | ANNONCEAUTO ]
~Parades of Glory~ In the world's automotive, Giotto Bizzarini
is known as one of the famous automotive design and engineering
practitioners. This can be seen in his very long professional career
portfolio ranging of several world automotive brands such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Iso, Lamborghini up to establishing his own automotive brand.
Bizzarrini 5300 GT is the first Giotto Bizzarrini's production version car after he estabilished his own company in 1966. (Picture from: Petrolicious)
The story started in 1953, when young Giotto Bizzarrini is finished to build his own
car based on the Fiat 500 Topolino which became known as Macchinetta.
After all here're several great cars that have got the magical touch of
Giotto Bizzarrini since he worked at several notorious automaker, ie Ferrari 250 GTO, Lamboghini 350 GTV Prototipo was the first model and forerunner of the Lamborghini cars, then several Iso's cars such as the Iso Rivolta, Iso Grifo A3 and many others.
1953 Macchinetta built by Giotto Bizzarrini based on the Fiat 500 Topolino, while he was a student of the University of Pisa. (Picture from: Hemmings)
And in 1966 he founded his own automotive company based in Livorno, called Bizzarrini SpA. which had success when producing beautiful cars like the Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada or 5300 GT Corsa
for the road going and racing examples respectively, then followed
several car models were produced in limited number, such the Bizzarrini 5300 SI Spyder, Bizzarrini 1900 GT Europa aka a 'baby' version of 5300 GT, the extraordinary Bizzarrini P538S, and the most unique Bizzarrini Manta.
This is Bizzarrini 1900 GT Europa aka a 'baby' version of 5300 GT is built in between 1966 to 1969 and powered by a 1,897 cc Opel engine. (Picture from: RMW)
It
seems that as an entrepreneur, Giotto Bizzarrini lacked talent so the
company of his owned had to work hard, rise and fall to just keep going
in the tough business world and eventually had to give up when the
company was declared bankrupt in 1969.
One of those rare Lamborghini V12 powered race cars, the 1967 Bizzarrini P538 located in the United States. (Picture from: Lambocars)
Because of his love for the world of automotive design, he continues to
strive and continue to work, it is known that in the 1970s, he had
involved to build several examples of a new American car model named the
AMC AMX/3 and several units of the P538 S.
One of those rare concept cars named the Bizzarrini Manta designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. (Picture from: LSXMag)
Then in the 1990s, he contacted by an investor named Barry Watkins and created World SuperCars, Inc. which later launched the Bizzarrini BZ-2001 based of the Ferrari Testarossa in 1993.
1993 Bizzarrini BZ-2001 has an entirely body consisted of carbon fiber and powered by a 4.9L Ferrari Testarossa V12 engine. (Picture from: Carscoops)
Then entering the second millennium, the effort to revive this classic Italian brand is still not over, this time carried by an Italian manufacturer named VGM Motors which then launched a new car in 2006 called the Bizzarrini Ghepardo GTS Concept.
2006 Bizzarrini Ghepardo GTS Concept by VGM Motors while sat on display and is powered by an upgraded BMW's Mecachrome V8 engine. (Picture from: Drive2ru)
And now Bizzarrini under new management after being revived almost a year ago (November, 2020) by the London-based luxury car dealership group Pegasus Brands and a team led by former CEO of Aston Martin, Dr. Ulrich Bez, so then the car had approved as one of the models produced by the Italian marque.
Bizzarrini 5300 GT Revival Corsa encapsulates the spirit of a bygone age of high-performance race cars, and the thin line that Bizzarrini drove between road and track. (Picture from: Bizzarrini)
~Dreaming Car~ Maybe you were one who had ever watched the classic television cartoon series 'The Jetsons' which tells the story of a family in the future era. Well, when you see the following concept car as we had also seen it in the QuirkyRides status in Twiiter, it might bring back memories of the futuristic vehicles in the cartoon series.
1957 Galileo Concept is a trully stunning jet-inspired show car of 1950s. (Picture from: QuirkyRides)
The appearance of the unique car called the Galileo Concept, since it was first shown to the public in 1957, is indeed very interesting and is still able to invite the admiration of those who see it today. As quoted of Motor1, the car built by an unknown American automaker named Joseph Galileo, then who was he?
1957 Galileo Concept is uniquely designed so that it features a jet-themed intakes that is the epitome of 1950s futuristic styles. (Picture from: Motor1)
He's an American veterans whose entered the US Army Air Corpin 1945 and serving during its transition to the United States Air Force. The story started in the late of 1950s, when the jet-powered aircrafts, spacecraft, and rockets began to be widely known to the public. At the time, he started to draw design sketch of this jets inspirated car.
1957 Galileo Concept is built on the frame of 1949 Ford and fiberglass bodywork by Joseph Galileo. (Picture from: Motor1)
Then he built this dream car using a frame taken from 1949 Ford, but the fiberglass body was all made by Galileo himself. He made molds of wood and plaster and shaped the car, complete with gullwing doors. The shape of the bumper is uniquely designed so that it features a jet-themed intakes that is the epitome of 1950s futuristic style on the front, then the car is powered by an Oldsmobile 'Rocket' V8 engine that's such a perfect match in both name and technology for the car.
1957 Galileo Concept is powered by an Oldsmobile 'Rocket' V8 engine. (Picture from: Motor1)
The fact is the prototype was never completed with its interior is still bare empty, and as you can be seen there are missing components on the exterior too. Sadly, Galileo passed away in 2010, leaving the car as you see it now and never had a chance to see his concept fully finished.
As quoted of Hemmings, in 2018, this car has been sold for an unknown price after had been seen on a list of cars sold by Undiscovered Classics, an autodealership based in Tampa, Florida. Now we can only hope that the new owner of the car can finish the job left by Joseph Galileo well and be willing to show it to all of us.😐 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | QUIRKYRIDES | HEMMINGS | MOTOR1 ]
~Trying to Revived~ In the world's automotive, the Tatra is known as one of the oldest Czech automotive brands which has existed since the mid-19th century. Currently the manufacturer, which was originally based in Kopřivnice is survived, has become a reliable truck or heavy duty vehicle maker and changed its name to Tatra Trucks with a production base in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
The Tatra MTX V8 is designed by Václav Král and firstly developed by Metalex before launched at the Prague Motor Show 1991. (Picture from: Motor-Junkie)
The glitter of the automotive world, especially the supercar design sector, also attracted the interest of this Czech manufacturer to try to take part in it. Although the Czech automaker didn't actually take part or be directly involved in its development, did you know this car was originally developed by Metalex (MTX), the small Prague-based auto-workshop specializes in Skoda cars.
The three prototypes of the Tatra MTX V8 ever made by the Czechoslovakia automaker during 1991 to 1993. (Picture from: Autickar.cz)
As quoted of Wikipedia, the mentioned supercar called the Tatra MTX V8 is the work of a talented automotive designer named Václav Král and those Czech-made supercar built in 1991 with the racing technology and powered by an 3.9-liters V8 Tatra engine.
The Tatra MTX V8 was a collaboration project between Metalex and Tatra but unfortunately never produced with only have make 3 or 4 prototypes. (Picture from: Motor-Junkie)
Those engine capable to burst an amount excessive power of 302 hp at 6,500 rpm and given the car an acceleration from zero to 100 kph in 5.6 seconds and top speed of 265 kph.So no wonder if the car with the vertically opened scissor doors and pop-up headlamps dubbed as the Czech's fastest car in the time.
The Tatra MTX V8 has a simple and very simple interior configuration, where the controls and buttons are mostly taken from the Favorita, and the instrument panel is like that of a 1990s supersport. (Picture from: Cars n'Culture)
After it passed driving tests at the Tatra polygon races at Kopřivnice, at the airport in Mošnov and at the autodrom in Most. Finally the Tatra MTX V8 is debuted for the first time at the Prague Motor Show 1991.
1991
Tatra MTX V8 is featured with the vertically opened scissor doors and
pop-up headlamps dubbed as the Czech's fastest car in the time. (Picture from: TatraClub)
The MTX V8 received orders of 200 units, so the company started production of a limited series of 100 units. In the early stages of production, the supercar project was sold to a new owner, unfortunately the factory caught fire which then stopped production forever.
1991 Tatra MTX V8 is powered by an 3.9-liters V8 Tatra engine capable to burst an amount excessive power of 302 hp at 6,500 rpm. (Picture from: Cars n'Culture)
So during production periods of 1991 to 1993, they completed four cars only, ie a red and a white one that have Czech private owners, a black one that is exhibited in the Sports Car Museum in Lány, and a fourth was reportedly delivered as a kit to the United States.
That's so pity the MTX V8 never got a chance to race against another exotic supercars such Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati and many others in racing tracks.😒 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TATRACLUB | DRIVETRIBE | WIKIPEDIA | TOPCARRARTING ]
~Weird One~ When the world was still in the Cold War era, where in the global political arena there were two dominating poles, namely the western and eastern blocks. Well, at that time, each party showed off their superiority in all lines, including automotive. But uniquely they forbid the use of the products of their opponents. Even though some of the people, especially those in the eastern block, also want goods from the west, including cars.
1963 KD Sport 900 is designed by a group of designers working for the NAMI (National Automobile Institute) in Moscow. (Picture from: Classic and Recreation Sportscars)
And around the end of the 1950s to the early 1960s, when Porsche succeeded in dominating the circuits and roads in Europe and even the world, apparently it also attracted interest from industry players in the eastern block to make similar cars that were intended to have Porsche-like performance to be used as rivals.
The Soviet Union made sports cars, which is said to be similar to Porsche looked very stylish on the Moscow' busy streets at the time. (Picture from: EnglishRussia)
As qouted of Autoevolution, in Russia (when it was still the Soviet Union) there was a group of designers working for the NAMI (National Automobile Institute) in Moscow to design a sports car, which was envisioned as a Soviet Porsche. But it wasn't state commissioned in any way, which meant there was no official backing. Of course this would have been troublesome and could have even ended the project early.
1963 KD Sport 900 is built on the basis of the ZAZ-965 as a small 2+2 sports coupe. (Picture from: EnglishRussia)
If not for Kuzma Durnov, who at that time that time served as Director of ZAZ (Zaporozhsky Avtomobilny Zavod), a Sovyet Union state's automaker based in Ukraine who was supported the development of the sportscar.
1963
KD Sport 900 had two seats ahead and two small ones in the back with
the front console was turned to the driver like we could see later in
many more contemporary cars. (Picture from: EnglishRussia)
This Soviet-style sports car, which is
said to be similar to Porsche, was built on the basis of the ZAZ Zaporozhets 965,
as it is known that the first prototype was built in 1963 as a small 2+2
coupe called KD Sport 900. And the initials KD in the name refer to the name of Kuzma Durnov, who was the driving force behind the project.
One of the KD Sport 900 is planned to be restored. (Picture from: EnglishRussia)
For your info, the ZAZ manufacturer is known to have started producing cars in 1958, having previously produced combine harvester. Its first passenger car was the ZAZ Zaporozhets 965, which was basically the eastern version for the Fiat 600.
And this is one more car stays abandoned and maybe someday it would be restored too. (Picture from: EnglishRussia)
The car looked very stylish on Soviet streets at the time. It had two
seats ahead and two small ones in the back with the front console was
turned to the driver like we could see later in many more contemporary
cars (it was sort of the Soviet designers findings). The KD Sport 900 built upon a tubular steel chassis with an aerodynamic 2+2 fibreglass coupe bodywork. At glance, it have looked swift, but it's not.
A modern interpretation of KD Sport 900 in digital rendered image made by Artem Popkov. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
Why is that? Due to the car utilizes the mechanical components of a ZAZ-965 with a rear mounted, air-cooled OHV V4 887cc engine with a 4-speed manual transmission. The car's engine only capable spewed a small power of 30 hp and a top speed of just below 75 mph. It's clearly the car is not an equal rival to Porsche, even if the car tipped the scales at only just over 500 kg.
Here's the Russian-made car is depicted in what is seen as partly a muscle car, and a swoopy European coupe. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
The car project running in between 1963 to 1969 with initial plans were considered for small-scale production. But as late as 1969 before the project got shelved, less than ten vehicles had been produced (only five more KD’s were built) all with detail differences.
The modern KD imagined is one of the most stunning digital creations we've seen so far. (Picture from: AutoEvolution)
In present day, as published on Autoevolution there's an independent automotive designer named Artem Popkov made a series of modern interpretation images of this KD 900 Sport car, and it's clear that the modern KD imagined is one of the most stunning digital creations we've seen so far.
Here's the Russian-made car is depicted in what is seen as partly a muscle car, part a swoopy European coupe. Its simplicity, the strange but true to the original proportions, and the overall quality of the execution all come together to make this something you instantly fall in love with. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCARS | DRIVENTOWRITE | HOTCARS | ENGLISHRUSSIA | QUIRKYRIDES | MOTORJUNKIE ]
~Wild Card~ Actually, in the world's automotive there are lots of exotic cars that escape the spotlight of mainstream media coverage cameras, which usually prefer well-known brands to be reported on. And the following exotic car is one of those that may be less known to the public today.
1972 Marciano 268A built by a small Italian workshop based in Ponsacco in Tuscany named Marciano Prototipi owned by Vincenzo Marciano. (Picture from: Marciano Prototipi)
The mentioned car known as the Marciano 268A made in 1972 by a small Italian workshop based in Ponsacco in Tuscany named Marciano Prototipi owned by Vincenzo Marciano who was 23 years old when the car was built. The car's name has meaning around its engine, which is 2.6 liters, 8 cylinders and A = Anterior (front engine). As quoted of DrivesToday, this hand built exotic car story begins when Vincenzo Marciano took a crashed Alfa Romeo Montreal to be the basis of his dream car.
1972 Marciano 268A was built by hand and inspired by the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, Ferrari 250 LM and all the Italian sports cars of the 1970s. (Picture from: Coachbuild)
Marciano designed the tubular chassis, then combined with still useful Montreal's original components, while the aluminum bodywork was built by hand and inspired by the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, Ferrari 250 LM and all the Italian sports cars of the 1970s.
1972 Marciano 268A was built by hand upon a crashed Alfa Romeo Montreal and several components taken from many exotic sports car such Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, and Ferrari 250 LM. (Picture from: Coachbuild)
Some of the components installed on the car are taken from several other sports cars, for example the rear suspension came from a Jaguar E-Type, while the 13" wheels are originally from 33 Stradale and the windshield, headlights and taillights as well are taken from Ferrari 250 LM.
1972 Marciano 268A's interior has a simple and focused dashboard with a pair of four-point harnesses leather bucket seats. (Picture from: Marciano Prototipi)
Then the drivetrain of Marciano-made car is a 2,593 cc V8 engine developed from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale coupled with ZF gearbox. According to the automaker, the car which has a fairly light weight of around 800 kg is capable of accelerating from rest to 62 mph in 6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 150 mph.
1972 Marciano 268A is powered by a 2,593 cc V8 engine coupled with a ZF gearbox. (Picture from: DrivesToday)
The car's interior looks simple and focused. There are a pair of four-point harnesses leather bucket seats, then on its windows tucked a small section of the window slids back, and the aluminium doors were opened by simple straps. Meanwhile, behind the Luisi' wooden steering wheel is the dash filled with the Alfa Romeo instrumentation.
1972 Marciano 268A has a fairly light weight of around 800 kg is capable of accelerating from rest to 62 mph in 6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 150 mph. (Picture from: Coachbuild)
The car making project begun in 1972, and finished in the late 1990s. It was very slow and took years, because this was only ever a part-time project for Marciano. At last, the car made its public debut at Alfa Romeo's 100th anniversary celebrations in 2010, where it received a lot of praise and attention.
It's a proof of the Marciano-made car's quality is totally different from most other home-made projects. Once a time, the automaker had ever considered to put this car into production, but unfortunately this failed to do so due to financing problems, and the 268A remained a one-off.😉 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MARCIANO PROTOTIPI | HISTORICAUTOPRO | DRIVESTODAY | LOVECARS | COACHBUILD | GEARHEADSANDMONKEYWRENCH ]
The Stuttgart-based automaker ensures that both of the i4 variants will go on sale this year and is produced in Dingolfing, Germany, which is a special factory for BMW electric vehicles as well as the production base for environmentally friendly power battery cells. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BMW GROUP | TOPGEAR | ANNONCEAUTO ]
