The legendary Abarth's race car of the 1960s

Unique ONES The tiny car figure has always accompanied with the Italian car brand Abarth since back then, just look at the following figure of the 1966 tiny race car made of Abarth. That's "Barchetta Chuvolale," a small and lightweight Fiat-engined 1000SP (Sports Prototipo) race car built by Abarth with a nickname that carries a style of 'barchetta,' the Italian means "small boat,” and 'tubulare,' means "steel pipe frame".

1966 Abarth 1000SP Barchetta race car is built and designed by Mario Colucci according to the FA ​​(International Automobile Federation) "Group 4 (Gr.4)" racing vehicle regulations.  (Picture from: Supercars)

At the time, the Abarth 1000SP Barchetta race car was planned and manufactured according to the FA ​​(International Automobile Federation) "Group 4 (Gr.4)" racing vehicle regulations. It made a debut in actual battle in April 1966 as an evolution system of the 750 Sport Spider Tobulare, a pure racing machine with a steel pipe space frame manufactured with a focus on "Sport prototype class."

1966 Abarth 1000SP is powered by a twin cam water-cooled in-line 4-cylinder engine called "Tipo229A" with a displacement of 1,000 cc. (Picture from: BHAuction)

As we all knew, at the time Carlo Abarth's race cars had won many racing events such in the "GT class" under the 750GT Zagato, 750 record Monza Zagato, 1000 Vialbero, and "850/1000TC" in the "Touring car class,” is the category that has pursued more performance.

The 1000SP is Abarth's first mass-produced sports spider and also the first mid-ship production model. As the steel tube space frame was designed by Mario Colucci, a well-known engineer who once worked on the Julia TZ at Alfa Romeo's plants. 

1966 Abarth 1000SP Barchetta Barchetta is the first Abarth's mass-produced sports spider and also the first mid-ship production model. (Picture from: BHAuction)

It featuring with a curvy FRP Barchetta body, and is powered by a twin cam water-cooled in-line 4-cylinder engine called "Tipo229A" with a displacement of 1,000 cc and a compression ratio of 11.5, so it capable producing a maximum output power of 105 ps and maximum torque of 11.5 kgm.

After the racing cars out the plant and they succeed took the bulk of Abarth victories from 1966 until 1971. As the peaks, the Abarth 1000SP Barchetta often took class victories in the 1000cc prototype category, including class wins at the world's famous circuits like the Nürburgring, Mugello, Vallelunga, Monza and Targa Florio. These were not including by the countless local hillclimbs racing events it often won.

1966 Abarth 1000SP Barchetta often took class victories in the 1000cc prototype category, including class wins at the world's famous circuits like the Nürburgring, Mugello, Vallelunga, Monza and Targa Florio. (Picture from: BHAuction)

In fact, recently the famous tiny race car succeed inspire the parent company of Alfa Romeo and Abarth, Stellantis NV. (Stellantis) to make and launched the one-off sports car which is a modern interpretation of the Abarth 1000SP race car by using an engine taken from the Alfa Romeo 4C.

As qouted of BH Auction, one of the 1000SP race car was on the list to be auctioned in Tokyo back then 2019. The mentioned race car using a 5-speed gearbox made by Hewland, not by Abarth, and has been kept by a collector in Japan for a long time in 'ready to roll' condition and had been registered domestically (in Japan).

It also stated, beside you able to modify each part of the race car and the most attractive part is you can enjoy speeding behind its wheel on the public roads by participating in classic car rallies regularally, even though it is a pure race car. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BHAUCTION | SUPERCARS ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

The figure of a dashing and futuristic designed cruiser motorbike of China

Unique ONES Benda, a Chinese motorcycle brand is reported to be launching a new cruiser motorcycle figure in the near future. Actually, the motorcycle made its debut as the Benda LF-01 Concept motorcycle at the 18th Motor Expo held at Chongqing, on September last year, which was later realized into a production version called the Benda LFC700 and reportedly the all-new cruiser motorcycle will be launched at the brand debut event on July 2021, held in Xi'an, China.

Benda LF-01 Concept motorcycle is debuted at the 18th Motor Expo held at Chongqing, on September 2020. (Picture from: BendaMotors)

How would it look? Okay, so far we might be familiar with imitation motorbikes made in China pretending to be the real ones. You might be seen all, ranging from a plagiarized version of BMW S 1000 RR, to a “copycatz” of the Ducati Panigale. However, Benda LFC700 is not one of them. Despite the cruiser motorbike's polarizing style, some credits may be worthy to be given to Benda for creating a truly original motorcycle design.

Benda LF-01 Concept motorcycle is a futuristic cruiser motorcycle and powered by a 680cc inline four-cylinder engine which is said to be capable of pumping around 97 horsepower. (Picture from: BendaMotors)

From the looks, the Benda LFC700 is definitely a futuristic cruiser motorcycle with several key elements that make it stand out in the midst of a modern urban crowd. We can be seen straight to the main part, its very large 310 cross-section rear tire that became a major feature that said succesfully to be caught the world's motorbike fans attention when it was still as the LF-01 concept motorcycle last year, then there is a unique headlights design are made to resemble a (small sized) fighter jet exhaust.

Reportedly, the LF-01's production version called Benda LFC700 will be launched in July 2021. (Picture from: BendaMotors)

There's another interesting ones, ie the uncommon and unconventional engine is chosen by Benda as its drivetrain, especially if seen the styling of this bike, which makes us expected a large V-twin engine to be chosen as its drivetrain. But, the Benda LFC700 cruiser is powered by a 680cc inline four-cylinder engine which is said to be capable of pumping around 97 horsepower so you can be sure it will make a fierce roaring sound when it passing through in the dense urban traffic.

Look its very large 310 cross-section rear tire that became a major feature that said succesfully to be caught the world's motorbike fans attention. (Picture from: BendaMotors)

For a moment, we saw when the Benda LF-01 Concept bike was launched last year, the Chinese manufacturer featured many premium features, such as the color TFT screen, ride by wire, slipper assist clutch, cruise control, ABS, and even the Hill start assist. But unfortunately, like most pre-production motorbikes, some of these features didn't make it to the production model. But don't worry because the Benda LFC700 is reportedly still loaded with advanced features, only the ride-by-wire and cruise control features are not included in the production version model. Not bad than nothing.

However, this edgy and futuristic looking cruiser motorcycle can certainly be a breath of fresh air in the cruiser segment which is currently dominated by the retro-style motorbikes. And reportedly, the Benda LFC700 will sell for around 40,000 to 50,000 yuan, or around US. $7,000 (or around Rp.101 million) and is hoped that the futuristic cruiser-styled motorbike will be able to attract the younger generation. But, now on You should be patient, if wanna see it.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops..... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BENDA MOTORS | ID.MOTOR1 | GRIDOTO ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

Estrema Fulminea, an Italian monstrous-powered elegant hypercar will be launched in the 2023

SuperBEAST Currently, many know that electric-powered cars are capable of spewing out higher power than conventional petrol-engined cars. The electric cars are known for their constant power since the lower rate. However, until now, not many electric-powered cars have appeared as hypercars. And what happens if there is a hyper electric car that is claimed to produce more than two thousand horsepower? Here's the answer.

Estrema Fulminea is an electric-powered hypercar featutued with a low-profiled hypercar-style design. (Picture from: Automobili Estrema)

Well, recently an Italian automotive company named Automobili Estrema reported that they will soon launch an electric-powered hypercar called the Estrema Fulminea, which comes in azzuro blue colored and with a low-profiled hypercar-style design. The car was built to have aerodynamics and with a tapered design line resembled to the Ferrari's car breeds, while the taillights are made thinner than the headlights to emphasize the sporty impression of the Fulminea.

Estrema Fulminea is powered by the Avesta Battery Energy Engineering (ABEE) "hybrid" Lithium-ion batteries that combines an ultracapacitor cell battery and a solid-state battery. (Picture from: Tempo)

It's not only the design that makes this car intriguing, but also from its innards. The Fulminea uses the Avesta Battery Energy Engineering (ABEE) "hybrid" Lithium-ion batteries that combines an ultracapacitor cell battery and a solid-state battery. The two kind of batteries work together and are claimed to have a total capacity of 100 kWh with an energy density of 500 Wh/kg.

Estrema Fulminea's 'hybrid' batteries diagram (combined an ultracapacitor cell battery and a solid-state battery) which channelled the power to drive the electric motor mounted on all four wheels. (Picture from: MSN)

Then the battery is claimed to be able to carry the Estrema Fulminea hypercar to run as far as 520 kilometers according to the standards of the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Then its charging capability, the company claimed that the ABBE hybrid batteries can be quickly charged with the DC currents from 10% to 80% in just 15 minutes.

Estrema Fulminea has aerodynamics and with a tapered design line resembled to the Ferrari's car breeds, while the taillights are made thinner than the headlights to emphasize the sporty impression of the car. (Picture from: Ridertua)

From the sophistication of its 4 electric motors, so the Fulminea hypercar is claimed to have a maximum power of up to 1.5 MW or equivalent of 2,040 horsepower. The Italian company is claimed, by such power can make the Fulminea accelerates up to 320 kilometers per hour in less than 10 seconds. Wow! Of course this is a figure for achieving a very fast acceleration for a hypercar.

The Estrema Fulminea will be ready to run on the streets in the next two years and also priced at €1.961 million or around Rp.34.1 billion. "The first delivery (Fulminea) to selected consumers is scheduled for the second half of 2023," as quoted of Top Gear. So, let's just wait if You want to see it for real!! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOMOBILI ESTREMA | TOPGEAR | MSN ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

AeroVette as a future-style Corvette figure who failed into production line

Wild ONES So far, the world's car fans knew the Corvette is an American exotic-performing iconic sports car ever made by the GM's subsdiary Chevrolet from early of '50s until today. As quoted from Carbuzz, the sports car figure was first proposed to be developed by Zora Arkus-Duntov (later known as the 'Father of the Corvette'), an engineering genius who had a lifelong passion for cars and motor sports, and it was this enthusiasm that helped him land an engineering job at Chevrolet since 1953.

1976 Chevrolet AeroVette' is formerly mid-engined four-rotor Wankel prototype that replaced with a 400-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) Chevy V8 engine. (Picture from: ChevroletGallery)

As much as Arkus-Duntov liked the Corvette C1 design, he was not satisfied with the technical specifications, due to he tought besides requiring more power and also should be having the ability to run faster.

1976 Chevrolet 'AeroVette' is featured with gull-wing door-type looks so futuristic. (Picture from: ChevroletGallery)

So since the 1950s, so many concept car models have been made to accommodate Arkus-Duntov's desire to make his beloved Corvette the best sports car ever made. It is understandable that the Corvette was meant by the GM to compete with the greatness of its rivals Ford GT40 sports car which was successful in the worlds of racing.

And into the 1970s, when the Wankel rotary engine looked like the promising wave of the future. With its reduced parts count and almost vibration-free operation, it was a model of engineering elegance, and General Motors is betting big on it. By using a license from the aircraft engine maker Curtiss-Wright, then the company worked on a two-rotor engine and readied it for the new production at Monza in 1975.

Before the Wankel engined model born, actually the GM's Styling studio had launched the mid-engined Corvette 'XP-895' in the 1972. The show car is built based of the Corvette 'XP-882' featured the distinctive wedge-shaped of the '70s. Although has more futuristic and handsome look, the lightweight aluminum bodied model made by the Reynolds Metals Company is apparently too costly in the production rather than the previous fiberglass bodied C3 model, so it's met a dead-end while going to be produced and left.

1972 Chevrolet Reynolds XP-895 prototype built based of the 1970 XP-882 and had a lightweight aluminum body done by Reynolds Metal Company. (Picture from: Corvettes.nl)

In the same time, the company found out and saw that the Mercedes-Benz C111 prototypes and the Mazda 110S Cosmo production cars already running around with Wankels, it made GM feel the need to rush to display its earnestness about the engine. So in 1973, GM is launched two Corvette models at once, ie the two-rotor and mid-mounted four-rotor Wankel engined car prototypes.

1972 Chevrolet Reynolds XP-895 prototype is powered by a 454-cid V8 Chevrolet mid-mounted engine. (Picture from: Corvettes.nl)

At that time they first built the two-rotor engined model (known as the XP-897 GT) looked ready for production. It drawn tightly with a low nose that promised excellent visibility, and uniquely, the one-off two-rotor Wankel engined car prototype was built by the Italian famous coachbuilder, Pininfarina and based on the Porsche 914 chassis. The unique-shaped car turn out does not have enough power to run fast on the roads, because the engine is only capable of spewing out only 180 hp.

This made Arkus-Duntov dissatisfied and made him took out the Chevrolet Reynolds XP-895 of the plant's storages, then made an overhaul ranging from revised the car looks to swap its 454-cid V8 engine with a double 2-rotor Wankel engine. Then the four-rotor prototype named the Corvette Four-Rotor and is launched at the 1973 New York Auto Show.

1973 Chevrolet XP-897 GT two-rotor Wankel Prototype built based of the Porsche 914 chassis. (Picture from: Automobile)

The four rotor engined model's appearance had an almost-symmetrical shape with a pointed prow up front and a sliver of a tail. Its gullwing doors had mid-door hinges, and the four-rotor engine (actually 2 + 2-rotor) sat sideways behind the cockpit. As time goes by that proven the Wankel engine was not the right choice for an exotic sports car like the Corvette.

1973 Chevrolet XP-897 GT two-rotor Wankel Prototype had GM' styling but was built by the famous Italian coachbuilder, Pininfarina. (Picture from: Automobile)

In the 1976, a year before retiring, the GM styling boss Bill Mitchell decided that perhaps a mid-engined Corvette was the way forward. Although he had helped halt several previous Arkus-Duntov mid-engine projects, Mitchell pulled the three-year-old XP-895 mid-engine prototype from storage. Originally designed for GM's licensed 420-hp, four-rotor experimental engine, Mitchell ordered the rotary engine removed and replaced with a 400-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) Chevy V8 engine, named Chevrolet Aerovette.

This is the 1970 Chevrolet XP-882 prototype is powered by an 400-cid small-block engine coupled with a silent chain-drive to an Olds Toronado Turbo 400 transmission and also known as the forerunner of the Chevrolet Aerovette. (Picture from: SuperChevy)

Actually, the car got the green light for production in 1980 (which would make it the Corvette C4), but apparently a number of obstacles arose. First, other mid-engined cars such as the Nissan 280Z are selling well in the market, while the C3 was stumbling in sales. Second, the senior support team consisting of Zora-Arkus-Duntov, Head of Design Bill Mitchell, and General Manager of Chevrolet Ed Cole all-have retired, so that the production plan came to a halt.

This is the 1970 Chevrolet XP-882 powered by an 400-cid small-block engine coupled with a silent chain-drive to an Olds Toronado Turbo 400 transmission and also known as the forerunner of the Chevrolet Aerovette. (Picture from: SuperChevy)

Not to mention the new Corvette chief at the time Dave McLellan faced tightening funding issues to continue development of the Corvette C4 of 1984 and back as the traditional front-engined sports car. Meanwhile the Aerovette remained as a concept without ever sliding into the production line and currently just sitting on display at the GM Heritage Centre in Sterling Heights, Michigan. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARBUZZ | JOURNALCLASSICCARS | AUTOMOBILEMAG | CARANDDRIVER | CARSTYLING.RU | SUPERCHEVY ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

The one off Alfa Romeo concept car as a homage to the legendary Italian racing driver Tazio Nuvolari

ONE-OFF If lately we are very interested in cars that have been made or designed by Alfa Romeo independently or in collaboration with third parties in the past. Not only because most of these automotive creations have a beautiful, unique and attractive shape, but also we could be seen the Alfa Romeo’s interesting attempt at reviving the glory days of coachbuilders. Apart from it, we can also see how much Alfa Romeo appreciates its historical journey, by launching various car models as a homage for figures who are considered to have contributed to the brand or the automotive world in general.

Alfa Romeo Nuvola concept car is launched at the Paris Auto Show 1996 and named after Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari, the legendary Italian racer. (Picture from: Motor1)

For example is when the Italian brand launched the Alfa Romeo Nuvola at the Paris Auto Show 1996. The concept car is named after Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari, a legendary Italian racing driver who started his career as a motorbike racer and then switched to concentrate on the one-seater sports car racing, and continued to race until he was approaching 60 years, as qouted of the Skoda Motorsports.

Alfa Romeo Nuvola concept car has a long snouted car with a heavily sloped roofline ending with a short rear in the same vein as a TVR sports car. (Picture from: Motor1)

Now we feel it's a good time to take a look back at the two-door sports coupe made by Alfa Romeo in the 1990s. The Novula is built by the Alfa Romeo's Centro Stile led at that time by none other than renowned car designer Walter de Silva. As we all knew, he is the figure who created the original Audi R8, not to mention the gorgeous Lamborghini Miura Concept and the wild one-seater Lamborghini Egoista Concept. He is also the man behind the beautiful Alfa Romeo 156 and a number of other models from the Volkswagen Group.

Alfa Romeo Nuvola concept car was created by Alfa Romeo as a design study as well as a new style approach, the car made its debut just a year before the Alfa Romeo 156. (Picture from: AutoDesignMagazine)

Judging by its appearance, it is a long snouted car with a heavily sloped roofline ending with a short rear in the same vein as a TVR sports car. Meanwhile, many say that at first glance some parts of the Novula are similar to GTV which is yet to be launched. Can you see the similarities between them boths?

Alfa Romeo Nuvola concept car is built by the Alfa Romeo's Centro Stile led at that time by none other than renowned car designer Walter de Silva. (Picture from: AutoDesignMagazine)

As for sure, the concept was created by Alfa Romeo as a design study as well as a new style approach, the car made its debut just a year before the Alfa Romeo 156. At the same time, the one-off vehicle came up with an interesting idea. The Italian brand envisions Nuvola as a resurrection of the coachbuilt car, with the automaker providing rolling chassis for independent companies to build bodies and then selling the vehicle through Alfa Romeo dealers.

Alfa Romeo Nuvola concept car is powered by a 2.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine capable delivering power of 296 hp and 285 lbs-ft (386 Nm) coupled with six-speed manual gearbox. (Picture from: CulturesofCars)

Actually it based on a modular space frame chassis that can accommodate almost any kind of body style for Novula if it wants to be developed further, from the sleek coupe shape to a more practical shooting brake. Unfortunately, it never happened, and a two-door, two-seat sports car with a polyester body and fully integrated bumpers remained purely a concept.

As mentioned before, the Nuvola is a 2 door all-wheel drive coupe and features an aluminum frame and polyester body and is powered by a 2.5-liter V6 twin-turbo engine with 296 horsepower and 285 lbs-ft (386 Nm) coupled with six-speed manual gearbox. While about its performance, it's noted that the car able to accelerate from still to 100 kph in 6 second and pace up to the top speed of 280 kph (274 mph).

Currently, the 1996 Alfa Romeo Novula concept is one of the car collections inside the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum (Museo Alfa Romeo) in Arese, Italy. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MUSEOALFAROMEO | MOTOR1 | ALFAROMEO159 ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.