The most powered Porsche sportscar in the 1990s

When we were talking about the 1990s supercars, the first things that crossed the mind were McLaren F1, Ferrari F40, Jaguar XJ220, and Porsche 959. However, it turns out that Porsche once had one forgotten sports car named the Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion.

1996 Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion is one of the most powered sports cars in the 1990s. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2WHOleb)

Back in 2017, it was sold for $5,665,000 or approx Rp.7 billion in one of the Gooding & Company auction events. When offered the Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion, it is still in a well-maintained state and has no defects or damage. The mileage of this vehicle has only reached 7,900 kilometers. So what makes this classic sportscar able to achieve so expensive selling prices?

One of the Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion was sold for $5,665,000 at the Gooding & Company auction events in 2017. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Ucs0DO)

As quoted of Carscoops, at that time, the Stuttgart-based premium car manufacturers should make several units of cars that were legal for use on the streets as one of the requirements to join endurance racing at 24 Hours of Le Mans. And the Porsche 911 GT1 made in 1996 which later became the Porsche's ticket to participate in the FIA GT Championship.

Left side view of the 1996 Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3bmODv0)

This Porsche beautiful road-legal version, of which only 20 units were ever produced of its initial plan as much as 25 units. The car was designed with a wide frame and spoilers, and front lip. Its rear is inspired by Porsche 962, and front by Porsche 993 with elevated ground clearance, the suspension is softer, the gear and engine ratios are adjusted.

Compact interior vies of 1996 Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3bmODv0)

Likewise, the interior also looks aggressive, especially the instrument panel that shows various indicators. This model is as fierce as the racing version, so it has the impression of being uncomfortable for use on the highway.

1996 Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion used a 3.2 liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3bmODv0)

This street-legal car version is equipped with a 3.2 liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine. The engine sector is capable of generating power up to 544 hp at 7,000 rpm, with torque reaching 600 Nm at 4,250 rpm. No wonder this car can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers in just 3.7 seconds. This car can also run up to 310 kilometers per hour.

The appearance and performance numbers of this car is quite impressive for a car from the 1990s, so it's not surprising in its heyday, this sports car was considered one of the most powerful cars of the era. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE THINGS |]

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An exotic 1940s Stanguellini Ala d'Oro sports cars

Looking at a row of racing cars of the 1940s that have a unique and unusual shape is very pleasant for us. Especially cars manufactured by Italian automotive manufacturers.

One of them was a racing car that could be said success in various racing events at the time named the Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Sports Ala d’Oro (where Ala d'Oro is the Italian words means 'golden wing').

1943 Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Sports Barchetta Ala d'Oro. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33KjoHN)

The cars were initially built by Fiat in 1934 and sold as the 508 S models. Then the exotic-styled roadster and coupe models were built based on the 508 S models done by Automobili Stanguellini, a small sports car maker based in Modena.

Front view of 1943 Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Sports Barchetta Ala d'Oro. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33KjoHN)

The company was founded by Vittorio Stanguellini. It was most active between 1946 and 1960 and continued to produce competition cars until 1981 when Vittorio Stanguellini died; thenceforth, the company devoted to vintage cars.

Rear side view of 1943 Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Sports Barchetta Ala d'Oro. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/33KjoHN)

The first model known as the Stanguellini Sports Barchetta Ala d’Oro was born in 1943 out of the imagination of Francesco Stanguellini, a son of the company founder, Vittorio Stanguellini. The Italian company, despite its small size, enjoyed a glorious history of victories, even over its more famous 'cousins' at Ferrari.

1946 Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Sports Berlinetta Ala d'Oro. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3dpopd4)

Francesco had a passion for race cars and was described as 'the engine wizard' by the press for his ability to build light and powerful cars by transforming other models’ frames and engines. One day he drew the first sketch of this splendid vehicle by using a 1,110cc 4-cylinder Fiat's engine. 

Left side view of 1946 Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Sports Berlinetta Ala d'Oro. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3dpopd4)

The engine was capable to burst power of up to 45hp and make it run to 185 kilometers per hour at top speed. So the cars which would win the Italian Sportscar Championship in 1946 and 1947.

Rearview of 1946 Fiat Stanguellini 1100 Sports Berlinetta Ala d'Oro. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3dpopd4)

The second sports models is the Stanguellini Sports Berlinetta Ala d’Oro equipped with a very special dynamic hardtop that was often used by drivers for endurance and road races such as the 1000 Miglia.

In 1946 it was purchased by Cornelio Corazza di Treviglio who re-registered it with RE 131665 plates, it is at this time that the car underwent the replacement of the engine (currently mounted) and was re-bodied by the Carrozzeria Ala d'Oro.

These two wonderful designs of the Ala d’Oro still lets the world's classic car enthusiast imagination soar until today. ***  [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ITALIAN WAYS | ROUTEVECCHIE | AQUARAMABEC | COACHBUILD]

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Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut aiming the top speed of 500 kph

Although the Geneva International Motor Show 2020 was canceled, the Swedish well-known hypercar manufacturer, Koenigsegg stay presented in Geneva to unveil its newest unique hypercar figure named Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut alongside with the Koenigsegg Gemera and the model is predicted to be the fastest car in the world.

The all-new Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is debuted in Geneva and predicted to be the fastest car in the world. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2x2NytJ)

The company's CEO Christian von Koenigsegg confirmed that the company had finished recording the highest speed once the Jesko Absolut's production was complete. "This is more than fast enough. We actually don't want to build anything faster," as he told to Top Gear.

How fast is this hypercar? According to Koenigsegg's calculations, the Jesko Absolut was able to run more than 500 kph (310 mph) very comfortably beyond its rival, Bugatti. The only thing left is to set the date for the actual recording time, but it takes time.

Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut used a 5.0-liter twin turbo V8 engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2x2NytJ)

"This is a process to get permission from the authorities, the police, trying to close the road well. So it might take a year or two, something like that. But the aim is that we can prove the car's ability," said Koenigsegg further.

The Absolut uses the same engine as the Jesko, a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that pumps power to 1,578 hp (1,600 PS) on the E85. The flat crank of the V8 engine is also equipped with a small electric compressor that moves air into the turbo to eliminate pauses. The power is channeled through a multi-clutch 9-speed Light Speed ​​transmission system.

Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut featured also a large rear wing with a pair of protruding backs to help stability at high speeds. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2xe4T2V)

And the Jesko Absolut uses a large rear wing with a pair of protruding backs to help stability at high speeds. This combined with the longer back end gives a resistance coefficient of 0.278 Cd.

Based on the Guinness World Record, the fastest car in the world is still lined by Koenigsegg Agera RS. This hypercar is the fastest car in 2017 with a speed of 277.87 mph or 447.19 kph.

Bugatti Chiron managed to overtake it by penetrating the sacred speed of 304.77 mph or 490.48 kph. However, the Guinness World Record was not recognized because it was carried out on a one-way circuit. While the Koenigsegg Agera RS was tested on a 30 km highway connecting Las Vegas and Pahrump. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TOP GEAR | CARSCOOPS | MOTOR1]

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The most weirdest GM Bison turbine-engined truck concept

The 1950s and 1960s could be considered the heyday of automotive manufacturers and designers to develop and realize their wild imagination and vision about what the vehicles should look like in the future. On this occasion, we still talking about the turbine engines and future cars according to those eras.

1964 General Motors Bison, a vision of trucks for the future has been presented at the 1964 World Fair. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2vAAHyi)

Aside from Chrysler Turbine Car in 1963, it turns out that a year later, the manufacturer compatriot rival General Motors also makes the turbine-engined vehicles.

But the GM's vehicle is not a sedan but a truck named General Motors Bison concept. Until today, the General Motors truck concept still looks like something truly coming from the future, despite being created in 1964.

1964 General Motors Bison has no door, to get into, the driver and passenger should be opened the canopy, which included the entire windscreen. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2vAAHyi)

General Motors created the Bison concept for the 1964 World Fair since it had to be a representation of the future. GM took inspiration from planes and spaceships, therefore, it featured a low and sleek profile. Uniquely, this concept truck has no door. To get into, the driver and passenger should be opened the canopy, which included the entire windscreen.

Then inside the cabin, there is a futuristic steering wheel that looks a lot like a yoke of an airplane. Between the two vertical handles, there are a number of switches. The control levers and buttons are mostly located on the center console, where its driver and passenger will also find the phone.

1964 General Motors Bison had a four-wheel steering and the entire cabin was situated in front of the wheels. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2vAAHyi)

General Motors said that the Bison concept is meant for long-distance hauling vehicle, but it didn’t seem like it is the case, due to the cabin does not have a sleeping room or special compartments for personal belongings of the driver and passengers.

Then there is something interesting about this concept truck, where the entire cabin of Bison was in front of the wheels. Then the cabin position is also very low and has a very aerodynamic look. Then because the glass canopy is quite large, so the visibility must be very good. The GM Bison truck concept has a four-wheel steering system, where the wheels of both axis were turning to the same or opposite directions, depending on the steering angle

Inside the cabin of the 1964 General Motors Bison there's a phone in the central console. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2vAAHyi)

What's special about GM's concept truck is the engine. It is not half-hearted, the American automotive manufacturer pinned two turbine engines capable of spewing out the power of 280 and 720 horsepower respectively. As we all know, GM has experimented with turbines since 1953.

Although initially Bison was only a design concept and could not be driven, but turned out GM did make a real driving prototype truck with turbine engines sometime later. And Bison’s turbines were mounted over the wheels right behind the cabin.

There's a pod above the axles of the 1964 GM Bison truck concept was housing its two turbine engines.. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2vAAHyi)

Because it is intended as a future long-distance hauling vehicle, then trailer hitch was also not a traditional design. When designing this concept truck, GM imagined that in the future loading and unloading of trailers will be automatic where the cargo modules will simply move in the docks by themselves.

And so the trailer, which also had a low profile to match the truck, had hard shell and modular structure. The entire combination did look pretty impressive, but unfortunately the company never has the plans for the Bison to reach the production lines.

The 1964 General Motors Bison's trailer which also had a low profile to match the truck, had hard shell and modular structure. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2vAAHyi)

Back to its initial goals, General Motors created Bison as a vision about what the future should look like. It seems that for the Bison concept to work, so many works should been done and well-prepared up to the entire trucking industry changed.

Even though the truck today was not like this, the Bison concept is still a pretty cool design and we only could be hoped to see it's passed in front of us and honked while hauling goods someday.  *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | HEMMINGS | TFLTRUCK | DESIGNYOUTRUST | NODUM.ORG]

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Here it comes the newest full-electric powered supercar of Hong Kong!

With the cancellation of the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show, one of the world's biggest automotive exhibition events some time ago as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. This certainly makes many parties feel concerned, especially automotive manufacturers who have prepared themselves to participate in this annual global automotive event.

Apex AP-0 full-electric supercar made its debut in London some time ago. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ah964B)

And one of them is Apex Motors, a Hong kong-based automotive company whose name may still sound foreign to our ears. But in fact, this company has produced many automotive products, and one of them is the Apex AP-1 which is a compact roadster that carries the Ford EcoBoost 2.3-liter engine and was released specifically for Hong Kong automotive market.

At the automotive exhibition event in Geneva, the company was plan to display a new full-electric supercar named Apex AP-0. The Apex AP-0 supercar brings a different platform from its predecessor AP-1 roadster. Yes, the Apex AP-0 full-electric supercar will be displayed as a two-passenger coupe. Recently, Apex has taken the covers off its ground-breaking AP-0 concept EV sports car at its global launch event in London, UK.

Top front view of Apex AP-0 full-electric supercar. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ah964B)

This car has a body size that is not too big, with a length of 4.378 mm, and looks about the size of a Porsche 718 Cayman. Even so, the wheelbase reaches 2,649 mm, or 175 mm longer than the Cayman.

Then to optimize the speed and stability when driving, the ground clearance is set around only 93.98 mm.  While for the control, this car is supported by the racing car styled pushrod suspensions. Furthermore to reduce its speed is entrusted to the carbon-ceramic devices with a six-piston caliper mounted on the front wheels.

Left side view of Apex AP-0 full-electric supercar. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ah964B)

As mentioned earlier that the AP-0 is a full-electric supercar, so automatically its mechanical heart is an electric motor entrusted to rotate the rear wheels. The company claimed, the car's electric motor configuration is capable of producing power of 658 PS and 578 Nm of torque, so then the acceleration from zero to 100 kph can be reached in 2.3 seconds, with a top speed of 305 kph.

The Hong Kong-based automotive company revealed that the car's interior will make in a minimalist style as look attached in a racing car in general. That's seems normal when looking at the extreme exterior appearance. To be sure, the driver and passenger will pass through the gullwing doors to enter the car's cabin.

The wheel steering and dashboard view of Apex AP-0 full-electric supercar. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ah964B)

Besides that, there are also some qualified supporting driving features. As quoted by Motor1, this car has a Lidar sensor attached to the front. This is usually used not only to prevent unwanted incidents but also to support autonomous navigation.

Rearview of Apex AP-0 full-electric supercar. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ah964B)

Yes, Apex also said that the AP-0 is also embedded with a level 3 autonomous system. So then the driving pleasure is increasingly obtained while driving the car because there is a holographic augmented reality display, which can display the roads or racing tracks like in video games.

So how much is it? Estimated the car's price per unit reaches $195 thousand or Rp 2.920 billion. Shorterwise, this car will be built at Apex's manufacturing facilities in the UK later and this company also has planned to make 500 units in a year. Well, let's wait for the realization later..! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | APEX MOTORS | CARSCOOPS | MOTOR1]

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