Nother CarGuy

Porsche is gearing up to introduce the 2020 Taycan next week, but that’s not the only electric vehicle in the company’s stable. Unveiled earlier today, the 99X Electric marks Porsche’s entry into the exciting world of Formula E. Porsche has hopes for the model as they said its name uses the ‘9’ twice to emphasize the “importance of the Formula E project” for the company. The automaker also said the race car will serve as a development platform for future production electric vehicles. On the styling front, there isn’t much to report as the car largely echoes the competition. However, the company applied a traditional Porsche motorsport livery which features black, white and red. The model also has prominent Porsche badging as well as labels promoting everything from Hugo Boss to Vodafone. Porsche noted Formula E regulations stipulate a standardized chassis and battery, but the drive system is left up to manufactures. As a result, the company developed a special E-Perfor...

Porsche has taken off the covers to the all-new 911 RSR GTE racer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The new Porsche 911 RSR GTE will compete in the 2019-2020 FIA World Endurance Championship set to kick off at Silverstone on September 1st and will then become available to customer teams for the 2020-2021 season. It may look similar to the outgoing RSR GTE, but 95 per cent of its parts are brand new. The most significant change is the fitment of a bespoke 4.2-liter naturally aspirated flat-six that pumps out 507 HP. This is the largest capacity engine fitted to a 911 racer ever and replaces the outgoing 4.0-liter unit. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission with a three-disc carbon race clutch. The new RSR even features side-exiting exhausts, which allowed for the design of a more effective rear diffuser, thus generating greater downforce. Like its predecessor, the new RSR GTE features an aluminum-steel composite body shell and carbon fiber...

Extreme E has arrived as the off-road equivalent of the Formula E World Championship, and the Odyssey 21 is the racer that will compete in the inaugural season. The new series is the brainchild of Formula E boss Alejandro Agag. The company premiered its race car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend and released a number of juicy details about it. Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice about the Odyssey 21 is its size. It is 14.4 feet long, 6.2-feet tall, and 7.5-feet wide and tips the scales at 3,600 lbs (1,632 kg), making it roughly as heavy as two Formula E cars. Work is still being done to finalize the championship details as well as the vehicle’s specs. The Odyssey 21 brought to Goodwood is only a show car built by Spark Racing Technologies. All teams competing in the racing series will use a common chassis and a battery pack built by Williams Advanced Engineering. Teams will develop their own electric motor and be given some leeway over sections of the off...

Audi Sport chose this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed to reveal the new R8 LMS GT2 race car, which is set to compete in the new GT2 class from 2020 on. The new version of the Audi R8 is the most powerful customer race car ever offered by Audi Sport, with the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine producing 630hp (470kW), mainly thanks to its new exhaust system. With the new R8 LMS GT2, Audi joins Porsche as the second manufacturer to commit to the GT2 Class, which aims to fill the gap between the existing GT3 and GT4 classes. GT2 race cars are designed to offer less downforce than the GT3 cars and are scheduled to make their racing debut in Europe and North America next year. The new Audi R8 LMS GT2 comes with a significantly wider bodywork than the production R8, featuring a new front bumper, a huge rear wing and a roof-mounted air intake for the engine. Audi says that around 55 percent of their new GT2 racer is shared with the road-legal R8. “The Audi R8 LMS GT2 ...

Mercedes has used the Geneva Motor Show to introduce the EQ Silver Arrow 01. Set to compete in Formula E, the EQ Silver Arrow 01 is an electric race car that will help to promote electric vehicles such as the EQC crossover. It’s outfitted with a “teaser” livery that features blue horizontal lines and a star motif at the rear. The model also features EQ badging and blue accents on the wheels. According to Chief Design Officer, Gorden Wagener, “The Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 teaser car gives a foretaste of the first all-electric Silver Arrow from Mercedes-Benz.” He went on to say the teaser livery, with its “subtle contrast between matte and gloss,” conveys the concept of “progressive luxury in electric motorsport.” The EQ Silver Arrow 01 will enter competition later this year and Mercedes will become the only automaker to compete in both Formula 1 and Formula E. The company noted the “parallel commitment to the two racing series will enable Mercedes to transfer the les...

Lamborghini Squadra Corse has taken the wraps off the new Urus ST-X concept. Created for a unique racing series that combines off-road driving with a traditional circuit, the Urus ST-X concept has an aggressive design and a matte Verde Mantis livery. Lamborghini didn’t go into too many specifics, but the racing crossover has been equipped with a ventilated carbon fiber hood, larger air intakes and 21-inch center-locking wheels with Pirelli tires. A closer inspection also reveals carbon fiber mirror caps, a small rear wing and “lateral racing exhausts with a new hexagonal design.” Since the crossover was designed for competition, it has been outfitted with a number of FIA-approved safety features including a steel roll cage, a fire suppression system and an FT3 fuel tank. Lamborghini Squadra Corse also worked their magic on the Urus and this led to a 25% weight reduction compared to the standard model. This suggests the concept weighs less than 3,637 lbs (1,649 kg). ...

The Aston Martin DBS Supeleggera lineup is growing as the company has taken the wraps off the limited edition DBS 59. Commissioned by Aston Martin Cambridge, the series of 24 cars pay tribute to the DBR1 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. Created by Aston Martin’s Q division, the DBS 59 features an assortment of styling cues which recall the iconic race car. Chief among them is a racing green paint job that is contrasted by gloss carbon fiber trim. The car also has a number of bronze accents on the grille, spoiler and wheels. Speaking of the latter, they are backed up by a high-performance braking system with bronze calipers. Moving into the cabin, drivers will find a mix of obsidian black and chestnut tan leather as well as with “fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material.” Elsewhere, there’s racing green accents, bronze flourishes and embroidered backrests with the “DBS 59” logo. The special touches don’t end there has Q by Aston Martin has created bespoke h...

Racing is electrifying. And we don’t just mean that it’s exciting for fans. It’s actually going electric, from Formula E to touring cars to rally. And if Chevy gets its way, drag racing could be next. The Bowtie brand is showcasing this conceptual Camaro drag racer at the SEMA show this week. It’s called the eCOPO Camaro, and it packs 700 horsepower (522 kW) along with 600 lb-ft (814 Nm) of torque – all of it from electric motors. Chevy started with the existing COPO Camaro, designed as it already is for drag racing, and replaced the V8 engine with an electric motor assembly with a huge battery pack in the trunk. The system is based on a pair of BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motors, each generating 300 lb-ft (407 Nm) of torque, and connects to a conventional Turbo 400 automatic transmission. In the back, it installed four 200-volt battery modules, each weighing 175 pounds (79 kg), to give it a combined 800 volts of electrical power. It even extended the roll cage rearward...

Porsche has used the Rennsport Reunion to stage the surprise unveiling of the new 935 race car. Drawing inspiration from the iconic 935/78, the new model is a limited edition Clubsport race car that hasn’t been designed to compete in any particular series. The car is based on the 911 GT2 RS and features a retro-inspired body which is largely constructed out of lightweight carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) panels. The 935 also features an assortment of components shared with race cars including LED lights from the 919 Hybrid LMP1, side mirrors from the 911 RSR and titanium tailpipes which echo those on the 1968 Porsche 908. Last but not least, there are aerodynamically optimized wheels which mimic those on the 935/78. Moving into the cabin, there’s a carbon fiber steering wheel and digital instrument cluster sourced from the 2019 911 GT3 R. Drivers sit in a Recaro racing seat and are strapped in by a six-point harness. To their right is a unique center console and a l...

Following a report earlier this year, Toyota has announced plans to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a new Supra-inspired race car. Set to enter competition on February 16th, the model was jointly developed by Toyota Racing Development (TRD) USA and Calty Design Research. The race car has little in common with the upcoming production model and Toyota noted “TRD and Calty scaled [the] Supra to fit within NASCAR’s specifications for race vehicle entries in the NXS.” While the two models will be quite different, a number of Supra styling cues carryover to the race car thanks to an extensive wrap. It features three large air intakes which reside below slender LED headlights and a protruding nose. The production-inspired styling continues out back as the car has been equipped with slender taillights and a rear bumper that mimics the road-going model. The latter features a center-mounted third brake light which is flanked by a dual exhaust system. The Supra will replac...

Following a lengthy teaser campaign, Brabham Automotive has finally unveiled the new BT62. Designed specifically as a track-only supercar, the BT62 is undeniably aggressive as it has a carbon fiber body with front fender vents and aerodynamic side skirts. The car has also been equipped with a massive front splitter, a large rear wing and a center-mounted dual exhaust system. The BT62 rides on center-locking 18-inch wheels which are shod in bespoke Michelin racing tires. The aggressive styling isn’t just for looks as Brabham says the model should produce more than 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs) of downforce. The extensive use of carbon fiber and carbon Kevlar also means the model weighs just 972 kg (2,142 lbs) dry. The track-focused design is evident in the cabin as drivers sit in FIA-spec carbon fiber racing seats with six-point harnesses. In front of them, is a removable carbon fiber steering wheel, adjustable pedals and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. A closer in...

Like so many of its rivals, Volkswagen is in the midst of ramping up its EV game. What may very well set it apart is the prototype with which it aims to stake its claim. Unveiled in Alès, France – home to its highly accomplished driver – the new VW I.D. R Pikes Peak racer is set to tackle the famous Race to the Clouds. To get there, the German automaker has devised a racing prototype that it claims is quicker off the line than an F1 car. 2.25 seconds is all it takes to hit 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) from a standstill. That mind-bending performance comes courtesy of an electric powertrain capable of producing 680 horsepower (500 kW) and 881 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque. That’d be enough to motivate most road-going supercars, but the ID R weighs much less: under 1,100 kilograms (2,425 lbs), according to the manufacturer. The Lamborghini Huracan Performante, by comparison, weighs nearly a thousand pounds more, packs 40 fewer horses, and over 200 fewer lb-ft of torque. And t...

Ford will enter the Mustang in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series on the back of another record-setting year for the road car. The new Mustang will replace the Fusion in NASCAR and celebrate its on-track debut at Daytona in February 2019. It will be just the fourth Ford model in NASCAR’s modern era following on from the Thunderbird, Taurus, and Fusion. Initial testing of the Mustang stock car is still underway and it will be formally submitted to NASCAR for approval this summer. This announcement comes alongside news that the Ford Mustang is the world’s best-selling sports car for the third straight year. In 2017, a total of 125,809 new Mustangs were registered around the world. Unsurprisingly, the United States remains the Mustang’s largest market with 81,866 units registered last year. The Mustang has also been gaining traction in China and thanks to 7,125 local registrations, was the nation’s best-selling sports car also. Since the sixth-generation Mustang went on sal...

The FIA Formula E Championship has released its full list of participating manufacturers for next season. And as expected, it confirms that both Porsche and Mercedes will join the electric series. Both the German automakers announced their intent to enter the championship last July. And not without cost: Porsche’s entry comes at the expense of its Le Mans prototype program, while Mercedes is shutting down its DTM effort (but not its F1 team) to join the electric grid. But it wasn’t until now that their spots in the paddock were officially confirmed. “If you had said to me then that we would be in double figures in terms of recognisable names in the world of motorsport, biggest road car manufacturers and automotive brands – I would have said you were crazy,” said series chief Alejandro Agag. “But this is the reality now.” As the latest manufacturers to join the series, the two companies from Stuttgart will go up against their mutual rivals Audi and BMW (which is stepping up wit...

Originally created to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Gran Turismo video game on PlayStation 4, the Audi e-Tron Vision Gran Turismo has now been brought into the real world. Built in Ingolstadt as a one-off racing prototype, it uses three electric motors, one driving the front wheels and the other two channeling power to the rear axle, each with 200kW (272PS / 268hp), for a combined output of 600kW (815PS / 804hp). Tipping the scales at 1,450kg (3,197lbs), the Audi e-Tron Vision Gran Turismo takes less than 2.5sec to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (0-62mph), aided also by a power-to-weight ratio of 1.78kg per horsepower and a 50:50 weight distribution between the front and rear axle. Racing enthusiasts already know that some of the design elements and colors of the new e-Tron Vision GT are inspired by the ones of the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO. The legendary racer thrilled motorsport fans in the North American IMSA-GTO series back in 1989, with drivers such as Walte...