Automotive

Help the Dodge Viper ACR retake its title as the fastest production car around the Nürburgring

Die-hard motorsports and Dodge Viper lovers are seeking to send the last model off into the sunset with a record-setting bang.

What’s going on?

The Dodge Viper is one of America’s most iconic sports cars ever. Currently in its fifth generation, the latest version has been with us since 2013. But sadly, although the latest Viper is also the best one yet, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles decided to pull the plug. Meaning this will be the last Dodge Viper ever produced.

Now this is sad for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Dodge Viper is Chrysler’s only halo car–the car that interests people in the first place. That’s because the Viper is cool and an American performance icon, much like the Corvette is to Chevrolet.

Secondly, this is the best Dodge Viper ever made. So it’s disappointing to know that despite this, nobody’s buying them. And lastly, nobody likes the death of an icon.

So if you thought the saga of the Viper was to end with a slow drift into the sunset and a sad violin playing in the background, not all hope is lost. Thanks to die-hard Viper enthusiast and FM radio magnet Russ Oasis in Miami, FL, a collective group is seeking to send the last Viper off into the sunset with a big, winning bang.

What’s this big, winning bang attempt?

According to Oasis’ GoFundMe page, the goal is to have the last Dodge Viper ACR tackle the infamous Nürburgring with one task in mind: to retake the coveted as the fastest production car to lap the nearly 13-mile-long Nordschliefe.

In September 2011, the Dodge Viper ACR set this record, posting a time of 7:12:13 at the hands of renounced racer, Dominik “Ring King” Farnbacher. This record remained until several years later when Porsche took the title with the 918.

Now, the plan is to retake that title. And the only way to do this would be to meet the GoFundMe’s campaign goal of around $150,000 to $200,000.

The money raised will cover the cost to ship two Viper ACR Extremes donated by ViperExchange, the US’s proclaimed premiere dealership exclusively for the sale of Dodge Vipers. The funds also goes towards the pay for two drivers, plus any additional support required to complete the attempts.

And should you choose to donate more than $250, your name will be acknowledged and printed on a commemorative poster.

The timeline for a new Dodge Viper’s last stunt at attempting a ‘Ring record is set for APril 2017.

If the goal is not met during the GoFundMe, all donations will be refunded.

Check out the campaign, HERE.

– By: Chris Chin

The post Help the Dodge Viper ACR retake its title as the fastest production car around the Nürburgring appeared first on egmCarTech.

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Automoblog Book Garage: Muscle Car Source Book

It’s interesting to watch the automotive landscape change, especially with the dawn of new technology. The biggest theme today is the driverless world; a place where are cars are autonomous and as a result, our roads will be safer and our time behind the wheel more productive.

These visions and the technology behind them are promising, but sometimes, there is no substitute for the rawness that is American muscle. While autonomous vehicles may rule in the name of safety, there is no replacement for cars that rule in the name of performance.

Authority Figure

This latest story on the Book Garage shelf begins in 1963, and spans until the mid 1970s. Muscle Car Source Book presents this incredible era in a manner representative of its name: as a source book. From Ford, Chevrolet, and Pontiac, to Buick, AMC, and Dodge, all of the performance data for each car is displayed on tables. The essential specs, from horsepower and torque, to curb weight, fuel tank capacity, and tire sizes are laid out.

Muscle Car Source Book also touches on the major performance options available for each car, including engine options, comfort features, gauge packages, and wheel-and-tire configurations.

This book is perfect if you grew up during this time, or if you had, or currently own, a muscle car. It’s really enjoyable to read through all the different specifications and the wealth of photos doesn’t hurt either. Muscle Car Source Book is exactly like the cars within its pages: what you see is what you get.

Author

Mike Mueller has worked as a freelance automotive photojournalist since 1991. A lifetime car enthusiast, Mueller has written and photographed more than 25 automotive and truck history books and contributed photography to dozens more. Among his long list of titles are Motorbooks’ Chevy Chevelle 50 Years, The Complete Book of Corvette, and The Complete Book of Classic Dodge and Plymouth Muscle.

Muscle Car Source Book: All the Facts, Figures, Statistics, and Production Numbers is available through Amazon and Motorbooks.

Muscle Car Source Book Gallery

Interested in more from our Book Garage Series? Click here.

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2020 Chevy Silverado HD: Tough Workhorse Gets Tougher Still

2020 Chevy Silverado HD: Tough Workhorse Gets Tougher Still The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD receives a host of upgrades to increase performance.
Heading into retirement is the 6.0-liter gas engine. A more powerful gas V8 takes its place.
The Duramax power figures are unchanged but new cooling methods boost towing numbers.
From the engines and chassis, to all the towing tech: an in-depth look at the new Silverado HD.
Chevrolet has been teasing us with the new Silverado HD since last year. We knew it would look like a hulked-up Silverado 1500; we were expecting it to be, per Chevy’s promises, the strongest and most capable Silverado HD ever made. After debuting earlier this year, we felt an in-depth look on the inner makings of the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD was in order.
Turns out, our lucky stars were smiling upon us. We had the chance to chat with Bob Walczyk, Chevrolet Product Marketing Manager for light and heavy duty pickups.
If there’s one person who knows every nut and bolt in the new Silverado HD, it would be Bob Walczyk. “I’ve actually been working on this new generation truck since its inception,” he said. “I’ve been quite intimate to the vehicle all along the process here. It’s very exciting now to see this thing on the road.”
2020 Chevy Silverado HD: What’s New?
Let’s proceed to the most obvious part: the way it looks. No doubt, the new Silverado HD is bigger, longer, and taller than before.
In fact, the wheelbase is 5.2 inches longer than the outgoing model, with overall length increasing by a massive 10.4 inches. In order to establish the truck’s presence, the width is now 81.9 inches, which is 1.4 inches wider than before. The new Silverado HD is also 1.6 inches taller overall. “One thing we got from our research was how the truck needed to be bigger,” Walczyk said. “Customers wanted it to be bigger than the light duty; it needed to be heavy duty. If I’m buying a heavy duty truck it needs to look the part.”
Despite looking like the steroid-infused big brother of the Silverado 1500, the new HD shares precisely zero body panels with the 1500 – except for the roof. The tailgate and larger hood are aluminum to manage weight, but all the other body panels are steel. Chevrolet was even kind enough to make the outer door skins smooth for easier signage applications. This is handy for business owners who put their company name, logo, and phone number on the side of the truck.
The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD comes in five trim levels: Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ, and High Country. There are 22 cab, bed, and chassis configurations. Photo: Chevrolet.
Beefed-Up Underpinnings
Accompanying the increase in physical size are stronger and more durable underpinnings. The driveline in the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD is larger and more muscular than before. The bigger front and rear axles connect to a robust aluminum propeller shaft. “We use 6061 P6 aluminum for the prop shaft, which is fairly common in the industry,” Walczyk said. This new prop shaft is 30 percent larger in diameter for greater strength, something Walczyk says is important. “The new HD’s prop shaft is 3.5 millimeters thick, which is the thickest gauge we’ve ever used,” he continued.
The Silverado 2500 also receives a standard 11.5-inch ring gear while the 3500 gets an enormous 12-inch ring gear.
Since the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD is bigger than its predecessor, it’s sitting on a larger chassis as well. The frame better withstands the rudiments of heavy towing by utilizing what might seem like small modifications. “Actually, one of the big things we did in the frame area was integrating our fifth-wheel prep to the frame itself,” Walczyk explained. “In the past, it was done after the truck was assembled, so we literally pulled the box, then added the plate. Now it is integrated into the frame and we’ve got a much tighter connection there. That was a huge enabler for our customers who tow,” he added.
Chevrolet also made a change in the frame regarding corrosion protection. “We believe this will outlast most vehicle ownership cycles,” Walczyk said.
When properly equipped, the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD supports a GCWR of up to 43,500 lbs. Photo: Chevrolet.
Power To Move The World: 6.6-Liter V8
Perhaps the biggest and most important change to the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD is in the engine department. The standard motor is a larger, 6.6-liter V8 gasoline mill with direct-injection technology (GDI). The new tech allows it to churn out 401 horsepower (5200 rpm) and 464 lb-ft. of torque (4000 rpm). That’s 11 percent more horsepower and 22 percent more torque than the previous 6.0-liter unit. Chevrolet built the new motor with a cast-iron block and aluminum heads. You’ll also find a forged steel crankshaft and forged powder-metal connecting rods.
“The 6.0-liter is very reliable, but it’s also been out there for quite a while, so we have been itching to bring the gas engine up a little more in terms of modern technology,” Walczyk said. “One of the biggest things we did was going to a direct injection system. We are going to be the first to do that in the gas engines in the heavy-duty segment.”
The GDI system allows the motor to operate at a higher 10.8:1 compression ratio. It also features a longer 3.85 stroke (versus 3.62 in the 6.0). The hike in power and torque also means greater towing capabilities – 18 percent more versus the 6.0 gas. The new gasoline motor pairs with a GM 6L90 six-speed automatic with a Tow/Haul mode.
2020 Chevy Silverado HD. Photo: Chevrolet.
Power To Move The World: 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel
However, if towing really heavy loads is a daily occurrence, you need the 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8. The new Duramax produces 445 horsepower (2800 rpm) and a substantial 910 lb-ft. of torque (1600). The diesel mill connects to an Allison 10-speed automatic (10L1000) with new calibrations and a 3.42:1 axle ratio. When all is said and done, a properly-equipped Silverado HD tows up to 35,500 lbs., a 52 percent max towing increase versus the outgoing Silverado HD.
While the horsepower and torque numbers remain the same from 2017, Walczyk explains how the towing increase came about. “We haven’t really used all that power because the truck was chassis constrained and cooling constrained,” he said. “With the new architecture we opened things up; we increased airflow and oil cooling capacity.” Among the more significant changes is the 19-plate cooler versus a 15-plate cooler in the prior generation.
“And we increased the fan from 25.5 inches to 28 inches,” Walczyk added. “This fan just humongous when you see it.”
Since 2017, the hood’s upper air inlet includes an air and water separator just underneath. “We expanded that and improved on it for this new generation,” Walczyk said. “The engineering team really focused on ways to get the proper cooling so we could get the tow ratings we were looking for.” Photo: Chevrolet.
It’s All About Towing: More Tech Please
There’s a reason why buyers want a bigger, meaner, and more powerful Silverado HD. It has something to do with that thing called towing.
In addition to landing the highest possible numbers, designers spent equal time on the actual towing experience. “We did a lot of research,” Walczyk revealed. “Around 93 percent of our truck owners tow and about half tow over 8,000 lbs. regularly.” During those market research sessions, Walczyk said it was “loud and clear” that customers wanted easier towing by way of modern technology. “They were very interested in lights, cameras, and sensors,” he continued. “They wanted to see better and take advantage of those things all around the truck.”
The solution is the Advanced Trailering System, a first for the Chevy Silverado HD. The system offers up to 15 high-definition camera views, including surround vision, a bed camera, and a trick transparent trailer view camera. The latter allows you to see out the back as if the trailer wasn’t there in the first place! It uses two cameras: one tailgate-mounted camera and an available accessory camera for the rear of the trailer.
It’s All About Towing: Vantage Points
When pulling a trailer down the road, the camera system matches the turn signals; meaning when the left signal is on, the camera view is bias to the left, and vice versa for the right.
“Your view is going to be 80/20, 70/30 or 60/40 depending on how far you’re turning the steering wheel and in what direction,” Walczyk said. “It really zeros in on where that trailer is going. If you are pulling a 40-foot trailer, you’re going to see if you are getting near that curb or not.”
The corner steps in the rear bumper increase in size for 2020. Photo: Chevrolet.
Related: From 1918 to 2019: a walk through over 100 years of Chevy truck history.
Diesel After-Run Feature
Think of it as a “turbo timer,” the same thing found in tuned examples of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza. The idea is to keep the engine running or idling after a demanding towing situation. The diesel after-run feature prevents the engine from shutting down for up to 15 minutes, giving the motor a chance to cool using the larger fan.
But what happens if you throw it in park and turn the engine off? The truck will simply restart after departing the cabin, turning itself off after reaching the appropriate temperature. So what you basically have is an immensely powerful diesel truck with a sports car feature.
Neat stuff, I say.
The 2020 Chevy Silverado HD is built at Flint Assembly in Flint, Michigan. Photo: Chevrolet.
Family Matters
For many, buying a truck is more than just purchasing a vehicle. It’s more than having the freedom to move about, or the ability to haul everything in a single load. Like most trucks, the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD will end up a member of the family. It’s the pal at work, or the friend who is with you no matter what. A survey last year from Chevy and Harris Poll found that 45 percent of truck owners plan on passing their pickup down to a child or loved one. Another 60 percent say they “cannot live” without their truck.
“People spend a lot of money on these trucks, so they want the vehicle to do everything for them. It’s something they use for their livelihood and to pull their toys on the weekend,” Walczyk said. “I’m driving one right now and it’s phenomenal; it’s been a joy to drive.”
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.
Photos & Source: Chevrolet.

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Top 5 Cars And Attractions At NAIAS

There are auto shows and then there is the North American International Auto Show. Last year, there were 61 vehicle introductions at NAIAS, a majority of which were worldwide debuts. This year, AutoMobili-D for the Press and Industry Preview days highlighted the vehicles and technology of tomorrow, giving insight into how our future world may define mobility.

The future of transportation was a major topic this year. Ford’s City of Tomorrow, Faurecia’s Cockpit of the Future, and the Michigan Department of Transportation’s infrastructure plans were among the most intriguing ideas.

It’s a brave new world but this weekend, as the final run of NAIAS approaches, here are the top 5 things you simply must see. If you attend NAIAS and take a photo, be sure to tag us on Twitter.

#5 Nissan VMotion 2.0 Concept

The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 Concept was revealed during a press conference at the 2017 North American International Auto Show. Photo: Nissan North America.

This one is particularly exciting because it shows what the future of Nissan may look like. The automaker’s forthcoming style, design, comfort, and technology offerings are all wrapped up in this gorgeous package.

The Nissan Vmotion 2.0 concept also presents a new platform for their Intelligent Mobility initiative, essentially their vision to achieve a zero emissions world with no traffic fatalities.

“Vmotion 2.0 previews what the future designs from Nissan will be,” said Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “And it is an insightful proposition of what the future sedan could be in the coming years.”

Definitely one of our favorites this year at NAIAS.

#4 Lego Batmobile

The LEGO Batmobile is 7 feet high, 17 feet long, 9 feet wide, and weights almost 1,700 pounds. Each tire is just over 100 pounds. Photo: Chevrolet.

I saw a meme one time that read “you should always be yourself, unless you can be Batman. Be Batman.”

Duly noted.

Chevrolet, along with students from Detroit’s Cody Rouge community, A World in Motion, and FIRST LEGO League, unveiled the LEGO Batmobile at NAIAS. The construction is impressive, containing over 340,000 Lego bricks of 17 different colors.

Over 86 feet of square tube aluminum was used to create the interior frame of this justice-enforcing machine. It took 222 hours to design and 1,833 hours to build, ultimately being inspired by The LEGO Batman Movie, in theaters on February 10th.

This one will definitely be a hit with the kids (okay, and the adults too).

#3 Ford Augmented Reality Demo

The all-new Ford GT and Ford EcoSport are part of Ford’s fully immersive NAIAS display. Ford’s first-ever live augmented reality presentations let people see the automaker’s vehicles in a unique way. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Ford is introducing NAIAS attendees to their latest vehicles and technology in a very clever way. It’s not quite virtual reality but it’s not exactly in this dimension? Maybe? Perhaps that is how you might describe it?

“Think of augmented reality as the blending of virtual reality with real life,” said Garett Carr, Ford Global Auto Shows Manager. “It’s like having x-ray vision, with the power to take people deeper into our product and technology stories – it feels a little like magic.”

Ford is showing consumers how their latest innovations function through that magic. The augmented reality display includes things like a new Ford GT dashing through a wind tunnel for aerodynamic testing, and a demonstration of the new 10-speed automatic transmission coming for the 2018 F-150.

At their display, Ford is also showcasing a driverless Fusion Hybrid and a Transit customized for fitness buffs.

#2 2018 Lexus LC

Under the banner of 2+2 performance, Lexus’ designers and engineers sought a high level of aerodynamic performance to enhance ride quality, all while suppressing wind noise. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.

The last two on this list are a toss-up as both are excellent cars. The 2018 Lexus LC struck a chord with us because of the 2+2 performance mantra behind it. 2+2 performance meant both the engineering and design departments at Lexus rallied together for a specific goal.

Their intense level of collaboration and teamwork delivered this stunning automobile.

The all-new LC 500 features a naturally aspirated, 5.0-liter V8, paired with the first direct shift 10-speed automatic transmission in a luxury car. At 471 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft of torque, it’s no slouch. The LC 500h, conversely, is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 full hybrid powertrain, with a total output of 354 horsepower.

Optional equipment includes 20 and 21-inch forged wheels, Mark Levinson audio system, Limited Slip Differential, Blind Spot Monitor, Intuitive Park Assist, Heads-Up Display, and Cold Area Package, with a heated steering wheel and windshield de-icer.

Interestingly enough, Lexus debuted as a brand at NAIAS in 1989.

#1 2018 Kia Stinger

The 2018 Kia Stinger rides on a chassis comprised of 55 percent advanced high-strength steel. The result is impressive handling, along with a quiet cabin. Photo: Kia Motors America.

Yes, the car is amazing. No, I didn’t expect this from Kia. Yes, it’s amazing.

Kia literally took our breath away when it rolled out the red carpet for this performance beauty, the most powerful in the history of their luneup. The Stinger will arrive in the United States later this year with multiple engine and drivetrain options.

Kia’s idea was to take everything we could possibly love about an automobile and present it in one solid entity.

“A true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving, is not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics, and brutal styling, all at the expense of luxury, comfort, and grace,” said Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer, Kia Motors Europe.

Ride and handling is optimized through Kia’s use of high-strength steel in the chassis with a MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension. Handling characteristics may be tailored to suit the driver through the Dynamic Stability Damping Control system, a Kia first.

Although both engines are still in development, the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II engine produces an estimated 255 horsepower at approximately 6,200 rpm. The available 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 Lambda II engine is expected to hit around 365 horsepower (6,000 rpm) with 376 lb.-ft of torque (1,300 – 4,500 rpm).

Kia is targeting a 0 to 62 mph launch in about 5 seconds with a top speed of 167 for the latter engine.

“The Stinger has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion,” Guillaume said.

NAIAS is held at the Cobo Center, 1 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226. The public shows runs through January 22nd. More information, including ticket pricing and scooter rentals, can be found here. Enjoy your time and have fun!

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

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Ford GT Digital Dashboard: The Future Is Here?

Ford Motor Company is using its Ford GT as a platform for future automotive developments in a bunch of interesting ways. This is a good thing. This is what you do with high end, halo cars: You try out cool new engineering stuff there, and then it percolates into other, more mundane company offerings.

I agree with this. This is a good strategy. Something has to make minivans more interesting, and this sounds as good of a way as any.

New Tricks Or Old Hats?

In this specific instance, the Ford GT has this groovy new high tech dash/display that can do all sorts of trick stuff. But haven’t we seen this all before? At its base, the Ford GT’s digital display/dash/whatever-you-call it (and we really need to come up with a common naming convention for these things, like we did for smartphones) is a reconfigurable, custom-sized, and shaped screen that goes in the instrument binnacle where the separate dials and warning lights go.

Didn’t Audi do this at Geneva a couple years back? Isn’t it on Audis now? Ferrari already does across the model range, right?

Okay, so maybe Ford is over-reaching here a bit. And when someone uses a phrase like “the dashboard of the future,” I start thinking about how we’ll all be using autogyros to commute by 1955, gyroscopes will power our briefcases by 1965, and by 1978, we’ll have affordable jetpacks. I’ll ask you again, real nice like: Where. Is. My. Jetpack?!?!?!

Anyway, what Ford has done here is rather nice and flashy cool, and it will be an overall positive, even if it’s not the first on the block.

Dashing Displays

In a nutshell, Ford is providing a state-of-the-art, 10-inch digital instrument display that structures text and graphics to help reduce driver distraction. The text and graphics can be displayed in what Ford terms as five “drive modes.” Each mode presents the info differently, prioritizing what is central for each driving situation and adapting the display to that given situation.

The five modes are Normal, Wet, Sport, Track, and V-Max. That last one, V-Max, is kind of funny, if you know about aerospace engineering, and what happens on the other side of reaching V-Max (hint: It usually ends with a smoking crater on the desert floor).

Normal & Wet

In Normal mode, the display is all business. Clean and simple. The speedometer is front and center, gear selection is on the right, fuel and temperature are top left. The tachometer displays revs in a hockey stick like shape. Compressed scale for lower rpm, thankfully, because, really, who cares about that, you want more resolution at the upper end. So 3,000-to-7,000-rpm dominates the top of the display

Wet mode seems to be little more than a color scheme. It’s the same info as in normal mode, but now Ford uses a “blue theme” and a “wet floor” concept. No, I don’t know what a “wet floor” concept is either, but Ford goes on to say that graphics under the speedometer mimic the shine of wet tarmac to “remind the driver of the mode selection.” Which, I’m guessing is another way to remind you that you’re on a wet road and you should drive accordingly, you ape.

Ford designers and engineers worked closely with Pektron for the electronic design, development, and implementation of the new dashboard. The focus was to create forward-looking, animated renderings that included the right amounts of color and responsiveness to avoid distraction and eye strain. Pictured here is Normal mode. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Sport & Track

Sport mode fiddles with what goes where a little bit. Front and center is gear selection and the speedo is shunted off to the right and less conspicuous. You’d think that revs would be front and center, but okay, gear selection. They also alter the color scheme, which is now an “aggressive orange theme and the preferred mode for most test drivers.”

Which is kind of charming.

Track mode ups things another notch, with a stark black background, highly legible text, and graphics in red. Ford says it’s easy for the eye to pick up in a fast-paced environment. Gear selection and engine speed are displayed importantly, since that stuff, is, uh, you know, important when you’re driving on a track. Other info, coolant temperature, oil pressure, oil temperature, and fuel level are in the bottom right of the display.

Also fuel is rendered as a percentage rather than miles to empty.

To test the initial design of the new digital display, Le Mans winner Scott Maxwell of Multimatic was invited to the Ford GT simulation lab to offer feedback. Maxwell suggested changing the tachometer to provide an expanded view of the EcoBoost V6 redline approach for greater peripheral visibility. He also recommended tweaks to the prioritization of performance information. Pictured here is Sport mode. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

V-Max

V-Max might as well be called Xbox/PlayStation Mode (whichever is your fave game platform, I make no judgments here (even though Forza is a better game)). V-Max is tailored to tracking maximum top speed. Large and in charge is the centered speedometer. The tach is abridged to just a line with indicator dots for “minimal distraction.” I’m not sure why Ford considers revs a distraction, but so it goes.

Coolant temperature, oil pressure, oil temperature, and turbocharger boost are over on the right, while the fuel level displays on the top left.

Ford says they will move forward from the GT’s “dash” and include the technology in future vehicles. Which, in principle, sounds like a good idea. More flexibility in these areas means more driver involvement as well as more driver connectivity. As long as Ford doesn’t screw things up and start offering lunch options for nearby restaurants while we’re on the racetrack, we should be okay.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.