Automotive

First GM-Ventec Ventilators Delivered to Chicago Hospitals

First GM-Ventec Ventilators Delivered to Chicago Hospitals CHICAGO – The first VOCSN V+Pro critical care ventilators produced by General Motors and Ventec Life Systems in Kokomo, Indiana are being delivered by UPS to Franciscan Health Olympia Fields in Olympia Fields, Illinois and Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago at the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The milestone shipments are putting important tools in the hands of frontline medical professionals treating patients seriously ill with COVID-19.

“The passion and commitment that people at GM, Ventec, and our suppliers have put into this work is inspiring,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “We are all humbled to support the heroic efforts of medical professionals in Chicagoland and across the world who are fighting to save lives and turn the tide of the pandemic.”

“Patients deserve access to the best technology to keep them in the fight as their bodies combat the virus,” added Ventec Life Systems CEO Chris Kiple. “Critical care ventilators deliver precise airflow to protect the lungs, include accurate monitors to assess patient well-being, and most importantly, they include advanced controls that help respiratory therapists and physicians wean patients off ventilators as fast as possible.”

Critical Shipments

Franciscan Health Olympia Fields received their shipment early Friday morning and Weiss Memorial will receive theirs Friday afternoon. A third shipment from GM-Kokomo will be delivered by UPS to FEMA at the Gary/Chicago International Airport on Saturday for distribution to other locations where the need is greatest.

“UPS always stands ready to meet the urgent needs of the American people, and we are proud to be selected to make this historic delivery,” explained UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney. “This monumental effort is a testament to the unbridled ingenuity and innovation of American companies. In the words of our founder, determined people working together can accomplish anything; and GM, Ventec and UPS have accomplished this together with the speed, quality and exacting precision that the world expects from America’s private sector.”

Related: Ford and others partner for COVID-19 mobile testing effort in Detroit. Ongoing Effort

The deliveries are the culmination of a partnership between GM and Ventec Life Systems that began with a phone call exactly one month ago. Since then, the combined teams have sourced thousands of parts, transformed GM’s advanced electronics facility in Kokomo for medical device production, and contracted with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide 30,000 ventilators by the end of August.

More than 1,000 men and women from the Kokomo community will be building ventilators.

“For a community hospital that was already struggling with budgetary constraints prior to this crisis, these ventilators are a much-needed infusion of critical resources to care for our patients, which includes a significant elderly population,” said Mary Shehan, CEO of Weiss Memorial Hospital. “We are extremely grateful for the support and to all those who are rallying to ensure that our frontline caregivers have the necessary supplies to care for our patients. We need all the help we can get now to rise to this unprecedented challenge.”

“We have healthcare heroes who are on the front lines in this pandemic and we’re grateful to know there is support to attain more of the essential resources they need to care for the most critically ill patients,” added Allan M. Spooner, President and CEO of Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. “Every single one of these ventilators will make a difference in the lives of critical COVID-19 patients and our other patients with acute respiratory illness. We are grateful and inspired by the ingenuity and dedication of everyone behind this truly lifesaving gift.”

Photos & Source: General Motors.
Original article: First GM-Ventec Ventilators Delivered to Chicago Hospitals

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Volvo’s Skövde Plant Establishes Climate-Neutral Manufacturing

Volvo’s Skövde Plant Establishes Climate-Neutral Manufacturing Volvo Cars’ engine factory in Skövde, Sweden has become the automaker’s first climate-neutral manufacturing facility. The news was announced by Volvo this week, although the plant switched to renewable heating on January 1st. According to Volvo, Skövde will serve as a significant step toward the company’s vision of establishing climate-neutral manufacturing globally by 2025.
“Improving energy efficiency is our first priority and then, for the energy we need to use, we aim for supplies generated from renewable sources,” explained Javier Varela, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Logistics, Volvo Cars.
Sustainable Efforts
A new agreement between Volvo Cars and the local provider ensures all heating supplied to the facility is generated from waste incineration, biomass, and recycled bio-fuels. The electricity supplied to Skövde has come from renewable sources since 2008. A similar approach was taken at Volvo’s facility in Ghent, Belgium in 2016, where a special heating system was implemented saving 15,000 tons of C02 per year and ultimately reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent.
“Environmental care is one of our core values,” said Stuart Templar, Director for Sustainability, Volvo Cars. “Along with our plan to electrify all new Volvo cars launched from 2019, climate-neutral manufacturing operations will significantly reduce our overall carbon footprint, supporting global efforts to tackle climate change.”
“We will continue to work actively with our energy suppliers in all regions to secure further access to renewable energy for our manufacturing plants,” Varela added.
Extensive History
In general, Skövde is among only a few climate-neutral automotive plants in Europe. Volvo has utilized the facility since 1930 to manufacture engines, although the Sköfvde foundry and mechanical workshop was established much earlier in 1868 by John G Grönvall. The foundry produced frame saws, iron stoves, and turbines, later moving to engines in 1907. Today, the facility employs nearly 3,000 people.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

Photos & Source: Volvo Car Group.

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DB11 Volante: Aston Martin Makes A Pretty One

DB11 Volante: Aston Martin Makes A Pretty One

Oh you pretty thing . . . British design can be so frustrating. On the one hand, you have things like the Supermarine Spitfire and the Jaguar E Type and anything Sir Christopher Wren designed. On the other, you have stuff like the Ford Anglia and that MI6 Building.
The brand new Aston Martin DB11 Volante is definitely one of the former.
Shaken, Not Stirred
Aston Martin, purveyor of cars to likes of James Bond, refers to its convertibles as Volantes. And the car we are looking at here, the DB11 Volante, is indeed the drop-top version of last year’s DB11 Coupe. Unlike the Coupe, there is no V12 engine available in the Volante. Some will bemoan this loss, but I am not one of them. Although the V12 plant is very impressive, the engine found under the Volante’s hood provides for a lighter package, meaning the convert will be more nimble and responsive. Said plant is a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that cranks out 503 ponies.
The mill sits within an all-new bonded aluminum structure the Volante shares with the DB11 Coupe, minus the roof and such. The DB11 Volante is lighter and more rigid than the model it replaces and offers a much broader envelope of abilities, greater levels of performance and handling, and all that typical British character, refinement, comfort, and interior space Aston Martin is known for.
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Performance Tech
That small block V8 is hooked up to and integrated with a whole slew of computer controlled subsystems and powertrain elements to make the Volante a grand tourer with some serious performance abilities. For example, there are 3-stage powertrain and chassis modes that operate harmoniously with the 8-speed automatic transmission, the electric power steering, and the dynamic torque vectored limited-slip differential. Aston Martin says this allows the Volante’s driver to “tailor its behavior in a way that best suits the road, weather conditions or their mood.”
Or, as I would put it: “There’s enough drivetrain nannies, chassis tuning, and fail-safe gizmos that will prevent you from spinning this thing into a ditch and scarring up its pretty face.”
Sounds like a fair deal.
Styling & Design
The DB11 Volante has the same single-piece aluminium bonnet (that’s “hood” to those of us that speak American) found on the DB11 Coupe. It has the same “Curlicue” styling bit, which I quite like; wonderful integration with the wheel well and it helps with air extraction to boot. Other styling touches include wood or carbon fiber veneer panels on the seat backs, a tailored fabric top in a choice of Bordeaux red, black silver or grey silver, “light blade” taillights, and new forged alloy wheels. Aston Martin says the end result is “breathtakingly sleek and athletic” and I am not going to argue with them.
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.

Topside Testing
That fabric roof sounds like it’s a cross between a Savile Row suit and the mainsails from the HMS Ark Royal. It’s an all-new, 8-layer cosset design so the occupants are snug and dry from the extremes of weather and wind; it folds up into a class-leading, stack height at the touch of a button. Hit that button and 14 seconds later, the roof is down. Hit the button again, and in 16 seconds the top is up. You can also raise or lower the roof remotely from the key while moving at speeds up to 31 mph.
And the cherry on top is you get a 20 percent increase in trunk volume compared to the previous model.
The roof can take a pounding too. They ran it through more than 100,000 test cycles in special weather chambers designed to simulate atrocious conditions; they compressed 10 years of use into one month of testing, and drove prototypes of the thing around Death Valley and the Arctic Circle.
Pricing & Availability
They sum it up like this: “Engineered to be the most advanced and complete open-top Aston Martin ever built. Styled to put its rivals in the shade and honed to achieve a fine balance of ride, handling, responsiveness, and refinement, the DB11 Volante is dedicated to delivering a new dimension of driving pleasure.”
Which all sounds like a serious throwdown to the likes of, let’s see, who is the competition here? Jaguar, naturally. Also various German drop-tops – big BMWs, Mercedes-Benz and the like. The Italians don’t make convertibles like this, or at least Ferrari doesn’t. And let’s face facts here, nothing the Americans, French or Japanese make are even in the same league.
And what league are we talking about? The league that will run you the cost of a suburban home to get into. The price for the Aston Martin DB11 Volante starts at $216,495. Which is, obviously, a lot of money. Does all that work for you? If it does, then get down to your Aston Martin dealer by the first quarter of 2018 because that’s when the DB11 Volante is scheduled to show up.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Aston Martin DB11 Volante Gallery

Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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New General Motors Platform Addresses Transportation Challenges

New General Motors Platform Addresses Transportation Challenges

General Motors is diving headlong into several high-tech futures simultaneously. Autonomous vehicles, fuel cells, logistics simplification, even natural disaster relief. What I notice here is GM putting all this on the back of a semi-old idea of theirs: The flexible fuel cell platform.
In 2002, GM had this show car, but the whole thing wasn’t about the car itself, but the de facto chassis it was riding on. They called it “the skateboard” because that’s what it resembled: A huge, lowered platform with wheels at all four corners.
Essential Foundations
The deck of the skateboard formed the unified chassis and the fuel cell workings. There were electric motors at each wheel, powered by the energy the fuel cell produced, and here’s the beautiful part: you could mount any number of different bodies on it. To a company like GM, who wants to make their products as efficiently as possible, this is still perceived as a stroke of genius.
The bottom line is this: You make the skateboard chassis that contains all the running gear. You make them by the millions, literally millions of them, and the unit costs drop like an anchor without a chain. Then you can attach whatever body you want to that running gear, and the vehicle will still “work.” You need to produce a bunch of minivans? No problem! Just lengthen the skateboard a little, and you’re all set. Want an electric Corvette? Simple, shorten the whole thing, “tune” the software for more performance, and you’ve got a new Corvette. Pickup trucks, family sedans, delivery vans, cop cars: No problem! They’re all the same underneath.
Photo: General Motors.
General Solutions
Like I said, GM has been fixated on this theoretical concept for a while, and when growing needs (green efficiency, autonomous vehicles etc.) are coupled to a slew of growing possibilities (increasing capabilities with computer processing power, miniaturization of sensor suites and such), GM has a perfect opportunity to combine all of them into one big package, and be all things to all buyers. This is, in my estimation, the Holy Grail for GM. Why, it’s even right there in their name: General Motors. “What we do, generally speaking, is get you and/or your stuff from point A to B.”
I have long felt GM has been wanting, for decades, to be to transportation what Xerox is to photostatic copying and Kleenex is to blowing your nose: The generic answer to everyone’s transportation needs. “Hand me a Kleenex, will ya?” “Xerox me some copies of this report, will ya?” “I got to get to the airport, call me up a GM, will ya?” To some degree, GM already has this with Cadillac. “Well, sir, I can assure you, this is the ‘Cadillac’ of vacuum cleaners.”
And the funny thing is, with GM’s latest swing they call SURUS, they might be able to achieve that with all their brands, not just Cadillac.
The SURUS commercial platform leverages over 50 years of research and development in fuel cell technology by GM. The scalable and adaptable technology enables land, sea, and air applications across commercial and military environments. Photo: General Motors.

Combined Approach
SURUS stands for Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure, and GM aims to use the platform to solve some of the toughest transportation challenges brought up by natural disasters, global conflicts, and otherwise complex environments. The Detroit-based company showed off the flexible fuel cell electric platform with its autonomous capabilities at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) recently.
This is very smart of GM. If they can make SURUS work in a military environment, then they should be able to adapt it into a platform for everyday use. If they can make it work in the middle of a desert, or the middle of a jungle, then it should work everywhere.
SURUS pulls together GM’s newest Hydrotec fuel cell system, autonomous capability, and various truck chassis components for high-performance, zero-emission power. The combination is meant to reduce logistical problems and lessen human exposure to harm. In other words, GM wants it to run for a long time, make little to no noise, withstand getting shot at, be able to take a beating, and drive on its own, with nobody getting hurt. Benefits include easy field configuration for a variety of uses, instantaneous high torque from the EV motors, “exportable power generation” so you can power stuff back at camp, water generation (the main “pollutant” from fuel cells is pure water), and quick refueling times.
A rendering of the SURUS platform as an ambulance to show the number of possible flexible fuel cell applications. Photo: General Motors.
Endless Possibilities
And that’s not just speculation on my part. GM states flat out “SURUS was designed to form a foundation for a family of commercial vehicle solutions that leverages a single propulsion system integrated into a common chassis.” While working on the military version, GM is also working on versions that are utility trucks, mobile and emergency backup power generation units, flexible cargo delivery systems (Hello UPS! Hello Amazon!), and commercial freight delivery vehicles. GM is also evaluating military configurations for SURUS and how the platform can be applied to light- and medium-duty trucks.
If General Motors can extrapolate this platform onto our roads, who is really going to notice? Us, the gearheads of this world. Sure, if you’re a minivan buyer or agonizing over which shade of beige to get for your Impala, a common drivetrain platform won’t mean much to you. But would you accept that same drivetrain on a new Corvette? I dunno, man . . . but then again, maybe this will allow The General more flexibility? Maybe they can crank out that mundane stuff for everyone else, and still keep Vettes and other factory hot rods powered by real internal combustion engines?
Performance exclusivity for us gearheads, predictable transportation for everyone else? Works for me!
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias toward lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
GM SURUS Platform Specifications
Four-wheel steering
Advanced suspension
Gen 2 fuel cell system
Autonomous capability
Lithium-ion battery system
GM truck chassis components
Two advanced electric drive units
State-of-the-art propulsion power electronics
Hydrogen storage system with over 400 miles of range
GM SURUS Platform Gallery

Photos & Source: General Motors.

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Honda Engine Production Hits 25 Million In Ohio

Honda Engine Production Hits 25 Million In Ohio

Associates at Honda’s Anna, Ohio engine plant celebrated a milestone this week as the facility produced its 25 millionth engine. Honda recently invested $47 million there to bolster engine production for the 2018 Accord. New are two direct-injected VTEC Turbo 4-cylinder engines and a 2.0 i-VTEC Atkinson Cycle engine for the Accord Hybrid.
“Building 25 million engines is not just a major production milestone, but symbolic of the passion and commitment invested by our associates, past and present, to satisfy 25 million customers,” said Paul Dentinger, Plant Manager, Anna Engine Plant.
Versatile Facility
The 25 millionth engine, produced on Line 4, was a 1.5-liter turbo that will be shipped to the Marysville Auto Plant, about 45 miles east of Anna. Anna Engine produces more than 1.18 million engines annually, making it Honda’s largest engine plant in the world. The 2.5 million square foot facility supplies engines and components for 14 Honda and Acura vehicles made across the globe. The plant also makes the turbo engine for the Civic Type-R, the most powerful production Honda in the United States. Further, in the spring of 2016, master technicians at the Anna plant starting building the hand-assembled twin turbo engine for the Acura NSX.
“We continue to invest in our plant and our people to build a new generation of Honda engine products for customers here and around the world,” Dentinger said.
The Anna Engine plant opened in 1985 and total investments there by Honda exceed $2.7 billion. At its current production rate, the Anna staff should reach another 25 million engines sometime in the year 2038.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photo & Source: Honda North America.

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What Makes Supercars Super: The Dream

What Makes Supercars Super: The Dream

Recently, we launched our new series What Makes Supercars Super. The first episode follows one Mike Berman, owner of the The Yellow Compass Group, a boutique Ferrari dealership. Automoblog Host Gino D’Orazio introduces us to Berman and takes us through his dealership.
We see a showroom full of classic and unique Ferrari cars and why each one is so memorable and iconic to both Berman and his customers.
Our second installment entitled The Dream builds from the themes of the first episode. From behind the wheel of his BMW, D’Orazio conveys a passion only the truest car enthusiasts will understand. The Dream shows us how supercars bring out our deepest emotions and often leave us speechless. We have set out to determine just what makes supercars super. Indeed, there are probably a thousand answers, but discovering each of them is part of the thrill.
Enjoy.

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2018 Mazda3 Hatchback Grand Touring Review

2018 Mazda3 Hatchback Grand Touring Review

If you want a stylish, fun-to-drive, fuel-efficient car with utility, you might think you need to buy a small, sub-compact city commuter. But it’s all available in the Mazda3 hatchback. Mazda is producing some fun entries and this one competes well with popular rivals like the Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, and Ford Focus.
This week we drove the 2018 Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring, which is the top trim.
What’s New For 2018
The Mazda 3 remains mostly unchanged for 2018, with a shuffling of some features and option packages. Our Grand Touring tester had LED headlights as standard equipment.
Features & Options
Our 2018 Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring ($24,945) came standard with LED exterior lights (headlights, foglights, taillights), a sunroof, digital speedometer, an upgraded display in the instrument panel, leather upholstery, a nine-speaker Bose system, and satellite radio.
The Premium Equipment package ($1,600) added adaptive headlights, automatic high beams, a heated steering wheel, paddle shifters, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation, lane departure warning and intervention, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with braking for higher speeds, and a traffic sign reader. The Appearance Package ($1,750) added a rear spoiler, front air dam, rear bumper skirt, and side sill extensions.
Total MSRP including destination: $29,770.

Interior Highlights
When we stepped inside the Mazda3, we thought the cockpit was truly driver-focused. Everything is centered on driving enjoyment, with all the controls arranged symmetrically around the driver. The heads-up display is available to make it easier to have fun driving this sporty hatch. The electronic emergency brake is another small thing some might not notice, but it provides room for the gear shifter to be optimally placed.
The leather-trimmed front seats are supportive, comfortable, and among the best in the class; we think they’re near-luxury level. Mazda has some of the best interiors for this price point of any automaker. The quality of materials is top notch and the fit and finish is excellent for a vehicle under $30,000.
In the back, there’s 35.8 inches of rear legroom, so taller passengers will feel cramped. It’s fine for short rides, but not long road trips. When it comes to cargo space, the hatch is among the best. The 5-Door Grand Touring offers 20.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat. With the seats folded flat, it offers up an abundant 47.1 cubic feet of cargo space, moving it into small SUV territory.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Grand Touring comes powered by a 2.5-liter engine, producing 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft. of torque. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic with Sport Mode and paddle shifters. It’s a front-drive configuration and gets an EPA-estimated 26/35 city/highway and 30 combined mpg.
Driving Dynamics
The first thing we noticed after getting behind the wheel was the heads-up display. It’s one of the best features for any driver so you can keep your eyes on the road. We like it because we push our testers to the limit. The 2.5-liter had ample power for most driving situations, and small hatch buyers will like the four-cylinder with the automatic because of the excellent fuel mileage.
The 6-speed Sport Mode automatic is ideal for enthusiasts because it offers steering wheel paddles, and it shifts with the decisiveness of a dual-clutch transmission. Mazda says “Driving Matters” and this car is a good example of what they transfer to the driver. We found the Mazda3 handles the tightest curves and mountain roads like more expensive German sedans. The ride can be a bit busier than most compact cars and somewhat stiff because the suspension is tuned for sport over comfort.
But that’s why you would buy this car: for the driving enjoyment.
Conclusion
The 2018 Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring is one of the best hatchbacks for the money. It not only ramps up the fun-to-drive meter, but it offers functionality, sporty styling, a top-notch cabin, excellent fuel economy, and safety. If it were offered with all-wheel drive it would be even better.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Mazda3 5-Door Hatchback Gallery

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2018 Mazda3 5-Door official site.
Photos: Mazda North American Operations.

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Aston Martin Vantage GT3 To Take On Abu Dhabi

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 To Take On Abu Dhabi Aston Martin Racing’s new Vantage GT3 set for the Gulf 12 Hours.
Three works drivers will join the partner teams in the Abu Dhabi event.
Aston Martin will be dragging three of its customer teams halfway around the globe to run the endurance race at the sparkling Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. This can easily be seen as Aston carrying on the fine tradition of factories supporting gentleman race drivers and semi-independent teams.
They could win, but they will most surely have fun.
Desert Gold Mines
A few years back, Abu Dhabi, as a nation, realized they were sitting on a small ocean of oil, which effectively means they were sitting on a small ocean of money. Thankfully (from a gearhead perspective) they decided to spread some of that cheese all over the desert floor in the form of a not-at-all-bad racing complex. At the time, the rumors were they dumped more than a billion dollars into the project, and boy, it sure looks like it. Yas Marina (the name of the place) looks like a race track from a sci-fi movie set 50 years in the future.
And, from what I gather, it’s a blast to drive.
Hence, F1 runs there, locals run there and, in the case of Aston Martin, we will see three Aston Martin Racing partner teams run the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 at the Gulf 12 Hours on December 15th.
Related: An in-depth look at the Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE.
Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
Team Work Makes The Dream Work
The lead teams will be Oman Racing and TF Sport in the PRO class. A good choice since Oman Racing finished on the podium, third overall, at the same event in 2015. They also came in second in the PRO/AM class last year. The graph is running in the right direction. The Oman entry will be piloted by two Brits, the works drivers Darren Turner, a three-time Le Mans class winner and another team regular Jonny Adam. Joining them will be Omani racer Ahmad Al Harthy.
TF Sport, which has been campaigning an Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE in the FIA World Endurance Championship, also ran a V12 Vantage GT3 in the 2018 Blancpain Endurance Series as well as the British GT Championships. So no wet-behind-the-ears newbies here. TF will be running the new Vantage GT3 in the UK next year, so gaining experience at the Abu Dhabi enduro will be quite valuable.
Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.
New Prospects
Also in the PRO class will be up-and-comers R-Motorsport. They’ve already won once in the Blancpain Endurance Series with the V12 Vantage GT3, nabbing three consecutive pole positions in their debut season. R-Motorsport have been loyal and long-time campaigners of Aston Martin racing cars, so the factory gave them full backing for this race.
“We are really excited to run the new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on its debut outing outside Europe,” explained R-Motorsport Team Principal Florian Kamelger. “The challenging event in Abu Dhabi will give us the best opportunity to test the car in a long-distance race before we run it in 2019.”
R-Motorsport will have their regular drivers, Jake Dennis and Marvin Kirchhöfer, with a third yet to be confirmed. Just to mention: I can be contacted at: One Automoblog Towers, Detroit Michigan. Although I do not come cheap, I am available.

Further Representation
Aston Martin will also be represented in the PRO AM class by Beechdean AMR, running a Vantage GT3. This will be the race debut for Beechdean AMR. Although new, the team will be headed up in the driving department by two-time British GT and European Le Mans Series champion Andrew Howard (another Brit) and Humaid al Masaood from the United Arab Emirates.
The journeyman Chris Dyson from the good ol’ USA and British works driver Ross Gunn complete the lineup.
“Having been the first team to run the outgoing multiple race and championship winning Vantage, it is a real privilege to be part of a lineup with the first AM drivers to race the new Vantage GT3,” said Beechdean AMR Team Owner Andrew Howard. “We have been lucky enough to test the prototype and if that is anything to go by, then it will be as big a leap from the current car as the Vantage was from the glorious DBRS9.”
Related: Aston Martin Vantage – styling wonder or blunder?
In Person
This will be the eighth running of the Gulf 12 Hours, which will be split into two six-hour races. It all takes place on December 15th. It will most definitely be worth checking out.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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2019 Ford GT Carbon Series: Velocity Mutants Welcome

2019 Ford GT Carbon Series: Velocity Mutants Welcome The Ford GT Carbon Series is the lightest in the blue oval’s GT lineup.
The GT Carbon Series is both track-ready and street-legal.
The window to apply for ownership, however, is slim.
The latest Ford GT hasn’t even hit the secondary market, and Dearborn is already messing with it, making it lighter, faster, and just plain sharper all the way around. Sure, it’s not perfect (what car is?) but with these updates, Ford edges (no pun intended) their GT a little bit closer to perfection.
Ford makes no bones about this new GT having a split personality. “The GT Carbon Series will be shredding tracks soon as the lightest of the road-going Ford supercars – and unlike its sibling racer, it will want to be driven home after time sheets are collected,” reads a statement from the company.
And how can I, or any other track-rat out there, argue with that? Sure, sure, coming up with a ride that is killer on the track is pretty easy. But driving it home after you’ve raced? That can be another problem all together.
Light = Right
The stuff you do to a car to make it perform better on the track – removing everything you can, tightening up the suspension, taking out the sound-proofing to save weight, ditching the air conditioning, stuff like that – only makes it loud, sweaty, and buck like a lumber cart through traffic.
Ford has done that for you, without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
The Ford GT Carbon Series shelves nearly 40 lbs. thanks to a host of lightweight advances, like carbon fiber wheels, a titanium exhaust and lug nuts, and a polycarbonate rear hatch with better venting for hot air extraction. The carbon fiber wheels are killer, so much so that a number of racing series outright ban them. The titanium exhaust is a nice touch; great material, but expensive to replace. Same goes for the titanium lug nuts, although that’s not very new.
Ferrari has been doing that for 20 years now, cough, cough.
Ditto for the polycarbonate rear hatch. Hey, if it’s good enough for fighter jet canopies, then who am I to argue?
Related: How a rivalry with Ferrari spawned the Ford GT.
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
The Cup Holders Have Left The Building
On the flip side, Ford kept just enough conveniences from the “normal” GT (can you use that word with a car like this?) to make it, at the very least livable, if not exactly usable in everyday situations. The air conditioning is still there, because you know it’s going to get hothothot inside. They also kept the SYNC 3 radio.
“While the Ford GT Competition model appeals to hardcore racing enthusiasts, we found more customers asking for more exposed carbon fiber with the air conditioning and radio still intact,” explained Lance Mosley, Marketing Manager, Ford Performance. “So we developed the Carbon Series to satisfy that need, while providing a distinct look.”
Personally, I would have no problem with ditching the radio. In a car like this, I’m getting enough music from that exhaust and those tires screaming for mercy. Ford, much to their credit, drew the line at the cup holders. I do not have a steering wheel on my coffee table, why do I need a cup holder in my track car?
Also sacrificed to the god of lightness: the driver’s side seat storage bin.
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series interior layout. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
More Carbon Fiber Please
To show off just how special this version is, and to remind you over and over again where the “carbon” in GT Carbon Series comes from, there’s more visible carbon fiber than any other Ford GT. There’s optional accent colors so you stand out from the more plebian GTs, and show what a velocity mutant you really are.
There are two exposed carbon fiber stripes and the interior is slathered in the aerospace stuff as well.
If you are one of the lucky purchasers of the 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series, you can choose between four optional accent colors: silver, orange, red, or blue. Those accents will be found on the mirror caps, center stripe, and brake calipers. You also get a unique seat pattern with silver stitching that is repeated on the steering wheel.
The paddle shifters are clear anodized deals and there’s a unique badge for the instrument panel.
Related: An in-depth look at the Ford GT’s Brembo Braking system.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
I do not have a steering wheel on my coffee table, why do I need a cup holder in my track car?Click To TweetAvailability
Prospective owners can submit their applications now but time is running out according to Ford. Which is a nicer way to utter: “On your knees before us, supplicant! We are not sure if you are valuable of our bounty!!”
Hey, I’d fill out the forms and wait in line too, if I had the cash. But I don’t. Cause I’m an Automotive Journalist. But a boy can dream, can’t he?
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series Gallery

Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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