Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. There’s also just a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:

• Ford ’67 Heritage Edition honors GT40 MkIV’s Le Mans win

• Infiniti Prototype 9 is a stunning “barn find” F1 car

• Aston Martin confirms Speedster and Shooting Brake Vanquish Zagato

• Chevrolet introduces new cheaper entry-level Tahoe

• BMW teases new M5, will reveal it all on Monday

• Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 competing in Vegas to Reno off-road race

• Other coverage from the week

• What’s your automotive news?

Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition

If Ford had won Le Mans this year, we would have seen this car a little bit earlier. But regardless of how the GT performed this year, they still have a major victory to celebrate 50 years later. In 1967, a Ford GT40 Mark IV driven by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans and scored the only all-American overall Le Mans victory to date.
So with a new Ford GT in production 50 years later, a new Heritage Edition is mandatory. Ford debuted the new limited-run GT ’67 Heritage Edition at Pebble Beach with custom graphics and details to honor that legendary race car and the dream team that made it so. They don’t say how many exactly are being built, but the normal GT is already limited to around 250 units per year. It’ll be exceedingly rare and only ever seen at collector car auctions, probably.

Here’s what to look forward to at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2037. The ’67 Heritage Edition features a gloss Race Red exterior with white striping and white number 1 hood and door graphics to match the GT40’s livery. It also features silver side mirror caps, red brake calipers, 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels in silver satin clearcoat, and the exposed carbon fiber package to add a modern touch.

Inside, the seats and steering wheel are wrapped in new black leather with red contrast stitching, the seat belt webbing is red, and multiple trim pieces feature satin dark stainless appliqués. There’s also exposed matte carbon fiber door sills, air register pods, and center console.
For a modern car that was shaped by science in a wind tunnel, it sure does wear classic liveries well, doesn’t it? And if Ford continues this trend of adding a Heritage Edition for each anniversary of their Le Mans wins, next year and the year after we should see a Gulf-liveried GT. That might break the internet… or maybe just me.
[Source: Ford]

Infiniti Prototype 9

 

 
Infiniti’s coolest concept car to date was revealed at the Concours d’Elegance: the Prototype 9. Built as if an early Japanese F1 car had been found in a shed and resurrected with modern technology, this one-off concept celebrate the pioneers of Japanese motorsport more so than it teases a future direction of the brand. The only thing that’s even remotely associated with a production Nissan/Infiniti is the EV powertrain.

Yep, rebuilding an early F1 car with today’s technology would constitute an all-new, not yet produced EV powertrain. Based loosely on the upcoming LEAF, its electric motor produces 148 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque which allows for a 0-62 mph sprint in 5.5 seconds and a 106 mph top speed. However, its 30kWh battery pack will only last 20 minutes under heavy track use. Theoretical stopping power is provided by 10″ disc brakes, it rides on transverse leaf springs, and it features a front leading-arm rigid axle and rear De Dion axle.

But its golf cart-like range isn’t what makes this car spectacular. Its bare sheet-metal skin, wrapped around a steel ladder frame, was hammered into place by Takumi (Nissan Motor Corporation’s master craftspeople). Panel beaters managed to incorporate Infiniti’s signature design elements on a car theoretically from the 50’s, including the double-arch grille, “shark gills” aft of the front wheels, a single-crease hood, and sharp lines that stretch from front to rear. It all weighs in at just 1,962 pounds.

Yet other things are left unashamedly retro like its 19″ center-locking wire spoke wheels wrapped in cross-ply tires, its tight open cockpit, and its super long bonnet. The vintage details continue inside the cockpit as well with a steering wheel rotates around a fixed central hub (finished with turned aluminum) that houses the driver’s instrument gauges. The single driver’s seat is finished with black leather, red stitching, and Japanese flags stitched into the headrest.
Infiniti/Nissan’s coolest concept?
[Source: Infiniti]

BLIPS

The Aston Martin Zagato relationship is the gift that keeps on giving. They’ve confirmed the existence of two new Vanquish-based Zagato creations, one of which will certainly be popular around these parts. Aston Martin will soon produce a Speedster and Shooting Brake version of the Vanquish Zagato in addition to the Coupe and Volante. That’s right, a shooting brake Aston Martin. As with the other Zagatos, the Shooting Brake and Speedster will be built in limited quantities. Only 28 Speedsters (all of which have been sold already) and 99 Shooting Brakes will be built in 2018. Even though the bodies will change between all variants, the 600-horsepower V12 and jaw-dropping beauty will remain consistent.
[Source: Aston Martin]

Chevrolet introduced a new Tahoe Custom, a more affordable entry-level SUV for those who want Tahoe capabilities and can pass on some features. As the SUV segment moves upmarket and demand for the Tahoe continues to rise, Chevrolet hopes they can tap into the needs of potential buyers who want the space and practicality of a Tahoe but not so much the expensive luxury features offered in most Tahoes. For $44,995 (almost $4,000 less than the current entry level), you get 355 horsepower from a 5.3-liter V8, 6,600 pounds towing, 112 cubic feet of cargo space, and a generous amount of standard features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4G LTE connectivity and a WiFi hotspot, eight-inch touch screen radio, the government-mandated backup camera, remote start, five USB ports and five power outlets, and a whole range of safety features. They also remove the third row seat because someone’s finally realized that not everyone has five kids. For the capabilities and price alone, this is gonna be a huge seller.
[Source: Chevrolet]

In a new teaser video tweeted by BMW, they’ve confirmed the all-new M5 will finally make its world debut next Monday. I’ll be covering it sometime after it shows its face and we’re all done staring at an eclipse, but here’s what we know about it now. It’ll be the first M5 to feature xDrive AWD, but it can be disconnected on the go for RWD shenanigans. It’ll run a twin-turbo V8 similar to the current M5’s but is expected to produce upwards of 600 horsepower. The super quick seven-speed M dual clutch gearbox will be replaced by a smoother eight-speed gearbox, likely from ZF, because M5 buyers are boring these days. Hypothesis: it’ll be stupid fast.
[Source: Twitter]

A mostly stock Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is running the Vegas to Reno off-road race at the hands of Chad Hall from Hall Racing starting today. The “longest off-road race in the United States” wraps up tomorrow and more than 350 contestants are expected. The course encompasses a wide array of terrain, from silty desert wallows, to dry lake beds and mountain passes as high as 8,000 ft. above sea level. A bone-stock (except for additional mandated safety equipment, a larger fuel tank, and more lights) will be running the entire thing. If you were on the fence about wanting to buy one of these, follow the race and maybe it’ll convince you.
[Source: Chevrolet]

Other coverage from the week

Yesterday I did a full rundown on the BMW Concept Z4 that was revealed in Pebble Beach. Though it’s just a design study, it’ll closely resemble the production car that’s expected next year. For analysis on the new styling and what to expect from the production car, go here.
Also stay tuned later today for a big announcement from Acura. Their new ARX-05 DPI car that’ll race in IMSA next season is making its debut in Pebble Beach about an hour after this goes live. I’ll have a new post on that as soon as I can.

What’s your automotive news?

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
[Image © 2017 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]