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:
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Buy a Brabham BT62, help fund their return to Le Mans and be a development driver
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Porsche does the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid thing to the Cayenne
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Porsche drives a 919 Hybrid around NYC because they have nothing better do to
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Aston Martin’s first DB4 GT continuations take to the track
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Mazda prices updated CX-3 at just over $20,000
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What’s your automotive news?
Brabham BT62
Remember when we thought the compact crossover segment was the most over crowded car market on the planet? Apparently we’re all wrong – it’s actually the “million-dollar track toys for the elites who want to play pretend race car driver” segment. This new super-competitive space once owned by the likes of the McLaren P1 GTR, Aston Martin Vulcan, and whatever else is out there now gets to deal with a new car from an old name.
Brabham, a legendary name tied to a successful racecar manufacturer and Formula 1 team, has just revealed their first new car in 26 years – the BT7274 BT62. For all intents and purposes, it’s a race car that can’t compete… but you can help get it there.
This new Brabham Automotive is headed by David Brabham and their end game is to return to motorsport with their own car and they especially want to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They’ve set out to build 70 of these things at over $1 million a piece to help fund their triumphant return. Of course raising money is only part of the deal here – a now standard-issue driver program will basically turn hedge fund managers of the world into development drivers. This program will raise drivers’ physical ability and determination to a place “where the performance potential of both driver and vehicle can be fully exploited together as one”.
Brabham raises money, they collect data on development drivers who paid to be there, and 70 less people were clogging up the golf course that weekend.
As for the car they’ll be doing that development work on, it’s a good old-fashioned apex predator. It’s a lightweight at just 2,143 pounds dry, gets its 700-hp punch from a naturally-aspirated 5.4-liter V8 of their own design, and claws its way around the track with a staggering 2,646 pounds of downforce and Michelin competition slicks.
So this thing makes close to Hellcat numbers at the crank, weighs around 200 pounds less (dry) than a Miata (wet), and generates more downforce than a Ferrari FXX-K, a McLaren Senna, and that Yaris with the big wing at the car meet.
The interior is all business as well. There’s a sizable digital gauge pack, a race car-spec button box, some big red buttons, and very well bolstered racing seats.
No word yet on exactly when deliveries will start, but the first 35 cars will be liveried in tribute to each of Brabham’s 35 F1 victories.
[Source: Brabham Automotive]
2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
Hey remember that Panamera 4 E-Hybrid that Porsche made? You know, the one with the turbo V6 and the electric motors with a combined 462 horsepower and good gas mileage? It’s like that except it’s in the Cayenne now too. Porsche couldn’t even be bothered to release a high-res image of it.
[Source: Porsche]
Porsche drives a 919 in NYC rather than race it
Hey remember how Porsche used to race in LMP1 and they were really good at it? Well they’re not doing that anymore, so they drove it around New York City instead to help sell the Panamera.
[Source: Porsche]
Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuations hit the track
To help cheer you up after those last couple of stories, here’s something cool. A few years ago, Aston Martin announced they were building 25 “new” DB4 GTs as part of a continuation series. These are hand-crafted beauties made exactly as they were when actually new (to their lightest specification too) and were built to be driven. They were originally race cars after all.
Well guess what? Five of the first cars to be delivered were just driven around Silverstone by their owners. It’s part of a 2-year program Aston Martin is running which brings DB4 GT owners to some of the world’s best circuits and provides them with period-correct driver training. As Aston puts it, the DB4 GT competed in a time when racing was more of an art than a science, so they’ve enlisted the help of works driver Darren Turner who has degrees in both fields to do the training.
Turns out that some of the guys who dished out $2 million for an vintage race car continuation special are actually planning to drive them. Good rich guys, good… *pats head*.
Have some pretty pictures.
[Source: Aston Martin]
2019 Mazda CX-3 priced at $20,390
In the one bit of auto news that could actually matter to someone reading this, Mazda just revealed pricing for the new 2019 CX-3 before it hits dealers later this month. With a starting MSRP of $20,390, this little crossover brings new refinements and comforts to the one market people can’t get enough of.
Standard features include upgraded fabric seating, power locks and mirrors, two USB ports, Bluetooth phone and audio, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, smart city brake support, and a 7″ full color display for the infotainment system. It also receives a retuned Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine which now produces 148 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque. The suspension and steering have been recalibrated as well for a more engaging drive which Mazda can actually deliver in a crossover. Ask Jeff. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic are standard on all CX-3s and all-wheel drive is a $1,400 option on every trim level.
The range-topping model is the $26,445 Grand Touring + Premium Package which offers full leather seating, chrome exterior accents, full LED lighting, a power moonroof, a full-color HUD, navigation, paddle shifters, 6-way power driver’s seat, heated seats and steering wheel, traffic sign recognition, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
[Source: Mazda]
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 © 2018 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]
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