HorsepowerKings.com

Arms Race: The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is here (Video)

GM

HorsepowerKings

-

March 18, 2016

0

Arms Race: The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is here (Video)

The 2017 Camaro ZL1. HorsepowerKings.com

Chevy’s earth-rotating street thumper is here: The 2017 Camaro ZL1.

This top-dog Camaro will be powered by the same LT4 V8 that is found in the new C7 Corvette Z06.

That means 640 Horsepower, 650 lb-ft of torque of supercharged power. That beats the 2015 model by 60 hp and 84 lb-ft.

However, this time around, the LT4 in the ZL1 will be accompanied by a new 10-speed auto transmission, which coincidentally, is the same exact 10-speed transmission that will be found in the 2017 F-150 Raptor. Yes, Ford and GM formed somewhat of an alliance in developing this new transmission, but we digress.

Thankfully, a 6-speed manual option will still be available in the new ZL1, but obviously we can expect much quicker shift times with the auto option – but we are not convinced it’s the better option.

The new ZL1 also features Magnetic Ride suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential, and performance traction management. Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires are equipped from the factory.

The interior features Recaro seats, a suede flat-bottom steering wheel, along with an optional Performance Data Recorder (also found on the new Z06, CTS-V). Other items of note include 11 different heat exchangers to cool the motor and transmission, a drive-mode selector, and dual-mode exhaust. Chevy also claims this ZL1 will weigh in at 200 pounds lighter then it’s predecessor.

Surprisingly, the new ZL1 has received criticism over it’s polarizing styling and look. We think it looks mean as hell, and has the bite to back up every bit of it’s menacing look.

We’ll take it – in Black, please.

When impressive video editing and racing games come together [4K]

Awesome

HorsepowerKings

-

March 15, 2016

0

When impressive video editing and racing games come together [4K]

The creative minds over at ZWINGFILMS give us all a glimpse as to how thin the line is between reality and video games these days. Take not of the impressive video editing skills as well.

KEN BLOCK’S GYMKHANA EIGHT: ULTIMATE EXOTIC PLAYGROUND; DUBAI

Ford

HorsepowerKings

-

February 29, 2016

0

KEN BLOCK’S GYMKHANA EIGHT: ULTIMATE EXOTIC PLAYGROUND; DUBAI

Ford Performance has teamed up with Ken Block once again for Gymkhana 8: Ultimate Exotic Playground in Dubai.

Watch until the end to see a Focus RS teaser. Enjoy!

Watch this 2016 Shelby GT350 hit top speed at a 1/2 Mile racing event

Ford

HorsepowerKings

-

February 29, 2016

0

Watch this 2016 Shelby GT350 hit top speed at a 1/2 Mile racing event

148 MPH in the half-mile is impressive, but not necessarily surprising considering the 526-HP, 5.2L Flat Plane Crank Motor in the new Shelby GT350. It is interesting to see a car that is designed for the twisties hit the flat straights and run up to top speed, and it really shows how balanced this new GT350 is, and what an all-around performer it is. Enjoy!

Breaking UAW Report: The Return of the Ford Bronco. Ford is going to build a Bronco 4×4 SUV, along with the new Ranger pickup.

Ford

HorsepowerKings

-

February 25, 2016

0

Breaking UAW Report: The Return of the Ford Bronco. Ford is going to build a Bronco 4×4 SUV, along with the new Ranger pickup.

Ford has plans to build a new Bronco, according to the freshly-revealed UAW Tentative Agreement. The agreement also outlines Ford’s intent on bring the iconic Ranger back to the United States.

The report outlines a $9 Billion investment plan through the year 2020. A “spending spree” if you will, Ford has big plans for it’s lineup. Here are the details, first reported by DFP:

The UAW’s tentative agreement with Ford outlines a $9 billion commitment to its U.S. plants and commitment to create or retain 8,500 jobs over the four years with new vehicles, engines and transmissions planned.

Here are some of the details of the spending plan:

Michigan Assembly: $700 million investment with a new product to be added in 2018, expected to be the Ford Ranger, followed by the revival of the Ford Bronco SUV by 2020. The stamping plant will continue to support the Ford Focus and C-Max families of vehicles until they are moved elsewhere in 2018

Chicago Assembly Plant: $900 million investment to build the new Ford Explorer and Police SUV Interceptor. The plant will continue to make the existing Taurus with no plans to make the all-new version that was introduced for the China market.

Dearborn Truck: $250 million investment to continue to make the F-150 as well as the new F-150 Raptor performance pickup.

Flat Rock Assembly: $400 million investment to continue making the Ford Mustang and add production of the all-new Lincoln Continental full-size sedan. The Ford Fusion mid-size sedan continues through its current product lifecycle as needed to augment assembly in Mexico but it does not appear that the next-generation will need additional capacity in Flat Rock.

Kansas City Assembly: $200 million investment to continue making the F-150 pickup and Ford Transit full-size commercial van.

Kentucky Truck: $600 million investment to make the next-generation Super Duty pickup with an aluminum body as well as the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator which are also expected to go aluminum. Ford will in-source work on the instrument panel, cooling module and part of the rear doors.

Louisville Assembly: $700 million investment to make the all-new 2017 Escape. The current Lincoln MKC will move elsewhere to provide more capacity for the hot-selling Escape.

Ohio Assembly: $250 million investment to continue making medium-duty trucks and E-Series cutaway and stripped chassis but a new unnamed product will be added.

Dearborn Engine: $50 million investment to make an upgraded 2-liter four-cylinder engine.

Cleveland Engine: $150 million investment to upgrade the 3.7-liter and 3,5-liter V6 engines and continue to make the 2-liter and 2.3-liter four-cylinder engines.

Lima Engine: $250 million investment to upgrade the 3.5-liter and 2.7-liter engines and build two new V6 engines. One is expected to be the new 3-liter V6 shown in the Lincoln Continental concept.

Romeo Engine: $150 million investment to continue to make upgraded versions of the 5.2-liter and 6.2-liter engines and also add a new displacement for the new Super Duty pickups. The plant will also continue to make connecting rods for the 5-liter V8 engine block and add a head machining module.

Woodhaven Forging: will continue to make the same forgings.

Livonia Transmission: $1.8 billion investment to continue current transmissions and add three new ones: likely some of the 9- and 10-speed transmissions currently in development. The plant will also add gear machining.

Sharonville Transmission: $900 million investment to keep making current transmissions and do gear machining while adding a new transmission family and gear machining for the two new multi-gear transmissions.

Van Dyke Transmission: $650 million investment to add three new transmissions while continuing to make the current transmissions.

Rawsonville: $50 million investment to continue to make batteries for electric vehicles as well as other components.

Sterling Axle: $400 million investment to make new axles for the Ford Explorer, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator while continuing to make current axles.

Buffalo Stamping: $30 million investment to make stampings for the Ford Edge, Expedition and Super Duty as well as the Lincoln MKX and Navigator.

Chicago Stamping: $200 million investment to make stampings for the new Explorer, a new product and continue existing work.

Dearborn Stamping/Dearborn Diversified: $80 million investment for a new press line, hydroform press and two machining lines as Ford uses more aluminum in future vehicles. Stamping and hydroforming work continues for the F-150 and new Super Duty pickups.

Woodhaven hot metal forming plant: $300 million investment for five new metal-forming lines and new laser cells.

The Audi R8 2016 Superbowl commercial is automobile marketing at its finest.

Audi

HorsepowerKings

-

February 5, 2016

0

The Audi R8 2016 Superbowl commercial is automobile marketing at its finest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB8tgVqmKzw

Audi has just released a brilliant preview of their ad that will play during Super Bowl 50 on Sunday. This new Audi R8 is NASA-commander-approved. Enjoy.

Update: 2017 Ford GT Supercar will have 630HP, weigh 2,890 lbs and cost $397,500 – the best power-to-weight-ratio of any car, ever

Ford

HorsepowerKings

-

January 25, 2016

0

Update: 2017 Ford GT Supercar will have 630HP, weigh 2,890 lbs and cost $397,500 – the best power-to-weight-ratio of any car, ever

The upcoming 2017 Ford GT will have a curb weight of “around 2,890 lbs”, and will be priced at $397,500. You can also expect Ford to produce only 1,000 Ford GT’s total, some 250 units of a four year span.

The 3.5L EcoBoost powerplant will also crank out ‘around’ 630HP – making this new supercar highest power-to-weight ratio of any production car ever built.

Considering the popularity of the Ford GT that was released a decade ago – and the price inflation that came with those cars over the years, it’s no surprise that Ford can command a ~$400,000 price tag, especially considering the heavy use of carbon fiber, active aerodynamics and other evolutionary technology equipped on this car.

Check out all the race goodies that you get with this car:

Comprehensive carbon fiber construction (Carbon-fiber passenger cell, carbon-fiber body)
Active Aerodynamics (Dynamic Aero Technology)
Dual Clutch Transmission
Pushrod Suspension
And the 3.5L TT engine is a straight race motor. For reference, the old GT motor was about $36k to replace and we guarantee that this 3.5L is going to be well north of that.

Remember, this new GT was designed to race at LeMans, with a road-going version being of secondary importance. And that’s a good thing, by the way.

You also have to consider that this won’t be a higher-production, four-thousand unit car like the 2005-06 Ford GT. The production quantity of this new Ford GT will be much lower – expect 1,000 units over a four-year period. Between the exotic construction and the low production volumes, trust us – it’s going to be a expensive car. As in, $397,500.

Furthermore, Ford isn’t exactly naive of current exotic market values. They are well aware of the fact that the market value of the older Ford GT (05/06) hovers around $240,000 – and sometimes examples come up in $300-500k range, depending on how low of mileage and options.

It’s unrealistic to think that Ford would release a far more sophisticated, higher performance, low-volume specialty car – ten years later – at a significant discount to the market value of the last one. If they did, that would just ensure dealers add on $150-200k right off the bat, which is likely anyways.

Look at the overall exotic car market as well. It’s easy to find a 650S with an MSRP around for $350k. Same for the 458 Speciale. Even though they are not similar in purpose, the Aventador shares some construction commonalities with GT, and they are on the market for $450,000 all day. Even the Nismo GT-R is a $150k car, and the Porsche Turbo S now starts at ~$184k. The new Ford GT is going to be a long, long way from that.

Flat-out in a Lamborghini Aventador SV | evo DIARIES

Lamborghini

HorsepowerKings

-

January 14, 2016

0

Flat-out in a Lamborghini Aventador SV | evo DIARIES

This is bucket list stuff. Watch this new Lamborghini Aventador SV fly through the Isle of Man course. For what it’s worth, the Isle of Man course in this video isn’t exactly closed, but it is unrestricted, which means that there are no speed limits. There are no speed limits for about 30% of the Isle of Man’s roads, including most of the TT course. You can still however be cited for things like dangerous driving so its not a complete free for all.

Confirmed: Jeep CEO promises Grand Cherokee Hellcat ‘before the end of 2017’

Mopar

HorsepowerKings

-

January 12, 2016

0

Confirmed: Jeep CEO promises Grand Cherokee Hellcat ‘before the end of 2017’

Update 1/12/16: Well folks, we originally reported that the Hellcat Jeep Cherokee is coming back in January of 2015, and today Fiat-Chrysler has confirmed it. Not only is the new ‘Trackhawk’ confirmed for production, there are already Hellcat-powered Jeep test mules running around on the streets. And today, Jeep CEO Mike Manley Confirmed the Grand Cherokee Hellcat In 2017 (Courtesy, Brian Makse):

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Hellcat is coming.

The Cherokee Hellcat project – codenamed “Trackhawk” (which is now trademarked by Chrysler) – will feature an improved all-wheel-drive system with a “beefed-up” transfer case, along with “other improved driveline components”. In fact, the new Cherokee Hellcat could burrow technology from the Ram Diesel’s 8HP70 4WD System.

Insiders also tell us that despite the rumors, the Cherokee Hellcat WILL arrive with every bit of the Hellcat’s 707 horsepower – despite rumors that Chrysler would de-tune the motor for the Grand Cherokee Hellcat model due to the relatively-fragile AWD system. In fact, the “Trackhawk” may actually receive a ‘boost increase’, thanks to the 5,210 lb curb weight.

There has also been discussion that Chrysler may brand this new earth-rotating Jeep as the “Hellhawk”, which would be appropriately menacing.

Furthermore, we are also hearing murmurings of a project “Cyclone” that may be in the works – which could be the Durango SRT Hellcat variant. Also something of note: A North-American version of the SRT 300C, powered by the Hellcat motor – “is not completely off the table”, but it may be “awhile” before we hear anything official. We will update you soon.

Civil War: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 vs. 2016 Dodge Viper ACR

GM
Mopar

HorsepowerKings

-

January 7, 2016

0

Civil War: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 vs. 2016 Dodge Viper ACR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWYJQClIyY

The Motor Trend guys are back, and this time they pit the 2015 Corvette Z06 (w/ optional Z07 Carbon Package) against the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR.

If you remember, Motor Trend tested the same 2015 Corvette Z06 this last summer, and the Z06 was suffering from ‘heat stroke’ or some other form of mechanical failure, which resulted in the supercharger being not able to build boost. Well, GM fixed the issue and gave the car back to the Motor Trend guys – so now the Z06 is running at full song, but can it compete with the earth-rotating ACR Viper?

Now the Viper – the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR – has a rear wing that is 1776 MM wide (‘Murica), which overthrows the laws of physics and creates its own. The Gen. 4 ACR was a complete monster, so we are not surprised with the results of this Gen. 5 ACR. The new ACR is basically running right with a Gen. 4 ACR-X.

Enjoy the comparison above – a battle between two of America’s fastest cars.