FEATURES: Dodge Viper Farewell

The proverb telling us that all good things must end contains no exclusionary clause for truly great automobiles. One that will soon pass from the production rolls is the Dodge Viper, a vibrant example of the all-American sports car if there ever was one.

During Chrysler's late-eighties heyday, a golden triumvirate existed that yielded many noteworthy accomplishments. Superstar Bob Lutz was the idea generator. Cross-country flights in corporate aircraft lubricated by too many liquid refreshments and excess cigar smoke served as his brainstorming forum. The French-born and Formula One case-hardened engineer Francois Castaing provided astute technical grounding, while the artistic Tom Gale consistently gave these high-altitude concepts thrilling shape and form.



The Viper's roots are the most obvious part of its character. That other renowned snake - the Shelby 427 Cobra - is such a pure example of uncompromised performance that 22 years passed between the last of the original serpents and the rise of a worthy successor.

Coincidentally, the Viper's slither through history begins exactly 22 years ago:

1988 Brilliant concept cars were an effective means to Chrysler's image-propping ends during one of their many brushes with extinction. After enjoying a thrilling weekend drive in his Autokraft continuation Cobra, Lutz directed Gale to create an update with Chrysler touches. The Corvette ZR1 was looming and Lutz wanted Chrysler to deflate that balloon by any means possible.

Months later, the media gathered at Chrysler's Highland Park, Michigan, design dome found a low, menacing form hidden under a drop cloth. When the cover was whisked away, jaws dropped and the room's pressure momentarily fell as every attendee inhaled in synch.

What Gale had created was a flame red phallus on wheels - long of hood, short of deck, low of profile. Like the production design the followed, there was room under the exaggerated front end for a large and powerful V-10 engine. Header pipes rippling like tensed muscles from the fender vents dumped hot exhaust to atmosphere just ahead of the wide rear tires. This was a pure roadster with no targa bar, roll up windows, or nod to weather protection. The assembled scribes were stirred by Chrysler's boldness but skeptical if this radical departure from behavioral norms could survive beyond the concept phase.
1989 The walls creaked, the roof moved when the Viper rolled onto a Cobo Hall stage with guttural undertones to make its public debut at January's North American (Detroit) Auto Show. A low targa bar had sprouted on the deck but Tom Gale's suitably aggressive sculpture was for the most part intact.

The response from show goers was overwhelming. Some posted deposit checks even though there were no production plans. That spurred Lutz to quickly breathe vitality into Chrysler's cobbled up concept.

Hundreds of engineers descended upon a meeting established to recruit a handful of chassis, powertrain, and manufacturing experts needed to move the Viper to production. Lutz gave the team a $50-million budget and a three-year gestation period. The first of two engineering mules was running by year's end with temporary V-8 power.

1990 Lamborghini, then owned by Chrysler, assisted the design and manufacture of the first aluminum V-10 engines. Viper team boss Roy Sjoberg gave Chrysler boss Lee Iacocca a drive in the second (V-10 powered) engineering mule. Project approval and a go for production were issued the moment Lido stepped out of the cockpit.

1991 Living legend Carroll Shelby paced the Indy 500 behind the wheel of a Viper prototype. In the fall, scribes were offered their first test drives in pre-production models.

1992 Production began at a spruced up corner of Chrysler's decrepit New Mack Assembly plant in Detroit. The Dodge Viper RT/10 Roadster was a classic sports roadster with no traction or stability controls, air bags, air conditioning, or convertible roof. Weather protection was provided by a collapsible toupee top and side curtains. Only 200 examples were built and sold during the introductory year.

1994 Air conditioning was added to the options list.

1995 Viper manufacturing operations were moved to Chrysler's Conner Avenue Assembly plant.

1996 After a stunning GTS coupe was added to the lineup, the Viper again paced the Indy 500, this time with 'Maximum Bob' Lutz at the wheel. All 1996 Vipers benefited from more power, reduced weight, a 25-percent stiffer structure, better brakes, and improved suspension systems. Still lacking ABS, the Viper's Achilles heel was long stopping distances. The troublesome side exhaust pipes and outlets were revised to a rear-outlet design for the GTS.

1997 Dual airbags, which appeared the year before in the GTS, became standard roadster equipment. European exports began. Viper Team Oreca earned the first of many racing championships in the FIA's GT2 class.

1999 An upgraded Cognac Connolly leather interior package became available. The American Club Racing (ACR) model had extra power, less weight, stiffer suspension, stickier tires, and special aerodynamic equipment
2001 ABS finally became standard in all Vipers.

2002 To close out the first generation, 360 final edition Vipers painted red with white stripes were built.

2003 A thorough redesign gave the Viper roadster - now called SRT-10 - fresh bodywork, a larger and more potent engine, and various chassis improvements.

2006 A new coupe arrived with 510 horsepower.

2007 Busy tooling up a third-generation design, the Viper team extended 2006 production and skipped the 2007 model year.

2008 Raising the V-10's displacement to 8.4-liters, adding variable valve timing on the exhaust side, and comprehensive induction and exhaust refinements boosted output to a nice round 600 horsepower. Transmission, differential, and tire improvements yielded significant acceleration benefits. The new Michelin Pilot Sport 2 radials were a boon to handling. Eliminating the crossover pipes helped reduce cockpit heat.

2009 Late in the year, Dodge boss Ralph Gillies announced the Viper's impending demise. While there were hints a replacement might arrive someday, the chances of the name, V-10 engine, or original character surviving are miniscule. A few worthy suitors offered to buy Viper manufacturing rights but Chrysler's new owner Fiat spurned those overtures.

2010 Dodge dealers began accepting deposits for 510 Final Edition Vipers. The roadster is priced at $91,185, the coupe costs $750 more, while the ACR model runs $106,485 (destination charges included). The intended split is 20 coupes, 18 roadsters, 12 ACRs. The last of approximately 27,000 Vipers will roll off the assembly line in July.

VIPER'S MAJOR COMPETITION ACHIEVEMENTS

* Four FIA GT2 championships
* Ten FIA GT championships
* Overall victory at Daytona, Nurburgring, and Spa 24 hour races
* Three LeMans GT2 class wins
* One LeMans GTS class win

 source by automobilemag

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Racing Series Returns for Season Two

Europe is home to some of the finest racing series in the world and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo spec series is gearing up for its second season.

Never heard of the Super Trofeo? These racecars are lightened versions of the Gallardo LP 560-4 dressed in Blancpain livery and prepped for race duty. The Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V-10 puts out 570 horsepower while a retuned six-speed e.gear sends power to the all-wheel-drive system. High-friction steel brakes, “racing” ABS, a special aero package, and 18-inch competition wheels wrapped in Pirelli slicks complement the Super Trofeo’s 2900-pound weight. The chassis has been reworked and launch control has also been eliminated.



This year, the six-round season starts the weekend of April 24-25 at the Hockenheimring in Germany. The first round will support the DTM touring-car series; the remaining events will be paired with venues from FIA GT1 World, Le Mans Series, and Campionato Italiano di Gran Turismo. Each round contains 30 minutes of free practice, a 30-minute qualifying session, and three 40-minute races.

“The second Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo season is highly anticipated,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, Lamborghini’s director of brand and design. “We’re excited to see new teams join the Super Trofeo family for 2010, while competitors from last season will return to defend their honours. The on-track battles were extremely close in 2009, and we’re set for another thrilling season ahead.”

2010 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Calendar

April 24-25 -- Hockenheim -- DTM

May 22-23 -- Brno -- GT1 World

July 3-4 -- Paul Ricard -- GT1 World

July 29-31 -- Spa-Francorchamps -- GT1 World

August 21-22 -- Hungaroring -- Le Mans Series

September 24-26 -- Vallelunga -- Campionato Italiano di Gran Turismo (Italian GT Championship)

Source: Lamborghini

Rhys Millen Scores First Podium Finish for Hyundai Genesis Coupe

The main attraction at last weekend's Formula Drift event in Long Beach was the final bout between Ford driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Hyundai pilot Rhys Millen.

Gitten Jr. got the upper hand this round in his 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT, but with the collection of considerable talent in the series, the Maryland native will have to work hard to defend his crown.



The knockout series witnessed the competition whittle down to Gittin Jr., Millen, Tanner Foust, and Fredric Aasbo in the semi-finals. Foust, two-time Formula D champion, took third position in his 800-horsepower, NASCAR-powered Scion tC. Millen had a terrific showing for Hyundai, putting his 650-horsepower Genesis Coupe in second place and erasing any competitive doubts stemming from the 2009 season.

“I was in sync with my Genesis Coupe during the entire campaign and step one was to qualify first,” said Millen. “The car had so much grip and power I was able to put it close to the walls and mirror the other competitors’ cars’ every move. Nothing compares to the pressure and thrill of the ‘win it or lose it’ factor while competing against more than 50 other cars and drivers.”

The next round of the 2010 Formula Drift season will be held at Road Atlanta May 7-8.

Sources: Formula Drift, Hyundai

Unlimited Potential: First Look at Rhys Millen’s New Hyundai Pikes Peak Car

When it comes to the “unlimited” class at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the sky is literally the limit. Drivers have been fielding some wild vehicles in the group for decades on end, but none has been quite as intimidating as Rhys Millen’s latest ride, the Hyundai Genesis RMR PM850.



“This is the package I need to break the record,” Millen said. “We are building a car for today’s [course]. The car will have a sleek aerodynamic body, the grip of Toyo Proxy tires, and the power and durability of a Hyundai engine.”

That engine, along with the Hyundai emblems, may be the only thing remotely associated with a production Genesis Coupe. The PM850 looks as if it’d be more at home on the Hunaudières Straight than a Hyundai showroom floor. Closely resembling a contemporary Le Mans prototype, the PM850 makes use of a chromoly frame and roll cage, along with a body crafted entirely of carbon fiber.

Although Rhys Millen Racing started with a stock 3.8-liter “Lambda” V-6, the finished product is radically different than the six-cylinder found in the Genesis Coupe. RMR stroked the engine, bringing its displacement up to 4.1 liters, and then mated the six-cylinder with a HKS T04Z turbocharger, an intercooler, and customized exhaust manifolds. At this point, the team says the engine is capable of producing nearly 750 horsepower.

Harnessing that power may prove to be difficult, but RMR thinks a custom all-wheel-drive system may do the trick. The turbocharged Lambda is mated to a semi-automatic transmission supplied by Weismann, which then channels power through an active center differential to two Quaife differentials. According to Hyundai, the active center diff will allows Millen to send anywhere from 10 to 100 percent of all torque to the front wheels -- important for configuring the car for both the asphalt and dirt portions of the run.

The important question, however, is if the PM850 will be enough to knock Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima from his record, which stands at 10 minutes and 1.408 seconds. The quest is nothing short of a family affair, as Rhys’ father, Rod, set the previous Pikes Peak record in 1994, racing to the top of the mountain in 10 minutes and 4.06 seconds.

“Breaking into the 9s has been a desire of mine for the last 10 years,” Millen said last week. “I finally have the team, support, and infrastructure to put in a serious effort to go after the world record.

“The main focus is to be the fastest car up the hill, slay the monster, and get the record back in the family name -- the Millen name.”

Source: Hyundai/ RMR

Toyota Has No Plans to Return to Formula 1

A difficult economy forced Toyota to withdraw from Formula 1, but don't expect the automaker to return to the series should the automotive industry improve. Corporate officials -- even those once tied to the F1 program -- admit the racing series doesn't reach its customer base.



"There is a big gap between Formula 1 and Toyota's actual [owners]," said Tadashi Yamashina, Toyota's Senior Managing Director. "President [Akio] Toyoda's stance on motorsports is geared more to the customer."

Although Yamashima himself broke down in tears when Toyoda held a press conference last year to announce the F1 withdrawal, the executive seems to have adopted a new perspective on the race series. In an interview with Automotive News, Yamashima says F1 has grown far too "elitist" for Toyota's tastes.

"For the fortunate few who can afford to [stroll an F1 paddock,], it's fine. I think the best kind of races are those in which people can get in close to the race."

Although F1 isn't on the company's radar, Toyota will remain involved in other motorsports series, including those that do allow spectators to have greater access to drivers and cars alike. Expect Toyota-badged vehicles to remain a part of NASCAR and NHRA, but Toyoda -- a gentleman racer himself -- has pledged to increase the company's activity in grassroots motorsports.

Toyota first joined the F1 grid in 2002, but after seven years of activity, failed to garner a single victory. Along with BMW, the manufacturer was one of two auto companies to walk away from the F1 circus at the end of the 2009 season. Honda withdrew after a dismal 2008 campaign but laid the groundwork for the championship-winning Brawn GP team last year.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

Helio Castroneves Takes his Fourth Indy 500 Pole

The 2010 Indianapolis 500 won’t start until May 30, but as is so often the case with motorsports events, the action isn’t relegated to one weekend -- or, for that matter, one day. Pole Day -- the official qualifying day for the 500 -- was this past Saturday, and determined the starting order for the 500.



After besting his 2009 qualifying speed by over 3 mph, Helio Castroneves will sit in the pole position once again -- and be the first back-top-back Indy 500 pole-sitter since Scott Brayton’s performances in 1995 and 1996. Castroneves earned the position -- his fourth pole qualification at Indy -- by lapping the 2.5-mile track at 227.970 mph (in 2009, his grid-topping speed was 224.864 mph).

Before snagging the lead starting position, Castroneves held second behind Alex Tagliani. With just an hour and a half left in qualifying, Team Penske withdrew Castroneves’ time for a chance to snag the top position. It paid off -- although he had to sit through a tense 90 minutes as he watched other drivers approach his speed.

“Sitting in that car for an hour and a half was not easy at all, especially with everyone getting closer and closer,” said Castroneves. “I was like, ‘Are we going or not?’ because I can’t handle that much pressure.”

At the end of the day, only Castroneves and teammate Will Power (227.578 mph) posted speeds above 227 mph. Ryan Briscoe, Team Penske’s third driver, will start in fourth place, just behind Dario Franchitti. Tagliani -- who once looked to be the front-runner for pole position -- will start the race from fifth place. Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, Ed Carpenter, and Hideki Mutoh round out the first three rows respectively.

There are some notable absentees from the top nine positions. Ryan Hunter Reay, who currently sits fourth in points in the 2010 IndyCar series, will start the race from the 17th position, while 2008 Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon will start in 18th place. Danica Patrick will start the race in 23rd place, attributing her dismal qualification to “one of the worst” cars she’s ever driven. Regardless, she did better than 2004 IndyCar champion Tony Kanaan, who crashed twice in 24 hours exiting Turn One. It’s rather miraculous that the Andretti Motorsports team was able to restore his car for yesterday’s Bump Day, which allowed him to earn a 32nd-place starting position, just shy of last place.

Will Castroneves become the fourth driver to win the Indy 500 four times, and earn back-to-back wins from a pole starting position? We’ll know this Sunday after the checkered flag drops at Indy. Look for the race to start at 1:15 p.m. (EST) on Sunday.

Source: Izod IndyCar Official Web site

etro Repeat: BMW 328 Coupe Wins 2010 Mille Miglia

Seventy years after a BMW 328 first won the event, a 328 Touring Coupe managed to win this year's 1000-mile Mille Miglia race in Italy.

Despite the car's age (it rolled off the line back in 1940), drivers Giuliano Cané and Lucia Galliani suffered no technical issues, although arriving at the event was itself a feat. As was the case back in 1940, the BMW wasn't trucked to the starting line, but driven nearly 300 miles from the company's museum in Munich, Germany, to the checkpoint in Brescia, Italy. Such was the case for the 328 piloted by Enzo Ciravolo and Maria Lietner that ultimately finished third.

Although the cars proved reliable, the race was still quite a challenge. The 1000-mile route takes teams throughout Italy, providing them with both 80-degree heat near the Adriatic Sea and frigid temperatures in the Alps. In a brilliant marketing move, BMW provided drivers -- especially those who fielded the roofless 328 Roadster -- with insulated clothing from its motorcycle accessory range.



"Victory by Cané and Galliani, along with the third place finish of Ciravolo and Leitner, is a marvelous example of teamwork," said Karl Baumer, the director of BMW Classic. "Both the blind understanding between the crews inside the cars and the cooperation with the mechanics along the way worked out perfectly. For that, I would like to say 'thank you' to all those involved."

Source: BMW

Rent A Racer: Audi Race Experience Program Puts You in Race-Spec R8

Forget the fantasy baseball camp -- if you've got a good chunk of change at hand, we'd recommend signing up for Audi's Race Experience program, which will ultimately put you behind the wheel of a race-prepped R8 LMS on the famed Nürburgring.

The program, crafted in partnership with Team Joest, essentially allows participants to play race car driver for a day. After a series of driving lessons (including earning a current racing license), participants will field one of two Joest-owned R8 LMS cars in a VLN race on the 'Ring. Joest and Audi Sport will provide everything else needed to go racing, including tires, fuel, a pit crew, telemetry -- and, if so desired, a professional co-driver.



"For the first time, customers have the opportunity to participate in a race with a professional Audi 'factory' team without having to enter a long-term commitment, or making a high financial investment," said Klaus Demel, head of Audi's Driving Experience programs.

Demel's last point may be true -- this will be less expensive than sponsoring and running an entire race team on your own -- but we don't expect the Race Experience program to come cheap. Audi hasn't talked pricing, but seeing as there are more costs to amortize than the company's Sportscar Experience (which runs roughly $3500 for a two-day program), we know this experience will carry a lengthy bill.

If cost is no object to you, add this to your bucket list -- and quickly. Team Joest is only running these cars in six VLN races at the Nürburgring, so despite the high prices, expect openings to disappear quickly.

Source: Audi

Fast Art: Jeff Koons’ BMW M3 GT2 Art Car Revealed

We’ve seen previews of BMW’s latest Art Car, but we hadn’t seen the finished product -- a M3 GT2 racer decorated by artist Jeff Koons -- until its official unveiling in Paris this morning.

With its 17th Art Car, BMW is returning to its roots, and actually racing the Koons-styled GT2 in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. The first Art Car -- a 1975 3.0 CSL -- was the brainchild of driver Hervè Poulain, who commissioned artist Alexander Calder to dress up the exterior. Poulain ultimately raced the car at Le Mans that year, while two other Art Cars -- a 1976 3.0 CSL decorated by Frank Stella, and a 1979 M1 Procar painted by Andy Warhol -- also competed in the endurance race.



Unlike those early Art Cars, Koons’ product isn’t actually painted. Thanks to both a tight timeframe and the weight-conscious mindset of BMW’s racing directors, Koons applied his radical pattern to the M3 GT2 with a vinyl wrap. Better yet, the vinyl wrap process allows Koons’ design to be applied to a number of spare parts -- important, should the M3 suffer a collision during the Le Mans event.

Before crafting his design, Koons was given the chance to witness the M3 GT2 in action for inspiration. According to the artist, he was reportedly inspired by the “raw, unfiltered performance” of the GT2, and decided to give the M3 a design that gives the impression of motion even when at a standstill.

“These race cars are like life; they are powerful and there is a lot of energy,” Koons said. “You can participate with it, add to it, and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car -- it’s really to connect with that power.”

Koons’ M3 GT2 was unveiled earlier today at Paris’ Centre Pompidou, the same venue Roy Lichtenstein used to unveil his 320i Art Car back in 1977. The car will be on public display today, before the car heads to Circuit de la Sarthe for the 24 Hours on June 12 and 13.

Source: BMW