Tag: Evergreen

Bugatti Chiron owner hits 257 mph on the autobahn

Few places in the world are appropriate for the Bugatti Chiron to really stretch its legs, but Germany’s autobahn network is one of them. Chiron owner Radim Passer recently took his car to 414 kph (257.2 mph) on a stretch of of the famous unrestricted highway near Wittenburg, Germany. Apparently, given the religious tone of the video Passer produced, Jesus wanted him to go that fast.

Passer is an old hand at this. He previously hit 250 mph on the same stretch of autobahn in his Veyron—just short of that car’s 254-mph top speed. That required several attempts due to suboptimal weather conditions and a problem with the Veyron’s transmission, but this time he sent the Chiron to Molsheim for an inspection to be sure it could handle the task.

As depicted in a short video from Passer’s YouTube channel, the Chiron hit the autobahn in the early morning to avoid traffic, accompanied by a Lamborghini Aventador, Porsche 911 Turbo, and Bentley Flying Spur. Passer achieved his 257-mph top speed with no apparent issues.

Bugatti Chiron on the autobahn

Bugatti Chiron on the autobahn

The standard Chiron is electronically limited to 261 mph, but Passer still managed to top his Veyron V-max, and surpassed the top speeds of many other supercars by a significant margin.

if you don’t fancy a trip to Germany, Idaho’s Sun Valley Road Rally also offers opportunities to drive fast cars to their limits. We’ve seen a Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse crack 235 mph and a Veyron Super Sport reach 246 mph at the rally, which is held on a closed-off section of highway.

All of these Bugatti models are overshadowed by the Chiron Super Sport 300+, the production version of the car Bugatti used to break the 300-mph barrier in 2019. Will someone try to take one of these for a speed test on a public road?

Here’s what Gordon Murray T.50’s Cosworth V-12 sounds like lapping Le Mans

Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) has already provided a sample of how the 3.9-liter Cosworth V-12 in its T.50 supercar sounds, but on Wednesday the company released a video of the engine running a simulated lap of Le Mans’ Circuit de la Sarthe on the dynamometer. Spoiler alert: it sounds epic.

In the video, GMA namesake Gordon Murray seems as proud of the engine note as he does of any other aspect of the car. Murray attributes the lack of forced induction, and the ram-air intake mounted right behind the driver’s head, to the car’s fantastic high-pitched sound.

Gordon Murray's first drive in a GMA T.50 prototype

Gordon Murray’s first drive in a GMA T.50 prototype

On the simulated Mulsanne Straight, the V-12 shrieks like the engine of an early 2000s Formula One car. That’s thanks to a 12,100 rpm redline, which the company claims is the highest of any production car. GMA also claims its engine is the lightest V-12 in a production car, at 392 pounds.

Working with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, peak output is 654 horsepower and 344 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers aren’t world-beating for a supercar these days, but keep in mind that the T.50 only weighs 2,174 pounds, about 200 pounds less than a Miata.

Murray also isn’t interested in chasing numbers. Instead of trying to beat a top-speed record or Nürburgring lap time, he designed the T.50 to be the ultimate analog supercar. That’s why the V-12 is coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission, which most competitors have abandoned.

Gordon Murray's first drive in a GMA T.50 prototype

Gordon Murray’s first drive in a GMA T.50 prototype

The T.50 will almost certainly be entertaining to drive. During a recent test drive, Murray chirped the tires at just 3,000 rpm. At higher speeds, the T.50 uses trick aerodynamic aids, including a fan inspired by Murray’s Brabham BT46B “Fan Car” F1 racer from 1978.

Only 125 T.50 supercars will be built, including 100 road cars and 25 T.50s Niki Lauda track cars, which ditch the manual transmission but get more power and even more extreme aerodynamic elements.

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Icon worked its magic on a 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ44

California’s Icon is known for its FJ-Series Toyota Land Cruiser builds, and this 1972 FJ44 is the latest example of the company’s handiwork. Part of Icon’s Old School Edition series, it entered the workshop with 780,000 miles and is now a pristine restomod with a $237,000 price tag.

Finished in Eucalyptus Green, the powder-coated aluminum body retains the vintage factory look, while a seven-layer gray canvas soft top helps keep the weather out. Underneath the sheetmetal is a host of upgrades aimed at making this Land Cruiser drive better than it could have in stock form.

This FJ44 is powered by a General Motors LS 6.2-liter V-8 making 430 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque—a lot more than the various inline-4 and inline-6 engines offered during the FJ’s production run. The engine is coupled to an Aisin Warner AX15 5-speed manual transmission, with an Atlas II 2-speed transfer case. From there, power is channeled to a Dana 44 front axle and Dana 60 rear axle, and on to BF Goodrich all-terrain tires wrapped around Icon-designed forged aluminum wheels.

Icon Old School Edition 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ44

Icon Old School Edition 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ44

Other mechanical upgrades include Fox Racing coilover suspension and Brembo brakes, which significantly improve on-road handling, according to Icon.

On the inside, an NEX 8600 multimedia system adds Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, navigation and a rearview camera. Icon added machined-aluminum trim and new heated bucket seats for the first and second rows, plus a pair of rear jump seats.

Icon has done a wide variety of builds, ranging from a 1970 Ford F-100 to a 1949 Mercury coupe with a Tesla powertrain. The company also dabbles with newer vehicles, like the 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser it modified for Joe Rogan.