Motorsport

Watch an Old Ford Taurus Outperform Porsche, BMW, and McLaren on the Race Track

The classic Ford Taurus SHO continues to impress even after being on the road for over 30 years. Imagine attending an open track event in 2023 with your McLaren 720S, only to find a first-generation white Taurus right behind you in the rearview mirror. While the Taurus didn’t overtake the McLaren, it did pass other drivers, as shown in the video above.

The video is courtesy of Adam Hartlmeier, who is a well-known enthusiast of the SHO. Adam and his wife Michelle own several first-generation models, including two of the four Ninja Turtle SHO race cars that participated in the IMSA Firestone Firehawk series in the early 1990s. However, the car featured in this video is a different white 1990 SHO that has been modified for track fun.

By “comfortably modified,” we mean that there are no extravagant modifications such as turbochargers, superchargers, or nitrous oxide. The car features a mostly stock 3.2-liter SHO V6 engine, producing around 250 horsepower at the front wheels. It has coilovers, upgraded 13-inch brakes, and has been stripped down to weigh approximately 2,600 pounds.

The video was filmed at the Blackhawk Farms track in Illinois. It captures the McLaren 720S and the Taurus SHO racing together, with the Taurus keeping up with the McLaren in the corners but falling behind on the straights. However, the Taurus manages to overtake several other cars, including Miatas, a Chevrolet Camaro, a Ford Mustang, and even a BMW E30 and a Porsche Cayman.

Adam Hartlmeier highlights the fact that the SHO is a dedicated racer, while most other cars at the event were street cars designed for both track and street use. It’s impressive that a car originally designed for comfortable transportation can outperform cars with significantly more power on the track. Many people are surprised by the SHO’s speed, making it one of the most unexpected performance cars.

Special thanks to the Hartlmeiers for sharing their photos and stories. For more Taurus SHO action, you can listen to Motor1.com’s Rambling About Cars podcast featuring Zach Wright, the owner of an eight-second 1995 Taurus SHO drag car affectionately known as the Blue Turd.

Motorsport

RC Big Rigs In Small Scale Look Like A Fun Way To Work Hard, Cost Thousands

Radio-controlled vehicles offer a downsized version of the automotive experience. They come in a range of prices, with some models being more complex and feature-rich than others. The RC rigs showcased in the video above go beyond mere replicas of dump trucks, excavators, semis, and other big rigs by incorporating intricate details.

The level of detail in some of these machines is remarkable. Many of them include functioning lights to enhance their realism, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Some vehicles even have illuminated dashboards and center screens, while their engine and reverse sounds mimic the actual noise produced by hard-working electric motors. In fact, some clips in the video sound like an actual construction site.

However, such detailed RC rigs come at a cost, with most models ranging well over $1,000. For example, the five-axle low-loader semi-trailer featured at 6:40 in the video retails for €5,512 ($6,004 at today’s exchange rates). This trailer is equipped with a front-end storage box, sunken lashing and anchorage eyes, fold-out chassis extensions, as well as complete wiring with rear lights and side markers.

Not everything in the video is as expensive though. The JDM-198 RTR loader shown at 5:25 is relatively cheaper, retailing for $2,241. The 1/14-scale articulated dump truck, available at 8:55 in the video, costs $2,052 on ToucanHobby.com. The Kabolite Liebhe 350 excavator featured at 3:30 falls in the middle range with a price tag of $3,456, while the LESU Lieghe loader, seen at 5:43, is an investment of $2,884 on the hobby website. However, it’s worth noting that the latter model comes unassembled and unpainted.

These hard-working RC rigs demonstrate the diverse range of car culture. Although they may not be the supercars that grace posters and magazine covers, they are equally awe-inspiring as functional machines. These scaled-down vehicles, even in 1/14-scale, are capable of performing tasks just like their real-world counterparts. The video showcases the excavators digging dirt and loading it into dump trucks that drive away, mirroring real-life construction scenarios.

While purchasing toys like these may not be feasible for everyone due to their high price point, there are always cheaper alternatives available. These alternatives may not have the same level of detail but still offer an enjoyable radio-controlled experience. The RC market caters to various budgets and extends beyond models, with options like RC engines and transmissions that celebrate the engineering found in modern automobiles.

Motorsport

Porsche 911 GT3 Refresh Spotted at Nurburgring, Sounds Amazing

Porsche is refreshing their entire 911 lineup, and that includes the popular GT3 model. A new spy video captures the GT3 as it laps the famous Nürburgring track and cruises on the nearby roads.

From the license plates seen in the video, it appears that there are multiple cars being tested. Some of these vehicles have lower inlets that resemble the current GT3, while others have concealed panels in that area (as shown below). The dual outlets at the front of the car remain the same.


Motorsport

2024 Lincoln Aviator Spied Wearing No Camo On The Road

Lincoln is not worried about hiding the refreshed 2024 Aviator from the public, as the development team is driving the luxury SUV without any camouflage. This is the second time the vehicle has been spotted like this.

The 2024 Aviator has a sleeker design for the front end, departing from its current boxy look. The grille has a more rounded shape with vertically oriented ovals in a metallic finish. The running lights have been revised and now extend towards the center of the vehicle’s face. The lower fascia features a simple trapezoidal outline, while air curtains are positioned on the outer edges.


Motorsport

Porsche CEO Camped In $7,000 Roof Tent On Top Of 911 Turbo S At Le Mans

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume decided to experience this year’s Le Mans race firsthand, but he didn’t opt for luxury accommodations. Instead, he parked his black 911 Turbo S at the Porsche Employee Camp and stayed in a rooftop tent with his wife for two nights.

The rooftop tent, introduced by Porsche less than a year ago, is an all-season accessory that can comfortably accommodate two adults. It features an integrated polyfoam mattress, two side windows with insect screens, and a skylight for ventilation and views. The tent also proudly displays Porsche branding and a mountain silhouette motif inside. It was designed, developed, and produced by Porsche’s original accessories and upgrades division, Porsche Tequipment.


Motorsport

Honda is recalling 1.2 million vehicles due to a faulty cable that could disrupt the rear camera feed

Honda is issuing a recall for over one million vehicles, including the Odyssey, Pilot, and Passport models. The reason behind the recall is a defective coax cable that may cause the rearview camera to stop working during use. The good news is that there doesn’t appear to be a risk of fire associated with the cable issue. However, losing the camera feed while backing up could be problematic for drivers.

A total of 1,198,280 Honda vehicles are included in the recall. The affected vehicles are 2018-2023 Odyssey models, 2019-2023 Passport models, and 2019-2022 Pilot models. The specific problem lies with the car’s Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) coaxial cable. Honda has determined that the cable was improperly designed and manufactured, and its failure can lead to issues such as flickering on the audio screen, popping or crackling sounds, and most importantly, the potential for the rearview camera to cut out while in use.


Motorsport

Tour A Tiny Ford Transit Connect Cozy Camper Conversion

In the world of homebuilt campers, vehicles like school buses and Mercedes-Sprinters are often used as a starting point. However, Terri, the woman behind the Misty Miles YouTube channel, took a different approach by converting a 2010 Ford Transit Connect into a micro RV.

The Ford Transit Connect that Terri used for her conversion is a long-wheelbase, high-roof model. According to a brochure from that period, it has a cargo volume of 131 cubic feet (3.7 cubic meters), which increases to 152 cubic feet (4.3 cubic meters) when the front passenger seat is folded. Despite its small size, Terri managed to make the most of this space.

Terri purchased the Transit Connect on eBay without seeing it firsthand. She bid for it while driving and ended up paying just 2,800 pounds ($3,557) for the vehicle. She affectionately named her new motorhome Blanche.

The conversion process began with insulating the cargo area to improve climate control. The insulation has proven effective, allowing Terri to live in Blanche during the freezing temperatures of February in Scotland. Surprisingly, there is no heating system installed in the camper.

Terri made the interior of the van cozy by utilizing inexpensive materials. For example, she created the countertop using pieces of pallets, and her bookshelf is made from the same wood and a stick. She even built a shelf using just a length of wood and some rope. Her sink is a waterproofed bamboo bowl with a hole in the bottom.

The camper features a couch that extends to become a bed, providing enough space for Terri to sleep comfortably. However, it can be tight if two people share the bed.

Underneath the couch, there are drawers for additional storage. A cupboard in the front is large enough to fit her duvet. There is also a dedicated area for the battery that powers the lights and other utilities in the van. Terri plans to install a second battery soon to meet her power needs more efficiently.

Terri documents her travels around Europe and Scotland with Blanche on the Misty Miles YouTube channel. Her most recent video features the tiny country of Liechtenstein. She also shares photos of her adventures on her Instagram page.

Motorsport

VW Group CEO Acknowledges Audi’s Lagging Position Compared to Competitors, Software Problems to Blame

The CEO of Volkswagen Group, Oliver Blume, has admitted that Audi is falling behind its rivals, with software issues being identified as the main culprit. In order to address this issue, the automaker will accelerate the development of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) for the luxury brand.

Blume made this statement about Audi’s current standing during the company’s Capital Markets Day. He specifically mentioned, “We have encountered significant software problems that have caused delays in the launch of our exciting electric products,” as reported by Automotive News Europe.


Motorsport

Best Spy Shots For The Week Of June 19

Motor1.com regularly shares spy shots of upcoming vehicles, often on a daily basis. If you’re interested in staying up-to-date with the latest developments, take a look at this compilation of the most recent glimpses of these vehicles.

At first sight, this sedan appears to be a typical Audi S6. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that it features wider fenders and an unusual dual exhaust layout.


Motorsport

2025 VW T-Roc Spotted Testing in Southern Europe as Early Mule

In April of this year, Volkswagen confirmed that the next-generation T-Roc will be one of their last combustion-powered models. The new T-Roc is expected to debut in either 2024 or 2025, but development work has already begun on this crossover. Today, we have the first spy photos of the 2025 T-Roc, which is currently being tested as a mule.

These photos were taken in Southern Europe during the early testing phase of the next-gen T-Roc. As you can see, the vehicle currently resembles a modified Golf Mk8 with a raised suspension and wider wheel arches. There is also a distant photo of the cabin, giving us a glimpse of a temporary dashboard layout with an instrument cluster housed in a large casing.


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