Porsche has announced that Timo Resch, currently the vice president of customer, brand, and sales at BMW M, will be taking over as the CEO of Porsche Cars North America starting in November 2023. This comes after former CEO Kjell Gruner resigned in July.
Although Resch is currently working at BMW, he actually started his career at Porsche back in 1995 and has experience working with Porsche North America in the past. Transitioning to the top spot at Porsche will not be unfamiliar territory for him.
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Resch’s official title will be president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. Currently, the leadership responsibilities are being shared by Executive Vice Presidents Thierry Kartochian and Joe Lawrence. Kartochian is the chief financial officer, while Lawrence serves as the chief operating officer. They have been helming Porsche North America since Gruner’s departure in July.
No official reason was given for Gruner’s resignation, but he recently joined EV automaker Rivian as the chief commercial officer and president of business growth. Gruner had served as the CEO of Porsche North America for over two years, taking on the role in 2020 after being the vice president since 2010.
During the Goodwood Revival, former Formula One driver Karun Chandhok had a terrifying experience when driving a Ferrari 250 GTO. The iconic race car exploded and spun 365 degrees, but Chandhok managed to safely guide the vehicle onto the grass and escape without serious injuries.
Chandhok shared his account of the incident with the Goodwood website, saying, “So part-way around, I was just thinking to myself, ‘how cool is this? I’m in a GTO at Goodwood.’ Then coming out of Lavant onto the straight – I was in second and cruising – I heard a bang and the back wheels locked up. As I turned I saw flames, so I got right off the track safely, to minimize oil going down and get out of the way.”
The engine of the Ferrari 250 GTO failed due to an internal problem that remains unknown. The issue was significant enough to create a hole in the powerplant, and the fireball resulted from the expelled oil hitting the hot exhaust pipes. Fortunately, the onboard fire extinguisher was able to put out the flames. The owner and his crew are currently investigating the cause of the engine failure.
Despite the incident, the owner displayed a positive reaction and expressed relief that Chandhok was safe. The plan is to rebuild the 250 GTO and continue participating in future events at Goodwood.
In a tweet, Chandhok shared a photo showing his melted boot, highlighting the only significant damage suffered in the incident.
Chandhok was participating in the Lavant Cup, a race specifically for Ferrari GT cars from 1960 to 1966. Sixteen cars took part in the event.
The driver previously competed in Formula One in 2010 and 2011, driving for HRT in the first year and Team Lotus in the following season.
Ferrari produced only 36 original 250 GTOs with a 3.0-liter V12 engine, in addition to three 330 GTOs with a 4.0-liter V12. While technically road-legal, these cars were designed primarily for racing, boasting a spartan cabin with cloth seats and no speedometer. From 1962 to 1964, they achieved immense success on the track, with multiple GT-class competition wins.
Today, the 250 GTO is considered one of the most valuable cars in the world. One example was sold at auction for $38.115 million in 2014.
The Shelby Cobra, built by former racing driver Carroll Shelby, is one of the most iconic American cars ever made and has a large fanbase.
The Cobra 427, the most desirable version, featured a 7.0-liter Big-Block 427 V-8 engine and had significant differences from earlier Cobras.
The Shelby Cobra was the basis for the Shelby Daytona, a coupe version designed to improve aerodynamics, and is the most replicated car in automotive history.
American automakers are responsible for a good portion of some of the most innovative, exquisite, and iconic automobiles. From the mass-produced Ford Model T, through the futuristic Buick Y-Job, to the Coke bottle-styled Plymouth XNR, there are many great examples that have influenced the automotive world.
But, by far, one of the most iconic American cars ever made, is the Shelby Cobra. But the iconic, V-8-powered widowmaker did not start as an American model, and it would take some time before the most desired versions came about. In a brilliant stroke of decisiveness and quick thinking, former American racing driver and farmer, Carroll Shelby went on to reimagine a compact, 1950s roadster into a V-8-powered hot rod machine.
You’ve probably watched the old recording where the Cobra’s creator says “I’m Carrol Shelby and performance is my business”. It’s the Shelby Cobra, along with the Mustang Shelby GT350 and Ford GT40 that best embody the philosophy and can-do attitude of the Texas racing driver, and while each of the cars Shelby touched is special in their own right, the Shelby Cobra boasts one of the biggest fandoms of any American sports car. Here are 10 things every gearhead should know about the iconic Shelby Cobra.
10From The Beginning, The Cobra Was Built For Racing
Top Speed
Carrol Shelby was a racing driver whose first race was in a road-going MG TC, owned by a friend of his. His winning streak, eventually, granted him a sport as a racing driver with Aston Martin, and he also set land speed records at Bonneville, for Austin Healey. Eventually, the idea of winning races in a car built by himself took form, and eventually, he built the AC Cobra, which was based on the British lightweight roadster, AC Ace.
The Cobra 427 was a few years away, however, and would not happen until 1965. The Cobra quickly dominated local events, against the Chevy Corvette, but in Europe, it lagged behind the much-quicker Ferraris and Porsches, prompting Shelby to go back to the drawing board.
9The Cobra 427 Shared Very Few Parts With Early Cobras
RM Sotheby’s
Carroll Shelby completed the first AC Cobra in 1962, after receiving a rolling chassis from AC Cars, but the Shelby Cobra 427 did not arrive until 1965. The 260 and 289 cubic-inch V-8 engines were replaced by Ford’s most advanced engine at the time – the 7.0-liter Big-Block 427 V-8, which was developed, for the Ford GT40, in order to beat Ferrari at Le Mans.
Cobra 427s are also known as Mark III Cobras, and they shared very few parts with the early 260 and 289-powered cars. Only the windshield, trunk, and hood were carried over, as the rest of the body needed to be widened, because of the big V-8. Depending on the customer’s preference, the Cobra bodies were either fiberglass or aluminum. The end result was a car, 7.0 inches wider than the Small-block Cobras – 68 inches (1,727 mm) width versus 61 inches (1,549 mm).
8The Best Blend Of British Lightweight And V-8 Power
The AC Ace was the basis for Carroll Shelby’s Cobra. By the time, the 427 cars arrived, the platform had undergone many mechanical and visual changes. But Carroll Shelby’s original idea of a lightweight British roadster with American V-8 power remained pure. Even the big-block Mk III Cobras weighed just 2,355 pounds (1,068 kg).
All 427s were coil-spring cars. Combined with the 427’s power output of 425 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 480 pound-feet (651 Nm) at 3,700 RPM, the Cobra 427 boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 398 horsepower per tonne, and that’s before the S/C (Semi-Competition) version, which bumped power to 485 horsepower. Although the Shelby Cobra is considered a handful for the uninitiated drivers, it boasted a 48/52 weight distribution, which is considered the perfect ratio, and the same as a Lexus LFA.
By the time the Shelby Cobra 427 came out, there was very little left from the original, AC Ace donor car. The resemblance was still there, but almost every mechanical aspect of the car was beefed-up to handle three times the original power of the British roadster. Among the most significant differences was that while earlier Cobras came with leaf springs, later models featured coil springs.
The AC Ace, actually, dates back to 1953, and its most powerful engine was a Ford Zephyr, 2.6-liter inline-six with 170 horsepower. That engine, however, came later in the model’s production cycle, in 1961, and only 37 cars got it. In order to handle the American V-8’s power, the Ace’s original E.N.V. differential was swapped for a Sailsburry 4HU. It featured onboard disc brakes and was the same differential found on the Jaguar E-Type. And yes, the Cobra 427s have the same differential.
6It Was The Basis For The Shelby Daytona
Mecum
For all its performance, the Shelby Cobra had an aerodynamic problem. This became apparent when Shelby took the Cobra racing in Europe. Engineer, Pete Brock stepped in and designed the Shelby Daytona – a coupe version of the Cobra with a much more slippery body.
The Shelby Daytona boasted a drag coefficient of 0.28, which was a vast improvement over the Cobra’s estimated drag coefficient of around 0.5. Even with the 289 cubic-inch V-8, the Daytona could reach 186 mph (300 km/h), which was 1.0 mph (1.61 km/h) faster than the Shelby Cobra S/C 427. Eventually, one of the six original Daytonas – Chassis CSX2286 – would receive the Ford 427 Big-block.
5The Dragon Snake Package Was Rare
Mecum
Over its lifespan, the Shelby Cobra could be optioned in a few different guises. Aside from the more powerful S/C and Super Snake models, there were the Dragon Snake and Slalom Snake packages. As suggested by the name, the Dragon Snake was a drag package, which won a few NHRA events, with Bruce Larson and Ed Hedrick, driving.
The package was built to dominate the quarter-mile. It offered reduced weight, a modified engine, new Koni shocks, Goodyear Drag Slicks, and 4.54:1 rear gears. Only six Cobras received the Dragon Snake package, and only one of them was a Cobra 427 – chassis 3198.
The Shelby Cobra is not only an American automotive icon but also highly-exclusive. Between 1965 and 1966, only 260 Cobra 427 cars were produced by Shelby American. This means that the original Cobras go for anywhere from the high-six-figure range to $13.75 million, depending on the version and rarity. To put it simply, an original Cobra, even a non-427, is not even close to being affordable. That’s where replicas come in.
The Shelby Cobra is the most replicated car in automotive history. Since the mid-1980s, it is believed that over 60,000 Cobra clones have been made, with the 427 wide-body models being the most replicated. While quality varies, some companies, like Superformance, Barkdraft Racing, and Factory 5, build high-quality replicas with the manufacturer’s grace, and oftentimes, with their own twist. The first manufacturer to build a faithful Cobra replica is believed to be DAX. The company even hired AC Ace designer, John Tojeiro, as a company director.
3Shelby Counterfeited His Own 427 Cobra
American Muscle Car Museum
Following the booming of the replica business, Carroll Shelby decided to utilize 43 left-over chassis serial numbers to release a limited batch of “original” Cobras. There were, indeed, left-over parts from the original assembly line, but later, AC Cars confirmed that the chassis for which the serial numbers were issued, were never produced.
That didn’t stop Carroll Shelby to enlist the help of McLusky Ltd. in order to build 43 new chassis and sell them to the public as original, 1960s parts. Each of the 43 continuation cars were sold for $500,000. When the gig was up, no one, actually, cared, since those were still 427 Cobras built by Carroll Shelby, himself. It’s safe to say, the Shelby Cobra 427 was so popular, even its creator went to replicate it.
2Only One Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake Survives
There are many desired, special-edition Shelby Cobra 427s, but by far, one of the rarest and most enigmatic is the Super Snake. Two original 427 Cobras received the Super Snake package – one S/C 427 (CSX 3015) and a regular 427 (CSX 3303), which was built later. All 427 Cobras were, essentially, deathtraps, but nothing came even remotely close to the 427 Super Snake.
The 427 cubic-inch V-8 received two superchargers for 800 horsepower. With under 2,300 pounds (1,050 kg) to lug around, this was one venomous snake. No wonder, one of the cars went for a swim, after jumping off a cliff, leaving chassis number CSX 3015 as the sole-surviving Cobra 427 Super Snake. In 2021, that same car went on an auction where it fetched $5.5 million.
The Shelby Cobra 427 was not a slow car by any stretch of the imagination. Even the regular 427 was capable of a top speed of 164 mph (264 km/h) while the Semi-competition variant was capable of 185 mph (298 km/h). The Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake was the fastest, with a reported top speed of 201 mph (323 km/h).
Certain packages that prioritized quarter-mile drag racing, reduced top speed, but the potential was always there. When it comes to 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) times, the numbers range from 4.5 to 3.6 seconds. The Shelby Cobra S/C 427 was also capable of blasting down the quarter-mile in as little as 12.3 seconds at 122 mph (196 km/h). To put things in perspective, the Lamborghini Miura P400 topped out at 179 mph (288 km/h) while the Ferrari 250 GTO could reach 174 mph (280 km/h).
According to sources familiar with the matter, Kjell Gruner, the former CEO of Porsche Cars North America, is expected to join electric vehicle startup Rivian in an undisclosed role, as reported by Automotive News Europe.
Last week, Gruner left Porsche USA “at his own request” after holding the position for less than three years. During his tenure, he successfully navigated the German sports car manufacturer’s American business through the pandemic and positioned the brand for a record-breaking year in terms of sales. Dealers are projected to sell 80,000 units next year, representing a nearly 15 percent increase compared to 2022.
Prior to his role as CEO in the United States, Gruner served as the vice president of marketing for the parent company Porsche AG starting in 2010. He also held the position of director of strategy at Mercedes-Benz Cars before that.
NFL running back Leonard Fournette had a frightening experience when his car caught fire. Fournette was driving his Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat on I-275 in Tampa when the fire started. He was able to pull over and exit the vehicle safely, but the Durango was severely damaged.
The Florida Highway Patrol determined that the fire was caused by a mechanical issue with the Dodge Durango and was not the result of a crash or accident. Fournette shared a video of the incident on his Instagram account, expressing gratitude that he escaped unharmed, captioning it, “Man it was one of those days today, but I would like thank God, my car caught on fire while I was driving, But I’am still blessed.”
Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat
The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the most powerful stock gasoline-powered SUV in the world. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 180 mph. Production of the Durango SRT Hellcat was limited to 3,000 units in 2021, but it resumed this year.
Recall Notices
Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, recently issued recalls for fire risks on some of its other vehicles, such as the Ram diesel and the Jeep Cherokee. However, the Dodge Durango, including the Durango SRT Hellcat, has never been subjected to a recall for a fire risk.
Leonard Fournette
Leonard Fournette was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March of this year. During his time with the Buccaneers, he played in three seasons and started 25 of 43 regular season games. He scored 17 rushing touchdowns and played a significant role in the team’s victory in Super Bowl LV, rushing for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Other Cars Owned by Fournette
In addition to his Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, Leonard Fournette also owns a Polestar 1, which he shared on his Instagram account with the caption “@polestar cars are made for stars.”
Last month, former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler admitted his involvement in the Dieselgate scandal to avoid a prison sentence. Today, a Munich court issued a verdict in the case, imposing a fine of over one million euros on Stadler and giving him a suspended sentence of one year and nine months.
When Stadler agreed to confess in May, he also agreed to pay a fine that Prosecutors had proposed to be as high as €2 million. However, the judge ruled that he would only have to pay €1.1 million ($1.2 million at the current exchange rate). Authorities arrested Stadler in 2018, and he has been on trial since 2020 for his role in the scandal that first came to light in September 2015.
In September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that it had uncovered Volkswagen’s violation of the Clean Air Act. It was not until November 2016 that the agency implicated Audi. The German automaker used software to manipulate US emissions tests on its diesel vehicles.
Stadler is the first Volkswagen board member to be sentenced for his involvement in the scandal. However, other employees also received sentences this week. Former Audi executive Wolfgang Hatz and an engineer were also found guilty and given fines and suspended sentences. There are still ongoing cases against former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and other former VW managers.
The scandal has also been costly for the automaker. Volkswagen Group has been fined billions of dollars in the US and other countries where it sold its non-compliant vehicles. Recently, South Korea fined Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen for conspiring to cheat the country’s emissions standards.
Audi is making efforts to put the scandal behind it by focusing on electric vehicles despite lagging behind the competition. VW Group CEO Oliver Blume stated last week that he intends to accelerate the development of electric vehicles for the Audi brand, which has been plagued by “severe software problems”. Next year, the company will launch the Q6 E-Tron on a new platform and release its final combustion-powered car in 2025.
Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of Nissan, has filed a lawsuit in Lebanon against his previous employer, seeking more than $1 billion in damages. The lawsuit accuses Nissan, two other companies, and 12 individuals of defamation, fabricating evidence, and other offenses. Ghosn is specifically asking for $558 million in lost compensation and costs, as well as $500 million in punitive damages.
In late 2018, Ghosn was arrested by Japanese authorities on charges of underreporting his compensation and financial misconduct. He has consistently denied these charges. In late 2019, Ghosn managed to escape house arrest and fled the country in a box, eventually finding refuge in Lebanon, which does not extradite its citizens. However, he still has pending criminal charges in Japan. Nissan has also filed a lawsuit against Ghosn for monetary damages.
Carlos Ghosn was initially hired by Renault in 1996 to restructure the French automaker. Three years later, Renault and Nissan formed a partnership to share resources and reduce costs. Ghosn played a crucial role in turning around Nissan as the chief operating officer in 1999 and eventually became the CEO of both Nissan and Renault in 2001. Mitsubishi joined the alliance in 2017.
Even though Ghosn has been absent from Nissan for several years, his presence continues to be a source of trouble for the company. In 2022, the Japanese Financial Services Agency fined Nissan 200 million yen ($1.4 million) for Ghosn’s alleged misconduct, which was reported by the company in 2019. With this new lawsuit, it is likely that the legal battle between Ghosn and Nissan will prolong for years to come.
Since his escape, Ghosn has not held back in his criticism of his former employer. He referred to Renault-Nissan as “small and fragile” and criticized the company’s lack of vision in its electrification strategy.
In early 2023, Nissan announced an updated roadmap, revealing its plans to introduce 27 new electrified models and 19 new EVs by 2030. The company aims for up to 98% of its sales to be electrified in Europe by 2026 and 40% in the US by the end of the decade.
Former MotoGP race winner and Moto2 champion, Toni Elias, made an announcement on reside TV, stating that he will probably be retiring from the game. The resolution got here after he secured a fifth-place end within the Road America Superbike race final Sunday, June 4, 2023.
Elias, who has a formidable file of 17 grand prix victories throughout numerous lessons together with 125cc, 250cc, Moto2, and Racing, is greatest remembered for his beautiful overcome Valentino Rossi within the 2006 Estoril race. This victory marked Elias’ first premier-class rostrum and was the final MotoGP win by a satellite tv for pc rider till Jack Miller’s triumph at Assen in 2016.
Although Elias achieved a number of podium finishes within the subsequent years, he struggled to safe additional wins throughout his time within the revised 800cc MotoGP class. He then transitioned to the newly fashioned Moto2 class in 2010 and clinched the championship title in its inaugural season whereas using for Gresini.
Following his Moto2 success, Elias returned to MotoGP with LCR Honda however did not make a big impression. He spent the following three seasons accepting momentary MotoGP rides in between his Moto2 commitments. However, the Spaniard skilled a exceptional resurgence in his racing profession when he moved to the United States in 2016. He made a victorious debut in MotoAmerica and went on to say the championship title within the following season.
Elias continued to compete in MotoAmerica, ending because the championship runner-up in 2018 and 2019 whereas using for Suzuki. His last full marketing campaign passed off in 2020. Subsequently, Elias made sporadic appearances in races earlier than signing with Team Hammer/Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki for the 2023 season.
Following his fifth-place end within the latest race, Elias made a reside tv announcement that it marked his “final dance.” Expressing his gratitude, he thanked Chris Ulrich, John Ulrich, Team Hammer, and all those that had supported and helped him all through his profession. Elias acknowledged that his return to racing didn’t meet his expectations and concluded by expressing his appreciation for the pleasurable moments in his last race.
“Today was my final dance, my final race,” acknowledged Elias in an interview.
Toni Elias’ retirement marks the top of an illustrious profession that noticed him compete on the highest degree of motorbike racing and go away an enduring impression on the game. Fans and fellow riders alike will undoubtedly keep in mind his fierce battles on the observe and his important contributions to the MotoGP and Moto2 championships.
Now the true query is, what’s subsequent for Elias? It’s probably that Elias may have time to dedicate to his faculty based mostly in California but in addition spend quite a lot of his free time along with his spouse and three children.
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