Tag Archives: modified

Motorsport

Lia Block Races Her Dad’s Escort Cosworth After Winning ARA 2WD Title

This weekend, Ken Block’s daughter, Lia, will be competing in a rally race in America with a modified Ford Escort Cosworth. Lia and her co-driver, Rhianon Gelsomino, recently won the 2023 American Rally Association (ARA) Open 2WD title, making Lia the youngest person ever to win an ARA national championship at the age of 16. They dominated the races they participated in, winning four out of five events with a Subaru BRZ. With the 2WD championship secured, they are now racing in the top 4WD category using Ken Block’s Cossie V2, a car built after the original one crashed in 2018.

The next race they will participate in is the Lake Superior Performance Rally in Marquette, Michigan. It is known for its beautiful fall colors and challenging stages with big jumps. It is also the season-ending event for the ARA. Lia won’t be the only Block on the stages; her mom, Lucy Block, will be racing in the L4WD group with Alex Gelsomino, Rhianon’s husband and Ken’s former co-driver, driving a 2021 Ford Fiesta Rally3.

Lia expressed her excitement about racing in the ARA’s highest category on Instagram. While it’s her first time racing an all-wheel-drive car in the ARA, she has previous experience driving powerful AWD cars. Earlier this year, she did a tribute run up Pikes Peak in a 1,400-horsepower, AWD Porsche called the Hoonipigasus. She also raced in a Hoonicorn Mustang in unofficial drag races.

Despite Ken Block’s passing earlier this year in a snowmobiling accident, Lia continues to carry on his legacy and create her own in the racing world. The Block/Gelsomino teams will compete in Michigan on October 13 and 14 to close out the 2023 ARA season.

For more discussion on Lia and other automotive topics, you can check out Motor1.com’s “Rambling About Cars” podcast.

Motorsport

Kia Telluride Prepares for Rebelle Rally with Lift and Skid Plates

The upcoming Rebelle Rally, starting on October 12, will see Kia participating with a modified version of the 2024 Telluride X-Pro SUV. Prior to the rally, Kia has made some minor adjustments to the vehicle, preparing it for the challenging 1,600-mile journey through the deserts of California and Nevada.

The Kia Telluride has undergone several enhancements, including the addition of a roof rack and front and rear bumpers from Baja Forged. These upgraded bumpers not only improve the SUV’s approach and departure angles but also work in conjunction with the 1.5-inch suspension lift to enhance the vehicle’s off-road capabilities. As a result, the Telluride now boasts nearly 10 inches of ground clearance, allowing it to tackle rough terrains more effectively.


Motorsport

Experience the Porsche 911 Turbo S Speeding Over 200 MPH on the Autobahn

On the autobahn, drivers have the opportunity to legally reach incredible speeds. This particular 991.2-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S, with only mild modifications, pushes its velocity to the limit, reaching a remarkable 202 miles per hour (325 kilometers per hour).

The Turbo S model in question is equipped with an IPE exhaust system, but there is no mention of any other modifications. The on-screen text erroneously states that the car has 4,580 horsepower, which is clearly a typo. In its stock configuration, this generation of the Turbo S utilizes a twin-turbo 3.8-liter flat-six engine that produces 572 horsepower.

Fortunately, the autobahn is not heavily trafficked on this particular day, giving the driver the opportunity to make multiple high-speed runs. The car consistently exceeds 124 mph (200 kph) for extended periods of time.

The modified exhaust system enhances the 911’s sound, giving it a more aggressive tone. Based on the audio in the accompanying video, the sound is not excessively loud, and there is no droning noise.

With features such as four-wheel steering and all-wheel drive, the Turbo S demonstrates impressive stability in the video, even when traveling at speeds well into triple digits.

The term “991.2” refers to the refreshed version of the previous generation of the iconic Porsche 911. The Turbo S variant of this model was introduced for the 2017 model year. Compared to its earlier iteration, powertrain improvements resulted in an increased output, exceeding the previous 552 horsepower.


Technology

Tsar Bomba: The Story Behind The Largest Nuclear Bomb Ever Detonated

On the morning of October 30th, 1961, Major Andrei Durnovstev boarded his modified Tu-95V bomber with the Tsar Bomba, knowing that he and his crew faced a 50/50 chance of survival. This enormous bomb measured 26 feet in length and weighed 27 metric tons, with an additional 1,800-pound parachute to slow its descent. The goal was to ensure that Durnovstev and his crew could reach a safe distance of at least 30 miles before the bomb detonated.

While 50/50 odds were not great, Durnovstev would have been doomed if the Tsar Bomba had been tested at its maximum theoretical yield of 100 megatons. Soviet scientists believed that such a detonation would have caused dangerous levels of radioactive fallout and destroyed the plane that dropped the bomb.

When the Tsar Bomba exploded, it unleashed more than 1500 times the destructive power of the bombs dropped over Japan in 1945. The resulting fireball was over 8 kilometers wide, and the intense heat caused third-degree burns at a distance of more than 60 miles from the detonation point. The shock wave from the blast was felt up to 430 miles away, and due to “atmospheric focusing,” windows shattered even as far away as Norway and Finland. The shock wave traveled around the earth three times before dissipating. Despite being pummeled by the shock wave, Durnovstev and his crew survived, although their plane dropped more than 3,000 feet before regaining control. Even a secret US spy plane, covertly observing the test from nearby, had its paint scorched.

Featured

Toyota Innova Crysta Can Now Be Customised As An Ambulance

The entire rear half of the MPV’s cabin has been modified to offer the necessary equipment for emergency medical purposes.

Toyota Innova Crysta Ambulance

  • The Innova Crysta Ambulance is available in two variants: Basic and Advanced

  • Gets more than just ambulance-specific stickers and graphics on the outside.

  • Inside, the second and third row seats have been removed to accommodate the stretcher.

  • Top-spec comes loaded with medical equipment such as Multiparameter Health Monitor, an oxygen delivery system, and Kendrick Extrication device.

  • The Innova Crysta is only available with a diesel-manual powertrain.

The Toyota Innova Crysta MPV is a well-known and popular people mover in India, especially when a blend of driving dynamics and passenger comfort are a priority. Now, those aspects of the premium MPV are being leveraged for medical purposes with a detailed conversion that can transform the Innova Crysta into an ambulance.

This ambulance conversion process is carried out in partnership with Pinnacle Industries Ltd, and there are two versions available – Basic and Advanced.

How Is It Different?

Toyota Innova Crysta Ambulance

While the Innova Crysta Ambulance looks no different from its regular version in terms of overall design, it features ambulance-specific red and yellow stickers all around and  emergency flashing lights have been mounted on the roof.

Inside, the front of the cabin is separated from the rest by a partition to separate the patient and paramedic from the driver. The Innova Crysta’s second and third-row seats have been removed to accommodate the stretcher, a front-facing paramedic seat and other emergency equipment, such as portable and stationary oxygen cylinders and a cabinet for storing medical equipment. 

Ambulance Features

Toyota Innova Crysta Ambulance Interior

The entire right-wall of the modified cabin in the Ambulance version of the Innova Crysta is equipped with all the necessary equipment needed for emergencies. The fully loaded Advanced trim comes with features such as the Multiparameter Monitor, which helps monitor the health parameters of a patient, an oxygen delivery system, the Kendrick Extrication Device (used for head, neck, and torso support), portable suction aspirator, and a spine board. 

Additional power sockets are also provided inside the cabin to operate all the electronics.

Also Check Out: This Could Be The Look For The India-spec Toyota Rumion

Same Engine

The Innova Crysta Ambulance uses the same 2.4-litre diesel engine (150PS and 343Nm) as the regular Innova Crysta. This unit is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. 

Why An Innova Ambulance?

Toyota Innova Crysta Ambulance

While a conventional ambulance seems to be ideal as it is built for that specific purpose, it is not perfect for every situation. Furthermore, they are quite expensive and are best used for emergency medical situations, whereas other vehicles can be considered for simpler uses like transporting patients that are not in severe need for medical attention.

That’s where the Innova can act as an alternative for a single-patient transport and its relatively smaller size makes it easier to navigate through city conditions. Addtionally, its pliant ride quality can be beneficial for long-haul hospital transfers.

The Regular Innova Crysta 

The 3-row Toyota Innova Crysta, most commonly used as a family MPV, is priced from  Rs 19.99 lakh to Rs 25.68 lakh (ex-showroom India). The additional cost of the ambulance conversion has not been revealed. The Innova can be considered as an premium alternative to the Mahindra Marazzo and the Kia Carens, the latter of which is also offered with an emergency vehicle conversion.

Read More on : Innova Crysta diesel

Cars

How the Legendary Plymouth Superbird Got Its Name

In October 1969, the first Superbird was completed. These vehicles were modifications of Plymouth Road Runners. In order to develop this car, Plymouth took advantage of obtaining the license of the famous Looney Tunes character, which cost them $50,000. The Superbird featured a car horn that made the distinct sound of the character and showcased a stylish Road Runner graphic.

As any muscle car enthusiast knows, the key to these vehicles is fully embracing their aesthetic. In creating the custom model, there was no better way to convey the fact that this was an enhanced bird than by naming it Superbird.

Plymouth did an exceptional job with the Superbird. They made adjustments to the hood, fenders, and other elements to improve performance. By incorporating elements of the Dodge Coronet with the Road Runner base, the production costs were kept relatively low.

Approximately 2,000 non-racing Superbirds were produced. These cars were equipped with a powerful Chrysler 426 Hemi V8 engine, making them impressive machines that still hold high regard to this day.

Motorsport

Watch Ferrari Roma Test Mule Likely With V12 Engine On The Move In Maranello

Ferrari continues to use a modified Roma as a test mule for what we highly suspect is a new V12-powered model. This latest spy video catches it leaving the brand’s headquarters in Maranello.

This car wears a different nose than a standard Roma. The distinctive shark-nosed shape is no longer present. Instead, there are inlets on the outer sides and a wide central opening with no mesh covering it. The headlights seem to be the same as those found on the Roma.