scrap car vehicles: September 2009

Honda CR-Z Concept Unveiled

I’ve been waiting for this one for a while now. There’s been a severe market shortage of small, fuel-efficient, genuinely fun-t0-drive two-seat coupes, pretty much since Honda dropped the CR-X and replaced it with the useless del Sol. It’s of no surprise, then, that it would be Honda to pick up the mantle of the tiny two-seat pocket rocket with a modern interpretation of the beloved CR-X.

And you can’t say the time isn’t right for such a car. These days, everyone’s concerned with efficiency, but that doesn’t mean people don’t still care about fun. This strategy is the whole reason that Honda sold every CR-X they could import in the ’80’s, even with the ridiculous Honda dealer price gouging that was routine back when there was an import quota on foreign-assembled automobiles. This could be just the ticket for Honda, who’s been uncharacteristically weak in the US lately.

As for the car itself, well, it’s not that interesting mechanically. What it really is, is a two-door version of the dedicated-hybrid Insight econo-car. But remember, the original CRX was just a slightly shorter Civic, and it was still revolutionary. The CR-Z gets power from the combination of a 1.5L clean-burning gas four cylinder as well as Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system. In addition to the Insight’s dreadful rubber-band CVT, the CR-Z will be offered with a short-throw six speed manual transmission, for people that actually enjoy driving.

So it won’t exactly be overwhelmed with horsepower, but with a lighter curb weight than the Insight as well as a lower center of gravity, it should be an entertaining car to fling around the bends. Furthermore, expect fuel mileage and emissions numbers to be pretty stellar, just to add icing to the cake.

The styling is hard to criticize – I’d go so far as to say it’s sort of attractive. Then again, I see a lot of CR-X in the design, and I (clearly) have a soft spot in my heart for the CRX. Still, the proportions are excellent, and it looks compact yet solid and full of energy. The greenhouse is 100% modern CRX to me, but the front end is something else – huge gaping front grilles aren’t something I expect from Honda. But you know how it works – if Audi’s doing, everyone’s doing it!

About the only questionable thing I see, at least stylistically, are those bangle-esque taillights. I think perhaps the intersection of curves and hard lines just looks odd in pictures, but the back is lacking the harmony and cleanliness of the original. Still, at least it’s got that vertical glass pane in the back for reversing! If it worked in 1985, it’ll work today…

The interior looks like a mixture of Acura RSX and Honda Insight, but for a compact economy two-seater, it looks extremely nice. I especially like the large, high-definition LCD screen in the center dash, as well as the “pods” orbiting the main gauge cluster. You can see what I’m talking about better from a straight-on angle.

Although this isn’t the “full production” version of the CR-Z, expect it to appear nearly the same as this “pre-production concept.” Perhaps the huge blingey wheels will hit the garbage bin (where they belong), but otherwise what you see is what you’ll get. There should be more pictures and details on the CR-Z forthcoming next week at the Tokyo Auto Show, so stay tuned!

All Aluminum Audi A5 Prototype is 220-Pounds Lighter

All Aluminum Audi A5 Prototype 220-Pounds Lighter

Aluminum is a great material. Light, easy to work, strong if you can design with it right and relatively plentiful (if you’ve got access to lots of electricity to refine it). Audi recently gave a textbook demonstration about just what aluminum can offer by making an A5 prototype that makes extensive use of the alloy.

The A5 in question has allowed Audi to shave nearly 220-pounds from its handsome Coupe. The engineers from Audi swapped out the normal steel bits for advanced aluminum as well as carbon fiber here and there in the interest of fuel economy, emissions reduction and handling agility.

Audi did this as a way to go against the tide of rising car weights. Airbags, door beams and the like have all contributed to cars getting fatter and fatter. Audi took an existing steel-bodied A5 and clearly demonstrated the benefits of the aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) concept. The use of ASF reduces the weight of a car body by at least 40% compared with conventional steel construction. That means dropping the overall weight from 3,130 pounds down to 2,888 pounds.

Dropping the weight meant that Audi could do away with the standard V6 and use a four cylinder engine, and still have the same performance. Not only is the performance the same, but naturally, there are gains in economy and emissions and also to other ancillaries such as the brakes and transmission, which can also be reduced in size and weight. The handling is also markedly improved.

So why hasn’t aluminum seen widespread use in the auto industry? There’s a few reasons. First, in comparison to steel, aluminum is a little harder (and therefore expensive) to refine. Aluminum is also more costly to mine in some respects and the tooling needed to work it is also more expensive than the tooling used for steel forming.

There is also the mitigating factor that since gas prices and environmental concerns have only recently come onto the radar of car manufacturers, there has not been the motivation to really make cars all that light. They’ve been used to working with, buying and sourcing steel for the bodies of their cars, so why not go with what you know.

Well, times change, and Audi has pointed out what Colin Chapman and any sportscar guy will be able to tell you: “To go fast, add lightness”.

2009 Maserati Gran Turismo

2009 Maserati Gran Turismo Picture

2009 Maserati Gran Turismo Interior

2009 Maserati Gran Turismo Wallpaper

Big rear view mirrors, the better to see you with, on the pre race grid, Saturday's Fleetweek Speedfest

On walkabout Saturday, at Fleetweek Speedfest

patina on a Vette? I don't see that often... and it's got a Ratfink, ergo, it gets posted

The military aren't charged for the event, but have to be there in dress uniform. I always hated that, having to be in dress uniform at an event where you are likely to get dirty, just think about all the brake and rubber dust.

When is the last time you saw a coon tail cap?

Bring a kid to a show, in action. Very cool!

Cadillac Barritz convertible... the first one I've ever seen

The godfather of the GTO, Jim Wangers. Really nice guy, I got to talk to him for a few minutes. He is very generous with his time, and a pleasure to chat with.

Before and after the races, Saturday, Fleetweek Speedfest

Also see Tere's coverage of Speedfest http://justacargal.blogspot.com/2009/10/coronado-speedfest-09-best-picks-of.html and http://justacargal.blogspot.com/2009/10/speedfest-09-best-picks-of-saturday.html and http://justacargal.blogspot.com/2009/10/coronado-speedfest-09-sundays-picks.html

That is a happy expression!

The owner of the car I presume is on the right, I immediatly nicknamed him fruity dude

on the pre race grid

Above, friendly hello... below, 3 minutes acknowledgement

JR, amatuer model in his wayfarers... I wish I could pull off that casual cool look. Bravo!

Between races the sponsor companies get their latest and most impressive cars on the track and give rides to important people... I don't know how to get in that list...... yet