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Earlier this week, Brammo Motorsports – the manufacturer of the Ariel Atom, sent out an email to prospective buyers with details on the US version of the Ariel Atom: it is to include a 2.0L 245hp Ecotec engine sourced from GM. Furthermore the company has just finished testing the new states bound car at the General Motors’ proving grounds in Arizona. No doubt the GM engineers on location took a few notes for their next lightweight model. Wishing that they could get their flagship Corvette into the sub 3 second 0-60 range.

Orders for the model year 2006 Ariel Atom are now being taken by Brammo Motorsports. To boost sales they even have a free engine upgrade incentives to hurry prospective buyers into making a choice. While the prices for the Atom is avaliable through the website online configurator, and while it may seem a tad ‘expensive’. I think the price will come in far, FAR less than the sales tax on your new enzo. If I were you I would sell the 82 rx-7 and start on a new project car that actually runs.

So, here it is. The Pontiac Solstice GXP – which packs a little extra something for all us boost fiends (I am one for sure). A turbocharger mated to the standard engine set to develop 260bhp / 260ft lbs torque. Interestingly the Solstice is not selling, not due to lack of interested buyers mind you. Rather, it is due to GM’s inability to produce the car quickly enough.

The turbocharged Solstice GXP, which debuts at the LA Auto Show will reportedly hit showrooms in the summer as an ‘07 model.

Here’s hoping for a hardtop version, in any event this is very good news. Where is my Direct Injection 270hp mazdaspeed miata? gimme now!

Okay, as you may (or may not) know, i am a big huge fan of BBC’s Top Gear – not only for the cars, but particulary the very VERY british commentary, it gives the show a character that is very addicting. The strong opinions that are expressed on the show are welcomed compared to the monotone corporate sponsored drones that riddle TNN’s saturday morning “hot rod tv”.

So, the big news is that currently in production is a Top Gear to be filmed in the USA, for USA viewers… I am a bit worried that this may turn out to be a diaster. Done poorly it will just turn out to be another part of the saturday morning lineup. Or maybe it will just never be able to live up to the wonderful Top Gear name.

Top Gear USA (finalgear.com)

This is it, the top gear video where they race a plane accross europe. Yes, its good. some things to note about the bugatti:

– 2x vw 4.0 v8 TDI blocks together in W16 running 4x turbos at 1bar of boost.
– 10 radiators (3 for intercooling, 2 standard radiators, 1 motor oil, 1 transmission, 1 suspension hydraulics)
– each car costs VW $7 million USD to produce – for a MSRP of $1.2 million
– sweet car

Bugatti Veyron Top Gear Video (google video – 59 min)

if the 490bhp from the f430 just wasn’t enough… German tuner hamann will in march release a dual supercharger / dual intercooler kit for the f430 which includes all the nicities you might expect from such a pricey package, exhaust, intake and computer chip upgrages among the accessories.

With the already high compression ratio of the f430 – i would expect the boost pressure to be somewhat low. I wouldn’t be testing hamann’s tuning ability yourself by putting california 91 ethanol – octane petrol in the car. but i would feel confident assuming someone with the checkbook to buy both the ferrari, and the pricey kit to be able to afford a few barrels some nice 118 octane juice.

Hamann Ferrari F430 [Edmunds]

Mazda has released photos of a new concept that they plan to release in the USA – the Mazda 2. this model line looks to directly compete with the GTI and other “hot hatches” This model is way similar to the mazda 3, so it will be an interesting series of events on how they market these Mazda2’s. At first glance I love it, it looks like the mazda take on the Audi A3.

Sources indicate that a US introduction could be as early as 2007. Mazdaspeed2 with the 270 hp direct injection turbo? I would drool all over it and then trade in my protege for it. That would be a sweet ride.

As reported at The Science Daily

“For the first time, researchers at Rice University have succeeded in creating and observing an elusive and long-sought quantum state – a superfluid of fermions with mismatched numbers of dance partners. Despite more than 40 years of theoretical musings about what would occur in such a case, the result – a cluster of matched pairs surrounded by a cloud of would-be dance partners – was largely unexpected”

What this means for everyday humans like you and I, is a realistic step in the right direction toward an everyday superconductor. Which is a material that can pass electrons (electricity) without any resistance. Resistance typically creates heat, and a loss of energy. Something that causes the power industry billions of dollars a year.

Before we just had access to very good superconductors in the form of super-cooled ceramics. but they weren’t 100% efficeint like this supercooled fermions. Go Science!

Oh yeah, merry christmas and stuff.

So this guy is comparing the honda nsx type R and the ferrari f430 on a track. haha, winner anyone? anyways, the reason this video is worthy is that the guy drives the nsx with great confidence. drifting it all about, i bet he could do it one handed, i mean why not? he is the drifting champion of japan – he is a really, really good driver.

But when he gets beind the f430 the whole mood changes, he is scared, dead scared. the wheel is jerky as he is careful not to kill himself, the ferrari is much, much faster – which means there is less room for error. one second too late in breaking and his life is over. and 22 billion yen of ferrari red is just a mangled heap of carbon fiber and petrol.

enjoy the video!

Jap drifts f430 (gogole video)

hahaha… just a few quotes, in order:

“DAT DERE WAS A BUMP!!!”

“WOOO DOG DAT WAS FUN”

“TREEEEEEEE!”

“and thats the end of our weekend!”

“my dad is going to kick my ass”

oh what a wonderful world we live in

TREEEE! (google video)

What does an 800hp lightened, non-street legal no-holds-bar ferrari enzo sound / look / feel like? Well, as many people have speculated, it is awesome. but there has not been very rich media concerning the topic in the form of a top gear test run, or elite home video…. until now.

Well, here you have it. A fully mirrored (on a fast connection) video of a ferrari fxx lapping the ferrari test circuit along with an enzo. Great footage, the car sounds awesome without the cats. It rumbles in the bronx like the best of sportbikes.

Too Bad i can’t afford one of these, click on some side banners a few million times – then i’ll be on my way.

Enjoy the video!

Ferrari FXX Test Footage (34mb)