Shelby adds SCCA-ready version to the GT350 Mustang

Shelby American has added a normally aspirated version to the 2011 Shelby GT350 lineup. Shedding off the supercharger to abide by the SCCA regulations, the Mustang-based model still keeps intact the full brake, suspension and aerodynamics package.

For an additional $7,000, the model may still be purchased with a supercharger.

"When we brought back the GT350, people wanted to race it like they did with our Shelby GT," said Shelby American Founder Carroll Shelby. "Others asked for an automatic transmission. So we’re dropping the supercharger, retuning the engine and adding an automatic. This gives people more choices with the GT350."

The SCCA racer GT350 is powered by 5.0 liter V8 coupled to a 6 speed transmission producing 412hp. The street version of this model will come with the same engine tuned to deliver more than the factory 412hp, although exact numbers have not yet been calculated. The super-charged GT350 will produce over 500hp and will be mated to a six-speed manual. All cars will be painted in traditional white with Shelby Guardsman blue Le Mans stripes and will get a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia.

The base GT350 uses a 5.0-liter V8 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.  Six-piston caliper brakes with 14" rotors are included, as is an upgraded suspension with parts from Ford Racing.

Excluding the price of the Mustang GT, the GT350 package will cost $26,995, while the supercharged GT350 will be available for $33,995.





Press Release

SHELBY AMERICAN EXPANDS GT350 LINE WITH TRACK ORIENTED, AUTOMATIC VERSIONS OF MODERN PONY CAR

* Shelby Expands 2011 Shelby GT350 Line with Normally Aspirated Model

* Engine Retuned without Supercharger

* Demand for a Track Oriented Model and 6 speed Automatic Stimulates Option

LAS VEGAS - May 5, 2010 - Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK) will expand the 2011 Shelby GT350 program to offer a normally aspirated version aimed at competition in Sports Car Club of America events and allow the street car to be ordered with an automatic transmission. The GT350 will be offered in both normally aspirated and supercharged versions as part of a post-title program through select dealers across the United States.

The normally aspirated version of the GT350 was driven by consumer demand. SCCA racing rules typically preclude a post-title added supercharger and the stresses of a forced induction are typically too much for an automatic transmission in a high performance car.

"When we brought back the GT350, people wanted to race it like they did with our Shelby GT," said Shelby American Founder Carroll Shelby. "Others asked for an automatic transmission. So we're dropping the supercharger, retuning the engine and adding an automatic. This gives people more choices with the GT350."

One of the goals for the Shelby GT350 is for it to be eligible for Sports Car Club of America racing, much like the 2007-2008 Shelby GT. Those piloting a Shelby GT dominated the top spots in both the women's and men's F stock class with Sam Strano capturing the national championship last year.

"The GT350 is a street car that is perfect for track day and solo racing activities," added John Luft Shelby president. "Beginning with the small block Ford Mustang GT, we worked with Ford Racing, Borla, Goodyear and Baer to create a car that should be competitive right out of the box."

The GT350 is an enthusiast's dream. It is powered by the 5.0 liter V8 coupled to a 6 speed transmission. The front calipers are Shelby 6-piston and 14" rotors with ERADISPEED rotors on the back and cooling ducts for all four corners. The suspension features new Ford Racing springs, struts, sway bars and adjustable caster/camber plates. The Goodyear 19" tires are a new, aggressive compound.

Each GT350 will be clad in traditional white with Shelby Guardsman blue Le Mans stripes. The car also receives a new front fascia, tail light trim, front splitter, rear deck lid filler panel and rear fascia. Functional scoops are located on the side rockers and hood. GT350 badges on the outside and inside include a Shelby serial number.

"We plan to have development finished and begin building normally aspirated versions of the GT350 by late summer," said Shelby American vice president of production Gary Davis. "This ensures that the car will be fully sorted and ready for fun on the street or track."

The Shelby GT350 is a post title program based on the new Ford Mustang GT. A customer purchases a car from a local Ford dealer, which is turned into a GT350 by the Shelby American Team. A limited number will be built in the 2011 model year. A Ford Mustang GT can be dropped shipped by a Ford dealer to Shelby's Las Vegas facility for conversion or a customer can arrange to have a properly specified car transported to the factory.

The price for the normally aspirated GT350 upfit package is $26,995.00 plus any options, not including the base Ford Mustang GT. The supercharged version of the GT350 post title package by Shelby American has a MSRP of $33,995 and does not include the price of the base car.

Customers interested in either a supercharged or normally aspirated GT350 should call (702) 942-7325 or log onto gt350.shelbyamerican.com.

About Shelby American, Inc. and Carroll Shelby Licensing
Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby American Inc., (www.shelbyamerican.com) manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. Shelby American is a division of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI.PK). Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., also a wholly owned division, is the exclusive holder of Carroll Shelby's trademarks and vehicle design rights. It also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. Information is at www.carrollshelbyinternational.com.

New Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Concept unveiled at Villa D'Este

The Zagato-designed Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa has been unveiled at the Villa D'Este concours, and frankly, it's spectacular. Driven by the Alfa 8C Competizione's V8, the TZ3 is very much in keeping with its 60s-era predecessors, the TZ1 and TZ2, sporting similar detail elements and the same near-breadvan profile. Also like the originals, this is a legit racing car. Unlike its forbears, however, the new machine wears aluminum bodywork stretched over a tube frame and carbon-fiber chassis. Power, as indicated before, is also of thoroughly modern origin.

Zagato says the TZ3 was commissioned by German collector Martin Kapp as a special celebration of 100 years of racing from Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Corse, Autodelta, and Scuderia Zagato. On that "special" bit, we think it's safe to say, "mission accomplished" - with class and panache to spare. Official PR pics are in the gallery below, and a full live gallery is posted at OmniAuto. Be sure to pay them a visit as well.

via:autoblog





Press Release

Show full PR text
Milano, April 2010: Zagato Atelier announces the introduction of the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa at
the XII Villa D'Este Concours d'Elegance.

The TZ3 Corsa is not a design exercise.
It does not take inspiration only from the 90 year collaboration between the two brands, neither only
from the Milanese conjunction between Alfa Romeo and Zagato.
The TZ3 Corsa is a race car, honouring 100 years of races and victories across the whole 20th
century.

It celebrates men and machines of the Alfa Romeo Zagato common tradition:
Scuderia Ferrari of the 20's and 30's, Alfa Corse of the 40's and 50's, Autodelta of the 60's and
70's up to the latest Scuderia Zagato of the 80's and 90's.

Recalling these racing emotions, the TZ3 Corsa is based on a mono shell carbon fibre tubular
chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body.
It boasts Technical Partners such as OMP and Pirelli.

Following Zagato's gentlemen-driver heritage, the car has been commissioned by the Alfa Romeo
Zagato collector Martin Kapp, during the Zandvoort Tribute to Zagato event, where more than
130 Alfa Romeo Zagatos were celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the brand.
Martin Kapp owns, among his Alfa Romeo Collection: SZ coda tonda and SZ coda tronca, TZ
and TZ2, Junior Z and S.Z..

Tribute to the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo's Racing Heritage:
Alfa Romeo and Zagato achieved the best results since the beginnings thanks to the Mille Miglia
victories of the 1500 6C, the 1750 GS and the 8C 2300 Zagato of the Scuderia Ferrari. Already
in 1933 an official advert of the Alfa Romeo 8C proclaimed: "The Spider that, with the trio Alfa
Romeo - Scuderia Ferrari - Carrozzeria Zagato, brought countless victories in the homeland and
abroad for the honour of Italy."

Even the grandiose Quadrifoglio Verde was placed on the bodies of Zagatos of the Alfa Corse
team numerous times. Among the most glorious moments is the victory of the Formula 1
championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa Romeo 159 bodied by Zagato, as well as
the victorious Alfa Romeo 3000 CM bodied in 3 samples by Zagato.

During the 60's, the list of absolute victories of the Giulia TZ and TZ2 by Zagato for the Autodelta
of Ing. Carlo Chiti, was never-ending. Some of the most memorable victories included the 1964 12
hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, the Nurburgring, and the 24 hours of Le Mans.
The single-brand Alfa Romeo S.Z. championship emphasized the Alfa Romeo ES30's
(Experimental SportsCar 3000) technical and dynamic abilities. The S.Z. delivered, and continues
to so today, constant performance and driving pleasure to the Gentlemen drivers of the Alfa Zagato
team, across the most important racetracks in Europe.

AUDI QUATTRO ON FESTIVAL

Audi, which formally began life as a car manufacturer on July 16 1909, wheeled out its “stars and cars” as part of its Centenary celebrations.

The German manufacturer has supported the annual motorsport extravaganza for the past 13 years and fittingly was the “featured marque” at this year’s “True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance” themed event attended by 150,000 spectators over all three days.

Ultra-rare Auto Union Grand Prix cars, all-wheel-drive Audi quattro rally and touring cars, plus its latest diesel-engined Le Mans sportscars – documenting over 70 years of motorsport involvement by the Four Rings brand – were in action up the 1.8-mile hillclimb.

All-New Volvo S60 in the Belgian Touring Car Series

The new Volvo S60 gets ready for its racing debut. The Swedish carmaker revealed today that a racing version of the sedan will enter the 2010 Belgian Touring Car Series (BTCS).

The race version of the Volvo S60 has been developed in accordance with the BTCS regulations, meaning it has a tubular chassis, the same type of front and rear suspension and aerodynamics.

Power is provided by a mid-mounted 3.5-liter V6 engine with 410 hp (306 kW / 416 PS) and 412 Nm (304 lb-ft) of torque. It motivates the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential transmission.

"The all-new Volvo S60 sports sedan is Volvo's most exciting driving experience so far and there is no better way to show this than by bringing it to the race track. Volvo and the all-new S60 have a special place in the people's hearts here as several Volvo models, including the new S60, are built in Belgium at the Volvo Cars Ghent plant."






Press Release

Ready for the race track

Volvo Cars enters the all-new
Volvo S60 in the Belgian Touring Car Series

Just weeks after the all-new Volvo S60 was introduced to the public, the
latest Volvo model is also being unveiled in a racing version. Volvo Cars
Belgium will enter the new car in the 2010 season of the Belgian Touring Car
Series. Volvo fans will not need to wait long to see the latest model in
action since the premiere takes place on April 11.

"We are very happy about this development," says Bart Crols, Managing
Director at Volvo Cars Belgium. "The all-new Volvo S60 sports sedan is
Volvo's most exciting driving experience so far and there is no better way
to show this than by bringing it to the race track. Volvo and the all-new
S60 have a special place in the people's hearts here as several Volvo
models, including the new S60, are built in Belgium at theVolvo Cars Ghent
plant."

The new Volvo S60 race car has been developed in record time locally by
Volvo's Belgian S60 Racing Team. It has been developed in accordance with
the BTCS Silhouette S1 regulations which put a major emphasis on
standardised features. All cars must use a tubular chassis, the same type of
front and rear suspension and aerodynamics. A uniform type of engine
specification is also available but manufacturers are allowed to use own
engines.

The Volvo S60 Racing Team will also operate the car at all BTCS races and
the drivers are Vincent Radermecker and Eric Van De Poele.

Its maiden track test will take place on April 1 (today) on the Belgian
Zolder track.

"It has been a hectic period, but we have received great assistance from
Volvo Cars' Motorsport department" says Thomas Neri, Team Manager for the
Volvo S60 Racing Team. He continues: "Our main objective is to get up to
speed and to compete well in the various heats. Next season we hope to put
our own in-house developed engine in the car."

BTCS - low cost, high-performance racing

The BTCS is an endurance racing championship with six competitions on
tracks such as Spa-Francorchamps, Zolder and Dijon. Each race consists of
two 90-minute heats and there is also one 12-hour race in Spa. The all-new
Volvo S60 will face intense competition from the likes of BMW, Audi, Jaguar
and VW. BTCS has grown rapidly in terms of both competing brands and numbers
thanks to its low-cost, high-performance combination and, not least, the
fact that the cars have considerable visual appeal. The race series is
televised in several countries and is gaining in popularity.

"We will support and follow our development in this series very closely
as several other national championships are considering similar standardised
regulations in the future," says Derek Crabb, Motorsport Director at the
Volvo Car Corporation. "This BTCS campaign will give us a good understanding
of what these types of regulations can mean for Volvo."

Technical Specification Volvo S60 BTCS

• Regulation: BTCS Silhouette S1


• Chassis: Tubular frame


• Front Suspension: Independent with 3-way adjustable shock absorbers


• Rear Suspension: Independent with 3-way onboard adjustable shock
  absorbers


• Brakes: 6-piston callipers, 380 mm discs at the front and 6-piston
  callipers, 355 mm discs at the rear


• Engine: Mid-mounted standardised 3500 cc V6


• Engine Power Output: 410 hp with 412 Nm at 5500rpm


• Gearbox: Six-speed sequential. Rear-wheel drive


• Wheels: 10" X 18" front and 12" X 18" rear


• Tyres: Michelin 27/65/18 front and Michelin 30/65/18 rear

2010 Racing Calendar for the all-new Volvo S60 in the BTCS series

• April 9-11 Zolder


• April 30-May 2 Dijon-Prenois


• June 4-6 Spa-Francorchamps


• July 9-10 Spa-Francorchamps


• September 17-19 Spa-Francorchamps


• October 8-10 Zolder

More information about the Belgian Touring Car Series:
http://www.btcseries.be/

New Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Premieres

A successful weekend for Porsche at the start of the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring season: At its racing premiere, the new Porsche 911 GT3 R scored an overall victory, the innovative 911 GT3 R Hybrid finished sixth at its debut and Walter Röhrl celebrated a successful racing comeback after 17 years.

The 911 uses an electro-mechanical flywheel energy storage system to drive a pair of electric motors attached to the front wheels. When braking, those motors generate electricity that spins up an integrated flywheel-motor-generator. Spinning at 40,000 rpm, the flywheel can release the electrical energy back to front motors on demand. The system was developed by the Williams Formula One team and licensed to Porsche.

A promising debut had also the new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid: Porsche works drivers Jörg Bergmeister , Richard Lietz and former Porsche junior Martin Ragginger brought the white orange race car, the combustion engine of which is completed by two electric motors with 60 kilowatt each at the front axle, on sixth place after a perfect race.





Press Release

Three successful Porsche premieres

Stuttgart. A successful weekend for Porsche at the season-opener of the Nürburgring Long Distance Championship: At its race premiere, the new Porsche 911 GT3 R claimed victory, the innovative 911 GT3 R Hybrid debuted with sixth place and Walter Röhrl made his much celebrated comeback after 17 years.

Timo Bernhard (Germany), Marc Lieb (Germany) and Marcel Tiemann (Monaco) are the winners of the first race of the season on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. With the new, 480 hp Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by the Manthey Racing team, the trio drove a trouble-free race. "It is extraordinary to climb to the top of the podium at the first race ever of a new race car," said a pleased Bernhard. His works driver teammate Lieb added: "It seems the new 911 GT3 R has inherited the reliability of all racing 911." With 14.5 and 3.6 seconds respectively, the three Porsche pilots relegated the best Audi RS and the BMW M3 to finish second and third.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid also gave a promising debut: Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Richard Lietz and the former Porsche Junior Martin Ragginger (both Austria) brought home the white/orange racer with its combustion engine supplemented by two electric motors delivering 60 kW each to the front axle in sixth place after a trouble-free race. "I'm positively surprised how well this car performed already at its first race," said Bergmeister. "We tried many things out during the race and will be busy further developing the hybrid drive for the 24 hour race in May. Our aim is to use less fuel than our competitors without compromising performance," explains Lietz.

Double world rally champion Walter Röhrl (Germany) made his much applauded racing comeback after 17 years. Sharing driving duties with Horst von Saurma-Jeltsch (Germany) and Chris Harris (Great Britain) he put the standard 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 R through a test under race conditions. "The car exceeded my highest expectations and I had a great time at the wheel," enthused Röhrl. "We were able to match the pace of thoroughbred race cars. The 911 GT3 RS was particularly sensational in fast corners and under braking. And the best thing is, if it wasn't so far tonight I could just put our number plate on the car and drive back to Bavaria without a problem."

Round two of the Nürburgring Long Distance Championship takes off on 10 April at midday with a duration of four hours.

Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss Edition and Hakkinen Shooting Commercial in Barcelona

Somebody at Daimler must have been a big fan of recent photos showing the Audi A1 S-line in Barcelona's Raval district.  The company has been working on a new video shoot for the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss Edition a few kilometers away from the A1 location, and close to scenes used in a video of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The SLR Stirling Moss Edition was the last version that became the SLR McLaren, and was filed in 2009. Is inspired by the 300 SLR that Stirling Moss took the victory in the Mille Miglia in 1955, along with journalist Denis Jenkinson, ie, which has no windscreen or roof or anything like it.

With a weight of 200 kilos less than the conventional SLR, and a little more power (650 horses on the original 617), accelerates from 0 to 100 in 3.5 seconds and can take the 350 km / h. S'en only 75 produced, which were offered only to customers who already have a SLR to your garage. The price? Well 750.000 .- €. Almost nothing.
via:worldcarfans