Chrysler unveils five models bound for SEMA

A little bit of everything

Following a preview earlier this month, Chrysler has unveiled a handful of vehicles for SEMA.

First up, the Ram Sun Chaser is based on theRam 1500 Quad Cab and features a Vibrance Orange Blast exterior with a "sport performance" hood, a 2-inch lift kit and a Mopar cat-back exhaust system. Other highlights include a surf rack, muscular fender flares and 17-inch beadlock wheels. The truck also has a "Flip-Up" tailgate and a "makeshift shower kit" that enables owners to wash themselves off after a day at the beach.

Next up, the Fiat 500L Adventurer is a ruggized model that has a tri-tone exterior with a roof rack, tinted taillights and unique 18-inch alloy wheels. The concept also has suede / leather seats, orange trim and alloy pedals.

The Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver is designed for "trail addicts" and has an Auburn Pearl exterior with custom graphics, orange tow hooks and off-road tires. Other highlights include Katzkin leather seats, painted trim, a wireless smartphone charger and WiFi connectivity.

Lastly, the 2014 Chrysler 300S has a Phantom Black Tri-coat exterior with a revised grille, an SRT spoiler and 20-inch alloy wheels. The car has also been equipped with a lowered suspension and an upgraded interior that has two-tone leather seats and satin black trim.

Check out the press release for additional information

Source: Chrysler

via Worldcarfans

1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SLS RACING

This 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLS ‘Racing’ is an original ’57 300 SL that’s been modified into a faithful reproduction of the car used by legendary American racing driver Paul O’Shea – the O’Shea-Tilp Racing Team had enjoyed remarkable success with the 300 SL and so when Mercedes-Benzwithdrew from motorsports in 1955 due to a horrific accident at Le Mans, O’Shea set about building his own race cars from stock 300 SLs.

By 1957 the O’Shea-Tilp  Team had made the fateful decision to compete in the SCCA D Production class, they bought two new Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs and modified them for racing. The cars would go on to be a dominant force in the D-class against the Ferraris and Aston Martins, Paul O’Shea was competing shoulder to shoulder with Carroll Shelby throughout the season and by the time the chequered flag flew over the final race at the Riverside International Raceway, O’Shea would be crowned champion.

The car pictured here has been significantly modified from stock, it’s now producing 250hp from its 2996 cc overhead-cam inline 6-cylinder engine, an aluminium block replaced the iron block in the stock car to keep weight down. The original 4-speed manual transmission is still fitted and the car sits on independent front suspension with upper and lower A-arms and coil springs as well as independent rear suspension with swing axles and coil springs.

The car is presented in almost perfect condition and, dare I say it, is ready for some paint-swapping out on the race track. The estimated value of the car is in the £600,000 to £800,000 region and if you don’t already know what that is in US dollars I’ll just assume that like me, you can’t afford it.

The car is due to roll across the auction block with RM Auctions on the 8th and 9th of September 2013 in London, if you’d like to read more about the car and see more pictures, you can click here to visit RM Auctions.

Photo Credits: Tim Scott ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

via SILODROME

nettoyage ..

Moto GP : Márquez vs Lorenzo : The numbers/ Les chiffres

It’s the reigning champion against the 20-year-old upstart. It’s Yamaha Factory Racing versus Repsol Honda Team. It’s Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez. And of course it’s 99 versus 93. There are more than six numbers between them, though…

To start with, Marquez has clearly mastered the challenge of a Saturday, having managed no less than eight pole positions including four on the spin between Silverstone and Sepang. Podiums haven’t been sparse, either, with 15 for the 20-year-old in comparison with 13 for the 26-year-old. However, it is Lorenzo who has more wins to his name (seven to six) and has led many more laps (208 to 82!).

When it comes to falls and crashes, there is a real element of irony involved. Lorenzo may have badly injured his collarbone twice and missed the race in Germany as a consequence, but he has crashed only three times this year in comparison with Marquez’s 15 mishaps. However, the Cervera man has made the most of his races and only crashed at Mugello; injuries have been sustained, but nothing on Lorenzo’s level.

Marquez also leads the way when it comes to points…penalty points, that is. His racing licence is marked with three of them: just one away from a costly back-of-the-grid penalty. With this in mind, the Honda rider may elect to adopt an element of caution in order to avoid any discrepancy across the duration of the race weekend.

And so: it has been seven years since the title last went right down to the wire. Back then, Rossi headed to the Ricardo Tormo circuit with an eight-point cushion back to Hayden, but an unexpected fall from number 46 left him an unlucky 13^th by the time the chequered flag flew. The title was Hayden’s as the Kentucky Kid finished third.

This time around, a single fourth place is all Marquez requires, regardless of whether Lorenzo wins the race or not. Although sometimes that is easier said than done. One race remains out of 18 and the title battle is still wide open. Place your bets…

Le Champion du Monde en titre Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) aura une dernière opportunité de défendre sa couronne la semaine prochaine à Valence, où il arrivera néanmoins avec treize points de retard sur le sensationnel Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda), qui pourrait conclure une année de records avec le titre de plus jeune Champion du Monde de l’histoire de la catégorie reine.

Le rookie catalan a jusqu’ici remporté huit pole positions au cours de sa première saison en MotoGP™, dont quatre consécutives de Silverstone à Sepang. Márquez compte encore plus d’apparitions sur le podium, avec 15 Top 3 en dix-sept courses, contre 13 pour Lorenzo. Ce dernier s’est par contre imposé une fois de plus que son jeune rival (sept victoires contre six) et a mené en course bien plus régulièrement (208 tours en tête contre 82).

En ce qui concerne les chutes, les statistiques peuvent surprendre. Blessé à la clavicule deux fois et contraint au forfait au Sachsenring, Lorenzo n’est en fait tombé que trois fois cette année, contre quinze fois pour Márquez. Le rookie de Cervera n’a cependant commis d’erreur en course qu’au Mugello  et ne s’est jamais sérieusement blessé cette année, malgré plusieurs chutes assez effrayantes.

Márquez mène aussi en termes de points… et de points de pénalité. Le pilote du team Repsol Honda totalise trois points de pénalité et pourrait, avec un de plus, être contraint à prendre le départ depuis la dernière position de la grille. Márquez devra donc se montrer prudent dès les séances d’essais libres à Valence et éviter tout comportement qui pourrait lui attirer une nouvelle sanction de la Direction de Course. 

L’anecdote : Le titre s’était aussi joué à Valence, lors de la dernière manche de la saison, en 2006, lorsque Valentino Rossi était arrivé au Ricardo Tormo avec huit points d’avance sur Nicky Hayden. Une surprenante erreur de l’Italien et sa treizième place permirent à l’Américain de décrocher le titre en finissant troisième de la course, derrière Troy Bayliss et Loris Capirossi.

Cette fois-ci, Márquez pourrait s’assurer le titre en finissant dans les quatre premiers, quel que soit le résultat de Lorenzo. Mais la saison 2013 a déjà connu de nombreux rebondissements et la dernière épreuve promet une tension maximale. Márquez ou Lorenzo ? Faites vos jeux !