One of the Original “Eleanor” Mustang GT500 Film Cars Going under the Hammer

If you’ve seen the 2000 blockbuster film “Gone in 60 Seconds”, you may recall Angelina Jolie walking into a garage full of Ferraris and saying in her husky voice “Hello, ladies. I always was a sucker for a redhead”.

You’ll no doubt also remember the name of the protagonist’s favorite car “Eleanor”, a 1967 Ford Mustang GT500 that master thief “Memphis” Raines decided to keep for last in his attempt to steal 50 cars in a single night to save his brother’s life.

It was also the name of the 1974 original film’s 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 – yes, in case you didn’t know it, the Cage-Jolie-starring movie was a remake.

The producers wanted to use a special Mustang for the new film. Therefore, they enlisted the help of Hot Rod illustrator Steve Stanford to create a 1967 Mustang GT500 and designer Chip Foose to transform Stanford’s sketches into a real car.

Well, twelve cars to be exact, five of which did not survive the movie – probably destroyed at the chase scene towards the finale. Three of them were the “hero” cars; fully functional and used by the actors themselves at filming.

Car number 7, which was used for driving shots, for dialogue and interior action shots with the actors, is going under the hammer by COYS at the Autosport International show in Birmingham on Saturday January 14. It is estimated that “Eleanor” No7 will fetch £75,000-100,000 (US$115,000-154,000).

According to the supplied copy of the build sheet, apart from the changes on the body, the modifications in this Mustang with chassis number 7R02C173895 include a 351 cubic inch V8 FordRacing crate motor fitted with a “big” camshaft and 700cfm Holley 4-barrel carburetor.

It also sports a Total Control Products coil over lowered front suspension and Willwood disk brakes all around with 6 piston calipers up front. After the movie, the side exhausts were made functional by Cinema Vehicle Services and the tank is filled through a Mach 1 cap on the C-pillar.

“This is one of only two original cars in private hands. We are offering the opportunity to acquire one of the cars that actually appeared in the movie and which will undoubtedly increase in value in years to come,” said Coys’ managing director, Chris Routledge.

Read more »

2012 F30 BMW 3-Series Sport, Modern and Luxury Lines Detailed [Video]

0

Just like the all-new 1-Series, the 2012 F30 BMW 3-Series was launched with three extra trim choices, or customized lines as they call them - Sport, Modern or Luxury. The automaker’s US division has launched a video detailing how each of these was created any how they will enhance appeal of the premium saloon that’s so crucial for their bottom line.

The Sport Line comes with a number of high-gloss black to accentuate the dynamic appearance of the BMW 3 Series Sedan. Double-spoke design 18-inch light-alloy wheels also give sport character. It also comes as standard with black painted exterior mirrors and the standard high-gloss black B-pillar and window trim.
Meanwhile, the Luxury Line is all about the chrome elements and brings more elegant and exclusive appeal. Special 18-inch light-alloy wheels in multi-spoke design are also fitted.
As for the Modern Line, this gets satin aluminum finished bits to accentuate the contemporary look. 18-inch turbine-style light-alloy wheels and an Oyster or black interior are just some of the features.

Read more »

First Toyota GT 86 Videos Released: Driving Footage, FT-86 Evolves

0

Toyota Europe has decided to enhance the appeal of the recently revealed production version of the FT-86 sports coupe, which has been renamed as the GT 86. We have a couple of short and sweet videos to bring to your attention, one covering the evolution that took place from the FT-86 concepts and the other how the new 2+2 looks going down the road.

The new “GT 86” name is derived from the legendary Corolla GT from 1986. Cue AWD Subarus and the mighty RX7 on the winding roads of Mount Fuji... or something like that.
ust like the old Corolla GT, the GT 86 should play the underdog really well in the real world, because it’s only got 200 horsepower coming from it’s 2.0-liter engine that’s fitted with Toyota’s advanced injection technologies. That only as much as a Clio RS, but the GT manages to sprint to 100 km/h in just 6 seconds, thanks in part to its low weight and focused chassis.
The power is sent to the back via a six-speed manual or the optional six-speed auto that use paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The budged sportscar also comes with a limited slip differential as standard and its center of gravity is impressively low at just 475mm (18.7-inches).

autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.

Read more »

The First Photos of the Voice-Commanded VW eT! Van in Action

0

Read more »

Former Ferrari Designer To Lead Lancia-Chrysler Integration

0

Lorenzo Ramaciotti to lead design team that will establish a common design language for the two brand

What is the common denominator between Fiat Group and Chrysler LLC? So far it was only Sergio Marchionne, the architect of Fiat's takeover ofChrysler and who also serves as the CEO of both companies.There are also a few Lancia models based on Chrysler cars and Chrysler cars based on Lancia's. However Marchionne is not satisfied with that level of integration, that is only badge engineering.

Now he aims to create stronger links and more substantial integration between the two nameplates in order save costs and double sales.In order to achieve his goal he chose Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Fiat Group's chief of design since 2007 is to lead a design team that will develop cars for the two brands."We are trying to find an international language, which could have a place both here in Italy and in the U.S.," said Ramaciotti to Bloomberg.com. "If you put all the models into the showroom, they must fit together. It's a delicate problem."
Before joining Fiat, Ramaciotti had worked for Pininfarina, the Italian coachbuilder, for 32 years. He was involved in the design of Ferrari cars, among them the 612 Scaglietti. He headed Pinifarina Design for almost 20 years and under his watch the company created some 20 concept cars for various customers.However his latest mission, to combine the two worlds, that of European car design with that American car design is going to be his toughest task, as Marchionne's ambition is to sell 800,000 Lancia-Chryslercars by 2014, more than double the current sales volume.

Read more »

Range_e Concept wins the 2011 British Automotive Innovation of the Year

0

Range_e Concept wins the 2011 British Automotive Innovation of the Year 

Land Rover's Range_e, a plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain concept, has been crowned as the Automotive Innovation for 2011 by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the UK (SMMT). The concept was first shown at the Geneva Auto Show last March.It is powered by a plug-in hybrid system with an overall CO2 output of 89 g/km and 85mpg. The hybrid system made up of a 3.0-liter 245hp TDV6 diesel combined with a 93hp electric motor powered by a 14.2 kWh lithium-ion battery.

The Range_e can be driven more than 20 miles on its electric power alone and its maximum range is 690 miles.The diesel hybrid drivetrain engages seamlessly as the system's combined 339hp delivers a top speed of around 120mph. Battery recharging can be accomplished simply and efficiently by connecting the system to an external 240V power source.The Range_e is engineered with the same full-time 4WD capability as the standard Range Rover Sport, with high and low range in the transmission, front and rear differentials and a mechanical locking center differential. Dependent on the driver's demand, the car's system decides the most efficient method to deliver the power required, whether this is by electric, diesel or both.The Range_e also features regenerative braking to capture energy usually wasted in heat energy via the brakes. This energy can then be redeployed to drive the vehicle, further reducing fossil fuel consumption.

Read more »

Toyota Fun-Vii Concept Coming to Tokyo

0

Toyota today announced that it will use the upcoming Tokyo Auto Show to give us the Fun-Vii concept, a development that can be described in one word: interactivity.

The exterior of the car can be used as a display space, so the driver can change the color and the message(s) shown on the vehicle, while the interior offers a similar feature, aiming to match the mood of the passengers and also uses augmented reality to introduce navigation information to the occupants
The Fun-Vii has the following dimensions: Length 4,020 mm; Width 1,745 mm; Height 1,415 mm and Wheelbase 2,750 mm and can seat three. Toyota brags that the vehicle can also communicate with surrounding cars and infrastructure.

autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.

Read more »