Ford to the Rescue!!!

Ford dropped some huge news yesterday, announcing a new Special Service Vehicle Package for the F-150. This means in the near future when you are pulled over for speeeding or cited by the fire marshall for having too many people in your restaurant, an uber-cool F-150 might be part of the process.

According to Ford, the SSV package will be available in a variety of cab configurations, and with a variety of engines--including the highly popular EcoBoost powertrain. Making the deal even sweeter, the package comes at no additional cost. The marketing boost from having its trucks constantly in front of the public, just like the old Crown Vics, will undoubtedly more than make up for it. Besides, Ford is the only one out of the big three automakers that didn't get a huge government bailout and it is flush with cash.

It's a good time to be Ford, for sure.

EV Smart Fortwos Start Rolling!

Daimler's smallest production car--the smart fortwo--is now rolling out of the factory with a brand spanking new electric power train. As if the combustion versions of the fortwo are not fuel efficient enough, the new EV models promise even less environmental impact and greater fuel efficiency.

Perhaps most intriguing is that unlike some EVs, the electric fortwo promises a drive quality similar to combustion models. Daimler outfitted them with an electric motor that puts out 55 kilowatts and propels the car forward from 0 to 100 km/h at a respectable 4.8 seconds. While I doubt anyone is going to start racing fortwos of any kind (except for tuners--they modify Nissan Jukes for cryin' out loud) such performance should help drivers merge into urban traffic easily. The car also promises a range of 145 kilometers (that's 90 miles for those afraid of the metric system) in stop-and-go city traffic. Because of its small size, I think Daimler didn't count on anyone road-tripping in the fortwo.

Gone are the days that people viewed electric cars as only quirky and slow. The new crop of electrics are promising a more practical way to drive, all with no tailpipe emissions (the car doesn't even have a tailpipe).

How much will a new electric smart fortwo set you back? US pricing has not been announced yet, but in Europe a coupe model with a rental battery will cost 18,910 Euros, while owning the battery increases the price to 23,680 Euros.

Source: Daimler Corporation

Ford Becoming More Advanced with Turbos

Have you ever owned a turbocharged vehicle? I have owned three, and have drive a lot more. Turbocharged cars are funny things, as they are really not all good or all bad. In fact, having owned three different turbo cars, I can tell you that not all turbocharger setups are created equal. The bad of turbos is that they might have major turbo lag, leaving you waiting for your car to get up and go at stop lights. They also can burn through coolant and oil like nobody's business, leading to overheating, and they love to blow gaskets. The good in turbos includes that they are light on the gasoline, which can translate into a lower cost of operation. Turbos also make cool noises (especially if they have a blow-off valve) and they can turn a so-so engine into a monster (or a monster engine into a rocket).

Some higher-end turbocharged vehicles employ tricks such as twin turbo systems, which help eliminate turbo lag and increase/extend the torque curve for better performance. Unfortunately, having two turbos costs more, so on less-expensive turbo vehicles a single setup is the only option.

Well, in steps Ford, the American automaker who is innovating and shaking like crazy lately, with a new turbo technology for the 2013 Focus ST. The Blue Oval calls the new technology "overboost" turbocharging. You can read all about the technicalities (at least some of them--sorry any engineers out there) on Ford's website. To boil it down to the basics: the overboost technology greatly reduces turbo lag even though the Focus ST comes with a single turbo. Ford's technology also extends the Focus ST's peak torque output from 3,000 RPM to 4,500 RPM for up to 15 seconds at a whack. This increased torque band essentially works like a fighter jet's afterburners, giving the car a needed boost on occasion.

This technology actually isn't new, but the 2013 Focus ST will be the first vehicle sold in North America with the overboost turbo technology. Ford has been doing an excellent job selling Americans on turbocharged engines, with the EcoBoost trim levels going for a premium.

What about the drawbacks of turbocharged vehicles? The 2013 Ford Focus ST's engine is supposed to be tuned to virtually eliminate turbo lag. I have drive some vehicles with single turbos where this is the case, and driving them is a blast. As far as the overheating issue, Ford engineers claim they have outfitted the Focus ST with a very robust cooling system.

Also offered on the 2013 Ford Focus ST are Recaro racing-inspired front seats, as well as an exclusive color called Tangerine Scream. Obviously the American automaker is gearing the Focus ST to portray a thrilling driving experience, and I am hoping they actually deliver. With the new turbo technology, peak power output has been certified at 252 horsepower and 270 lb-ft torque, which sounds pretty thrilling to me.

The London Douglas M.C.C. Bristol Cavalcade 2012

Sunday 3rd June saw another local event so another excuse to take a ride in Frank to the London Douglas Club M.C.C. Bristol Cavalcade, at the Kingswood Heritage Centre. for a small meeting there were a lot of nice bikes that turned up for the occasion, braving the rain and the riders were sticking it out as showers passed over, in true British style.

 1929 600cc Douglas Sprint Bike

(digitally painted ink sketch)

This sprint bike has been campaigned by Henry Body for the last 20 years, in various sprints, and is the fastest Douglas in the world. Henry is now 77 years old and has been sprinting for 62 years, incredible stuff. Here are his times:

150yrds 6.09sec 78mph

220yrds 7.74sec 85mph

440yrds 12.16sec 107mph

1km 23.08sec 118mph

 Here are some more of the bikes that turned up.

 

Half of the lineup.

 Douglas Special 350cc, 

1920 engine on a 1930 bike.

Douglas Trails

Douglas Dragonfly

For more information on Douglas Motorcycles please visit the London Douglas M.C.C. website:

www.douglasmcc.co.uk

The Kingswood Heritage Museum was a very interesting local museum, with good tea and cake:

www.kingswoodmuseum.org.uk

The Brothers MRC Custom Bike Show and Rally 2012

On Saturday the 2nd June I ventured out in Frank (our 1947 Dodge pickup) to The Brothers MRC bash at the Keynsham Rugby Club. This was the first of three events I was to visit over the bank holiday weekend, and I must say it was worth the trip out.

 Copper Norton Flat Tracker

(digitally painted ink sketch)

Bike of the show for me this cracking Norton was extremely well put together with lots of nice detailing.

A neat leather addition to house the advance / retard. 

Harley Chopper

(digitally painted ink sketch)

 Rat Harley

(digitally painted ink sketch)

This caught my eye not because of the rubber rat on the front but it seemed to be a genuinely ridden machine with all the wear and tear to prove it.

Here are a couple more customs to finish off.

 Big tyre on the back fair enough...

 ...on the front too!

A Suzuki GS750 Chopper (if I remember correctly)

Don't forget all sketches in my reports are for sale so if you are the owner and are interested please mail me:

mrtnsquires@googlemail.com

La Vie en Bleu Report 2012

This Weekend the Bugatti Owners Club ran their annual La Vie en Bleu event, filling the hill with all things French including Can Can dancers and accordion players. I attended on the Sunday with a brie and grape sandwich to sketch some French modes of transport.

Bugatti (ink sketch)

 Velo Solex 

(digitally painted ink sketch)

Having sketched a Cymota earlier in the year I grabbed the chance to sketch the French original.

Renault 17 Gordini

(digitally painted ink sketch)

1955 Renault Frigate

(digitally painted ink sketch)

At this time French car makers were making a lot of cars under licence in an American style. The Frigate was on the market as the same time as the DS and so sales suffered. THis is the only one running in the country, it is in a way an ugly design but there is something about that, that caught my eye enough to get the sketchbook out.

Citroën Ami 6 Club estate

(digitally painted ink sketch) 

This was a very strange car to sketch I'm not sure what it was about it but it definitely threw me and some of the perspective has gone way off but I still like this piece in a weird way. 

Bugatti 57c

 

 An extremely beautiful car, the lines on this version are very elegant, especially at the back.

 1909 Leon Peugeot Voiturette Racer

I've been waiting a long time to see this car as sketched it from photographs a while back. It was taken up the hill on the Saturday and I wish I'd been there to see it. The massive single cylinder must sound incredible.

I tried sketching this Amilcar twice and it kept going up the hill every time  so heres a couple of photos.

 Panhard Levassor 

 GN, V8 J.A.P.

This was the first time I've seen this, other than the plethora of photographs on the internet. This build is so well put together all the little details make it very convincing as an original.

 GN Racer

 GN Racer engine closeup

 Delahaye

1983 "A" Citroen LNA

One lady owner till 2010 57k miles £495 plus road fund licence. Described as a "Bargin" I'm tempted to agree.

 There were a few Citroen DS's at the event always a pleasure to see.

La Vie en Bleu was yet another great day out at Prescott, there are still plenty of events still to run this year, at the home of the Bugatti Owners Club and I urge you to take the time to visit. Please go the Bugatti Owners Club website for more information on upcoming events:

www.bugatti.co.uk

My First Car

My first car was a read beater: a 1981 Honda Prelude that had been totaled out twice before. It was three different colors and shook like crazy once it got above 50 miles per hour. The dash lights didn't work, which meant driving at night I would have to estimate my speed. The cassette player ate any tapes you would put it in. The car had been owned by a smoker before, which meant if the lavish sheepskin-covered seats got wet, they would reek like an ashtray. Even better, the turn signal stalk hung by wires from the steering column, meaning I would have to pick it up, insert it into the steering column at just the right angle, and then hold it in place until I had finished signaling a turn.

I don't have a picture of my first car, but at the time I hated it so much I wanted to forget all about it. Looking back on it, I never had to worry about girls liking me because they wanted to be seen riding in a flashy car. I never had to worry about locking the thing, either. Sure, so traveling on the freeway wasn't fun in the car, but I didn't go on the freeway very often anyway. I wouldn't want to own the car again, but it was good for the stage of life I was in at the time.