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Month: May 2023

  • Atlanta “Boot Girls” Have Keys To Unlock Parking Boots, And They’re Using Them

    Atlanta “Boot Girls” Have Keys To Unlock Parking Boots, And They’re Using Them

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    Getting slapped with a parking fine is something virtually every driver encounters at some point. In some areas, that may come in the form of a boot or clamp attached to the wheel, completely immobilizing the car until said fine is paid. That brings us to Boot Baby and Boot Sheisty – two women currently causing a stir in Atlanta by unlocking boots using keys that are perfectly legal. Of course, it’s not quite as simple as that.

    They are the Boot Girls, and their story begins in April. According to NPR, Sheisty had her car booted by a private parking enforcement company while visiting Baby at an apartment complex. Instead of paying the company to remove the boot, she dialed up a friend who had a key. Ultimately, the ladies decided to buy a set of boot keys and now, they have something of a Robin Hood thing happening, though they do charge $50 to unlock a boot. Apparently, fees charged by enforcement companies are $75 or more.

    By now, you’re likely wondering whether this is legal. A social media post from the City of Atlanta Police Department states owning keys to unlock parking boots is, in fact, perfectly legal. The gray area involves using the key, which Atlanta PD says could result in charges of Criminal Trespass, Theft of Service, Theft by Taking, or Damage to Property.

    It’s important to note that this applies to private businesses using independent parking enforcement companies to monitor private property for vehicles violating rules established by the business. It’s a civil affair that, according to the Atlanta PD’s statement, they don’t get involved in unless “a criminal matter arises.” An attorney speaking to NPR disagrees with the police assessment, saying at most the boot removal could be an instance of trespass.

    None of this has stopped the Boot Girls from offering their services. They are reportedly fielding around 40 calls per day to remove boots, and the attention they’re receiving is raising awareness regarding the practice of private companies booting cars. It’s actually prohibited in the state of Georgia, though local municipalities apparently have the ability to authorize it and Atlanta is one of those locations. New legislation proposed by state senators could see booting banned without exception starting next year, if it passes into law.

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  • See Jay Leno Drive New Meyers Manx Buggy With 130-HP Radial Airplane Engine

    See Jay Leno Drive New Meyers Manx Buggy With 130-HP Radial Airplane Engine

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    It’s 2023, but the Meyers Manx is alive and kicking with all kinds of love for the 1970s. Under new ownership, Meyers Manx Inc. is bringing back the famous fiberglass dune buggy conversion kits for the classic VW Beetle. And as you can see with this prototype at Jay Leno’s Garage, there’s a significant addition to the familiar formula.

    Actually, some might say there’s an omission here. In place of the traditional air-cooled four-cylinder VeeDub engine is a water-cooled three-pot, but the lack of a cylinder does not hamper this dune buggy in the least. Rather, it’s the party piece for the new Manx because it’s a bonkers three-cylinder radial engine used for aircraft. It comes from an Australian-based company called Radial Motion, which developed it for light airplanes and gyrocopters. However, as Meyers Manx Chairman Phillip Sarofim told Leno in the video, the company tested the engine first in a VW.

    The one in this modern Manx is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter three-cylinder, and though it looks like an air-cooled mill, it’s actually water-cooled. The unique design doesn’t use any belts; the alternator is chain-driven and there’s no power steering pump or air conditioning to fuss with. The engine’s internals are LS components from General Motors, and it’s fuel-injected with a 6,000-rpm redline.

    To prevent hydraulic lock in the lower cylinders, a compression valve with a scavenger pump pulls oil that might seep past the piston rings. And while radial engines usually conjure images of tremendous smoke clouds on startup, this one is modern and smokeless. It produces 130 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque, though forced induction versions can reach upwards of 300 hp. Considering it powers a vehicle weighing approximately 1,600 pounds, it doesn’t take much power to get this new Meyers Manx rolling.

    And roll it does. Just like the OG Manx from the 1970s, the new version is still offered as a conversion kit for the classic Beetle. The transmission is a Beetle-spec four-speed manual, and as the video demonstrates, it sounds downright mean under throttle. For those seeking something a bit quieter, there is an electric version coming that folks can buy turn-key ready. However, the sights and sounds of a radial-powered buggy have our undivided attention.

    The video states this is a prototype, and while the radial engine is cool, it’s not necessary for those who prefer classic VW power with their brand-new dune buggy body.

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  • Auto supplier Gentex hit by ransomware attack

    Auto supplier Gentex hit by ransomware attack

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    According to TechTarget, a Dunghill operator reached out with a link to what the group claims is 5 terabytes of sensitive corporate data from Gentex, including client documents and personal employee information. The report indicated Dunghill posted the stolen information on the dark web as well as shared the data with unspecified foreign and domestic manufacturers after Gentex “refused to cooperate.”

    Threats against companies in the manufacturing industry have become more prevalent and more costly as of late. According to an annual report from IBM, the cost of a data breach for the industrial sector — which includes chemical, engineering and manufacturing companies — increased 5.4 percent on a year-over-year basis to $4.47 million in 2022.

    While the health care industry experienced the highest annual costs from data breaches in the two most recent years, according to the IBM report, other experts say the manufacturing industry is growing increasingly vulnerable.

    An executive from the Forbes Technology Council recently highlighted manufacturing among five targeted industries aside from health care. Because manufacturing companies have started to rely more heavily on technology and digital systems in recent years, they have opened new avenues for cybercriminals.

    “In addition to data theft for ransom, (cybercriminals) target the manufacturing industry since it allows for large-scale disruptions and geopolitical repercussions,” Abdul Subhani, CEO of IT consulting company Centex Technologies, wrote for Forbes. “Even though the manufacturing industry is not publicly facing and may not be easily accessible as other industries, it still has a risk of being targeted due to its high disruption factor.”

    Indeed, in its most recent 10-K annual filing, Gentex specifically identified cybersecurity and threats to IT infrastructure as key risk factors. The company disclosed that it maintains “an extensive network” of measures to help address any threats, including technical security controls, policy enforcement mechanisms, monitoring systems and management oversight.

    However, Gentex recognized that despite the implementation of security measures, its IT systems, “like all IT systems,” are vulnerable to damages from cyberattacks, computer viruses or similar disruptions.

    “To the extent that any disruptions or security breach results in a loss or damage to our data, or an inappropriate disclosure of confidential or customer information, it could cause significant damage to our reputation, affect our relationships with our customers, lead to claims against the company and ultimately harm our business, reputation, financial condition, and/or results of operations,” the company said in the filing with federal securities regulators.

    Gentex, based near Grand Rapids, Mich., ranks No. 88 on the Automotive News list of top 100 global suppliers with worldwide sales to automakers of $1.7 billion in 2021.

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  • Stefan Wilson suffered fractured vertebra in Indy 500 crash

    Stefan Wilson suffered fractured vertebra in Indy 500 crash

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    Wilson’s Dreyer and Reinbold Racing-run car was hit from behind by Katherine Legge’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing machine after cars ahead of them stacked up at Turn 1.

    Both cars spun and subsequently hit the wall at differing angles at high speed. While Legge’s struck the wall side-on, and she was unhurt, Wilson’s hit the SAFER barrier head-on.

    As the AMR safety crew attended to him, they immediately called for a back brace and stretcher before he was extricated from the car in a carefully-executed procedure that took over 10 minutes. He gave a thumbs up as he was loaded into the ambulance.

    The 33-year-old from Sheffield, UK was taken to the medical centre and then transported on to a local hospital for advanced imaging, where the injury was diagnosed.

    Stefan Wilson, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet qualification photo

    Photo by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images

    A statement from his entrant Cusick Motorsports, which was partnering with Dreyer & Reinbold for the first time this year, read: “After being transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital for further tests, it was disclosed that Wilson suffered a fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebrae and will stay overnight at the hospital for further tests and observation.

    “Based on this type of injury, Wilson will not be allowed to compete in this Sunday’s 107th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.”

     

    The 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) bears the most weight of that region of the spine, and while it is the strongest of those bones it is also the most susceptible to a stress-related injury.

    Wilson had qualified for what would have been his fifth Indy 500 start in 25th place. It is unclear what steps Cusick and Dreyer & Reinbold will take next, saying it will “have more information in due course”.

    Graham Rahal is the only driver who failed to qualify for the race in his RLLR-run car. He said earlier today that he wouldn’t consider buying a driver out of a starting spot on the grid so he could take part.

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  • Alpine, Lotus End Partnership On Future Electric Sports Car Project

    Alpine, Lotus End Partnership On Future Electric Sports Car Project

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    Plans for a jointly developed electric sports car between European niche automakers Lotus and Alpine are reportedly scrapped. The collaboration ended on friendly terms according to Automotive News Europe, though a specific reason for the decision wasn’t mentioned.

    The partnership was announced in 2021. Renault Group – the parent company for Alpine – revealed at the time that Alpine would become a purely electric performance brand. The plan was to have things cooking mid-decade, with a next-gen electric sports car co-developed with Lotus being a vehicle shared by both brands. Automotive News Europe cites Lotus as stating the company simply decided not to progress further with the project, though future cooperation is still possible. Autocar reports Alpine as confirming the news in a statement.

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    It’s worth noting the report specifically calls out just the planned sports car project. Alpine’s future electric ambitions include larger SUVs that could utilize Lotus platforms. By future electric ambitions, we’re referring to vehicles beyond more immediate EVs drawing from Renault’s portfolio, specifically a sporty hatch based on the new Renault 5 and a crossover called the GT X-Over. Of course, Lotus launched the Eletre last year, the company’s first SUV which was speculated to provide the foundation for Alpine’s larger offerings. The original plan had Alpine bringing these SUVs to market later in the decade.

    For now, the current-generation A110 is still very much alive with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The mid-mount powerplant dishes up 300 horsepower in the A110 R, the latest version of the small sports car that debuted in October 2022. Infused with track-focused suspension and a healthy dose of carbon fiber, it clips to 60 mph in less than four seconds while still being a road-legal machine. That is, road-legal in Europe, anyway. The current A110 in any form isn’t offered for sale in North America, but with it expected to stick around until at least 2026, Renault is at least considering other export options.

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  • Audi RS E-Tron GT Ice Race Concept Teased Ahead Of May 28 Debut

    Audi RS E-Tron GT Ice Race Concept Teased Ahead Of May 28 Debut

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    A new teaser video provides our first glimpse a the Audi RS E-Tron GT Ice Race Concept ahead of the full debut on May 28. The company also builds a matching Audi Sport Quattro with an electric powertrain to complement it.

    There are no technical details available about either vehicle yet. They wear matching exterior color schemes in a mix of gray, purple, and white. Beyond these touches, there are no obvious revisions to the body.

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    Unfortunately, we don’t yet know anything about the Sport Quattro’s conversion into an EV. To maintain its all-wheel-drive layout, it might have electric motors powering each axle.

    Inside, the RS E-Tron GT Ice Race Concept has white upholstery and black trim. It wears the badge from the Audi Exclusive personaliztion division.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cLRF87rCyU

    The teaser video shows the E-Tron GT and Sport Quattro pulling a skier on a snowy mountain. Despite the concept’s name, the clip doesn’t show either of them driving on ice.

    Debuting an ice racing concept in late May is an intriguing choice. It’s a time of the year when a lot of people are thinking about warm summer days, rather than chilly snow.

    The existing RS E-Tron GT comes with two electric motors – one turning each axle – making as much as 637 horsepower and 612 pound-feet in Boost mode. During normal driving, the powertrain produces 590 hp. The rear end has a two-speed transmission. This setup gets the sedan to 60 miles per hour in 3.1 seconds. 

    The 93.4 kilowatt-hour battery provides 232 miles of range. It can DC fast charge at up to 270 kilowatts.

    The RS E-Tron GT starts at $145,395 after the $1,495 destination fee. With all of the available options and accessories, the price can go as high as $165,645. The upgrades include a $7,100 braking package with carbon-ceramic front and rear discs. A $6,450 Carbon Performance adds laser headlights, rear-wheel steering, and carbon fiber trim.

    Check out the Audi RS e-tron GT project_513/2 in this video: 

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  • 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Review: Prices, Specs, and Photos

    2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Review: Prices, Specs, and Photos

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    The original all-electric pickup truck finally faces mainstream competition this year. Shop the 2024 F-150 Lightning against the Rivian R1T or GMC Hummer EV truck, plus forthcoming electric versions of Ram, Chevy, and GMC full-size trucks. 

    We’d say so, especially since it won our Best Car To Buy 2023. But successive price hikes have brought the latest starting price to more than $60,000, so budget accordingly. Though it might not satisfy long-distance hauling needs, the 2024 Lightning drives like a faster and quieter version of a standard F-150, and it hauls like one around town. We’ll update this review once 2024 pricing has been announced, but it likely won’t move the needle on its high TCC Rating of 8.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

    We don’t expect major changes for 2024, though Ford may add battery capacity to increase its range.

    For the most part, the F-150 Lightning looks just like a regular F-150, which is part of the reason it beat Detroit rivals to market. Its three-box shape with only a crew-cab and 5-foot-6 bed configuration has been tweaked with a unique front end and strips of LED running lights front and back across the tailgate on most trims. 

    The Lightning’s interior is largely identical to gas trucks down to its vertical touchscreen. 

    Underneath, the F-150 Lightning has its own independent rear suspension compared to the standard trucks’ leaf-sprung solid axle. Weighing in at a massive 6,600 pounds, the F-150 gallops over bumps with little interior disturbance. 

    Ford offers standard and extended-range versions that can lug up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. Standard models check in with around 240 miles of range. The extended-range battery has traditionally cost a lot more for its 80-mile bump; consider your real-world needs first.

    Electric motors on the front and rear axles provide all that thrust, plus all-wheel-drive traction. 

    The F-150 has big battery packs that take a long time to charge. A standard-range truck depleted to 15% of remaining battery power will need around 15 hours of juicing up at a Level 2 home charger to be back to 100%. Public Level 3 chargers are much faster, though. 

    The big crew cab means plenty of interior space. Vinyl, cloth, and leather options reveal your truck’s place in Ford’s hierarchy. The F-150 Lightning’s front trunk, or frunk, serves up weathertight storage where the engine would normally go. 

    Standard models have a 12.0-inch touchscreen that grows to a massive 15.5 inches as you work your way up the lineup, too. 

    The automaker’s optional BlueCruise driver-assistance tech allows for stints of hands-free driving on mapped highways, though its value in a truck with limited range is somewhat dubious. 

    How much does the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning cost?

    Last year, the 2023 F-150 Lightning ran about $62,000 in its cheapest, work-oriented Pro trim. That money buys the standard-range battery pack and a vinyl cabin with rubber floors. Another $5,000 buys the XLT with its swanky light bar and cloth seats, plus access to the $14,000—yes, really—extended-range battery pack.

    Where is the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning made?

    In Michigan.



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  • Michael Jordan Takes Delivery Of 1,817-HP Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster

    Michael Jordan Takes Delivery Of 1,817-HP Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster

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    There is no shortage of supercars to choose from if you have six or seven figures to spend and an empty parking space in your second garage that needs to be filled. You have options from Ferrari, McLaren, Pagani, Gordon Murray, and others to start. For NBA legend and businessman Michael Jordan, the selection is likely endless, but he has added a rare Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster to his roster of vehicles.

    Hennessey Performance posted the photo of company CEO John Hennessey standing with Michael Jordan in front of his Venom F5 Roadster and Jordan’s private golf club in Florida named Grove XXII. The photo doesn’t show off much of the supercar, which debuted just over a year ago, but it does reveal the car’s exposed and glossy carbon-fiber body and its yellow pinstripes.

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    Underneath the F5 Roadster’s sheetmetal hides a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V8 engine. It produces 1,817 horsepower and 1,193 pound-feet of torque, which runs through a seven-speed, single-clutch semi-automatic transmission. Hennessey claims the supercar can exceed 300 miles per hour, with the company claiming the roadster “the world’s fastest and most powerful convertible.”

    The Venom F5 Roadster looks a lot like its coupe sibling, especially at the front. However, things start to change at the cabin, which features a removable carbon-fiber roof panel that weighs just 18 pounds. New tempered glass at the back provides a peek at the potent engine behind the passenger compartment. The glass is made of a material that can withstand temperatures over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

    The Roadster’s lack of a roof does increase its curb weight, but not by much. The regular F5 tips the scales at 2,998 pounds, while the F5 Roadster weighs under 3,100 pounds, so there isn’t a big difference.

    Jordan is one of only 30 people to own an F5 Roadster, as Hennessey limits its production. The company said it’d make just 24 examples of the coupe, so the convertible isn’t as rare. The increased production number also coincides with an increased price tag, the Venom F5 Roadster costing $3 million to start compared to the $2.1 million coupe. Production began in late 2022.

    Oh, if you happen to have the means and the motivation to “be like Mike,” check out this stunning F5 listed by our friends at duPont Registry. 

     

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  • BMW Touring Coupe concept may get limited production run

    BMW Touring Coupe concept may get limited production run

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    COMO, Italy – BMW has resurrected the spirit of the original Z3 Coupe with the Touring Coupe concept, and is considering limited production of the two-seat shooting brake, which was originally developed as a one-off model based on the Z4.

    The concept, unveiled here on the eve of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este classic car show, is intended for the joy of travelling together, BMW says.

    The Touring Coupe is for “two people and their luggage, enjoying their drive from Munich to Como,” Adrian Van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group design, told reporters on the sidelines of the concept unveiling on Friday.

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  • Indy 500: Alex Palou takes pole position at over 234mph

    Indy 500: Alex Palou takes pole position at over 234mph

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    Palou set the fastest four-lap average of 234.217mph around the 2.5-mile oval, narrowly defeating Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay.

    Palou signalled his intent with an opening lap of 235.131mph, and his four-lap average was 234.217mph. “That was fun, very fun,” he said on the radio.

    “It means the world to me, we knew it was going to be tight, they gave the fastest car to me,” he said. “Watching [the other drivers] was tougher than doing the four laps.”

    VeeKay will start second with a speed of 234.211mph, just 0.004s and 0.006mph slower than Palou.

    “I got everything out of it, but it’s just so tight,” he said. “I thought we really had a shot at pole position.”

    Top 12 qualifying pacesetter Arrow McLaren’s Felix Rosenqvist fell below the 235mph barrier required on the opening lap, and could only manage third with 234.114mph.

    Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

    Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images

    Santino Ferrucci (AJ Foyt Racing) will start fourth, having got high in Turn 1 on his opening lap, having entered the corner at over 240mph, and he couldn’t repeat the speed he showed in Top 12 qualifying. His average speed was 233.661mph and he admitted “that wasn’t what we wanted” on the radio.

    Pato O’Ward lapped his Honda-powered Arrow McLaren in 233.756mph for fifth. “My first Fast Six and it’s awesome for the team,” he said.

    Scott Dixon, who was hunting for this third consecutive pole for Ganassi, battled loose handling after a strong opener, his effort producing 233.151mph for sixth. He reported: “The run for us was too on the nose, it was super loose and scrubbing speed from the get-go.”

    Of those who didn’t make it to the Fast Six from the earlier Sunday qualifying session, Alexander Rossi (McLaren) will start the Indy 500 in seventh, ahead of Takuma Sato (CGR), Tony Kanaan (McLaren), Marcus Ericsson (CGR), top rookie Benjamin Pedersen (AJ Foyt Racing) and Will Power (Team Penske).

    The final row of the grid was also decided today, with Christian Lundgaard (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) starting 31st, ahead of Sting Ray Robb (Dale Coyne Racing) and Jack Harvey – who bumped out RLLR team-mate Graham Rahal in the dying moments of last-chance qualifying.

    Indy 500 – Starting grid

     

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