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Official: Mazda and Clemson collaborate on Deep Orange 3 concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Wagon, Technology, Mazda, Design/Style

Mazda Clemson Deep Orange 3 Concept Car

There are school projects, and then there’s the Mazda Deep Orange 3 Concept Car, a one-off built by Clemson University automotive engineering students and designed by Frederick Naaman from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Clemson students unveiled the chassis at the 2012 SEMA show in Las Vegas, although this is the first showing of the car fully clothed.

Sporting a unique hybrid powertrain that can automatically switch between front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive. A gas-powered engine handles the fronts, while the rears are powered by an electric motor and a battery pack. The Deep Orange 3 also has an unusual three-plus-three layout, making it a much cooler version of your parent’s old Vista Cruiser. The exterior sheetmetal clearly follows Mazda’s established design language, and looks like it could easily pass for a five-door version of the Shinari Concept. It really is a great looking vehicle.

The Deep Orange 3 was part of Clemson’s graduate-level auto engineering program, and is a regular partnership between the east coast school and the Pasadena-based design college’s students. Clemson, Art Center and Mazda will be showing the Deep Orange 3 at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI, from August 5 to August 8. Click through for a press release from Clemson University.

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Mazda and Clemson collaborate on Deep Orange 3 concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Aug 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2012 Ford Focus ST is still our orange crush

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Ford

2012 Ford Focus ST

2012 Ford Focus ST hits the road – Click above to watch the video after the jump

We haven’t heard much about the 2012 Ford Focus ST lately, but never fear, it’s still destined for our shores. After all, it would be downright cruel for Ford to not offer the hottest variant of its new global Focus here in the States, especially when we’ve been denied all of the Euro-spec hot hatch fun for so long.

To recap, the Focus ST uses FoMoCo’s 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four, good for 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. There’s a six-speed manual gearbox to send that power to the ground, and though the car is fitted with front-wheel drive, the automaker’s torque-vectoring power control system is on hand to keep things from getting too squirrely. Inside, there are Recaro sport seats, orange trim and a thick steering wheel that we can’t wait to get our hands on.

Until the Focus ST officially hits the road, we’ll have to satisfy our craving for Blue Oval hot hatchery with this video, which you can view after the break. It’s certainly not the most exciting piece of film ever published on the Interwebs, but it’s enough to make us fall in love with the ST all over again.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus ST

2012 Ford Focus ST

[Source: YouTube via Carscoop]

Continue reading Video: 2012 Ford Focus ST is still our orange crush

Video: 2012 Ford Focus ST is still our orange crush originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package is an orange crush

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Lexus, Racing

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package – Click above for high-res image gallery

Finally, the moment is upon us. Lexus has released the most-exclusive version of its already hyper-exclusive LFA supercar. Behold, in person, the 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition. For those who need reminding, the LFA is Lexus’ $375,000 supercar. There will only be 500 LFAs built worldwide, and of those, a scant 50 will have the Nürburgring package bestowed on them.

The package takes the standard LFA, which is certainly no slouch on a racetrack, and makes it even harder core. To start with, Lexus added 10 horsepower to the LFA’s 4.8-liter V10 (for a total of 562), and has dropped gearshift times from .20 seconds to .15.

Helping out the reworked go-bits is a track-tuned suspension calling the shots for Nürburgring Edition-specific basketweave wheels shod with very sticky, very expensive rubber. The bodywork on the LFA Nürburgring gets some upgrades, too, most notably a unique front splitter and a huge fixed rear wing. According to Lexus, the extra 10 ponies are to overcome the increased aerodynamic drag from the aero bits, not to make the car any quicker.

The car can be had in white, gloss or matte black or screaming orange as seen here. If you’re lucky enough to be in line for one, you’ll need to have an extra 70 large in your hand for the package. Add another $20k if you want it matte black. For all that, Lexus will let you choose between an all-black interior, a black and red interior or a black and purple interior – and if you’re European, you can have an all-carbon fiber interior.

Of course, as part of the Nürburgring package, you’ll also get access to the legendary German racetrack itself. Buyers get driving lessons with a special instructor, a branded jacket, and a one-year pass to the Nordschleife and to its related themepark. Ye-haw.

Press release after the jump.

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nrburgring Package: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nurburgring package

[Source: Lexus]

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Geneva 2011: Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package is an orange crush originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lamborghini roars back into Orange County

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Lamborghini, Luxury

Lamborghini Newport Beach

Lamborghini returns to Orange County – Click above for high-res image gallery

Orange County, California and Lamborghini have an interesting history. Once home to the world’s largest Lamborghini dealership, Orange County has been without a Lambo retailer since 2009, when Lamborghini Orange County owner Vik Keulyian pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges. Now, two years later, an entirely new team is set to bring Lamborghini back to the OC.

Bill Story knows Italian cars. As an Army brat, his family was stationed in Germany, and during their time there, Story’s father would take him on trips to Italy visit the Ferrari factory. Those trips to Maranello stayed with Story as he grew older, and he eventually decided to drop out of the US Naval Academy to pursue his passion for racing.

Orange County Choppers facing foreclosure?

Filed under: Earnings/Financials, Motorcycle, Celebrities

Orange County Choppers headquarters

Drama. It’s what the television show American Chopper has always been built upon, much more so than any of its so-called ‘theme bikes.’ And drama is exactly what’s been unfolding over the last few years as both Orange County Choppers and its hit TV show have undergone a number of important changes… not the least of which is the disintegration of family relations between the show’s three stars, Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Jr. and Mikey, leading to two rival custom motorcycle shops.

The latest bit of tension is reportedly between Paul Sr. and GE Capital, the bank though which the company’s massive corporate headquarters in New York is financed. According to reports, the elder Teutul has missed two large payments on the building, one for $96,400 and another for $14,000, not because he or the company doesn’t have the funds, but due to a disagreement in the current valuation of the building.

As anyone who’s had the displeasure of dealing with such ramifications of the recently collapsing values of real estate here in the United States can tell you, OCC’s HQ likely is worth less now than when it was built, but that doesn’t mean payments on the loan (in this case, there are two loans, one for $11.5 million and another for $1.5 million) can be stopped.

Not surprisingly, GE Capital reportedly filed a foreclosure action against Orange County Choppers late in 2010.

[Source: Times Herald-Record via Asphalt & Rubber | Image: BigJimInDC – C.C. 2.0]

Orange County Choppers facing foreclosure? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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