Sunday
Oct302022
NOVEMBER 2, 2022
Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 08:56AM 
From the "Cool Stuff" File: Ringbrothers has unveiled its most extreme creation yet, the “ENYO” super truck. The 1948 Chevrolet pickup is the result of more than 10,000 thorough and laborious build hours. The ENYO is powered by a Goodwin 1,000HP tall-deck racing engine and is crafted using extensive carbon-fiber components. Chopped, channeled and sectioned, the 1948 Chevrolet pickup is loaded with performance and design aspects that were inconceivable in its original era. ENYO features state-of-the-art chassis and suspension design, carbon fiber parts and aero management with wings and splitters, pushing Ringbrothers and the build partners into new territory. The ENYO has incredible details baked in, from the CAD-designed trim and parts that were all cut in-house at the Ringbrothers machining facility to the way they seamlessly managed to mate a big-box truck cab and massive drivetrain successfully on a low-slung, open-wheeled, car-style chassis. The racing-inspired drivetrain is equipped with a 510 cubic-inch tall-deck engine built by Todd Goodwin producing 1,000HP with Kinsler eight-stack injection, a Holley fuel management system and a Bowler Performance Corvette torque-tube 4L80 automatic transaxle. To ensure the massive power is transferred to the ground for maximum grip and performance, ENYO features a cantilever-independent suspension at all four corners with Ohlins shocks. The open-wheeled truck sits on custom Porsche 911 pin-drive HRE Wheels and both track and street wheels are included with the installed Nuke Performance air jack system facilitating quick swaps. Big Brembo GTS M6 brakes with six-piston calipers provide stopping power. Atop the one-off chassis designed by Scott Ahlman, Ahlman Engineering, in conjunction with Roadster Shop is the original 1948 steel cab extensively modified by Ringbrothers. It is narrowed and chopped by four inches, lengthened and wedge cut. The remaining body pieces are constructed in 3K-weave carbon fiber, including a single-piece carbon-fiber belly pan spanning from front to back. ENYO’s modernization also includes power windows, a custom stainless-steel gas tank by Rick’s Tanks, a Vintage Air Gen II compact air-conditioning system and a custom interior collaboration with Upholstery Unlimited and Gemini Technology Systems. The open truck bed stages all the components needed to run this beast, and the clamshell hood is easily opened with electromagnetic latches. The side pipes are made from 58 feet of titanium pie-cut welds and are connected to the shining one-off custom headers. Every part of ENYO is created to show its impeccable design and performance capabilities.
(Mercedes-Benz images)
The new 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan is the latest all-electric model based on the Mercedes-EQ premium-class electric architecture (EVA2). The 2023 EQE Sedan lineup features the EQE 350+ Sedan, EQE 350 4MATIC Sedan and EQE 500 4MATIC Sedan. Similar to the EQS Sedan, all models will be offered in Premium, Exclusive and Pinnacle Trims for the U.S. market. Each trim showcases EQ-specific technologies and features, along with an array of additional options for further personalization. How much? Pricing starts at $74,900, with up to 305 miles of range, according to EPA estimates. The 2023 EQE Sedan arrives in U.S. dealerships this fall.
The new 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan is the latest all-electric model based on the Mercedes-EQ premium-class electric architecture (EVA2). The 2023 EQE Sedan lineup features the EQE 350+ Sedan, EQE 350 4MATIC Sedan and EQE 500 4MATIC Sedan. Similar to the EQS Sedan, all models will be offered in Premium, Exclusive and Pinnacle Trims for the U.S. market. Each trim showcases EQ-specific technologies and features, along with an array of additional options for further personalization. How much? Pricing starts at $74,900, with up to 305 miles of range, according to EPA estimates. The 2023 EQE Sedan arrives in U.S. dealerships this fall.
(Mopar/Stellantis photos)
Mopar plans on making a splash for its 85th anniversary at this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas (Nov. 1-4) with several new concept vehicles. The Jeep CJ Surge Concept is custom designed and engineered to explore an efficient battery-electric propulsion system for classic Jeep models. The electromod concept allows Mopar designers and engineers to gain a better understanding of potential battery-electric vehicle (BEV) parts kit applications, leading to a future propulsion-system offering for enthusiasts to build or convert classic and current cars and trucks into zero-emission vehicles. It is powered by a scalable 400-volt, 200-kW Electric Drive Module, which mounts to the frame with custom-designed solid motor mounts. Power to all four wheels is supplied by 24 lithium-ion battery modules and torque runs through a two-speed Jeep transfer case with selectable gearing. Battery modules are enclosed in a custom shell mounted in the rear of the passenger cabin. The CJ Surge concept rolls on matte black 18-by-9-inch Black Rhino Solid wheels that carry Surf Blue accents on the rim beads and ride below the oversized concept fender flares. Front and rear Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) Dana 44 Crate axles help the CJ Surge concept easily crawl over rocks and boulders. There are plenty of other detailed features, but the cockpit of the CJ Surge concept is surrounded by a custom-built roll cage, while a custom-shaped bikini top offers valuable shade and cover from the elements.
The Ram 1500 TRX Gold Shot concept transforms the 702HP production truck into a custom high-performance toy hauler for the motocross enthusiast. The Satin Bitter Yellow/Satin Black concept rides on custom-designed, Vintage Bronze 18-by-9.5-inch Black Rhino Chamber wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires for a performance-inspired appearance at all four corners. Providing easy access to a pair of motorcycles in the truck bed is a Mopar bed step that lowers for easy access and, with a gentle push, retracts to a stored, out-of-the way position. Behind the cab, a RamBar accessory bar features a pair of concept 14-inch TYRI rectangular LED lights, generating 4,300 lumens of exceptionally bright light. The truck-bed surface is protected by a black Mopar spray-in textured bedliner. And, there's much more - too much to list in fact. There will be more there, of course: Jeep Gladiator D-Coder Concept; Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe Concept; Jeep ’41 Concept; Jeep Wrangler 4xe Birdcage Concept; Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept and a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 - 20th Anniversary Concept. In addition, Mark Worman, will be bringing a 1970 Dodge Challenger TA - painted Vitamin C Orange and powered by a Hellcrate Redeye 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 crate engine - and a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, painted factory B5 Blue and powered by a 426-cubic-inch HEMI V-8.
Mopar plans on making a splash for its 85th anniversary at this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas (Nov. 1-4) with several new concept vehicles. The Jeep CJ Surge Concept is custom designed and engineered to explore an efficient battery-electric propulsion system for classic Jeep models. The electromod concept allows Mopar designers and engineers to gain a better understanding of potential battery-electric vehicle (BEV) parts kit applications, leading to a future propulsion-system offering for enthusiasts to build or convert classic and current cars and trucks into zero-emission vehicles. It is powered by a scalable 400-volt, 200-kW Electric Drive Module, which mounts to the frame with custom-designed solid motor mounts. Power to all four wheels is supplied by 24 lithium-ion battery modules and torque runs through a two-speed Jeep transfer case with selectable gearing. Battery modules are enclosed in a custom shell mounted in the rear of the passenger cabin. The CJ Surge concept rolls on matte black 18-by-9-inch Black Rhino Solid wheels that carry Surf Blue accents on the rim beads and ride below the oversized concept fender flares. Front and rear Jeep Performance Parts (JPP) Dana 44 Crate axles help the CJ Surge concept easily crawl over rocks and boulders. There are plenty of other detailed features, but the cockpit of the CJ Surge concept is surrounded by a custom-built roll cage, while a custom-shaped bikini top offers valuable shade and cover from the elements.
The Ram 1500 TRX Gold Shot concept transforms the 702HP production truck into a custom high-performance toy hauler for the motocross enthusiast. The Satin Bitter Yellow/Satin Black concept rides on custom-designed, Vintage Bronze 18-by-9.5-inch Black Rhino Chamber wheels and 37-inch BFGoodrich tires for a performance-inspired appearance at all four corners. Providing easy access to a pair of motorcycles in the truck bed is a Mopar bed step that lowers for easy access and, with a gentle push, retracts to a stored, out-of-the way position. Behind the cab, a RamBar accessory bar features a pair of concept 14-inch TYRI rectangular LED lights, generating 4,300 lumens of exceptionally bright light. The truck-bed surface is protected by a black Mopar spray-in textured bedliner. And, there's much more - too much to list in fact. There will be more there, of course: Jeep Gladiator D-Coder Concept; Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe Concept; Jeep ’41 Concept; Jeep Wrangler 4xe Birdcage Concept; Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 Concept and a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 - 20th Anniversary Concept. In addition, Mark Worman, will be bringing a 1970 Dodge Challenger TA - painted Vitamin C Orange and powered by a Hellcrate Redeye 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI® V-8 crate engine - and a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, painted factory B5 Blue and powered by a 426-cubic-inch HEMI V-8.
(Bugatti images)
We find it hard to believe, but Bugatti has built its 400th Chiron hyper sports car. When Bugatti introduced the Chiron in 2016, the company said that only 500 would ever be built. Now, after a two-month build, the 400th example has been created by hand at the home of Bugatti Automobiles in Molsheim. It’s the culmination of the expertise of 20 highly skilled craftspeople, assembling around 1,800 separate components. Since the creation of each Chiron ensures that no car will be like any other, the vast array of personalization options available to customers include a near-limitless collection of paints, materials, finishes, bespoke touches and accessories. For the 400th – a Chiron Super Sport – a bare carbon fiber body, tinted dark green has been chosen by its owner. How special are these machines? Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, said: “Every single part of the Chiron is a masterpiece of engineering, and bringing it all together requires the most dedicated and experienced specialists in the world. Simply installing the carbon fiber panels over the advanced monocoque chassis requires a level of precision that only the most skilled craftspeople possess. Our painting or finishing process is so detailed that to achieve the desired effect requires up to eight layers in the top coat alone, each one polished to a perfect, deep and lustrous mirror finish. This level of detail can only be achieved with the right blend of passion and expertise, and to do it to such a high standard so consistently over 400 vehicles and beyond is what defines Bugatti. While marking this important milestone in Chiron history, we also express a deep gratitude to the designers, engineers and craftspeople at Bugatti that continue to accept nothing less than perfection.” To create this car’s striking bare carbon fiber finish takes patience and a meticulous attention to detail, requiring the expertise and relentless dedication of a team of the most skilled designers and materials engineers in the industry. The weave of the fiber must flow in the correct direction across all separate panels, requiring each sheet to be cut at a specific point and in a specific way. Each panel’s weave must also match up with those that it neighbors, creating one unbroken flow across the car’s body, adding further complexity. Unlike painted carbon fiber, there can also be no imperfections in the material itself; it’s not merely an unpainted carbon fiber body, but an entirely bespoke creation specifically designed to illuminate the inherent beauty of the material.
We find it hard to believe, but Bugatti has built its 400th Chiron hyper sports car. When Bugatti introduced the Chiron in 2016, the company said that only 500 would ever be built. Now, after a two-month build, the 400th example has been created by hand at the home of Bugatti Automobiles in Molsheim. It’s the culmination of the expertise of 20 highly skilled craftspeople, assembling around 1,800 separate components. Since the creation of each Chiron ensures that no car will be like any other, the vast array of personalization options available to customers include a near-limitless collection of paints, materials, finishes, bespoke touches and accessories. For the 400th – a Chiron Super Sport – a bare carbon fiber body, tinted dark green has been chosen by its owner. How special are these machines? Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, said: “Every single part of the Chiron is a masterpiece of engineering, and bringing it all together requires the most dedicated and experienced specialists in the world. Simply installing the carbon fiber panels over the advanced monocoque chassis requires a level of precision that only the most skilled craftspeople possess. Our painting or finishing process is so detailed that to achieve the desired effect requires up to eight layers in the top coat alone, each one polished to a perfect, deep and lustrous mirror finish. This level of detail can only be achieved with the right blend of passion and expertise, and to do it to such a high standard so consistently over 400 vehicles and beyond is what defines Bugatti. While marking this important milestone in Chiron history, we also express a deep gratitude to the designers, engineers and craftspeople at Bugatti that continue to accept nothing less than perfection.” To create this car’s striking bare carbon fiber finish takes patience and a meticulous attention to detail, requiring the expertise and relentless dedication of a team of the most skilled designers and materials engineers in the industry. The weave of the fiber must flow in the correct direction across all separate panels, requiring each sheet to be cut at a specific point and in a specific way. Each panel’s weave must also match up with those that it neighbors, creating one unbroken flow across the car’s body, adding further complexity. Unlike painted carbon fiber, there can also be no imperfections in the material itself; it’s not merely an unpainted carbon fiber body, but an entirely bespoke creation specifically designed to illuminate the inherent beauty of the material.
The complex dark green tinted body is paired elegantly with Super Sport Magnesium Wheels, and an engine cover finished in a subtle “Nocturne” shade, while touches of “Fierce,” which blends seamlessly with the tinted carbon fiber panels, are used on several of the exterior details, such as the iconic Bugatti Horseshoe grille and EB Logo Wheel Caps. Inside, the owner of No. 400 has opted for a full leather upholstery combination split of “Green” and “Beluga Black” for the seats. Elsewhere, “Beluga Black” dominates the interior, subtly highlighted with touches like the bare carbon fiber steering wheel top and bottom and the “Black Anodized” interior trim parts, an elegant finish that belies its complex method of creation. Fitted with the optional Sky View roof, this Chiron Super Sport’s interior is flooded with natural light.
At the heart of the Chiron Super Sport, of course, is Bugatti’s brutal 8.0-liter W16 engine, developing 1,176 kW/1,600 PS – 100 PS more than the original Chiron of 2016 – thanks to a significant re-engineering with upgrades like an enlarged quartet of turbochargers. Maximum engine speed increases to 7,100 rpm with maximum torque of 1,600 Nm available between 2,000 and 7,000 rpm. Combined with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission’s controlled shifting, the Chiron Super Sport is capable of accelerating to 300 km/h in 12.1 seconds, with a top speed of 440 km/h. Just 100 more examples of Bugatti’s latest hyper sports car will be produced, but the production run of 500 cars won’t mark the end of the legendary W16 engine. Two more models will crown this definitive era in the marque’s history. On the road, the W16 Mistral will be the ultimate Bugatti roadster, while the track-only Bolide will provide the purest experience of the W16 engine.
(Honda images)The all-new 2023 Civic Type R – the most powerful and highest-performing Honda production vehicle ever sold in America – finally began arriving at Honda dealers nationwide last Friday (10/28) with an MSRP of $42,895 (plus a $1,095 destination charge).
The AE Song of the Week:
Well open up, honey
It's your lover boy me that's a knockin'
Why don't you listen to me, sugar
All the cats are at the High School rockin'
Honey, get your boppin' shoes
Before the juke box blows a fuse
Hey everbody hoppin', everybody boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
Hoppin' at the High School Hop
Rockin' at the High School Hop
Everybody's hoppin', everybody's boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Come on little baby, let's rock a little bit tonight
Woo, I got get with you, sugar, let's shake things up tonight
Well the heart beatin' rhythm
And my feet are moving smooth and light
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shakin' at the High School Hop
Movin' at the High School Hop
Everybody's hoppin', everybody's rocking
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Well, let me tell you something baby
I'm gonna give you some good news
Lookee here, sweet mama, let's burn off both our shoes
My hearts beatin' rhythm and my soul is singin' the blues
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Jumpin' at the High School Hop
Rollin' at the High School Hop
Everybody's hoppin', everybody's boppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Boppin' at the High School Hop
Shaking' at the High School Hop
Movin' at the High School Hop
Everybody's boppin', everybody's hoppin'
Boppin' at the High School Hop
"High School Confidential" by Jerry Lee Lewis from the album "Jerry Lee Lewis" (1958)*. Written by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ron Hargave. Publisher: BRASSTACKS ALLIANCE. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch "High School Confidential" (with soundtrack by Jerry Lee Lewis) from the movie Great Balls Of Fire starring Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder here.
*This song about shaking things up at the high school hop had unfortunate timing: it was riding up the charts when news of Lewis' marriage to his 13-year-old second cousin broke out. Upon hearing this, Sun Records canceled distribution of the record to DJs and it stalled at #21 on the charts. The song's sharp decline down the charts is shown in the bio movie Great Balls Of Fire. This was the title track to a movie in which Lewis appeared. There was a sequel to the movie called College Confidential, which had no theme song and no Lewis. Unlike his previous hits "Crazy Arms" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On,'" Lewis wrote this song himself. Jerry Lee Lewis died last week at the age of 87. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG