Maxxd.com

Category: Highlight

  • Ford renews Thunderbird trademark

    Ford has filed a new trademark application for the Thunderbird name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, according to documents spotted by Muscle Cars & Trucks. But that doesn’t mean a new Ford Thunderbird is on the way.

    The application was filed on January 13, and specifies that Ford is applying to use the trademark for “motor vehicles, namely concept motor vehicles; four-wheeled motor vehicles.”

    Automakers often trademark names even before they have a potential vehicle in mind for them; it’s just a way of reserving those names for possible future use. Given the importance of the Thunderbird name to Ford, it’s also possible that the Blue Oval is applying for a new trademark to prevent other companies from using it. Ford has renewed the trademark multiple times in recent years, most recently in 2016, Muscle Cars & Trucks noted.

    1956 Ford Thunderbird parked on the second floor of McCarran International Airport

    1956 Ford Thunderbird parked on the second floor of McCarran International Airport

    The mention of “concept motor vehicles” in the application could also indicate plans for a concept car (assuming auto shows ever return), but not a full-fledge production model.

    The Thunderbird took on many forms during its decades of production. Starting out in 1955 as a two-seat sports car, it grew into a cushier “personal luxury car,” then morphed into a NASCAR homologation special with aerodynamic bodywork. After a brief hiatus, the Thunderbird returned for the 2002 model year with retro styling. Despite initial hype, that version didn’t last long. It was retired after the 2005 model year, and the Thunderbird name has remained dormant ever since.

    Unlike many other iconic nameplates, the Thunderbird has always changed to suit the times. With the electric Mustang Mach-E, Ford has also shown that’s not afraid to reuse classic names in ways hardcore fans might find sacrilegious. So perhaps the Thunderbird will return in yet another new form.

    Source

  • Rare 1993 Cizeta V16T headed to auction

    If you’re steeped in 1990s nostalgia, but think a Ferrari or Lamborghini is too common, this 1993 Cizeta V16T is for you. Scheduled to cross the block January 22 at an RM Sotheby’s auction, it’s one of just nine built.

    Cizeta was the brainchild of former Lamborghini test driver and engineer Claudio Zampolli. After leaving Lamborghini, he moved to Los Angels and started a business working on supercars of the city’s many wealthy residents. But Zampolli wanted to build his own car, and teamed up with music producer Giorgio Moroder to make that happen.

    Zampolli specified a transversely-mounted 6.0-liter V-16, with a 5-speed manual transmission. The powertrain was cloaked in bodywork that resembled the contemporary Lamborghini Diablo, which makes sense, as Diablo designer Marcello Gandini also penned the V16T.

    The supercar was initially marketed as the Cizeta-Moroder V16T, but the partnership between Zampolli and Moroder dissolved after the first prototype was built, so all production cars were branded solely as Cizetas.

    1993 Cizeta V16T (Photo by RM Sotheby's)

    1993 Cizeta V16T (Photo by RM Sotheby’s)

    The car currently for sale—chassis 101—was ordered by Singapore’s Hong Seh Motors on behalf of the Brunei Royal Family, according to the listing. The Sultan of Brunei was legendary for extravagant taste in cars, purchasing three of the nine V16T production models, along with thousands of other exotics.

    Chassis 101 was shipped from the Cizeta factory in Modena, Italy, to Singapore in March 1993, but was never delivered to the Brunei Royal Family, according to the listing. Instead, it gathered dust at Hong Seh Motors for over 25 years, before being purchased by its current owner in 2020.

    As a result, it only has 611 miles on the odometer, all of which are believed to have been accumulated during testing at the factory, according to the listing. The car is righthand drive, and has horizontal slats over its side air intakes like the prototype V16T, rather than the vertical slats used on most other production cars, RM Sotheby’s noted.

    History is littered with failed supercar builders, but that hasn’t stopped new generations of dreamers from trying to launch their own supercars. Some are even turning to hydrogen or battery-electric powertrains.

    Source

  • Why the 2022 Subaru BRZ doesn’t need a turbocharger

    Since the original version launched, fans have been clamoring for a more powerful version of the Subaru BRZ, i.e. one fitted with a turbocharger, a la the WRX. But Engineering Explained host Jason Fenske is glad the redesigned 2022 Subaru BRZ doesn’t have a turbocharger. Here’s why.

    The second-generation BRZ gets a 2.4-liter flat-4 engine, replacing the previous generation’s 2.0-liter unit. That displacement increase did yield more power. The 2022 model produces 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, compared to 205 hp and 156 lb-ft for the old model.

    Subaru does have a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine good for 260 hp and 277 lb-ft, which is currently used in the Ascent, Legacy, and Outback. So why isn’t the BRZ engine turbocharged as well?

    2022 Subaru BRZ

    2022 Subaru BRZ

    One reason why the BRZ is better off without a turbocharger, according to Fenske, is gearing. The naturally aspirated engine has a higher redline (7,500 rpm) than the turbocharged engine (6,000 rpm), allowing for more aggressive gearing. Those factors should lead to a more robust seat-of-the-pants feeling of acceleration, Fenske said, despite the BRZ engine’s lower output.

    Adding a turbocharger to the BRZ might also be difficult. The Ascent has a bottom-mounted turbo, Fenske noted, a configuration that would be challenging in the BRZ, where the engine is mounted very low in the chassis. That keeps the center of gravity low as well, improving handling. The turbo engine is also heavier, negating some of its power advantage, Fenske said.

    Finally, a naturally aspirated engine delivers better throttle response and throttle control. Modern turbo engines don’t suffer from the dreaded “turbo lag” of old, but they will never be as responsive as naturally aspirated engines. Plus, if you really want a turbocharged 2022 BRZ, the aftermarket will likely be eager to help.

    Source