If you’re pushing one of GM’s newest muscle cars or even their Corvette ZR1 supercar then Lingenfelter just produced a beefy clutch to help you wrestle all that power to the floor.  Their new Twin Disc Clutch and Flywheel is capiable of biting down on up to 700HP!  Nasty!

The Hankook 2010 Camaro is finally ready for battle.  A short video was leaked out today of Conrad Grunewald’s new beast carving it up in a short technical course.  It is likely they were sorting out their suspension set up.  Either way, this thing looks absolutely furious.  If you are going to be a pro competitor in Formula D this year then make no mistake.  This Camaro hates you..

Hankook Camaro Testing from lab17 on Vimeo.

After months of fabrication and wrenching Conrad Grunewald’s 2010 Chevy Camaro drift car was started for the first time tonight.  You can see the momentous occasion in a grainy cloverfield-esque footage below.  Turn your speakers up for this one.

The new 2010 Camaro was the official car of the 2009 SEMA show this year so they were all over the place.  However I’d have to say that the Lingenfeltercollab with Hotchkis was easily the “cleanest” one of the bunch.  They kept things simple and added some pop with the orange lip on the wheels.  Throw an aggressive stance and a supercharged LS motor under the hood and it all comes out to a pretty vicious combination.

I just caught this story from Autoblog that GM told their (remaining) dealers that they’re planning to release a limited “Bumblebee” Edition of the new Chevy Camaro to capitalize on the soon to be released Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen movie…

I’m sorry but it did it just get FREAKIN’ AWESOME IN HERE?!?!

They say that the only real difference will be the special rally yellow paint job with the black stripes and some special “Transformers” badging and center caps for the wheels but that is more than enough!!  They’re giving us the chance to drive Bumblebee!!

Bumblebee lives!!

This is easily one of the freshest Corvette’s I’ve ever seen short of the ZR1.  Apparantly the “Grand Sport” was some sort of concept that was built way back in the 60s but never really saw the light of day beyond a few one-off races.  Then, in ‘94 GM decided to build a Grand Sport model Corvette to celebrate the end of the C4 model Vette.  14 years later GM is doing it again with a 2010 model Grand Sport and its freakin’ awesome!  Just take all the best visual and technical parts from the Z06 but with a few more creature comforts.  Oh and you can get the new Grand Sport with a paddle shift transmission! Sweet!!

Press Release:

Chevrolet Announces New 2010 Corvette Grand Sport

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -Grand Sport. It’s one of the most storied monikers in Corvette’s illustrious racing heritage. Today, Chevrolet announced it is returning to the lineup in the new, 2010 Corvette Grand Sport model.

The announcement was made at the 12^th annual C5/C6 Corvette Birthday Bash, held at the National Corvette Museum, in Bowling Green, Ky.

The new Grand Sport combines the Corvette’s LS3-based powertrain with unique, wide-body styling and a racing-bred suspension for a distinctive model that delivers a great balance of road and race track performance. It is offered in both coupe and convertible body styles, with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The LS3 6.2L engine is rated at 430 horsepower (321 kW)* and 424 lb.-ft. of torque (575 Nm)* with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust system elevates the power ratings to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm).

The Grand Sport replaces the Corvette’s previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires; revised shock, stabilizer bar and spring specifications; and specific gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of 1.0 g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60 acceleration vs. standard LS3-powered models.

Grand Sport coupe models equipped with the manual transmission are uniquely outfitted for race track competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery.

The complete list of content and special features for the Grand Sport includes:

• Wider front and rear fenders - including specific front fenders with integrated Grand Sport badges
• Z06-style front splitter and tall rear spoiler
• Functional brake ducts and extra cooling
• Unique 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels; painted finish standard and chrome finish optional
• Large 275/35ZR18 tires in front and 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear
• Z06-size brakes, including 14-inch (355 mm) front rotors with six-piston calipers and 13.4-inch (340 mm) rear rotors with four-piston calipers
• Specific manual transmission gear ratios
• Specific rear axle ratio on automatic-equipped models

With its special equipment, the Grand Sport offers a unique blend of performance and amenities. Its suspension package approaches that of the Z06, but includes a removable roof on coupes (Z06 has a fixed roof) and, of course, the availability of a convertible body style. Also, the paddle-shift six-speed automatic transmission is offered, while a manual transmission is the only choice with the Z06.

All of Corvette’s exterior colors are offered on the Grand Sport, and an available Heritage package adds iconic front fender hash marks offered in four colors, as well as two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery. The Grand Sport can be ordered with 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim packages, too.

Grand Sport history

Envisioned by legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov as a factory-built, lightweight and race-ready production model that would trump domestic and foreign road-racing competitors, the original Corvette Grand Sport was a promising idea that led to the production of five special prototypes in 1963. The project was later shelved, following GM’s agreement to stay out of manufacturer-backed motorsports.

The five prototypes were based on the styling of the 1963 Corvette and were hand-assembled under Duntov’s watchful eye. But while they looked like production models, the prototypes were purpose-built race cars that shared little with their assembly-line cousins. Duntov also oversaw the Grand Sport engine program that featured a special, 377-cubic-inch small-block V-8 with side-draft carburetors.

Although never officially sanctioned by General Motors, the five Grand Sport prototypes saw extensive racing experience throughout the 1960s in the hands of “private” racers who had strong contacts within Duntov’s engineering circle. All five original cars are accounted for today and are among the most valuable in the collector market.

Chevrolet offered a limited-edition Grand Sport production model in 1996, commemorating the original racing cars and marking the end of the C4 era in Corvette production. All of the 1,000 examples were painted Admiral Blue and featured a white center stripe and red “hash mark” graphics on the left front fender, a graphic scheme that mimicked the look of some of the original race cars.

*SAE certified.  

Every year during the LA Auto Show a contest is held for transportation design students and other artists to create a future concept around a given theme.  Usually its something boring like “urban living” or “mobile entertainment.”  This year its finally getting exciting as this time around the theme is racing.  The task for the contestants is to design cars for the 2025 race season.  So far my favorite is from the Audi of America Design center.  They’re concept dubbed the “Audi R25″ is a LeMan’s inspired work and it looks fresh!  It reminds me of Ridge Racer from back in the day.  If you want to see the rest of the entrant’s design pieces then check out the LA Auto Show later this month.

Press Release:

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 20, 2008 - Today’s race cars have ground-breaking technology to improve speed, power, performance and safety but what a difference 17 years into the future can make. Imagine race cars that go beyond the expectations and challenges of racing today, such as never needing to stop for re-fueling or collision avoidance assistance technology for enhanced safety.

Nine of Southern California’s automotive design studios did just that, predicting how auto racing will change by the year 2025. The designs are part of the fifth annual Los Angeles Auto Show’s Design Challenge, where studios including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen are pitted against each other to showcase their talents and further explore new ideas in automotive design.

“Automotive designers have always been fascinated with Motor Sports and this year’s Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talent to look at these cars with new eyes, using innovative technologies and approaches,” said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc. “This adds to the excitement, interest and personal involvement in the sport that has thrilled people of all ages for many years…and many more years to come.”

Entries in this year’s Motor Sports 2025 Design Challenge include:

• Audi of America Design Center California: The Audi R25 incorporates innovative features such as high-velocity banks and tunnels, which allow cars to race “inverted” and the opportunity to pass anywhere with aerodynamic racecars.

• BMW Group DesignworksUSA: The BMW Hydrogen Powered Salt Flat Racer reuses existing, ordinary and mundane materials such as old oil barrels and BBQ lids to whimsical and sustainable by employing goldfish as “co-pilots” to ensure that the vehicle is running clean emissions.

• General Motors Advanced Design: The GM Chaparral Volt collects and generates its own energy from three different clean, renewable and abundant California resources: Earth, Wind and Fire to create an entirely new category of racing - the eco-triathlon.

• Honda Research and Development, North America: The Great Race 2025’s sonar/echolocation sensors are able to detect changes in speed, terrain, and altitude, allowing it to switch to any configuration to circumnavigate the globe in 24 hours on land through the U.S., by sea through Asia and by air over Europe.

• Mazda R&D of North America: The MAZDA KAAN is an electric race car that has a patented electronic tire system to reach 250 mph with no harmful emissions. The vehicles are piloted by individual drivers but teams are made up of thirty cars, all on the track together.

• Mitsubishi Research & Design of North America: The MMR25’s multi-terrain, omnidirectional wheels consist of eight independently-controlled motors, allowing for “8 x 4″ wheel drive so that the car can be driven forward while pointing in any direction.

• Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America: Luxury racing arrives in the Formula Zero Racer by incorporating the thrill of Formula One, the track dynamics of the bobsled or luge, and the grace and efficiency of yacht racing.

• Toyota’s Calty Design Research: The Toyota Le Mans Racer is the ultimate race car that never needs to stop. Powered by highly efficient hydrogen fuel cell electric motors, each of its body panels is embedded with photovoltaic panels to supply electricity when extra energy is needed.

• Volkswagen of America Design Center: In the Bio Runner, the rider is positioned inside a protective cage on a motorcycle-like saddle with controls attached to the hands and feet. These controls manipulate all wheels via synthetic muscle-based suspension which offers unparalleled control and traction.

Entries will be judged by Tom Matano of San Francisco’s Academy of Art University, Imre Molner of Detroit’s College for Creative Studies and Stewart Reed of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design. Daniel Simon, an established car designer and founder of Cosmic Motors, is the special guest judge this year. Simon began his design career at Volkswagen and recently published his first book: Cosmic Motors-Spaceships, Cars and Pilots of Another Galaxy.

The winning design will be announced at the Design Los Angeles conference Nov. 20 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

About the Design Challenge

The Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers’ conference that has evolved into an integral element of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Entering its fifth year, Design Los Angeles provides designers with leading design speakers and the opportunity to address common issues. More than 500 designers attended last year’s event.

Check it out.  Heres some video I shot yesterday of the Formula D practice session.  I’ll try to get some more video and pictures from tomorrow and have them up!  I’m loving the way Hiro Sumida’s Lexus IS350 drift car looks!