The Puttzalong crew finally extracted their collective digit and got their shit together.
The Puttzalong Atoyka (trust me, it’s funny). Puttzalong’s first foray outside of the Family/Family Sport market since the 1990’s, the Atoyka is a genuine soft-roader, for those wankers… ummm, discerning people living around the CBD. Capable of climbing any kerb known to council-man ™.
Designed to appeal to commuter and city premium buyers, this little 4WD can even be driven around the hobby farm and not get bogged! A 1.6L 16v I4 develops 78Kw and 141Nm, fed through the 7sp auto trans and VLSD, it returns 8.3L/100km (lab tested). 4 seats and a price tag of under 22000AMU, we believe this is the car your effeminate buddy needs.
And on the TV, there’s this. Richard Inne-De Haas, Junior (known as “Little Dick”) combined an Aluminium bodied space frame with a Puttzalong engine. The N/A 4.7Lt V8 from the MY17 GC has been tweaked to provide 332Kw. Topping out at over 270 km/h, and airfield in under 1:21, this 1888kg machine delivers bang-for-buck. Only 200 of these will be built, and at 81320AMU, it’s the limited Super/Hyper/GT-P car your office flog thinks he needs. Give him our number.
According to insiders LaVache will not offer the 2018 Ramjet with their legendary Big Block V6, which raises the question if it will be discontinued for good. The current version displaces 5.5L and remains on sale for an undisclosed period of time in the Trailbreaker and Octane with up to 688hp in twin-turbocharged form…
The 2018 Ramjet is smaller, lighter and more efficient than it’s predecessor and introduces an all-new 4.4L V6 in naturally aspirated and turbocharged form in various states of tune between 420 and 560hp.
The entry level Ramjet E’s uses the 310hp 3.3L V6 out of the Skywarp.
LaVache has also presented a concept version of a new Ramjet RT5 Interceptor.
The Ramjet hasn’t had a specialised Police version since the 1994-1996 model years. This new version is said to be powered by an uprated variant of the new 4.4L engine.
At the same time IMP has added a heavily facelifted version of the Clubsport GS to their stable. Due to the discontiuation of the Clubsport GT five years ago the Clubsport name has been retired. The new GS250 does not only have an updated exterior and interior, it has also been changed under the skin and on the skin itself. The body panels are now made from carbon fibre which reduces weight to just 1160kg despite better crash safety, while the new FB-325E engine produces 275hp and 290Nm of torque from just 2.5L of displacement without a turbocharger.
“Eh, well thanks Larry for the little drift show” Johnson said out lout.
The marksman was introduced 3 months after the liti sales started, after the success with the asteroid river automotive wanted to make a coupe that isn’t that expensive as the asteroid but still fun to drive so the marksman was born.
It has two engines choices, the first choice is a 2.1 liter inline 4 producing a 124hp & 184Nm top speed is 228Km/h second engines to choose is a 4.1 liter crossplane v8 provided by IMP it produces 213hp & 335Nm top speed is 263Km/h.
While the marksman with the inline 4 has both radio and power steering, the v8 only comes with a radio since engineers thought it drove well enough without a power steering.
The prices were:
10.500$ for the inline 4 powered marksman. 15.000§ for the v8 powered marksman.
After a long trip from New York City to Detroit through many major cities, EADC has finally arrived at NAIAS. Along with them, are some EADC cars that you may have already seen, but have been fixed and changed for 2017. However, first off…
Spotted in NYC by some keen journalists, the new EADC Corsair is a new luxury sports car, similar to cars such as the Aston Martin DB9. Inside, the interior is spacious and comfortable, with a new flip out HUD, electronic key-less entry, push button start, semi-automatic transmission, automatic parking camera, and most importantly a new 7.1L Nadier-Schoefield Mustang V12 engine. Although only producing 640hp, the large V12 is powerful enough to propel the car to a top speed of 208 mph. However, it should be noted that the main focus of the car is not speed or lap times, but luxury, ease of use and relatively low running costs.
##EADC Verona
Back in 2016, EADC released their newest car to their lineup, replacing the old 2003 Vixen. What was shown was a FF sedan with a transverse i6. After many versions were revealed, little interest was shown to the sedan, since many felt a it was lacking. In addition, after the JRT, the track version of the Verona, failed in comparison to other track cars, EADC engineers decided to return to the drawing board. One year later, the Verona is back. With an improved engine, redesigned transmission, better engine placement and improved interior, the 2017 Verona is complete overhaul of the original 2016 spec. Now an FR, the Verona has better power delivery and weight balance. The interior has been totally improved, and is now even better than it was originally. In addition, the new car, while heavier keeps the great fuel efficency of the 2016 version.
This version is the Standard Verona with the i4 engine. Other versions come with the i6 as standard.
##EADC Weasel EcoBlue
As a company that believes that electric cars are not yet ready for widescale use, EADC feel that a better alternative for the short term would be improving the efficiency of cars. The EADC Weasel EcoBlue does just that. With a monster mileage of 62mpg, the EcoBlue Weasel can drive from Detroit to Toledo on only 1(UK) gallon of fuel! Not only that, the Weasel EcoBlue is made from partially-recycled Aluminium and steel, further saving resources and the Earth.
Named after the elder Greek God of the wind, the Aeolus features an all aluminium construction, 7 speed DSG, our High Performance version of our 2.8L V6, delivering 292bhp, and a 7 speed DSG with a Transverse AWD system with a 70% rear bias.
Now, a transverse system may seem at odds with the sleek design, but our 2.8L V6 was designed to be transversely mounted, so we know how to set the whole car up with this setup to give you the best driving experience possible.
Johnson stood outside the river automotive stand entrance taking some fresh air, it took him an hour to get by the mass people and reporters asking question about the concept car…it was quite annoying to hear the same question over and over again.
He also was slightly worried since its been some time since he heard from Nick, sighing he took his pack of Cigarettes out wanting to take one out he was distracted by a distant engine noise which came closer with every passing second.
[Ah, sounds like it finally arrived] he said looking at the entrance as he see it coming around the corner and as it carefully drives into the closed off area drawing attention from the people around and journalist that were thank god held back by the security guards at entrance, he didn’t need more spy shot of the concept.
Johnson quickly got a few of his engineers to open the door, as soon i was in the building the doors were closed again hiding it from prying eyes.
[It good to see you, that you finally have arrived after some delay Nick] Johnson said happily
"Its good to be finally here and sorry about the delay the traffic was really uhhh bad"Nick answered
[As long it arrived safe and sound, i hope you didn’t made a mess in there!]Johson asked in a stern voice.
“No, i hope is okay if can go to the hotel now… oh but you really shouldn’t look inside” nick said nervously going trough the door that leads outside before Johnson could say aything.
[huh that was werid]he muttered, as he took a look inside his jaw hit the floor in disbelief there was a stack of speeding tickets on the passenger seat probably worth of a few thousand dollar…
Only a loud scream could be heard yelling “Nnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiicccccccckkkkkk”
Nick was seen running from the auto show with many would describe a look of pure horror in his face.
Shortly after the concept arrived another spy shot was uploaded.
##Daily Round-Up - Day 4
We’re back in Detroit for the 4th daily round-up of the show. At last, it was a slightly quieter day meaning I didn’t have to rush lunch for once. That said, we saw some big releases again today, which we’ll be covering shortly. Already, the team here from Splendid Auto Montly are discussing there favorite releases from this years show, and the cars they think will win the coveted Best in Show prize. More on that later…
Monolith have a show of force with new trucks, while IMP launch a range of other new vehicles
Monolith’s anticipated new range of utes were unveiled this morning at a special event at their stand. One of their most prolific models, the N230, was one show in two forms: one, the new 2017 model, and the other a 1962 model, showing just how far the company has come. Joining it was the new S200E which was released last year and has done very well for the company so far. Of particular note was the KHT tuned S340D Blitz variant also on display which famously out-paced the seemingly non-existent Saminda C2000R.
IMP also announced models in the form of the new LaVache Thundercracker, a classically styled once-off, and the stunning new Ramjet. The classic nameplate now sits on one of the most original looking luxury tourers we’ve seen in years. Alongside it sat the new IMP Clubsport GS250, the company’s exclusive lightweight sports car. Now made from carbon fibre and packing more power, it could become one of the more notable sports cars of the year.
River showoff another classic
The quirky 70s coupe, the Marksman, was on display at the River Automotive stand today. The chrome lines and classic detailing certainly drew attention, but questions began to arise as to whether anything new from the company can be expected at the show.
Dimension get underway at Detroit and immediatley win “Best Car Badges 2017” award
Claiming that this is their “2nd batch” (we aren’t sure where the 1st one ended up), Dimension kicked off their keynote with a new SSP concept in the form of the SSP4R Spec V Conept. The updated design still sadly isn’t going into production, but they were keen to remind us of this cars achievements: groundbreaking AWD systems, 640 hp and mind-bending performance. If only we could drive it…
Alongside this, a new performance model of the Asymmetry was unveiled, sporting a 7.0l V12 - that ought to scare the M5 a bit - alongside the new Hadron executive sedan. Smart on the outside, great to drive and featuring a range of i6 engines (yes please), this is clearly Dimension reasserting their dominance in this sector; few do sporty saloons quite as well as them.
Storm target the American market with updated pickup trucks
Even more from Storm: the megalithic Wolf and slightly smaller Husky were unveiled today, both smartly dressed in chrome. Both seem to be very competitive in terms of the utility vehicle sector, and are trying to distinguish themselves from rival vehicles with HUD’s and a wealth of other on-board tech. As to whether it’s necessarily on such a vehicle…
OAM’s overdue classic convoy arrives
Attracting the attention of many, how do we say, ‘older folks’, a timeless collection of OAM classics was put on display today. Some of America’s most prestigious cars were on show; the mighty Roadcruiser, a gorgeous ivory white 1966 Chevalier, the V12 powered Apache, the angular 1981 Phoenix and more. It’s great to see that a company built on so much heritage has been able to keep its magic with its newer releases, particularly the Chevalier II.
Latest version of the Altrea from Zenshi unveiled
A new version of the long running Zenshi Altrea was unveiled today, sporting minimalist design and an excellent range of engines. Available as a sedan or wagon, specs are currently fairly limited, but we can expect the car to be competitive in its market.
New comers Rainmere announce a new release
Little known Raimere have unveiled an Asian targetted hatchback called the Corse. The simple styling is nothing to write home about, but the excellent amount of power that comes from its 1.8l engine, gorgeuous 7" infotainment system and incredibly low prices are very intriguing. More on that when we get to drive this thing…
DSD put on explosive show to reveal new military vehicle
As promised earlier, DSD unveiled the new SFRAV (we still can’t get over how cool that sounds). The Sand and Snow Fast Response Vehicle is to go into service with Australian and French military units, and is clad in a wealth of protective gear and off-roading stuff. A 9 speed auto box, massive inline 6 engine and armoured steel plating make it seem more of a armored patrol vehicle, hence making it more awesome. We’ve been told it’s surprisingly comfortable too…
Puttzalong unveil odly shaped Atoyka
A new miniature off roader is on the scene in the form of the new Putzalong Atoyka, a city-focused 4WD car witha 7 speed auto box…yep, me neither. The unusual car is designed to appeal to “discerning people living around the CBD”, better known as ‘hipsters’, who will love the cars rear soft top and comfortable ride.
Meanwhile, a specially built super car called the Prototype 3 - 312 was on show, a remarkably heavy, limited production run performance machine. We’re very keen to drive it just to see what a modern-day spaceframe chassis feels like.
EADC reveal their 2017 line-up, including stunning sports car concept
Ending the day was the EADC keynote, where the company’s 2017 line-up was showcased. The incredible new Corsair concept, a luxury sports car apparently, drew a lot of attention, with many drawing comparison to the Rennen Apophis shown yesterday. A power V12 sits under the bonnet and it apparently has low running costs - we looks forward to testing that.
EADC also launched an updated version of the Verona compact, aiming to be a low cost sedan that has rear wheel drive. Excellent fuel economy and great driving characteristics certainly impressed journalists, with many agreeing it was a real marked improvement. Alongside this, the a new eco trim of the Weasel supermini was on display, appropriatley called the EcoBlue. Capable of 62 mpg, yet still packing 94 hp under the bonnet, this could be a real spanner in the works for other companies in a sector where decent performance and great economy are hard to come by on the same vehicle.
JHW introduce the Aeolus
Sadly caught up in the hype surrouding some of the other coupes at this year show, the understated Aeolus looks set to offer excellent value for money when it goes on sale later this year. Smooth lines and pretty details will certainly attract those who want a mid-range sports car that doesn’t shout about too much. Sending 292 hp to all 4 wheels, this should be good fun to drive. More on that later in the year.
Thankfully, less time running around the Cobo Center meant more time for interviewing…
Screenshots of emails sent from someone at Blackbird Racing Development leaked on the internet this afternoon, seemingly giving us more details of their upcoming roadcar - though we aren’t sure what it is at all.
Allison Nord, one of the lead designers of Rennen’s Apophis concept, joined us in the S.A.M. studio today.
[quote]How long has the Apophis been in development for? Would you say this is a big moment for the company?
“The Apophis has been in development for about a year and a half, although much of the development was testing new technologies that are to be used in future Rennen vehicles. Because of the new technology, it is a turning point for Rennen, with the past and the future reaching together in harmony.”
Why go for a V12? GT Car Tradition or something else entirely?
“The V12 was used since it is already in our lineup, but it truly is a beautiful engine layout. You get power, smoothness, and that gorgeous engine note that really marks a sports car. The one in the Apophis, as we mentioned, is tuned for greater power, but we chose a V12 over a V8 as, like I stated before, we wanted the past of large V12 cars and the future of technology to come together to create the ultimate Grand Tourer.”
What would say was the biggest achievement for Rennen with regards to this concept? Design? Technology? The transmission even?
“The biggest accomplishment for this car was likely the advances in carbon fiber production and quality. With our new advamces, we’re able to produce CF with greater efficiency and a lower carbon footprint thanks to the development of the Apophis. We’re also very proud of Rennen’s new generation of infotainment. This one is dubbed “Dynamic Sense” and utilizes more in-depth colors with more useful features than ever. Even still, it is less complex to use than our previous system and allows the driver to focus on the road with little distraction.”
Allison, thank you very much for joining us.
[/quote]
Arnold of AL Auto also popped in for a chat about the up and coming company.
[quote]This is the first time we’ve seen AL at the show. Give us a brief overview of the company.
"AL is a high end auto company, started recently in early 2016, focused on taking the idea of a dream car and making it a reality. We only settle for the best parts along with our own clever innovations and put them into our passenger vans, sports cars, super-cars, SUVs, station wagons, sedans, you name it!
“In addition, we are also constantly seeking ways to improve our work not only from our own mistakes, but also from the opinions of the community. An example of why we ask opinions to the public at car shows like these is when we developed one of our best sellers: We stunned our customers with one of the cars we, sadly, weren’t able to bring to the auto show. It was our AL Petrolio R, a car that we developed that had a massive 7.8 L Twin Turbo V12 yet still got an average of about 21.8-22.2 MPG and lapped our track in 1:15.0. All this just because of a customer that mentioned the idea of a economic big engine sueprcar.”
The new Balistica R looks set to take on the current crop of supercars. What makes it unique in this market?
"The Balistica R comes a specially developed 8.1 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 pushing out 1120 HP, one of the highest power outputs we have ever gotten out of a car.
To help keep its power on the road, AL’s specially developed active wing adjusts thousands of times a second to keep the power on the road while it’s massive grippy tires developed by our own team keeps it from constantly spinning its tires. Finally, the last piece of black art aerodynamics is that there are flaps hidden behind the grille of the car that push down on the front end to help this car stay planted."
What’s the thinking behind the Elegante? Seems to me to be a retro-mod-super-luxury-sedan!
“You pretty much hit the nose with your question. The thinking behind the Elegante is that we wanted to make a car that embodied the styling of the good old days when customers were only give a chassis when they bought the car and they sent this chassis to a coach builder to have a unique body style hand crafted for it, but we also wanted the touches of a modern car. In addition, this wasn’t the only “retro-mod” classic we’ve done, we have many more, however I was limited to what I can bring to the show (curse new member reply restrictions).”
[/quote]
Marketing Director Sarah Youssef from Baltazar came in to discuss the new RS325.[quote] It’s great to see the RS badge again. Would you say this, a hot hatch version, was the next logical step having successfully launched the Quasar last year?
“Absolutely, we design our cars with driver involvement in mind, so adding a faster version was something we planned right from the off, hence the multilink suspension on all models and the aggressive styling on all trims.”
How do you see the RS325 ranking up alongside the Quark RS, such as in terms of popularity?
“Both cars have completely different target audiences, the Quark is a car meant for the urban driver, who chooses to go through the back roads on their shorter trip home. Meanwhile, the Quasar can be the only car for a family, with lots of space, decent practicality and, now, supercar rivalling performance, all year round.”
Is there any particular reason you went for an AWD set-up?
“We added AWD to have that extra all weather performance, because deploying 325 hp through only two driven wheels is tricky, with lots of added issues, like torque steer. We felt that AWD would give extra traction and performance, while still maintaining class-leading ride and handling.”[/quote]
That does it for today’s round-up. Join us again tomorrow! This evening, I’m off the Detroit Riverfront to find a nice restaraunt for dinner, do join me if you can. Bye for now!
This is already the second Forum Autoshow where the Opera goes completely unnoticed, it seems that our development goal of “stealth luxury” was a little too successful, also it seems that Gavin Anderson has angered our Chief Of Engineering Fritz Heinemann when he called the Thundercracker a one-off. He’d like to remind him that the Thundercracker has been on sale since 2015, and that it is just a unique colour on display. That green Opera is his daily btw. At least Anderson’s reporting has made an impact on IMP.
Speaking of Impakt: Our new mid-size offering. Comes with a range of small inline six engines in petrol and diesel, as well as a 435hp 3.8L V8 on the S1 trim.
After making sure Darkshines of DSD made it back okay from test driving the Wildcat Envy, Luke had one of the Raceworks Division bring a racing prototype from Nevada, given permission to drive at full speed. He’d made all the official calls well in advance, and the prototype racing vehicle had a full police escort the whole way, with proper hand-overs from police districts so that no one ended up stranded.
Several bystanders watched in amazement as the Laser Lime colored Surge bolted down the highway, the engine and electric motor both at full scream.
Once it arrived at Detroit, the now-quite-rather-hot car was brought in and left to cool with a huge industrial fan pointed at the open hood, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree with various “overtemp” warning lights.
“It made it, Luke! We’re gonna have to fix that cooling system, but it’s almost ready for our road rally!”
“Good, Scott. Now, how fast did you get it up to?”
“Police officer clocked it at 173.3 miles per hour. Speedometer said 168.7, so we’ve got some calibration issues.”
“Any major problems?”
“She shakes like a rattlesnake’s tail at anything faster than about 130, and the motor controller started to overheat after a couple hours, then the engine got too hot. Cooling’s going to be something we have to work on, and we’ve got to balance those wheels if we’re going to do any serious speeds in this thing.”
“Well, we’ll get it cooled down, then draw up some plans so that it stops overheating in the future. On the trip back, just do the speed limit, we know it won’t overheat that way. What we really need, though, is the entire Raceworks Division keeping people from touching the overheated Surge. We don’t need any burn injuries at the auto show.”
Meh, whatever. Let’s say that the convoy stopped halfway for sleep and arrived in Detroit today 
