Autoblog

Porsche Museum highlights history of the 911 RSR

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Porsche, Racing

Porsche has amassed quite an impressive trophy case in just about every racing series it has ever entered, and one of its most dominant machines has to be the 911 RSR from the 1970s. Taking part in various GT-class competitions, the 911 RSR managed to take home three international and seven German victories in 1973, its very first year of competition.

Not one to downplay its racing successes, Porsche has released an informative video detailing the 911 RSR's impressive heritage. The 1973 RSR model owned by the Porsche Museum is detailed beautifully on video, and we have to say it looks absolutely stunning in its vintage Martini Racing livery.

Have a look at the video below for some historic racing action, along with static shots of one of our favorite Porsche models ever created.

Continue reading Porsche Museum highlights history of the 911 RSR

Porsche Museum highlights history of the 911 RSR originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pure Vision Design imagines what could have been with Martini Racing 1966 Ford Mustang T-5R [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford, Specialty, Design/Style, Racing

Imagine, for a moment, this scene taking place way back in the 1960s:

"Ford has so much success with the Shelby racing program in the US, they had the new Indy motor that they wanted to get more development out of, they wanted to promote the Mustang more in Europe, and Martini Racing was just coming about. So the idea behind the car is that Ford contacted Martini and asked if they would do some testing on the Indy engine if they gave them some performance parts from Shelby."

It didn't actually happen, but it's a unique bit of historical coulda-woulda-shoulda-been described to us by Peter Harksell of Pure Vision Design. Its Martini Racing livery is enough for us to make us take notice, but the real story is the Indy Car engine underhood. It's an original Ford Indy engine from the 1960s, originally displacing 251 cubic inches and revving to a stratospheric 9,000 rpm.

The mill was rebuilt with the street in mind, now fuel-injected and measuring 300 cubic inches, and it boasts a wide and flat torque curve with over 300 pound-feet available from 3,000 to 7,000 rpm, maxing at 362 pound-feet. Horsepower comes to 426 at 6,900 rpm.

Just as importantly, the Mustang T-5R is built to handle with a modern suspension system from Detroit Speed & Engineering. Kept to just 2,300 pounds all in, this 'Stang is bound to be a serious performer. Check it out in our complete gallery above and read more about the car and its build process on Pure Vision Design's official website. Finally, be sure to watch the set of videos below.

Continue reading Pure Vision Design imagines what could have been with Martini Racing 1966 Ford Mustang T-5R [w/video]

Pure Vision Design imagines what could have been with Martini Racing 1966 Ford Mustang T-5R [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche 918 Spyder brochure leaks onto web [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Videos, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche appears to have let slip a rash of 918 Spyder images that look to be lifted from a company brochure. The shots give us a better idea of what buyers can look forward to when they plunk down their fat stacks of cash. We are particularly smitten by the Martini livery wrap, though a Salzburg Racing exterior is also available. Those who prefer pricier paint can cough up a little over $65,000 for Liquid Metal Grey or Liquid Metal Blue finishes. The lifted images also show that the 918 Spyder will come with a clear-coat carbon fiber targa roof panel.

More importantly, the 770-horsepower Porsche hybrid supercar will bow with an optional Weissach Package. There's no word on how much the pack will cost, but it will feature six-point harnesses, upgraded brakes and a focus on saving weight wherever possible. As such, bits like the armrest, door storage, air conditioning and stereo all get the boot to cut the vehicle's curb weight by 77 pounds. Check out the gallery for a closer look, and be sure to have a peek at a new video of the 918 Spyder caught on city streets in the video below.

Continue reading Porsche 918 Spyder brochure leaks onto web [w/video]

Porsche 918 Spyder brochure leaks onto web [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Fiat

Lancia di Lancia launches in Venice - Click either image for high-res image gallery

Considering that somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters of the earth's surface is covered by water - and that, if the global warming alarmists are right, that proportion of aqua to terra firma will only increase - it should come as no great surprise that the world's automakers and their designers have been setting sail on the open sea. Recent examples have included 28-foot speedboats and 135-foot catamaran megayachts penned by Porsche Design, sailboats and motor yachts from BMW DesignWorks USA, and speedboats from former Jaguar and Spyker supercar designers. The list goes on and on, and probably will continue to grow until we get the go-ahead to spin off Aquablog.

The latest pair - both rigid inflatables measuring over 40 feet long and packing ludicrous power - come from the collaboration between Italian shipyard SACS Marine and the Fiat Group: a white, outboard-powered open-plan tender for Abarth and a sleek black vessel for Lancia. The latter shares its nautical name with the motor launches that navigate the canals and waterways of Venice in the place of cars on any other city's streets. And that's just the venue the Italian automaker chose to launch - in every sense of the word - its stunning speedboat, during the international film festival it sponsored there this weekend.

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the Lancia di Lancia is a 13-meter rigid inflatable speedboat packing a pair of 560hp 6.7-liter 24-valve common-rail six-cylinder turbodiesels from Fiat Powertrain Technologies. It's capable of carrying 11 passengers on board in unparalleled style and topping out at 55 knots - impressive for an eight-and-a-half ton vessel, and easily the most dramatic vehicle to bear the Lancia name in decades. So much so, in fact, that Lancia and its onetime iconic sponsor Martini Racing rekindled their relationship for this speedboat. And just for kicks, they brought along Romanian supermodel Catrinel Menghia - the face of Giorgio Armani and Lise Charmel lingerie - for a cruise around the picturesque canals. You can enjoy the results in the high-resolution image gallery below and in the quartet of videos embedded (along with a press release) after the jump.

Gallery: Lancia di Lancia speedboat launches in Venice

[Source: Lancia]

Continue reading Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO]

Lancia gets wet in Venice with model Catrinel Menghia and Martini Racing [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lancia di Lancia: 1120HP Motor Launch is the Most Powerful Lancia Yet

Noah Joseph — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Fiat, Diesel

Lancia di Lancia - Click above for high-res image gallery

What's the most powerful Lancia ever made? The Ferrari-powered Stratos? The rally-forged Delta HF Integrale? Forget street legal, even the famous Group B type 037 pales by comparison to the vehicle you see here: the Lancia di Lancia.

Following hot in the wake of the recently announced Powershore Abarth SP speed boat, the Lancia di Lancia is a second collaboration between Italian shipyard SACS and Fiat. Rather than turning to Yamaha for propulsion, the Italian automaker kept it in-house with a pair of 6.7-liter, 24-valve, common-rail direct injection inline-six turbodiesels from Fiat Powertrain Technologies - each generating a whopping 560 horsepower for a total combined output of (carry the two, divide by Pi) 1120 sea-horses. That's enough to propel the 8.5-ton speedboat to 48 knots - the maritime equivalent of 55 miles per hour.

Like the Abarth SP, the Lancia speedboat is a Rigid Inflatable Boat, or in other words a solid hull with an inflatable surround. Unlike its sister-ship, though, the engines are mounted on-board in a stern-drive layout. The boat also features a closed cockpit with a retractable windscreen for access, can carry 11 people and features a dinette that can be converted into a bed. And just in case you needed another reason to take to the waves, Lancia has reached back into its roots to revive the partnership with Martini for those iconic racing stripes. The Lancia di Lancia - whose handle draws on the company's nautical name - will debut at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Venice (where else?) during the upcoming international film festival next month. Press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Lancia di Lancia

[Source: Lancia via Italiaspeed]

Continue reading Lancia di Lancia: 1120HP Motor Launch is the Most Powerful Lancia Yet

Lancia di Lancia: 1120HP Motor Launch is the Most Powerful Lancia Yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: Ducati debuts Martini Porsche tribute bike at Historics

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Porsche, Motorcycle

Ducati 1098 S Martini Racing Bike - Click above for our high-res gallery

While cars are definitely the conveyance of choice on the track at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Historics, there are enough motorcycles, scooters and mopeds zipping all over the paddock to make you realize that car people can very often be bike people as well. One pair of bikes that really caught our eye were the Ducatis you see above; One in Gulf Racing orange and blue, the other in the classic red and blue stripes on white of Martini & Rossi, better known as Martini Racing. That was the one that really captivated us.

Created as a tribute to Porsche, the Ducati 1098 S Martini Racing Bike was built to be displayed alongside the 1971 Martini Porsche 908/3 over the race weekend. This one-off Ducati honors the powerful and highly successful Martini Porsche and Lancia racing machines of the 1960's and 1970's. It looks awesome too, and we wish they would make more. And send them to our garage. Soon.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: Ducati Martini Tibute Bike

Monterey 2009: Ducati debuts Martini Porsche tribute bike at Historics originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last Call: Martini Racing back off the grid?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:21:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising

It must be hard for most companies to justify multi-million-dollar sponsorship deals in times like these, but when the chips are down, you'd figure alcohol companies would still be doing just fine, if not better. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that Martini, a name with a rich heritage in motorsport sponsorship, has pulled back out of racing again.

The vermouth label celebrated its fortieth year in motorsports just last year. Martini & Rossi first hit the track plastered on the Porsche 917 at Hockenheim, and ever since their iconic red and blue striped livery has appeared on Porsches, Lancias, Alfas, Lotuses and Fords in sportscar racing, touring cars, rallying, Formula One and speedboats. After several years off the scene, Martini returned in 2006 with a small logo on the nose of the Ferrari 248 F1, but when the new F60 was launched last week, their logo was conspicuously missing, replaced by that of Indian automaker Tata's financial division. Martini's sponsorship deal with Ferrari was only signed for three years, covering 2006, 2007 and 2008, reportedly worth $3 million per season. It is speculated, however, that Martini's trackside advertising may continue in the new season. We certainly hope so, if only for the sight of the famous Martini girls, but we may have to do with simply mixing ourselves a drink and maybe buying some Martini-Porsche gear. In the meantime you can read up on the history of Martini Racing at martiniracing.com.

[Source: F1-Live]

Last Call: Martini Racing back off the grid? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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