Innholdsfortegnelse for #269 18-12 i Just Cars

The hypercar world was set alight on 2 May when Brabham, the most famous Australian name in motor racing, was reborn. The first race car to bear the Brabham name in more than two decades, the ‘BT62’ was unveiled alongside historic Brabham racers at a special event at Australia House in London, where the new ‘Brabham Automotive’ manufacturing concern also made its official debut. An Anglo-Australian venture, Brabham Automotive will be based in the UK, but the hypercar will be manufactured here, at what’s said to be an advanced 15,000 sqm. facility close to the former Holden plant at Elizabeth. Managing Director for the new firm is David Brabham, one of Sir Jack’s sons and a former F1 racer and Le Mans 24 Hour winner. Reflecting this pedigree, Brabham’s aim…

The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro lineup for the US was revealed in April, with the range to debut a number of new and updated features, including the first-ever Camaro with a turbo four-cylinder 1LE package. The Camaro has previously been offered with a four (the anaemic ‘Iron Duke’ from 1982), but never with a turbo AND a four. The new Camaro ‘Turbo 1LE’ will join the existing track-focused V6 1LE, SS 1LE and ZL1 1LE, but unlike the V6 and V8 units, the Turbo 1LE will be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Offered exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, the upcoming turbo four Camaro produces a claimed 205kW and 400Nm. Using chassis tuning developed on the V6 1LE, the Turbo 1LE claims a near 50/50 front/rear weight balance and will…

Developed from the track-focused Exige Cup 430 and described as the ultimate Lotus road car, the Exige Sport 410 was revealed in May. To be offered in both coupe and roadster versions, the Exige Sport 410 sits above the Exige Sport 350 and takes its name from the 410hp (306kW) version of the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 that’s used in other Exige models. Producing maximum power at 7000rpm, the modified version of this engine also produces 420Nm from 3000rpm to 7000rpm and, with a 1,054kg dry weight, offers a class-leading power-to-weight ratio of 389hp/tonne. Matched to a six-speed manual, the coupe version of the Exige Sport 410 dispatches 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds and claims a 290km/h top speed. Mechanical features taken from the racing Exige Cup 430 include its oil cooler…

A blast from the past, the Wagoneer Roadtrip is based on a genuine Jeep Wagoneer from 1965, which was Jeep’s first luxury 4x4 model and aimed at suburban families rather than adventurers. Built from 1963 to 1991, the Wagoneer was also the first American four-wheel drive vehicle to offer an automatic transmission, pioneering the modern SUV. While it looks largely stock from the outside, the Wagoneer Roadtrip features some subtle exterior changes, like the polished razor grille and green-tinted glass, but under that original all-steel body (which was found in California), the chassis has been significantly altered. To start with, the wheelbase was stretched five inches (12.7cm), with the wheelarch openings reshaped and modified to accept the additional length, while custom wheelarch flares cover the concept’s wider track. Off-road capability…

The Jeepster concept, as the name suggests, takes a leaf out of Jeep’s past - specifically a 1966 Jeepster. The two-tone colour scheme of Bright White over Firecracker Red is inspired by the ’66 Jeepster, with Bright White trim added to the factory Rubicon wheelarch flares and upper section of the concept’s half doors (with no full frame), while the custom beadlock wheels feature Firecracker Red rim detailing. The concept’s hardtop looks factory but has been chopped by two inches (5 cm), the rear spoiler has been removed and it’s been matched to a windshield that’s been raked back 2.5 degrees. While chopped, the windshield retains the factory JL Wrangler’s fold-down feature. Completing the ’66-inspired exterior, modern Jeep badging has been replaced with a c1966 tri-colour Jeepster badge. Based on…

A grab bag of just about every JPP product and accessory you can imagine, the Nacho concept featured no body modifications, massive suspension overhauls or one-off trim changes, but was built to show what Wrangler owners can add to create their own custom trail basher - Jeep and Mopar call it a “blueprint” for customisation. Based on a 2018 JL Wrangler Rubicon 2-door, this concept takes its name from the Nacho Yellow paint, which is a factory available but rare colour option. Jeep cleverly played on this with the concept’s logo incorporating a corn chip! JPP kit featured on the Nacho concept starts with a bonnet engineered to accommodate a cold-air intake that feeds the 2.0lt turbo engine and has been accented with a black graphic featuring the all-new JPP…

Reflecting the growing trend of established car brands offering restoration services for classics in their back catalogue, Mercedes-Benz are now producing reproduction body panels for their iconic 300 SL “Gullwing” coupe - more than 60 years after production of the model ended. Perhaps the best known and most sought after classic Mercedes of all, only 1,400 units of the 300 SL Gullwing (W198) were built between 1954 and 1957. The availability of new reproduction panels for this iconic car will, according to Mercedes-Benz, make restoration and accident repair quicker, easier and (presumably) somewhat cheaper. The range of reproduction panels, initially covering front guards, rear quarters, rear end centre section and rear floor panels, is produced by an outside supplier, but the production process was co-developed by Mercedes-Benz Classic, who certify…

Ford are claiming their Mustang was the world’s top-selling “Sports Coupe” in 2017, with total registrations of 125,809 for the calendar year. This marks the third year in a row that the Mustang has achieved the #1 title in its category, with the ongoing success attributed, in part, to the Mustang’s penetration into new LHD markets, particularly in Africa, and the implementation of right-hand drive production for markets like Australia, the UK and Japan. While RHD markets like ours have improved overall sales, the USA still accounts for the bulk of Mustang production, with 81,866 registrations in the United States last year - almost two thirds of the global 125,809 total. Interestingly, the data collated by Ford showed that China accounted for 7,125 Mustang sales last year, compared to 9,165…

A classic HG Holden ute is in limbo in France in a weird case that just keeps getting weirder. As reported in other news outlets, the Holden was purchased out of Holland earlier this year by expat Aussie Travis McKimmie. Based in the UK, Travis runs a HK Brougham over there and got the HG ute through a Dutch mate with plans to restore it. However, at French Customs control, drug sniffer dogs found what’s been described as a trace of cannabis in the ute (it did come from Holland, remember) and proceeded to search it more thoroughly. While no further drugs were found, the factory-standard wells under the tray floor were claimed by French Customs to be secret drug smuggling compartments. This led them to impound the vehicle and…

Following the ‘Pork Chop’ concept from 2011 and 2013’s ‘Stitch’ concept, this year’s JL Wrangler-based 4SPEED concept is the latest in a line of lightweight Easter Jeep Safari creations. Quicker and nimbler than a stock JL Wrangler, the 4SPEED is also a whopping 430kg lighter. Weight-saving measures include a carbon fibre bonnet, high-clearance carbon fibre wheelarch flares and a carbon fibre rear tub fitted with perforated aluminium panels. The windshield has been raked and shortened, door openings elongated and a mesh tailgate fitted, while an aggressively swept back custom roll cage using narrow-diameter tubing protects the 4SPEED’s occupants. Sitting two inches higher than a stock JL Wrangler thanks to 18-inch lightweight monoblock wheels wrapped in 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tyres, the 4SPEED also features Dana 44 front and rear…

A lot less “shouty” than the other Easter Jeep Safari concepts this year, the J-Wagon has been designed to give a more premium, “urban” look and feel to the JL Wrangler. Finished in a one-off Warm Neutral Grey with warm-tinted glass, the 4-door Wrangler Sahara-based J-Wagon features a Mopar black grille with body-colour bezel trim pulled from a Wrangler Rubicon. There are ‘Brass Monkey’ touches throughout the exterior, like the bonnet latches and foglamp bezels, with the 17-inch wheels (wrapped in 35-inch KM3 BF Goodrich tyres) also given this burnished metal satin finish that works well with the warm grey palette. Contrast comes from Orange Crush accents on the Jeep badge and tow hooks. A version of the JPP bonnet with a cutout kit that’s designed to work with the…

With more than a decade of concepts under their belt, Jeep have explored a number of themes at the Easter Jeep Safari over the years. Some, no doubt, have been pined for by Jeep enthusiasts, while others are perhaps best forgotten. Here’s a snapshot of some of the finer concept efforts from past Easter Jeep Safaris.…

A Chevy Corvette once again paced the Indianapolis 500, with the new-for-2019 Corvette ZR1 performing the duty at the 102nd Indy 500 this May. Beyond the mandatory equipment required for pace car duty, like a safety lighting system, data and video recorder, the Corvette ZL1 coupe was largely stock, which means a supercharged 6.2-litre ‘LT5’ V8 engine that’s exclusive to the ZR1 and produces 563kW (755hp) and 969Nm (716lb/ft). Those performance figures make the MY19 ZR1, which was previewed last November and goes on sale in the US soon, the most powerful production Corvette ever, with a top speed of 341km/h and an estimated 0-100km/h time of less than 3.0 seconds. While a 7-speed manual is the ZR1’s standard transmission, the pace car was fitted with the optional 8-speed 8L90…

When Shannons offer a “cruise”, they ain’t talkin’ the high seas and ocean liners, but a cruise on tarmac through Detroit, America’s ‘Motor City’, culminating in the iconic Woodward Dream Cruise. This latest competition from Shannons will see two lucky people score a 12-night tour for two to the US to coincide with the 2019 Woodward Dream Cruise. The tour starts with four days in New York, before heading to Detroit for the Woodward Dream Cruise. With 40,000 classics, customs, hot rods, muscle cars and exotics on parade, this is the world’s largest one-day automotive event. While in Detroit, the tour winners will also take in Ford’s historic Piquette Avenue factory, the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Ford’s Rouge factory, General Motors’ Heritage Centre collection, the Alfred P Sloan…

From next year, Ford’s Mustang will be racing in top-level motorsport competition here in Australia, as well as in the USA. On 17 April (‘National Mustang Day’ in the US), Ford announced that the Mustang would replace the Fusion in the premier NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, while on the same day, Ford Australia confirmed that the Mustang will represent the Blue Oval in our Supercars series next year, replacing the Falcon. On the same day, Ford Australia also launched the local arm of ‘Ford Performance’. NASCAR MUSTANG While Mustangs have raced in lower tier stock car championships in the US, 2019 will mark the first time in the model’s history that it will race in top flight NASCAR competition. Ford’s ‘Pony Car’ will make its NASCAR Monster Energy Cup…

A nine-day celebration of all things Jeep, the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab sees thousands of Jeep owners and enthusiasts descend on the small Utah town to pit their machines against the region’s off-road trails that have become world famous. Now in its 52nd year, the Safari has also become a showcase for not only Jeep, but a number of aftermarket companies to pitch their wares to Jeep owners. And with this year’s Safari following on from the release of the new JL-Series Wrangler, there was a rich vein of new products to explore. Of course, the Easter Jeep Safari is also the place where Jeep present custom and concept vehicles that range from market-ready to the outright fanciful, while showcasing prototype and production parts developed by Jeep and…

Inspired by Baja desert racers, Jeep says the Sandstorm concept is all about blitzing long, sandy straightaways while still being capable of handling daily driving duties. Based on a 4-door JL Wrangler Rubicon, the Sandstorm features some pretty radical bodywork alterations, as well as comprehensive changes to the wheelbase, suspension and running gear. Power comes from a 392 cubic inch (6.4-litre) HEMI V8, which is a crate engine from the Mopar performance catalogue, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Bodywork changes start with removal of the roof and upper bodywork behind the B-pillar and deletion of the factory tailgate; the latter replaced with a custom laydown-style spare wheel carrier that places the wheel inside the body. Interestingly, the rear doors remain functional, but they’ve been cut down to suit the…

The Renegade-based B-Ute concept (the name is a play on this model’s internal ‘BU’ model code) has been given a subtle, military-inspired makeover, and like the J-Wagon, looks close to production ready. Powered by the Renegade Trailhawk’s 129kW/230Nm 2.4lt Tigershark petrol engine, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission, the B-Ute has been described by Jeep as ready for the ultimate off-road adventure. Exterior modifications include unique treatments for the front and rear bumper fascia and upper grille area, which have been well-executed and actually look like factory pieces. Same goes for the wheelarch flares and bonnet that adds heat extractor vents, while military style stencil graphics have been scattered across the exterior. Gear from the Jeep Performance Parts range fitted to the B-Ute includes a 1.5-inch lift kit, roof rack,…

1 VALIANT BY CHRYSLER Ilinga Books ilingabooks.com.au From Gavin Farmer, co-author of Great Ideas in Motion - the story of Chrysler in Australia, comes a detailed history of the Valiant in this country. Subtitled ‘The Finest of the 3’, Valiant by Chrysler explores the Valiant’s twenty-year presence in Australia, from the R Series to the CM, as well as the American back story to its creation. Illustrated with hundreds of period and contemporary photographs, appendices covering production by model and year are also included, as well as option codes, paint codes and compliance plate data. Priced from $100.00 RRP for the standard 192-page hardback, or $200.00 RRP for a signed and numbered limited edition. ISBN: 978-0-9805229-7-6 SUBARU ‘do’ WINTER JACKET Subaru shop.subaru.com.au ‘Subaru do Motorsport’ apparel allows fans to show…