718 cayman gt4

The News for June 21st, 2019

Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. This week, Porsche brings the Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder back, BMW makes the 8 Series longer, Ford confirms GT500 power figures, Toyota likes the 86 as much as we do, a new Ford GT is coming to Goodwood, and your automotive news.

Porsche 718 Spyder and Cayman GT4

high_718_spyder_2019_porsche_ag

For a lot of people, the current 718 generation Boxster and Cayman were a two steps forward, one giant step back. They fell victim to the same thing that’s soiled so many other great sports cars, and that’s the quest to be “better” by giving up some of its soul. The 718 platform did away with glorious N/A flat sixes of old and replaced them with a turbo four-cylinder. It made more power and had better efficiency but at the expense of sounding like someone farting into a mason jar. The car’s numbers were undeniably improved with the new engine, but it changed the driving experience in polarizing ways. Fortunately, we all bitched enough and now Porsche is finally giving its enthusiasts what they were really wanting – the two best cars in the lineup.

Though the 718 Spyder and Cayman GT4 serve slightly different purposes, both share a technical platform. The Spyder will feature most of the hardware that makes up the track-day-ready Cayman GT4. They share a custom-tuned adaptive damping system, upgraded suspension hardware, torque vectoring, and mechanical locking rear diff. A big improvement was also made in the aero department with a greatly reworked package. Both cars feature a revised lower valence with air curtains as well as a new rear diffuser with a single-chamber arch rear silencer, all of which have real impacts on downforce.

high_718_cayman_gt4_2019_porsche_ag (2)

And finally, the 718’s perfectly-balanced mid-engine architecture that’s finally paired with an engine that’s more exciting than a calculus textbook. The flat-six returns, and it’s naturally-aspirated.

It’s from the same family of turbocharged flat-sixes found in the 911 Carrera models, but with the snails removed. The 4.0-liter unit produces 414 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque and revs out to 8,000 RPM. In a car that weighs just over 3,100 pounds, that’s plenty. It features cylinder deactivation and some complicated fuel injection system aimed at reducing consumption, of course. But there’s nothing getting in the way of the wonderful N/A flat-six sound that Porsche enthusiasts and people with ears crave. And as with older Spyder and GT4 models, the only gearbox available is a six-speed manual.

718 Spyder

high_718_spyder_2019_porsche_ag

Even though both cars share an engine and suspension, they both follow slightly different philosophies and offer very different driving experiences.

The 718 Spyder returns with a lightweight, manually-operated cloth top and breathtaking silhouette that yearns for the open road. The cloth top, which may as well be considered a tent, is promised to be easy to stow in just a couple of steps and can sustain high speeds. The Spyder has most of the same bodywork as the GT4 but ditches the fixed rear wing for a retractable spoiler. Part of it being a Spyder means it features a raised, contoured rear decklid, which is… just… perfect. And fun fact: thanks to the rear diffuser area, it’s the first Boxster ever to generate downforce at the rear axle.

718 Cayman GT4

high_718_cayman_gt4_2019_porsche_ag (2)

The GT4 on the other hand goes a bit further in that aero department. It adds a front splitter and a fixed rear wing in addition to the aforementioned air curtains up front and the bigger rear diffuser. Compared to the previous Cayman GT4, it offers 50% more downforce without negatively impacting drag. 30% of that downforce comes from the diffuser alone. When Porsche says they utilized “lessons from motorsport” in building this car, that diffuser is what they mean.

The GT4 is the car for mountain road and track day enthusiasts and probably the most universally loved modern Porsche. Those wanting to take its track-readiness to a new level can opt for the Clubsport package. That adds a rear steel roll bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher (you know why), and a six-point seat belt on the driver’s side.

Both cars are available for order now. It’s hard to think of any new car that I want more right now.

[Source: Porsche]

BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

8 SERIES GRAN COUPE

Hey, remember the new BMW 8 Series Coupe and Convertible that came out a while ago? Well BMW did a BMW thing and made a really long sedan out of one. They added a real back seat, an extra set of doors to get there, and a revised roof line with a full panoramic roof to connect it all. The M8 version will follow in a few months and BMW will never stop this madness for as long as we encourage them… I mean, it looks rather pret *slaps self*.

[Source: BMW]

Ford Confirms GT500 Power Output

2020 Mustang Shelby GT500

When the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 finally hits the streets later this year, it’ll be the most powerful Ford to ever do so. They’ve finally confirmed a power output of 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft. of torque from its incredible supercharged 5.2-liter V8.

Think of it as the GT350’s Voodoo motor with a 2.65-liter roots-type supercharger on top. Because that’s what it is. It needed a few modifications to support the extra power though, including an air-to-liquid intercooler tucked inside the valley for a lower center of gravity. The aluminum alloy block also features weight-saving wire-arc cylinder liners and high-flow aluminum cylinder heads, plus larger forged connecting rods, improved lubrication, and cooling passages.

2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 Engine

A ten-speed dual clutch, carbon drive shaft, and optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires are the unlucky souls chosen to put that power to the ground. But they will, and the car will be awesome. And this Mustang GT PP2 owner would happily accept an invite from Ford to go drive it. *Cough*.

You can read more about it here.

[Source: Ford]

Report: 2nd-Generation Toyota 86 On the Way

Toyota 86 Hakone

In more happy news, some important people at Toyota have told Autocar that they’ve given the green light to a second-generation Toyota 86. It will remain the light-weight four-seater with no power that is so loved in the car community and exist alongside the new Supra. Autocar was told that continued cooperation with Subaru on the new car was “a safe assumption” and they suggested that Toyota’s performance brand – GR for Gazoo Racing – would be involved with it as well. We’re looking forward to more updates about this one.

[Source: Autocar via The Drive]

Ford Bringing a New GT to Goodwood

Ford GT

In news that got me awake this morning faster than my caffeine did, Ford has announced a new GT ultra-high-performance supercar of sorts which will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 4th. All that’s been said officially is that Hermann Salenbauch, global director, Ford Performance, and Larry Holt, chief technical officer, Multimatic, will make a “special Ford GT supercar announcement” in a dedicated press conference. Those words and this picture are all Ford provided, but that was enough to get the rumor mill working overtime.

The timing of this announcement is very peculiar. Ford just wrapped up their GTE program at Le Mans (which as as Ford fan, I don’t wanna talk about) and will finish out the season in IMSA’s GTLM class. After that, nobody is totally sure yet. Ford has recently ruled out an entry in WEC’s Hypercar class and are looking more likely to join IMSA with a DPi entry. DPi is set to debut with new spec-hybrid regulations in 2022. Call it wishful thinking, but could this be the beginning of their DPi effort? The wing, the super low ride height, the roof scoop, it just has to be. Or it’ll just be a regular Ford GT with race car bodywork that they’ll sell to collectors. Either way, my body is ready and I hope yours is too. I’ll follow up on this when the time comes.

[Source: Ford]

What’s Your Automotive News?

hooniverse

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.

Have a good weekend.

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35 responses to “The News for June 21st, 2019”

  1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

    Rover passed its MoT on Tuesday. The sum total of pre-test prep I performed was to unblock the windscreen washer jets. It did get an advisory note that the rear number plate is delaminating… it was last year, and likely will be next year.

  2. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Bet the GT is some sort of final edition. Winning the GTE Am class at Le Mans hopefully means more private teams will be allowed to race the cars now Ford is stopping.

    Keep the 2016 class winner for the museum and keep the others on track!

  3. mdharrell Avatar

    An update on the unpleasantness from a few weeks ago:

    https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47930382816_30c36833fc.jpg

    Despite my earlier fears of a blown-out driveshaft bushing, I had in fact misdiagnosed the symptoms of the car’s failure. It had instead destroyed one of the diaphragms in the front half of the Variomatic, which in turn shredded all but the outermost layer of one of the drive belts. Happily my otherwise dead spare Variomatic still had one good diaphragm and I already had a spare set of drive belts, so after spending far too many hours under the car this week, everything is once again operational. For now.

    1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

      I always imagine a variomatic failure to sound thus: “SPROING!!!”. Is it so?

      1. mdharrell Avatar

        It was more of a WHAM! Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble… as the car slowed to a halt. This was similar in sound and behavior to the loss of the drive belt in my HMV Freeway a few years ago, so that was my first thought, but a cursory roadside inspection showed two good belts. On the Volvo the belts are nearly completely covered by a two-piece plastic shield; the damage wasn’t obvious until I later removed the shield.

      2. Lokki Avatar
        Lokki

        The sound a variomatic makes when it fails…… varies…

  4. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

    Rover passed its MoT on Tuesday. The sum total of pre-test prep I performed was to unblock the windscreen washer jets. It did get an advisory note that the rear number plate is delaminating… it was last year, and likely will be next year.

    1. mdharrell Avatar

      Speaking of Rovers, I saw a remarkably nice Sterling sedan at a car wash yesterday, which was the first time in several years I’ve seen one actually being driven.

  5. nanoop Avatar

    So the 944 failed tech inspection yesterday, unexpectedly so: three must-fix issues.

    1. They criticised a rusty brake line I deemed as OK, but I certainly bow to safety-relevant judgements of professionals. Fine, I can do that within a few hours.
    2. They claim that the passenger seat belt won’t latch properly. I asked them to show me what they meant, but they could not reproduce it… but it’s an entry in the database now and hence, requires reassessment. 
    What?! OK, a sqirt of WD40 and they’ll fly at the follow-up inspection.
    3. They claim that the spacers on the front and rear axle require approval from the national agency — FATHER MUCKER! There are NO spacers in the front, at all!  The rear is 21mm factory default – there are no shorter wheel bolts listed in the catalog…

    Everything must be fixed and approved by end of June, or I’ll have to arrange for tags to drive it to the workshop afterwards, which is a pain and cost generator. The worst thing is that the traffic agency here is notorious for its waiting queues, both at the counters and at the garages where you show the actual vehicle, and the summer is coming – Norway is basically shut down in July.

    Since I’m a foreigner here I wanted to understand my options better 
    (un-register, do I have to deliver the plates, do I get exemptions under what conditions etc.), so I queued at the traffic agency’s counters yesterday. While waiting I wanted check when the next free timeslot for vehicle inspection was, and voilá: today 8:30 – reserved!

    So with a diffuse anger and with incomplete, foreign (German) 
    documentation (how do you proof that a stock part is actually stock?) I arrived at the agency, and ran into the nicest official you can get. He understood right away, and rewrote the title to include the rear spacers, and also changed the number of seats entry from “2” to “4”.

    All I have to do is putting WD40 into the seatbelt latch, and change a brake line. Follow-up inspection is next thursday, wish me luck!

    Edits: text flow

    1. mdharrell Avatar

      I am again glad I’ve never lived in an area with vehicle inspections. Best wishes with it.

    2. mdharrell Avatar

      I am again glad I’ve never lived in an area with vehicle inspections. Best wishes with it.

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        The arbitrariness of it is the most stupid part of it. I think it’s a good idea and a worthwhile ambition, but, as always, the execution can suck. Our Camry last year got a few issues with the brakes and one unobtainium part in a pre-inspection. Went to another shop and they only fixed the parking brake (for 850$, yikes). When I later looked at the front brakes, they were worn unevenly and that down to the metal on both sides – they should definitely have been tagged and changed. Renders the whole tech inspection pointless.

      2. Smaglik Avatar
        Smaglik

        I’m on the fence. I never have had to deal with it, and don’t want the hassle, but some of the pieces driving down the road, at 80, are downright scary.

        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          If there was a referendum tomorrow I’d vote for it without hesitation. Nothing ever works 100% as intended, but the idea behind it is good and worthwhile. Vehicles older than 1955 are excempt because it is assumed that owners of such cars know how to and will take care of their vehicles anyway. For the rest of the population just a wee bit of control seems about right.

    3. Scoutdude Avatar
      Scoutdude

      What a pain. Good luck!

    4. Smaglik Avatar
      Smaglik

      You know, in this age of PC, why are we not using the term FF equally with MF? It seems completely reasonable.

      1. nanoop Avatar

        I was looking for an original alternative that might pass nannies, so people hooniversing at a surveillance-heavy workplace don’t get any flags.

        1. Smaglik Avatar
          Smaglik

          Nice work!

  6. wunno sev Avatar
    wunno sev

    everyone bitches about the four-door coupes, but i think it’s mostly ’cause of what they’re called. it’s a stupid name. but i loooooove the 8 Gran Coupe. it’s beautiful. i’m glad it exists, and i don’t care that it doesn’t have more seats or space or [anything practical] than a 5-Series.

    my news: track day this weekend! Streets of Willow, two days, CW one and CCW the next. i’ve only ever done Streets once, in pouring rain and with no instructor. i’m excited.

    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Indeed, but what’s wrong with “fastback”?

    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      To each his/her own regarding the 8 Series GC, but I don’t understand all of the “stunning” and “jaw-dropping” comments it receives. It’s attractive enough within the parameters of modern BMW styling, though the E38 iL wore its length much better and didn’t suffer compromised rear headroom. The grille isn’t nearly the monstrosity they stuck on the new 7 Series, but still looks like a full-braces oversmile from a 1980s middle-school yearbook. And while the fender scoops are fairly elegantly integrated into the side sculpting, I think BMW went overboard with the front and rear apron venting. Again, beauty is subjective, and I’m admittedly biased towards BMW styling from the 20th century.

      In my opinion, the even the lowly VW Arteon pulls off a more stylish “four door coupe” look. If I was shopping at the 8 GC price point, I’d sooner go for a Panamera, but I would skip the 4DC look altogether and get the Sport wagon.

  7. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    On Thursday I dropped a windscreen mounting fastener down into the space just above my headlights. Hilarity ensued.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/250a3e0cf97a2078052001d48a22b026516f1d6c8f009fa2d51f304802e49c66.jpg

    One and a half hours of removing all the plastic between the seat and the headlights and I got the little sucker back. I didn’t re-assemble it until Friday, as I was in need of beer. Everything’s fine here, my nice clean windscreen is back on the bike. I’ve never had a bike with a windscreen, does this happen a lot?

    I feel confident that the next time I need to remove the fairings I can get it done in about 30 minutes, now that I know where all the catches, tabs and hardware are. This is a good thing, because you need to do that to change the air filters. There are two of them, one on each side. It’s a two cylinder bike, after all.

  8. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    I got the 71 Alfa Spider its annual safety inspection yesterday. Yes, it’s true that I could get Antique Plates for it and thus skip any inspections but, first, I know myself and the inspection makes me attend to things I might put off fixing if I didn’t HAVE to, and second the Antique Plates in our state are really ugly with the silhouette of a Model T or some such; hardly the right look for an Italian Sports Car.

    The inspection itself was easy and even fun/funny as there were a couple of Texas Boys®️ working the inspection station and after admiring the car, they fell to arguing about which of their lifted pick-ups could more easily fit my lil’ car in its bed and which of their truck engines (Ford vs Ram) would make my car faster. They both insisted on driving the car – one to check the brakes, and the other to test the lights and horn. Can’t test the Reverse Lights without driving the car, you see….wink.

    The maddening part of the drill was getting ready to go. The car was fine, after chasing that typical Italian Thing reoccurring intermittent fault in the right front turn signal. Italian-Car-Truths state that “It’s always a bad ground”…and it was/is but a zip tie on a wiggled ground wire has fixed it for good THIS time (Right?).

    However the get-ready-to-go drill was this:

    *Tell wife I’m leaving.
    *Check glovebox for Insurance card. Nope!
    *Go back in the house and check my Alfa File book. Nope.
    *Wife asks why I am wandering around muttering. Says she just filed a new insurance card in the bills file. Didn’t think I needed it as I always keep one in the car, right? Thanks, lots. Wait for her to dig it out.
    *She pulls file; I go through and find card. Great!… But it’s too new – won’t be valid till mid July. Swear.
    *Go through the rest of Insurance File. 10 minutes; no card except one from 2016.
    *Brainstorm! Grab iPad and go to Hagerty website: I’ll print one.
    *Internet connection is bogging down. I change WIFI channels using ATT’s nifty app! WiFi signal shuts down completely. Swear.
    *I have a second WiFi router for my Alarm System. Not supposed to, but I have the password; I’ll use it! Hagerty site pops up fast. Great! But… Wifi Printer doesn’t recognize signal from new router. Hooking it up will take 10 minutes. Swear.
    *Pull power Cord on ATT router and reboot it. Wife asks why I’m still here. Don’t Swear, but think it.
    *ATT router finally reboots. Pull up Hagerty and select Print. Printer recognizes signal; Paper Jams. Swear loudly. Wife asks what I doing now, playing with the printer; she thought I was leaving half-an-hour ago. Divorce or Murder? Only mutter.
    *Print Insurance card. Got to garage, start Alfa as I open garage door. Look in mirror to discover wife’s car parked in drive behind my garage door. Swear.
    *Go into house ask wife for her keys; when she asks what I am going to do with her car as she thought I was leaving 45 minutes ago. VERY CALMLY explain that she left her car parked behind me.
    *Move her car; give her back her keys. She asks if I am finally ready to go after fiddling around all morning.
    * Leave. Forever?

  9. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    I got the 71 Alfa Spider its annual safety inspection yesterday. Yes, it’s true that I could get Antique Plates for it and thus skip any inspections but, first, I know myself and the inspection makes me attend to things I might put off fixing if I didn’t HAVE to, and second the Antique Plates in our state are really ugly with the silhouette of a Model T or some such; hardly the right look for an Italian Sports Car.

    The inspection itself was easy and even fun/funny as there were a couple of Texas Boys®️ working the inspection station and after admiring the car, they fell to arguing about which of their lifted pick-ups could more easily fit my lil’ car in its bed and which of their truck engines (Ford vs Ram) would make my car faster. They both insisted on driving the car – one to check the brakes, and the other to test the lights and horn. Can’t test the Reverse Lights without driving the car, you see….wink.

    The maddening part of the drill was getting ready to go. The car was fine, after chasing that typical Italian Thing reoccurring intermittent fault in the right front turn signal. Italian-Car-Truths state that “It’s always a bad ground”…and it was/is but a zip tie on a wiggled ground wire has fixed it for good THIS time (Right?).

    However the get-ready-to-go drill was this:

    *Tell wife I’m leaving.
    *Check glovebox for Insurance card. Nope!
    *Go back in the house and check my Alfa File book. Nope.
    *Wife asks why I am wandering around muttering. Says she just filed a new insurance card in the bills file. Didn’t think I needed it as I always keep one in the car, right? Thanks, lots. Wait for her to dig it out.
    *She pulls file; I go through and find card. Great!… But it’s too new – won’t be valid till mid July. Swear.
    *Go through the rest of Insurance File. 10 minutes; no card except one from 2016.
    *Brainstorm! Grab iPad and go to Hagerty website: I’ll print one.
    *Internet connection is bogging down. I change WIFI channels using ATT’s nifty app! WiFi signal shuts down completely. Swear.
    *I have a second WiFi router for my Alarm System. Not supposed to, but I have the password; I’ll use it! Hagerty site pops up fast. Great! But… Wifi Printer doesn’t recognize signal from new router. Hooking it up will take 10 minutes. Swear.
    *Pull power Cord on ATT router and reboot it. That’ll be faster, right? Have to do it anyhow. Wife asks why I’m still here playing with the computer. Don’t Swear, but think it.
    *ATT router finally reboots. Pull up Hagerty and select Print. Printer recognizes signal; Paper Jams. Swear loudly. Wife asks what I doing now, playing with the printer; she thought I was leaving half-an-hour ago. Divorce or Murder? Only mutter.
    *Print Insurance card. Go out to garage, start Alfa as I open garage door. Look in mirror to discover wife’s car parked in driveway behind my garage door. Swear.
    *Go into house ask wife for her keys; when she asks what I am going to do with her car as she thought I was leaving 45 minutes ago. VERY CALMLY explain that she left her car parked behind me.
    *Move her car; give her back her keys. She asks if I am finally ready to go after fiddling around all morning.
    * Leave. Forever?

    1. nanoop Avatar

      I won’t comment on the relationship, but I am staying in the regular car inspection cycle for the same reasons: someone else, with relevant experience, should look at my efforts every now and then.

    2. gerberbaby Avatar

      So while returning from a 4 day road trip to the black hills where the top quit working on my E46 the first day. I read this to my wife while driving home and the 2 of us were laughing so hard we were crying and she almost had to pull over. So thanks for sharing.

    3. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      The only thing I’m surprised about is that you didn’t find your valid insurance card in your wife’s car. After all the other steps of course, because that’s ho it goes…

  10. salguod Avatar

    Today’s unexpected car repair was headlight aiming on my daughter’s new to us 2002 Protege. She says the lights point at the ground. I check where my wife’s 2015 Accord lights hit the garage door compared to the Protege when parked in the same place. The Protege’s are a good 12″-18″ lower. Yeah, that’s a problem.

    The car has been wrinkled at some point and patched back together in an amateur fashion. So the fix involved removing the bumper cover and shimming the lower headlight bolts about 1/4″. That got it within 6″ of the Accord, aiming screws took care of the rest.

    Mid repair picture.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d4519456d4b94d05d2466b36bc3ef8d77c39ebe53473c232c1dbbaa26bb33f88.jpg

  11. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    I hate yellow and find rear wings ridiculous, but I absolutely love that GT4. My apologies to the purists, but the 911 has lost its crown. This is the pinnacle of sports cars, in my opinion.

  12. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    An old clip, but great shots from a bus route where tires only last ten weeks:

    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Years ago I went on the Ridge Top Tour at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, the end point is shown below. They use Land Cruisers and a set of tyres lasts 8,000km, driven constantly in 4×4, mostly first gear. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dbbe87a6585b93c01e182f7f840397ebd4ba2c31d2a462fba8a56aff2584d51b.jpg

  13. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    With the confirmation another generation of the 86, it’s time for Toyota to rebadge it the Celica.

  14. Smaglik Avatar
    Smaglik

    Official road trip this week. Flagstaff to Monterey, CA for a conference with a group of students. Got a nice 2019 Expedition MAX for the drive. It’s like driving my couch down the freeway. Very comfortable, and very large. No need to compensate with anything else this week.

    1. rovingardener Avatar
      rovingardener

      I look forward to your assessment of this fortress on wheels.