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 commemorates Japanese GP win with special Cayman GT4, Dodge brings back the Super Bee, Honda confirms Civic Type R power figures, and Mitsubishi is reviving the Ralliart brand in the US.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Tribute to 906
Porsche Japan has revealed a one-off tribute car to commemorate a historic win at one of Japan’s most legendary tracks. The 1967 Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji International Speedway (before Hermann Tilke came along and took a giant dump on the track) was a decisive victory for the Porsche 906 and for driver Tetsu Ikuzawa. Now, 55 years and a few months later, Porsche is commemorating the No.8 906 that took home the win.
It’s just a one off car that will never be reproduced, but it’s hard to ignore a Porsche tribute like this. It’s built on a 718 Cayman GT4 and wears special paint and decals to mimic the look of the exact 906 that won the race. That calls for an off-white paint job with a silver accent along the sides of the car, plus yellow painted accents on the side intakes, door mirrors, hood, and rear wing. Topping it off is a giant white roundel with the number 8, plus a commemorative “Fuji Speedway 1967” sticker under the door mirrors. The interior gets a few touches as well, mostly in the form of a Fuji track map and Porsche 906 silhouette engraved into the door sills and similar touches on the headrests.
Porsche Japan will probably just haul this around to car shows in the region and maybe do some demo laps on Fuji. Regardless, throwbacks to classic sports cars are always a fun time.
[Source: Porsche via Motor1]
Dodge Charger Super Bee
Dodge made headlines a few weeks ago by announcing the end was near for the Challenger and Charger as we knew it. To send off the last of their gas-powered muscle cars in a plume of tire smoke, they’re releasing limited-edition “Last Call” models. The Last Call they introduced this week is a throwback to a classic nameplate we’ve only seen a handful of times before.
The Charger Super Bee is coming back with a vengeance and only 1,000 units ever to be produced. It’s not just an appearance package – this one is designed for the drag strip…. or to be realistic here, the highway takeover. Features of the Super Bee include standard drag radials on wheels which look identical to what came with the Challenger Demon plus adaptive suspension with a built-in Drag Mode. It’s also equipped with an SRT hood with a functional scoop, hood pins, and dual heat extractors, SRT black exhaust tips, and red Brembo brakes on all four corners. And last but not least, the appropriate Super Bee badging and graphics. Only two colors will be offered – Plum Crazy and B5 Blue. Just 500 of each will be built. Additionally, the purple one is only available as a widebody while the blue is a standard body.
Order books for the Last Call Mopars will be opened early 2023. As the name indicates, this will be the last chance anyone will ever get to order a brand new, gas-chugging, fire-breathing, car show-cancelling muscle car from Dodge. It truly will be the end of a long and storied era. After 2023, anyone who still wants one will just have to steal one like everyone else does.
[Source: Dodge]
Honda Civic Type R power figures released
Honda made us wait a month and a half for 9 horsepower.
Late in July, the all-new Civic Type R was unveiled, but its power figures were absent from the reveal and all its press materials. Well, after some deliberation and probably some final development and certification, we now know its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is producing. The updated K20C1 engine now produces 315 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. A solid 9 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. improvement over the last generation, which is surely enough of an improvement for a smaller car like this. Was it worth the extra wait though?
You can decide for yourself when the deliveries commence later this year.
[Source: Honda]
Ralliart is coming back, but don’t get too excited
In Mitsubishi’s annual “we promised we’re not dead yet” report, they divulged some of their plans for 2023. In that announcement was confirmation that someone at the brand still remembers when they used to be good at building cars, and in particular, rally and off-road racing cars. The legendary Ralliart name is coming back to the US… but as a line of appearance packages for their existing models.
“The legendary Ralliart name returns to the U.S. in early calendar year 2023 with Outlander, Outlander PHEV, Eclipse Cross, Outlander Sport and Mirage receiving unique body effects, graphics and other rally-inspired touches. All models will be built in limited numbers and available in White Diamond paint with a contrasting black roof on Outlander, Outlander PHEV, Eclipse Cross, Outlander Sport and Mirage.”
And that’s all there really is to it. The most successful brand in Dakar history and it comes back as an appearance package on generic crossovers. On brand for Mitsubishi to be honest.
[Source: Mitsubishi]
What’s your automotive news?
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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