Random Car Facts

[Murcie_LP640]

- Opel, the German arm of Europe, decided to pull out of Australia last month after only one year of sales, due to recent shifts in competitor imports making them far too competitive in price for Opel.

- While Subaru's most famous colour is WR Blue Mica, the signature colour of Subaru Technica International (STi) is actually Cherry Blossom Red.

- The Subaru Legacy is called the Liberty in Australia as a deference to an Australian veteran assistance organisation called Legacy Australia.

- The BCNR33 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec was the first production car to break the 8:00 barrier at the Nürburgring Nordschliefe.

- The FQ400 version of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII has the highest specific power engine in a forced induction production car - 203hp/litre, while the Evolution IX FQ360 has the highest specific torque - 181lb-ft/litre.

 

[Doog]

Partially true: the SC had the cassette deck throughout its lifespan, but the ES series stopped using a tape deck with the introduction of the 2007 model. (Much to the chagrin of a few customers who never owned a single compact disk.)

The 2007+ ES350 did have a cassette deck, but only for a few years.

/pedantry

Another fact, the Morgan Aero uses the same headlights as the 2005-2006 Mini Cooper.

 

[Pupik]

The 2007+ ES350 did have a cassette deck, but only for a few years.

/pedantry

Another fact, the Morgan Aero uses the same headlights as the 2005-2006 Mini Cooper.

Crap, I'm probably mixing that up with GS owners' complaints of the same vintage. Pretty sure 2006-07 GS models had a tape deck, though...I had one as a loaner car for a few weeks.

Bleah, I can't even keep others' complaints right in my head.

 

[McLaren]

During its developmental stages, Mclaren considered a small 14 cylinder engine instead of the current BMW V12.

From none other than Honda.

The McLaren F1 prototype was tested with a Chevy 454 V8 paired to the experimental gearbox.

It was actually 1 of 2 mules built from Ultima MK3s, as the prototypes were later designated by XP#. Neither car survived afterwards.

In addition, a F1 GTR was actually used as the benchmark by Mercedes for the CLK GTR & much of the CLK GTR's bodywork was developed on the said car.

 

[RDF97]

The Supra JZA80 has a moveable frontsplitter...

A Formula 1 car could drive upside down at 180kph...

I won't believe it until I see it. But on this topic, it's said that the Gumpert Apollo can drive upside down at 190mph.

 

[ImmalovemaGTR]

I won't believe it until I see it. But on this topic, it's said that the Gumpert Apollo can drive upside down at 190mph.

I believe it... F1 cars produce massive downforce (ca 1700 kg @ 200 kph)... some engineer said that during an interview...

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Has anyone actually done the whole "driving upside down" malarkey?

 

[ImmalovemaGTR]

Has anyone actually done the whole "driving upside down" malarkey?

I think not...

 

[Pupik]

Has anyone actually done the whole "driving upside down" malarkey?

Not for more than a few tenths of a second, likely unintentionally so, and with a large repair bill afterwards...

Theoretically, a racing car which makes enough downforce (likely maximum drag settings), is light enough, powerful enough to propel said vehicle to not be hindered by the forces of gravity, have the right amount of grip, with a speed is high enough to do so, then it should do so, according to Newtonian physics.

The catch is building a Hot Wheels-inspired track that permits a car to gently angle itself enough as it accelerates and eventually be upside-down while at the right velocity...and finding the test driver willing to take on the risk of being the next Laika.

 

[Tornado]

Has anyone actually done the whole "driving upside down" malarkey?

 

[ImmalovemaGTR]

^

 

[MatskiMonk]

I think it might be easier to do in the wind tunnel than in real life...

 

[Slash]

From none other than Honda.

It was actually 1 of 2 mules built from Ultima MK3s, as the prototypes were later designated by XP#. Neither car survived afterwards.

In addition, a F1 GTR was actually used as the benchmark by Mercedes for the CLK GTR & much of the CLK GTR's bodywork was developed on the said car.

Wow really? I didn't know that actually, thanks! 👍

 

[Vic Reign93]

From none other than Honda.

It was actually 1 of 2 mules built from Ultima MK3s, as the prototypes were later designated by XP#. Neither car survived afterwards.

In addition, a F1 GTR was actually used as the benchmark by Mercedes for the CLK GTR & much of the CLK GTR's bodywork was developed on the said car.

If I recall correctly they crashed that particular F1 whilst developing the CLK GTR.

 

[McLaren]

If I recall correctly they crashed that particular F1 whilst developing the CLK GTR.

Yep. Chassis #11R. It was rebuilt, road converted, & now resides in the UK.

 

[Rage Racer]

Another fact, the Morgan Aero uses the same headlights as the 2005-2006 Mini Cooper.

My life will never be the same again...

 

[ImmalovemaGTR]

The Gen1 VW Golf was called the Rabbit in the US. (For those not in the US)

There are also Golf Rabbit versions in Europe...

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

The Mk.V VW Golf was called the Rabbit in the US. Although, I always just call it the Golf.
The Volkswagon Golf GTI is just called the GTI in the us, and I still call it the Golf GTI.

 

[Rage Racer]

A fact about GAZ M-20 Pobeda:

The car was initially planned to be named "Rodina" ("Motherland"). When the prototypes were introduced to Joseph Stalin in 1945, he didn't like the name, and he said ironically: "So, how much will the Motherland be to sell?". The GAZ workers suggested another name - "Pobeda" ("Victory"), and Stalin replied: "Not a big victory, but let it be "Victory"!".

 

[ImmalovemaGTR]

The Mk.V VW Golf was called the Rabbit in the US. Although, I always just call it the Golf.
The Volkswagon Golf GTI is just called the GTI in the us, and I still call it the Golf GTI.

So it's the Volkswagen Rabbit V instead of Volkswagen Golf V and Volkswagen GTI instead of Volkswagen Golf GTI ?

 

[Hayden]

As mentioned by someone in my car thread, the Lamborghini Diablo used Nissan 300zx headlights when they phased out pop ups. Nissan also used them on the R390 Road and race cars

Source: http://jalopnik.com/5166209/the-nissan-300zx-shares-its-parts-with-a

 

[GranTurismo916]

As mentioned by someone in my car thread, the Lamborghini Diablo used Nissan 300zx headlights when they phased out pop ups. Nissan also used them on the R390 Road and race cars

The Diablo's look wider.

 

[Slash]

They were probably factory modified to fit the cars body lines better.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

That explains why the 2000 Diablo always made me think of the 300zx.

 

[RDF97]

So it's the Volkswagen Rabbit V instead of Volkswagen Golf V and Volkswagen GTI instead of Volkswagen Golf GTI ?

I could only imagine walking into my local VW dealer and asking for a 'Rabbit' and being told directions to the nearest pet shop. LOL!

But in all seriousness, thats a stupid name for a car. In Australia, they are running the ad where everyone says "...take the Golf", how stupid would that ad be if it as "...take the Rabbit".

Does everyone know what ad I'm talking about?

 

[Punknoodle]

I could only imagine walking into my local VW dealer and asking for a 'Rabbit' and being told directions to the nearest adult shop. LOL!

FTFY

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

So it's the Volkswagen Rabbit V instead of Volkswagen Golf V and Volkswagen GTI instead of Volkswagen Golf GTI ?

Yup, I'm fricken serious. The car reviewers in my country also refer it as a GTI. I think its because the Golf GTI is the only GTI VW sold in the US. I don't really get why that is either. I always refer the Golf as a Golf.

 

[Slash]

There is a high possibility that a special "ET350" Shelby Mustang is on the moon.

 

[ImmalovemaGTR]

Yup, I'm fricken serious. The car reviewers in my country also refer it as a GTI. I think its because the Golf GTI is the only GTI VW sold in the US. I don't really get why that is either. I always refer the Golf as a Golf.

Ok;-)

 

[playnthru]

I could only imagine walking into my local VW dealer and asking for a 'Rabbit' and being told directions to the nearest pet shop. LOL!

But in all seriousness, thats a stupid name for a car. In Australia, they are running the ad where everyone says "...take the Golf", how stupid would that ad be if it as "...take the Rabbit".

Does everyone know what ad I'm talking about?

Because Golf is so much better? I knew someone with a Golf, it got rusty. Then, before they knew it. They had a hole-in-one, it tee'ed them off. They went for a long drive, which was par for course. Ended up in the sand, trapped!

Golf!