Driving ridiculously fast in the face of adversity
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OK, so we know about the state of the not-so-big three domestic automakers; major manufacturers have pulled out of the Detroit Auto Show; Honda has canceled plans to make a second generation of Acura NSX supercar; Toyota is expecting an operating loss for the first time in 70 years; Land Rover has asked the British government for funds; Subaru has pulled out of rallying -- the sport that made the company’s reputation. There are probably many other things to add to this litany of automotive woes. But some companies don’t seem to care.
For example, Shelby Supercars (SSC), whose Ultimate Aero is already in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s fastest production car, has made changes to its all-American-made 2009 model. By using a one-piece billet aluminum engine block, power is up by 15% to a claimed 1287 horsepower.
... yes, it takes a while to sink in, doesn’t it? Very few things with four wheels have that kind of power. SSC reckons the new car is capable of 270 mph, which could mean another round of Guinness.
Meanwhile, some Brits are busy with the Mercedes-McLaren SLR Stirling Moss. This is a swan song from the operation that brought us the über-powerful SLR supercar and SLR Roadster. If the Ultimate Aero hadn’t been in the news, this car’s 650-hp supercharged V-8, zero-to-60 mph time of less than 3.5 seconds and claimed top speed of 217 mph would have seemed pretty darn cool.
Racing fans will recognize the name Stirling Moss. He’s a British racing legend who had great success with Mercedes-Benz machines back in the ’50s. He still holds the record for Italy’s daunting Mille Miglia (1,000 miles) street race -- 10 hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds. Of course, that was before the Euro, and the SLR SM costs 750,000 of those -- about $1,044,263 -- and there’s not even a roof or screen. Just 75 examples will be built and only current SLR owners will be invited to buy one. It’s a whole different world, isn’t it?
Who’s to say whether these car makers know something the rest don’t? Perhaps they just know their particular niche really well. Or maybe it’s a case of “If you’re going through hell, keep going,” as Winston Churchill once said.