A Home in America: Czech make Tatra featured at the Lane Motor Museum

The Lane Motor Museum in Nashville has built a reputation on the wide variety of cars it houses. Among the Peels, Panhards and Martins are the more prosaic Fiats, Citroëns and Hondas (usually Euro- or Japan-spec).

Then, there are the Tatras. Museum owner Jeff Lane has been collecting them for more than a decade. Outside of the Czech Republic, there are more Tatras at the Lane than at any other museum in the world.

"When we first opened in 1993, we had most of them on display in the first grouping as you enter," Lane said. "One time, we only had a few out and some visitors said, 'Geez, I came to see the Tatras. We read that you have a lot more!' So we've gone back to always having at least five or six on display."

When we asked how many the museum owned, Lane squinted his eyes and said, "About 17, I think." Then he consulted his list: "17, 18, 19 . . . 22," he said. "Sorry, I forgot a few."

Six Tatras are on display in an exhibit entitled "Tatra--The Final 50 Years." The cars range from a 1937 T-97 to a 1996 T-700. Each of these air-cooled, rear-engine cars has its own charm, but the silver 1947 T-87 stands out as the jewel in the crowd. The later T-613 and T-700 lack the svelte lines of the earlier cars.

The Tatras attract all sorts of visitors.

"We picked up Jay Leno in our T-87 when he came to Nashville to do a benefit," said Lane. "He was thrilled--he's not big on limos."

A few years ago, nephews of the innovative Tatra designer Hans Ledwinka visited the museum from their home in Indiana.

"They didn't know much about the history of Tatra," Lane said. "They just knew their uncle was a famous engineer in Europe and worked for Tatra, but I don't think they had any idea how much he did. I gave them a tour and a ride in the T-87. It was really pretty cool."

The Tatra exhibit runs until May 21 of next year. Stop by to see the Tatras--you can't miss them--and allow a few hours to see the entire eclectic collection. You can find out more online at http://www.lanemotormuseum.org/.

 

2012 Scion iQ priced at $15,995

As journalists including AutoWeek's own Michelle Koueiter flog the new 2012 Scion iQ in California, pricing information has made its way back to the Midwest.

The Scion iQ will cost $15,995, including destination, when it hits dealerships. The car will be released in four phases, starting with the West Coast in October. The South will get the car in January, followed by the East Coast, and finally us here in the middle.
Expect a decently equipped base 2012 Scion iQ, along with plenty of tacky accessories available to those who so desire. The base car comes with Pandora radio service, which is currently rolling out a big push to be in new cars.
For comparison in the small-car market, the hatchback Ford Fiesta is $16,295 while the Nissan Versa HB comes in at $13,520.

General Motors fires back at Volkswagen

General Motors issued a terse response this week to published comments by Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, who suggested to the German press that Opel could be sold to a Chinese competitor.

Detroit-based GM called Winterkorn's comments “regrettable” and accused him of “fanning speculation.”
Opel was nearly sold to Magna and Russian investors in the wake of GM's 2009 bankruptcy. But then-CEO Ed Whitacre and the corporate board reversed that decision, igniting controversy from German political and labor leaders who have long chafed under American oversight.
Opel is a 139-year-old company that has been making cars for more than a century. GM has owned it since 1929.
Opel historically has been a source of key technology and platforms for GM, and many of its improved cars--including the Buick Regal and LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Cruze--are based on European underpinnings.
In a statement, GM said it was “pleased with Opel's solid progress over the last year in turning around its business.” Opel will order 2,000 more Aperas for Europe because of strong demand, the company said.
Opel and GM's British Vauxhall division combined to lose $1.6 billion last year, according to Automotive News Europe.
Winterkorn's comments came as Opel launches the Ampera, Europe's counterpart to the Chevrolet Volt. The VW CEO has long expressed ambitions of passing Toyota and GM to claim the title of world's largest automaker--a claim the other two have long since de-emphasized in light of recent economic and internal troubles.
Current estimates put Toyota and GM neck and neck for the top spot, with VW a surging, though still fairly distant, third place.

Ford to host Octane Academy for action-sports junkies

Ford is making a push for younger customers with its sponsorship of extreme-sport and action-sport events. Now, the automaker wants to bring that experience to some select average Joes.

Beginning in November, Ford will host an action-sports program called Octane Academy. Fans will meet their heroes and get behind the wheel of some of Ford's most extreme machinery, including Vaughn Gittin Jr.'s Mustang drift car, Ken Block's and Tanner Foust's rally machines and Brian Deegan's off-road trucks.

Four camps will be hosted over the course of a year, one by each of the four founding members of the academy. Each participant will take on an array of challenges and dares over one long weekend.

The instructors will build their own courses and events for the camps, guaranteeing one crazy ride after another.

"Getting the chance to create my own challenges for the hard-core competitors who want to take on the challenge of Ford Octane Academy is going to be crazy," said Deegan. "I can't wait to bring competitors to my spot, the Compound, to give them the ultimate Ford action-sports adventure."

At the academy, participants will learn how master the machines while testing attitudes, athleticism and audacity. Their experiences will be shared with the world through the Octane Academy series. Winning drivers will take home a one-of-a-kind vehicle from Foust, Deegan, Gittin Jr. or Block.

To be chosen for the fantasy weekend, enthusiasts are encouraged to send in videos about why they should be selected to duke it out with the greats. Casting will be nationwide and will include all levels of skill and ability. But before you send in the video of you hooning the family car in the snow, Ford says it doesn't want to see driving footage--just you being yourself.

Ford isn't just doing this to be nice. It knows that the world of action sports is growing, and having a dedicated branch of the company invested there is imperative. There are more than 300 action-sports competitions held each year, according to the company. More than 22 million athletes participate and generate $12.1 billion in retail sales.

"We know the millennial generation is the next most influential generation beyond baby boomers, and with their interest in action sports, there is no better time for Ford to increase its presence in the world of extreme sports," said John Felice, general manager of Ford and Lincoln marketing.

"Octane Academy and Ford's action-motorsports program were designed to bring the excitement and access of extreme sports to the heart of this new generation of enthusiasts, the millennials."

Read the press release below:

PRESS RELEASE: Ford Goes Extreme with Launch of Octane Academy – Builds on Most Comprehensive Action Sports Program

Ford launches its first-ever action sports campaign aimed at Millennial enthusiasts with the Ford Octane Academy

Ford Octane Academy pairs fans with their favorite Ford action sports drivers – Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan and Vaughn Gittin Jr. – for ultimate action sports fantasy camps

Ford's Millennial market share has grown 58 percent since 2007 through innovative programs and new products that are fun to drive and tech-savvy, including Ford Fiesta, Edge and all-new Focus

DEARBORN, Mich., July 14, 2011 – Ford is taking action sports to the extreme with the launch of Octane Academy, a new consumer-focused program aimed at a younger, more diverse generation of action sports and race enthusiasts.

The Ford Octane Academy will unite ultimate fans with their favorite Ford action sports driver – Ken Block, Brian Deegan, Tanner Foust and Vaughn Gittin Jr. – for the unique opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience the extreme excitement of performance driving.

“Today's Millennial generation is extremely influential so our job is finding new and inventive ways of communicating and connecting with them, which includes building our presence in the multibillion-dollar world of extreme sports,” said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “With an all-star lineup of drivers and vehicles, Ford is bringing fans directly into the excitement of action sports in a way only Ford can with the first-ever dedicated consumer experience for this energetic and expressive audience.”

The ultimate adventure

Ford is giving fans a chance at the ultimate extreme sports experience with its action sports heroes. Through video submissions, fans tell their story of why they have what it takes to survive a weekend of on- and-off road challenges, running with Octane Academy's founding members – Block, Deegan, Foust and Gittin Jr.

Casting will take place nationwide, calling all enthusiasts of action and adventure and all levels of skill and ability. Four camps will be hosted over the course of the year, one by each founding member of Octane Academy. In each camp, contestants will go head-to-head in a battery of creative challenges and daunting dares over one long weekend.

Ford's action sports drivers will design their ultimate playground, hosting their respective elite winners on their terms and their turf. Each camp will give participants a crash course in how to fearlessly master the road while testing their attitudes, athleticism and audacity.

Participants will be pushed to the limit and their experiences shared with the world through the Octane Academy series. Drivers who perform up to the standards of the pros will win prizes, and the overall winner of each camp will be awarded a one-of-a-kind vehicle created by Block, Foust, Deegan or Gittin Jr.

The first fantasy camp will kick off in November, hosted by Ford RallyCross and Off-Road truck racer Deegan. He will have contenders revving their engine behind the wheel of an F-150 SVT Raptor. Similarly, infamous Gymkhana star Block will get contestants' adrenaline pumping behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta. 2010 Formula Drift Champion Gittin Jr. will give competitors a heart-thumping thrill drifting in a Mustang, and X Games 16 Gold Medalist Foust will give participants the experience of a lifetime in a Ford Focus.

“Getting the chance to create my own challenges for the hardcore competitors who want to take on the challenge of Ford Octane Academy is going to be crazy,” said Deegan. “I can't wait to bring the competitors to my spot, The Compound, to give them the ultimate Ford action sports adventure.”

Reaching a new generation

Millennials watch, attend and participate in extreme sports, including action motorsports, more than any other athletic activity. Ford is investing in action sports through programs such as X Games and Octane Academy to reach out to this younger generation.

With more than 300 action sports competitions held around the world each year, more than 22 million athletes participating and generating $12.1 billion in annual U.S. retail sales, action sports are immensely popular.

“We know the Millennial generation is the next most influential generation beyond Baby Boomers, and with their interest in action sports, there is no better time for Ford to increase its presence in the world of extreme sports,” said John Felice, general manager of Ford and Lincoln Marketing. “Octane Academy and Ford's action motorsports program were designed to bring the excitement and access of extreme sports to the heart of this new generation of enthusiasts, the Millennials.”

Ford has the product lineup like never before that fits the lifestyle of these younger customers with the Fiesta, Mustang and all-new Focus.

X Games 17

Ford's Octane Academy will launch at X Games 17, the largest assortment of action sports competitions worldwide. Ford is once again exclusive automotive sponsor for the summer games being held July 28-31 in Los Angeles, growing its onsite presence to be the company's most interactive display yet.

Fans will have the chance to hang with the Ford action motorsports team and explore their vehicles; entertainment will include a skate park with live demos and unique video booths. Fans will be able to submit their applications onsite to be part of Octane Academy

 

Mopar offers pickup conversion for the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Off-road king Jeep is offering a new kit that transforms a four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited into a two-door Jeep pickup truck. The Mopar JK-8 kit will cost $5,499.

The kit can be installed by a dealer, according to Jeep, or by skilled shade-tree mechanics. The setup comes in one Mopar-stamped crate containing a steel bed, inner and outer bed sides, sport-bar extensions, Freedom panel assemblies, a fiberglass hardtop and bulkhead. It comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty.

Mopar first revealed the JK-8 kit at this year's Moab Jeep Safari in Utah.

The kit is based on the popular Jeep Scrambler CJ-8 from the 1980s. The steel pickup bed measures 44 inches by 50 inches, and the fiberglass hardtop is removable for an open-air experience. A special badge is featured on the left rear quarter-panel of each kit, signifying the heritage of the Scrambler.

Jeep gives a quick rundown on disassembly and reassembly, and it seems the only difficult parts are drilling out the spot welds and removing the rear sport bar along the B-pillars. During reassembly, there is some welding required.

The components of the kit are delivered unfinished and will need to be painted.

It appears to be not much more than a weekend of wrenching, and maybe less

 

Ford employees show off personal style at car show

You may think that a Ford employee car show would be a filled with Mustangs, Thunderbirds and Deuces--and you'd be right. But there was also a dazzling array of Chryslers, Chevys and even some Italian flair on display at the Ford Product Development Center in Dearborn, Mich for this year's event.

Kevin Bertram brought an original 1969 Dodge Charger, complete with Confederate flag on top. It wasn't used in the Dukes of Hazzard TV show or movie, but Bertram is surely a fanatic. He bought an orange '69 Charger trunk lid 10 years before he found the car. Bertram lugged the lid around to car shows and Comic-cons, anywhere he could see a few folks from Hazzard County. Now he has an autograph from all the main characters on the underside, along with a ton of guest stars and other people that worked on the show.
The Charger has the original 318-cubic-inch V8 and 115,000 miles on the odometer. Bertram drives it in the summer months and stores it during the winter, trying to find the time and money to upgrade the paint job and bodywork. Daisy Duke would be proud.
Gary Kohn, known as Mustang Gary to his friends, showed off a highly customized, bright yellow 2003 Cobra. The supercharged V8 delivers roughly 470 hp, though it was tested on a standard dyno, not a Mustang-specific one, which he says will give a more accurate reading. He picked up the pony car in 2002 and put about 86,000 miles on the engine. If the trick scissor doors don't tip off the special ride, then the sounds of a bucking bronco coming from the CD player will. Kohn picked the sound-effect disc up from another Mustang enthusiast.
Joining the late models on the lawn was something a little more antique. Bruce Book brought a 1936 Ford Tudor Deluxe.
“The Deluxe edition got a second taillight, second wiper blade and banjo steering wheel,” said Book.
That's luxury.
The Tudor has an 85-hp, eight-cylinder engine and was restored when Book bought it five years ago. The woman he bought it from said that the radio did work. After firing up the Ford and finding no sound, Book wiggled the knobs and tapped the gauge with no results. Then suddenly, ear piercing AM radio.
“It works with vacuum tubes, so it has to warm up before the radio works,” said Book.
Book owned a Tudor in 1951, similar to the one he owns now. He often jokes that as old as his car is, it's not as old as him, 78.

What unites these cars is that they don't spend all day sitting on a trailer. During the summer and on warm weekends you'll see Book's Tudor, Bertram's Charger and Kohn's Mustang cruising around metro Detroit. And they'll all be heading to the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in August.

It's really what unites us all. Ford guys, Mopar guys, Chevy guys, we can appreciate our home brand and the guy next door's home brand. Come August, don't be surprised if you see some sort of mutual appreciation society on the Woodward, car guy to car guy

Chrysler prices SRT 2012 models

Chrysler Group, which is reviving its SRT performance brand, has set prices on the first four SRT vehicles it
is selling: the Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

Chrysler will start building the vehicles at the end of July and they will arrive in dealerships before the end of the third quarter.

Prices, including $825 shipping, are as follows:

-- 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 -- $46,660

• 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 -- $47,995

• 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 -- $55,295

• 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 -- $44,077 (price does not include a $1,300 gas guzzler tax on the automatic transmission and $1,000 for the six-speed manual.)

The 2012 Challenger is largely a carryover from the 2011 model. But the 300, Charger and Grand Cherokee are new.

At the heart of the performance cars is a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine that cranks out 470 hp at 6,000 rpm and 470 lb. ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm in the Challenger, Charger and 300.

The horsepower is the same for the Grand Cherokee, but the torque is slightly different: 465 lb. ft. at 4,200 rpm. It is the most powerful Hemi V-8 Chrysler has ever made.

Speaking at the media launch of the vehicles here, Ralph Gilles, CEO of the newly created SRT brand, said one of the critical questions Chrysler had to answer was: "How are you going to sell these cars in this day and age?"

To overcome that hurdle, Chrysler has made them not only more powerful but more efficient. For the first time ever, the SRT engines offer Chrysler's cylinder deactivation technology, which shuts down four of the eight cylinders at freeway speeds to maximize fuel economy.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne recently put Gilles in charge of the newly created SRT brand to revive the automaker's performance aspirations that had gone dormant during what Gilles refers to as the "dark ages of private equity" ownership by Cerberus Capital Management from 2007-2009.

Gilles said he is hiring staffers for his SRT team and will have a dedicated team of SRT engineers. He will also have his own marketing budget. Gilles says he will not rely so much on traditional marketing but will utilize the Internet, motorsports and special events. He says he will work particularly hard to build a bond with SRT owner groups.

The SRT lineup serve as a showcase for technology within Chrysler. Featured on the new cars is an 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system supplied by Harman/Becker Automotive Systems.

Gilles says the SRT brand's flagship vehicle - the Dodge Viper - is on track to come to market in 2012.

SRT, which stands for Street and Racing Technologies, was founded in 2002 during the DaimlerChrysler era. SRT sales peaked in 2006 when there were ten Chrysler vehicles wearing the SRT badge. Gilles promises to be more selective about what cars get the SRT treatment.