October 17, 2016
SHORT DRIVES…
by Jim Corbran, Automotive Columnist
You have to wonder what Mothers Against Drunk Driving would think about the
headline in a recent Bentley press release: “Bentley Celebrates London Cocktail Week.” Yes the Bentley Cocktail was served in the back seat of a new Flying Spur V8 S (and only in the back seat we assume), and a history of London Cocktail Week (a celebration which
goes back over 85 years) was included in the release, but it seems strange in this day and age for an automobile manufacturer to promote the consumption of alcohol in their vehicles…
Because you just never see or read enough about dump trucks these days, we thought we’d add to the dearth with a few tidbits about Ford’s new F-650/750: standard power comes from a 6.7L V8 Turbo Diesel (or an optional 6.8L gasoline-powered V10) connected to a six-speed automatic — what?! — transmission. Other notable equipment includes a BorgWarner viscous fan clutch, front parabolic taper-leaf springs with double-acting shock absorbers, and an aluminum radiator with in-tank transmission cooler. Oh, and two coat hooks…
Finally — at the top of the page (from 2012’s In Case You Missed It department): at last there’s a dedicated car (well, a concept car actually) for the hipster/biker market: Hyundai’s Veloster C3 Roll Top (C3=convertible 3-door). The hatch/tailgate drops down, while the roof from the edge of the tailgate forward is comprised of roll-top canvas. It’s purpose? So you can stand your hipster bike up back there for all the world to see as you drive from coffee shop to coffee shop. In your car. The C3’s color scheme was chosen to mimic an urban-found fixie bike (fixed gear/no brakes) which Hyundai designers chose from the dozen they studied. And here, four years later, the C3 Roll Top remains just a concept. Maybe fixie bikes have already moved on…
The post “SHORT DRIVES…” first appeared on Buffalo Cars