Revealed: Subaru Cosworth Impreza WRX STI CS400 Road-Going Rally Car

Subaru and Cosworth teased us earlier this year with a monster WRX STI, but now the full details on the finished product -- the Cosworth WRX STI CS400 -- have been revealed.

As Cosworth’s forte lies with engines, it’s not too surprising to read that the majority of CS400’s changes rest within the engine compartment. The CS400 retains the STI’s turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer-four-cylinder engine, but it’s received some serious surgery. Cosworth installs new high-performance pistons, high-strength steel connecting rods, and Cosworth-designed engine bearings. A new Cosworth-designed head gasket is also added, along with a high-pressure oil pump, and a revised turbocharger compressor and wastegate.


Cosworth hasn’t disclosed the boost pressures used, but the revisions -- along with a new exhaust system and revised ECU -- are enough to get the turbocharged engine pumping out 395 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. That’s roughly 90 ponies and 103 pound-feet more than a U.S.-spec 2011 WRX STI.

We’d celebrate the car simply for the extra power, but Cosworth didn’t stop there. Engineers at the tuning firm partnered with Bilstein and Eibach to revamp the WRX’s chassis tuning to incorporate new coil springs that drop the ride height by a half-inch. Fourteen-inch AP Racing brake discs were added all around, a significant improvement over the 13- and 12.6-inch front and rear discs used on the 2011 STI.

Cosmetic tweaks are subtle, but they do help differentiate the CS400 from a standard WRX STI. Cossie-tuned Imprezas receive a new front fascia with foglamps, a mesh grille insert, and a unique rear spoiler. Larger 18-inch wheels not only help dress up the car’s appearance, but also increase the STI’s track by a half-inch. Buyers have little say in the exterior décor, but can choose between three paint colors (red, silver, and dark grey). Inside, all cars receive Recaro racing seats in lieu of the stock front buckets.

Only 75 of these incredible machines will be produced, and as we suspected, none will (legally) make their way to North America. The entire production run will consist of right-hand-drive models and will be sold in the United Kingdom. The CS400 will cost a whopping £22,505 more than the base WRX STI, bringing the total to £49,995.

Source: Autocar

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Tesla Generates $13.8 Million through Emissions Credit Sale

To help keep the company wheels turning, Tesla has sold its banked vehicle emissions credits to other automakers and raised $13.8 million.

Since setting up shop in 2003, Tesla has barely managed to turn a profit from selling its $130,000 Roadsters. About 1000 of the pure-electric Roadsters have been sold -- primarily to big-shot actors, musicians, and electric-car fans -- and Tesla is slowly inching towards its initial public offering that is expected to generate at least $100 million. Before its IPO, however, the Palo Alto, California-based company must keep the doors open and payroll up-to-date, and that is where the emissions credit sales come into play. Tesla disclosed it sold credits to Honda and at least one other unidentified automaker in an initial IPO filing.


The emissions credit program is managed by the California Air Resources Board and allows automakers to score points with the notoriously stringent state. Recent California emissions-control regulation from 2008 mandated the largest automakers -- Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota -- must combine to sell at least 60,000 plug-in hybrid or pure-electric vehicles in the state over a three-year period. The credits, which are measured in grams per mile of non-methane organic gas (g/mile NMOG), are earned with each certified clean- or zero-emissions vehicle sold and stored within a state database. Companies with more-polluting vehicles can use the credits to offset the extra emissions.

"Having these credits gives us some flexibility for the future," said Robert Bienenfeld, Honda's U.S. senior manager for environment and energy strategy. "Whether we'll need to purchase more, I can't say."

Without the credits, automakers are subject to state fines, fees, and potential sales restrictions in California, one of the largest auto markets in the United States.

To further strengthen its commitment to the Golden State, Tesla recently joined forces with Toyota to retool the former NUMMI plant in Fremont to build the entry-level Model S sedan.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

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Panoz Unveils New Abruzzi ‘Spirit of Le Mans’ at Le Mans

Many manufacturers make a big deal of their latest models with spectacular unveilings at major auto shows in front of thousands of press and industry big wigs. Not Panoz Motor Sports Group -- the small Georgia-based automaker is appropriately talking up its latest sports car -- the Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans -- at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

“[The Abruzzi] is a culmination of equal parts time, effort, and dreams,” said Don Panoz. “The Panoz brand always has prided itself on hand-building and delivering an exotic automobile experience to our customers. Our new offering takes this to a completely new level.”


If the Spirit of Le Mans suffix didn’t clue you in, the Abruzzi is very much inspired by Panoz’s past Le Mans race cars, especially the roadsters and coupes it fielded in LMP and GTR1 classes, respectively. The slinky body is designed to incorporate the company’s new three-stage cooling system, which incorporates a rear-mounted radiator and air intakes integrated into the rear and side quarter windows.

The sophisticated cooling system will likely be necessary for the Abruzzi’s monstrous engine. For now, Panoz hasn’t detailed the engine specs, but says it will produce 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. That’s impressive, but coupled with the new composite material Panoz developed for the car, it’s likely to be blessed with an astonishingly low curb weight. The REAMS material is reportedly dent resistant, completely recyclable, and is both stronger and lighter than carbon fiber.

Corresponding to the car’s exotic nature, Panoz will only build 81 examples of the Abruzzi -- one for each 24 Hours of Le Mans race held from 1923 to 2013 (the year Abruzzi production will cease). The vehicle will be so intrinsically linked to the race that Panoz will incorporate the specific race date and initials of the winning driver in each chassis number.

Panoz will also deliver completed vehicles in a very Le Mans-centric way. Each car will be hand-built in Hoschton, Georgia, and then shipped to the Circuit de la Sarthe. There, the new owner will receive driving instruction on the Bugatti circuit of the track. New owners will be invited to attend the race as guests of the ACO -- a major sponsor of the Le Mans enduro -- but they’ll be invited to drive a parade lap around the track next year.

Pricing for the car has not yet been released, but unfortunately for those hoping to grab one in the U.S., it won’t be street legal in this country. Panoz says that the car will only be homologated for street-use in Europe.

Source: Panoz Motor Sports Group

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Rhys Millen Scores First Podium Finish for Hyundai Genesis Coupe

The main attraction at last weekend's Formula Drift event in Long Beach was the final bout between Ford driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Hyundai pilot Rhys Millen.

Gitten Jr. got the upper hand this round in his 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT, but with the collection of considerable talent in the series, the Maryland native will have to work hard to defend his crown.

The knockout series witnessed the competition whittle down to Gittin Jr., Millen, Tanner Foust, and Fredric Aasbo in the semi-finals. Foust, two-time Formula D champion, took third position in his 800-horsepower, NASCAR-powered Scion tC. Millen had a terrific showing for Hyundai, putting his 650-horsepower Genesis Coupe in second place and erasing any competitive doubts stemming from the 2009 season.

“I was in sync with my Genesis Coupe during the entire campaign and step one was to qualify first,” said Millen. “The car had so much grip and power I was able to put it close to the walls and mirror the other competitors’ cars’ every move. Nothing compares to the pressure and thrill of the ‘win it or lose it’ factor while competing against more than 50 other cars and drivers.”

The next round of the 2010 Formula Drift season will be held at Road Atlanta May 7-8.

Sources: Formula Drift, Hyundai

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