Ford is investigating Mecum auction for illegally selling 2017 Ford GT

In 2017, actor and wrestling legend John Cena got in trouble when he purchased a brand new Ford GT, and then decided to sell it to another buyer. Because of this, Ford sued Cena for half a million dollars for violating the contract that stipulated that any Ford GT owner must not sell the unit within two years after purchasing it.

Cena decided to countersue Ford and this case is presently winding its way through court. Now, it seems like someone has not gotten the memo, as Motor Authority has noticed that a new Ford GT was put up at the Mercum auction block in Indianapolis this week. Of course, Ford had already begun investigating the situation.

Ford has revealed that they are aware of this and that they are looking into the situation. However, they will not comment on individual customer matters. Ford spokesman Matt Leaver pointed out that Ford GT customers come in to sign contracts, which include an agreement to not sell the car for at least two years.

The GT that will be joining the auction block has a serial number of 48 of 250 produced in 2017. This particular model only has seven miles on its odometer too.

On the outside, the car had been finished in Ingot Silver paint, with black striping, matching with the Dark Energy interior package. Under the hood of all Ford GTs is a 3.5 liter biturbocharged V6 engine paired with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic that helps deliver 647 horsepower to the rear wheels. Other touches include silver forged aluminium wheels with titanium lugs and carbon ceramic disc brakes. This particular model has a starting price of $450,000.

There was a time when Ford had approved GT’s to be put up on auction for charity, but if the Dearborn automaker is looking into this situation, it seems to us that they don’t approve of the seller’s plan. Selling a Ford GT before the two-year timeline is definitely a big no-no. We understand that there isn’t a dearth of wealthy people who want to get their hands on the new Ford GT.

It doesn’t even matter that these units are being resold for as much as triple or quadruple its original price. Now, we are wondering if the person who is selling this number 48 model is aware of what is written in the contract. It’s possible it may have just been overlooked. We’ll soon see what Ford thinks about this.

Honda Project P is a one-off Civic Type R pickup

The Honda Civic Type R is the fastest front wheel drive model at the Magny Cours track, while also being one of the fastest pickup trucks in the world. Yes, you read that right. The specialist from the Product Engineering department at the automaker’s UK factory in Swindon has built a one-off Civic Type R pickup truck, and it just made its debut at the SMMT Test Day in Great Britain.

To create the unique Project P Concept, the engineers had to get a pre-production prototype of the hot hatch, which was unveiled a year ago. It has two doors and two seats, as well as a flatbed at the back of the rear seats, replacing the rear bench and boot space.

The transformation made sure that it still retains the rear fixed wing. But the wings here really aren’t fixed, as it has a movable design, allowing access to the load bed of the small pickup. One of our favourite design details of the new Type R, a set of triple exhaust pipes at the back, is here as well. The exterior body is finished in a Rallye Red, one of the signature colours of the Civic Type R hatch.

In the Swindon factory, they have a special projects division. This project was a fantastic opportunity for the team to show what they are capable of creating. Project lead, Alyn James, commented that the passion that their engineers have for Honda is shown in their latest creation. They’re considering to take the pickup to Nurburgring, as they want to try and get the record for the fastest front wheel drive pickup truck.

The team should not be worrying about setting a new record at the ‘Ring, considering the fact that the Project P uses the same powertrain, suspension, and gearbox as the original Type R model. The specialists estimate that the truck will be able to hit 62 miles per hour from 0 in under six seconds, and a top speed in excess of 165 miles per hour (265 kilometers per hour).

Honda UK showcased the Civic Type R Pickup Truck concept a year after the launch of the standard road car. However, we would say that they definitely stole the show at the annual SMMT Test Day. Unsurprisingly, the automaker has no plans to put the model into mass production.

To summarize the details for you, the Civic Type R Pickup Truck concept was created by the team behind Syncho Motorsport at the Swindon factory. This has the potential to be one of the fastest pickup trucks on the streets of UK. Lastly, Honda has no plans of putting the concept into production just yet.

PRESS RELEASE

Honda Civic Type R pickup truck

Honda UK has stolen the show at the annual SMMT Test Day this year by showcasing a Civic Type R Pickup Truck concept, almost a year after the launch of the standard road car.

Built by a specialist team from the Product Engineering department at the Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) factory in Swindon and codenamed ‘Project P’, the Civic Type R Pickup Truck has been modified and developed from the standard road car to create potentially one of the fastest pickup trucks on UK roads.

To create the Project P concept, the team used a pre-production version and adapted the design rearwards from the B-pillars of the car, with sweeping lines from the roofline to the back hiding a flatbed loading area in the centre of the car where the rear seats and boot space would normally be.

Finished in Rallye Red, the concept retains the iconic rear wing associated with both the FK2 and FK8 Civic Type R, which, in a clever piece of engineering, is movable to allow direct and unfettered access to the rear of the truck.

Using the same powertrain, suspension and gearbox as the standard road car, it is estimated Project P will complete the 0-62mph sprint in under six seconds and reach a top speed of over 165mph. It also possesses the same driving modes of comfort, Sport and +R, Project P offering both ride comfort as well as a unique racing capability on track.

Alyn James, project lead, commented: “We have a special projects division at the factory in Swindon and this project was a fantastic opportunity for the team to show just what their creative minds could do. The passion that our engineers have for Honda is shown in our latest creation and we are even considering taking it to the Nurburgring to see if we can take the record for the fastest front wheel drive pickup truck!”

Phil Webb, head of car at Honda UK, added: “This Civic Type R Pickup Truck concept by the special team at our Swindon-based plant demonstrates the passion and commitment of the team there – going above and beyond outside working hours to deliver the final product. There are no plans to put this in to production but we will be using it to transport our lawn and garden products as and when required!”

German tuner Renntech boosts output of Mercedes-AMG GT R to 825 hp

If The Hulk were to be a car, what would it be? Well, you might want to check out this Mercedes-AMG GT R that is just as green and powerful as the angry monster. But before we get to that, let us first talk about the standard Mercedes-AMG GT which is available in a handful of variations. The standard version is the GT Coupe, pumping out a respectable 469 horsepower (349 kilowatts).

There is also the GT C, which focuses more on performance and has as much as 550 horsepower (410 kilowatts). Meanwhile, the range-topping model would be the track-ready GT R, with the ability to deliver 577 horsepower (430 kilowatts). And last but not the least is the four-door GT. But even with those options, one German tuning shop thinks that the AMG GT could use more power.

So going back to the mean, green AMG GT R that Renntech offers as an upgrade. They enabled it to deliver between 612 and 825 horsepower (456 and 615 kilowatts), depending on the trim. The latter of the two is dubbed as the AMG GT R825. This does not only have more power, but also has a torque of 626 pound feet (850 Newton metres). The extra power is attributed to the larger turbo, paired with a software upgrade, blow off valves, and high flow air filter, among others. Of course, expect the transmission as well as the clutch to cope with the change.

The new exterior upgrades also helped with the AMG GT R’s new power output too. Renntech has fitted the GT R with a new aero package, which we first saw at the Top Marques Monaco earlier in the year. The new design includes an aggressive front bumper with unique canards, sharper side splitters, and a special two stage rear wing to help cope with the extra power.

As you can see in the photographs, it comes with a new set of lightweight forged Vossen wheels, wrapped in super sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ZP semi slick tires measuring 285/30 ZR and 335/25 ZR20 that has a lot of grip. These wheels are designed by Renntech and made exclusively for the company at Vossen. The wheel sizes are 10x19” and 12x20”. The rims fit effortlessly with the “Green Hell” with their satin black finish and optional accents.

Expect to be charged a lot to get all of those upgrades. Alhough Renntech does not say how much the upgrade package will cost on top of the GT R’s base price of $157,000, the final product should be priced somewhere around $200,000, especially the 825 horsepower upgrade.

Tobias Buttner renders a rugged, more capable 2019 Audi A6 (C8) Allroad

Audi A6 (C8) is still quite fresh in the market but already, artists have been rendering the said model, with variants of their own. Recently, we saw a hot RS6 makeover of the sporty saloon, but now, artist Tobias Buttner gives us his take on the German luxury saloon, giving it a more rugged theme. As you could see in the photos, this is a rendering of the A6 Allroad model. Like all the Allroad models, it adopts new body cladding and a higher ride height, both in an effort to enhance off road practicality.

The standard styling cues of the standard A6 are carried over, of course, but there are also a number of unique variations to note. For instance, the grille, while still large and imposing, features vertical chrome inserts as opposed to the horizontal design found of the standard model. The accenting vents have been made more subtle, and there is a silver running board located just below the grille.

Expect the ride height to be a little higher, and there’s plastic body cladding around the wheels that assures that it will be able to take on tougher roads, without leaving the paint of the fenders scratched. The previous model is just a bit taller, with its height raised by just 3.5 centimeters (35 mm) over the standard sedan, with an available one extra centimetre (10 mm) of lift available at low speeds. Expect similar figures for the new model; that is, if Audi chooses to build it.

Because this is just a rendering, the artist did not say what kind of engine will be found under the hood of the high riding A6. But at the same time, we should not expect any dramatic departure from the standard sedan.

The standard A6, as we know, is equipped with a 3.0 liter TFSI turbocharged V6, paired with a seven speed S-Tronic transmission, that has an output of 340 horsepower (250 kilowatts), or an optional 3.0 liter TDI diesel available in 286 horsepower (210 kilowatts). This engine is mated to an eight speed tiptronic gearbox.

Too bad the A6 Allroad is just a virtual creation for now. In fact, the new A6 sedan has not even hit the market just yet. The A6 will go on sale in Germany in June, and later on will be available in other countries as well.

The new A6 will have a price tag of about $50,000 when it becomes available in the United States, but the Allroad will definitely be more expensive. If the off road does come to life and Audi decides to produce Buttner’s rendering, would you consider buying one?