No Excess: A supremely elegant XS650 from Portugal

Can you believe the Yamaha XS650 is half a century old this year? The air-cooled parallel twin has always had a strong fan base, and Maria Motorcycles of Lisbon, Portugal love it as much as anyone. Their first build was an XS, and they’ve been smitten ever since.

So it’s not surprising that the Maria guys hoarded a low mileage 1980 XS650, waiting for the right project. And inevitably, a client came along and convinced them to customize it for him.

“We wanted a simple and elegant bike,” Maria’s Luis Correia tells us, “without too many overdone parts or extras. Our job was simply to restore it, and make it as-new and unique.”

The donor was mechanically in tiptop shape—so the crew didn’t need to crack the engine open. It was running perfectly smooth, so they cleaned it up and repainted the covers black.

The rest of the bike was stripped right down and rebuilt with new bearings, seals and stainless steel fasteners throughout. Maria kept the original suspension and brakes (even the original discs, which have plenty of wear left on them), but refurbished and serviced them.

They also powder coated the frame, wheels and any other parts that needed a refresh. The frame’s been shortened and looped at the rear, and the tail light and plate relocated to the left side.

There’s a custom-made leather saddle up top, and a one-off aluminum electrical box underneath. Maria repackaged all the wiring to fit in there, along with a small Lithium-ion battery. The airbox is gone, replaced by a pair of K&N cone filters.

Moving to the cockpit, the team switched the bars out for a laid-back set from LSL, and ditched all the stock switches. The bars now wear mini-switches, classic Posh grips and new levers with a Magura master brake cylinder.

Just in front is a simple analog speedo and a small round light. And the guys have taken the time to fit smaller bits like upgraded plug leads and HEL performance brake lines.

Then there’s the exhaust; a high-riding twin muffler system, hand-made by Maria. “We know that the muffler position is something controversial,” says Luis, “as some of the comments we received. But of course we tested it and it’s pretty far from the rider! This bike is made for one single person, as requested by the new owner.”

That exhaust’s earned the XS650 the nickname ‘Zagalote.’ “It’s a Portuguese word for a very powerful bullet used in shotguns,” explains Luis. “We choose that name inspired by the pipes pointed in the air like cannons!”

We’ve always known Maria Motorcycles to be masters of good taste, and Zagalote is a perfect example. There’s nothing out of place here, and nothing that’s not needed, to the point that the Firestone Deluxe Champion tires fit right in. And as we’ve come to expect from this crew, the paint job is sublime; a simple green with white accents, repeated on the headlight.

It’s a bittersweet result for the guys though, since they don’t get to keep this one. “We’re jealous of the new owner,” says Luis. “The Yamaha XS650 is one of the best bikes to work with, and it has lots of character.”

“A XS650 was the first bike we built, so this one brought back some old memories from the beginning.”

“The bike is lovely to ride, so smooth and perfect. It starts first time and the engine works like a new one. The pipes make a beautiful bass sound. It’s not a exhibition bike at all—we would ride it everywhere.”

So would we. Here’s to another 50 years of XS650.

Maria Motorcycles website | Facebook | Instagram

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Lotus 3-Eleven 430: Here We Go Again

It’s <BANG HEAD!> another <BANG HEAD!> new <BANG HEAD!> special <BANG HEAD!> edition <BANG HEAD!> Lotus! Guys, guys, guys! Look: I love ya. I love your cars, I love the way they look, I love the way they handle, but . . . this special edition stuff has Got. To. Stop.

You know the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf? Lotus is getting dangerously close to that. In the past year (it seems like the past three weeks), Lotus has released (seemingly) 1,437 special edition cars. And yeah, they are great cars. And yeah, in point of fact, they are special. But if everything is special, then nothing is special, y’know?

However, the 3-Eleven 430 is special. They are only going to make 20 of the little brutes (which is a pity) and, although it is road legal, it is not road legal here in the U. S. of A. (which is criminal!).

Lightning Strikes

For starters, the new Lotus 3-Eleven 430 is the quickest street-legal sports car Lotus has ever made. Think about what else Lotus has made, and you’ll get the point. The 3-Eleven 430 laps the company’s Hethel test track 0.8 seconds quicker than an Exige Cup 430, and two seconds quicker than the previous 3-Eleven. The current benchmark is 1 minute 24 seconds, thanks to the new Lotus 3-Eleven 430. The supercharged and charge-cooled 3.5-liter V6 engine cranks out 430 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. of torque.

In addition to performing like a lightening strike, the bodywork now features new, part-visible weave carbon-composite panels. This helps the 3-Eleven tip the scales at 2,028 lbs., giving you a power-to-weight ratio of a mighty 467 horsepower per tonne. There is also a Torsen-type limited slip differential and an open-gate six-speed manual gearbox in the mix as well.

LED daytime running lights and a lip spoiler characterize the front of the Lotus 3-Eleven 430. Photo: Group Lotus plc.

Chassis & Aerodynamics

Please, this is a Lotus. Öhlins DFV one-way adjustable dampers live at each corner and Eibach adjustable anti-roll bars inhabit the front and rear. There’s 6-position variable traction control, networked directly to the ECU, with five pre-set traction levels: 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 percent slip and “off.” G’head Mario, turn it “off” and see how y’do!

Lotus, being one of the leading innovators in race car aerodynamics, also tweaked the new 3-Eleven in that department as well. Now there is a higher mounted straight-cut rear wing with re-profiled end plates, a long front splitter and lip spoiler, and a flat floor with a rear diffuser that increases down force by 97 lbs. to a total of 585 lbs. at max speed.

Tires & Braking

Tires are Michelin Cup 2 deals with 225/40 ZR18 at the front and 275/35 ZR19 out back. The mechanical grip combined with the aero downforce ads up to a gray-out inducing 1.5 g while cornering. Yes, stopping is good. In the case of the Lotus 3-Eleven, that’s the responsibility of AP Racing four-piston calipers, front and rear, and two-piece J-Hook brake discs that are 332 mm front and rear (seemingly about the size of a pizza). Each corner is finished by Lotus-designed, ultra-lightweight forged aluminum wheels that come in either gloss or satin black.

Pricing & Availability

You want? Of course you want. You must want! You also must contact Lotus now, since they’re only make 20. The 3-Eleven 430 is priced at £102,000, or $140,00 at today’s exchange rates. Yes, that’s a lot, but I could see spending it. The only real problem here is hanging a license plate on the darn things, cause that’s what I really want to do.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. 

Photos & Source: Group Lotus plc.

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Global Automakers Restructuring With Senior Leadership Changes & Appointments

As February concluded, a number of automakers saw new changes in executive leadership. Ford Motor Company, among the most notable, announced a handful of senior leadership changes following the departure of their North American president Raj Nair. In addition to Ford, here is a brief look which other automakers have made recent changes to their senior leadership team.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

Effective April 1st, Fred Diaz will succeed Ryujiro Kobashi as President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc (MMNA). According to the company, Diaz will lead Mitsubishi Motors’ business in North America leveraging his 29 years of sales, marketing, and customer relations experience in the United States. Kobashi will return to Mitsubishi Motors’ headquarters to assume an important role in overseas sales in Tokyo, Japan.

“With his in-depth background and experience in North America, Fred has a strong ability to proactively engage with Mitsubishi Motors’ dealers and customers as we aim to expand our dealership network, enhance our brand, and drive sales growth,” said Trevor Mann, Chief Operating Officer, MMNA.

In October, Mitsubishi Motors announced its three-year Drive for Growth plan, which aims to improve the company’s U.S. dealership network and grow sales by 30 percent to 130,000 units per year. The automaker notes that under Kobashi’s leadership, MMNA was able to rebuild Mitsubishi Motors’ sales and successfully launch the Eclipse Cross CUV as well as other important models in North America.

Fred Diaz will succeed Ryujiro Kobashi as President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Photo: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Kia Motors America

Jang Won (Justin) Sohn has transitioned from his role as President and CEO of Kia Motors America to Head of Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Middle East Operations. SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, currently the President and CEO of Kia Canada Inc., will transition to President and CEO of Kia Motors America. Yoon returns to KMA after previously serving the company from 2006 to 2012.

Kia says during Sohn’s tenure, the brand recorded a number of historic achievements in the United States. Among them: record-breaking new car sales in 2015 and 2016; best-ever Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales; back-to-back number one rankings in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study; and the Stinger becoming the first Kia vehicle to be named a finalist for the prestigious North American Car of the Year award.

Polestar

Polestar, the new electric performance brand associated with Volvo, has appointed August Wu as President of Polestar China, reporting to Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath. August joins Polestar from Volvo Cars in Shanghai where he was Head of Product and Offer for the APAC region. In this role, he was responsible for local product, specification, pricing, and vehicle line management of all Volvo products in the APAC region. In the new role, Wu will over see Polestar’s commercial offerings and retail presence in China, a key market for the brand.

“The appointment of August Wu as the new President of Polestar China is an important step in the development of our team in China,” explained Ingenlath. “With China being one of the world’s fastest developing markets for electrified cars, it’s clear that having somebody with a very deep understanding of the market was vitally important. In August Wu, we have found that person.”

President of Polestar China, August Wu. Photo: Polestar.

Hyundai Motor Company

Hyundai has established the High Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division to enhance the company’s presence in those areas. Hyundai says the new division will “streamline Hyundai’s strategy, product planning, sales, and marketing capabilities for high performance vehicle operations to maximize synergy between headquarters and the company’s Motorsport arm, Hyundai Motorsport GmbH, to further develop the high performance vehicle business.”

Thomas Schemera, a former BMW executive, has been appointed to lead the new division.

“I am thrilled to join Hyundai Motor, which is presenting incredible prowess in its high performance technologies through models like the i30 N, despite being relatively new to this competitive scene,” he said. “I will dedicate my expertise and knowledge obtained over my three-decade career to making a significant contribution to Hyundai’s development in this field and to provide pure driving pleasure to our customers.”

German-born Schemera, 55, studied mechanical engineering at Bochum University of Applied Science and industrial engineering & economics at Munich University of Applied Science. He began his career as a design engineer for BMW in 1987. He played various key roles at BMW Group including four-years as Vice President of Sales & Dealer Development in the mainland and Greater China region, where he led the four-fold increase in sales of BMW and BMW M models from 2005 to 2008. Most recently, he served as the Head of BMW M and BMW Individual in the Americas.

Sources:  Mitsubishi Motors North America, Kia Motors America, Polestar, Hyundai Motor Company.

 

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2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: You Have Been Warned!

dun-dun-DUNNNNNN!!! You have every right to be afraid, track-types. The 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS is here and it is going to kick your you know what around the track unless you unload some serious rolling stock off your trailer. Yes, it’s road legal, and yes, it’ll beat you there too, but this beast’s natural environment is the track.

Get ready.

Front & Center

This line from Porsche pretty much tells you everything you need to know, and with great brevity: “World premiere of the most powerful naturally aspirated series-production 911 ever.” If you can extrapolate from that, you know just what a terror the GT3 RS is going to be. Look at what Porsche has done since day one. They have made more with less at an aggravating rate. For example, mid-1980s 911s were able to run with Ferraris and Lamborghinis with engines half the size running half the cylinders.

Power & Performance

The mill in the 2019 GT3 RS sounds like something NASA would make. It’s a four-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six engine that produces 20 horsepower more than the 2016 version of the 911 GT3 RS. That adds up to 520 horsepower and 346 lb-ft. of torque. It has plasma coated cylinder liners, a central oil supply through the crankshaft, larger bearing diameters, larger con-rod bearings, and a more rigid valvetrain with shims for clearance compensation. The red line is set at a superbike-esque 9,000 rpms, while the transmission is a specifically-tuned, seven-speed PDK unit with performance-oriented gearing.

The exhaust is made of titanium and air is ingested through ram-style openings in the rear quarter panels. Just for good measure.

Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Weight Reduction Strategies

Said plant lives in a home where aerodynamics and lightweight construction have driven the overall design. The body is wide, weight-optimized, and features a fixed rear wing. The front and rear fascias are made of lightweight polyurethane. The front trunk lid and fenders are made of carbon fiber and the roof is friggin’ magnesium. There are NACA ducts in the front trunk lid for improved brake cooling without adding drag. The front fascia has a larger spoiler lip that increases downforce and works with the larger side skirts. Out back, that (comically) large wing is mounted on a carbon fiber deck lid and works with a rear underbody diffusor to make the RS stick like a limpet. Bottom line: Double the downforce of the regular 911 GT3 at 124 mph.

The racy stuff continues on the inside as well. Full bucket seats with carbon fiber reinforced backrests and a high degree of lateral support; lightweight glass for the rear and side windows; lightweight door panels with door opening loops in place of metal handles; abridged sound insulation, and the rear seat? Gone. You don’t need the weight. And the cherry on top is a 360 mm Alcantara steering wheel with a yellow 12 o’clock center marker. Sweet!

Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Ride & Handling

Now, about that chassis. Yes, I know, shoot, we all know, that 911s have certain, shall we say, quirks in their handling. Let me be blunt: 911s can be a complete bear to hang on to in corners. All the chassis tricks, computer controls, and such are working against the cruel physics of having all the weight of the drivetrain way, way at the back. These things spin like a Frisbee.

To counter that, the 2019 GT3 RS comes with Porsche’s Active Suspension Management (PASM), active engine mounts, rear axle steering, and the fully-variable electronic locking rear differential with Porsche’s Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+). The ball joints on all links deliver greater precision than conventional bearings and rubber bushings. Added into the mix are new “helper springs” at the front and rear axles. Ride height, toe, camber, caster, and sway bar settings of the suspension can be adjusted to suit individual driver preferences.

Further, the wheels are forged lightweight deals measuring 9.5 x 20 inches in diameter and are wrapped in newly developed 265/35 ultra-high performance tires up front. Out back there are 12.5 x 21-inch wheels with 325/30 tires. Braking, always a Porsche performance ace, is accomplished by large, cross-drilled grey cast iron rotors measuring 380 mm front and rear, standard. If you like, Porsche’s Ceramic Composite Brake system with even bigger 410 mm rotors at the front and 390 mm rotors at the back are available. In case you’re interested, the ceramic rotors weigh around 50 percent less than the cast-iron jobs.

Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Weissach Treatments

There’s an optional Weissach package available, which seems to be a thing for all Porsche models now. The Weissach package reduces weight even further with upgraded front and rear sway bars and coupling rods, plus an even lighter vehicle roof and steering wheel. The shift paddles are all made of carbon fiber, dropping weight by 13 pounds. There are optional forged magnesium wheels, weighing around 25 pounds less than the standard wheels – but only if you get the Weissach package. Go with this option and the car scales in at 3,153 pounds. Nice!

Pricing & Availability

A lot. Much, much dollars. The 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS is available for order now, and is expected at dealerships this fall. The base price is (gulp) $187,500. The Weissach package will run you another $18,000, and the mag wheels can be yours for an additional $13,000. So, over $200,000 by the time you’re done, and, let’s be honest here: It’s. Worth. Every. Penny.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. 

2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Gallery

Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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Dirt Trooper: Herencia gives the XL600R a military vibe

The Honda XL600R is one of those bulletproof dual-purpose bikes that will go on forever if looked after properly. It’s simple and strong, and in the right hands, a formidable trail weapon.

At around 325 pounds wet (147 kilos) it’s much also lighter than most modern ADV bikes. Which makes it nimble enough for city use—and easier to forgive the hassle of kick-starting a 600cc four-stroke.

The XL600R’s looks are something of an acquired taste these days, with a short tank that’s stumpy to the point of almost being triangular.

But the simplicity of the big XL makes it the perfect base for a go-anywhere custom. Especially if you want something a little sturdier than a modern-day scrambler.

That’s the thinking behind ‘Dirt Trooper,’ an off-the-wall XL600R from Herencia Motor Company of Buenos Aires, Argentina. HMC has a similar setup to Deus: they blend bike building with apparel and accessories to create a stable business. (They even build custom cars too.)

Federico Lozada and German Karp run the motorcycle side of the business, and have made a name for themselves with street trackers.

“We have a preference for certain styles, and our clients look for that style,” says Fede. “But this time, we managed to convince a client to try a style we haven’t done.”

“We didn’t want to go along with the fashion trend that has surrounded most builds lately,” says Fede. “As engineers, we like the process of designing from zero. We wanted to build a custom that could adapt to any type of environment.”

The proposal was to build what Fede describes as a ‘trooper’ bike—with a South American military police vibe. “We had a 1986 Honda XL600 in the garage, in good shape. And we used several parts that we already had in stock, taken from past donor bikes.”

The engine and suspension were in excellent shape, despite the XL being 32 years old. So the guys just slipped on a Ducati muffler to free up the breathing a little.

One of the first creative ideas was to build a new tank, to completely change the look of the XL600 and create the ‘trooper’ vibe. So Fede and German took a BMW R100 tank, and merged it with a traditional metal fuel canister.

It’s an approach we’re fairly sure has never been taken before.

Rather than modify the XL600R’s existing frame, HMC grafted on the complete subframe from a Triumph Scrambler, along with the seat and tail.

Then they worked on the details to complete the final look of the bike, adding front and rear carry racks and treating the tank, motor and chassis to sand-colored paint.

The black LED front lights set the tone for the build: three strips of LEDs installed in a custom mount. Right above is a sturdy mount for an iPhone running a speedo app.

There’s also an ingenious touch to add a little luggage space: the ‘box’ alongside the seat on the left of the bike is a repurposed battery box from a Honda XR650L.

These days, it’ll cost you just over $2,000 to get your hands on a solid XL600R in the States. That’s about three times what you’ll pay for one of its contemporaries, such as the Yamaha XT600S or Kawasaki KL600. But it’s still a relative bargain for a tough dual sport with Honda engineering.

That makes it the perfect custom donor bike. And with their tongues firmly in cheek, Herencia have shown what can be done without breaking the bank. ‘Dirt Trooper’ certainly wouldn’t go down well at The Quail Gathering, but what the hell. We love the style.

Herencia Motor Company Facebook | Instagram | Images by Juana de Ezcurra

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