Lights! Camera! . . . Ford Edge ST?

• Dearborn is going Hollywood with the Ford Edge ST Camera Car.
• Pursuit Systems helped modify the Edge ST for high-speed action footage.

Quick question: Say you need to film a car scene in a movie or a TV show, how do you do it? There’s a number of tricks Hollywood can pull, but if you want to shoot an actual car, driving down an actual road, you have to use something known as a “camera car.”

These are custom-built rigs that run all the way from simple to complex. However, this Ford Edge ST is, to my knowledge, the first camera car ever made by a major manufacturer.

The Weigh It Goes

Yes, I know, technically, this is a camera truck, and not a camera car, but that’s more of a generic term. Most of them are trucks. That’s because not only do you have to haul all the gear, but also the crew. And in a lot of situations, that means the camera operator, director of photography, crane operator, and other assistants.

The Ford Edge ST Camera Car has a huge gantry arm on top. This allows the camera to hang on the far end, being panned, tilted, and swung this way and that as called for in the script. Yes, having that much added extra weight is going to change how the thing handles. And that will only be compounded by actually moving the thing around during a shot.

Ergo, this is far from a normal Ford Edge.

Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Action Jackson

FoMoCo partnered with camera car company Pursuit Systems to modify the Edge ST for high-speed chase scenes and action footage. The benchmarks for a typical camera car are daunting. For one thing, you have to use an industry standard crane system. Those can weigh up to 1,000 lbs.!

Next, camera cars often travel more than 100 mph, being driven with a degree of precision, braking, and handling. All while tracking to precise marks as the camera is rolling.

So, Pursuit Systems traveled from their North Hollywood headquarters to Dearborn and said that immortal line: “Hey kid, wanna be in pictures?” And of course Ford said yes, cause this is America and everyone wants to be a star.

“We’ve never done anything like this before with an SUV because there’s never been an SUV like Edge ST in our showroom,” explained Mark Grueber, Ford SUV Marketing Manager. “It has the performance chops and utility to keep up with fast-paced movie making.”

Related: Best car movies to binge watch over the weekend.

Photo: Ford Motor Company.

The Purge

Ford’s first contribution to this tweaked Edge was a specially-tuned, twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost. Next, they dialed up a performance braking system, added an eight-speed transmission with selectable traction controls, and still made room for the driver and film crew.

Ford also added lots of structural support to the roof to accommodate the nearly 1,000 lbs. “Pursuit Arm.” That’s a company-specific piece of kit, but generically these things are called jib arms. And any jib arm worth its salt has to have all manner of stuff attached to it: Gyro-stabilized remote-control cameras, boom extensions, light set ups, you name it.

Shoot, back in the old days they used to hang the operator out there in a tiny seat!

To compensate for the weight of the crane and film equipment, Ford added an individual-wheel air suspension and gutted the interior. A roll cage protects occupants because things can go very wrong on movie sets. All wires are wrapped in matte black vinyl so they don’t reflect and spoil the magical illusion that is Hollywood.

Related: 2019 Ford Edge employs artificial intelligence in the name of performance.

In addition to the Ford Edge ST, Pursuit Systems has converted BMW X5 Ms, Porsche Cayenne Turbos, and a Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG into camera cars. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

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All In A Day’s Work

One of the reasons I got into film and TV production (way back when) was, in addition to getting to make movies and stuff, I got to play with some really cool toys, like this 2019 Ford Edge ST. Sure, the hours are long, and you’re getting yelled at a lot of the time, but you get the satisfaction of saying, “Hey! See this Cheetos commercial? I did that!”

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: Ford Motor Company.

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Aston Martin DBS 59: Beautiful, Fast & Extremely Rare

• The Aston Martin DBS 59 pays homage to the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• The DBS 59 is inspired by the DBR1 but based off the current DBS Superleggera. 

In 1959, Aston Martin landed a monumental one-two finish during the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the DBR1. Despite hard competition from Ferrari, Porsche, and a team of Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars, the David Brown Racing Aston Martin DBR1 emerged victorious. Sir Stirling Moss – who helped win the 1959 World Sportscar Championship – called the DBR1 “the most important Aston Martin ever.”

Only five were built between 1956 and 1959. And when the last one went to auction at Monterey in 2017, it set a new record as the most valuable British-made car ever. Sale price? £17.5m or about $22.5 million.

Racing Green Treatments

In honor of the DBR1, Aston Martin Cambridge is producing a collection of 24 special DBS Superleggeras. With “24” representing each hour of the legendary endurance race it conquered in 1959, the DBS 59 is a rare and stunning specimen. Expect a hand-crafted interior and graphic elements similar to the original DBR1.

“When Aston Martin Cambridge expressed a desire to create a limited run of DBS Superleggeras inspired by the DBR1’s famous Le Mans victory we knew it had to be something special,” said Simon Sproule, Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer. “The soft metallic hue of the Aston Martin Racing Green paintwork is classy and timelessly beautiful.”

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The Aston Martin DBS 59 is a rare and stunning specimen.
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Gloss, Carbon Fiber & Bronze

Gloss carbon fiber treatments compliment the Racing Green paint. Obsidian Black and Chestnut Tan leather adorn the interior. The front grille surround, “Superleggera” bonnet script, rear Aston Martin script, and Q Fender Badge are each painted bronze.

“My favorite element on the DBS 59 are the seat backs that feature fabric inspired by the DBR1 seat material, but there are countless touches that will intrigue and delight,” Sproule said. “The level of thought and detailing is exceptional.”

Related: How Sir David Brown built a car for the “discerning owner driver.”

The DBS 59 collection includes just 24 models, each denoted by a small white roundel numbered one to 24 accordingly. Photo: Aston Martin The Americas.

Helmets, Suits & Gloves Included

The Saddle Leather Helmet Pods (rear compartment) are for storing the special crash helmets, race suits, and gloves. The set includes period blue racing overalls, string-backed racing gloves modeled after those worn by 1959 Le Mans-winning driver Caroll Shelby, and a replica 1959 race helmet.

There is even a two-piece luggage set to match the interior trim, plus a Racing Green car cover.

Essential Foundations

The DBS 59 is based off Aston Martin’s fastest production car to date, the DBS Superleggera. With a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12, the DBS Superleggera his 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, 100 mph in 6.4 seconds, and tops out at 211. The rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic uses a mechanical limited-slip differential with torque vectoring controls.

Availability

The DBS 59 – versions one through 24 – are available to order through Aston Martin Cambridge.

Aston Martin DBS 59 Gallery

Photos & Source: Aston Martin The Americas.

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4 Reasons To Use A Car Subscription Service

Whether you need to travel for work or commute to the grocery store, having a reliable car makes everything easier. If buying or leasing a car is not for you, then you may find a car subscription service to be just the thing – with a car subscription service, you pay as you go each month to have access to your vehicle. Like with a lease, you don’t outright own the vehicle, but car subscriptions have plenty of advantages, and this article is going to explore a few of them today.

Insurance And Other Amenities Are Often Included

Choosing a car insurance plan can be pricey and difficult. When you are driving through a subscription service you will typically pay a fee each month. Depending on the company, this fee often covers insurance, roadside assistance, and regular maintenance.

This means that you will have less hassle and spend less time trying to budget for maintenance, insurance, and other costs. Roadside assistance is also there to help if you find yourself broken down in the middle of nowhere with no one to turn to. Why pay a premium for leasing or financing when one of the benefits of car subscriptions services is that all of these extras are included?

No Commitment

Many times, a lease will require you to sign on for a certain amount of time – often at least 36 months – and buying a car is usually an even longer-term solution, with car owners holding onto their vehicle for an average of seven years. But car subscription services come with very little commitment.

Since you are on a pay as you go plan, it is rather simple to stop the subscription at any time, and this way you are not tied down or committed to any one car for a prolonged period of time. Some companies even allow you to change which car you drive at any given time.

You May Have A Better Option Of Cars To Choose From

Some companies offering car subscription services are offering high-end, luxury car models to choose from, cars that would otherwise be too expensive to lease or buy, like a Cadillac or BMW. You may also be able to choose from a variety of makes and models with a subscription service, rather than a dealership that conventionally only offers their brand for lease.

Sign Up For A Subscription Service Through An Easy To Use App

These days, you truly can find an app for anything (“There’s an app for that!”). The same is true with car subscription services. It is much less hassle to find a family vehicle or car to travel for work now that car subscriptions can be at the touch of your fingertips.

The best car subscription services are offered through convenient, easy to navigate online apps that allow you to get behind the wheel of a luxury car without having to visit the dealership.

So why go through the hassle and costs of buying or leasing a vehicle? Car subscription services are the future.

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Solar Charging Technology For Cars? Hyundai & Kia Say It’s Viable

• Emerging technology can charge a car’s battery via body or roof-mounted solar panels.
• The “translucent solar roof” is the first system of its kind for internal combustion engines.
• Hyundai and Kia say the solar charging systems will help reduce harmful CO₂ emissions. 

Hyundai and Kia will implement solar charging technology on certain Hyundai vehicles as early as next year. The electricity-generating solar panels, on either the roof or hood, will provide additional electrical power to increase efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions.

Hyundai are Kia are developing three types of solar roof charging systems, known as “generations.”

Generations One & Two

The first-generation solar roof system, applied to hybrids, includes roof-mounted silicon solar panels. The panels can charge 30 to 60 percent of the battery per day, depending on weather conditions and the environment.

By contrast, the second-generation “semi-transparent” roof system pairs with internal combustion engines. Unlike the first-generation system, the semi-transparent solar panels fit a panoramic sunroof. The idea is to maintain “transparency” while charging the battery. This way, drivers can still enjoy having the views a panoramic sunroof provides.

Hyundai and Kia say solar charging systems will help vehicles reduce CO2 emissions. Photo: Hyundai Motor Group.

Solar Lid

The third-generation, or “solar-lid” system, is undergoing a pilot study. Hence why Hyundai and Kia were slim on the details, noting only that it “mounts solar panels on the bonnet and roof in order to maximize energy output.”

“In the future, various types of electricity generating technologies, including the solar charging system, will be connected to vehicles,” explained Jeong-Gil Park, Executive Vice President, Engineering Design Division, Hyundai Motor Group. “This will enable them to develop from a passive device that consumes energy to a solution that actively generates energy.”

Related: Where are EVs most popular? The results of this study might surprise you?

Photo: Hyundai Motor Group.

How It Works

The charging systems have a solar panel, controller, and battery. Electricity is produced when sunlight hits the panel’s surface. A 100W solar panel – in 1 Sun standards (summer noon, 1000 W/m² intensity of radiation – produces 100Wh of energy per hour. In the controller, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), controls voltage and current to increase efficiency of the electricity in the solar panel.

The electricity is then transformed to the standard voltage by the controller and stored in the battery.

Hyundai will launch the first generation of this technology in 2019.

“The paradigm of the vehicle owner will shift from that of a consumer to an energy prosumer,” Gil Park said.

The Automoblog staff contributed to this report. 

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2019 Cadillac V-Series Pedestal Editions: Limited-Production Luxury Hot Rods

• 2019 Pedestal Edition ATS-V Coupe and CTS-V Super Sedan celebrate 15 years of the V-Series. 
• Production is limited. Only 300 are for sale in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East.
• The 3rd generation V-Series cars arrived in 2015; the Pedestal Editions are the last in that generation. 

My first thought on reading about the Cadillac 2019 V-Series Pedestal Edition was, “Pedestal Edition?” Is that some sort of bathroom sink?” I checked the Lowe’s (and even Sears) catalog, and nope, it’s not.

GM’s right. The 2019 V-Series Pedestal Edition is, indeed, a car.

And not just a car, but a Cadillac.

Race-Inspired

Those that need a quick primer, the Cadillac V-Series is their performance sub-brand. They rolled out the first one in 2004, securing their first victory in the Speed World Challenge sprint racing series at Sebring International Raceway at the same time. Essentially, what we’re talking about here is a Caddy with a Corvette drivetrain. Interested? I know I was.

Caddy’s ain’t normally my thing, but a Cadillac with a Vette underneath? Yes please! Sure, they nipped and tucked here and there, so the V-Series are a little less powerful and a little more softly sprung, but I’m still interested.

So, what’s the big deal with the Cadillac V-Series Pedestal Editions? First off, you get two basic flavors: Coupe and Sedan.

2019 Cadillac CTS-V Pedestal Edition. Photo: Cadillac.

2019 Cadillac CTS-V Pedestal Edition

The sedan version, which Caddy refers to as the CTS-V Pedestal Edition “Super Sedan” (super sedan? oh please.) gets a lot of fun sounding goodies. First, Cadillac V-Series Pedestal Editions come in Bronze Sand Metallic. I’m sure it’s a rather pretty shade, but still, it’s brown. And brown is a terrible car color idea. Never get a brown car. The first car I owned was root beer brown, and it always looked dirty. Even right after I washed it.

But other than that, the Cadillac V-Series Pedestal Editions have a bunch of nice perks.

There’s a full Carbon Fiber Package that includes the front splitter, hood vent, rear spoiler, and rear diffuser. The Luxury Package comes with tri-zone climate control (two for the front, and a single in back), a split-folding rear seat with armrest, heated rear seats, a power rear-window sunshade along with manual rear side-window sunshades. There’s a 110-volt power outlet and a rear Camera Mirror too.

The front chairs are “race-inspired” performance seats from RECARO. I’m sure they skew toward the cushy side, since this is, after all, a Cadillac. The Cadillac V-Series Pedestal Editions also come with a Data and Video Recorder system and red Brembo brake calipers.

How the Cadillac CTS became the basis for GM’s fastest track car.

2019 Cadillac CTS-V Pedestal Edition interior layout. Photo: Cadillac.

2019 Cadillac ATS-V Pedestal Edition

Now, the 2019 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe Pedestal Edition. Think of Caddy’s ATS-V as being the gentleman’s Corvette: fast, powerful, still striking, but not as flashy or in your face as a Vette. “I’ve made it. I’m here. I am worth paying attention to, but I’m not going to scream about it, because I’m not 16 any more.”

Like its sedan sibling, the 2019 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe Pedestal Edition comes in Bronze Sand Metallic. Nothing we can do about that. The coupe gets 18-inch V-Series wheels in After Midnight finish versus the 19s found on the sedan. Although like the CTS-V Pedestal Edition, the ATS-V variant gets its own Carbon Fiber Package, Brembo brakes, and RECARO seats.

There’s even a “serialized certificate of authenticity.” Is Cadillac worried about forgeries?

2019 Cadillac ATS-V Pedestal Edition. Photo: Cadillac.

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Power & Performance

The Cadillac ATS-V features an LF4 Twin Turbo V6 with 464 horsepower, 445 lb-ft. of torque, and a top track speed of 189 mph. By comparison, the CTS-V’s supercharged V8 creates 640 horsepower and 630 lb-ft. of torque. The CTS-V tops out at 200 mph and hits 60 in 3.7 seconds.

Pricing & Availability

If either of these sound like the ride for you, Cadillac dealers are accepting orders. The 2019 ATS-V Coupe Pedestal Edition starts at $77,090 (about Vette territory) and the 2019 CTS-V Pedestal Edition sedan will run you $102,590.

Both come with tuition and luxury accommodation for the two-day Cadillac V-Performance Academy at Spring Mountain. Which, I got to say, is nice icing on the cake.

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: Cadillac.

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Brutal BMW: A rare custom R1100 RS from Malaysia

There are a few bikes out there, a tiny handful, that have slipped under the custom radar. BMW’s mighty R1100 RS sport tourer is one of them: despite over 26,000 leaving the factory in the 90s, it seems to have been mostly ignored by builders.

Maybe that’s because the Telelever/Paralever suspension is hard to modify. Or maybe the huge plastic shroud of bodywork is off-putting.

That hasn’t deterred Beautiful Machines of Malaysia, though: they’ve just delivered one of the most extreme BMWs we’ve seen for years. Well, since El Solitario’s infamous ‘Impostor’ R nineT of five years ago, at least …

Based in the densely urban district of Petaling, Beautiful Machines is a collective of enthusiasts from a range of different backgrounds.

In the group is a commercials director, a moto gear salesman, a tattoo artist, and a head mechanic and fabricator. Everyone chips in and plays a role in the building process.

We spoke with one of the group, Jeremy, to find out more about this bizarre yet beautiful machine.

“The R1100 RS has a lot of body parts and fairings, so we stripped it down to see what treasures were hidden,” he tells us. “With a huge tank and a high front end, we went with a Dakar Rally-esque look for the build.”

Called Tebuan Biru (‘Blue Tumble’), the 1996 R1100 is a personal build belonging to one of Beautiful Machines’ founders, Rajay Singh.

It was in good running condition, with no mechanical maladies to fix. “It rode fine, but then the itch started,” says Jeremy. “We thought we’d try something different.”

And different it certainly is. The customizing is mostly in the bodywork, and Jeremy’s crew have managed to radically change the look of the R1100 without firing up the grinder or spinning the English wheel.

“We kept the whole geometry pretty much original, with the stock engine and suspension—this bike is going to be a daily ride,” says Jeremy. “We slimmed the BMW down by removing all the fairings, and then removed the pillion section from the seat to create space for multi-function cargo racks behind.”

The rear rack has been fabricated so that it can easily carry a hard cell fuel tank and plenty of luggage for a long journey.

The most obvious change is at the front, with a very peculiar profile created by a tubular frame. This houses huge dual Hella Comet 500 lamps, the instrument cluster, and another multipurpose rack on top.

“With most builds, we usually like to create a low profile at the front—but in this case, doing the opposite gave this bike a really cool and unique look,” says Jeremy.

The R259 ‘oilhead’ engine punches out 90 hp and a solid 70 pounds feet of torque, and tops out at over 130 mph. So Beautiful Machines have left the internals of the boxer motor alone, and fabricated a new stainless exhaust system, terminating it with an extremely beefy muffler.

After removing the R1100 RS’ slab-sided bodywork, Beautiful Machines were left with a gap under the tank—so they’ve created a side panel that echoes the industrial look of the bike.

Finished off with a slick lick of deep French blue paint and new leather for the seat, the big BMW is now ready for long-distance action. And despite the huge presence and apocalyptic looks, it’s surprisingly practical.

It’ll be a helluva sight coming up in your rear view mirror too…

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