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Past Meets Present In This All-Electric 1950s Racer Concept

By Miles Branman Dec 31, 2019 3:15 PM

Since 1950, Monterey, California has played host to a gathering of the world’s most exquisite automobiles. In conjunction with the first Pebble Beach road race, the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance began as a demonstration of pre-war, post-war, and MG-class vehicles. The single-day event soon became a week of vintage road racing, auctions, and specialty car shows.

Today, Monterey Car Week is a chance for automakers to show off their latest and greatest production and concept cars. Unlike a typical auto show, Pebble Beach tends to draw out the most obscure brand visions. For evidence, look no further than Infiniti’s all-new concept creation. Visually inspired by 1950s racing machines, the Prototype 9 looks pretty far-fetched. However, instead of building a rolling chassis or wedging a traditional internal combustion engine under the long, slender hood, Infiniti ported an all-electric powertrain from its next-generation Nissan Leaf.

infiniti concept — Image used with permission by copyright holder

“It started as a simple thought: What if we found a car, down at the southern tip of Japan, buried deep in the barn, hidden from all eyes for 70 years?” stated Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti’s senior vice president of design, in a statement.

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The Prototype 9 is a narrow, single-seater concept with a brushed steel body, exposed wheels, and a tall single-frame grille. For reference, the Prototype 9 is 3.5 inches shorter and 0.6 inches wider than the new Infiniti QX30. Built from a steel ladder chassis with handmade steel body panels, the retro concept weighs just under 2,000 pounds.

The electric powertrain develops 148 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, shuffling the concept to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. With a leaf sprung suspension and no power steering, we highly doubt the Prototype 9 is easy to drive, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to take a crack at it!

If you’re a bit confused as to why a Japanese brand that launched in the U.S. in 1989 is showing off a 1950s-style concept, you aren’t alone. Still, it’s a badass ride and we’re thankful to Infiniti for keeping Pebble Beach obscure as ever. Will it see production? Don’t hold your breath.

Miles Branman doesn’t need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn’t strong in his own family, Miles… Read Full Bio

Cadillac celebrates 125 years with the Escalade-V

cadillac celebrates 125 years with the escalade v my27 collector img 1620

The Cadillac Escalade has been a symbol for decades. When you think about those who made it out of the neighborhood and into the more affluent parts of your home, you think of them in a Caddy. The Cadillac image has always been the go-to for those who want to showcase their success and their ability to rise above the average. The Escalade became the harbinger of wealth when it became the status symbol of the urban and hip hop cultures.

Now the Escalade is the vessel Cadillac is using to celebrate 125 years with the Escalade-V.

Porsche wants to teach you how actually to drive their cars

Porsche

A Porsche is one of the most recognizable cars on the road. You always know when you are looking at one. So, it stands to reason that people love them, right? Of course they do. But loving a car and knowing how to drive one are very different. What is it that Ja Rule said in The Fast and the Furious? “We know a few things. And one of the things we knows is, it isn’t how you stand by your car, it is how to drive your car. You better learn that.” How do you learn to drive a Porsche? At the Porsche Track Experience, which has offered programs on everything from a single-day basics class up to a three-day advanced course.

Now, the team behind PTX is expanding into new offerings for the car.

The next evolution of the sports car: Porsche redesigns an icon

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Authenticity. It is what we are looking for nowadays as consumers. Thirty years ago, we looked for brand names. We strived for status and letting all those around us see that what we wore, where we lived, where we dined, and finally, what we drove, symbolized our success in life. Then all of that started to stumble, and every industry felt the recession. Of course, the recession was temporary, but the effects of it were not. What we started to look for after that was something real. We realized that stuff…was just stuff. Now, when I look at cars, or suits, or restaurants, I ask myself: What is this going to make me feel?

That is what the new Porsche Mission S does; it makes me feel like vintage New York and the upstate escape.