The Big 'Pee Pee' Fire Truck

Author

Jordan Greer
August 21, 2024

Good morning, SpeedBites readers!

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY NEWS

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, CA showcased a variety of vehicles, from exotics and prototypes to pre-war and concept cars, with the 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports winning Best of Show. Highlights included rare appearances such as a 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignate and a one-of-five prototype McLaren F1, as well as a diverse range of models from Maserati, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, and a class dedicated to wedge-shaped concept cars and prototypes.

Audi has updated its RS3 Sportback and Sedan models for the 2025 model year, introducing a sharper design, revised chassis, louder exhaust, and a unique interior fragrance developed by a team of experts. The RS3 Sedan, the only version set for North America, recently set a new Nürburgring lap record for compact cars, powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine delivering 394 hp and reaching a top speed of 180 mph.

The European Union has reduced tariffs on China-built electric vehicles (EVs), including Tesla's, from 20.8% to 9%, and BMW's electric Mini from 37.6% to 21.3%, after the automakers appealed for a recalculation. The EU made the adjustments after determining that these companies received less state aid than other China-based car manufacturers, but maintained some tariffs due to the companies' receipt of batteries at below-market value, which the EU views as an unfair economic advantage.

BMW Recalls Nearly 721,000 Cars and SUVs Due to a Fire Risk

BMW is recalling approximately 721,000 vehicles from 2012-2018 models due to a fire risk caused by a faulty seal on the water pump, potentially causing a short circuit. The recall includes various models such as the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-series cars, and certain X1, X3, X4, and X5 SUVs, with owners expected to be notified in early October to have the water pump and plug connector inspected and replaced for free if necessary.

General Motors (GM) is cutting between 1,000 and 1,500 jobs in its technology division, including 227 software engineering roles, in an effort to operate more efficiently and focus on high-priority work. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed openness to ending the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs), and Tesla has successfully petitioned the European Union for lower duty fees on its EVs imported from China to Europe, reducing the tariff from 30.8% to 19%.

The 2024 GMC Sierra EV, a light-duty electric pickup truck, is designed to bring electric pickups further into the mainstream. The Sierra EV, which is set to arrive first with the fully loaded Denali Edition 1 model, features a luxury-oriented design with a quiet cabin, a 205.0-kWh battery with an estimated range of 440 miles, and a unique 16.8-inch portrait center touchscreen.

Stellantis, the automaker, is facing a lawsuit filed by shareholders in the Southern District of New York, alleging the company concealed rising inventories and other issues, thus artificially inflating its stock price throughout much of 2024. The company, which revealed a significant earnings decline in its mid-year financial report due to poor margins and high inventory levels, saw its stock price fall over 7% on July 25, 2024, and is also dealing with the departure of at least five executives and potential cuts for underperforming brands.

MOTORSPORT

Mercedes-AMG unveiled the GT3 Edition 130Y Motorsport at Monterey Car Week, celebrating 130 years of the brand's involvement in motorsport. The 130Y, not homologated to any specific series, boasts a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 671 horsepower, a Drag Reduction System (DRS), carbon-ceramic brakes, and safety features like a carbon-fiber safety cell and fire-suppression system; it will be sold in a limited run of 13 units worldwide at a starting price of around $1.1 million each.

Red Bull's technical director, Pierre Wache, has admitted that the team may have reached its developmental limit with its current F1 car, despite not yet hitting the overall limit of the regulations. Rival teams McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari have been closing the gap on Red Bull, with Wache attributing this not only to their improvements but also to Red Bull's slower-than-expected progress, particularly in high-speed corners.

Ferrari reserve driver, Robert Shwartzman, will participate in the Dutch Grand Prix practice, marking his first F1 outing in a year. The Russian-born driver, who now races under an Israeli license for the Stake F1 team, will replace Valtteri Bottas and this will be his fifth time participating in an FP1 session.

Formula 1 teams are returning to the track after a break, with Red Bull deciding to retain struggling driver Sergio Perez despite his drop to seventh in the standings. Meanwhile, McLaren is closing in on Red Bull in the constructors' championship, Ferrari is struggling with car upgrades, and Mercedes is showing signs of resurgence, while Red Bull's sporting director Jonathan Wheatley is set to leave the team to become the Audi F1 team principal.

What was really behind the FIA's F1 asymmetric brake rule change

The FIA has updated its technical regulations to explicitly outlaw asymmetrical braking systems in Formula 1, sparking speculation that one or more teams were using such a system. However, FIA sources clarified that the change was not in response to current team practices, but was instead aimed at future-proofing regulations and clarifying what is and isn't allowed in the 2026 rules era.

BMW M Motorsport is developing a successor to the M2 CS Racing car, likely to be a 2 Series Coupe, set to compete in the 2026 season. While the new race car is still in its early development stage and its official name is yet to be revealed, it is expected to be priced less than the M4 GT4 EVO but more than its predecessor, the F87-generation M2 CS Racing.

CURIOSITIES

All American Fire Equipment has manufactured a fire truck for the Waverly Fire Department of Ohio, which is humorously decorated with the words "pee pee" in reference to the department's coverage of Pee Pee Township. The township, named in 1798 after the initials etched into a tree by an early settler, has a population of around 7,400 and is known for its amusing name, which did not gain its current connotation until 1890.

The Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1960 and one of only 56 models ever made, was recently sold for $17 million in Monterey, California. The car, which was the first of its kind, was designed by Sergio Scaglietti and features a unique dashboard layout, a competition version of the Tipo 168 V12 engine, and a history of ownership by notable figures, including British racing driver John Gordon Bennet and Ferrari dealer Bob Grossman.

Straight4 Studios has partnered with GIANTS Software to develop its new game, Project Motor Racing, using the engine originally created for the Farming Simulator series. Set for a 2025 release, the game will be developed on a single path for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms, with the developers confident that the engine can be refined to suit the advanced physics required for a racing game.

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