Author Archives: Will@FluxAuto

Icon 4×4 Builds Incredible Resto-Mods

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It makes me happy to know that a company like Icon can exist and be profitable. The core of their business is to take vintage 4×4’s like the FJ40 Landcruiser, Jeeps and Ford Broncos and turn them into usable drivers with modern running gear. They will scavenge vintage bodies and put them on a modern chassis with new suspension and a new crate engine. Icon have also started to use new aluminum reproduction bodies from Aqualu Industries. Autoblog just posted this mini-documentary on Icon’s latest Bronco project. The restored body sits on an Art Morrison frame with Dana axles and Ford’s new Coyote crate engine (the 5.0 V8 from the Mustang).


Source: Autoblog, Icon 4×4

Icon has also done a couple of awesome cars as part of their Derelict line. The same premise applies to these cars except for the bodies are purposefully left unrestored to show off the time earned patina. They then go back and get really creative with the interior textures and fabrics to make some truly remarkable works of art. At the time of this video, they had only done two cars like this: a Chrysler wagon with a DeSoto front end and a 55 Chevy. I like how the guy describes how the Derelicts engage people at the end. There’s a couple of bad words in this video.


Source: eGarage, Icon 4×4

Triple Turbo Diesel Dragster

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Check out this amazing video of a diesel powered dragster laying down a 7.62 quarter mile. It’s powered by an International DT466 inline 6 engine that is similar to the one that was probably under the hood of the school buses you rode in as a kid. It’s similar except for the three gigantic turbochargers that are on this one. The title has a typo, the car makes 300 hp, not 3000. It’s still a pretty impressive sight. I always wanted to do a diesel project at some point. It seemed to be a legitimate reason to buy a turbocharger that was significantly bigger than my own head.


Source: Bangshift.com

GT Channel Interviews The Scion FR-S Chief Engineer

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GT Channel got this exclusive in-depth interview with the chief engineer of the FT-86 on the Toyota side, Tetsuya Tada. I believe he’s the same engineer that was interviewed in the Chris Harris review. They get some pretty interesting details out of him about the development of the project. He talks about interviewing enthusiasts before the project started and how they shaped the decision to use a boxer engine. He also tells the story about how he got Subaru involved even though the car wasn’t be turbo or AWD. Tada gives out a few other interesting facts about the car that you probably won’t get from anybody else. There’s a bit of weird editing at the end, so just turn off the video after the main part ends.


Source: GT Channel on YouTube

Automobile Magazine Explains the Difference Between The Scion FR-S and the Subaru BRZ

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Automobile Magazine just posted this review of the 2013 Scion FR-S. It’s pretty interesting because they do a good job explaining how the FR-S and the Subaru BRZ feel different based on how their respective companies tuned their suspensions. They also talk about where some improvements can be made to both cars. Head over to Automobile’s Site to read the whole article.

The Nissan DeltaWing

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Road & Track got an exclusive look at the new Nissan DeltaWing race car doing some full power testing. It’s currently being powered by a turbocharged and direct injected 1.6 liter inline 4 cylinder engine. Nissan makes the engine and it’s related to the optional turbocharged engine for the Juke. The goal behind the car was to make be lighter and more aerodynamically efficient than a traditional car in order to reduce fuel consumption. That’s why the nose and front tires are so narrow. The DeltaWing is able to turn because its center of gravity is almost on the back axle. That gives the front wheels a lot more leverage on the weight of the car. The design was in the running to become the new chassis for Indy but was passed over for a more traditional design. Now Nissan is picking up the project to race in the 24 hours of Le Mans.


Let me give you full disclosure here. I’m all for new technology and efficiency in motorsports more than most, but I absolutely hate this car. It’s my opinion that the DeltaWing is too far in the realm of idealistic engineering theory and not a practical design. It makes some sense if you analyze the forces on the tires and the center of gravity while the car is static, but I think the car will suffer in wheel to wheel racing when the drivers are trying to pass using aggressive line changing with the weight of the car shifted forward from heavy braking. A lot of passing maneuvers depend on how the car behaves in situations like that and I don’t see the DeltaWing being particularly good for them. I sincerely hope I’m wrong.

Source: Road & Track YouTube Channel