September 11th Throttle 🏎️💨

What’s up Throttle Heads😎 Welcome back to another newsletter.

Adrian Newey Leaves Red Bull For Aston Martin To Head Technical Department

Aston Martin is hoping to become the leading F1 team when new regulations take effect for the 2026 season. This may be the case as the team has successfully recruited Adrian Newey, the chief technical officer of Red Bull Racing, who will join the team in early 2025 when he officially leaves Red Bull. Aston got Newey for a bargain with his contact carrying a salary of $39.5 million a year. Over the years, his cars have won 12 Drivers Championships and 13 Constructors Championships. Newey was driven to leave Red Bull earlier in the year due to drama surrounding team principal Christain Horner.

Canadian Billionaire Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Aston Martin, is investing heavily in the team in hopes they will be able to clench a driver's or constructors championship by the end of the year. Stroll has already invested in a state-of-the-art headquarters for the team next to the Silverstone circuit which includes an advanced wind tunnel. He has also extended the contract of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso for another two years and secured Honda engines for 2026 onward. I am personally really excited to see Newey build a car for Alonso and it would be awesome to see him fighting for a driver’s championship 18 years after he won his last in 2006.

Corvette Zora Spied Testing With A Large Wing And ZR1 Hybrid Powertrain

The Corvette engineers must have been on drugs when they were creating the Corvette Zora. The latest spy photos by KPG Photography and Car and Driver have revealed this beast to the public and it does not disappoint. While the official name of the car has not been released, it is presumed to be the Zora and will feature a hybrid powertrain. This ‘Vette sports a huge rear wing and widebody kit as the ZR1 with additional spide-pod intakes, and a huge splitter attached to the front and quad exhaust pipes.

The Zora will reportedly feature the same power system as the Corvette E-Ray which powers the front wheels. The electric motor produces 160 horsepower with power sourced from a 1.1-kWh battery back. If we add the 1064 horsepower number from the ZR1, we can assume the Zora will make 1224 horsepower. Although, it would not surprise me if Chevy squeezes some extra power out of the E-Ray’s electric motor to boost that figure up. This added electric power could help the Zora reach the two-second 0-60 mark. Personally, I can not wait to see the Zora hit the streets and smoke some European hypercars at stoplights.

Hennessey Adds A Six-Speed Manual To Their F5-M Roadster

Sometimes an automatic transmission is not enough. Sometimes you need a manual transmission in your 1817 all-American supercar to spice things up. That is exactly what Hennessy did with their F5-M roadster and guys this thing is insane‼️ And just like that the USA and Hennessneey have taken the crown for the most powerful manual production car in the world. Under the hood, nothing has changed other than the addition of a manual transmission. The car still makes 1817 horsepower at 8200 rpm. The gears are staged so full power does not arrive until the 4th gear.

Hennessey has changed the skin of the car slightly through the addition of a dorsal fin decked out with an American flag. Hennessey is unsurprinsgly planning to make just 12 of the F5-M with the entire production having already been sold. They are certainly pricey with a starting price of $2.6 million which climbs as one adds carbon fiber and unique colors. According to Hennessey’s Director of Design, Nathan Malinick, the F5-M is a car for people who want hypercars that are exilhariting and offer an experience like nothing else. Looking at this car, it is clear that Hennesneey is offering exactly that with the F5-M. I would love to get the chance to drive this car someday.

Honda EV Factories In Ohio Will Still Be Able To Build Gas Cars

Honda is gearing up to expand its EV portfolio which is kicked off by the release of the Prologue in the United States. Honda is taking a more measured and linear approach than their competitors whose self-imposed deadlines are being revised as they get closer. Honda stated in a September 6th media release that its EV hub in Ohio will have the flexibility to also produce gasoline and hybrid vehicles. Essentially these factories will produce whatever the American market demands. The Marysville and East Liberty Auto Plants where the EV Hubs are being assembled are responsible for producing some of the brand best selling models.

Honda’s current lineup of vehicles is still in high demand and the automaker is certainly not rolling back production of its popular gas and hybrid vehicles soon. The abapbiltily of the plants also means Honda will be able to maintain production of existing models during the revamp. Honda revealed its new EV platform in January at CES with plans for an electric sedan in 2026. Acura, the brand’s luxury subsidiary, plans to begin producing an electric crossover at the Marysville plant in late 2025.