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Article source: http://www.performance-car-guide.co.uk/rare-f1-car-to-return-at-the-silverstone-classic.html

Rare F1 car to return at the Silverstone Classic One of the rarest and most intriguing Formula One cars of all times will return to racing after a 50 year absence at next month’s Silverstone Classic (22-24 July).

The extraordinary front-engined Scarab was the first American Formula 1 car, built by wealthy enthusiast Lance Reventlow, who was the son of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton and the step-son of actor Cray Grant.

After success with sports cars, Reventlow decided to tackle Grand Prix racing and the Scarab single-seater made its debut at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix. But by the time the front-engined car was ready to race, Lotus and Cooper had made the switch to rear-engined designs and the Scarab was out-classed.

Chassis number three – now in the hands of new owner Julian Bronson – was one of the original trio of cars taken to Zandvoort in 1960 as a spare with no engine. It was then acquired by Tom Wheatcroft in 1964 and spent many years in the Donington Collection. The other two front-engined Scarabs are owned and raced by US enthusiast Don Orosco.

“I bought it from the Donington Collection,” confirmed Bronson, who hopes to have it ready for the Pre ’61 Front-Engined Grand Prix Car races during the Silverstone Classic. It will race with a 2.5-litre Offenhauser engine, which has been built in Cincinnati.

Bristol-based Bronson has been working flat out to get the car ready to race at the end of July and took delivery of the engine at the end of May. He has had a replica set of bodywork made so that the original set can be safely stored away in case of damage. “It will run in exactly the same livery,” confirmed Bronson.

“It’s going to be close to be ready for Silverstone, but we should do it,” he admitted. “It would be lovely to give it a debut race at the Silverstone Classic. It’s really exciting. I’ve always wanted a front-engined Grand Prix car and this is just about the last of them. It’s just incredible; such an exciting car.”

Event Director, Nick Wigley is certainly pleased to see such an historically significant F1 car back in action. He said: “We are really excited to welcome the Scarab to the Silverstone Classic and to be hosting the return to racing of such a rare car, and so pleased to see it will be running in its proper form with a 2.5-litre engine, and in its original livery. The car should be very competitive on the GP circuit so we expect to see Julian on the podium, hopefully a just reward for all the effort he will have put in.”

What Is It?

The is Mazda’s largest offering—a three-row, seven-seat SUV that’s powered by a sweet 3.7-liter V-6 that makes 273 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. CX-9s are offered in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations. The vehicle received an extensive refresh for the 2010 model year that included new front and rear lights and the “Mazda family face,” which is the polite way of saying it got a gaping maw planted across its front bumper. Pretty it ain’t. Inside, there are enhanced seating surfaces and richer materials, as well as the liberal use of chrome accents. Active headrests are now fitted to all models. Finally, there are a few changes to the list of available features, among them a redesigned climate-control system for the rear seats and a new, 4.3-inch LCD that provides a more intuitive interface for the audio and phone systems.

How Does It Drive?

For a biggish SUV, the CX-9 offers the most enjoyable driving experience in its class. Mazda seems to take the view that just because a vehicle has to haul humans and cargo around, it doesn’t have to be a fun-free zone. The CX-9 has communicative steering, really good body control for an SUV, and actually seems to like corners, which isn’t always the case with this type of vehicle. The ride quality is surprisingly supple in view of this athleticism.

Performance is solid, too. Even though the mechanicals carry over unchanged from 2009, we thought we’d see if the big smiley face up front added a spring to the CX-9’s step. We’ve now tested a number of CX-9s, and this latest all-wheel-drive Grand Touring model was right in the same accelerative ballpark: 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds and a standing quarter-mile time of 16.0 at 88 mph. Skidpad grip was 0.77 g, slightly down on the best CX-9 number of 0.81 g but still commendable for such a large SUV. We’ve always been impressed by the vehicle’s braking performance, and this example managed to stop from 70 mph in 176 feet, stellar for a large crossover SUV and just shy of the CX-9’s 173-foot record set by our

.

Fuel consumption isn’t the strongest suit, however. The EPA says the CX-9 is good for urban and highway mileage of 15 and 21 mpg, but we only managed 15 mpg combined in our time with the vehicle. This was probably because there was a large portion of urban mileage, as we averaged 19 mpg on a past comparison test that involved a lot more highway driving. Even so, the CX-9’s mileage was midpack on that comparo.

How Does It Stack Up?

The refined interior finishes—chrome accents and piano black trim pieces—enhance what is already a classy space. The larger information screen is easy to use, and a keyless access fob is more grown up than the silly key card Mazda used to offer. Externally, we’re not sure about the front end, but it’s, um, certainly distinctive. The CX-9 is a solidly competitive proposition in this class, finishing second in a

in November 2008, where it ultimately lost out to our perennial favorite, the

.

What’s the Cost?

There are three versions of the CX-9: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. The base CX-9 comes pretty well equipped at $29,385; add about $1400 for all-wheel drive. A GT version like our tester ($33,395 base with front-wheel drive) adds fog lights; a memory-equipped power driver’s seat; keyless start; and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The GT also gets 20-inch wheels and a blind-spot-warning system. Leather seating that’s standard on the Touring model is carried over.

One advantage of the GT model is that it’s possible to specify some desirable goodies that aren’t available on lesser versions. The only way to get a rear-seat entertainment system, a towing package, or a navigation system is to buy the GT model. Our tester came equipped with all-wheel drive ($1400); a navigation system ($1665); a rear-bumper step plate ($150); a power rear liftgate ($400); and a package that bundles a sunroof with an uplevel Bose audio system and Sirius satellite radio ($2255). Grand total: $39,265. True sybarites would add the rear-seat entertainment system for an additional $3055, but you don’t need that—or any other extras, really—to enjoy driving this big Mazda.

Article source: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q2/2010_mazda_cx-9_awd-quick_test

9eight9 Presents: New 2010 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring