Auto Industry News: Classics at the Hudson Car Show, a Roarin’ 1937 Chevy Coupe, and Formula E Changes

This Father’s Day Weekend was full of sunshine—as well as some exciting auto news! We saw classic beauties at the Hudson Car Show and a suped-up Chevy Coupe at the Ultimate Callout Challenge. Tesla is facing its usual ups and downs, and Formula E racing is experiencing a few of its own. Not to mention, the 2020 Audi R8 was spotted… riding a little lower than year’s past.

Father’s Day Festivities in New York

Sundays are for the dads! And this Father’s Day, the city of Poughkeepsie hosted the 10th annual Classics on the Hudson Car Show for its greatest paternal residents. 136 different vehicles appeared in the show hosted at Marist College—the best turnout in its ten years of operation! With perfect weather and a stunning location along the banks of the Hudson River, the event was a smashing success. Car lovers enjoyed everything from flat beds to old sportsters, while the host, the Hudson Valley Early Ford V8 Club, gave awards and recognition.

And for those who attended the event in honor of the dads who’ve passed on their love of the open road, the Hudson Car Show coinciding with Father’s Day Weekend wasn’t lost on them. “It’s definitely bittersweet,” said participant Cheryl Castino who, along with her sister, maintain and show their father’s 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix in his memory. With great cars and great fun, this year’s event was one for the books.

’37 Chevy Coupe Build

For those who can never seem to scratch their show-season itch, have we found a treat for you! While many great rides showed up to the Ultimate Callout Challenge, it’d be hard to miss Critical Mass Motorsports’ electric blue 1937 Chevy Coupe build. Dubbed the “Screwed Coupe,” this diesel-powered Pro Mod surely draws a lot of onlookers.

But this car’s got more than an eye-catching exterior going for it. Under the hood is an all-billet 500 cubic-inch Duramax engine built by Wagler Competition Products. With a PSI 210 C Twin-Screw Supercharger on top, S&S Diesel Motorsport set up the custom fuel injection system with three high-pressure pumps and media honed fuel rails. Cranking out over 3,000hp and an ear-splitting roar, the Chevy coupe is set to hit the track this year. We can’t wait to see this Grade A hot rod strut its stuff.

Spied 2020 Audi R8

While the summer shows exhibit some of the greatest classic beasts, there are future household names claiming their territory in the wild. Recently some spy shots surfaced of the under-construction 2020 Audi R8—and it definitely isn’t the same vehicle it used to be. The LOW-riding sport looks even lower and wider than years past, and in the rear it calls back to a seemingly larger oval-shaped exhaust tip. According to reports the V-10 will be standard, but a lower-spec engine (twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6) is set to knock off the previously-available V-8. This should come as no surprise, as the company has stated it will look toward an EV future. Perhaps a day will come where a battery is the only option, but for now, we’ll enjoy our V-10.

Musk’s Rollercoaster Week

Earlier this week, we found out that Tesla is set to cut nine percent of its workforce. This equates to approximately 3,600 workers across various salary positions. While the EV powerhouse didn’t specify how much, the layoff comes as an attempt to save money and generate a profit for the first time in fifteen years.

At the same time, Elon Musk’s Boring Company gave the world another glimpse at the test hyper loop tunnel running under Los Angeles. Released video shows the tunnel propelling a Tesla X from one underground platform to another. Musk hopes this new project will reduce traffic congestion and revolutionize city transportation. The news comes just as Chicago has decided to commission the company to build a high-speed transit system between the O’Hare International Airport and downtown.

Around the Circuit

Even motorsports can’t ignore the EV revolution. And with the Formula E season approaching, fans should expect to see some changes–the biggest being the Gen-2 racecar made by Nissan (teased earlier this spring). But because of this new ride, some significant modifications have been made to the rules as well.

Since the new Formula E car can store more energy, drivers no longer need to make a stop in the pit for a change. And with that affecting the challenge, the FIA has added in some new spice. Two different power modes will be mandatory throughout races now. Drivers will be able to “power up”, a la Mario Kart style, to 225kW of power (25kW more than the standard available during the race) after passing through a designated single activation zone. Fans will be able to tell what power mode each car is in by the lights around the cars’ Halo. And according to theDrive, the amount of higher power modes and how long they last will vary by event, and be determined by the FIA. But it appears that “teams and drivers will be able to use it at their discretion.”

And with the Monster Energy Series on break this weekend, there was an opportunity for NASCAR’s Xfinity Series drivers to shine. The field did not disappoint at Iowa Speedway, where Justin Allgaier fought to lead for 182 laps. Christopher Bell nipped at his heels the entire time but never managed to break away. Allgaier ended up with the checkered flag for what was his second win of the season.