"rad_mike" (rad_mike)
09/18/2013 at 12:22 • Filed to: Alpha Romeo, 4C
2
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"rad_mike" (rad_mike)
09/18/2013 at 12:22 • Filed to: Alpha Romeo, 4C | 2
| 11 |
Was just down in the desert and spotted some slightly disguised 4C test mules. This is one of the 4 in the group. Night photo is the best I could do. I can say that these things are even sexier in person. Beautiful lines. Also the design around the engine bay is very cool - like a mini supercar. The headlights are better looking in person, too. I was a skeptic based on the web photos I'd seen, but they work.
Actually ran into one of the drivers and he was surprised I recognized it. I guess they aren't getting much attention on their drive. Time to up the marketing.
ncasolowork2
> rad_mike
09/18/2013 at 12:31 |
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Looks like a Lambo.
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rad_mike
> ncasolowork2
09/18/2013 at 12:34 |
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Nah, too dry.
William Byrd
> rad_mike
09/18/2013 at 12:51 |
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Pretty sure that's a Buick.
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William Byrd
> William Byrd
09/18/2013 at 12:52 |
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Oh, the other one. That's a hell of a sighting, very nice.
Mattbob
> rad_mike
09/18/2013 at 13:26 |
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I saw that one at work last week. I keep telling people that the headlights aren't that bad. I want one so bad. They are pure sex in person, even with that paint.
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rad_mike
> Mattbob
09/18/2013 at 13:35 |
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Nice. The desert is a fun place for test mule spotting. Michigan plates are usually the first sign. At first glance I couldn't figure out why they were trying to camo a Lotus, then I did a double take.
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Mattbob
> rad_mike
09/18/2013 at 13:38 |
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word. I was just surprised because I saw that exact one (I was trying to figure out what the heck scraped the paint off the rear there), like the other day. That's a long way fast. Car shipping is fast these days. Really cool spot!
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rad_mike
> Mattbob
09/18/2013 at 13:44 |
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No shipping, I'm pretty sure they drove all the way. I'm sure they put in a ton of mileage each day. You can just make it out in the background, but they travel with a support truck. I can't imagine the truck has too many spare parts, but more for all the electronics. Each car looks like it has a ton of telemetry on it and the guy mentioned they were working on engine settings/shift point settings, etc. Can't tell if it would be a dream job, or a really boring one.
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Mattbob
> rad_mike
09/18/2013 at 13:47 |
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Automotive testing sucks for the most part. Occasionally you get to do hard pulls, but most of it is driving at pre determined speeds at pre determined times etc... Having to do exactly what is prescribed sucks. Unless serious thrashing is prescribed for the test. Though, I cant imagine driving these cars could be too boring.
BTW, did you see any indication of who was doing the testing? Like who was tuning?
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rad_mike
> Mattbob
09/18/2013 at 14:12 |
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Yeah, that's kind of what I figured. At least you can enjoy the scenery and eat a lot of beef jerky. I didn't see any markings (even the Alfa Romeo emblems were covered up), nothing in the cars, papers on the seats, etc. Just a seemingly friendly group of guys. One of the guys struck me as European. It was dark, but the engines seemed to have all kinds of extra stuff attached, which makes perfect sense. Strange sensors and air ducting. Plenty of strange tape all over the place too, which I assume covers up sensors of some type. Wish I had time to talk to them and ask questions, though they probably wouldn't have been too eager to do so.
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Mattbob
> rad_mike
09/18/2013 at 15:22 |
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ooooh, now I know how it is to be a industry insider. I know who was doing the testing.