ETC: NASA invites students to design future Moonbuggy prototypes [w/video]

There are a lot of awards handed out at the Great Moonbuggy Race, from 'Most Improved' to 'Crash and Burn,' but the one every team wants is the first-place trophy. This year was the 20th year of the annual event, held at the US Space & Rocket Center under the auspices of NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Aerojet, and it was two teams from Puerto Rico that took first in both high school and college divisions.

The race tested proof-of-concept vehicles created by 89 teams of high school and college students from around the world. Teams of six competitors include one male and one female driver and they have to design a buggy that, disassembled , fits into a 4x4x4 space. When the clock starts, the teams have to build their buggies and run them over a half-mile course that mimics the moonscape; whichever team has the shortest combined time wins. The winning time from Teodoro Aguilar Moro Vocational High School (pictured) was 3:24, while the collegiate entry from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao won with a time of 3:32.

There's a press release below with more details and a list of all the winners, plus a video from NASA Television on last year's race.

Puerto Rico Teams Take Top Spots at 20th NASA Great Moonbuggy Race

4/27/2103 -- NASA today declared the winners of the 20th NASA Great Moonbuggy Race at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. Team 1 from Teodoro Aguilar Mora Vocational High School of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, won first place in the high school division; racers from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao claimed the college-division trophy.

The winning teams outraced more than 89 teams from 23 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, India, Germany, Mexico and Russia. Approximately 600 student drivers, engineers and mechanics -- plus their team advisors and cheering sections -- gathered April 26-27 for the 20th "space race."

Organized by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, the race challenges students to design, build and race lightweight, human-powered buggies. Traversing the grueling half-mile course, which simulates the cratered lunar surface, race teams face many of the same engineering challenges dealt with by Apollo-era lunar rover developers at the Marshall Center in the late 1960s. The winning teams post the fastest vehicle assembly and race times in their divisions, with the fewest on-course penalties.

The team from Teodoro Aguilar Mora Vocational High School, in its third year in the competition, finished the half-mile course in 3 minutes, 24 seconds. The University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, who won second place in the college division in the 2012 race, brought home a first-place win, finishing in 3 minutes, 32 seconds.

Finishing in second place this year in the high school division was Jupiter High School Team 1 of Jupiter, Fla. In third place was Jupiter High School Team 2.

International Space Education Institute/Moscow Aviation University "Team Russia" of Moscow won second place in the college division; and Middle Tennessee State University of Murfreesboro took home third place.

Race organizers presented both first-place winners with trophies depicting NASA's original lunar rover. Sponsor SAIC of Huntsville provided every participating moonbuggy team with a commemorative plaque. Sponsor Lockheed Martin Corp. of Huntsville presented the first-place high school and college teams with cash awards of $3,000 each.

Individuals on the winning teams also received commemorative medals and other prizes. (For a complete list of additional awards for design, most improved and spirit, see below.)

The race is inspired by the original lunar rover, first piloted across the moon's surface in the early 1970s during the Apollo 15 mission, and used in the subsequent Apollo 16 and 17 missions. Eight college teams participated in the first NASA Great Moonbuggy Race in 1994. The race was expanded in 1996 to include high school teams, and student participation has swelled each year since.

NASA's Great Moonbuggy Race has been hosted by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center since 1996. Major corporate sponsors for the race are Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Aerojet and Jacobs Engineering ESSSA Group, all with operations in Huntsville.

For more information about the race, visit: http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov

For information about other NASA education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education

NASA's 20th Great Moonbuggy Race
ADDITIONAL AWARDS AND PRIZES
Neil Armstrong Best Design Award (for solving engineering problems associated with lunar travel):
Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology in Reno, Nev.
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in Carbondale, Ill.

Featherweight Award (for the lightest buggy on the track):
Escuela Superior Rafaelina E. Labron Flores in Patillas, Puerto Rico
Purdue University Calumet Team 1 in Hammond, Ind.

AIAA Telemetry and Electronics Award (for the most innovative onboard data-gathering and delivery system):
Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering in Maharashtra, India

Frank Joe Sexton Memorial Pit Crew Award (for ingenuity and persistence in overcoming problems during the race. Sexton, a NASA welder who mentored numerous welders and engineers among the Marshall workforce, worked on the original lunar rover and numerous other space vehicles until his death in 2000):
Fairhope High School Team 1 and Team 2 in Fairhope, Ala.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas

Crash and Burn Award (for the team that endures the most spectacular vehicle breakdown):
Bevill State Community College Team 1 in Sumiton, Ala.

Spirit Award (for overall team energy, enthusiasm and camaraderie):
Petra Mercado High School in Humacao, Puerto Rico

Rookie Award (for fastest course completion by a new race team):
Escuela Superior Rafaelina E. Labron Flores in Patillas, Puerto Rico
North Dakota State University in Fargo

Most Improved Award (for the most dramatically improved engineering and performance):
Huntsville Center for Technology Team 1 in Huntsville, Ala.
Middle Tennessee State University Team 1 in Murfreesboro

Best Report Award (technical documentation of the equipment and procedures used in design, build, test and the results obtained):
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

System Safety Award
University of Alabama in Huntsville

Lunartic Award (presented by AIAA to the team in each division that wins the Moon Bowl, a lunar science quiz):
New Britain High School in New Britain, Conn.
Accurate Institute of Management & Technology in Uttar Pradesh, India

Best Question of the Rover Pioneers Award (for best question asked during an April 26 event with members of the original lunar rover team):
Cape Girardeau Career & Tech Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. -- Husan Wadi

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Video: eGarage video features Helmuth Bott's personal Porsche 959 prototype

"We thought we were going to build a super-911," said Peter Schutz, former CEO of Porsche AG of the development of the Porsche 959. That was before it started getting expensive. At that point, Helmuth Bott, Porsche R&D director got frightened. Costs ballooned because of the all-wheel drive, sequential turbocharging and other technology Porsche had never even thought about when it set out to build a 911 to compete in Group B. Schutz continued, "The amount of resources we were committing got totally out of hand." Instead of pulling the plug, Bott doubled down and drew on the strength of his brilliant team to build a car whose impact is still echoing aross the industry.

"It's probably one of our most prized possessions" says Don Leatherwood, Director of the Brumos collection where Dr. Bott's personal prototype resides, and where Frazer Spowart went to see the car and create a video for eGarage. Check out the sights and sounds of the 959 before it was the 959, and get personal takes on the car from Hurley Haywood, Peter Schutz and Don Leatherwood. Keep reading to see the video.

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Opinion: Happy 50th birthday, Jeep Wagoneer

The Wagoneer got the SUV on the radar of buyers looking for something capable, comfortable and rugged.

The Jeep Wagoneer was introduced 50 years ago, and it's that vehicle we have to thank for the herds of excellent crossovers and SUVs that make up our current automotive landscape. On a personal level, I have always loved the full-size Jeeps and their crisp Brooks Stevens styling, which aged well over their long tenure on the market. The SJs, as they're known among enthusiasts, were the Wagoneer and its two-door counterpart, the original Cherokee. The Wagoneers had become true luxury vehicles by the end of their run, which stretched form late 1962 as a '63 model all the way to 1991, when they were offered exclusively under the Grand Wagoneer nameplate.

At the end of the line in 1991, The New York Times called the Grand Wagoneer "one of the last true gas guzzlers" as it eulogized the vehicle. It deserves more respect than that; the Wagoneer got the SUV on the radar of buyers looking for something capable, comfortable and rugged. People who could afford such luxuries seemed to understand its purpose. At the end of production, the average Grand Wagoneer buyer pulled in over $100,000 a year, and the Jeep often served as a second or third car. There is no denying that the Wagoneer invented the luxury SUV, years before the Range Rover was ever offered for sale.

You can't buy a brand-new Wagoneer anymore, though there's been talk of bringing the model name back. In the mid-2000s, Jeep had the Commander, which was similar, though not enough to be successful. That doesn't mean that people don't still want to buy a vehicle that hits the same high notes the old Wagoneer did. You can still buy an original Wagoneer, good as new, or even better, from specialists like Wagonmaster, who find and restore these classics.

The symphony originally composed by the Grand Wagoneer still makes beautiful music.

I was looking for the Wagoneer's traits in a brand-new vehicle on my own recent car search. It turns out the original inspiration that thrived under Willys, American Motors and Chrysler still has merit. It also turns out that you can still buy a a suburb-friendly four-by-four that can go to the opera, up north for a ski vacation, or bravely traverse a muddy and rutted dirt road, and it still has a Jeep badge.

That's why I wound up with a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, one of the Wagoneer's progeny, and a direct descendant of the ZJ Grand Cherokee that took the Wagoneer's place in the Jeep lineup in 1992. The Grand Cherokee has a lot of its grandfather's traits. It's magnificent to drive, exceptionally quiet, very comfortable and luxurious, to boot.

Let's not argue the merits of an SUV versus station wagons or minivans, as all three of those segments are good ideas. Automakers do well when they give the people what they want, and that's why there's a chorus of luxury SUVs on the market. The Grand Wagoneer not only opened the door for its successors, but for vehicles like the BMW X5 and Mercedes ML, not to mention the Cadillac Escalade. The symphony originally composed by the Grand Wagoneer has turned into a standard in the American Vehicular Songbook, and it still makes beautiful music.

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Official: Ford to add more than 2,000 jobs in Kansas City

Continued high demand for the Ford F-150, along with the addition of the all-new Transit series of commercial vehicles, has led Ford to announce that it will add over 2,000 jobs at its Kansas City Assembly Plant. At the time of the announcement, the plant boasts 2,450 hourly employees working on two shifts. All told, Ford will invest $1.1 billion in the Kansas City plant to expand truck production and begin producing the Transit series.

According to the automaker, fullsize truck sales are up 19 percent through April of 2013, leading to an additional 900 workers and a third shift of production for the F-150. Production of the Transit series will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, requiring an additional 1,100 workers. In addition, Ford estimates that a total of 18,000 jobs will be created by suppliers to its Kansas City plant to support the additional vehicle production.

Want to know more? Scroll down for the complete press release.

Ford Adding 2,000-Plus Jobs at Kansas City Assembly Plant to Support Surging F-150 Demand, Transit Launch

Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant will add more than 2,000 jobs to support high demand for F-150, plus the planned production of the all-new Transit family of commercial vehicles starting next summer; more than 1,000 will be new hires

Ford F-Series sales up 24 percent in April and 19 percent year to date; full-size truck segment growing three times faster than industry average and is fastest-growing segment this year

Ford has reached 75 percent of its goal to create 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 2, 2013 â€" Ford, the industry truck leader, will add more than 2,000 jobs at its Kansas City Assembly Plant to meet surging demand for the Ford F-150 and planned production of the all-new Ford Transit.

"The housing market is strengthening, we are seeing growth in the U.S. economy, and the truck segment is growing three times faster than the overall industry," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. "Our Built Ford Tough F-150 is America's favorite pickup, and we are going to step up operations at Kansas City to ensure we have enough trucks to meet customer demand."

Ford is adding 900 jobs and a third crew in the third quarter to build F-150. U.S. sales of Ford F-Series trucks increased 24 percent in April and 19 percent year to date. Ford also is adding another 1,100 jobs starting in the fourth quarter to prepare for introduction of the all-new Ford Transit full-size van in 2014.

"For customers who want a modern van that is as tough and smart as the F-Series, the all-new Ford Transit van delivers â€" with better fuel economy, more capability, and the greatest number of technology choices and innovative configurations full-size van buyers have ever seen," Hinrichs said.

Kansas City Assembly

Kansas City Assembly Plant produces the Ford F-150 regular, SuperCab and SuperCrew and will produce the Ford Transit. The plant currently has 2,450 hourly employees working on two shifts and will add a third crew in the third quarter.

Ford is investing $1.1 billion to retool and expand the facility for production of both the F-150 and Transit, including a 437,000-square-foot stamping facility and a 78,000-square-foot paint shop.

The new stamping facility was completed in 2012. The paint shop expansion will include installation of the three-wet paint process, which is more environmentally friendly and requires less time than conventional paint processes â€" without compromise to Ford paint quality or durability.

"Today we celebrate the commitment to excellence displayed by the men and women of Kansas City Assembly Plant," said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director of the National Ford Department. "These additional jobs are the direct result of the dedicated effort our UAW members display every day at facilities all across the country, and serve as another reminder of the resilience of American workers and our nation's manufacturing sector."

With the investment and new jobs at Kansas City, Ford is three-quarters of the way to delivering on its plan to create 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015. The company also is investing $16 billion in its U.S. product development and manufacturing operations â€" including $6.2 billion in plant-specific investments. These actions, including today's announcements, are consistent with Ford's previous 2013 financial guidance for the total company and North America.

Community impact

The plant expansion has a major impact in the local community and beyond. Kansas City Assembly Plant has more than 250 suppliers nationally and more than 10 suppliers locally that will benefit from the adding of a third crew. Additionally, when Transit production starts next year, close to 275 suppliers nationally and six suppliers locally will grow their businesses. According to the job multiplier effect of nine jobs to every one â€" more than 18,000 jobs will be created to support the plant.

"Today's announcement is yet another testament to our successful efforts to revitalize Missouri's automotive manufacturing industry, which continues to gain steam," said Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. "This third shift for production of the F-150 will create hundreds of additional manufacturing jobs for workers in this region and ensure Missouri continues to lead the rebirth of the American auto industry for years to come."

Ford F-150
The Built Ford Tough F-150, part of the F-Series lineup, delivers the segment's best combination of power, capability, safety and fuel economy.

Now in its 65th year, F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 36 consecutive years, the best-selling vehicle in America for 31 consecutive years, and the brand with the most trucks on the road with more than 250,000 miles on the odometer, as certified by Polk.

The Kansas City-built F-150 is the first choice for tradespeople who need the most durable, advanced truck on the market. For example, F-150 leads in a variety of fields, including:

68 percent share in hazardous materials work
67 percent share in the oil pipeline industry
62 percent market share in road and highway maintenance

F-150 also boasts leading safety ratings. Its fully boxed frame, made from high-strength hydroformed steel, provides a backbone built for increased durability and safety. F-150 has earned top safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Overall, F-150 offers customers the broadest lineup in the segment with 10 models, which include the work-ready XL, the sporty and capable FX, the well-balanced XLT, the refined and luxurious Limited and the no-compromise off-road SVT Raptor.

Ford F-150 also features an unrivaled four engine choices, including the advanced 3.5-liter EcoBoost®, to help customers find the most fuel-efficient and capable engine to meet their needs. Ford's patented EcoBoost engine delivers an unmatched combination of best-in-class towing and payload, torque and fuel economy. More than 300,000 EcoBoost engines have been sold for F-150; it is now Ford's best-selling truck engine.

Ford Transit

The familiar van that delivers packages or shuttles airport passengers is about to change in a revolutionary way. The all-new Ford Transit will provide tradespeople and businesses with unmatched fuel economy, innovative new configurations and leading versatility in the expanding commercial vehicle market.

Transit is born from nearly a century of hard-earned experience delivering two distinct full-size vans to customers in America, Europe and other global markets. For the United States, Transit eventually replaces E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline and America's best-selling commercial van for 34 years. Transit was first sold in 1965. It's the best-selling commercial van in Europe.

Customers will have more choices than ever from a Ford van. Transit will be offered in three body lengths, two wheelbases and three roof heights. Cargo volume ranges from about 250 to almost 500 cubic feet â€" more than twice the volume of today's standard E-Series, saving the customer fuel costs and the time and hassle of a second delivery trip.

Designed and developed to provide efficient service over the long haul, Ford Transit will be at least 25 percent more fuel-efficient than E-Series, helping save Transit owners thousands of dollars in fuel costs over its service life.

Transit has been tested to the Built Ford Tough truck standards at Ford's proving grounds and in the hands of real-world fleet customers in North America.

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Video: Motor Trend does the Cuban classic car thing

As car enthusiasts, we all know the little gem about classic American cars driving around the streets of Cuba, but few of us will ever be able to see these sites first hand. Fortunately, Motor Trend recently spent some time in the land of cigars, mojitos and Yank Tanks to create this incredible mini-documentary about the cars and the country for the latest video in its Epic Drives series.

While the cars look like they came straight out of the 1950s, most of them are powered by modern-ish engines for the sake of fuel economy and ease of repair. An old Pontiac in the video is powered by a four-cylinder diesel sourced from Hyundai-Kia, while a '53 Oldsmobile has borrowed the engine from a Soviet welder to get it around. Now, this is not your normal Motor Trend video that spends the entire time talking cars, but rather it's something more along the lines of what you might see on the Travel Channel. It's definitely worth checking out in the video below. When you're done, let us know what cool cars you spot running around the streets of Havana in the Comments.

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