Monthly Archives: August 2012
The sun rises, the seasons change, the tides turn, Sebastien Loeb wins again on Rallye Deutschland, and all is well with the world. It seems that the most successful racing driver in history is fast becoming a force of nature.
Another day brings yet another triumph for Monsieur invincible. Sebastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena made it five consecutive wins and stamped their authority yet again on the rest of the field in the 2012 WRC. In fact, the duo has utterly blown away all opposition this year, with their victory in Germany marking their seventh win out of nine rallies this season. Complete dominance, even by the flying Frenchman’s high standards.
Flying out of the traps early on, as he does so often, Loeb won the opening stage and never looked back, holding the lead until the very end in challenging weather conditions. The man may be a wizard at the wheel of his DS3, but nine was the magic number for the Citroën number one in Germany. He posted nine fastest times out of fifteen stages, earning him an unprecedented ninth win on an event that was only celebrating its tenth anniversary on the WRC calendar this year! No driver in history has ever held such an iron grip over one rally. Of course in Loeb’s eyes, that solitary 2011 defeat to fellow countryman Sebastien Ogier will be seen as a minor catastrophe. And remember that magic number; there is a fair chance that it could crop up again come the end of the season if the current eight times world champion has his way.
It is easy to get carried away by the unrelenting Loeb bandwagon but we must not forget those unfortunate enough to be caught in its wake. The unenviable task of reeling in Citroën’s hefty championship lead once again fell at the feet of Jari-Matti Latvala and his Ford colleague Petter Solberg. However, only Latvala was able to make any real inroads, guiding his Fiesta home in a distant second behind Loeb, whilst Solberg finished up outside the points in eleventh after crashing out from second on day two. Citroën number two Mikko Hirvonen benefited from other’s mistakes and was quite fortunate to land himself the final podium spot on the back of an uninspiring performance. The same treacherous stage that took Solberg’s scalp also put pay to the hopes of Mini’s Dani Sordo and Citroën junior driver Thierry Neuville, pushing them both well down the finishing order. Meanwhile, Mads Ostberg produced another unspectacular but steady display to take fourth place as he continues to earn his stripes at the top level.
All of this may actually seem a little irrelevant right now, as a quick glance at the championship standings would suggest. Loeb bagged maximum points on the Power Stage to add to his already bulging total and now leads the pack by a hansom 54 points heading in to Wales Rally GB.
Critics argue that this kind of sheer domination, or the Loeb effect as it should be called, is paralyzing the sport. And they have a point. Since the heady days of titanic clashes between the likes of Subaru, Mitsubishi and Peugeot, WRC’s popularity here in the UK has undoubtedly slumped, and it is no surprise that this has coincided with the era of Loeb supremacy.
And what a shame that is, because one of the greatest ever achievements, not just in motor racing but in world sport, is going largely unnoticed.
We really are pushing into the dawn of next generation cars. Our much loved heroes from all over the automotive industry are being reincarnated into ever more refined and innovative models. The Mazda 6 when first launched was a breath of fresh air. “Soul of a sports car” was the tag line and the Japanese delivered on it. Straight out of its box, Mazda has revealed to the world the all-new 2013 Mazda 6.
This third generation of the 6 brings with it some seriously seductive design language. The highly sculpted body is extremely handsome and conveys a very premium feel. Designers and engineers have really focused on how the car feels even down to how soft an input changes gear.The sporty saloon also uses new Sky Active technology for greater fuel efficiency from it’s 2.0 litre petrol or 2.2 litre diesel.
The Mazda 6 will hit showrooms at the beginning of 2013 and is to be joined by an estate variation. Pricing is to start from around £22,000.
Now obviously we come into contact with a great many cars. Some good, some bad, and a few ugly ones make their way here too. You see the thing is that no matter how good a car is there is just no such thing as perfect. Even with machines that we give critical acclaim, there will always be one little niggle or something we would change. This is all fine as man has strove for absolute purity in design since the dawn of time and has yet to find it. The biggest obstacle is actually us. We each have our preferences and so a car for you is very often not a car for someone else. But what if we all came together? In a maddening social experiment I turned to twitter to “fictitiously” build the worlds ultimate car.
Over one evening you folks who use Twitter helped me forge the provenience of this vehicle. It is to be of British design, refined by the Germans, styled by the Italians, named by the Americans, built by the Japanese, and priced by the Chinese. With each nation playing to their strengths, every role would be executed to the best of human ability.
So down to the meaty bits. After some discussion it was clear that the world/a collection of people on Twitter wants a performance machine, but not just one that is all about going fast. This will have to be involving and as a result the driver will have to work a little for those rewarding moments. Rear wheel drive and a front engine layout was the clear choice of many. Engine selection came down to a long-legged V12 or a deep bellowing V8. In the end the V8 won out and sits in front of the two seater cockpit.
The cars appearance must be both elegant when stationary but functional at speed. Classic looks inspired by the Jaguar E-Type would encase a high-tech world of gadgets and gizmos. However, this machines crowning glory will be found inside the area designated for passengers. On the dashboard would be a red cap that when flicked upwards reveals a button simply marked “off.” Hitting this puts the driver back in charge of everything. No traction control, no ABS, no stability management. Just the man and the machine, not to mention that tingly sensation in the pit of your stomach.
So, there you go automotive world. That is what we want and we want it now! (excuse the rather crude sketches above, I’m no arts student.)
Hyundai seem to have rustled themselves up something of a flag bearer in the form of the Veloster. The distinctive 2+1 door coupé design, whilst not to everybody’s taste, did break new ground and has since earned the Korean manufacturer brownie points for innovation and ingenuity, not to mention a new found sense of identity. Now Hyundai are hotting-up their most prized asset with the introduction of the more powerful Veloster Turbo SE.
As the first car to feature Hyundai’s all new 184 BHP 1.6-litre T-GDI engine, the Veloster Turbo SE will benefit from significantly more grunt than the standard model, achieving 0-62 in 8.4 seconds and hitting a top speed of 133 MPH. Elsewhere, the six-speed gearbox has been tinkered with to feature wider gear ratios and firmer dampers ensure improved body control. Penny-pinchers (aren’t we all these days?) will be pleased to know that the wallet won’t take too much of a battering in return for the enhanced performance as fuel economy is only marginally down on the standard 1.6 GDi from 43.5 to 40.9 mpg.
Naturally, the Veloster Turbo SE retains the unique 1+2 door layout but elsewhere on the outside it sprouts a few sporty accessories in keeping with its more edgy persona. These include new front and rear bumpers and fog lights plus a revised grille, twin exhausts and a rear diffuser. The rear spoiler is also longer and chunkier and Hyundai have thrown in a smart new set of 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts to complete the transformation.
The interior receives only modest alteration with no bright red flashing dials or jet fighter-inspired centre console in sight. Only the sportier grey leather seats, adorned with the “Turbo” logo, catch the eye.
In truth, all this is not really a drastic change in styling from the already energetic standard Veloster. That is because the turbocharged Veloster does not rely on cosmetics or a cheap face-lift to dazzle the customer, it is what’s under the bonnet that does the talking.
The Veloster Turbo SE will land in UK showrooms from September 24th 2012. Priced at £21,995, it is certainly competitive, but will Hyundai’s new standard bearer really give performance versions of the VW Scirocco, Vauxhall Astra GTC and other established big hitters a run for their money? We’ll have to wait and see on that one…
Hello, or should that be g’day? There are alternatives to everything all over the world, be it a greeting, how we spell specific words, or even the architecture of buildings. Where one nation has found a solution to a problem you can guarantee that another has achieved the same through different methods. Here in the UK our saloon cars do a very fine job of carrying families from place to place, and that is fine… They do their duty admirably but often without a sniff of excitement, however, in Australia things are done a little differently. In Australia they get the Ford Falcon.
It is not unusual for car manufacturers to build region specific products, and the Falcon being solely built by Ford of Australia doesn’t make its way to our shores. So, what are we missing out on? Think of a machine with all the flare of an American muscle car, scale it down so that it will fit into a regular sized parking space, add a dash of refinement, and serve with one of the coolest names you could tattoo onto a machine. The majority of our saloons such as the Vauxhall Insignia are powered by rather dull diesels, the vast bulk of Ford Falcons on the other hand pack a potent 4.0 litre 6 cylinder motor with around 250BHP. And that is just the beginning!
The Ozzie’s do a much more ferocious variation in the form of the Falcon XR6 Turbo that adds 362BHP to your daily commute. You can even ask for a sequential gearbox if it takes your fancy. Granted, your Mondeo that is sat on the driveway might give you more MPG, but is it capable of destroying its own rear tyres in an impressive cloud of smoke whilst you beam from ear to ear? It just appears to be a more exciting way of doing the same job. Their prices aren’t even something to put you off as a brand new XR6 can be had for about $46,500 or a little over £30,000.
Don’t get me wrong. Our Mondeos, Lagunas and Insignias all have their own merits, but who doesn’t want to live in a world where even a trip to the supermarket can include a dab of opposite lock?
The Porsche 911 comes in many different flavors… Rear wheel drive, convertible, GT2, GT3, GTS, and so on. With the introduction of an all-new 911 series the process of launching this wide variety of machines begins all over again. The now current 991 generation only has the Carrera and Carrera S to it’s name. Porsche now think it is time to give the front wheels some of that flat-six power.
Introducing the new 911 Carrera 4 and 4S. Both models are available as coupe and convertible variations to ensure that everyone is kept happy. The car is much lighter than its predecessor and can achieve the 0-62MPH dash within 4.1 seconds in its near 400BHP Carrera 4S guise. Power for the two cars is pegged at 345 for the standard Carrera 4 and 395BHP. With all wheel drive putting those horses to tarmac you can almost guarantee that this car will offer a large helping of “grip and go!”
These models arrive in the UK this December with prices starting at £77,924 for the Carrera 4 and £96,619 for the 4S.
The original Land Rover Freelander arrived in 1997 and instantly became very popular. Slotting in below its bigger brother, the Discovery, this mid-range 4X4 offered much. Capable off road, practical and featured a few nifty toys. This was all well and good but reliability was a real issue. The following generation ticked all the boxes with modern looks and a much better track record for not falling apart. It is time for Land Rover to update this successful model and their new direction is much more premium.
Beginning with what meets the eye, this Freelander instantly confronts you with much more defined design characteristics. The new chrome grill and lights give it a fresh face that work with a more brutish bumper allowing for a muscular overall appearance. A few new lights and grills end the exterior changes, but inside something of a revolution has come about. It would be fair to call the new innards “Range Rover inspired” as their quality and detailing is a significant upgrade when compared with its predecessor. A 7-inch colour touchscreen now dominates the dashboard which is also garnished with some gloss trim. Audio comes curtsy of 17, yes 17, speakers forming a 825W surround sound system. Your usual range of drivetrains and engines are still available, but the front wheel drive model now boasts 47.1MPG.
The British automotive industry was once a vast and bountiful empire producing everything from the Mini to TVR sports cars. Alas, today it is all but nonexistent with a few independents left in the game. Today we received an E-Mail from a new British car company named Trident. Now, I’m all for new Brit cars to come along and bulk up the numbers, but the vast majority are something that came fresh out of a mans shed. In short, they just don’t really compete with “real-world” competitors. However, Trident have caused quite a stir in the office.
Trident are to produce a new supercar called the Iceni that not only produces some pretty impressive performance figures, but also make some numbers that would make the greenest of Prius drivers look twice. But first let’s kick off with the stuff we really care about! Powering this low slung roadster is a 6.6 litre turbo-disel engine, but don’t go writing it off just because it’s an oil burner. How does 0-60MPH in 3.7 seconds sound? Or a top speed of 200MPH? The standard car produces 430BHP but thanks to Trident’s “torque multiplication system” it produces an incredible 950lb ft! That is just a biblical figure! Better yet there is an optional upgrade to 600BHP that makes 1050lb ft of torque as a byproduct.
Some very intriguing, and intimidating, numbers there but the one that will really shock you is the Iceni’s MPG. Ready? At motorway speeds it sits at just 980rpm and will do 68.9MPG.
Salon Privé is thrilling at the best of times. Britain’s most prestigious supercar show is one of those dates in the diary which keeps you awake at night, jittering with a Christmas Eve-like excitement , ready to run downstairs at 7 o’clock in the morning, dive under the tree and viciously tear the wrapping paper off of the latest remote control dinosaur. Come on, we’ve all been there!
If that description sounds very much like you, then you are in for an even bigger treat at this year’s edition of Salon Privé, where Aston Martin has announced it will be bringing along not one, not two, not even three but four of its most exclusive models. Oh, and something of the two-wheeled variety as well…
Where to start? Well the newest arrival is the eagerly anticipated and, until recently, highly guarded secret that is the V12 Vanquish. Such was the mystery surrounding Aston’s DBS replacement that we had to resort to shifty blokes with camera phones hanging around lock-ups to get hold of the first images of the car. As we reported earlier this year, the new Vanquish will be powered by the immense 565 BHP 6.0-litre V12 engine and it will be a pleasure to catch a glimpse of this carbon fibre-clad beauty in the flesh.
The car whose design inspired much of the V12 Vanquish, Aston Martin’s £1.2 million hypercar the One-77, will also be on display at Salon Privé. Possibly one of the most brilliant examples of precision engineering and craftsmanship in modern times, the example on show will be one of only 77 of the world’s most powerful naturally aspirated cars in existence.
Compared to the One-77, the £400,000 limited edition V12 Zagato is a mere drop in the ocean. One of the most exclusive sports cars on the planet, it is handcrafted work of art, combining the stylishness of the famous Italian design house with Aston Martin’s trademark chic. The result is sheer jaw-dropping beauty that would leave even the most hardened design critic drooling uncontrollably. Just 101 examples of the Zagato will be built, with production starting later in 2012.
The support act, if you can call it that, will come in the form of the ultra-luxury Rapide four-door saloon. Only at Aston Martin would a sub-5 second 0-60 MPH executive saloon look positively pedestrian!
No supercar show would be complete without some kind of bizarre sideshow, and Aston have duly obliged, with their attempt to ride the wave of Wiggo-mania currently sweeping the nation. Yes that’s right, if you can’t quite stump up the cash to buy one of Aston’s four wheeled models, you needn’t leave this year’s Salon Privé empty handed; providing you don’t mind peddling. The £25,000 limited edition One-77 Cycle is supposed to be perfectly aligned with its hypercar namesake and seems to feature more cutting edge motorsport technology than an HRT F1 car at about twice their annual budget.
If that hasn’t wetted your appetite for Salon Privé 2012, I don’t know what will. So much too look forward to from Britain’s most revered car maker and not a Cygnet in sight. Perfect!
Not content with trampling all over the supercar market with the mind-blowing MP4-12C, McLaren are continuing their quest for world domination at the global premiere of their brand new convertible, the MP4-12C Spider.
The second model in the 12C range has been unveiled for the first time in public at the glamorous Pebble Beach supercar extravaganza. The familiar carbon MonoCell chassis is identical to that of the 12C Coupé but the Spider now features a retractable hard top folding roof that can be lowered or raised on the go. At the back of the cockpit sits an electronically controlled windscreen which doubles up as a wind deflector with the roof down to minimise disturbance in the cabin.
Below decks, the nuts and bolts of the Spider are all carried over from the original 12C, including the staggering 616 BHP 3.8-litre V8 twin turbo engine and 7-Speed dual-clutch gearbox. This means the Spider will still do 0-62 MPH in 3.1 seconds and hit 204 MPH at top speed, just 3 MPH shy of its Coupé equivalent.
Not exactly renowned for their bargains, McLaren’s premium drop-top supercar will come with a premium price tag at £195,500. First deliveries of the new Mp4-12C Spider are planned for early 2013.
