Rallying is arguably the toughest form of motorsport with man and machine hurting towards trees, cliff faces and even houses at biblical speed to set a time. This “do or die” nature that these events have create a fearless breed of driver that knows car control like no other. However, WRC is nowhere near as popular as it once was, at one point bigger than Formula One. To regain the spectacle a WRC rule change is underway.
The WRC Commission sees the importance of getting rallying back on the map just as much as the fans do. Currently the rules see teams constrained to using B-segment cars and a specific engine capacity. This is a far cry from the Group-B fire breathing monsters which would leap through the air inspiring adults and children alike.
The WRC rule change is to come into play for the 2017 season with things to be set in stone by the end of this year. Manufacturers will be able to run D-segment cars and any capacity engine they like as long as it adheres to new fuel flow regulations. There is also a big emphasis on the cars not looking like one another and so it is presumed that aerodynamic rules will be relaxed.
These new rules and regulation aim not only to increase the spectacle of WRC, but may also entice new manufacturers into the sport as well as encourage lost ones to rejoin.
You can find little bits of Great Britain in even the furthest corners of the map; A Savile Row suit being worn with pride at a Business meeting in Germany, Rolls-Royce jet engines fly millions to their destination, and a good old Dyson vacuum cleaner waits patiently in many closets for those moments when a bowl of crisps becomes airborne at a casual get-together. However, there is something else that our little rock in the middle of the Atlantic has contributed. The Land Rover Defender.
Like a constant drumbeat playing through the noisy gauze of warzones, jungles, mountains and desert storms, Defender has become the byword for rough and tumble. These mobile monuments of British engineering are brutally simplistic, but ingenious in their execution. In the humbling humidity of a Turkish Summer, the Land Rover Defender once again proved its worth.
Whilst on holiday in Turkey a collection of friends and myself decided to take an ominously titled “safari tour.” We were greeted by a convoy of old open-top Defenders, all baring the scars of labour. Although I have a lot of love and respect of these warhorses, temperatures of 35 degrees plus in cars of this age led me to vision of radiators resembling geysers and a scorching wait out in the sun. I was so very wrong…
Our route sent us down some roads, well I say roads but more disintegrating gravel trails, and up into the mountains. The Defender strolled through these rutted areas without complaint, likely yawning at how tame these seemingly huge craters in the road were. As we began to gain altitude the cars big old thumping heart showed no sign of asphyxiation, pulling just as strongly. The sight of the convoy kicking up dirt in formation evoked a strong sense of pride. Here we were in the middle of nowhere placing so much faith in these noble machines that have taken a beating all of their lives. Even when the road completely disappeared at points the Defenders never missed a beat, a clear example of why the model has hardly changed throughout its illustrious history. “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”
I was truly impressed with the strong showing from our home-grown heroes.
The pick-up truck… A breed of car with a real “never say die” attitude, a machine that wipes the sweat from its brow and carries on working. I don’t get to road test these types of vehicles very often, to be honest there is only a handful of them about, and so when I heard an Isuzu D-Max was on its way I was ready with all of the usual pick-up associated stereotypes. Cowboy boots polished, stetson on head and an uncontrollable desire to spit after every sentence awaited the cars arrival. However, it turned out that the Isuzu D-Max Yukon was much less of a stereotype than you might expect.
Its size is the first thing that strikes you. This machine is vast! The double cab, open back behemoth is over 17ft long and nearly 6ft tall. If it was any bigger I think it would generate its own gravitational pull. Masculine proportions aside, the D-Max Yukon blends its functional form with some added external features. A chromed grill, door mirrors and door handles creates a more upmarket appearance in comparison to run of the mill trucks. In addition our test car was equipped with these black alloy wheels that complimented the Garnet Red paint perfectly. Factor in the silver sidestep and what you have is a rather interesting combination of aesthetics. On the one hand its sheer size dominates peoples field of vision, but then smaller details suggest that this car isn’t just all about the rough and tumble of manual labour.
The cabin further suggests that the Isuzu D-Max Yukon is not just simply a working vehicle. It is much more car-like than you might expect with steering wheel mounted controls, a touchscreen navigation system, clean centre console design and comfortable seats. The interior is spacious seating five with plenty of head and leg room. This space is also versatile with the rear seats capable of being folded flat or the seat swabs stowed vertically for bulky objects. Surfaces are hardwearing and the whole car has a nice durable feel to it. Whilst some controls appear overly simplistic, with chunky dials to operate them, they make a lot of sense if you were wearing gloves for example. On the other side of the rear window is the trucks bed, another important talking point for prospective owners. It measures 1,485mm X 1,530mm X 465mm making it a very good size. This specific model possessed a lockable sliding cargo cover to keep tools and other such valuables safe. Too safe at times as I had some trouble with this “Lock N’ Roll” cover with it sometimes taking a few attempts to open. The payload itself can be up to 1,067KG which is more than any user is likely to load the car with.
Powered by a 2.5 litre turbocharged diesel engine, our Isuzu D-Max Yukon was the 5 speed automatic that produces 160BHP and 400Nm of torque. Combined with its selectable 4WD and low range mode, the Isuzu is highly capable of being able to pull a class leading 3.5 tonnes. According to Inside Lane maths that is two and a third adult female hippopotamus. Upon starting the engine you notice a lack of vibration in the cabin which adds an unusual level of refinement to a car such as this. The high driving position is almost magisterial as you look down upon just about everything else on the road. Great mysteries such as “what on Earth is causing all of this traffic?” are no longer enigmas to you. Whilst you are aware of its size, the nicely weighted steering and torque on offer work together to make the D-Max remarkably easy to drive. Don’t get me wrong, even with the reversing camera it still can be a bit intimidating to park, but urban environments do not present much of a problem. Around corners on faster flowing roads the car handles its weight rather well and doesn’t wallow or lean too much. On a motorway the diesel engine is perfect of taking the strain of a long journey, but clearly with something of this size wind noise does begin to build. The automatic gearbox seems to know what its doing and shifts smoothly. In terms of economy, we returned a respectable 30.8MPG but feel a 6th gear in this box could produce even better results. Whilst its good road manners and tranquility are arguably surprising for a car of this class, what is not surprising are its off-road capabilities. High ground clearance and chunky tyres are a promising start when the road begins to disintegrate. Put the Isuzu D-Max into all-wheel-drive and there is very little that bothers it. A trip through the wilderness traversing gullies, climbing embankments and trekking through mud did not faze it in the slightest.
The Isuzu D-Max Yukon pulls off a difficult balance of being rugged and utilitarian whilst offering a package suitable for family life. Such a product clearly widens the portfolio of Isuzu which in the past has had its feet predominantly in industry. From £21,249 a Yukon model represents good value also. You might want to leave your chewing tobacco and lasso at home because this car is much more than a two dimensional stereotype. It is a modern-day maverick.
Every year, around 200,000 loyal devotees of the dark arts of tuning converge on the small Austrian town of Reifnitz to soak up the very best in German performance engineering at Volkswagen’s annual Wörthersee GTI showcase. For the 33rd edition of this pedal-to-the-metal extravaganza, Škoda are getting in on the act by bringing to the party a bonkers new take on one of their most recognisable models; introducing the Škoda Yeti Xtreme.
Building on the ever popular compact SUV framework, the new Yeti Xtreme is a rugged rally ready warrior kitted out with an array of off road essentials.
For starters, the car is powered by the same 1.8 lire TSI engine found on the most powerful petrol variant of the Yeti Outdoor. Like its stable-mate, the all-wheel drive Xtreme features a six-speed dual clutch transmission and tops the torque rating at 185 lb ft. 0 to 62mph is vanquished in 9 seconds up to a ceiling of 120 mph. To keep this power in check, the Yeti Xtreme borrows its brakes from the sports-tuned Octavia RS.
The familiar clean-shaven SUV skin is shed in favour of an altogether more rugged persona, more akin to the world of rallying from which the Xtreme takes its design cues. The matt-grey exterior is sharply contrasted by the striking florescent yellow roof and wheel rim inserts, whilst the brawny front bumper, large air intake and 17-inch alloy wheels fitted with heavy duty off-road tyres make this Yeti the most monstrous yet. Practical tweaks include a height adjustable chassis, spare wheel and special traction mats that can be pushed under the wheels to free the Yeti from a sandy grave. Moreover, the Xtreme’s bark certainly matches its bite thanks to the two non-silenced wide tailpipes which unleash a particularly throaty growl.
The rally-styled interior makes use of aluminium pedals, floor panels and door sill plates to emphasise the Xtreme’s more industrial look and also houses several extra WRC-standard accessories such as a belt cutter and fire extinguisher. As if that wasn’t enough, an iPad cradle is integrated into the dashboard whilst a sand shovel is slotted neatly in to the door panel and a first aid kit can be found in the glove box. The cabin also comes equipped with Recaro sports seats, carbon fibre trim plus a ‘Super Sport’ steering wheel with integrated paddle shift.
Release dates and prices for the Yeti Xtreme have yet to be confirmed by Skoda, however, judging by its world premiere at Wörthersee, this Swiss army knife on wheels has the potential to coax out the adventurer in all of us.
Are you intending to make your next-door neighbours Rolls-Royce look like a Matchbox toy? Are you a dictator who does not tolerate being dictated to? Do you wish to induce the fear of God in the unfortunate soul who happens to glance upon their rear view mirror when you are behind them? If your answer is yes to one, or even all of those three, then Mercedes-Benz likely produce the only car that will completely satisfy your inner child. And by “car” I mean road legal monster… The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6.
Dominating your screen right now is a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6. Words are hardly sufficient to describe this biblical behemoth produced by the German’s slightly nutty AMG division. Let us start with numbers because we can all understand something quantifiable. It weighs 3,775KG. That is more than an adult female African elephant! It is powered by a 5.5 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 536BHP and 560lb-ft of torque. It has 6 wheels, 5 locking differentials, 4 side exiting exhaust pipes, costs 3 times as much as a standard G63 AMG (at £380,000), has two turbos and if you took out the huge spare wheel from its loading bay… Will easily fit a partridge in a pear tree.
Thanks to the ever helpful staff at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands, we were given access to a car of which there is only one in the UK, at this moment in time, and just 32 in the world. The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 began as a military vehicle designed for the Australians. The highly capable off-roader in Army guise has a 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine, but then AMG decided that Wednesday afternoons should be more exciting and so plonked one of their engines into it. Prototypes impressed and once a buyer or two was found, Mercedes decided to produce the 6×6 AMG by order.
Obviously this military grade Goliath sports all of the creature comforts a wealthy man or woman could desire. Hiring a small crane to lift you into the exceedingly high driving position, you find yourself bathed in the usual Mercedes-Benz luxury. Seating four with plenty of space, the interior is beautifully upholstered to the same levels as all AMG cars. Above the driver sits a series of gauges used to inflate and deflate all six tyres dependant on what the terrain demands. A 7 speed automatic gearbox is at your fingertips transferring power to all six wheels. The 6×6’s top speed is 100MPH, not that you would want to go any faster in something this vast, but its limitation isn’t electronic. The 37 inch wheels are the cars limiting factor in terms of terminal velocity.
The Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 is an astonishing thing to look at with its flared carbon fibre wheel arches, 6 wheels and sheer size. It has some sort of gravity about it as everyone who looked at it struggled to detach their eyes from this beast. Another typically mad moment from AMG? Maybe, but the world is a much more exciting place thanks to Mercedes putting the 6×6 on the road.
The Dakar rally is one of the worlds toughest motorsports endurance events taking man and machine to some of the most inhospitable environments Earth has to offer. The mountainous sand dunes of the desert play host to this race and for 2015 Peugeot rerun to the event they once dominated. Peugeot 2008 DKR kicks up a Sandstorm.
From 1987 to 1990 Peugeot won the Dakar rally four years in a row. After the French brands record breaking storm up Pikes Peak with Sebastian Loeb, they have set their dights on winning the Dakar once again. The machine to do it is called the Peugeot 2008 DKR and it is a monster! Very loosely based upon a Peugeot 2008, the DKR possess larger wheels than its competitors due to being only two wheel drive. Peugeot reckon the capabilities of their system combined with the benefits on 2WD outweighed those of all wheel drive on sand. Those tyres have a diameter of 37 inches!
For full details on Peugeot’s return to Dakar check out this article HERE.
This year the Land Rover Discovery celebrates 25 years and what a quarter century it has been for the go anywhere 4X4. Its capabilities on the rough stuff are adored by all, but matched by none and its pleasant road manners makes for a well rounded vehicle. However, times are changing and so must the Swiss Army Knife that is the Land Rover Discovery. At the New York motor show the company has revealed the Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept.
As the name suggests, this concept car is a vision of what Land Rover sees the Discovery becoming when it is replaced next year with an all-new model. The much more rounded design is of aerodynamic benefit as well as bringing the Discovery silhouette bang up to date. New concept technologies feature in the 7 seater including a heads up display that projects an image of what is underneath the car onto the windscreen, giving a see-through effect. The idea is that whilst off-roading the driver can spot potentially damaging obstacles.
This new Discover will spawn a family of models including a Freelander replacement.
The Land Rover Discovery is 25 years old this year, so Happy Birthday to you! This strong go anywhere vehicle has been climbing mountains, crossing hostile wastelands and providing the perfect balance between work and play for decades. Its nameplate has spanned four generations each growing in their capabilities. For the cars impending fifth generation it would appear that something revolutionary, not evolutionary, is coming. New Land Rover Discovery to be revealed at New York.
To make its debut at the New York motor show, the all-new Land Rover Discovery will be previewed in the form of a concept car. This model will launch a new Discovery family that is set to spawn several variations. A teaser video has been published and from the silhouette on display it is clear that the new Land Rover Discovery will sport a steeply raked profile with signature wrap-around rear window. The 2015 incarnation has been described as “bold” by its designers and so we wait with much anticipation to see what this legend has for us. As the video below mentions, this is a “new age of Discovery” and so we should expect to see a host of new technologies being incorporated into what is already a capable machine.
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Back in 1941, with the Second World War still raging, the US army was in desperate need of a small, fast yet rugged and reliable transport to ferry its troops safely across hostile terrain. The solution to this conundrum was not only a success on the battlefield but also evolved into a cult symbol worldwide. We refer of course to the instantly recognisable Willys Jeep. More than 70 years on and the firm that conceived that icon, Jeep, is still going strong as one of biggest hitters in the 4X4 business. The spirit of the original Willys Jeep lives on through its direct descendant the Wrangler, these days accompanied by an extended family of off-road siblings such as the Cherokee and the Compass.
As announced by Jeep on the opening day of the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the latter of these is set to be phased out in autumn 2014 and replaced by a brand new offering; the 2015 Jeep Renegade.
The Renegade name first surfaced as an options package on the original first generation Wrangler but now Jeep is giving it a new lease of life in the pintsized form of the brand’s first ever compact SUV. With the all-conquering Nissan Juke blazing a trail in this field, competition is bound to be stiff, but the Renegade will be able to call on an extensive list of all-terrain tech which should make it more comfortable off-road than its more highway-orientated counterpart.
To start with, its advanced 4X4 system is transplanted from the new Cherokee and thus benefits from Jeep’s Active Drive system which can channel 100 percent of the engine’s available torque through any wheel, for optimal grip. The Renegade will also be the first small SUV to feature a disconnecting rear axle for on demand all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Added to the standard package is the Jeep Selec-Terrain system, with four settings ready to tackle diverse driving conditions from mud and gravel to sand and snow. The even more durable Trailhawk edition adds Rock mode to that list plus several other practical tweaks for those lovers of real hard-core off-roading, including increased ride height, skid plates, front and rear tow hooks, 17-inch all-terrain tyres and hill-descent control.
A plethora of under the bonnet options is available on the Renegade, with 16 different powertrain combinations fully tailored to meet the needs of markets around the world. The range consists of four petrol and two diesel engines, including the 2.4-litre MultiAir2 petrol option.
The design is clearly highly evocative of the Wrangler’s utilitarian style, particularly in terms of its square proportions, front and rear headlamps and trademark Jeep grill.
Another segment-exclusive feature is the Renegade’s removable panoramic roof. Manually or electrically powered, the fibreglass roof panel retracts to instantly convert the cabin in to your own personal sun trap. The rear cargo floor panel is also removable and, much like the fold-forward front-passenger seat, can be reversed or adjusted as and when required. The interior design definitely has that tranquil crossover feel to it and accordingly features a snazzy 5.0 or 6.5-inch touchscreen display, however bold utilitarian additions like the passenger grab handle quickly remind you where the Renegade’s natural environment really is.
To be built in Italy, the 2015 Jeep Renegade will be rolled-out worldwide to over 100 different countries, with the first steps on to UK soil expected to be taken early next year.
If you have a “chunk of change” and want the ultimate go anywhere vehicle then the Range Rover is a very commendably choice. Its luxurious cabin keeps you cozy whilst the intelligent technology takes care of the rough stuff. But what if you are after something a little bit more boisterous? Something that doesn’t arrive on the driveway at a friends dinner party, more tramples the flowerbed? The Germans might just have something for you. Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6X6 in action.
Being driven in anger for this official AMG video, the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6X6 is a monster in every sense of the word. Originally designed as a military vehicle, this 6 wheeled monster truck can be had in a more civilised, we use this term very loosely, £370,000 5.5 litre twin-turbo V8 model. Inside is pure German luxury, but outside this highly capable mud-plugger puts all of its 536BHP into dominating the landscape around it. Check out the video.
