Ken Block Gymkhana V

Ken Block: Awesome as usual

 

German Bullets?

The elves from Munich just can’t seem to help themselves.  Aimed at overweight middle-aged inadequates?

A 458 Italia-powered Fiat 500 is not a good idea, it's the best idea

Now that’s something; stylish and quick.  What could be better?

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Performance, Hatchback, Ferrari, Design/Style, Fiat

We're pretty sweet on the resurrected Fiat 500. The quirky little hatch is an engaging driver with adorable looks. It is not what we'd call fast, however - even the Fiat 500 Abarth just barely lands itself in "quick" territory.
Fortunately, there are hard-working souls out there willing to remedy the machine's acceleration deficit. Lazzarini Design has done some measuring and discovered that, with a little body work, the 500 can play host to much more formidable powerplant. How formidable? The crew wants to yank the beating heart from the Ferrari 458 Italia and plop the 4.5-liter V8 behind the seats of cinquecento. You know, where the car gods intended the engine in the 500 to be.
These are clearly our kind of people.
But they aren't entirely off their medication. The engine has been detuned from 570 horsepower to a more reasonable 550 hp. Lazzarini says the project actually stretches the 500 wheelbase by almost a foot in order to fit the engine and transmission safely aboard. The whole machine weighs in at 2,200 pounds, even with ballast on both front corners to keep the car planted. If you like what you see, the studio says it is currently looking for an investor to help build the machine. Lazzarini Design estimates the project will cost around $550,000. Check it out over at the Lazzarini site.

A 458 Italia-powered Fiat 500 is not a good idea, it's the best idea originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A 458 Italia-powered Fiat 500 is not a good idea, it's the best idea
Zach Bowman
Fri, 22 Jun 2012 18:28:00 GMT

BMWs Are They All The Same?

Who said BMWs are all the same.  Here’s a dozen different models all distinctive and totally unalike:

First Drive: 2013 BMW M6 Coupe [w/video]

Here is another new Beamer.  It’s like so different from anything that they’ve ever done before.

Other than this sentence the narrative is from the ever readable Autoblog.

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, BMW, First Drives, Luxury

More Pace And Better Style With Less Menace

With the dust just settling on recent tests of the $113,995 BMW M6 convertible and the start of U.S. deliveries in late May, we now get to attack some traffic-free Spanish two-lanes and the 3.4-mile track at the Ascari Race Resort in the third-generation, or F12, BMW M6 coupe, which sells for the "discount" price of just $106,995.
Let's cut to the chase a bit: The M6 coupe is far more convincing as a big M car with this bi-turbo V8 powertrain than either the M6 convertible or M5 four-door.
Of these three 560-horsepower platform-sharing M cars, it's definitely this sleek coupe that takes home the prize on dynamics. It's some 65 pounds lighter than the M5 and almost 290 pounds lighter than the convertible M6, so just on those numbers, one would certainly hope for a crisper, more responsive road and track manner.
Almost as a way of driving home this chief difference between the intentions of the coupe and convertible, BMW dressed all of the M6 coupes we were testing in both the optional five-spoke 20-inch forged M wheels and big lightweight optional carbon ceramic brake discs. The convertibles on hand at this European drive event all had standard 19-inchers and compound discs. And thus the drop tops were not allowed on the track at all, and that felt right.

Continue reading 2013 BMW M6 Coupe [w/video]

2013 BMW M6 Coupe [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2013 BMW M6 Coupe [w/video]
Matt Davis
Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:57:00 GMT

Motorsports: Le Mans rule changes for 2014 announced, engine restrictions eased

These changes are fundamental, extensive and exciting.  Maybe we will once more able to say “racing improves the breed”

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has announced a number of rule changes for the 2014 race that open up the options for LMP1 racers and guide their technology closer to that of road cars, and that should also give fans even better racing than we're used to seeing. Probably biggest of all is loosening the restraints on engine design. Currently, gas engines are limited in size to 3.4 liters, while diesel displacement can be no more than 3.7 liters, with further turbocharger, supercharger and air restrictor regulation on top of that. Those are all gone - "The limitations of cylinders, restrictors and turbo pressures are removed."
Before you get ideas of this turning into a Group B for Le Mans, the cars will be limited to an "energy allotment" per lap. A fuel meter will allow a diesel-powered car 3.99 liters per lap, a gas-powered car would get 4.95 liters per lap, from tanks that are about 12 percent smaller.
All LMP1 cars will be required to have closed cockpits, within which the driver will sit a little further forward and slightly higher to provide more visibility and, it is hoped, cut down on accidents when lapping slower traffic. Weights have been reduced, from the current minimum weight of 900 kilograms to 830 kg for non-hybrids and 850 kg for hybrids, and according to the Speed TV report, "all factory entries will be required to compete with hybrid systems." The cars will also be thinnner. Another factory handicap (depending on how see it) is that "super-exotic materials" will be banned in order to force carmakers to use materials that apply to their mainstream vehicles and not just their supercars.
The ACO believes these new rules will "encourage the development of powerful and spectacular cars and also the development of technologies that have real meaning for the everyday motorist." Sounds good to us.

Le Mans rule changes for 2014 announced, engine restrictions eased originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorsports: Le Mans rule changes for 2014 announced, engine restrictions eased
Jonathon Ramsey
Mon, 18 Jun 2012 00:03:00 GMT

Spy Shots: Aston Martin AM 310 Concept shows up in Italy... could it be the Vanquish?

I have previously blogged that all BMWs now seem to look the same.  Well it would appear that the contagion has spread and infected Aston Martin.  Can’t we have something new please.  They’re now looking awfully boring

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Aston Martin, Design/Style, Luxury

Aston Martin recently took a right-hand drive version of the company's AM 310 Concept for a spin in Italy. The coupe was on hand for a brief photo shoot, and sported a few different details from the model we saw debut at Villa d'Este. Marked by a more sane set of wheels and a more demure grille, this machine looks almost ready for production. Aston Martin has already made it clear the concept could give us an idea of the successor to the DB9 and DBS, and some voices are indicating this could be the next-generation Vanquish.
Despite its ultra luxury products, Aston Martin may not have the resources on hand to dabble in fully-functional concepts like other automakers. As such, it would make sense for the AM 310 to serve double duty as both a concept and a prototype.
The supercar rides on the same VH chassis as nearly every other Aston Martin product, though the AM 310 borrows the 6.0-liter V12 found in the DB9.

Aston Martin AM 310 Concept shows up in Italy... could it be the Vanquish? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Aston Martin AM 310 Concept shows up in Italy... could it be the Vanquish?
Zach Bowman
Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:01:00 GMT

Ken Block’s Gymkhana Four

Ken Block gets more amazing all the time.  This is his most recent offing: Gymkhana Four.  How does he do it?  Watch it yourself and be amazed!

 

Hamilton cannot make Sutil trial

When you are as important as Lewis Hamilton driving cars clearly takes precedence over the Course of Justice.

From the BBC

Lewis Hamilton is not available on the day he has been asked to testify in the trial of Adrian Sutil.

Hamilton cannot make Sutil trial
Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:10:52 GMT

Hi Tech Car Windows

Toyota started the trend to interactive passenger windows with its Window on the World

Now the General’s Future Lab has a crack (no pun intended) at it too.

Cars, Guns and Fun

What a fabulous use of Licence Fee payer’s/taxpayer’s money…is this the first of a new style on Top Gear?  What’s next? Depth charging wales? Shooting down airliners?  Fortunately they’re not very goods shots.

Koenigsegg Agera R 0-322-0 km/h and 0-200-0 mph GPS-verified

I have to say that despite the amazing numbers this looks pretty anodyne, particular when you compare it with what Ken Block does.

And the driver is very brave indeed driving at these speeds without, it would appear, any PPE at all: no helmet,  gloves or overalls!  And I don’t think he’s even wearing a seat belt.

Ken Block’s At it Again

I just love what Ken Block does with cars.  How does he do it?

Jezza…eat your heart out!

You Don’t Have to be an Idiot But it Helps

Despite the best intentions of Ron Dennis and Luca di Montezemolo and the aspirations of teenagers this only goes to show that the majority of people who buy supercars are nothing but idiots.  The only criterion that you have to meet is being rich.  Imagine if Civil Aviation worked like that!

How to Deal With Aggressive Drivers in German Cars

This piece of South African Kit would be ideal for dealing with aggressive drivers in German cars like the one today in his Audi Uberwurst who came within 2 feet of my rear bumper at high speed with Xenon lights blazing because I dared to pull out to pass an Army Landrover when he was at least a quarter of a mile behind me!

 

RIP Sergio Scaglietti

 

Ferrari have announced the death of Sergio Scaglietti the legendary coachbuilder for the company.  Best known for the Ferrari 250 GTO he was creator of many cars from scratch and builder of many Ferraris and one of the greatest car designers of all.

May he rest in peace

The Tough One for the Big Country

Toyota have just released a version of the the legendary Land Cruiser just for Australia.  The Big Country is harsh and unforgiving.  Only the strongest survive.  Range Rovers, Discoverys and Mercedes Benz G-Wagens wilt and die as the Outback pounds them into submission, breaking their suspensions and ruining their power trains.  90% of 4WDs in the Outback are Toyota Land Cruisers!  And for good reason….they are just about the toughest thing this side of an Abrams MBT.

The Land Cruiser GX is specially built for Oz.  This is not the Land Cruiser of Surrey and Bridge of Allan providing Young Mothers with the idiotic notion that their darling kiddies will be safer in a big vehicle on their half mile trip to school.

No this is a real Land Cruiser with vinyl mats, vertically hinged rear doors and a snorkel designed to go where none can go.  This is a tough mutha for a tough country

The Sound and the Fury

Driving along Henderson Street in Bridge of Allan….if only, dream on!

Successor to the LR Defender

LR (TATA actually) are showcasing a potential successor to the the macho mil inspired all-purpose Defender.

Should appeal to those who want to minimise “blue on blue” friendly fire incidents.

Hail the New Champ

There is a new champ on the block with full bragging rights having set the fastest production car time round the Nordschliefe circuit at the Nurburgring.  A Lexus LFA has bettered the record, previously held by a Porsche 911 GT2 RS, by 4 seconds; a whopping margin at the Nordschliefe.  So that’s another one in the eye for Herr Uberwurst.  BTW Toyota also set the fastest time in an EV earlier this week, nearly as fast as the Lexus!