Evo has come up trumps with a great Porsche comparison. Jethro Bovingdon takes a brand new Cayman GTS and compares it to a 10-year-old GT3. Which is better? Which one would you buy?
[Thanks to Tim for the tip]
The title of this piece is a quote from a chap called John Pogson. He’s a mechanic (and a bit more) who owns Italia Autosport and, yes, he specialises in Ferrari F40s and most things from Maranello.
John’s quote above might sound like the words of an arrogant man who doesn’t offer his time lightly. Yet, in this Xcar film at least, he comes across as a humble bloke who just loves cars and happens to be good at what he does, either with a spanner or a steering wheel in his hand.
Then, just when you start to think this guy is a pretty cool dude, he goes and wheels out his 600hp AC Cobra!
[Thanks to John for the tip]
Categories
Re-introducing the Porsche 718
Porsche plans to introduce a sub-Boxster model called the 718 roadster and it will be on sale in 2016, according to various media outlets. We say “re-introducing” the 718 because those of you playing at home may recall there was a 718 open-top racecar back in the late 1950s. This time, though, we’re talking full production-spec road car.
Talk of a baby Boxster has been around for a few years now, with the predicted MiMo platform spawning models for Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen. It’s not clear if that will be the case for the 718, but we’re told it will be built using modified Boxster architecture with a sub-1200kg target weight. The wheelbase, for example, will be the same as the Boxster, although the 718 will have a completely new body with more compact dimensions.
In a bid to keep weight down the 718 will employ a manually operated canvas roof with a lightweight perspex rear window. Inside, too, the cabin will be sparse and feature minimal equipment.
The 718 will be powered by Porsche’s new four-cylinder engine range and is designed to compete with the likes of the Alfa Romeo 4C.
Porsche is being a bit sneaky with the 718 as well. Timed to be introduced around the same time as the Boxster/Cayman facelift the presence of a cheaper model will enable Porsche to push the Boxster/Cayman further upmarket. Which means more profits for them and dearer prices for us.
[Source: Automobile & Car]
The track-only version of the LaFerrari, the LaFerrari XX, was seen lapping Monza recently. Thankfully, YouTube user NM2255 was on hand to record the action.
We’re sure you’ll agree the LaFerarri XX sounds awesome. What you won’t expect to see is the car’s magic bendy wheels, as shown above. The remarkable thing is, when that rear wheel bends like that the driver just plants his right foot and powers away as if nothing ever happened.
You’ll get to see if for yourself a bit after the two minute mark in the video below.
[Thanks to Aaron for the tip]
Jaguar Land Rover has revealed its Virtual Windcsreen concept which it says can help reduce driver distraction. The Jaguar Virtual Windscreen can also be used to aid performance driving on a racetrack, too, as the image above shows.
By using on screen graphics—yes, that’s right on the windscreen—the system shows you the optimum racing line, when you should be full throttle, when you should be braking and even when you should be applying partial throttle. In addition you get live telemetry and lap time info from your own car as well as data from your competitors.
Want to try and recreate your perfect lap? Then just load up the ghost car that has your best lap time stored away and follow the leader, as it were.
A video below shows the system in action. What the video doesn’t show is the system’s use of gesture control, in much the same way as smartphones operate. The aim here is to limit the necessity to look and feel for buttons and controls.
“We are working on research projects that will give the driver better information to enhance the driving experience,” said Dr Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology for Jaguar Land Rover. “By presenting the highest quality imagery possible, a driver need only look at a display once.
“Showing virtual images that allow the driver to accurately judge speed and distance will enable better decision-making and offer real benefits for every-day driving on the road, or the track.”
This system looks very interesting and the benefits are easy to see. Although, far from reducing driver distraction, at first, we think it could contribute to distraction until the driver becomes familiar with the screen display.
The Virtual Windscreen looks fine in the video, in a two-dimensional PlayStation-like situation, but when you’re sitting in the car, in a three-dimensional world, with real cars beside you, we think it might take some getting used to.
One thing is clear, we’d very much like to try this out for ourselves!
The return of Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari has not gone well. In nine races the 2007 champ has qualified ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso only twice and and is yet to finish ahead of him on race day.
Kimi’s best result this year is P7, achieved in Australia and Spain. Alonso has finished sixth or better in all nine races to date. And while many are feeling for Kimi after his big crash in the British Grand Prix his lack lustre results haven’t escaped the eye of Darren Heath. It’s fair to say the F1 photographer has fallen out of love:
Sadly those days of daring-do on a Sunday afternoon followed by wild nights of well-deserved frivolity are long gone. The down-in-the-mouth look and the surly attitude are no longer cool, rather just tedious and old.
The Iceman legend may well be emblazoned on Räikkönen’s helmet and even tattooed large on his left forearm, but I’m afraid the winter is over for our chilly hero. A thaw has set in.
You can read Heath’s thoughts in full over at his blog.
Oh yeah, while Kimi is taking some time off to recover from his 47G impact, Jules Bianchi stepped into his car and set the fastest time in testing at Silverstone overnight.
While it can be folly to compare times from test sessions, Bianchi’s best lap of 1:35.262 was almost 1.3 seconds better than Kimi’s best across the British Grand Prix weekend and only 0.018s slower than Alonso’s quickest lap.
Jules to Ferrari in 2015 and Kimi to have his contract torn up? Stranger things than that have happened in F1 before.
[Pic: Ferrari]
Following yesterday’s test of 18-inch wheels and tyres on the Lotus E22, here’s a pictorial comparison of the two wheel and tyre setups. Given the change to a larger diameter format would be done purely because it looks better we’d like to know what you think.
Do you prefer the new 18-inch tyres or the more traditional 13-inch sizing?
At the Formula 1 in-season testing held at Silverstone overnight Lotus ran part of the day on 18-inch wheels and tyres, instead of the usual 13-inch setup. The test was done purely to judge the aesthetics of the larger wheel setup. Although, of course, with such a reduction in sidewall height there will be handling changes too.
Charles Pic was at the wheel of the Lotus E22 and completed 14 fairly sedate laps. His official comments can be read below, but of more value is the feedback he gave to Autosport.
“If we go with this type of tyre one day, it will be a big challenge,” Pic said. “For the teams, because they will have to build a completely new car around it because the philosophy is completely different, and also for the drivers because they are completely different.
“The overall grip was very low, I think it was five or six seconds off the pace, mainly for the reason that the rest of the car was made for the normal tyre, not the prototype.
“It is true that they are more reactive and nervous, and then on top of that you lose a lot of aero.”
Pirelli’s current contract runs out at the end of the 2016 season, so 2017 would be the most likely year the larger wheels would be introduced. Although, Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport boss, says with enough notice they could be brought in for 2016 and that he has a preference for 19 or 20-inch tyres.
“The regulations are talking about 2017 at the moment but we feel ready for 2016 if they wanted to bring it forward a year,” said Hembery. “The priority today was to show people what a current F1 car would look like with a change in rim.
“We said many years ago that the larger diameter rims were something we would always go along with, but we have also said we will do what the sport wants and that is the over-riding factor.
“It is about aesthetics. Does it make F1 more relevant for road cars and is it a direction the sport wants to take? The 18-inch tyre is one solution, but going forward I think 19-inch or 20-inch tyres are the direction you want to go.”
What do you think of the look of an F1 car running 18-inch wheels? Would 19s or 20s look better or worse?
Click on the image above to view in 2000px sizing. The images after the break are not available in larger sizes.
[Pics: Lotus F1 Team]
Word has come our way confirming the first batch of Australian-delivered BMW M3s and M4s have just arrived by boat. If you’re one of those lucky few with your name on one of those cars we hope the wait until delivery day is not too painful.
We also hope your car’s journey was a little more sedate than this boat trip brought to us by BMW Canada.
Take two Volkswagen Group products to the track, in this case the Golf R and the Leon Cupra 280, thrash them about and see if you can come to a conclusion as to which is best.
The circuit in question is the tight and twisty Cadwell Park and Autocar scribe Steve Sutcliffe is telling the story. The Golf has a bit more power but thanks to its 4motion all-wheel drive system has a bit more weight than the Leon. Both cars share a 6-speed DSG. Remember, the Leon Cupra 280, for a brief moment, held the FWD lap record at the Nürburgring.
What do you think will happen next?
[Thanks to Mark for the tip]
We really like the sound of Audi’s inline five cylinder. It’s a unique growl that heightens the senses. And thankfully it seems Ingolstadt is intent on keeping its famed 2.5 litre five pot in the next-gen RS3.
Here’s a clip of an RS3 test mule being put through its paces around the Nürburgring. The body is pretty much standard S3—look to the A3 clubsport quattro for new RS3 inspiration—but there’s no mistaking this car’s five cylinder heart.
Peak power in the RS3 will have to be at least 300kW (400hp) just to keep people interested, but perhaps, like that clubsport quattro Audi will go well beyond 300kW.
Previously it has been suggested we might see the RS3 this year. Latest guesswork says we should expect the RS3 in Geneva next March. We’ll be waiting!
[Thanks to John for the tip]
After its time on the sidelines it appears as though the 991 Porsche 911 GT3 is back in the hands of owners. Here’s a video from a US owner who was kind enough to record his first drive in anger after getting his GT3 back.
We’re not so sure the authorities will approve of some of the driving skills on show, but we’re confident you’ll love the sound of that revitalised 3.8 litre flat six!
[Thanks to John for the tip]