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Chevrolet Motor Shows

Detroit 2014: Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

This is the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and with “at least 625 horsepower (466kW)” from its 6.2 litre supercharged V8 it’s sure to be as fast as it looks.

Known as the LT4, the new 6.2 litre engine has plenty of torque to go with all that power too. 860Nm+ of it! This thing will be brutal. Power is sent to the rear wheels, where else, via a 7-speed manual ‘box or an optional 8-speed auto.

There’s no claimed performance figures that we’ve come across yet. Suffice to say it will be frighteningly quick.

The Stingray on steroids is claimed to be the most track-capable Corvette, ever! You can add to that by ticking the Z07 Performance Pack option which gives you increased downforce, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and super sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup rubber.

Limited technical detail is available in the press guff after the break, but stuff that. Just imagine having the window down, a wide open road ahead of you and nailing your foot to the floor and marvelling at the raucous noises being spat out of those quad-pipes!

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Detroit 2014: Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept

2014 Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept

Volkswagen has rocked up to Detroit with this Beetle Dune thingy. Officially it’s a concept model, but Volkswagen is making plenty of noises stating if the demand is there they will build it.

“Everything about this car is feasible—practically a production vehicle,” Volkswagen’s press release states.

So what do you get that makes it different from your garden variety Beetle? Most obviously there’s a bunch of model-specific cosmetic enhancements, inside and out. But the Dune has been raised by 50mm to give it that crucial urban clearance. And, check this out, it has ski racks on the back window. Yes, ski racks! You know for the snow. Where the roads are slippery and you often need to fit chains, unless you have an all-wheel drive car.

That’s probably the exact reason why the Dune concept is front-wheel drive. Hang on, that’s not right is it? Why didn’t they chuck in a 4 motion system? Cheapskates!

They’ve managed to put a decent engine in the car; a 155kW 2.0 litre turbo. So why leave it front-wheel drive? Even with the supposed weaknesses of the Haldex-sourced systems Volkswagen uses it would still add to the Dune’s abilities.

Interestingly, the front and rear track has been widened by 29mm and that should offer improved road holding, but we wonder if that would be one of the features lost if the Dune does become a series production model.

We actually don’t mind the look and basic idea behind the Dune concept, it looks fun. We just wish it had a bit more substance.

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Motor Shows Porsche

Detroit 2014: Porsche 911 Targa

991 Porsche 911 Targa

Finally, we see official information on the all-new Porsche 911 Targa. It’s a return to an old-skool look with that iconic rollover hoop. As reported the roof does operate electronically and when you see the videos of it in action after the break we’re sure you’ll agree it’s a clever bit of kit.

Available only in all-wheel drive the Targa 4 gets the 3.4 litre engine from the regular 911, which means it has 257kW/390Nm to play with. The Targa 4S boasts the now familiar 3.8 litre flat six with 294kW/440Nm.

When fitted with the 7-speed PDK transmission the 1560kg Targa 4 can reach 100km/h in 5.0 seconds and 200km/h in 17.5 seconds. The addition of the Sport Plus option brings those times down to 4.8 seconds and 17.2 seconds respectively.

The 1575kg Targa 4S and its 400hp knock off 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, while 200km/h takes 15.5 seconds. Again, similar reductions are available with Sport Plus option, bringing the sprint times down to 4.4 seconds and 15.2 seconds respectively.

Despite saving 20kg in weight with the manual transmission you’ll need to add a few tenths to those performance figures.

The roof can only be opened when the car is stationary and it takes 19 seconds. It’s pretty nifty to see it work. The rear window lifts up, parts of of the rollover hoop fold out of the way, the fabric roof comes to life and is then cleverly stowed away out of sight.

Not sure about you, but we want one!

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Formula 1

Brundle “getting uncomfortable” with pay drivers

Martin Brundle

Sky Sports F1 commentator and veteran of 158 grand prix starts Martin Brundle was a guest during the Autosport International event on the weekend and was only too willing to share his thoughts on the reliance of F1 teams to favour pay drivers at the potential expense of superior talent.

The issue has attracted attention of late, partly due to Pastor Maldonado (and his lucrative Venezuelan oil backing) being recruited by the financially—how can we say this, stricken might be too harsh, yes, got it—perturbed, the financially perturbed Lotus F1 Team.

“The main problem is that they’ve got to stop it being so expensive to run the cars, so it stops the need for all this cash,” Brundle claimed.

“When a team like Lotus, the only one to really challenge Red Bull consistently last year, is short of money then something is fundamentally wrong.”

Although, Brundle later added that the term “pay driver” can be misleading.

“There’s no doubt that the pay drivers are creeping their way up the grid. But they’re still great racing drivers. Don’t think anybody who’s paid to be there is not a high-level racing driver,” he said.

“But it’s an awful expression. It’s a label that you just can’t get rid of. Niki Lauda makes the point that he had to borrow money to pay for his early drives in Formula 1.”

While Brundle says people shouldn’t get too caught up in the pay driver term, he added: “The balance is getting dangerously close to the pay drivers dominating… it’s disappointing when you see a driver like Paul di Resta getting booted out of F1 when you know that others are in because they’re bringing cash.

“That’s the bit I’m getting uncomfortable with.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Sky Sports]

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Motorsports Subaru

Subaru gives new WRX STi a 5-minute sticker job

2014 Subaru WRX STi

Subaru has released this photo of the new WRX STi, in this case ready to take on the Nürburgring 24 hour race for the seventh year in a row. Except it’s not a photo at all, just a crudely cobbled together p-chop. I can tell by the pixels.

Oh well, we’ll have the real thing before our eyes very soon when Detroit kicks off.

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BMW Motor Shows

What to expect from BMW in 2014

BMW M3 and M4 on display in Detroit

As well as the launch of the highly anticipated M3 and M4 in Detroit this week, BMW has much more in store during 2014. Make sure you follow the source link from BimmerFile for more detail:

2014 North American International Auto Show (January)

  • M3 (F80) and M4 (F82)
  • M235i (F22)
  • 228i (F22)

2014 Geneva Motor Show (March)

  • 4 Series Gran Coupe (F36)
  • FWD Active Tourer (F45)
  • MINI Four-door concept (F55)

2014 New York Auto Show (April)

  • X4 (F26)
  • X3 LCI

2014 Moscow Motor Show (August)

  • X6 (F16)

2014 Paris Motor Show (September)

  • X5 M (F85) and X6 M (F86)
  • 2 Series Convertible (F23)
  • MINI Four-door (F55)

[Source: BimmerFile | Pic: Bimmerpost]

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BMW

BMW M4 makes unofficial debut in Detroit

BMW M4

When you save the public debut of your hero car for a major car show you probably want it seen first on your stand under the bright lights and in a controlled environment. For BMW that moment has been lost thanks to this spy shot showing a brand new BMW M4 on the streets of Detroit.

We’ll have more from BMW at the Detroit Auto Show as the week progresses.

[Source: Bimmerpost]

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Mazda

Is the Mazda RX-7 coming back?

Mazda RX-2 rotary engine badge

Word from Autocar in the UK says the Mazda RX-7 is on its way back and it will be on sale before the end of 2016.

It’s only 18 months or so since the world lost the rotary engine for good. Or so we thought. While Mazda officials are officially saying there are “no concrete plans” to revive the RX-7, unofficially they’re reportedly saying plans are well underway.

Adding to the nostalgia is the suggestion that Ikuo Maeda is the chief designer for the project. His old man was Mazda’s design chief back in the 1970s when the RX-7 was helping Mazda forge its name in the motoring world.

Maeda says he’s not sure what the 21st century RX-7 will look like, but does add: “I want it built before I retire!”

It’s predicted the new RX-7 engine will feature a twin-rotor arrangement of around 600cc per-rotor. Expected to be normally aspirated, peak power should be around 185kW (250hp).

Meanwhile, Mazda’s global marketing boss, Masahiro Moro, remains cautious, saying: “I just don’t see the right numbers in the equation yet.”

[Source: Autocar | Pic: Car Type]

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Hyundai WRC

Hyundai ready for WRC return

Hyundai i20 WRC

Hyundai will make its return to the WRC next week, although strictly speaking, the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team will make its debut. Team leader Thierry Neuville will be joined by Dani Sordo as the pair cross their fingers and hope for the best when the i20 WRC fires up and the action starts.

Neuville understands he’s about to head into the great unknown with his new car. “Our aim is to finish the event and get some good experience and mileage to further develop the Hyundai i20 WRC,” the young Belgian said.

“We carried out some good testing ahead of the rally where we drove the car in very different weather conditions. Although it is very difficult to recreate the exact same conditions we will find on the event and to test everything, we will give it absolutely everything.”

Team Principal, Michel Nandan, is also circumspect ahead of his team’s first outing. “This rally has been the first major target in our development schedule and finally we’re there,” Nandan said. “It’s a hugely significant and special moment for us all.

“We all know that Thierry can achieve outstanding performance levels despite his young age, while Dani has a lot of experience in WRC and at Rallye Monte-Carlo. I can definitely say that we have a very good mix!

“We have not set any results targets because our first priority is to finish the rally with both cars, to learn as much as possible and to use that as a base to improve for the following events.”

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Ford WRC

M-Sport ready to fly Ford flag in WRC

2014 M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC

M-Sport has revealed its new livery for the 2014 WRC season and while we do think the Fiesta RS WRC looks great in this predominantly dark blue colour scheme we’re pretty sure M-Sport would like a fair dinkum major sponsor.

In the end we’re being told what a great job Castrol and Michelin do while M-Sport grits its teeth and thanks Ford for the EcoBoost branding. Any chance of proper factory support?

Of course, M-Sport drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Elfyn Evans reckon everything’s hunky dory and can’t wait to get out on the icy tarmac of Rallye Monte Carlo.

We wish these guys well, they’ll be the underdogs all year.

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Accessories & Tech BMW

BMW shows off self-drifting skills

BMW self-drifting cars

“Look mum, no hands!”

BMW showed off some pretty cool things at CES in Las Vegas last week, but we don’t think anything was cooler than the M235i and 6 Series Gran Coupé which both featured what BMW calls ActiveAssist, or “highly automated driving”, part of its ConnectedDrive system. You and I would call it self-drifting!

BMW says ActiveAssist is designed to act as “a safety assistance system which brings the vehicle back into line in demanding driving situations without any input from the driver.”

On the one hand it’s pretty clever that car makers can develop driver assistance systems that are able to step-in and regain control of the car in an emergency. On the other hand, of course, we’d all like to keep driving thanks. If we want to catch a cab we’ll do that, and have the added bonus of having a driver to tell us what’s wrong with the government of the day.

Anyway, you can read more about ActiveAssist after the break. Right now we know you just want to see the video of the M235i and it’s mad self-drifting skillz. It’s first up after the break.

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Chevrolet

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 leaked

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Last year it was the regular old Stingray which got us excited, now it’s the all-new Z06. Go on, admit it, this looks pretty bloody awesome! Three images have been leaked (first by Left Lane News, then Jalopnik) ahead of its debut in Detroit next week, as you’d expect.

For now, at least, details of what lurks beneath that heavily sculpted hood remains a mystery. Well, it will be a V8, of course, and it seems as though the amount of horsepower it produces will start with a six. Perhaps as much as 620hp (462kW).

Oh yes!

There’s flappy paddles on the steering wheel, too. Surely we won’t be seeing an American muscle car getting giddy with the technology of a dual clutch transmission?

[Source: Autoblog]

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