VW Polo R WRC... Fastest Polo ever build

The VW Polo has been a sales winner for years, but now Volkswagen is chasing motorsport success in the World Rally Championship. And in order to meet FIA regulations, the company has had to build 2,500 Polo R WRC high-performance road cars to homologate its new rally racer.



Instead of the 300bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine, six-speed sequential gearbox and four-wheel-drive system of the WRC entry, the road car uses a 217bhp 2.0 turbo engine from the Golf GTI, making it the most powerful Polo ever. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, and drives the front wheels only.

And even after the first few miles of driving the new hot hatch, it’s clear the engine delivers overwhelming punch from low revs – often a little too much for the front tyres to cope with.



As well as beating the 178bhp figure developed by the current hottest Polo, the GTI, the Polo R WRC has 100Nm more torque, at 350Nm, ensuring impressive in-gear acceleration. On paper, the WRC is a mere half-a-second faster from 0-62mph than the standard GTI, but it feels much quicker than the 6.4-second time VW claims.

As the seven-speed DSG fitted to the Polo GTI wouldn’t be able to handle the larger engine’s extra torque, the WRC makes do with a six-speed manual. However, while it doesn’t have the sequential gearbox ‘feel’ that would make the R WRC seem more like a rally car for the road, the manual gearbox does deliver a more involving drive.

It’s clear that this Polo is all about performance. As well as the upgraded engine and gearbox, the suspension has been stiffened and lowered, plus larger, 16-inch brake discs have been fitted. These are covered by 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels with wide 225-section tyres.



But even on a dry road the Polo overwhelms its front tyres, particularly in the first three gears, and regularly triggers its ESP system. In the damp, more committed driving means that the yellow traction control light is almost constantly flickering away. It demands plenty of concentration, making it particularly difficult to make the most of the WRC’s hefty power reserves.



The tweaks to the bodywork, meanwhile, are minimal. While the rally car gets swollen wheelarches, a low-slung front splitter and huge rear wing, the Polo R WRC features a subtly uprated front bumper and small roof spoiler. Even the rally-inspired decals are kept to a minimum.

Inside, the WRC features more supportive front seats, trimmed in Alcantara. There’s a sports steering wheel covered in the same material, too, while the motorsport theme is further extended with WRC badging and aluminium pedals.



VW has confirmed that no more than the compulsory 2,500 cars will be built. They’ll all be left-hand drive, and won’t be sold officially in the UK.

In Germany, the starting price is 33,900 Euros (around £29,100), making the most powerful Polo ever a very expensive proposition. Still, it’s quite a bargain if you put it next to the rally car.

[gallery ids="1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942"]

[Source:autoexpress.co.uk]

Fiat 500 Abarth on JDM wheels

This little Fiat 500 Abarth is the less girly 500 on the planet

The Fiat 500 Abarth small yet stylish car from Italy, the Abarth is turbocharged performance model with a host of other exterior and performance upgrades. Rarely have I seen Modded Abarth, but this one sits on a set of JDM Wheels.



Work Meister S1 3 Piece JDM Wheels and a Bilstein suspension ad to the sportyness of this Abarth, giving it a more aggressive look and stance.



Work Meister S1 3 Piece Wheel Specs are 18×8 +30 wrapped in 205/35/18 all around, a nice upgrade from the stock 16 inch wheels.



 

[Source: jdmeuro]

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG full review by Autocar

Mercedes' take on a hot hatch gets four-wheel drive and a punchy turbocharged motor, but is it as engaging as its bigger rear-drive brethren?

AMG, purveyors of wonderfully potent big cars, has made a wonderfully potent small one in the form of the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.

To be precise, it delivers 355bhp from a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a mammoth specific power output of 178bhp per litre. And the technical changes to this car run deep, which is why the A45 AMG costs near enough £40,000.

Over and above the A-class hatch on which it's based, the A45 gets a new bumper and grille at the front, which wouldn’t be significant were they not backed by an intercooler for the turbo, while there’s a secondary radiator inside a front wheelarch.



The steering knuckles are different as well, as are the anti-roll bars, springs and dampers. The electric steering’s constant-ratio rack is bespoke to the AMG too, further differentiating it from the A-class.

The gearbox is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and here’s where the effort has really gone into making this more than just a fast A-class. It drives through Mercedes’ 4Matic system, making the A45 AMG four-wheel-drive. To that end, the multi-link rear suspension is new, while to improve weight distribution, the clutch that enables drive to the rear is mounted at the rear differential.

'Enables' drive to the rear? Er, yeah. The A45 is four-wheel drive, but only when slip occurs does it push power to the rear. The 4Matic system is designed to aid traction, rather than providie rally-replica-style permanent all-wheel drive. Does that matter? It might.

Meantime, inside, this A-class feels like an AMG ought to. The black headlining, diddy gear selector and carbonfibre-like fabric weave are neat; the red seatbelts and vent highlights we could live without. The terrific front seats are heavily adjustable and clenching yet comfortable, while the rest of the A-class package is as-you-were: respectable rear head and legroom and a big boot.

[gallery ids="1707,1710,1708,1709,1711,1712,1720,1719,1718,1714,1713,1715,1717,1716"]

Read more about the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG 

Video: Extreme hot hatches - Mini JCW GP vs A1 quattro, Focus RS500 and Megane R26.R on track

Tiff Needell and Richard Meaden test the new Mini JCW GP against the Audi A1 quattro, Ford Focus RS500 and Renault Megane R26.R on track.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPnAtNbrygk]

Video: Renault Twin'Run Concept Car...The city car with a Kick !

Renault is unveiling Twin'Run, a new concept car which cultivates the sporting spirit of the brand and celebrates automotive passion by paying homage to the legendary R5 Turbo and Clio V6.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhCKAGp_SUs]
Twin'Run, a real racing car, features a tubular chassis lifted directly from motorsport competition and a mid-engine 320-hp V6 engine based on Mégane Trophy.



This movie trailer shows a game play between women gangs fighting in a block racer !!

Video: Chris Harris on... Ford Fiesta ST !

All the talk is Clio RS vs Fiesta ST - well this video doesn't answer that question. But it's Chris Harris first drive in the newest fast Ford. And Henry tends to be quite good at making these hot hatches. Check it out!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10L-WFsVaw0]

[Source: YouTube via drive]

2014 Golf R Prototype makes Hot Laps @ Nurburgring

Prototype Golf 7 R spotted during Industry testing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

This will probably be the best production Golf eveR. The numbers aren't yet know, but the 7th generation R will produce over 270 bhp from a 2.0lt engine from the former R.



The premier of the car is planed for the end of this year, possibly at Frankfurt Auto Show and the debuit on the European market will be on 2014 Spring. Enjoy watching!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6TStIdA9Uo]

Photos[gallery ids="1365,1366"]

Renault Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 Limited Edition

To celebrate their third Formula 1 Constructors’ world title, Renault and Red Bull Racing have released the new limited edition Mégane RS Red Bull Racing RB8. Painted in the exclusive Crépuscule Blue color used by the Red Bull F1 team, the limited edition Mégane RS sports Red Bull's colors for the second year in a row.

Besides the special color, the sports hatch also sports Red Bull graphics at the rear and on the sides, together with Platinum Grey details such as the F1 blade, door handle, door mirror housings and rear lip spoiler. Those who are very attentive to details will also notice a monochrome laurel on the rear side windows that celebrates the team’s 2012 Constructors’ world title.

On the inside, the Mégane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 comes with exclusive features such as Red Bull Racing branding on the numbered aluminum sill guards and carpet mats. The logo also appears on the headrests of the Recaro seats, which are trimmed in new leather/fabric upholstery.

The limited edition Mégane is shod as standard with high-performance Bridgestone tyres, of the same model used by the Mégane Trophy to establish a new lap record for the Nürburgring. They are fitted to exclusive 19-inch black wheels with grey pin striping.

As far as equipment is concerned, the Mégane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 is available with the in-dash, connected R-Link multimedia tablet that has six functions (navigation, telephony, multimedia, vehicle, systems and R-Link Store applications catalogue). There’s also the 2.0 version of the RS Monitor that brings special Red Bull Racing home page, a more user-friendly and intuitive interface and the fact that certain information can be displayed in 3D form.

Technically, the limited edition version is the same as the Mégane RS, featuring a Cup chassis, limited slip differential and 265-hp 2.0-liter engine. The Renault Mégane R.S. Red Bull Racing RB8 will be available in 26 countries until September 30, 2013. Prices in France start from €36,000 ($46,400).

[gallery ids="1333,1334,1340,1337,1335,1336,1338,1341,1339,1332,1344,1342,1343,1345"]

[Source: carscoops.com]

Video: VW Golf Design Vision GTI... Twin Turbo V6 with 503 hp!

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Design Vision concept has made a triumphant debut at the Worthersee tuning meet in Austria, showcasing the performance potential of the new hot-hatch.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Ig6W4yqhU]

Teased earlier this week in a series of tantalising sketches, the Design Vision GTI concept looks no less threatening in the flesh thanks to its widebody stance, sinister headlights, aggressive front and rear bumper blades, and general muscularity.

Powering the Volkswagen Golf GTI Design Vision is a 370kW/560Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, giving it a whopping 208kW/210Nm advantage over the 2.0-litre turbo four of the new Golf GTI Mk7 on which the concept is based.

A dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission channels drive to all four wheels, helping launch the Design Vision GTI concept from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 300km/h.

Specially designed 20-inch alloys sit at either end of the concept’s stretched tracks (+57mm front and +63mm rear). Rubber measuring 235/35 at the front and 275/30 at the rear wraps around the wheels, while ceramic discs spanning 380mm front and 356mm rear are gripped by red calipers.

Carbonfibre encircles the headlights, front blades and lower air intake, and extends to the front splitter, side skirts, rear blades and outlets and the border of the dominant diffuser.

The driver-focused interior is upholstered with carbonfibre, alcantara and nappa leather. The steering wheel features shift paddles for the DSG, which features ‘Street’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’ modes, while the central computer includes a race function that supplies track time data and communicates with other vehicles on the course to provide the driver with real-time race information.

While just a concept, Volkswagen brand head of design Klaus Bischoff says the Design Vision GTI gives “a spectacular glance into the future of the GTI”.

White ...not Stripes - 86 Nations Army!

 

 

 

 

 

 

White Stripes  - 86 Nations Army…!

 

Old vs New Scirocco Shootout!

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Automobile Magazine's Jason Cammisa heads to Germany to pit the last Volkswagen Scirocco sold in the United States against the current 2012 version - a Twincharged I-4-powered TSI which remains tantalizingly out of reach to American buyers.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJtcTgBdLF8]

Video: Renault Megane Trophy V6...The wildest taxi on Earth !

Megane Trophy V6 and its driver will take you on a thrilling ride around Paris!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5onTdstpeY]

It’s very probably the last vehicle on Earth you’d imagine as a taxi, but it must surely rank as one of the coolest. Yes, it’s for promotional purposes and therefore you’re very unlikely to hail the Renault Megane Trophy V6 you see in this clip on L’Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Doesn’t stop us from wishing we could, though – what’d we give to hear that 400 hp/422 Nm 3.5 litre V6 at full pelt just behind our ears as the World Series car mercilessly doughnuts around the French capital’s Place de la Concorde. A few of its fares, however, clearly seem to be begging for merci.

A comparatively tamer relation is the Renault Megane RS 265 Cup (although still a right scorcher with 265 hp and 360 Nm of twist from its turbocharged 2.0 litre four-pot unit), which launched in Malaysia at the beginning of the year.

[gallery ids="893"]

Volkswagen Polo GTi 1.4lt 180bhp DSG 7-speed

Can a hot hatchback work with an automatic gearbox?

If you’d asked me a few years ago, I’d have laughed it off as a fairly silly query. But with the constant improvement of twin-clutch transmissions  it’s now a perfectly valid question.

Buying a GTI is as much about performance as quality, though, and this is where things got intriguing. There’s no doubting the Polo’s punch: its turbo- and supercharged 1.4-litre petrol engine produces 178bhp and 184lb ft of torque, the latter available from just 2000rpm. And with power sent to the front wheels via the near-seamless shifts of a seven-speed DSG ’box, acceleration was as effortless as it was relentlessly brisk. Passengers were often astonished the first time I passed a national speed limit sign, eyes widened by how quickly such a meek-looking machine gathered pace. If you don’t know your cars, the 17in Monza alloys and red-striped grille are too subtle to be giveaways.



And the answer to my initial question? DSG still has flaws, namely poor pick-up from a standstill and the occasional unexpected downchange, but it’s an admirable bit of technology. Yet each time I returned to the Polo after a night or two in a manual car, I immediately missed the intimacy of nailing gearchanges myself. I appreciate the efficiency and refinement a dual-clutch ’box provides, but cars this small – especially heated-up versions – need a manual option. The Polo doesn’t have one.



So, it’s fast, classy, comfortable and a piece of cake to run, if far from pulsating dynamically. It’s rare, too – 599 Polo GTIs found UK homes in 2011, a mere 1.3 per cent of Polo sales. But while the large mileage I covered in our car proves how pleasurable it was to live with, I’ve not pined for the Polo since it left. It felt more GT than GTI, and badged thus it would have delivered on its promise far more sweetly.

PhotoGallery

[gallery ids="841,840,860,854,845,846,857,853,850,852,847,851,858,849,848,855,856,859,843"]

Νέο Renault Clio RS 2013...με τηλεμετρία από GT-R R35!

Ας μιλήσουν οι αριθμοί: 1.6 Turbo, 200 ίπποι, 240 Nm και 0-100 km/h σε 6,7 sec για το Clio Renault Sport!

Λεπτομερή στοιχεία επιδόσεων και τεχνικών έδωσε στη δημοσιότητα η Renault για το νέο Clio RS. Γνωρίζαμε ήδη από το λανσάρισμα του Clio Renault Sport στο Παρίσι το 2012 πως ο 1.600άρης Turbo βενζινοκινητήρας αποδίδει 200 ίππους στις 6.000 rpm και 240 Nm από τις 1.750 μέχρι τις 5.500 rpm. Τα νεότερα στοιχεία αναφέρουν πως η επιτάχυνση 0-100 km/h ολοκληρώνεται σε 6,7 sec, 2 sec ταχύτερα από το προηγούμενο μοντέλο, το πρώτο χιλιόμετρο από στάση καλύπτεται σε 27,1 sec και η τελική φτάνει τα 230 km/h. Την ίδια στιγμή, η μέση κατανάλωση που ανακοινώνει η Renault είναι 6,3 lt/100 km και οι εκπομπές CO2 144 g/km (46 λιγότερα από το προηγούμενο 2λιτρο ατμοσφαιρικό Clio RS). Στις δυνατές επιδόσεις και τη λογική κατανάλωση συμβάλλει το χαμηλότερο κατά 36 κιλά βάρος του νέου Clio RS. Άλλα στοιχεία για το hot Clio είναι:

• το νέο 6άρι κιβώτιο διπλού συμπλέκτη EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch),


• τα αμορτισέρ αγωνιστικού τύπου με ειδικά υδραυλικά στοπ συμπίεσης,


• τα μεγαλύτερα φρένα (320 mm από 312),


• το σύστημα R.S.Drive με 3 προγράμματα οδήγησης Normal, Sport και Race που επεμβαίνουν στις ρυθμίσεις του μοτέρ, του γκαζιού, του τιμονιού και του ESC,


• το Launch Control,


• η δυνατότητα πλήρους απενεργοποίησης του ESC και του ASR με το Race mode, για οδήγηση σε πίστα,


• το διαφορικό R.S.Diff που φροντίζει για τη βέλτιστη πρόσφυση τόσο στην εκκίνηση όσο και στις στροφές, βοηθώντας στην αντιμετώπιση της υποστροφής,


• οι νέοι τροχοί 17’’ και 18’’ και τέλος


• το προαιρετικό πακέτο Cup με κατά 3 mm χαμηλότερη και 15% πιο σφικτή ανάρτηση, γρηγορότερη κρεμαγιέρα, ελαστικά Dunlop Sport Maxx, σκουρόχρωμες ζάντες 18’’ και κόκκινες δαγκάνες φρένων.

Μεταξύ άλλων, διαθέτει και κάποια ηλεκτρονικά συστήματα τα οποία μέχρι πρότινος ήταν διαθέσιμα μόνο σε πανάκριβα αυτοκίνητα, όπως το Nissan GT-R. Τα συστήματα που σε ενημερώνουν για το χρόνο σου στην πίστα, την πλευρική επιτάγχυνση και οτιδήποτε άλλο έχει να κάνει με την οδήγηση, τα αποδεχόμαστε και θεωρούμε ότι ορθώς υπάρχουν.



[gallery ids="182,183,184,185,186,187,188,189,190"]

Πηγη: Yuppi

Παρουσίαση: Mini John Cooper Works Paceman

Πρόκειται ίσως για το πιο «περίεργο» GTi της αγοράς.

Ένα μεταμοντέρνο κόνσεπτ που συνδυάζει διαστάσεις crossover, όψη δίθυρου κουπέ, τετρακίνηση και βέβαια μια οδική συμπεριφορά σήμα κατατεθέν.

Η τελική του ταχύτητα αγγίζει τα 204 χλμ/ώρα

Για πρώτη φορά εμφανίστηκε στο Ντιτρόιτ η γρήγορη έκδοση John Cooper Works του νέου MINI Paceman, αυτή τη στιγμή όμως βρίσκεται στη Γενεύη στο περίπτερο της γερμανικής φίρμας.

Αισθητικά το Paceman JCW έχει δεχτεί αρκετές παρεμβάσεις, έτσι ώστε να αποπνέει περισσότερο δυναμισμό αλλά και ένα ιδιαίτερο στιλ. Πέρα από το αεροδυναμικό κιτ που φοράει για την περίσταση, είναι εφοδιασμένο με τροχούς ελαφρού κράματος 18 ιντσών ενώ το αμάξωμά του είναι συνολικά χαμηλωμένο, χάρη στη σπορ ανάρτηση που φοράει.

Στο εσωτερικό του οι αλλαγές είναι περιορισμένες και εστιάζονται στο τιμόνι, στα καθίσματα, στις σκούρες αποχρώσεις του πίνακα οργάνων και σε ορισμένες ακόμα στιλιστικές λεπτομέρειες. Αντιθέτως, σε σχέση με τις απλές εκδόσεις, οι σημαντικές διαφορές κρύβονται κάτω από το καπό. Εκεί όπου βρίσκεται ο υπερτροφοδοτούμενος κινητήρας των 1,6 λίτρων και 208 ίππων. Η κίνηση μεταδίδεται και στους 4 τροχούς, χάρη στο ALL4 σύστημα τετρακίνησης. Ο οδηγός, ωστόσο, έχει το δικαίωμα να επιλέξει μεταξύ ενός εξατάχυτου μηχανικού κιβωτίου και ενός αυτόματου, επίσης 6 σχέσεων. 

Το Paceman JCW είναι σε θέση να επιταχύνει από στάση στα 100 χλμ./ώρα σε 6,5 δευτερόλεπτα, ενώ η τελική του ταχύτητα αγγίζει τα 204 χλμ./ώρα. Η διάθεσή του θα ξεκινήσει αργότερα, μέσα στη χρονιά.

Τιμή από € 40.000 (εκτιμώμενη)
Τεχνολογία 1.598 cc, i4, 16v, 2 ΕΕΚ, άμεσος ψεκασμός, μεταβλητός χρονισμός και βύθισμα βαλβίδων & Twin Scroll turbo, 218 PS/6.000 rpm, 28,5 kgm/1.900-5.000 rpm, χειροκίνητο κιβώτιο 6 σχέσεων
Επιδόσεις
0-100 km/h 6,9”
Τελική ταχύτητα 226 km/h
Κατανάλωση 6,5 lt/100 km
Εκπομπές CO₂ 109 gr/km
Διαστάσεις 4.124 x 1.786 x 1.527 mm
Βάρος 1.400 kg
Τιμές κατασκευαστή

Πηγή: autotriti.gr

Πηγή: Drive Magazine

[gallery ids="170,171,172,173,174"]