Motoring News £2 Issue 3
february 2014 NISSAN UNVEILS REVOLUTIONARY PETROL ENGINE TO COMPLEMENT ELECTRIC ZEOD RC POWERPLANT Nissan will not only break new ground with the unique electric power plant aboard the Nissan ZEOD RC at Le Mans this year, but the accompanying internal combus‐ tion engine is set to revolutionise standards of perfor‐ mance and efficiency. e Nissan ZEOD RC will become the first entry at Le Mans to complete a lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe under nothing but electric power in June. A single lap of each stint (a fuel “stint” lasts approximately one hour) will be electric powered, then the new Nissan DIG-T R 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo engine will take over.
e incredibly small engine weighs only 40 kilograms (88 pounds) but produces an astonishing 400hp. e base engine is only 500mm tall x 400mm long x 200mm wide (19.68” x 15.74” x 7.78”). While the en‐ gine is technically too heavy to take as carry-on luggage on a plane – it would easily fit inside the luggage guides seen at major airports around the world. Revving to 7,500rpm, the Nissan DIG-T R produces 380Nm of torque. At a ratio of 10 horsepower per kilo‐ gram the new engine actually has a better power-toweight ratio than the new engines to be used in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship this year.
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With the entire concept of the Nissan ZEOD RC fo‐ cussing heavily on downsizing and efficiency, Nissan turned to new lubricants partner Total to help develop the engine. e French lubricants manufacturer has worked closely with Nissan engineers to develop fuel and lubricants to maximise the potential of the engine. e Nissan ZEOD RC will occupy “Garage 56” at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, an additional entry reserved by the Automobile Club de l‘Ouest for new and groundbreaking technologies never previously seen at the clas‐ sic French endurance event. Lessons learned from the development of the revolu‐ tionary racecar will also be used in the development of Nissan’s planned entry into the LM P1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2015.
A SMARTPHONE ON WHEELS
“Our engine team has done a truly remarkable job with the internal combustion engine,” said Darren Cox, Nis‐ san’s Global Motorsport Director. “We knew the electric component of the Nissan ZEOD RC was certainly going to turn heads at Le Mans but our combined zero emission on-demand electric/petrol power plant is quite a stunning piece of engineering. “Nissan will become the first major manufacturer to use a three-cylinder engine in major international motor‐ sport. We’re aiming to maintain our position as indus‐ try leaders in focussing on downsizing. Lessons learned from the development of the engine will be seen in Nis‐ san road cars of the future. “Our aim is to set new standards in efficiency in regards to every aspect of the car – powertrain, aerodynamics and handling. For the powertrain we have worked closely with the team at Total to not only reduce friction inside the engine, but within all components of the powertrain. “Friction is the enemy of horsepower and tackling that has been one of the efficiency targets we have concen‐ trated on heavily.” Aer extensive dyno testing, the Nissan ZEOD RC hit the track for the first time last week with both the elec‐ tric and internal combustion engines in place. Both the petrol and electric powerplants run through the same five-speed gearbox that transfers power to the ground via Michelin tyres. “Being chosen by a car manufacturer as a technological partner to achieve a demonstration of innovation, is al‐ ways a source of pride, especially on this legendary race - 24 Hours of Le Mans. It drives our researchers to find solutions and get the most out of the technical specifi‐ cations as well as the fuel economy properties that our TOTAL QUARTZ lubricants range provides to all pas‐ senger cars,” said Philippe Girard, Scientific Delegate for Total. e Nissan ZEOD RC will undergo an extensive test program over the next four months prior to it making its race debut at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours on June 14-15.
Vauxhall Motors has launched a limited edition of 250 ADAMs creating even more levels of personalisation for the urban chic city car. e ADAM Black Edition and ADAM White Edition take their design cues from a smartphone, encompassing optimal connectivity and a sleek and stylish feel.
Performance Figures Fuel Economy mpg (litres / 100km) Engine Max Speed (sec) Acceleration 0-62mph (sec) Urban Driving Extra Urban Driving Combined
e Vauxhall ADAM is the best connected small car in its segment and the new ADAM Black Edition and ADAM White Edition come with Vauxhall’s IntelliLink infotainment system and Siri Eyes Free voice control fit‐ ted as standard. ey reflect typical smartphone looks in black or white, with accents in brushed aluminium effect. “e ADAM Black Edition and ADAM White Edition models resemble sophisticated smartphones on wheels,” says Duncan Aldred, Chairman and Managing Director, Vauxhall Motors. “e ADAM combines in‐ novative technologies with countless personalisation possibilities which are not available in its segment. With these new models, our urban chic city car once again shows that it is the best connected small car and a true individualisation champion all wrapped up in one.” ADAM drivers who have an iOS 6 – or later – compati‐ ble iPhone can comfortably and safely activate the Siri Eyes Free function via steering wheel controls and op‐ erate it with voice commands while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. A DA M B l a c k E d i t i o n a n d W h i t e E d i t i o n Performance, Emissions and CO2
Figure CO2 Emissions g/km 1.4i 16v VVT (87PS) 109 12.5 38.2 (7.4) 62.8 (4.4) 51.4 (5.5) 130 Ultra-modern technology and design is mirrored in the
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looks of the special ADAM Black Edition and ADAM White Edition models. e ADAM comes in ‘I’ll be Black’ metallic paint or ‘Saturday White Fever’ brilliant paint exterior colours. e rest of the exterior carries a brushed, aluminum-look including the side mirror housings, and grille bar carrying the Vauxhall logo. In addition, there are tinted rear windows and 18-inch wheels in a Twister design with matching brushed alu‐ minium finish wheel clips. e black or white lacquered standard roof spoiler, as well as the characteristically shaped headlamps with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights ensure the car stand-outs amongst its rivals. e sport chassis provides plenty of driving fun with its direct response and sports pedals. Inside the cabin, the seats, instruments and applications continue the exterior colour scheme. In the ADAM Black Edition, all occupants enjoy the comfort of Ocio Black Morrocana seat trim cushions. While the centre console and instrument panel are piano black, the door trims, glove box, leather gear knob and handbrake han‐ dle are in contrasting bright white. e counterpart to this is the ADAM White Edition version, with its own colour scheme: the seats are Ocio White Morrocana also mirrored in the instrument panel and centre con‐ sole. e ADAM Black Edition and ADAM White Edition is priced at £14,995 (1.4 87PS), available across the UK. For further information please visit http://www.vaux‐ hall.co.uk/vehicles/vauxhall-range/cars/adam/blackand-white/adam-white-black-edition.html
A BIG VICTORY FOR THE SMALL CAR: 50 YEARS AGO THE CLASSIC MINI WON THE MONTE CARLO RALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME A big victory for the small car: 50 years ago the classic Mini won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. Paddy Hopkirk made the one-off British small car a motor sport legend in January 1964 – Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen repeated the triumph in 1965 and 1967. Small car, huge win: it is now 50 years since one of the most spectacular victories in the history of internation‐ al motor sport. On 21 January 1964, the Mini Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. It was the pairing of Northern Ireland’s Patrick (“Paddy”) Hop‐ kirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of sig‐ nificantly more powerful rivals in their small British car. Its faultless run over country roads and mountain passes, ice and snow, tight corners and steep gradients laid the foundations for the underdog-turned-giantslayer to cement itself in both the hearts of the public and the annals of motor sport legend. Indeed, the clas‐ sic Mini’s dominance of the Monte Carlo Rally contin‐ ued over the years that followed, Hopkirk’s Finnish team-mates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen adding two further overall victories – in 1965 and 1967
– to the British manufacturer’s collection.
nowadays.”
Now 80 years old, Paddy Hopkirk’s eyes still light up when he recalls the driving qualities of his winning car: “Although the Mini was only a little family saloon, tech‐ nically it had a lot of advantages. Its front-wheel drive and front-mounted transverse engine were a great ad‐ vantage, and the fact the car was smaller and the roads were ploughed, they were quite narrow, so I suppose that was an advantage. We were very lucky – the car was right, everything happened at the right time and came together at the right moment.”
e triumph of the classic Mini in the Monte was laud‐ ed as a sensation by motor sport fans around the world. But this wasn’t a success that came entirely out of the blue: the small car developed by Alec Issigonis, then Deputy Technical Director at the British Motor Corpo‐ ration, possessed an inherent sporting talent from birth. e first person to spot this potential was John Cooper. e sports car designer was the driving force behind construction of a more powerful version of the car. e Mini produced only 34 hp at launch, but its front-wheel
It was the legendary “Night of the Long Knives”, the penultimate stage of the Monte, which put the Mini Cooper S with car number 37 and the now famous li‐ cence plate 33 EJB on course for victory that winter of 1964. Hopkirk crossed the finish line just 17 seconds off the pace set by his chief adversary Bo Ljungfeldt in the far more powerful V8-powered Ford Falcon. e hand‐ icap formula at the time – designed to even out the weight and power differences between the various cars – meant the classic Mini actually led the way in the overall standings. And Hopkirk defended his advantage in the sprint through the streets of Monte Carlo that rounded off the rally. At the winner’s ceremony he shared the cheers of the crowed with his team-mates. Timo Mäkinen’s fourth-place finish and Rauno Aalto‐ nen’s seventh overall set the seal on the success of the Mini Cooper S and ushered in the era of the “ree Musketeers” in the Monte Carlo Rally. e classic Mini’s victory was celebrated with particular excitement in its native Britain. Hopkirk received a con‐ gratulatory telegram from the British government and the Beatles were also among those leading the applause. “I got a telegram from the Beatles,” remembers Hopkirk. “at was followed by a photograph of the four of them autographed to me saying: ‘You’re one of us now, Paddy.’ And it’s very nice to have that
drive, low weight, wide track and comparatively long wheelbase made it an extremely agile four-seater and paved the way for its forays onto race circuits and rally courses. As early as 1960, big-name racing drivers like Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Jim Clark were spotted testing the cornering flair of the John Cooper-tuned small car on the Silverstone Formula One track. However, the classic Mini was most at home in rally racing. Patt Moss, sister of grand prix driver Stirling Moss, piloted it to wins in the Tulip Rally and Baden-Baden Rally in
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boosted to around 90 hp. is was a lot more than in previous years but still modest in the face of competi‐ tion from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and Ford Falcon, whose six-cylinder and V8 units had three or four times more power at their disposal.
1962. And by the following year, the diminutive British car was ready to burst into the public consciousness at the Monte Carlo Rally. Preceding years had been a tough learning experience for the works team, but now they would make people sit up and take notice. Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk drove the 55 hp Mini Cooper to a 1-2 finish in their class, which was good enough for third and sixth places overall. It was clear that the classic Mini was better equipped than any other car to pull off the classic David vs Go‐ liath act. John Cooper had long suspected that the car had what it took. Back in 1959 he instructed Roy Sal‐ vadori to drive a prototype to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. e journey itself turned into a race between Salvadori and fellow racing driver Reg Parnell at the wheel of an Aston Martin DB4. e result confirmed what Cooper had foreseen in his mind’s eye: the Cooper-prepared classic Mini arrived around an hour earlier than the much more powerful Aston. Identifiable from a distance with their tartan red body‐ work and white roofs, the six small racers dispatched by the BMC works team for the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 were – at least on paper – fighting against the tide once more. e Mini Cooper S lined up at the start for the first time. Its new four-cylinder engine now had an in‐ creased 1071cc capacity and output had also been
e 33rd edition of the Monte Carlo Rally began – as was traditional at the time – with a nod to the origins of the event, the cars starting from nine European cities before converging on the French city of Reims. e Hopkirk/Liddon partnership got their journey with the Mini Cooper S under way in Minsk, while for Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose the Monte adventure started in Oslo, and Timo Mäkinen and Patrick Vanson set off from Paris. e classic Mini successfully negoti‐ ated all these journeys and all six works cars were able to take their place in the 277-strong field in Reims. e first stage of the rally to Saint-Claude brought together the two cars which were to define the 1964 Monte from start to finish. Bo Ljungfeldt roared to the top of the time sheets in his Ford Falcon, but Paddy Hopkirk re‐ mained hot on his heels in his Mini Cooper S. e next leg of the rally was made up largely of milelong flat-out sections, but Hopkirk refused to let his big-engined rivals build up a decisive advantage. e “Night of the Long Knives” would become the day of reckoning; this was the classic Mini’s chance to demon‐ strate its talents to the full. “It was quite snowy that year, so we had done a lot of practising and preparing,” explains Hopkirk. “e Mini was particularly good downhill, and all the tests were up and downhill, so what we lost going up, I think we made up for going downhill.” Irresistible handling, correct tyre choice, Hopkirk’s gis at the wheel and the snow – which slowed the bigger cars down – all came together and ensured that Hop‐ kirk was able to take over the lead on the 1,607-metre (5,270 ) Col de Turini. However, it remained a tight contest all the way to the finish, with Bo Ljungfeldt, as expected, again posting the fastest time on the final stage through Monte Carlo. However, Hopkirk was also squeezing everything from his Mini Cooper S once again and hung onto his advantage to wrap up the win. “It’s not like rallying today when you know where you are. I had to do the final circuit, then the journalists
told me I had won and I couldn’t believe it. It surprised the world and us, so it was very nice,” recalls Hopkirk. e following year Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul Easter ensured the classic Mini would retain its title. ey were helped by a new engine with capacity in‐ creased to 1275cc, but it was the Scandinavian’s driving skill that landed the decisive blow. Mäkinen was the only driver to remain penalty-point-free throughout the rally distance, despite the fact that the 1965 Monte Car‐ lo Rally was providing one of the most exacting tests in the history of the event. Epic levels of snow and ice made the going seriously tough, but that didn’t stop the organisers including a second night stage through the Maritime Alps in the programme. Mäkinen and his Mini Cooper S appeared impervious to the deteriorat‐ ing conditions. e Finn won five of the six special stages on the final leg of the rally and finished the event with a handsome margin over the second-placed car. e most impressive and also most dramatic Monte Carlo Rally for the “ree Musketeers” was to follow in 1966. Mäkinen, Aaltonen and Hopkirk dominated the event from the start, and it was in this order that they completed a clean sweep of the top three positions over‐ all at the finish. Public enthusiasm for the quicksilver classic Minis appeared to be boundless – as was the dis‐ appointment when the French race commissioners re‐ vealed their decision to disqualify the trio on account of lights that allegedly did not conform with official regu‐ lations. is was also the reason given for removing the fourth-placed Lotus Cortina from the classification, which meant that the Finnish Citroën driver Pauli Toivonen was crowned the winner. e dream of a Monte hat-trick lay in tatters, but the “ree Musketeers” resolved to return at the earliest op‐ portunity. In the winter of 1967 Hopkirk, Mäkinen and Aaltonen lined up alongside two other BMC works teams for the Monte Carlo Rally. And this time neither the rules nor the other cars could stand between the Mini Cooper S and victory. Rauno Aaltonen was joined by Henry Liddon – Paddy Hopkirk’s co-driver from the successful 1964 Monte – for his latest assault on the ral‐ ly. e Finnish-British team clicked straight into gear. Aaltonen guided the classic Mini to what was this time an undisputed victory with 12 seconds to spare. And nobody was more pleased for the duo than Hopkirk: “Henry Liddon was really an outstanding co-driver. But the co-drivers never got enough credit, you know. ey did a fantastic job in reading the notes and they were the office manager of the car.” Hopkirk finished the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in sixth place and also drove the classic Mini to fih overall the following year. Aaltonen was third in 1968. However, the era of the small car that stormed to the summit of rally racing was clearly approaching an end. Its rivals had grown just too powerful and the sporting zenith of the classic Mini was now behind it. Memories of that fa‐ mous triumph in the winter of 1964 will forever burn bright and the “ree Musketeers” have written an in‐ delible chapter into the history of motor sport. As for distinctive headlight solutions, such as incurred the wrath of the powers-that-be back in 1966, they also live on as some of the most popular Original MINI Acces‐ sories – from black headlight housing and the evocative spotlights fronting the radiator grille to retrofit xenon headlights.
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TOYOTA RAV4: EVEN BETTER FOR 2014 tem options, such as the radio and CD player, can also be controlled using the screen. Toyota Touch 2 with Go Toyota Touch 2 with Go, an option on Icon and Invin‐ cible models, adds a wealth of extra functions and ad‐ vanced connectivity, all controlled simply and clearly using the same touchscreen system.
It’s 20 years since Toyota RAV4 created a whole new motoring market with the launch of RAV4, the original compact recreational SUV. While other manufacturers have been keen to follow Toyota’s lead, RAV4 continues to develop and deliver performance, specification and choice that keep pace with changing customer demand. at’s the inspiration for the 2014 RAV4 which hits the road this week, building on the model’s inherent strengths with a new powertrain and even higher equipment specifications.
e leading feature is the full map navigation, with a new screen design that provides clear display of sign‐ posts, junctions and lane guidance. A new intuitive de‐ tour function uses real-time traffic information to warn of congestion ahead, calculate the likely delay and sug‐ gest a suitable alternative route. e system also provides speed limit indications and safety camera warnings, and in the event of an emer‐ gency will give direct access to the emergency services or AA breakdown assistance, automatically providing exact vehicle location details on the display screen. e improved package further provides connection to a range of features, including Toyota real-time HD traffic data from TomTom.
New 2.0 D-4D with all-wheel drive Customers choosing Toyota’s efficient 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine for their RAV4 have, until now, only had the option of two-wheel drive. For 2014 this popular unit has been made available with all-wheel drive, in‐ creasing access to 4×4 motoring with the kind of low emissions and strong fuel economy that help keep run‐ ning costs down. e new RAV4 2.0 D-4D AWD is available in Icon and Invincible grades. e 122bhp (91kW) engine generates 310Nm for the kind of flexible driving performance that makes the car as easy to manage around town or out on the open road. Coupled to a six-speed manual transmission it returns official combined cycle figures of 137g/km (Band E for Vehicle Excise Duty) and 53.3mpg. Toyota Touch 2 All versions of RAV4 bar the entry level Active model are equipped as standard with the Toyota Touch 2, the latest evolution of Toyota’s touchscreen-operated multi‐ media system. It comes with a new high-resolution screen that uses four times as many pixels as the original system, for bright, sharp images. e package includes Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls and sending and receipt of text messages; a rearview camera; vehicle information, including trip data, climate control profile; and management of settings for door locking and lighting. It also enables simple connection of iPods and MP3 players via USB or Bluetooth, and, where available, will display album, artist and track information. Audio sys‐
Toyota’s system is the first and currently the only one of its kind to feature Google Street View™ and Panoramio™, providing on-screen imagery of the vehi‐ cle’s location or a chosen location to help pinpoint and recognise destinations; and a range of other multimedia applications such as social media channels, parking in‐ formation and filling station locations. A range of applications are available free for 12 months with Toyota Touch 2 with Go, easily obtained following a quick registration process via Toyota’s customer web portal. New equipment features Both Icon and Invincible versions of the 2014 RAV4 benefit from a few extra equipment and styling features. Icon models adopt keyless entry and easy push-button start as standard, together with new two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels – fitted to the two-wheel as well as allwheel drive cars. is builds on an equipment list that also includes dual-zone climate control automatic head‐ lights and wipers, cruise control, DAB digital tuner, heated retractable door mirrors and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Where Invincible grade models are concerned, cus‐ tomers can now choose between black or a new beige leather seat upholstery. All round protection has been made standard, thanks to front parking sensors being provided in addition to those at the rear. Toyota has also made the 10-spoke 18-inch alloy wheel design standard for the 2WD model. Established features of the Invincible grade include heated front seats, power slide and lumbar adjustment
for the driver’s seat and roof rails. As a result of the new, larger wheels, the CO2 figure for the 2.0-litre D-4D two-wheel drive models increases fractionally, but with no impact on the VED rating. All RAV4 models are equipped as standard with a space saver spare wheel. e palette of nine exterior paint fin‐ ishes includes a new metallic finish for 2014, Mahogany. Options A wealth of options is available for RAV4 owners who want to add something extra to their vehicle. New fea‐ tures for 2014 include a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. is uses a radar system to detect vehicles moving alongside in the driver’s blind spot, or approaching from either side when reversing, for exam‐ ple out of a car parking space. When the system detects such a hazard, a warning light flashes in the appropriate door mirror. Icon and Invincible models can be upgraded with a Style Pack (front guard and underguard, side and rear chrome trim and scuff plates); a Protection Pack (front and rear parking sensors, rear bumper protection plate) is additionally available for Icon grade. Extra in-car en‐ tertainment choices include powered docks for holding tablets and DVD players and a sunroof can also be specified (Icon and Invincible). RAV4 prices, VED and insurance e 2014 RAV4 is on sale now, with first customer de‐ liveries this week. Toyota has made the range even more accessible by reducing the entry price point by £400, of‐ fering the 2.0-litre D-4D 2WD Active model for £22,195 on-the-road. Full details of prices, VED bands and insurance are pro‐ vided below. Grade Powertrain VED Insurance OTR price Active 2.0 D-4D 2WD 6MT D 26E £22,195 Icon 2.0 D-4D 2WD 6MT D 26E £24,695 Icon 2.0 D-4D AWD 6MT E 26E £25,695 Icon 2.0 Valvematic AWD MultidriveS H 29E £25,695 Icon 2.2 D-4D AWD 6MT F 29E £26,495 Icon 2.2 D-CAT AWD 6AT I 29E £27,595 Invincible 2.0 D-4D 2WD 6MT D 27E £26,395 Invincible 2.0 D-4D AWD 6MT E 26E £27,395 Invincible 2.0 Valve‐ matic AWD Multidrive S H 28E £27,395 Invincible 2.2 D-4D AWD 6MT F 29E £28,195 Invincible 2.2 D-CAT AWD 6AT I 29E £29,295
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Motoring News
CATERHAM SEVEN 160: THE UK’S MOST ECONOMICAL TWOSEATER SPORTSCAR PREPARES TO START PRODUCTION
As Caterham Cars prepares to kick off production of the Seven 160, the British sportscar maker has an‐ nounced ultra-frugal performance figures for the entry level version of the iconic Seven; making it not only the most economical Seven in the company’s history but also the most cost-effective two-seater sportscar on the market*.
Caterham Cars’ Chief Commercial Officer, David Rid‐ ley, said: “e 160 adds something truly different to the existing Seven range, whilst staying true to our core val‐ ues of simplicity and purity.
e newest model to join the ever-expanding Seven range is powered by a super-compact, turbocharged three-cylinder Suzuki engine, which enables it to achieve an impressive 57.6mpg** and emit just 114g/ km CO2.
“To achieve our performance criteria, we called on the expertise of our engineering division, Caterham Tech‐ nology & Innovation (CTI). Our engineers carried out significant development work to fine-tune the Suzuki engine from its standard output of 64hp to 80hp and ensure the engine, suspension and overall dynamics all worked in harmony, whilst boosting fuel economy and reducing emissions.”
e combination of the car’s live-axle rear suspension, efficient engine and ultra-low weight offer drivers the unforgettable Caterham experience in the most afford‐ able package yet. Priced from £14,995 in component form and £17,995 fully built, the Seven 160 can be taxed for just £30 per year.
In Europe and the rest of the world an altered, EU5compliant version called 165 is available. e number five at the end of the EU spec car’s moniker signifies that the vehicle complies with the EU5 emissions stan‐ dards, allowing it to be sold across mainland Europe and beyond.
e Caterham Seven 160 focuses on unique charm and handling ahead of pure power, bringing unrivalled lev‐ els of efficiency, fun and value for money to the budget sportscar segment.
Please visit http://www.caterhamcars.com or call 01883 333 700 for more information.
Producing 80hp from its 660cc engine and generating a top speed of 100mph, the 160 will reach 0 – 62mph in a swi 6.5 seconds.
2014 sees Bournemouth welcome the inaugural Wheels
BOURNEMOUTH REVS UP FOR AN ADRENALINE FUELLED WHEELS FESTIVAL
Festival to town from Saturday 24 May to Monday 26 May. Billed as the UK’s biggest free family Wheels themed festival, it’s set to combine motion, power and
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FAMOUS LE MANS WINNER TAKES CENTRE STAGE WITH BENTLEY AT RÉTROMOBILE
Bentley Motors is delighted to announce that one of the most famous cars in the marque’s history – the 3 Litre that won Le Mans in 1924 with John Duff and Frank Clement at the wheel – headlines the company’s pres‐ ence at the prestigious Rétromobile exhibition next month (Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre, Paris, Hall1, Stand P48).
elegance into three days of high energy action across Britain’s premier seaside town and seafront. From beautiful historic classic cars and world-class BMX stunts to Monster Truck shows and supercars there will be something for everyone. e packed lineup so far is planned to include show stopping arenas on the beach, a cliff top demonstration course featuring racing cars and bikes, pier jumps, displays, live enter‐ tainment, fireworks and much more. rilling highlights in each arena include: On the Cliff top e East Cliff, overlooking the beach, will host a live ac‐ tion closed road demonstration course where visitors can get close to the sights and sounds of racing cars, sleek supercars and bikes in action. Plus, there will be two parades each day as well as sideshows, trade stalls and places to eat. Town Centre and Meyrick Park e town centre will be home to wheel themed displays, the demonstration cars paddock area and a pre-war vintage car display in the Pavilion car park. Monday night sees the Wheels Night Ride! At the be‐ ginning and end of the evening the town centre be‐ comes a cycle circuit, where families have the chance to join in with a fantastic celebration of cycling. ere will be everything from a community ‘Bears on Bikes’ chari‐ ty ride, cycling races featuring top riders from around the UK competing at speeds of over 40mph, and a Nightglow ride, where families can dress their bikes with glowing accessories and ride around the circuit with hundreds of others at night. Saturday and Sunday evenings will also see exciting pa‐ rades taking place around the town centre with a stun‐ ning selection of cars, bikes and much more. And don’t miss the Classic Vehicle Pageant planned for Meyrick Park, where hundreds of classic cars, bikes and other vehicles will gather each day as part of the Wheels
Festival. Beach On the beach will be a chance to see incredible car crushing shows and stunts in the Monster Truck arena. Head to the Action Sports arena, situated near the pier, and see Freestyle Motocross FMX experts performing crazy stunts and jumps, and don’t miss Bournemouth’s first ever pier jump attempts on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 7pm to 8pm. In the Military arena visitors can see Army and Navy vehicles in spectacular shows and demonstrations, plus there’s a funfair, shopping and food throughout the fes‐ tival. Pier Approach and seafront e excitement will continue on the beach and at Pier Approach with freewheel stunts taking place featuring expert BMX, skateboard, scooter and in-line skate per‐ formers. Here, visitors can get involved and learn how to do the stunts themselves, see the cycle village, watch sideshows, and enjoy the funfair. ere will also be car and bike display park ups on the promenade through‐ out the weekend and fireworks at 10pm on Saturday evening. Family Wheels Zone Bournemouth Gardens is set to become a Family Wheels Zone - perfect for kids and adults alike. e stunning Grade II Listed Victorian Gardens will pro‐ vide the perfect backdrop for toy cars, cycling displays, have a go wheels activities and art displays. Set to be an unmissable family event, stay tuned to hear all the latest announcements by following us on Twitter #wheelsfest, ‘liking’ Bournemouth Wheels Festival Facebook page or visit bournemouthwheelsfestival.co.uk.
Now celebrating the 90th anniversary of its Le Mans victory, this unique car was the first overseas winner of the world’s greatest endurance race and started a period of domination for Bentley in the 1920s as well as help‐ ing to establish the company’s reputation for creating cars combining high-performance with outstanding levels of durability. Richard Charlesworth, Head of the Bentley Heritage Collection, comments: “is is a wonderful car to lead our presence at Rétro‐ mobile in Paris and we are particularly grateful to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and Musée Auto‐ mobile de la Sarthe for their kind support. e car is truly one of the great racing Bentleys and is part of this marque’s unique association with France and motor racing.” Some nine decades later, Bentley’s connection with mo‐ torsport remains as strong and passionate as ever with the new Continental GT3 race programme underway and the company set to compete at Silverstone, Monza and Paul Ricard later this year.
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Motoring News
NEW SPECIAL-EDITION VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK CANYON BOASTS RUGGED APPEAL
cial-edition Amarok can add the optional roof light bar for only £945 (ex. VAT). Volkswagen’s multi award-winning Amarok has always challenged traditional pick-up conventions. And now the new special-edition Amarok Canyon has powered to the pinnacle of the range to offer new heights of per‐ formance, design and equipment. A limited number of 350 vehicles will be available to UK customers when the Canyon goes on sale on 1 April. From its specially developed high-shine styling bar to the robust, colour-keyed under-ride guard, the Amarok Canyon exceeds expectations in terms of technology, engineering and style. Based on the popular Trendline trim but boasting hi tech features as well as distinctive rugged styling, the Amarok Canyon is packed with over £8,500 worth of extra equipment including: satellite navigation with a six-inch colour touchscreen,Blue‐ tooth, unique styling bars, 19” Cantera alloy wheels and heated leather seats. Drivers also benefit from front and rear parking sensors, privacy glass, a protective coating for the load area, a matt black roll cover, interior floor mats and high-gloss black side styling bars and rear bumper. e individual style of the Amarok Canyon continues inside where the impressive interior features a combina‐ tion of Nappa and Vienna leather upholstery in twotone Moonrock (light grey) and Anthracite (dark grey). A leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob with sporty orange stitching adds to the Canyon’s unique ap‐ peal. When ordered in Copper Orange the air vent sur‐ rounds are matched to the vehicle’s exterior colour, while on the Deep Black and Reflex Silver models the air vent surrounds feature Matt Chrome.
e Amarok Canyon’s muscular appearance is matched by the power that drives it. e Canyon comes with Volkswagen’s top of the range 2.0-litre BiTDI 180 PS engine, offering up to 420 Nm of torque and a maxi‐ mum towing capacity of up to 3,200 kg. Customers can choose between a six-speed manual with selectable 4MOTION® (50 vehicles available) or an eight-speed auto with permanent 4MOTION® (300 ve‐ hicles available). e automatic version boasts BlueMotion Technology modifications, which include low rolling-resistance tyres, and Start/Stop and regenerative braking systems to provide greater economy and lower emissions. e Amarok Canyon is available in three colours: Cop‐ per Orange, Reflex Silver or Deep Black – with Indium Grey foil lettering and Silver under ride guard. Retail prices start from £28,990 (excluding VAT) for the manual transmission and rise to £30,720 (excluding VAT) for the automatic transmission. e Amarok Canyon will go on sale on 1 April. For full details of the Amarok Canyon, or to find your nearest Volkswagen Van Centre, please visit www.volk‐ swagen-vans.co.uk, or call0800 717131. For the latest updates follow Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles on Twitter @Volkswagen_CV or Facebook: facebook.com/ VolkswagenCommercialVehiclesUK. Amarok Canyon, technical specification
ose wishing to enhance further the look of this spe‐
Manual Automatic Engine 2.0 BiTDI (bi-turbo with intercooler) 2.0 BiTDI BlueMotion Technology (bi-turbo with intercooler) Power (PS/rpm) 180 PS at 4,000 rpm Torque (Nm/rpm) 400 at 1,500-2,000 420 at 1,750 Number of gears 6 8 Top speed (mph) 111 108 0-62mph (seconds) 11.0 11.3 CO2 emissions (g/km) 216 215 Gross vehicle weight (kg) 3170 Unladen weight (kg) 2,085 2,070 Payload (kg) 1,085 1,100 Axle load limit front/rear (kg) 1,385/1,860 1,415/1,860 Towing limit (braked, kg) 3,000/750 3,200/750 Gross train weight (kg) 5,550 5,950 Fuel economy (mpg): Urban 29.1 31.0 Extra-urban 38.7 37.2 Combined 34.4 34.4
RADICAL VAUXHALL CONCEPT HERALDS FASTEST PRODUCTION ASTRA Vauxhall released the first official image of one of its new Geneva show stars, the Astra VXR EXTREME, which will be the basis for a future low-volume produc‐ tion run. Derived from the last year’s Astra Cup race car that competed in the Nürburgring Endurance Champi‐ onship, the EXTREME is the street-legal race sibling to the current Astra VXR, which in standard form already produces 280PS and 400Nm of torque. But shorn of weight, thanks to liberal use of high-quali‐ ty carbon components, the EXTREME’s natural envi‐ ronment will be the race track. An integrated safety structure, racing seats and six-point safety belts drives home the point still further.
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e EXTREME’s timing couldn’t be better, either, since 2014 marks ten years since the VXR brand was launched in 2004. e Astra VXR is now the best-sell‐ ing VXR and the UK remains the largest market in Eu‐ rope for Vauxhall and Opel’s highest powered models. More information about the Astra VXR EXTREME will follow next month.
UNIQUE MASERATI RACE FOR DONINGTON HISTORIC FESTIVAL To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maserati, Motor Racing Legends (MRL) and the Maserati Club UK are staging a historic Maserati race at this year’s Donington Historic Festival (May 3rd, 4th, 5th). Running as a double header over two of the Festival’s three days, the Maserati Centenary Trophy is for all types of Maseratis and OSCAs built before 1966. is means that the race will be open to all pre-’66 singleseaters and sports cars, including all pre-War cars and cars powered by Maserati or OSCA engines.
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e Italian marque’s history in motorsport goes back to 1926 - 12 years aer its foundation in 1914 - when Al‐ fieri Maserati took his Tipo 26 to class victory in that year's Targa Florio. is would be followed in 1927 by Maserati winning the Italian constructors' title and Al‐ fieri’s brother Ernesto taking the Italian drivers' title. In
the subsequent decades, Maserati would drive into the motorsport history books with a series of iconic models and success in Grand Prix and sportscar racing, two Indy 500 wins and victory in the 1957 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship for Fangio in the 250F.
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Michael O'Shea, Racing Co-Ordinator for the Maserati Club UK, said: “e Maserati Centenary Trophy is the realisation of the Maserati Club UK’s ambition to hold such a special race in Britain to celebrate 100 years of Maserati. e challenge of marking this important oc‐ casion was taken up by Motor Racing Legends and the venue will be the magnificent Donington Park circuit during the Donington Historic Festival.
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LINCOLN CONTINUES SUPPORT OF ARTS AS SIGNATURE SPONSOR OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
“It is entirely appropriate that this celebration is held at Donington Park because Maseratis have been racing there since the circuit opened in the 1930s. Later the track became the host to the annual Shell Ferrari Maserati Challenge and now the cars will return from all over Europe for the Donington Historic Festival. As more and more of these valuable cars are consigned to private collections and museums, this will be a rare op‐ portunity to see a grid of cars from the 1930s to the 1960s all powered by engines built by Maserati or OSCA.” Donington Historic Festival founder Duncan Wiltshire said, “is will be a fantastic race for spectators and drivers alike. To see a dedicated grid of historic models such as the 8CM, 250F, A6GCS and 300S out on track is something Festival visitors will never forget. It is par‐ ticularly pleasing that Motor Racing Legends is working with the oldest Maserati club in the world to commem‐ orate the marque’s anniversary in this way. e Maserati Club UK’s knowledge is an invaluable resource in or‐ ganising such an event.” Advance tickets on sale e Donington Historic Festival offers world-class his‐ toric motorsport at family-friendly prices, with advance ticket discounts making the price of entry even more friendly. Advance tickets cost £20 for a Saturday, Sun‐ day or Monday single day ticket, £32 for a Saturday + Sunday or Sunday + Monday 2-day ticket and just £45 for a 3-day weekend ticket. On-the-gate prices will be £25 for Saturday, Sunday or Monday single day tickets, £40 for Saturday + Sunday or Sunday + Monday 2-day tickets and £60 for the 3day weekend tickets. Kids aged 13 and under are admit‐ ted for free. Advance discounted tickets can be bought via www.doningtonhistoric.com and through the 24-hour ticket hotline 0844 873 7355. Advance ticket sales close at 5pm on Wednesday, April 30th 2014.
e Lincoln Motor Company announces today signa‐ ture sponsorship of the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival® in New York City, April 16-27.
Enterprises. “Its involvement will help us further our mission of supporting filmmakers and bringing audi‐ ences the best in new independent storytelling.”
Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, the festival helps emerging and established filmmakers reach a broad, diverse and international au‐ dience.
Lincoln’s support of Tribeca Film Festival builds upon its leadership in recent initiatives involving the film in‐ dustry; in September, Lincoln worked with Vanity Fair and Film Independent to create a series of original short films reimagining classic Hollywood themes with emerging filmmakers.
“e creative and visionary participants of the Tribeca Film Festival mirror Lincoln,” said Matt VanDyke, di‐ rector, global Lincoln. “Just as they are driving film in new and exciting ways, Lincoln offers a fresh alternative with its vehicles and client experience.
ere are also special discounts for members of car clubs that have registered with the Festival, and car club organisers are invited to register their club via the car club section on the event’s website to allow their mem‐ bers to enjoy these benefits.
“We continue to support and encourage innovative ideas and projects that echo the Lincoln brand’s passion for the arts, design and thought leadership,” VanDyke added. “With signature sponsorship of the Tribeca Film Festival, Lincoln celebrates achievements in filmmaking.”
With close-fought racing every day, over 400 historic racing cars spanning seven decades, historic rally car and karting action and a ‘living motoring museum’ cre‐ ated by dozens of car clubs displays, plus a host of other entertainment and attractions, exhilaration and enter‐ tainment is guaranteed on every day of the Festival.
New for 2014 is Tribeca Interactive & Interlude: A Mu‐ sic Film Challenge, in collaboration with e Lincoln Motor Company, a call for filmmakers to create an in‐ teractive music film. is new initiative celebrates the growing trends in filmmaking and further extends the festival experience online.
To learn more about the Donington Historic Festival, or to plan your visit, please see www.doningtonhistoric.com.
e Lincoln Motor Company will co-sponsor Tribeca Film Festival’s popular Spotlight film section, which showcases a mix of big names, bold talents on the rise, highly anticipated new releases and festival favorites. “We are proud to be partnering with an iconic global brand like Lincoln,” said Jon Patricof, president, Tribeca
Lincoln’s history in film Lincoln has a longstanding relationship with films and stars. In 1939, the first 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabri‐ olet, the top of the line for the Lincoln Zephyr range, was presented by Edsel Ford to Mickey Rooney. Rooney had played the title role in “Young Tom Edison,” which was filmed at Greenfield Village. e 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II – widely ac‐ claimed as a milestone in American automotive design – was the choice of such stars as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. A notable example of the marque’s ties to Hollywood could be seen at Lincoln’s stand at the 2012 Los Angeles International Auto Show. A Lincoln built especially for Elizabeth Taylor included bespoke paint and interior that matched the color of the movie star’s eyes. Lincoln Futura served as the basis for the Batmobile for the 1960s movie and TV show, while a 1964 Lincoln Continental played a key role at the end of the iconic fraternity movie “Animal House.”\
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As official vehicle of the 12-day Tribeca Film Festival, filmmakers, VIPs and special guests from around the world will get to know the new Lincoln brand – fueled by a focus on design, quality and personal service – as they are transported in style and comfort to film pre‐ mieres and events throughout Manhattan.
ENVIRONMENTAL WORLD FIRST ACCOLADE FOR KIA’S FORTHCOMING SOUL EV
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Various bio-based materials have been applied to the Soul EV, such as bio degradable plastic, bio-foam and bio-fabric. Unlike previous plastic materials that are based from oils, bio-based materials are derived from biomass, which is a photosynthate. Such modern bio‐ chemical technologies have replaced the majority of the existing chemistry industry by offering an alternative through development of new bio-materials. e interior of Kia’s Soul EV includes various new ma‐ terials such as 10 per cent of bio-based plastic and antibacterial substances. Moreover, Kia has used five newly developed eco-friendly materials, including cellulosebased plastic and thermoplastic elastomer fabric. In order to receive the UL Environment claim valida‐ tion, Kia went through a meticulous document review of the applied internal materials and onsite inspections of Kia’s manufacturing sites. UL Environment granted
1) Weight of bio-based plastic 2) Content ratio of bio-based organic carbon materials, and 3) List of bio-based material application in the Kia Soul EV. is achievement for the Kia Soul EV reflects the trend of the electric car transitioning from its original criteria of fuel efficiency and carbon emission to consideration of its entire product life cycle, which covers manufac‐ turing, distribution and end-of-life recycling. “We are proud that our Kia Soul EV has achieved both the auto industry’s and the world’s first UL Environ‐ mental claim validation for its bio-based organic carbon content for 10 per cent of its interior materials,” said Jong-Dae Lim, Vice President of Material Development Center of Hyundai-Kia R&D Center, Namyang, South Korea. “We will continue our efforts to develop cutting-edge products that satisfy not only the evolving market, but also customer needs” he added. Stephen Hwang, President of UL Korea said: “Receiving UL Environment’s claim validation for the Kia Soul EV shows the company’s strenuous efforts in developing cars with the environment in mind. UL Korea will con‐ tinue to support Kia as it builds its environmental lead‐ ership in the marketplace.” UL Environment is the environmental business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a global independent safety science company. Further details about their work can be found at www.ul.com/environment
RENAULT TO CELEBRATE THREE ANNIVERSARIES AT THE RETROMOBILE SHOW IN PARIS RENAULT TO CELEBRATE THREE ANNIVER‐ SARIES AT THE RETROMOBILE SHOW, IN PARIS, INCLUDING THE 50TH BIRTHDAY OF THE RE‐ NAULT 8 GORDINI is year’s Rétromobile Show (February 5-9, Porte de Versailles, Paris, France) will see Renault celebrate three notable anniversaries: • 100 years since Parisian taxis – in large part Re‐ nault Type AG1 models – were requisitioned by the French Army to transport wartime troops from the capital to the front of the First Battle of the Marne; • e 50th anniversary of the Renault 8 Gordini, the iconic car which made the joy of sporty motoring an affordable reality for a whole generation; • e 30th anniversary of the ground-breaking Renault Espace. Kia Motors Corporation has announced that the com‐ pany’s new Soul EV (electric vehicle), which will have its world premiere at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show starting later this week, has achieved UL Environment validation for bio-based organic carbon content for 10 per cent of its interior materials.
the validation to the Kia Soul EV for containing biobased plastic of 23.942kg and bio-based organic carbon content of 10 per cent. UL Environment presented Kia with validation badges for:
Visitors to the 2014 Rétromobile Show (Salon Rétro‐ mobile) at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, France (February 5-9) will be able to admire the following exhibits on Renault’s 700 sq. metre stand in Hall 1 (1G64 stand): • A recently-restored Renault Type AG1 taxi.
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low price. Launched in 1964, this automotive icon brought the joy of sporty driving to an entire generation.
seats now mounted on fore/a rails. Mated to automatic transmission, the V6 engine confirmed Espace’s status as a truly high-end model.
Renault 8 Gordini 1500 Twin Cam (1967) (private col‐ lection) is Renault 8 Gordini is powered by a 1.5-litre engine with a double overhead camsha, the same powerplant that was used by a number of Alpine prototypes com‐ peting in the Le Mans 24 Hours. is particular model is unique and once belonged to Amédée Gordini.
1996 – Espace III: e third generation saw Espace grow in size, with a version that was 27cm longer still – christened Grand Espace –added to the range in Jan‐
Renault 8 Gordini (1969) Renault 8 Gordini shone in rallying from 1964, with an extraordinary performance in the legendary ‘Tour de Corse’ culminating in four cars placed inside the overall top five, headed by winner Jean Vinatier. at impres‐ sive record of success continued all the way up until 1970. e model on show at the Rétromobile Show re‐ cently returned from the 2014 Rallye Monte-Carlo His‐ torique, where it competed as part of the Team Renault Classic line-up. • Five legendary Renault 8 Gordinis, including a Type 1134, prepared by Renault’s competition depart‐ ment. • e Espace saga, told through eight display vehi‐ cles from the original concept right up to the currentday model, with a special space reserved for the ex‐ traordinary Espace F1. e vehicles on display on the Renault stand in detail:
uary, 1998. Renault 8 Gordini Type 1134 (1965) is Renault 8 Gordini Type 1134, prepared by Renault’s competition department, has been restored to contribute to the Renault 8 Gordini’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Ex-Michel Leclère Renault 8 Gordini (1969) e original livery of this white car with an orange front
2002 – Espace IV: e current-generation Espace was produced entirely by Renault at its Sandouville plant. Its most significant innovation was its bodywork, no longer made from composite materials but from steel. Other Espaces at the Rétromobile Show: Renault Project 900 (1959) Providing spacious interiors has always been at the very forefront of Renault’s thinking. Responding to the re‐ quirement for better management of a vehicle’s cabin space, Project 900 was too avant-garde to meet with any great success – but Espace was not far around the cor‐ ner... Matra Project P18 (1981) (Matra Museum collection) Presented by Matra, this prototype would act as the ba‐ sis for the model given to Bernard Hanon by Philippe Guédon in 1982. It led to the partnership between Re‐ nault and Matra for the design and production of Re‐ nault Espace. Renault Espace I (1984) (private collection) A pre-production vehicle built in October 1983, this car carries the number 4, making it the oldest Espace known to exist! Its owner, a former Matra employee, states: “I am extremely proud to have played a part in this adventure and to see, 30 years later, just how much of a revolutionary vehicle Espace went on to be!”
Marne Taxi: Renault Type AG1 (1909) e first Parisian taxi, the Type AG found itself elevated to fame during the First World War. In 1914, the Ger‐ man army marched upon Paris. In order to hold the en‐ emy back, it was necessary to despatch French troops to the front – a task that fell to Paris’ plethora of taxis. Six hundred of them were consequently called into service to transport 3,000 men, which resulted in France win‐ ning the First Battle of the Marne and earned the vehi‐ cles their ‘Marne Taxi’ sobriquet. e vehicle on display at the show has been restored es‐ pecially to mark this centenary. Renault 8 Gordini: Renault 8 Gordini (1970) One of the most popular sporting models ever pro‐ duced by Renault is indisputably the Renault 8 Gordini, which boasted a top speed of 175kph for an unrivalled
end was chosen by its first owner, Michel Leclère, who piloted it to victory in the Pas Dunlop and second place in the 1969 Coupe Gordini. Despite the passing of the years and changes of ownership, this outstanding Gor‐ dini is totally original. Renault Espace: Four generations on display to tell the story of this model: 1984 – Espace I: Espace was first presented to the me‐ dia in April, before going on sale in July. e model’s versatility took observers by surprise, with the five rear seats all being removable and the front two revolving when the vehicle was stationary to create an impromptu living room. Renault introduced its slogan ‘Voitures à Vivre’. 1991 – Espace II: e second-generation Espace of‐ fered more refined dynamics and soer lines. is time, the modularity was even more versatile, with the rear
Renault Espace F1 (1994) is Espace F1 was designed to celebrate the WilliamsRenault team’s third consecutive Constructors’ crown in the 1994 Formula 1 World Championship and the sixth title for Renault’s V10. It went on display at the Paris Motor Show in October 1994 and even acted as the Safety Car at certain circuits.
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