Shelby GT350- worth sulking over?

As regular readers will know, the new 2015 Ford Mustang will be coming to the UK. Which is a good thing. Until I realised that Shelby doesn't agree with the new Mustang's foreign policy. The track-ready version of the gorgeous new Mustang- the Shelby GT350-will be the only version of the Mustang that we won't be receiving (but don't worry because we will get an Eco-boost version! It's so good to be British). But it looks so nice I thought I had to write about it, if only to tell you what you are missing out on. 

The Shelby GT350, contrary to what the name suggests, doesn't produce 350 BHP. Thats just a call-back to the 1965 GT350 (which only had 306BHP. Seriously, what is the point of that name?). No, the GT350 will produce over 500BHP (the name thing is just there to confuse everyone) from the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 in its history. All being delivered through a very old-school 6 speed stick. The 0-62MPH time will certainly be lower than the normal car's 4.4 seconds. And the looks you see below are all designed to improve aero to increase the overall performance-while making it look amazing. Plus it gets adaptive damping, and Ford's best brake system ever, and it is stiffer than the normal car. Please Ford, pretty please?

Nev

Button +Alonso+Honda= formula one dominance next year?

So Mclaren have finally made up their mind about which driver they want. Did they pull the name out of a hat?! In my opinion their choice was the right one: Jensen Button has more to give than the rookie Magnussen. And the decision from Alonso to move to Mclaren, while very brave and (according to some) bound to fail, will strengthen the Mclaren team no end. But can Mclaren and Alonso keep it together this time? For those of you who don't remember last time Alonso was at McLaren he left after year one of a 3 year contract because of a dispute between himself and the team principal Ron Dennis. So what will make this time different? 

The return of the Japanese Giants Honda to formula one is another factor that may determine who will control the podium next year. After a long absence from the grid Honda have decided to make a comeback and suppy their engine to McLaren, who will break off their long partnership with Mercedes in order to hopefully gain an advantage over them on the grid. This is a risky strategy that will only pay off if Honda still have the engineering expertise that they were so famed for back in the day and still are in their road cars.

And obviously you can't win a constructors championship with just a car. That is why McLaren have picked a line up of experienced and talented drivers many regard as the best on the grid. With a combined 4 world titles and drivers widely regarded as the most experienced drivers on the grid I can really see McLaren rising back to their form of a couple of years ago. Both the drivers are hungrier than ever for a title and I just hope McLaren (and Honda) can give it to them. Lewis Hamilton and his team at Mercedes better watch out if they want to keep their title because McLaren are hungry for victory in 2015.

Nev

Lamborghini Asterion: the future of Lamborghini's?

And so, the inevitable has finally happened. The last vestige of V12-only lunacy has been breached. This is the new Lamborghini concept, a car that will almost certainly make production. But it is a hybrid. Now that Lamborghini sees no way out of the choke of EU emissions regulations with its hungry V12/10 monsters, it turns (reluctantly) to hybrid power. 

But is it as bad as you undoubtably think it is? I have given the issue a lot of thought and have decided that it is not quite as bad as you initially think. For starters, it is called the Asterion, which shows that the people at Lamborghini haven't given up completely. Indeed, the team are working harder than ever so that this car will not be the one to destroy their reputation forever. Another redeeming feature is the keeping of the fire-breathing V10, just mated to an electric motor.  And the V10 is the 5.2 litre V10 from the Huracàn. This combo results in a not-unexciting total of 910BHP an 0-62mph in 3 seconds. And (maybe not entirely accurate) a claimed 282MPG, 98g/km CO2, full-electric range of 30 miles and no congestion charge in London. The looks are not as exotic as the Aventador but it is still unmistakably a Lamboghini. Although the hefty batteries and motor do enlarge the weight, so the top speed is 185mph, which is obviously soooo slow. So, Lamborghini trying to stay true to its values while also embracing the future. It's just a shame the future isn't a solo V12 engine screaming into the distance

Nev

So is this the right direction for Lambo to go? Comments would be appreciated in the comments box. Thanks.

Lexus RC-F: German super saloon rival?

So, new cars have been released and so my blog has returned after a long absence.

As you may remember, there was a car called the IS-F. It came from a boring brand called Lexus who many people criticised for being expensive Toyotas. They weren't very good and weren't made particularly well. Nobody really cared about any new models they brought out. Until the IS-F. It was based on the boring IS saloon but was made to rival the BMW M3. And it blew it into the dirt. But still people didn't buy it as the brand image remained. But people remembered. So now there is a successor. The RC-F. And it looks like a cross between the super LFA and the blistering IS-F. It once again tries to take the fight to the German super saloons but this time hopes to increase sales as well. It definitely matches the price of its German counterparts, at £59,995. As well as its space age looks, it boasts a 5.0 litre V8 producing 471BHP and 0-62 in 4.5 seconds, which definitely isn't slow. It features a lot of driver aids and has the purpose of being "driver-friendly", and, using normal Lexus knowledge, manages 28.2 MPG from its big V8 and hefty 1,765KG weight, which is quite impressive in my opinion.  But it won't match the new BMW M4. But it may still achieve more sales than the IS-F. It deserves them.

Nev

Ferrari F40: the greatest Ferrari ever?

Over the last couple of months, when the car industry has been very quiet and I have no new cars to think about and fantasise about ownership, I always think about the best cars ever. Not the newest, not the fastest, not the prettiest, but just the best. Vague, I know, but there are some cars that, to me anyway, are just undoubtably the best. Lamborghini Muira? Check. Audi Quattro? Check. Shelby Cobra? You bet. Ford Mustang Mach 1? Yep. But to me at least there is one car that I always come back to in these times of automotive pondering. The Ferrari F40. The best Ferrari accolade is a very tough one for anyone to give. Especially if they value their life. So let's consider the evidence for the F40.

The F40. The last car to be approved by Il maestro himself: Enzo Ferrari. It was also the first production car to pass the magic mark: 200mph (albeit only by 1mph). Powered by a twin-turbo V8, it generated a not-very-mighty-in-today's-world 471bhp but did have 426 torques and only weighed 1100kg's. It subsequently hit 62 in an amazing-for-1987 4.1 seconds. And had pop-up headlights. Seriously, if that doesn't change your mind I don't know what will. With a low and sexy shape and an eyebrow-raising rear wing, it's no wonder that it's value today can get to astronomical value of £750,000. That's more than a new Porsche 918. And if a car from 1987 is still worth more than a brand new hypercar, it must be good. The best? Absolutely

Nev

Mclaren P1 GTR

For those of you who already thought the Mclaren P1 was hardcore. Get a load of this. The Mclaren P1 GTR. Descendent of the Mclaren F1GTR, the car that won Le Mans on its debut in 1995. This car is the track-only version of the already hardcore P1, this car will cost double the normal car's already eye-watering price tag. Which means the GTR will cost an astronomical £1.98 Million.

So what makes it worth the price? Well, the massive rear wing replaces the "discreet" retractable one on the road car. This generates even more downforce, and coupled with its upgraded electric motor and tweaks to the engine meant that it should generate about about 986bhp, roughly the same as the original Bugatti Veyron but quite a bit lighter, equivalent of a Caterham seven lighter in fact. This means that it will obviously out-drag  the road car and sprint to 62 in under 2.8 seconds.the front of the car is wider and the body has been reprofiled for more aerodynamics. Anyone lucky enough to own one gets access to the F1 teams simulators and can take part in six exclusive track days per year. Most of the details are unavailable at the moment as it is still in development but the message still comes through. Be. Very. Afraid. Could this car be in retaliation to pictures of a Laferrari XX? Over to you, Ferrari.

Nev

The Italian Grand Prix

Last week was the turn of another historic race track to appear on the calender: Monza. With its historic banking no longer used on the track but still shows how tricky the circuit is. Qualifying on Saturday saw Lewis Hamilton edge Rosberg to take pole, with Bottas bagging Williams a second row start.

The race itself was very eventful. Ricciardo failed to gain a hatrick of victories because his Renault power unit failed to give him enough speed to catch the leaders. Surprisingly, Fernando Alonso-the only driver to have gained points in every race so far-had a power unit failure midway through the race which brought his record to an end. In the end Lewis Hamilton led the race comfortably to win the Italian Grand Prix, With Nico Rosberg finishing in second and Filipe Massa gaining his first ever podium for Williams. The next race is in Singapore, next week.

Nev

The Belgian Grand Prix

With all of the teams recovered over the summer break, it was time for Formula 1 to get under way once more. And what a circuit to start of the second half of the season. The circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Arguably the best circuit on the calendar. With its gradient changes and famous Eau rouge corner, everyone was itching to see another spectacular race there. And what a race it was.

It all started with qualifying. Which turned out to be a very soggy affair. With a massive downpour 20 minutes before the race, it was surprising it was not delayed. The famous circuit certainly caught some people out, With many an off-track moment and spin. In the end it was Rosberg who gained pole, with Hamilton in second and Sebastien Vettel in third.

The actual race dawned dry, to the relief of some people. Sebastien Vettel overtook Rosberg on the first corner to take second, before trying a daring over take on the inside on the straight after Eau rouge, something he did last year when he went on to win. Unfortunately the Mercedes car was too fast and the move was not completed. Elseware on the grid, Andre Lotterer came to a stop only 6 laps into his F1 debut and Pator Maldonado and Jules Bianchi also retired early on. After a brief battle between Rosberg and Hamilton there was contact between the two, with Rosberg losing some of his front wing, with shredded one of Hamiltons tyres. This took Hamilton out of the race, with him retiring 10 laps from the finish.Daniel Ricciardo mangled to take a stunning back to back win, closely followed by Nico Rosberg and Valterie Bottas taking another podium. Ferrari looked in good shape aswell, with Raikkonnen finishing fourth. The next race is Italy, in two weeks time. Can Ricciardo take another victory? We'll have to wait and see.

Nev

Below: Hamilton with his shredded tyre

Mercedes AMG GT: serious 911 rival?

Unfortunately, the Mercedes SLS is no longer in production. After a good number of years of being the super cool supercar, Mercedes has decided that enough is enough, and stopped production. And the car featured is its successor, the AMG GT. A car built from the ground up by AMG. The car you see is in disguise paint as it is not going to be released for another couple of month (probably November). It is not a supercar like the SLS, though. No, this is Merdedes' Porsche 911 rival, a sports car sitting at roughly £110,000 for the AMG GT S. As it is a sports car and carries a vague 'usable' tag, there are no gull wing doors sadly.

As a car it uses an evolved version of the SLS's chassis, and reduces physical proportions, although there is still the telltale long SLS style bonnet. The engine is the first of the new AMG motors that will power the next generation of Mercedes AMG. This is the first in line for the new 4.0 litre V8 bi-turbo engine, which has its turbos nestled between the V- a 'hot V' formation. The AMG GT S develops 501 bhp from this new engine, and delivers 479lb ft of torque from fairly low revs. Although no official figures have been released regarding top speed or acceleration, think about 180mph and 3.5seconds as an estimate. It promises to definitely take the fight to the 911. We'll just have to wait and see who comes out triumphant.

Nev

The Hungarian Grand Prix

The formula one group arrived in Budapest last week, with Lewis Hamilton out to close the gap to Nico Rosberg in the championship on one of his favourite tracks. All of the fans were hoping for a race to be remembered before the four week summer break. And what a race it was.

In qualifying, everyone got a shock when the Marussia of Jules Bianchi knocked Raikkonnen out in Q1 thanks to a bad call from Ferrari. Maldonado broke down and didn't make it through Q1. But the biggest shock was when Lewis Hamiltons car caught fire during Q1, with him consequently starting from the pitlane for the race. Nico Rosberg qualified on pole, with Sebastien Vettel qualifying second and Valterie Bottas qualifying third. Kevin Magnussen crashed out in Q3, which meant that Hamilton and Magnussen started from the pitlane.

The race itself was very action packed, with the safety car being called out 3 times! Marcus Ericsson brought the first safety car, Sergio Perez the second and Romain Grosjean the third. This confused the whole order of cars and pit stops. Hamilton came from the pitlane to eventually finish third, while Fernando Alonso managed to get his first podium finish in second, while Daniel Ricciardo won the race after a fantastic drive while Rosberg only managed to finish fourth after failing to get past Hamilton, which he was very disappointed with as he had started on pole. Spa is the next race, in four weeks time. See you then

Nev

The German Grand Prix

The tenth race of the formula 1 calendar was the home circuit of the Mercedes team. So they were very eager for a race win there in front of their home crowd. Qualifying saw a brake failure from Hamilton and a gearbox change meant that he ended up qualifying 20th. Nico Rosberg ended up qualifying in pole after a solid performance, with Bottas in second and Massa in third. 

The race itself was a high tense race from Lewis Hamilton, who made some spectacular overtakes. There was a lot of contact during the race which meant a lot of loss of bodywork, including Hamiltons front wing, and Raikkonnens front wing also. Rosberg led the race from start to finish to become the first German driver to win the German Grand Prix since post-war years. There was a major collision on the first corner, with Magnussen taking out Massa, continuing Massas unlucky streak. Bottas ended up finishing second, who was closely persued by Hamilton, who came from 20th to 3rd. The next race is in Hungary, with qualifying tomorrow. See you there

Nev

Below: Massa on his head

BMW i8: the future or just fantasy?

The car featured in this post is a car that has been long awaited in the car world, having been announced in 2009. BMW decided to join the recent hybrid-fest by attempting to create futuristic works of hybrid art. The two cars-the i3 and i8-were so outlandish that they weren't made in the normal factory. Instead BMW had to create a whole new division (i-division) in order to get the most imaginative results. And, believe it or not, the car you see below is the production i8, not the concept. The i8 that this post is about is the first supercar BMW since the M1 (odd name I know). It tries to rival the likes of the Porsche 911 while being way more efficient. So let's look at the facts.

Other than being very sleek to look at, the BMW i8 has the worlds first laser headlights, has very low drag, has a full-time electric motor powering the front wheels, with 131bhp, and can run for 21 miles in electric only mode and is 80% charged in 2 hours, meaning there isn't the 8 hour wait you get with full EV vehicles. It also has wing doors (probably more to please crowds than to increase aero), a carbon fibre body shell, and cost under a quarter of a Porsche 911's car tax. Powering the back wheels is a 231bhp, 1.5 litre turbo triple engine, meaning that in total we have 362bhp, plus 4WD. It also emits just 49g/kmCO2, and a claimed 134mpg, which is incredible for a car that competes with a Porsche 911 on performance, as well as price.

So, the BMW i8. A car that tries to save the supercar and make them sustainable. And even if you still prefer a screaming V8, you have to give this car credit for its noble quest which may mean that there are still super cars in 30 years time. Drive on.

Nev

The British Grand Prix

Race number 9 was the most anticipated race of the season as it was most of the teams home circuit: Silverstone. It was also the tracks 50th Grand Prix and there were lots of celebrations to mark the occasion, such as a display by the red arrows. But most important was obviously the race. The famous British weather meant that qualifying was very surprising because the track was rained on then dried in one sector right at the very end so the cars that lapped at the very end of Q3 put in very quick laps. Surprisingly, teams like Ferrari and Williams were caught out by the rain and did not make it past Q1. The top three were Rosberg, Vettel and Button, with Hamilton unable to take advantage of the dry last sector.

The race dawned dry, to the relief of the crowd. However, on the very first lap Raikonnen crashed and caught Massa, with the race being red flagged while the marshals repaired the barrier. When the race restarted, it was an eventful race, with Rosberg braking down due to a gearbox problem. Hamilton came from 6th to win with Bottas coming from 16th to second and Ricciardo coming in third. The next race is in a couple of weeks

Nev

Ariel Atom 3.5R

Recently there has been a big increase in the number of track-focused cars. These are being bought by people who want a car that is light and agile and can trouble a supercar around a circuit. There was the KTM X-bow, the BAC mono, and the Ariel Atom. This car came from a small startup company and was the best of them all because of its looks, agility and pace. The car this post is based on is the new, even more hardcore version of the basic Atom, which borrows tech, and some parts, from the limited run Atom V8. The engine is sadly not a V8 but a supercharged version of the normal Honda 2 litre engine. This gives the Atom more power and torque, and keeps the weight to a minimum. Indeed, the car still only weighs 550kg but wields 350bhp. This has some devastating effects on the performance figures. Power to weight ratio? 647bhp/tonne. This leads to acceleration figures of 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds. That's Veyron/Venom territory. 

 

There are also design additions to set it apart from the basic Atom, not least the front and rear wings. You can also option the side pods which contain a charge cooler and an oil cooler and also make it look beefier. The top speed is still relatively low, though, at 155mph. The acceleration figures are only due to the light weight. 

All this adrenalin comes at a price, though. Almost £65,000, in fact. For a car that does not even have a roof or windscreen. But the people who buy this won't care about that. What the want is a car that will submit the fastest lap at a track day and make them feel very satisfied about it.

Nev





 

Which country makes the best cars?

The very first thing I must mention is that the title isn't very accurate. This is because obviously it depends what you mean by best. For solid engineering the Germans obviously win hands down. Style and aesthetics? Italian cars are the best by far. Cheap but fizzy hatchbacks? France, in my opinion. Reliability? The japenese have always been good at that. Lots of power for not much money? America will be your first point of call. Cool but subtle luxury? Most people view Britain as the place for that.

This is what most people will hold as the fundamental beliefs about a countries car making abilities. However, it is definitely worth mentioning the obvious exceptions to this, which shows that a country can be good at more than just one aspect of the automotive spectrum. The American cars of old we're very good at the luxury thing, Britain used to be good at fizzy sports cars to. Actual car exceptions include the Poesche 911, more fun than solid. But, in general, the old stereotypes remain. An American car will always be scoffed at for being cheap, a Japenese car for being boring, likewise a German car, and Italian super cars will always be classed as unreliable. But, by playing their strengths, it has ensured that the automotive spectrum is incredibly diverse and exciting, no matter where you come from

Nev

 

The Canadian Grand Prix

The latest race in the formula one calendar took place in Canada a week ago today. And, as ever, there were a fair few surprises in store. Qualifying saw the Mercedes cars take one and two, with Rosberg managing to take pole ahead of Hamilton. The Williams cars did surprisingly well, qualifying 4th and 5th behind Sebastian Vettel who took 3rd.

The actual race turned out to be a race of attrition as temperatures were high. Both Marussia's retired on the very first race, a downturn after their first points last race. Both Caterhams also retired due to the heat, and both Lotuses retired also, Maldonado from an engine failure and Grosjean from rear wing damage. But most of the action came towards the end of the race. Both Mercedes cars reported engine problems at the same time, with Hamilton having to retire because of it. This left Rosberg limping round the track without his electric motor. The group behind him, consisting of Perez, Ricciardo, Vettel and Massa, caught him up but could not get passed because of defensive driving from Perez. Eventually Ricciardo overtook Perez and, on the third to last lap, overtook Rosberg too. On the second to last lap there was a very big crash between Perez and Massa, leading to them both being airlifted to hospital and Perez consequently being issued with a 5 place grid penalty for causing a collision . This has lead to a lot of arguing between force India and Williams, both blaming each other for the crash. At the end of the race Ricciardo took his very first race win, with Rosberg limping in at second and Vettel getting a podium in third. Jensen Button took a surprising fourth, with the two Ferrari's struggling in 6th and 10th. The next race in in a weeks time in Austria.

Nev

Below: Perez and Massa crash on the penultimate lap

Laferrari

So, the final contender for the title of best hypercar has arrived. After keeping it under wraps for so long, it has finally been revealed. With a fire-breathing V12 mated to a silent electric motor. This car is significantly better than the Enzo of before, being lighter, more ridged and more spacious inside (even though the roofline is lower. What sorcery is this?),and with a lower centre of mass. The Laferrari encompasses the electric motor to fill in gaps in the V12's torque, rather than to create an all-electric mode as in the Maclaren P1. However, to say that it does not improve efficiency is wrong. On the contrary, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 50% than if the car didn't use the motor. 

The Laferrari uses a lot of formula one-style technology in its construction. The use of different composite tyres and the use of regenerative braking both help it to be more extreme on the road or track. Despite this the Laferrari weighs just 1255kg, which is amazing when you realise that it is a hybrid. The combined horsepower of this machine is 950bhp, but it will cost you £1million pounds for the privilege. However, if it is any consolation you do get your name engraved on the steering wheel if you did buy it. Which you can't as they are all sold out. And you have to meet some very strict regulations if you wanted to buy one. Regulations no ordinary mortal could meet. Oh we'll, I just hope I get to see one in real life. I'm easy to please.

Nev

So, which one would you have? 918, P1 or Laferrari? Verdicts would be appreciated In the comments box and I will make sure I reply. Let the arguing commence.

The Monaco Grand Prix

The latest in the formula one calendar was Monaco, which was on TV yesterday (sorry about the lack of review on the Spanish Grand Prix). As Monaco is one of the most challenging tracks of the season, everyone was expecting a lot of action. And they were not disappointed. Qualifying saw a few crashes, which included Daniel Kvyat spinning across the chicane. A lot of people will now be suspicious of Nico Rosberg as he (controversially) accidentally locked up on the last lap and caused a yellow flag to be raised, meaning that Lewis Hamilton could not beat his qualifying lap so Rosberg could take pole. People are accusing Rosberg of purposefully locking up but he has been cleared by the FIA, something that may put peoples minds at rest. Results of qualifying can be found at the usual place.

The race itself was full of action. Rosberg led from the start and came through to win, Hamilton backing off in the middle of the race because he had dirt in his eye. Sebastian Vettel was unable to finish because of mechanical problems, while Pastor Maldonado was unable to start. There were a lot of incidents,too many to list here, but Jules Bianchi managed to finish 9th to take Marrusia's first ever formula one points, something they were very exited about. Towards the end of the race Daniel Riccardo was trying to overtake Lewis Hamilton, who was on very old tyres. He did not manage it but still managed to be 3rd. The results can also be found at the normal place. The next race will be in Canada,in two weeks time.

Nev

2015 Ford Mustang: yea or neigh?

The picture below is of the upcoming ford mustang, arriving in 2015. As you can probably tell, effort have been made to make this (the 10th incarnation of Americas most iconic muscle car) look futuristic while still keeping the familiar 'stang shape. Indeed, the designers have made special efforts to maintain the classic muscle car silhouette. But with modern twists. I particularly like the redesigned front headlights, because to me the previous ones looked a bit awkward. 

But it is not just the car that is new. The market is also new. In other words, the mustang is being imported to Europe. HORRAY!! And in right hand drive. DOUBLE HORRAY!! And with the option of an ecoboost engine. HORR... wait, an ecoboost ford engine? In a mustang? Are they mad?! Apparently not. See, while people like me dream about the GT version (if you're going to have a mustang, why not go the whole way?) most Europeans are (apparently) more interested in petrol prices than mustang muscle. The ecoboost (a 2 litre, if anyone is interested) is Fords compromise to importing the mustang for the second time (a small number of the original were imported to Germany). So, to try and make more money than they will spend importing them, a economical version is in the model range. Ford claim that the ecoboost will be the most selling variant. But will it? Will anone want an economical mustang? We will have to wait and see.

Nev

What is the ultimate three car garage?

As this post is somewhat of a special occasion (being my tenth post. ok, maybe not that special) I thought that I would take the time to make a lot of enemies by tackling the question faced by every car-lover the world over (usually when they are extremely bored). If you could have any three cars, what would they be? I don't doubt that every combo would be different, and that they would vary widely, from Reliant Robins (well, someone might) to McLaren P1's (a lot more probable).

Ok, enough stalling, time for me to come out and say it. After a long and thoughtful (and long) car journey I have reached a verdict, one that not even I am happy with. Firstly I would have to have a Laferrari. Out of the three this would probably be the least controversial. After seeing it on the cover of the latest Top Gear magazine, I decided that it must be in my garage. Second would probably be a Lamborghini Countach from the olden days. The car itself was made to be special and even though I was not alive when it came out it has still found its way into my heart. The last car in my garage would have to be a Lotus Evora GTE (no, my love affair with Lotus is still going strong). Something about its curvaceous body matched with carbon fibre addition matched with the ability to demolish both road and track meant that it had to be in the big three.

But I am not happy with it. How is three supposed to even scratch the surface of the cars that I lust after. Some other very strong contenders for the top spots included:

• The new corvette stingray
• The 2015 Ford Mustang
• The lotus Esprit V8
• A DMC Delorean
• A Ferrari 250 GTO
• A Lamborghini Miura
• many, many more... 

Now that I have had my say in this most controversial of car questions, I know that lots of you will be bursting to have your say in the matter. And these outbursts can be directed at the comment box, where they will be appreciated, completely stupid or not. May the arguments begin!

Nev

the Chinese grand prix

Last weekend the formula one roadshow came to China, with fans all wondering whether any of the other formula 1 teams could catch mercedes for an advantage on the track. Qualifying was impeded by heavy rainfall and, as such, saw some surprising qualifying results of former world champions not even making Q3, such as Kimi Raikonnen and Jensen Button. Surprisingly, the two Red Bull cars divided the two Mercedes cars at the top of the table, the top being Hamilton, Riccardo, Vettel and then Rosberg. Results for qualifying can be found at http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/917/7334/

The race itself, which was thankfully dry, saw most teams using the harder tyre for a different strategy. Rosberg had a very bad start, dropping down to 6^th off the line. Fernando Alonso squeezed into 2^nd after a very aggressive first lap. Hamilton dominated the race from start to finish, as was expected, while Alonso managed to stay in second for the majority of the race before being taken by Rosberg, who managed to retake the places he lost off the line. Lotus' first chance at points was dashed when Grojean, qualifying in 10^th and managing to get down to 9^th, had a sudden gearbox malfunction which led to his retirement from the race to the dismay of the fans. The results can be found at http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/917/7335/ the next race will be on from 9-11^th May in Catalunya. Cant wait.

Nev

The Bahrain Grand Prix

It may be late, but here is my usual post on the formula 1.

This years Bahrain GP had a fair few surprises up its sandy sleeve. Mercedes, being allowed to go wheel to wheel racing even though they are on the same team. This decision meant that viewers were in for a treat during the race. Lewis Hamilton was able to stay in front of teammate Nico Rosberg throughout the race, even though there were moments where everyone thought that the new tactic will mean that neither car finished the race. However, there was no contact so both cars finished the race, and achieved another 1-2 finish for a delighted Mercedes team. However, the race was also Jensen Buttons 250th race. However, the race was not a good one for Maclaren, with both cars not finishing, for the first time in a very long time. Not the best way to celebrate a race. Red bull managed to finish 4th and 6th, and force indias Nico Hulkenberg managed to finish 3rd, Force Indias first podium in a very long time and a cause for much celebration in the garage. Lotus had another disappointing day, with Grojean finishing 13th and Maldonardo 19th after receiving a 10second penalty after causing a collision and flipping an opponent. On the 18th-20th April the next race, China, will happen. And Rosberg has already planned victory...

Nev

Can Mercedes be caught? Opinions will be appreciated in the comments box. Thanks

Koesnigsegg one:1- first of the mega cars?

Deep in the Koenigsegg factory, customers have been wanting a race version of the already ballistic Agera r. Koenigsegg could have put a body kit on one and then presented it. Instead, they used it as an opportunity to develop one of their extreme projects. A car with the same weight as horsepower. So they built it, partially in retaliation to the new hyper cars proposed by Maclaren, Ferrari and Porsche. Koenigsegg was worried that these cars would make the Agera R seem tame. And so the Koenigsegg one:1 was born, the car you see at the top of the blog (as it looks so good). It has all of 1360bhp pulling only 1360kg of car (it uses a whole warehouse-full of carbon fibre and aluminium). This combination gives it a theoretical top speed of 273mph, enough to beat the Hennesey Venom GT as the unofficial record holder, if it can book a stretch of Tarmac long enough (the runs where the Venom and Veyron hit their speeds are not wanting to lend it to someone who has a good chance of stealing their coveted record). But perhaps the most shocking stat of the one:1 is (maybe predictably) it's power to weight ratio. 1002horsepower per tonne. ( or, obviously, 1horsepower per kg). Wow. This car could completely dwarf the hypercar trio, and make their manufacturers blush. Koenigsegg are eager to make a one:1 available for the test of the hypercars. The excitement has just gone up a level.

Nev

Opinions on the Koenigsegg one:1 will be appreciated in the comments box. Thanks

Lamborghini Huracan: Gallardo replacement or failed attempt?

The Lamborghini Gallardo is an old car. It was first launched over 10 years ago. Despite the constant refreshes, it's basics have remained the same. However, it remains the most popular Lamborghini ever, so it must be good to have kept sales up over so long. It's sharp design have defined Lamborghini for so long, so how can its legacy be continued? How can Lamborghini keep sales up with its replacement? Well, a replacement has been announced. The Lamborghini Huracàn. Named, as ever, after a famous fighting bull. To us, though, it souns like hurricane, the deadly storm which can rip towns apart. Fearsome. The pictures released show a car a lot less pointy than the edgy Gallardo, with a rounded front and a rear a lot like its popular predecessor. It's angry headlights maintain its angry stance while side on it still looks distinctively Lamborghini-ish and Gallardo-ish too. The new baby Lambo will be faster and lighter than the Gallardo, showing an advancement over the years. A couple of aspects have been borrowed from the Aventador. Lamborghini hope to carry on the period of success that they have been having over the past few years with this new car. Just have to hope they have hit the spot with their potential customers.

Nev

Is the Huracàn better looking than the Gallardo? Share your opinion in the comments box. Thanks

the Malaysian grand prix

The second race of the 2014 formula 1 season happened last Saturday & Sunday, with eyes being on the Mercedes team leading into the race. This was because Nico Rosberg had won the previous GP thanks to the Mercedes powertrain, which had been developed far before the others. And sure enough, Lewis Hamilton (unable to finish in Melbourne) qualified in pole position on the grid, followed by Sebastien Vettel and then his teammate Nico Rosberg. qualifying rasults can be found at http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/915/7322/
the race started on sunday with the track at a boiling temperature and all of the cars deciding to start on the hard tyres. Not surprisingly, seven cars were unable to finish the race, with Sergio Perez being unable to start. Daniel Ricciardo was doing well until he was released from the pit lane with a loose wheel ans consequently broke down at the exit. He then received a drive-through penalty and was then pulled out of the race. This has been the second bad race for Ricciardo, who did so well in Melbourne before being disqualified and doing so well in Malaysia before his break down. Malaysia was the first race in which a Lotus car was able to finish a race, with Romain Grojean just missing out on a point in 11th, having spent the last laps fending off former teammate Kimi Raikkonen (12th). race results found at http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/915/
Mercedes ended up stealing the whole show thanks to their amazing powertrain, which was developed long before the other teams and therefore the most versatile, achieving a spectacular 1st and 2nd place finish, which Mercedes has not managed since 1955.
Bahrain to look foreward to on the 3-4 April to see if Mercedes may be onto a winning streak.

Nev

American sports cars: better than European ones?

Here in the UK, What would your response be if someone was to say that they had bought an American sports car? Out loud I imagine you would congratulate them on their enormous engine, the straight line speed and the amazing body, all for a brilliant low price? But inside I imagine you would be laughing at their stupid choice: badly made, can't corner, bad economy etc etc...

Don't judge me as one of those people though. Some of my all time favourite cars include the Shelby cobra, original corvette stingray and the ford mustang. In my opinion all of these cars already beat their European counterparts just for the noise they make. However, lots of people disagree with me which is why a lot more people buy European cars. But now it seems that America has caught up with them. Their latest round of sports cars are a lot more europeanised than their predecessors. But are they still wannabes or have they come of age?

The new corvette stingray c7 was recently described as being more economical than a Porsche 911. Can you believe it? It was faster, more economical, more comfortable and (in my opinion) 100x better looking too, and about 20 grand cheaper!! Admittedly the Porsche was described as better in the corners (fractionally) and slightly better made than its American rival. But who cares for 20grand cheaper and a 6 litre V8! In my mind then, a win for the US then. The new dodge viper is also a massive success over the old one, and the time attack version even more of a venemous snake!

So in conclusion it does indeed seem as if the US sports car market really has stepped up its game recently and engaged head-on with the well-established European market. But, to be honest, it didn't matter to me anyway. I've always had a passion for them, now more then ever. I want to move to America right now just to be able to drive one on their amazing roads. Watch out America, I'm coming...

Nev

What do you think? Has America caught Europe? Thoughts in the comments box will be appreciated. Thanks

Dodge viper GT-S time attack (below)

Corvette stingray C7 along with its predecessors (below)

Formula one: the Australian grand prix

The Australian grand prix

 

 

Last Saturday was the first race of the 2014 Formula one season. Due to the big change in the regulations, all of the teams were unsure whether or not their cars were even going to be able to finish the race in one piece. Going in to the qualifying sessions, there was some big shocks in store. The first was the un-forecasted heavy rainfall that came in the middle of Q1. For the cars that were near the pit lane at the time, this was as easy as an unscheduled pit stop to change tyres. For the unlucky ones that had just passed the pit lane, this spelled disaster. The worst affected team was probably team Lotus, who, as a result, ended up last at the back of the grid for the race. Q2 saw the elimination of the current world champion, Sebastien Vettel. this saw the end of his winning streak, something some people were very glad about. the results of the qualifying are shown at http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/914/7315/ the race itself saw 11 cars unable to finish, mostly because of problems with the new engines and hybrid systems. However, there was a crash on the first corner involving Filipe Massa and Kamui Kobayashi. The engine problems affected people such as Sebastien Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Filipe Massa. However, it was a miracle that only 11 weren't able to finish. Some of the cars were able to carry on even with problems to their cars, such as Raikonnen's brakes which kept locking up. The race was dominated from the start by Nico Rosberg, followed by Riccardo (later excluded for using too much fuel) and Magnussen. Magnussen had a spectactular performance seeing as this was his first race in a red bull. Results can be found at  http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2014/914/7317/ . The next race, Malaysia, will be on tv 28th-30th March.

Nev

 

Lotus: what is happening?

Lotus: a company that has made amazing cars for a long time. The lotus esprit was favoured by James Bond himself; the lotus Elise was the most popular sports car for a long time. In my opinion, lotus is one of my all time favourite car companies. But what is happening to it now? Since the new lotus exige V6 things have gone quiet. But what happened? Well, when the new exige came out the company was run by Dany Bahar. He had a plan to bring out one new model every year until 2016. The cars themselves were completely remodeled versions of the old ones (eg. new esprit). He believed that, by having so many cars in its model range, Lotus would sell so many cars that it would break into the mainstream and that Lotus would become as well-known as Ferrari and others. The problem was that, with a recession going on, Lotus simply didn't have enough money to expand its range so quickly.For this reason The boss of lotus refused to allow these new cars to be built. Dany Bahar was replaced and since then Lotus has been keeping a low profile. But, having just brought out the Lotus exige V6 cup, it looks as if they may be waking up once more. And I for one can't wait.

Lotus exige V6 s

Lotus evora s (above)

Lotus seven (below)

mclaren p1 vs laferrari vs porsche 918

McLaren P1 vs. Porsche 918 vs. LaFerrari

 

 

So these are the most exciting cars around at the moment. They are the products of what people call the 'hyper car race'. Obviously the looks are controversial. In my opinion the Ferrari is by far the most stunning of all the cars shown above (my friend thinks it is the McLaren. We haven't spoken since), then comes the McLaren in second and the Porsche in last. As you may or may not know, the only one of these cars that hasn't been tested yet (hence the lack of figures in the picture) is the Ferrari. By looking at the figures provided it looks as though the Ferrari (due in  July) will be the lightest and the most powerful. On paper , then, the Ferrari looks like the highest performing as well as the prettiest (no competition!). However, as the Ferrari is not finished yet the numbers on the picture are most likely theoretical numbers and may or may not reflect the actual performance of the car in the metal. However, what we do know is that while the McLaren harnesses the electric motor to accelerate faster than a car with an ordinary fuel burner, and the Porsche uses the electric motor to make itself a lot more economical as its predecessors (such as the Carrera GT), the Ferrari looks from the numbers as if it is only going to be using a very small motor (the Mclaren's and Porsche's are large and powerful) coupled to a very big combustion engine so that the electric motor will fill in the gaps in the mighty V12's rev range. The fact that the Ferrari looks like the lightest supports this suggestion as if the motor is small it wont be too heavy. On paper, and in the metal, the McLaren and the Porsche are very closely matched (recently they tested the two cars on Top Gear). The McLaren's pursuit of speed makes it scary while the Porsche feels more civilised. So here's to hoping the Ferrari puts its money where its looks and name are!

Nev   

So, Maclaren, Ferrari or Porsche? Opinions can be submitted and enjoyed in the comments box. Thanks