With the Aston Martin Valkyrie on the horizon, it’s no surprise there’s some excitement building around the anticipated hypercar.
Even F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo sounds keen on it, so much so that he’s put his name on the ordering list to pick one up.
“It would have been rude not to!” Ricciardo told us at a press event in Melbourne.
“I think when it first got announced, I thought ‘if you’ve got to test this car, I’d be happy to!’
“It’s such a hypercar, obviously it’s road legal but it is going to be such a beast but as far as getting that little bit more out of it, it will require a race car driver to help develop it and just set it up well
“It also helps to understand that if something’s awesome on a racetrack, it might be too stiff over bumps [on the road].
And, as mentioned, he has good reason to want the car to be at its best.
“I’ve ordered one, but it’d be nice to thrash someone else’s!”
Teammate Max Verstappen told us a similar story when we spoke to him.
“Yeah I think we’re already talking about it already, I think it’s going to be a very interesting and fast car for sure.
“It will be something different to what people are used to out there on the road.”
Hyundai will placate buyers who find the i30 N a little too hardcore.
H-pattern haters can rest their hopes on an i30 N eight-speed dual-clutch automatic coming in 2019 we’re told.
Speaking at the car’s product presentation Hyundai’s PR director Bill Thomas confirmed there is a two-pedal option on its way.
“That timing isn’t confirmed yet but that’s what we’re expecting at this point”
Hyundai currently offers a dry-clutch DCT in its SR models, however, its 340Nm torque limit is maxed by the i30 N’s outputs.
On overboost the i30 N partners 202kW and up to 378Nm exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.
The upside to the transmissions delay is the standard i30 N variant or a fastback variant could arrive in tow, as senior product planner Andrew Tuitahi explains…
“We’re open [to bringing the standard car in] to it.”
“We’ll listen to feedback after launch. We’ll take notes from dealers and customers and see what kind of demand there is.
“Our primary thought is that someone who wants an automatic type of transmission maybe isn’t someone who isn’t so worried about things like the differential, the high grip tyres, the larger 19s and more aggressive hot hatch characteristics.”
This standard i30 produces 184kW and 353Nm, uses a front open-differential instead of a clutch-locking unit, and features smaller 18-inch wheels with Michelin tyres instead of Pirellis.
Hyundai Australia also made repeated mentions of a fastback i30 N variant to arrive in future, which has not yet been revealed, around the same time as the automatic.
We’re told the fastback will help Hyundai fill product niches much like luxury brands have done with highly stratified variant ranges.
Peugeot is going through a renaissance at the moment, with a refreshed line-up that continues to impress. The 5008 large seven-seat SUV is closely related to the mid-size 3008, keeps the same striking design cues, but ups the practicality.
Tell me about this car:
The Peugeot 5008 is both fun to drive, impressive to look at and practical. As a style-driving offering – particularly on the inside – the 5008 certainly stands out in the crowded SUV market. We take a look at the $46,990 mid-spec GT-Line variant to investigate whether this French family-hauler is the right fit for you and your tribe.
Strengths
- Style: The 5008 is dripping with design charisma, from the fresh face front and rear, to the wonderful and textural interior it shares with the 3008. Picking the Peugeot for your family is as much a style statement as it is a practical decision. You don’t sacrifice useability, despite the edgy design features like the Lamborghini-esque switches on the dash, and compact steering wheel and high-mounted instrument cluster.
- Luggage room: If hauling cargo and people is your aim, the Peugeot has you covered. Even with the middle row slid to its most rearward position, there is 780 litres of space below the luggage cover (a Skoda Kodiaq only provides 630 litres in a similar configuration, for example). A powered tailgate is standard.
- Handling: Where the 5008 really shines is its handling and dynamic ability. Despite its size, the large SUV feels planted and chuckable in bends, and can easily put a smile on the dial of an enthusiastic driver.
- Versatility: This is an SUV for both around town and long country drives. The steering is light and friendly for city driving, while the seats are well trimmed and comfortable for long trips (there are even shade blinds built into the rear doors to keep the sun of your youngling’s faces). A ‘grip control’ system is a $200 option for the GT-Line, offering snow, mud, sand and ‘ESP off’ modes, as well as hill-descent control for when the bitumen disappears.
- Value: The petrol GT-Line 5008 we tested has a sticker price of $46,990, but offers a premium level of feel and equipment. The base Allure model is $4000 cheaper for those looking to get the most from their pennies. The 5008 is a serious rival to other large European SUVs, for a bargain price.
- Warranty: Peugeot is now offering a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty on all models, including the 5008.
Weaknesses
- Firm ride: While dynamically impressive, the trade-off with the 5008 is a ride which is firmer than its rivals, and transmits road imperfections through to the cabin. The ride is also slightly busy on some of Australia’s craggier roads.
- Tyre roar: The calming cabin design is undone by persistent tyre noise on coarse surfaces from the 19-inch tyre and rim package.
- Engine: While there is nothing wrong with the 1.6-litre 121kW/240Nm turbo petrol engine in the 5008, it is ageing and down on power compared to its strongest competitors the Mazda CX-9 and Skoda Kodiaq. However, it remains torquey, smooth and driveable, despite being outgunned in pure output terms.
- Front seats hamper rear legroom: For the most part the 5008 is a capable people mover, however, the hard-backed front seats eat into rear legroom for second-row passengers. Adults over six-foot will have to move their legs around the seats to sit comfortably.
Any rivals I should consider?
Mazda CX-9 Sport, Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Pathfinder, Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
PORSCHE has provided a teaser of what’s believed to be the pre-production form of its Mission E electric grand tourer, hidden inside an annual report outlining its environmental performance in 2017.
The images reveal that the leap from concept to reality will soften some of the visual wow factor that made Porsche’s concept car such a heart-stopper at its unveiling at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Not all is lost, though; while the Mission E’s passenger cell loses the rear suicide doors and replaces them with more conventionally hung ones that erode some of the shapely 911 quarters of the concept’s rear, around the front looks on point, right down to the aerodynamic form that bends into the headlight assembly.
We gain a good look at the ‘frunk’, the small 911-esque storage well in the nose of the Mission E that fills part of the void where an engine would usually sit. We also note that the broad-hipped Mission E will have a decent-sized boot, although it doesn’t look very deep. The wheels still push out to the corners, giving an impression the passenger cell is hung between them.
There’s a single image that shows the driver’s seat of the Mission E, but we can’t divine very much. In the accompanying text explaining some of the inspiration behind the Mission E, designer Matthias Kulla said they have been able to “lower the base of the [Mission E’s] windscreen like the Lamborghini Miura”. The classic Italian supercar’s windscreen finished below the line of the front guards and the instrument panel did away with extraneous items above the gauges to present an unimpeded view forward. “The car [the Miura] was only 1.03 metres high, but you still looked out onto the bonnet,” Kulla said. “That was sensational. That changes your perception of the surroundings, they come into the car.”
The Mission E will use a Tesla-like flat battery pack that allows the heaviest part of the electric powertrain to sit low, keeping the centre of gravity as close to the ground as possible.
Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume, quoted in the report, said the Mission E would “redefine the high-performance e-vehicle segment”. “The vehicle will be a trailblazer for the mass appeal of e-vehicles,” he said. “The only things that the Mission E will not offer are boredom and forbearance.”
“I can promise that the Mission E will be the sportiest and the most technologically advanced vehicle in its class,” Blume said. “E-mobility, Porsche performance and driving enjoyment are not mutually exclusive; for us, they all belong together.”
Mercedes-Benz has announced a significant upgrade to its two door C-Class coupe and cabriolet variants, including the AMG C43 derivative, which bring new powertrains, improved handling and E-Class-like equipment levels.
The two-door models bring everything from the recently revealed sedan and wagon updates, including digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch panoramic infotainment screen, Dynamic Body Control suspension system and S-Class-level active safety features.
While details of all powertrains for the four-door versions are yet to be revealed, the two-door versions will come with new petrol- and diesel-turbo engines, with the former being coupled with a new EQ Boost mild hybrid system, and optional all-wheel-drive.
Connected to the new C200 petrol engine, EQ Boost comprises a 48-volt battery and motor combination that couples to the starter-alternator and offers the engine an extra 10kW and 160Nm for brief periods. When used it gives the 135kW/280Nm 1.5-litre C200 considerably more grunt than the outgoing 135kW/300Nm 2.0-litre version. Benz says it also means improved fuel economy, but is yet to release consumption figures.
The entry-level C200 is also available with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive
A new 2.0-litre petrol version is expected down the track, which will make up for the subtraction of the C300 from the range.
The new version of the C220d turbo diesel produces 143kW/400Nm, which represents an 18kW power boost over the outgoing 2.1-litre engine, and slightly better fuel economy (4.4L/100km down from 4.7).
The AMG C43 coupe and cabriolet meanwhile come with a 287kW/520Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that permanently drives all four wheels and is good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 250km/h.
Exterior changes across each version include updated front and rear styling and an extension of the chrome trimmings on the body. LED headlights house ‘Multibeam’ technology; meaning they can shut down isolated segments of the headlight so as not to blind oncoming motorists, and all variants come with Benz’s ‘Dynamic Body Control’ system that gives drivers a range of driving modes to choose from.
All cars come with Keyless-Go for hands-free entry and start, and the cabriolet has an optional remote roof control which uses Near Field Communication technology that essentially turns a compatible smartphone into a car key.
The updated C-Class range is expected to arrive in latter half of the year, with local pricing and specifications to be announced closer to launch.
Daniel Ricciardo is in Melbourne preparing to tackle his home turf, Albert Park, during the first round of the 2018 F1 season.
We were able to catch up with Ricciardo to discuss his hopes for the year and what he’s doing with Aston Martin in the near future, but he also gave us a run-down of the Albert Park street circuit.
Fortunately, F1 also put Danny in a simulator and recorded him talking through a lap of the track, which is by no means representative of his full ability.
During the media event, Ricciardo told us that the Albert Park circuit can be quite full-on due to it being used by traffic for the rest of the year.
“It’s pretty hectic straight away, even on the straight. Because it’s a street circuit there’s been traffic on it every day and it’s quite bumpy,” Ricciardo told us.
“Braking for turn one is really bumpy, you’d be amazed… sometimes on an onboard video you’ll hear this ‘ts ts ts’ noise, and some people are probably wondering what that is, but it’s just the car touching the ground.
“When you’re braking you get all the load form going so fast, and the downforce on the car hits quite hard. You kind of get thrown around a bit when you brake, so spotting the apex can be quite hard for turn one.
“It’s already a pretty quick corner, so the whole thing starts off quite lively.
“Going through the whole track is fairly bumpy, but I like that because it has character. We just went to Barcelona where they resurfaced the track, and that’s nice because it’s super-smooth, but I like the bumps and that change in the circuit.”
“I’d say my favourite turn is the high-speed left-right. I think that’s turns 11 and 12. I think this year that’s going to be 6th into 7th gear, so that’s like 270km/h or so through there.
“It’s quite short, so you don’t feel it for long, but for the few seconds you’re in the corner, you’re feeling ever part of it. It’s pretty intense.”
FORMULA 1 ace Daniel Ricciardo says the V8-powered Holden Commodore will be missed by generations of Australians.
Ricciardo is the only Australian on the Formula 1 grid for 2018, and told Aussie outlets during a press conference this week that a Holden Commodore without eight cylinders under the bonnet was “certainly not what I am used to”.
“However, I understand the reasons, or I think I understand the reasons why the V8 had to go,” he said.
The 28-year-old Red Bull Racing star said the loss of the V8 engine from the Commodore range would be hardest felt by enthusiasts of his age and older, while younger generations could be more accepting of the change.
Ricciardo joked about childhood memories of hanging out with mates who drove V8-powered Commodores, and how the engine and car became inextricably linked for him.
“When I think of Commodore, I think of V8s, and if a mate had a Commodore when you were a kid, you’d hear him from four streets away,” he said. “You knew when he was coming, he didn’t have to call you when he was out the front. The V8 is going to be missed, but I think the cool thing is the ones that are still around will certainly be appreciated.”
“I think people appreciate that they are still building V8 and V12 engines – people love that,” he said.
Formula 1 lost its screaming naturally aspirated V8 engines in favour for muffled turbocharged hybrid V6 units at the start of the 2014 season. Holden, meanwhile, built its last V8-engined Commodore in October last year, and now only offers a normally aspirated V6 as the sole performance variant in the range.
Ricciardo also said the loss of V8s from Formula One was not a positive move for the sport. “You associate the loud noise with the racing,” he said. “I remember as a kid, flying to Melbourne, you’d get to your hotel, and Friday practise would be on and you could hear the cars from the hotel. That would give you goosebumps.”
“Now they start the engine up, and it is no louder than a road car. I think even for rookies coming to F1, the gap is bridged, because that intimidation from the noise is less. As a fan and spectator, if you pay good money to get to a race and watch it live, I think part of that is hearing that roar.”
It seems unlikely the Holden Commodore will ever be sold again with a V8 engine. Formula 1, though, could return to an eight-cylinder format – depending on how proposed rule changes for 2020 turn out.
Ricciardo will take to the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne from tomorrow for the first round of the 2018 Formula 1 championship.
UPDATE: The 1993 Monaco Grand Prix winning McLaren MP4/8 was sold at auction for a staggering $6.5 million.
The buyer? None other than ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, whose bid secured the car Ayrton Senna drove to his sixth Monaco Grand Prix victory – fitted with the same engine and gearbox it raced with.
Ecclestone won the auction with a final bid of $5.7 million, with the final price soaring to $6.5 million after the buyer’s premium was added.
The staggering price is impressive, but is several million short of the $9.9 million forked out for Michael Schumacher’s Monaco-winning Ferrari F2001 late last year.
As the former boss of Brabham, and head of Formula 1, Ecclestone has an extensive classic F1 collection, with this sure to take pride of place. It’s rare for a Senna McLaren to leave the Woking team, with just a handful given to Honda, and even fewer making its way into the public’s hands.
This article was originally published on 22 March 2018, by Brian Rafferty
THE Toleman TG184 that legendary Brazilian Formula 1 ace Ayrton Senna raced in the 1984 season is up for grabs by a deep-pocketed purchaser.
For Sale: Ayrton Senna race suit from 1987 Monaco GP
Powered by a little 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine from Hart Racing (known as the 415T), its engine output of 500kW was somewhat underwhelming compared to the rest of the 1984 grid.
While there was some controversy over the result, Senna showcased some fantastic driving skill and went on to pilot the car throughout the 1984 season until the Italian leg where Toleman suspended him for signing a new contract with Lotus for the 1985 season.
It doesn’t stop there however; Bonhams is also auctioning off the arguably more special 1993 McLaren MP4/8A that took Senna to podium four times in the season and garnered him his sixth victory at Monaco. Powered by a legendary 3.5-litre Cosworth V8 with a 530kW power output, the McLaren hosted a range of then cutting edge technical features like active suspension, traction control and an electronically controlled gearbox.
Both cars will be auctioned off by Bonhams Auction House in Monaco on May 11. Neither has a listed price or reserve, but last year Michael Schumacher’s championship winning Ferrari 2001 sold at auction for $7.5million if that’s any indication.
Renault has revealed a special edition Clio RS18 to mark the opening of the 2018 F1 season.
Though it shares standard 162kW/280Nm tune with the current Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy, the RS18 scores F1 team-inspired styling inside and out.
Additionally, its chassis has been lowered and stiffened, and hydraulic compression stops are found at the front dampers.
Almost everything else is completely black, making it look a little meaner than a Clio usually would.
It’ll sound mean, too, with an Akrapovic exhaust fitted for more brap-and-bark.
It’s also a very limited edition, with only 10 units being available in Australia.
“Renault Sport customers share our passion for motorsport,” says Audiffren.
“With this limited-edition model – which is based on the technical foundations of the Clio R.S. 220 EDC Trophy – we are proud to be able to offer them the very best of our engineering expertise.
“The Renault Clio R.S.18 is an eloquent illustration of the close bond that exists between our motorsport activities and our road cars.”
The first RS18 to roll off the production line will be shown at the 2018 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
THE Pagani Huayra Roadster is now on sale in Australia, with the hand-made Italian supercar sporting the highest-ever price tag for a new production car sold in Australia.
The good news for anyone forking out the required $5.5 million for the two-seat, twin-turbo V12, all-carbon-fibre hypercar, is that it’s right-hand drive and street legal here, having complied with Australian Design Rules without requiring a single modification – not that we expect to see too many used as daily drivers.
Despite the unprecedented sticker price, which includes more than $1 million in luxury car tax alone, Pagani’s Australian distributor, Zagame, believes it won’t have any trouble selling two Huayra Roadsters per year. That’s the number it secured from the boutique hypercarmaker’s annual run of around 40 cars, of which one has already been sold to an Aussie buyer.
That grunt-leaning power to weight ratio brings an estimated 3.0 second 0-100km acceleration on the way to a top-speed of 370km/h, during which you’ll be pinned to your seat by 1.8 G, the highest lateral acceleration force of any car with road tyres.
While it shares a name with the coupe, the Huayra Roadster was a complete rebuild using all-new components, which assisted the lard shedding process.
But no one is going to fork out the combined cost of five Rolls Royce Phantoms and a Ferrari 488 Spider for a glorified go-kart, which is where the genius of the brand’s founder and mastermind Horacio Pagani comes to the fore.
The Argentinian-born design maestro blended art and science to keep the pounds down, while also conforming to his desire for the car to masterfully come together “as though it was carved out of a block of Carrara marble”.
Zagame Automotive principal Bobby Zagame said the artistic factor of all of Pagani’s designs is instrumental in generating desirability for the brand’s loyal – and very well-heeled – collectors around the world.
“When you see the car it speaks for itself. It’s an asset; it’s like a painting or a jewel. You don’t buy the car because it’s a car, you buy it because it’s something you cherish.”
Price: $5,500,000 Engine: 5980cc, 36v Mercedes-AMG V12 twin turbo Max power: 562kW at 5500 rpm Max torque: 1000Nm at 4300 rpm Transmission: 7-speed automated manual Dry Weight: 1280kg 0-100km/h: 3.0s (estimated)
