TOYOTA has hinted even more sports cars are in the works as it gears up for the global reveal of one of its most anticipated cars – the spiritual successor to the Supra.
Toyota Australia executive director of sales and marketing Tony Cramb hinted that a program sparked by the carmaker’s president, Aiko Toyoda, about a decade ago to inject fun back into the company’s products, still had a way to run beyond Supra.
“There’s a desire internally to improve our stable of sports cars,” Cramb told Wheels.
“There’s clearly an association with BMW, and a higher grade of sports car coming.
“There is definitely development in other areas for Toyota; nothing else to announce yet though.”
Toyota is working with German luxury brand BMW on the rear-drive Supra replacement, teased by the FT-1 concept unveiled at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show. BMW’s soft-top version will become the Z4’s replacement known as the Z5, while Toyota’s tin-top version, due in 2018, is expected to wear the Supra badge.
We could see both at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Toyota is also working on a potential replacement for the Toyota 86, the low-slung coupe launched in 2012 that quickly became Australia’s best-selling two-door – until the arrival of Ford’s Mustang late last year. It’s believed to have the next-generation 86’s debut also planned for next year.
The Japanese carmaker is also believed to be working on a production version of the S-FR compact roadster concept unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show featuring a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine – a powerplant that has since appeared under the bonnet of the design-driven C-HR compact SUV.
And Gazoo, Toyota’s racing skunk works, has already fettled a Yaris city hatchback. The performance sub-brand, which Cramb says won’t become a substitute for its long-established Toyota Racing Development (TRD) badge, is believed to be working on a more hardcore version of the 86.
However, Cramb said the Supra sports coupe was unlikely to spawn a Lexus-badged version as the divide between the Japanese car brand and its luxury division grew even wider.
“Lexus and Toyota are run separately and while there’s some level of engineering development very high up, in terms of development there’s no sharing,” Cramb said. “Those days [of platform sharing between the two] are long gone,” he said.
“The crossovers [between Toyota and Lexus] in the future will be far less than in the past.”
WHAT IS IT?
A mid-life update for Lamborghini’s flagship V12 supercar which is now more powerful, looks sharper and boasts a host of engineering upgrades for the promise of better dynamics.
WHY ARE WE DRIVING IT?
To see if these wholesale revisions can transform the Aventador into a supercar that finally drives as good as it looks.
MAIN RIVALS
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, McLaren 675LT, Bentley Continental Supersport, McLaren 720S, Ferrari 812 Superfast
PLUS: Savage V12, dramatic design, improved dynamics, sex appeal
MINUS: Flawed gearbox, cabin ergonomics, thirst
THE WHEELS VERDICT
This was more of a taste than a full blown test, so a definitive dynamic verdict will have to wait, but it’s clear the Aventador S is a vast step in the right direction. Sharper, faster and friendlier than the car it replaces, Lambo’s flagship now has the dynamic talent to match its kerbside appeal.
SITTING as you are in your favourite chair, your feet up, this magazine in your hands, it’s easy to think that a day with a bright blue Lamborghini at Phillip Island is an adrenalin-drenched barrel of laughs. The motoring equivalent of cocaine; of hooking yourself up to a defibrillator and twirling the knob to maximum. “Lucky sod”you’re probably thinking. Hell, I would be too.
But you’re forgetting one important ingredient: the rain. The pictures don’t show it, but when I was at the wheel, Phillip Island felt more like a kid’s slippery dip in a hot Malaysian monsoon than a race track, which changed the dynamic somewhat.
All of the Aventador’s numbers are big: $789,425, 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, huge 355/25R21 rear tyres. And then there’s the reminder that despite the promise of its jaw-dropping looks, its inboard pushrod suspension, carbon-infused chassis and all-wheel drive, the old Aventador’s dynamics under delivered.
This new Aventador S, however, rights many of those wrongs.
The push-rod suspension now has all-new magnetic adaptive dampers for greater control and compliance. There are design tweaks front and rear that don’t only enhance the visuals, but increase downforce by 130 percent.
The most significant addition, however, is four-wheel steering. This is becoming the go-to tech in the supercar world, but the Avendator’s is more advanced than most.
That’s the theory, at least, but in practice, the results are transformational. Even on Phillip Island’s slick tarmac the front end has more point, and in Sport mode (which sends 90 percent of the torque rewards) you can feel the rear axle pivoting to encourage the car to turn.
It feels odd at first, like the rear is sliding into mild oversteer, but the S’s improved agility/stability dynamic gives you the confidence to trim your line with the throttle, to trail brake deep into corners and even let the tail wag slightly on corner exit.
Five laps on a wet track aren’t enough to deliver a definitive dynamic assessment, and we’re yet to see how that revised active suspension deals with Australia’s scarred tarmac, but for now, this taste shows the Avendator finally has the dynamic nous to match its rockstar looks.
SPECS
Model: Lamborghini Aventador S
Engine: 6498cc V12 (90), dohc, 48v
Max power: 544kW @ 8400rpm
Max torque: 690Nm @ 5500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed robtised manual
Weight: 1730kg (est.)
0-100km/h: 2.9sec (claimed)
Fuel economy: 16.9L/100km
Price: $789,425
Hearing an American say the word ‘ute’ is weird. But hearing them become excited about a Commodore SS ute in California will warm the cockles of your heart… or something like that.
YouTuber and automotive blogger Doug DeMuro found himself in the driver’s seat of an SS Commodore, which was new for him.
Actually, to be specific, the seat is from a Pontiac G8, as are quite a few components of the car.
The second reason, for the seats especially, is that the car needs to meet US-standards, and the stock commodore seats don’t comply. The G8 seats do.
It’s funny that this SS has G8 parts, considering past whispers that the late Pontiac would be producing a G8 ute for the US market.
Without the G8 ute, America’s only other well-known contribution to the ute remains the El Camino.
And that’s a good thing – seeing someone enjoying in the US enjoying one of the most Australian vehicles in existence puts a smile on our faces.
“It feels like I’m driving a coupe,” DeMuro remarks in his video, “If I don’t look back there, I have no idea that I’m driving anything other than a GTO.”
Now all that’s left to do is introduce him to a skidpan…
One part AMG C63. One part Mercedes World UK’s test track. One part Lewis Hamilton. Garnish with Croatian tourists and serve sideways. Voila, a Hamilton hot lap.
There are few people who could make drifting a C63 at full noise look easy, but here we have Hamilton doing exactly that.
While the three-time world champ is clearly at home behind the wheel, the three extra humans (with a camera each) aren’t a normal fixture for one of Hamilton’s drives.
The sounds his passengers make just prior to this suggest that they think Hamilton has already unleashed the full potential of the German bent-eight.
At that point, he still only has one hand on the wheel.
Hamilton, still many times more relaxed than his in-car company, flicks the back-end out a few more times before slowing to a stop… and proceeding to get a couple of tasty donuts in.
He’s used to travelling at much higher speeds, so the F1 champ probably felt like this was a rather tranquil drive, but we have to give credit where credit is due, Lewis Hamilton certainly put last year’s PCOTY 2nd-place-getter to its proper use.
And he even left the smoke and tyre marks to prove it.
There’s no question that Formula One drivers know how to drive.
Granted, they’re driving cars that are more sophisticated than the ones we take to the road, and they’re pushing them to speeds that are more than double any legal limit in Australia. But if there’s one thing we can say about them for certain, it’s that they’ve got skills when it comes to sitting behind a wheel.
Naturally, when we sat down with Australia’s Formula One golden boy, Daniel Ricciardo, we had to ask: “What are your tips for driving like a boss?”
Swapping between his infectious smile and down-to-business focus, Ricciardo, who claims he’s never had an accident on road or track, said the key to driving well is planning ahead.
“On the racetrack, we’re constantly looking ahead… not five metres in front of us; we’re looking 50 metres in front of us and spotting the next corner, where to brake, where to turn… that’s probably the biggest thing that helps on the road,” he said.
He also said driving smoothly is as important on the racetrack as it is on the road, and easing through the pedal changes.
In a Formula One car, brakes are ultra-efficient, managing to stop a car from high speeds are a shorter distance, thanks also in part to its weight and tyres. In our everyday-cars, however, this ‘smoothness’ helps with fuel efficiency, and gives more control preventing any jerky reactions to obstacles ahead.
Of course, to drive like the charming Ricciardo, it takes focus, intensity, training and to some degree, a willingness to put your life on the line. In our everyday driving, however, we’re far more cautious and battle obstacles that don’t come in to play on the grid, like pedestrians and cyclists.
At speeds of more than 300km/h, there’s a lot more strength and fitness involved in driving an F1 car and a lot more on the line.
But while Ricciardo is all about safety on the road, the dangers of his job don’t weigh too heavily on his mind.
On the night we spoke to the Red Bull Racer, he was interviewed by Australian cricketer, Adam Gilchrist, at the launch of Quintis Sandalwood, where he told his fellow ambassador “the sport has come a long way with safety. It’s still dangerous but… I think as a kid that was part of the attraction.”
“There’s no point taking these risks if you’re only doing it half-heartedly,” he said.
That’s not to say he thinks we should do the same, offering a third tip for being a good driver: “Don’t text on the road.”
With another month comes another cracking MOTOR magazine. Here’s what you’ll find inside in our latest April issue, available in stores and Zinio online.
Chevrolet’s unleashed its maddest baddest Camaro yet, the ZL1 1LE. We investigate what this means for Australia’s muscle car future.
AUSSIE racing legend and all ‘round good bloke Daniel Ricciardo freely admits he knows nothing, or next to nothing, about the mechanical side of his Formula 1 racing cars.
But he spends days at a time analysing data, talking with the engineers, not to mention driving the things. So it’s fair to think he should’ve picked up a few facts and figures.
Well, as we were gearing up to dive headlong into the first weekend of racing for the 2017 season, we got to sit down with the man himself to find out exactly how much he knows about the car that will (hopefully) take him to many podiums this year, and about the sport itself.
The charismatic Ricciardo met with Wheels the day before the gates opened at Albert Park in Melbourne, and it turns out it’s a good thing Ricciardo earns his keep behind the wheel and not under the hoist, as he answered almost half of the questions incorrectly. Still, five out of nine is a pass, right?
In the Aussie’s defence, he wasn’t too far off the mark (mostly) and the rules and regulations are under constant scrutiny and change.
Living up to his reputation as a humble, down-to-earth and affable guy, the Red Bull F1 driver served up plenty of laughs and didn’t take himself too seriously, despite forgetting to count himself when quizzed about the number of Australian Formula 1 race drivers.
Our one tip for the Red Bull Racing team – don’t let Ricciardo anywhere near the tyres…
AUSTRALIA’S golden boy of racing, Daniel Ricciardo, has listed his Red Bull F1 teammate Max Verstappen as the best driver in Formula 1.
Speaking to Wheels on the eve of the Australian F1GP opening in Melbourne, Ricciardo jokingly laughed off the temptation to name himself, instead listing Max as the most competitive teammate he has had – and his pick for the best driver in the sport – amidst speculation about Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
“Well the best I won’t answer myself, because I think you know what I’m going to answer. Let’s say besides myself – it’s not arrogant, it’s just confidence kids, that’s all – I’m curious about Lewis [Hamilton] and Fernando [Alonso]. I would love to have them as teammates, but out of current and out of teammates I’ve had over time, I’d probably say Max. Those three come to mind.”
It’s said in Formula 1 that a driver’s teammate is the first person they need to beat. Sharing a pit garage with the driver he considers his strongest opponent is something Ricciardo doesn’t dwell on.
“I’m not worried about Max. I think one of my strengths is that I focus on myself first, because I believe in myself. I’m like OK, if I get my shit together then I believe I’ll get the job done.
“At the same time I’m not ignorant. I feel like there are always things to learn, so I will try and learn from other people as well. And the fact that Max is a teammate, I’ve got his data to look at, so I’m going to use that if I can to my advantage, like he can use mine.
“I’ll try and learn some things. I definitely realise he’s a tough opponent and if I’m not on my game he’s a very big threat. He keeps me very honest, absolutely.”
Ricciardo goes into his home race and the opening round of the 2017 Formula 1 season with high hopes of a podium finish. He placed third on the timing boards behind the two Mercedes after the first practice session, though there is a long way still to go before the chequered flag drops.
Aston Martin has unveiled its new Vantage S Red Bull Racing Edition ahead of this weekend’s opening round of the 2017 F1 season.
The car made its global debut at Melbourne’s new Aston Martin dealership in Richmond at an event attended by Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner and drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen.
Available with either a 321kW/490Nm 4.7-litre V8 or 421kW/620Nm 5.9-litre V12, the Vantage RBR is offered as standard with a Mariana Blue finish, offset by red grille highlights, yellow brake calipers and a carbon fibre splitter, diffuser, grille and side strakes. Tungsten Silver and satin Mariana Blue paintwork is also available.
The V8 Vantage S RBR starts as $259,995 driveaway while the V12 is offered from $422,770 plus on-road costs. Aston Martin’s new Vanquish S flagship also made its first Australian appearance, with the 447kW super GT priced from $489,950 plus on-road costs.
THE CAR tipped to become the next Holden Barina has been spotted testing in Germany.
This fifth-generation Opel Corsa is expected to hit showrooms in 2018 and appears larger than the current model.
The front has been cleverly masked to make it look like it has a Toyota Yaris-style trapezoid grille, although the blacked-out face bears a resemblance to the narrow-grilled Astra.
Built on a new platform that’s believed to be a smaller version of the Astra’s underpinnings, it has a longer wheelbase but a shorter bonnet and front overhang to maintain its compact form.
While the interior is far from complete, you can see changes including a higher-mounted infotainment screen
The next-generation Barina will an important car for Holden, with the current Korean-sourced, price-driven volume model failing to excite against competition such as the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris.
Holden has flagged a return to a European-sourced Barina, the last of which, the Opel Corsa C-based XC, won the 2001 Wheels Car of the Year award.
However, even if the next-gen Barina is based on the Corsa, it could still be Chevrolet-sourced and Korean-built, with the Opel design likely to carry across GM’s brands.
Either way, a Corsa-based model would fit the bill as a more premium Barina that will complement the Astra and take the fight to all-new competition including the Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.
It also provides Holden with an opportunity to introduce performance variants to bring much-needed hot-hatch excitement to Holden showrooms.
Holden declined to comment on WhichCar’s questions about the new Corsa or the sourcing of the next-generation Barina.
