GT3 cars will be allowed to race again at the Nordschleife again following news that a ban imposed on the purpose built race cars after a tragic endurance race incident is to be lifted.
Strict new safety measures will accompany the reintroduction of GT3 cars, as Germany’s motorsport governing body DMSB hopes the accompanying rules will reduce possibility of spectator injury at race events.
As part of the initiative, all top-tier GT3 cars will take a five per cent power reduction to slow speeds, while speed limits will be used on certain problem parts of the track to prevent cars from becoming airborne, according to a report by Fox Sports.
At Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz and Antoniusbuche there will be a GPS enforced 200km/h limit and the Döttinger Höhe straight cars will be restricted to 250km/h. Both speed limit zones will begin a few hundred metres prior to that section of track.
Along the 200km/h speed limit zones, spectator access will also be limited until reconstruction work has been completed. DMSB also ensures heavy fines will be imposed on teams that break the rules.
The rules come in light of an incident that saw the #23 Nismo GT-R GT3 driven by Jann Mardenborough take flight at the track’s Flugplatz, a section where car’s regularly get airborne, before climbing the track barrier and landing amongst spectators.
It’s understood that more permanent measures will be implemented following this year’s VLN racing season.
Don’t be fooled by the cute styling of Citroen’s new Aircross concept because this SUV is packing serious sports car-killing performance.
LOOKING for a mid-sized SUV that’ll blow a Porsche 911 away at the lights? Meet the new Citroen Aircross concept, which signals Citroen’s intent to take on the likes of the Nissan Qashqai as well as the hot-selling Hyundai ix35 and Mazda CX-5 SUVs.
Unveiled today ahead of its official reveal at the Shanghai motor show (which is no surprise given that China is Citroen’s biggest market), the Aircross concept follows in the footsteps of the funky Citroen C4 Cactus and boasts some headline-grabbing numbers.
With a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that combines a 160kW/275Nm 1.6-litre petrol with a 70kW/200Nm electric motor, Citroen claims the Aircross was race from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds. That’s faster than a 911 Carrera (that clocks a 4.8sec time if you’re asking).
The Citroen is economical, too, with claimed fuel consumption of 1.7L/100km. It can drive 50km entirely on electric power, matching the likes of the Audi A3 e-tron.
Parallels to the quirky Cactus are obvious and include the same split headlight and grille design, which will soon become the family face of Citroen. Unlike the Cactus, though, which made headlines with its funky air-filled ‘Air Bump’ side mouldings, the Aircross uses an absorbent aluminium honeycomb design to protect the car’s side from “everyday bumps and scrapes”.
Citroen is yet to confirm the Aircross for production, but it’s clear that, despite its futuristic interior and performance-oriented drivetrain, this is no pie in the sky concept.
The French brand says the Aircross is a car with “international ambitions”, while its production intent is also emphasised by the fact it rides on PSA’s scalable EMP2 platform that underpins all of Peugeot’s and Citroen’s mid to large models, including the Peugeot 308 and Citroen C4 Picasso.
Citroen Australia has told Wheels that it would grab the Aircross with both hands should the car make it into production.
Meanwhile, we’ll have to make do with the C4 Cactus that arrives in January 2016.
Earlier this year British luxury marque Rolls-Royce announced it would build an SUV for its well-heeled country club customers.
While Rolls isn’t expected to deliver the production ready high-rider until 2017, the first suspension test mules have been clocking up the miles helping develop a comfortable setup that will work with an all-wheel drive system.
Based on a shortened Phantom Series II body, ‘Project Cullinan’ – as it’s officially called – uses a brand new suspension system aiming to deliver Rolls Royce’s trademark ‘magic carpet’ ride quality both on- and off-road. Aiming to have it endure both types of conditions, Rolls says the prototype will be tested on surfaces that include cobblestones and corrugated concrete – just to be sure its model will be positively comfortable on the rough stuff.
The Phantom-bodied prototype sits noticeably higher than the ordinary production car and is physically shorter, hinting at the upcoming SUV’s proportions. The test mule also wears a large Fast and Furious style rear wing, which is more likely to simulate an SUV’s aerodynamic drag than calm the rear end.
Rolls-Royce also says the Project Cullinan test mule shares no styling cues whatsoever with the actual production SUV, rather the exterior design will be an evolution of the firm’s current design language. Expect to see heavily camouflaged full body prototypes roaming the streets by the end of this year.
As for the engines, it’s too early to speculate what might power the off-roader. Being a Rolls, expect to see a V12 at its north end.
The Rolls-Royce SUV will join the upcoming Bentley Bentayaga SUV, Mercedes-Maybach GLS and Range Rover SV Autobiography in the newly-formed ultra-luxurious SUV segment.
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You have to love Tony Quinn; he’s doing what every petrolhead would do given the time and resources, building the ultimate collection of toys.
His latest is the RTTS Extreme 4WD, built specifically to tackle the Race to the Sky hillclimb, which Quinn and the team from Highland Motorsports Park have resurrected after an eight-year hiatus.
Quinn’s newest weapon is the work of Queensland-based PACE Innovations, whose resume includes the V8 Supercars Car of the Future, New Zealand V8 SuperTourer and MARC V8 endurance racer projects.
PACE Innovations boss, Paul Ceprnich, explains that he basically talked Quinn into the project after the VIP Pet Foods boss expressed interest in buying a car to compete in the event.
The car only had one criterion to meet; it had to be capable of covering the 14.5km course in less than eight minutes, therefore breaking Monster Tajima’s current course record of 8min01.17sec.
Such an ambitious target has led to a jaw-dropping set of vital stats. The RTTS (Race to the Sky) Extreme 4WD weighs just 989kg thanks to its tubular spaceframe being clothed in carbon panels.
The radical aero setup is claimed to produce 1000kg of downforce at 200km/h, the ground-hugging rubber skirts disguising the fact that the bottom of the car sits 170mm off the ground, with 210mm of suspension travel at both ends.
The suspension itself is unequal length double wishbone front and rear, with the dampers provided by Reiger (a favourite of WRC teams) and springs by King.
With so much aerodynamic drag to overcome, Ceprnich knew that plenty of horsepower would be required, and after examining a number of options, the team decided on the VR38 twin-turbo 3.8-litre six from the R35 GT-R.
Fed 1.4bar of boost, it produces a mighty 634kW at 7100rpm and 976Nm at 5100rpm, fed to all four wheels through a six-speed Holinger sequential gearbox.
Rims are 15 inches to allow WRC-spec tyres to be used, while the small wheel diameter forced the use of brakes from a GP2 single-seater.
After originally shying away from driving duties, Quinn has decided to steer the car himself following discussions with Ceprnich, who states that given the car’s huge amount of power and downforce, a neat, circuit-style of driving will be best suited to taming the wild animal.
Ceprnich drove the car as a shakedown before it was shipped off to New Zealand, and says that despite a long history of building fast race cars, it’s unlike anything he’s driven before.
“It’s enough to scare me,” he says, “it’s really, really, really fast.”
Having taken just 22 weeks from concept to completion and with little testing, Ceprnich admits there are plenty of questions to be answered as to how the car copes with the testing Queenstown hillclimb, let alone the challenge of taking on Monster Tajima and his wild 500kW, 1080kg Toyota 86.
The RTTS Extreme 4WD is a brilliant example of the wild creations that hillclimbing’s liberal rulebook encourages; we can’t wait to see it in action on April 18-19.
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Land Rover’s replacement for the popular Freelander proves it is better in almost every department, but can’t wait for new diesel engines.
WHAT IS IT? The first model in Land Rover’s revamped Discovery family. It’s effectively a replacement for the venerable Freelander, except longer, more practical and better looking.
WHY ARE WE TESTING IT? With impressive packaging, chic styling and serious off-road ability, it has the potential to be a class leader in the cut-throat compact premium SUV segment.
THE WHEELS VERDICT Alongside ‘versatile’ in the dictionary should be a picture of the Discovery Sport. Refined, capable and practical, it’s also appealingly affordable. Only ageing diesel engines let it down.
PLUS: Chic good looks; dynamic ability; refined road manners; class-leading off-road ability; price MINUS: Noisy, sluggish diesel
THE WHEELS REVIEW IF SOMETHING looks too good to be true, it almost always is. So we were wary of Land Rover’s new Discovery Sport, which on paper looks seriously appealing.
Not only is its $53,300 starting price cheaper than its rivals (Audi Q5 and BMW X3), but thanks to chic new styling, it’s better looking, too. Throw in stunning practicality, the option of 5+2 seating and Land Rover’s latest off-road technology and the Disco Sport’s package looks good. Almost too good.
Happily, though, we can report that after a day of throwing it down rocky cliffs and over slippery mountain passes, the Disco Sport lives up to the hype.
The first model in Land Rover’s revamped Discovery family, Disco Sport replaces the venerable Freelander, but is 89mm longer and, thanks to an ever faster and more capable version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response System, is even more capable off-road.
Think of it as a more versatile, seven-seat Evoque, with which it shares the same platform, front suspension componentry and range of 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines.
But while some of the Disco Sport’s hardware is familiar, there’s plenty that’s new. A lightweight and redesigned multi-link rear suspension improves ride quality and handling. Recalibrated steering is feelsome, direct and well weighted. And a highlight is an interior that manages to feel both luxurious and suitably rugged courtesy of heavy-duty floor mats and hardwearing plastics.
It’s practical, too. The rear seats slide fore and aft 160mm to boost luggage space, and the optional ($1990) third-row seats fold completely flat. Tick this option, though, and you lose the standard full-size spare for a space saver.
Three engine choices are offered, two diesels – TD4 (110kW/400Nm) and SD4 (140kW/420Nm) – and a 177kW Si4 turbo-petrol. All are available with Land Rover’s smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic while the diesel variants, which will make up the majority of sales, also have the choice of a Getrag six-speed manual.
Equipment levels are split across base SE (all drivetrains), HSE (diesels only) and HSE Luxury (SD4 only) variants, all with extensive standard kit: reversing camera, lane-departure warning, autonomous emergency brake, rear parking sensors and an electric tailgate. There’s also a pedestrian airbag in the bonnet, which is a first for this segment.
We sampled the SE SD4 at the local launch, on slippery roads outside Canberra. Here, even on coarse and heavily rutted dirt tracks, the Discovery Sport proved impressively civilised. The handling on wet, switchback mountain roads was surefooted and predictable, while the sharp and direct steering gave a distinctly sporty feel.
It’s off-road, though, where the Disco Sport trounces its rivals. Capable of conquering terrain that would give a Q5 or X3 the cold sweats, the Disco Sport stays true to the heritage of its Discovery nameplate.
Yet it’s not perfect. The biggest weakness is the diesel drivetrain, which, despite its strong 420Nm output, can feel doughy and sluggish. In a car bristling with Land Rover’s latest technology, the oiler feels distinctly last-gen, which it is; Land Rover’s new family of 2.0-litre Ingenium engines is already planned and will slot in within two years.
Still, there’s no denying the Discovery Sport is an extremely appealing package that offers class-leading off-road ability, refined road manners and pleasing performance. Combine its rugged versatility with chic good looks and a well executed, practical interior and the Disco Sport is an SUV that’ll be just as at home on the driveway of a posh city suburb as climbing and conquering cliff faces.
SPECS Model: Land Rover Discovery Sport SE SD4 Engine: 2179cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, TD Max power: 140kW @ 4000rpm Max torque: 420Nm @ 1750rpm Transmission: 9-speed automatic Weight: 1775kg 0-100km/h: 8.9sec (claimed) Economy: 6.1L/10km Price: $56,500 On sale: May
A sharper looks, improved cabin design, revised handling and more tech are in store for the forthcoming LZ Focus ST.
When the LZ-gen Focus ST goes on sale May 1, it will list for $38,990, a modest $700 price hike over the outgoing version. This still makes it, in the context of the current hot hatch climate, something of a bargain – it undercuts the Golf GTi by around three grand.
Under the bonnet the new ST is a case of nothing broken, doesn’t need fixing. The 2.0-litre turbo four remains at 184kW (at 5500rpm) and 340Nm (2000-4500rpm) while offering an extra 20Nm on selective overboost. The front-driver is also available in six-speed-manual form only.
Stop-start has been added to ST for the first time, helping to achieve a 7.3L/100km claim.
New is the exterior styling, which Ford calls “sportier and more athletic” but we’ll add is also suitably sharper and more mature. A new dark grey colour, called Stealth, and a fresh, dark Deep Impact Blue hue have been added to the now seven-string range of body colours.
The cleaner cabin design add a further sheen of maturity to the ST, while plenty of sporty accoutrements – Recaro buckets, a flat-bottom steering wheel, the ST signature ‘gauge bank’ – remain hallmarks of the package, and the latest Sync 2 infotainment has been introduced.
The suspension has copped a complete overhaul, including new front springs, new dampers all ’round and revised bushings, while the otherwise carryover electric power steering system has been recalibrated for a sportier feel.
The stability control is said to have received similar attention is now claimed to be able to ‘predict’ when a loss of control is going to occur and react accordingly.
Further tech updates include Adaptive Front Lighting for the Bi-Xenon HID headlights and a ($2000 optional) Technology Pack that adds a suite of safety equipment such as Active City Stop, Lane Keeping Aid, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Auto High Beams.
The front-driven Focus ST will be the top-dog hatch from Ford until the hard-core all-paw RS arrives early next year.
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HYUNDAI has revealed it wants to appeal to more Genesis buyers with premium models that could include a high-performance luxury SUV and a BMW 3 Series-rivalling small sedan.
“We’re looking at a lot of things,” Hyundai USA boss Dave Zuchowski told Wheels. “There is white space in the premium segment.”
Zuchowski highlighted a Porsche Cayenne-fighting seven-seat SUV and an entry-level 3 Series sedan rival as the types of luxury models the South Korean car maker would likely tackle next, to sit alongside its slow-selling Genesis that is popular in the US but so far has not been as well received in Australia.
“The two real spaces we’re looking at are [SUVs] … and entry-level luxury,” said Zuchowski. “We’re looking at all that stuff.”
He said the SUV, in particular, provided an opportunity to expand Hyundai into developing a more performance focused model.
“We love the idea of a premium [SUV],” said Zuchowski, adding that it may not be based on the Santa Fe, but could be an all-new model using the rear-drive platform of the Genesis.
“That’s not even determined yet,” he said. “We’re having discussions about whether you’d do a Genesis-based … even bigger … more performance-based, more [Porsche] Cayenne type of vehicle.”
He indicated the earliest any new model would break cover would be about 2017.
As to whether the new Hyundai luxury models would expand the Genesis family or usher in new names, he said it was undecided. But using the Genesis badge – with its winged logo – would make sense.
“There’s a nomenclature discussion that has to happen,” said Zuchowski. “If you’re going to add more premium products, dealers and the OEM themselves can only manage so many model names.
“If you are going to expand into premium it probably doesn’t make sense to come in with five new names.”
He also said Hyundai was conscious of expanding too quickly and with too many models.
“We’re trying to be very smart about that,” Zuchowski said.
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THE Toyota RAV4 mid-sized SUV has gained a makeover with a more aggressively styled nose, new tail lights and wheels, and extra equipment.
But a hybrid version of the Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander and Honda CR-V fighter, unveiled at last week’s New York motor show, joins a growing list of Toyota-badged petrol-electric models not slated for sale in Australia.
The updated RAV4 arrives here late in 2015, bringing with it an optional safety pack known as Toyota Safety Sense.
The pack is expected to be fitted to some models as standard, and cost about $1000 for other grades. It adds a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic high beams and radar cruise control with auto braking.
Other new features for the updated RAV4 include a surround view camera, which uses front and rear cameras, as well as ones mounted in each exterior mirror, to provide a virtual overhead view of the car to help with reversing and manoeuvring in tight spaces. There is also a function that provides a “live, rotating, 360-degree view of what’s around the vehicle”, just in case the overhead view is not enough.
The design of the 2015 Toyota RAV4’s nose is significantly different, with slimmer headlights pinching towards a new grille and bumper. The tail lights, too, have been freshened, among other details.
Inside, the basic layout is the same but there are new materials, including some additional stitching and soft-touch dash materials on some variants.
Toyota also claims to have “enhanced” the driving dynamics and reduced cabin noise using extyra sound deadening.
There will also be new colours and a “liftgate enhancement”.
But the fuel-saving hybrid has been ruled out of Australia for now. It includes the Camry Hybrid’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid system but with an electric motor operating on the rear wheels, to give it all-wheel drive.
“We’re not looking to introduce it at this stage,” a Toyota Australia spokesman told Wheels. “We’ll maintain our current engine line-up offering of 2.0-litre, 2.5-litre petrol and 2.2-litre turbo diesel.”
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LEXUS is expected to join its German rivals in unleashing a seven-seat version of the recently launched RX small SUV.
The seven-seater is expected to sit above the popular Lexus RX, a new version of which was shown off at the 2015 New York motor show ahead of arriving in North American dealerships in 2016.
The luxury seven-seat SUV is expected to be based on the architecture of the RX but would have a unique body (the RX’s new body can only fit two rows of seats) to broaden the brand’s appeal in the luxury segment.
Lexus international vice-president Mark Templin stopped short of confirming plans for a seven-seater but said “that’s where the market is going, so there’s always potential for that”.
“We’re developing our plans for the future now, I’ll tell you more when I can,” he said. “In many markets seven seats is important, in Australia it’s important.”
The current BMW X5 and upcoming Audi Q7 each have seven seats, while Mercedes-Benz has its GL for those wanting greater carrying capacity.
Lexus US general manager Jeff Bracken said America would love a seven-seat Lexus SUV.
“It’s something our dealers and even many owners are asking us to consider, a third row,” said Bracken. “It’s something we’re studying, for sure. There’s clearly a market for it.”
The new RX will get a revised direct-injection version of the familiar 3.5-litre V6. It will also be teamed with an eight-speed auto, two more ratios than the current car.
Lexus will also continue with the hybrid-powered RX, which gets the revised V6 as part of the petrol-electric drivetrain.
The RX will also introduce the new “Safety System +”, which includes a suite of features such as pedestrian detection for its automatic braking function, auto high beam, lane keeping assist, radar cruise control and auto braking.
It also picks up a gesture control system for opening the boot. If the key is nearby, a wave of your hand over the Lexus badge will activate the electronic tailgate.
The new RX sits on a 50mm longer wheelbase. The car itself is 120mm longer, and 10mm wider, yielding more interior space.
However, the body of the new RX now sits 35mm lower.
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THE second generation of Hyundai’s quirky Veloster coupe is being lined up to gain performance to match its looks.
Hyundai has revealed it is readying a more potent version of the three/four-door coupe, possibly utilising the 2.0-litre direct injection turbo engine used across various Kia and Hyundai models.
Wheels has also learnt the new Hyundai Veloster could move to an independent rear suspension system – possibly the one used on the Kia Proceeed GT – to enhance roadholding and dynamics.
Speaking to Wheels at the 2015 New York motor show, Hyundai US boss Dave Zuchowski confirmed the next generation Veloster was being worked on and was “still on our product plan”.
It is expected to break cover in 2016 or 2017.
Zuchowski said a higher performance model was crucial, particularly for the horsepower hungry American market.
The current Veloster is available with an underwhelming 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that makes 103kW and 166Nm. The turbo version spices things up to a more respectable, Peugeot GTI-rivalling 150kW/265Nm.
“The performance, we would like to see some enhancements in performance,” said Zuchowski, who added the car was popular with younger buyers who craved dynamic designs and the latest technology. “We would like to remain very, very edgy with the design. The centre exhaust we think is very iconic in that car … we think that’s very important.
“For Gen Y, having a wraparound, really, really edgy interior is really important. Technology – absolutely critical in that vehicle.”
Zuchowski said he was also pushing Hyundai’s Korean office to consider the shorter attention span that new car buyers have for sports cars, suggesting it will need more significant updates to keep it fresh in a fickle market segment.
“You need to be prepared to freshen it every two to three years because every vehicle ages really quickly in that segment,” he said.
“Generally we have a four-year cycle with a two-year mid-cycle freshening. It’s more important to have more freshenings on that vehicle.”
Zuchowski said the youth appeal of the Veloster meant it was a “very important vehicle for us”.
