McLaren Unveils the 675LT

McLaren has just released details on its newest track focused model, the 675LT.  Aside from its stunning look, here are some headlines.  0-60 in 2.9 seconds, top speed of 205 mph, 666 horsepower and a power-to-weight ratio of of about 530 horsepower per tonne.
The 'LT' in the name stands for Long Tail, a term first used on the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail.  Applied here, the longtail is an active airbrake that is 50 percent bigger than the wing on the 650S, yet lighter.
It must be said that i think this probably second in looks only to the P1 as far as McLaren's go.  From every angle, this car looks mean, and, unusually for a McLaren, pantomime.


The 3.8L V8 twin turbocharged engine shares little with the 650S' unit, with more efficient turbos, a new camshaft, and a faster fuel pump.  These plus others mean a devilish power output of 666 horsepower.
McLaren says that the 675LT is a track-ready car that just so happens to be road legal.  Most creature comforts have been removed (air conditioning is an unpaid option) and an extensive use of carbon fibre.  All of these weight-saving efforts result in a kerb weight of 1230 kilograms.
To me, this car really sounds like a match for the other lightened supercars out there, like the 458 Italia Speciale or the Porsche 911 GT3.  On paper at least, the 675LT should be absolutely stunning.

Fiat to Reveal new 500 Vintage '57

On March 3rd, Fiat will officially unveil a special edition of the 500 for sale in the UK, the Vintage '57.  This new 500 harks back to the original model of the 50's, with classical logos and the iconic 16-inch alloy wheels.  Indeed, the entire car has been given an especially retro vibe.
However, despite the classic looks, the Vintage '57 comes standard with a plethora of modern technologies, including traction control and a stop-start system.
The 500 Vintage '57 will be available with three engines.  Least powerful is the 1.2L petrol producing 69 horsepower.  The 0.9L TwinAir will be available in 65, 85, or 105 horsepower trims, with the latter two being turbocharged.  If you are a moronic fool, you could have a 1.3L diesel.
The Fiat 500 Vintage '57 will go on sale in April in the UK for 16,000 pounds.

BMW 2-Series Convertible on Sale in UK

BMW's new 2-Series Convertible will be going on sale in the UK February 28th with an updated look and engine lineup.
Little has changed on the outside of the 2-Series, while it has been widened and lengthened to provide a more aggressive look.  BMW has gone for what they call a "boat deck" overall appearance, which they describe as a premium look.
Being a convertible, safety is most certainly compromised and BMW knows this and has made quite an effort to make the new 2-Series safer.  They've actually added weight with more and more stiffening beams made of high-strength steel.

But what makes a BMW a BMW is its engine, and the 2-Series Convertible has four powertrain options, one of which is a high-performance M235i version.  First of the updated engines is the 2.0L turbocharged diesel found in the 220d, which now produces 190 horsepower, and, rather more impressively, can do 60 mpg with a manual or 62 with an automatic.
The M235i comes with a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six that develops 326 horsepower.  BMW describes this engine as providing "an infectious cocktail of high-revving ability, responsive power, instantaneous torque and sports car performance with the utmost efficiency".  That sounds nice, and is proven by the M235i's 0-62 time of 5.2 seconds, and the unique-in-class rear wheel drive.

Of course, the M235i comes with the usual assortment of controls and assists such as traction control, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Brake Control, Brake Assist, Fading Compensation, Brake Drying, and Active Differential Brake.  Sounds like an awful lot of braking.
Trim levels that have unchanged engines include the 228i M Sport (245 hp) and the 220i (184 hp).
When the 2-Series Convertible goes on sale in the UK in a few days, prices will start at 29,180 pounds for the base 220i, up to 37,710 pounds for the M235i.

Peugeot Releases the Updated 208

In the last ten years or so, Peugeots have had a bit of a reputation for being bought by idiots.  I can't really explain this phenomenon, but apparently this is the case in Europe, and Peugeot knows it.  That's why, with this new 208, they are aiming more upmarket.  You can see they've put in the effort, what with the standard array of mid-life upgrades such as newer, more efficient engines, a mild refresh of the exterior, and some new trim levels.  Headline changes include the introduction of GT Line and GTi trim levels, a couple new engines (diesel and petrol) and an increased number of personalisation options.

      As is the trend, Peugeot has given the 208's infotainment system the ability to mirror your smartphone onto the display and use its car-optimized apps.  Whilst in motion, only driving-oriented apps will be available.
     Also unsurprisingly, Peugeot has introduced two new safety features on the 208.  The first is called Active City Brake, a system that automatically stops the car should a hazard be detected by the front-mounted sensors.  This system works at speeds lower than 20 mph.  You can also have a reversing camera that displays the cars trajectory on a color display.
     On the business end of things, Peugeot has focused on making the new engines more efficient and environmentally friendly, with all the engines meeting Euro 6 standards, and all diesel versions producing less than 95 g/km of CO2.
      You now have a choice of three 1.6L BlueHDi diesel engines.  Both the 75 and 100 horsepower versions come with a five-speed manual gearbox and supposed economy figures of 94 mpg, quite a claim, to be honest.  If neither of these is to your taste, you can have a 120 horsepower version with a six-speed manual.
    If you like combustion rather than compression, Peugeot has you covered with one new petrol engine adding on to the previous two.  This new 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder unit producing 110 horsepower and 103 g/km CO2.
    New to the 208 range is the GT Line model, which adds some sporting cues that are supposed to hark back to the GTi.  Headlines include new 17-inch wheels, chromed exhaust, sports seats and an awful lot of red accents and stitching on the inside.
        Peugeot has also introduced a flagship 208, called the GTi by Peugeot Sport.  Upgrades include 18-inch wheels, a lowered ride height, bucket seats, Brembo brakes, two-tone paint and adjusted suspension and steering settings.

 
  

The New Kia c'eed GT-Line

On March 3rd at the Geneva Auto Salon, Kia will be debuting its new c'eed GT-Line range, complete with a new 1.0L T-GDI turbo petrol engine and a new seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.
          The new GT Line adds the sporty look of the pro_c'eed GT to the standard c'eed models.  It will be available on the five and three-door c'eed, pro_c'eed, and c'eed Sportswagon.  The GT Line adds a different bumper and new LED running lights to the front of the c'eed, and a new GT bumper in the rear.  Five and three-door c'eed hatchbacks fitted with the GT Line pack will recieve twin exhausts, while the Sportswagon gets central dual exhausts and a diffuser, surprisingly.  All GT Line c'eeds will have new 17-inch wheels.

        C'eed GT Line interiors will get a range of different trim pieces from "high performance" Kia's, and some new GT badges.
        Available in the c'eed GT Line will be an updated 1.0L turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine.  Kia says this is the first in a series of downsized engines for sale in Europe.  The new engine produces 120 horsepower and 126 ft-lb of torque, so pretty good for a three-cylinder.  The focus of this new engine however is efficiency, so Kia has made the engine as small as possible through solutions such as an integrated exhaust manifold.

     The standard 1.6L diesel engine has also been upgraded with the GT Line pack, now producing 133 horsepower, an increase of a whopping 5 horsepower over the standard.  Also available on the 1.6L engine is a new dual clutch DCT seven-speed automatic transmission.
   

The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover has just released a minor face lifted version of the Evoque for the 2016 model year.  When looking at the press release, it appears as though Land Rover is making a huge deal over largely nothing much.  Big changes included an updated front end look, three new alloy wheel designs, an optional boot spoiler, and an updated interior.
On the exterior design front, I think the minor changes they've made have actually resulted in a much better looking car.  The Evoque has always looked good, but I think now, with its larger air intakes and revised front bumper it looks far more aggressive.  Indeed, in the official press release, Land Rover uses words like "assertive" and "muscular".  And now you can get bonnet vents on the five-door model, increasing its appeal.
Customer's who specify the HSE Dynamic trim can now have something called the Black Pack, which adds some black lettering, new 20-inch wheels, and black painted exhaust among other things.
Staying up towards the front, the Evoque now features full LED adaptive headlights, which mean that the headlights follow your steering input to better illuminate the road ahead.

Moving to the inside of the new Evoque, one will find a new and improved InControl infotainment system, which is fitted standard on Pure and SE trim levels.  You can also find an enhanced mood lighting system, with several new colors and light locations.  If you don't want any special lights though, you can turn on 'stealth mode' (sounds more exiting than it is) which just dims the interior lights, presumably so it doesn't get bombed by a Mercedes M-Class.
Now, on to the business side of things with engines and powertrain.  You can now specify two new 2.0L Ingenium turbodiesel four-pot engines that feature things like stop-start technology.  This means that the Evoque can achieve a combined 68 mpg and CO2 emissions of just 109 g/km for the 150 horsepower engine.  The more powerful, 180 horsepower version achieves a still impressive 59 mph on the EU combines cycles and 125 g/km of CO2.  Part of what makes these new engines more efficient than their predecessors is lightness.  The blocks are now made of aluminum rather than iron, resulting in a 30 kg weight loss.
If diesel isn't to your taste, you can still have a 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine which comes standard with a nine-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. 240 horsepower means this SUV can go from 0-62 mph in 7.6 seconds and on to a 135 mph top speed.  This engine achieved 36 mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 of 181 g/km.
New for 2016 is Active DriveLine technology, a new four-wheel drive system that can change from two to four wheel drive in 350 milliseconds as road conditions change.
As one would expect, the new Evoque comes with a suite of new driver-aid technology, as is the trend in the industry.  You can have Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, All-Terrain Progress Control, and a Hands-Free Tailgate.

Along with the new safety and convenience tech, Land Rover will offer a new infotainment system called InControl Touch.  It features the common array of applications such as Bluetooth, navigation, and, as if they'd forgotten, a radio.  You can also have a WiFi hotspot, parking cameras, and something called Wade Sensing, which displays the depth of the water you are wading through.  You can also have InControl apps, which sync you Android or Apple apps with your car.  Optimised apps include iHeart Radio, Parkopedia, Cityseeker, Hotelseeker, and more.  The roster of apps is constantly being updated.
Every Land Rover is meant to go off-road better than any other car, and that tradition is carried on through the new Evoque.  Along with the usual collection of acronyms that help you keep going over rough terrain, new for this year is ATPC, or All-Terrain Progress Control.  ATPC will keep the Evoque going at a continuous creep over the terrain without pedal input from the driver.  The driver simply turns the system on with a switch and inputs the desired speed via the cruise control controls. Much like the standard cruise control, any pedal input will cancel the system. ATPC will operate at any speed from 1.1 to 19 mph.
Despite the lengthiness of this article, not much has changed for the 2016 Evoque, but it appears as though it will continue to lead its class is comfort, performance and off-road capability.

Top Five Best Lamborghini's Ever

Because I couldn't think of anything else to write about, here's a list of what I think are the top five best Lamborghini's if all time.

Number 5-The Gallardo, which was introduced in 2003, is Lamborghini's all-time best selling car.  It served as sidekick to both the Murcielago and the Aventador, but despite its lower status, it could still move, both itself and people's heads.  With it's 5.0L V12 (Later 5.2L), which produced 552 horsepower, the Gallardo could hit 201 miles per hour.  But with a Lamborghini, specs mean nothing.  The Gallardo felt alive, despite using Audi parts (Later donating its engine to the Audi R8), and, especially in Spider form, looked fantastic.  In my opinion, the Gallardo is the best all-around car Lamborghini has ever made, though the new Huracan looks quite promising.



Number 4-The Murcielago was Lambo's flagship model from 2001 to 2010.  This car replaced the aging Diablo, and in terms of technology, speed and power, was miles ahead of it's predecessor.  In fact, the reason I include the Murcielago at all is because it brought Lamborghini into a new era.  At launch, it's 6.2L V12 produced 572 horsepower.  At the end of its nine-year tenure, the Murcielago's 6.5L V12 produced 670 horsepower.  And, thanks to all-wheel drive and its light body, cornered decently as well.



Number 3- The LM002.  Most of you will be surprised to see it in this list at all.  In fact, I planned on the Miura being in this place.  But then I remembered this, Lamborghini's first and so far only SUV, also its first all-wheel drive car.  The Rambo Lambo was introduced in 1986, and just 328 were made.  This car is in this list solely because I think it embodies all that is great about Lamborghini.  It's purpose was to be a tool for the oil exploration industry's elite, kind of like the rich baddies you'd see in a Bond film.  Ordinarily, it came with the V12 from the Countach, but you could spec it with a 7.2L V12 you'd normally see inside Class 1 Offshore power boats.  Find one of those in a Jeep Wrangler.  I love the LM002, and it embodies the spirit of Lamborghini's lunacy.




Number 2-The Aventador, Lamborghini's current flagship, is just utterly awesome.  It produces 700 horsepower and is good for 217 miles per hour.  Famously, Lamborghini said that its order of priorities with the Aventador was 1. Handling, 2. Acceleration, 3. Top Speed.  As for their new #1 priority, it is an incredible car to drive, still a big car but light and fun, as well as easy to control (relatively).  As for acceleration, well 0-60 takes just 2.9 seconds.  And for there new bottom priority, well it does 217.
The reason the Aventador is here is simple.  Its the best car Lamborghini has ever made.  Not the best all-rounder like the Gallardo, but just the best car for being an undiluted speed machine.




Number 1-The Countach.  Some will be surprised not to find the Miura in this spot.  And even more surprised to know I haven't even included it.  In fact, I'd rather include one of Lamborghini's original tractors from the 1940s.  No, the Countach is simply the best Lamborghini ever.  I said the Gallardo is Lambo's greatest all-rounder, and the Aventador their best car.  But the Countach is the best Lamborghini they've ever made.
In fact, the Countach isn't even necessarily a very good car.  It's steering was heavy, the gearbox was uncooperative and the ride was awful.  But the Countach made an excellent poster.  It was the most outlandish looking supercar the world had ever seen in the 1970s, and it still is today.  Lamborghini is best known for making cars young kids love to look at and dream about owning one day.  And while most kids today will look at a Pagani Huayrayayyahayhauahhjia and want to own that, i still look at Countach with awe and astonishment.
 

A Witness' Account of the Incident at Canandaigua Motorsport Park

Now, I realize its a bit late to offer my input on this story, especially seeing as I'm just a teenage blogger, but I can offer more insight than most, because I was at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park when Kevin Ward Jr. was struck by the car of NASCAR racer Tony Stewart.
The mood at the track towards Stewart before the race wasn't exactly overjoyed, much to my surprise.  To many people there, the accident last year involving 19-year old Alysha Ruggles, Stewart and 13 others is still fresh in their minds.  In fact, when the PA announcer casually mentioned the fact that Tony Stewart had arrived, there were more boos than cheers.
I was sitting in Turn 4 that night, which meant my view of the incident was blocked by barriers etc.  I did see the spin that caused Ward to be upset at Tony.  Essentially, Stewart and Ward were side by side going down the front stretch.  I didn't see any contact, and when they began the exit of the corner Stewart pushed wide, forcing Ward into a spin.  Being a racer myself, I would also be quite angry, despite the absence of any obvious contact.
I'm not going to place blame on either driver, because of my respect for both, but there are some things I would like to put an opinion on.  Firstly, many people are saying that the track was dimly lit and dusty, which, coupled with the dark suit worn by Ward, could have meant Stewart couldn't clearly see.  I would say, though, that I could clearly see Ward from my seat in Turn 4, an entire track away.
I also found it odd that Stewart didn't stop until the end of the backstretch after coming in contact with Ward in turn 2.  I'm not an expert in sprint cars by any means but I'm fairly certain I would notice if I hit somebody and immediately stop.  Adding to this is the fact that Stewart couldn't have been going more than 45 MPH, and in those cars it doesn't take a whole back straight to go from 45 to 0.  I'm not placing blame, I'm just saying its something to think about, perhaps he didn't stop because he thought stopping in the middle of the track under caution was dangerous (Plausible but not probable).
Regardless, the eeriest part of all was the crowds reaction.  After the red flag came out, I didn't know Ward had been struck, all I knew was he had gotten out of the car.  However, only one car had been involved (Ward's) and it had little to no damage, and all of the safety crew were surrounded around something on the ground.  I head the occasional scream and gasp, and soon police car after police car rolled in.  I counted 12 emergency vehicles by the time I left the track.  For about 20 minutes following the incident, the crowd was silent.  The announcer was silent.  None of the emergency crews went anywhere.  And when we were told the nights activities were canceled and everybody was ushered out, the fans still remained silent.  Only when I saw the crew members and drivers and family members in the paddock standing around in a circle solemnly, I knew the racing community had lost somebody.






I would like to send my thoughts to all those affected by the loss of Kevin Ward Jr.