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Many are flocking to Ferrari museums in 2017

Ferrari’s museums worldwide are recording a surge in the number of visitors this year. The automaker has reported that the popularity has grown significantly. More than 500,000 people have visited one of the museums in 2017. The previous record of 478,000, which was set last year has been broken in November.

The new Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena garnered the most interest from fans and tourists alike, reporting an annual growth of 19% in November or 150,000 visitors. The company has attributed the rise in ticketed sales here to the “Driving with the Stars” exhibition. Visitors get to view the Ferrari cars driven by stars from the sporting, cultural,and entertainments worlds.

Adding to this, the museum in Maranello recorded a rise in its ticket sales by about 8%, which equates to a total of 350,000. Over the course of the year, this museum has hosted a number of exhibits that have enthralled visitors from every corner of the globe.

Ferrari’s brand image worldwide has grown significantly over the years, thanks to the introduction of facilities such as this as well as the mega theme park in Dubai. All these, coupled with the fact that Ferrari is doing quite well in several Motorsport categories, have contributed to it’s increased brand awareness.

Like its founder Enzo Ferrari, the Italian automaker’s heart and soul is in Motorsport. It thrives on besting the competition by building the fasted and most advanced machines in the world. It’s road cars are culmination of that philosophy wrapped in silhouettes that are the epitome of automotive beauty.

New VW Golf GTI TCR ready for competition

There’s a new Volkswagen in town, but it isn’t street legal. Based on the 7th generation Golf GTI, the 2018 Golf GTI TCR, is the latest iteration VW racer for the TCR category. It retains the same overall look and shape of the road going version, but builds a upon it with a widebody kit, aggressive front and rear bumpers as well as a prominent hatch mounted rear spoiler.

“The new look for the Golf GTI TCR resulted from close cooperation with Volkswagen Design. This helps us to underline just what a close relationship exists between the production model and the racing version,” explained Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets.

He added, “For example, the engine comes directly from series production and only requires minimal adjustment for competitive racing. This is proof that the Golf GTI provides the perfect foundation for our customer racing cars.”

The VW Golf GTiI TCR is said to be one of the most successful racing touring cars of the year. In fact, in the TCR International Series, French driver Jean-Karl Vernay claimed the drivers’ title last month in Dubai. And the 350bhp 2.0-litre turbo engine Golf that VW provides race-ready for professional teams and drivers, was declared ‘Model of the Year’.

Other accolades include the TCR class in the VLN Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. In the same gruelling 24-hour race, the Golf GTI TCR finished well ahead of more powerful cars from other categories. Apart from this, Kantadhee Kusiri and the Liqui Moly Team Engstler won the TCR Asia title and Francisco Abreu, the TCR Iberico.

https://youtu.be/or_wda2F0iQ

This new car will be ready for delivery to race teams from January onward. Before that, the car will make its public debut at the Essen Motor Show from 2 to 10 December. During the event, VW will be offering fans and clients to get up close and find out more about the car.

Polestar Cyan Racing wins 2017 WTCC

Polestar Cyan Racing has clinched both the drivers’ and constructors’ championship titles of the 2017 FIA World Touring Car Championship. The team finished the season finale in spectacular fashion, making a clean sweep this year.

“To become the first ever Swedish racing World Champion is something I have dreamt about since I started racing! I can’t put words to my feelings right now but this is by far the greatest moment of my racing career,” said Thed Björk.

He then added, “The season final went according to our plans and a massive thank you to everyone in the team, they are as much World Champions as I am!”

Race 1 of the Qatar event was won by Tom Chilton in his Citroen C-Elysee, followed by Medhi Bennani and Kevin Gleason. Race 2 on the other hand, was won by Esteban Guerrieri with Rob Huff finishing second and Nicky Catsburg in third.

Björk may not have managed a podium finished in either of the two races, but his 5th place finish in the first and 4th place finish in the second race, put him 28.5 points ahead of nearest rival Norbert Michelisz, and effectively the champion of 2017.

Polestar Cyan Racing managed to edge out Honda by the same margin to be awarded the Constructors’ crown for this year. The feat seems surreal for the team because a plan had been put in place to clinch said titles in 5 years, but it accomplished it in just two short years.

The team functions as Volvo’s official factory auto racing team, based in Gothenburg, Sweden. It operates as a separate entity and is lead by team principle, Christian Dahl. Volvo’s acquisition of the Polestar Performance and the Polestar brand in 2015, didn’t include the racing team.

Ford to sue John Cena over breach of contract

John Cena, a well-known World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler, is being sued by the Ford Motor Company for breach of contract, according to an article by wxyz.com. See, Cena recently took delivery of a Ford GT, a supercar that requires and invitation from Ford itself, to purchase.

Unlike regular vehicles, one can’t simply walk into a Ford dealership and buy a Ford GT. The automaker gets to decide who is ‘worthy’ ro a own the car after a lengthy vetting process. Those who have owned the previous version are more likely to be placed higher on the list than someone who hasn’t.

Each individual owner who takes delivery of the car, has to sign a contract that prevents them from selling off the Ford GT for at least for 24 months. This clause was put in place to prevent buyers from flipping this rare and rather special car for a substantial profit. In Cena’s case, he sold the car after a few weeks.

And its for this very reason, Ford is taking him to court. The automaker feels that he didn’t honour the agreement and instead, bought the car to profit from its resale value. Cars that require an invitation to own, are far more valuable than those that can be purchased from the showroom floor.

Cena admitted to the act but clarified that it was done to clear other outstanding debts. He also stated that he is willing to work with Ford to make this right. Nobody knows exactly how this will play out though, but the automaker should have an iron-clad case against the wrestler due to this contract that he willingly signed.

The latest Ford GT builds on the success of its predecessors by offering cutting edge tech, efficient aerodynamics and bucket loads of power. Under the hood is an Ecoboost V6 engine that provides similar power figures to a V8 but weighing significantly less.

Source: wxyz.com

Telltale signs of odometer tampering

Tempering with a vehicle’s odometers is common practice among unscrupulous second hand car dealers. This is done to fool unwitting buyers into thinking that certain vehicles’ mileages are lower than expected. hpi, UK’s leading authority on vehicle checking services has come up with a few tips to help motorists spot signs of vehicle ‘clocking’.

In the UK, clocking is a term used to describe the act of tampering with a vehicle’s odometer for whatever reason. And lately, there has been an increase in such cases as scammers exploit loopholes in the law to fool buyers into coughing up more dough for a car that ‘hasn’t been driven much’.

Fortunately, there are telltale signs with vehicle clocking. And hpi has shared several of them to ensure that would-be buyers are better informed when looking for a new vehicle. Bear in mind, some of said advice may not be applicable to cars with digital odometers, which are just as easy to alter.

hpi has compiled the following hints and tips to help spot evidence of mileage falsification:

Check the service history – look at the mileage recorded at the time of the service
Contact the previous keeper – confirm what the vehicle’s mileage was at the time it was sold
Double check the odometer – scammers could wind back the mileage for a viewing then alter it again before collection
Trust your own judgement – is it 15 years old with only 32,000 km on the clock? Registered as a company car and done 20,000 km a year? Does anything about the vehicle history make you suspicious? Does everything add up?

Watch for signs of tampering and you could save yourself from a lot of trouble. Take whatever the dealer says with a pinch of salt. Finding one who is 100% honest isn’t easy these days. When in doubt, take your trusted mechanic with you for a thorough inspection of the car.

Honda’s original NSX is a cult icon

Honda’s original NSX was an amazing amalgamation of the automaker’s F1 technical know-how and experience in producing well-built machines. It was an evolution of the HP-X Concept car that was designed in collaboration with Pininfarina. It featured cutting-edge tech and styling inspired by the F-16 fighter jet.

The intention of building the car, was to show that the company was well able to challenge status quo, and prove that a supercar can offer mounds of driving enjoyment yet be reliable for everyday use. Conceived in the 1980s, Honda’s plan of building a sports car came to fruition in the early 1990s.

Built from an all-aluminum body, the NSX, which was an acronym for New Sportscar eXperimental, was powered by a naturally aspirated 3.0-litre V6 engine. Later iterations featured a slightly larger 3.2-litre variant. It was either mated to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Granted, it didn’t offer the same visceral feel as a V8 powered Ferrari, but the car more than made up for that with nimble handling characteristics, reliable mechanicals and decent power delivery. That, packaged into a slender and lightweight 1990s body, caused a bit of a stir during its debut.

What helped the car gain its cult status was that F1 legend Aryton Senna, was involved in its development. His input helped shape the NSX’s driving characteristics, which is especially evident when the car is taken to its limits.

A video published by Petrolicious on its Youtube channel, depicts the love affair between Sean Lee and his NSX. Lee was smitten with the car from an early age. At a later stage in his life, he managed to acquire the car and enjoy it to its fullest. Check out the video and let us know what you think of it and whether it deserves to be revered.

Volvo wins Car Technology Brand of the Year award

Volvo’s latest technology innovations have not gone unnoticed. Through them, the automaker was named Car Technology Brand of the Year for the second year running. The Volvo XC60 was awarded Best Safety Technology for its Steering Support system, Best Navigation, and Best Safest Car due to its exceptional Euro NCAP safety rating.

The Car Tech Awards honours manufactures with the best in-car technology launched over the year. The Winner of each category is chosen by a jury of experts from buyer’s guide Carbuyer and technology website Alphr. It should come as no surprise that cars like the XC60 are lavished with such praise when safety is the criteria.

It is fitted with Volvo’s Steering Support technology that automatically provides steering assistance to drivers during an emergency to help avoid a potential collision. Working in tandem with its city stop function, the car will be able to decrease the risk of avoidable collisions or accidents significantly.

Speaking of the award, Stuart Milne, Editor of Carbuyer, said, “Volvo’s success in the Car Tech Awards is remarkable. The company scooped Car Technology Brand of the Year for the second year in succession.”

“Our judges were impressed by the way Volvo refuses to rest on its laurels, developing a series of products and philosophies that build on its Vision 2020, that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020,” he added.

Volvo’s XC60 almost scored full marks in its Euro NCAP crash test results. It received a 98% rating adult occupant protection and 95% for its safety assistance features. Adding to that, its intuitive and easy to use navigation system as well as a number of other features have made it the complete package.

Alfa Romeo set to return to F1 in 2018

If you thought that the Honda and McLaren Fiasco would be the only thing to look forward to in the 2018 Formula One season, you would be sadly mistaken. Alfa Romeo has just announced its return to the sport after a 30 year hiatus.

It will be joining forces with the fourth oldest team in F1 history, Sauber. The existing team will be officially renamed next season to Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team. According to an article by Petrolicious, this newly forged partnership will give Sauber access to Alfa’s engineering and technical know-how – a treasure trove of knowledge.

In case you didn’t know, Alfa Romeo is owned by Fiat Chrysler Automotive or FCA, and the same is true with Ferrari. This means that next year’s Sauber will be powered by a Ferrari engine, and won’t be a relic either, instead the team will have power units with 2018 specs.

Alfa Romeo was a pioneer of competitive racing during the early days of the automobile. It was involved in Motorsport very early in the company’s history. In fact, it allowed for an environment where young drivers were able to prove what they were made of, including Enzo Ferrari.

Over the years, Sauber has partnered with a number of teams including BMW. But none of them will offer the same prestige as teaming up with the likes of Alfa Romeo. Despite Sauber being a very capable team with an equally good car, they were never really able to keep up with the charging pack.

There was the odd occasion or two, where the team’s brilliance would dominate the TV screens, but these instances were few and far in between. This is partly due to the fact that Sauber never received the required financial backing or technical know-how to take on the factory back teams.

Now however, with Ferrari power, that should change and allow it to take on the front runners like Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari itself. The upcoming 2018 Formula One season is going to be an absolute sizzler. Defending champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-Benz are going to have some stiff competition next year.

Source: Petrolicious

New Phantom declared Luxury Car of the Year

The eighth generation Rolls-Royce Phantom is the epitome of automotive luxury. Despite looking similar to its predecessor, which was launched in 2003, the new car comes with updated technology and an interior filled with spectacular opulence.

If you would like to know about the new Phantom, CLICK HERE. The car has been recognized by several well-known automotive publications as well as the world’s most prestigious and discerning critics.

Several of them lavished praise on the Phantom by saying: “Is the pinnacle, the epitome, of motoring luxury” (Autocar), “Is an all-new version of the finest car in the world” (The Independent), “Utterly defines luxury” (PistonHeads) and “Has changed what a car can be” (GQ).

BBC Top Gear Magazine has awarded the car the coveted ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ award just weeks after its global media launch on the banks of Lake Lucerne in Vitznau, Switzerland. The Phantom nameplate, is the oldest in automotive history and is said to portray Rolls-Royce’s tireless pursuit of perfection.

Speaking of the latest accolade, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented, “Phantom points the way forward for the global luxury industry. It is a creation of great beauty and power, a dominant symbol of wealth and human achievement.”

He added, “That this is recognized by Top Gear Magazine and the rest of the world’s media is deeply gratifying and a reflection of the skill and passion of everyone who created this truly unique example of pinnacle luxury.”

The car is built on an all-new and proprietary aluminium spaceframe, 6mm two-layer glazing. It has more than 130kg of soundproofing, that combined with the whisper quiet V12 engine and seamless shifting gearbox, make the Phantom the most silent motor car in the world.

Jaguar crushes Nurburgring record with Project 8

The Nürburgring lap times seem to be the yardstick to which automotive greatness is measured. Automakers’ bring their latest and greatest creations to what’s regarded as one of the most challenging tracks on earth, just to prove how quick they are. And breaking the lap record, allows you the proper bragging rights.

In the case of Jaguar, its business as usual. This time, the British automaker placed its hardcore track focused XE, named the XE SV Project 8, to lap the Ring in the shortest time possible. This nearly 600bhp car completed the 21km circuit in 7 minutes and 21.23 seconds making it the fastest four-door vehicle to get around the track.

John Edwards, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director, said, “SVO exists to push the boundaries of performance, luxury and all-terrain capability. The hand-assembled XE SV Project 8 takes that principle to the limit, extracting supercar-beating performance from Jaguar’s most compact four-door sedan.”

“The Nürburgring Nordschleife record underlines our commitment to deliver the most extreme Jaguar ever to Project 8 clients, who will soon experience this sensational sedan for themselves,” he added.

It was nearly 11 seconds quicker than the previous record holder, and faster still, than some sports and supercars. Despite it looking very similar to the standard XE, Jaguar is adamant that 75% of Project 8’s mechanicals are new and that only the roof and front doors have been carried over.

The company’s SVO design and engineering team have worked their magic by turning a regular executive sedan into a fire breathing monster. Despite what many might say, making a sedan as fast as a sports car is no easy feat, it require re-engineering and extensive mechanical changes.

Unlike the base XE, this particular car gets a massive rear wing and other aerodynamic upgrades that set it apart from the rest of the Jaguar stable. It is powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 that enables the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in a mere 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 322km/h.

This won’t be the end of the story though, because Jag’s achievement won’t sit well with its competitors. They are probably already trying to figure out how to best the British automaker in the shortest amount of time possible.