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VW announces Polo rally contender

Volkswagen has introduced its newest entrant for the world of competitive rallying called the Polo R5 GTI. Based on the sixth generation road car of its namesake, the Polo R5 GTI will be made available as a complete rally version for professional teams and aspiring drivers to enable them to compete in championships across the globe.

“With the Polo GTI R5 we are hoping to transfer our expertise from four WRC titles to customer racing successfully, and offer a first-class racing machine for countless rally championships from national series to the WRC,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets.

“Before the first race outing next year, we will subject the Polo GTI R5 to rigorous testing to make sure it is prepared for the extremely varied track conditions around the world,” he later added.

VW has released a simplified sketch of the car, which isn’t much to go on, but does provide us with a glimpse of what the car might look like. That said, it should resemble the standard Polo with the exception of aerodynamic and safety upgrades as per performance requirements.

Development of the car started earlier this year under the stewardship of Volkswagen Motorsport Technical Director, François-Xavier “FX” Demaison. He was also running the shop when the record winning Polo R WRC rally car was developed and built. As such, Demaison knows a thing or two about creating winning platforms.

Like the road going version, the Polo GTI R5 features a four cylinder turbo engine, which in this case has been tuned to develop 270bhp. It is mated to a 5-speed sequential racing transmission that sends power to all four corners via the AWD system. The car has also been fitted with a comprehensive safety package which is a requirement to compete in the R5 category.

This R5 category was created to give privateers, teams and importers the opportunity to contest national, regional and international championships with cost-effective, powerful rally cars. It allows for a more level playing field and one that isn’t reserved for only factory-backed teams.

Drag race video of high speed racers, with a twist

E.ON, a well known energy provider, has released a witty video that showcases the versatility of electric mobility. The 1:36 minute film depicts an American style drag race that takes place on a wide barren dessert floor in the middle of nowhere.

A variety of different vehicles line up side by side at the start of the race. They comprise of the world’s first big foot EV, Tachyon Speed by Raesr, an electric hyper-car prototype, Baja buggy, Shelby Cobra motorbikes, and a number of other vehicles.

Initially, the video would have you believe that all these vehicles are in fact petrol or diesel powered. their engine notes or lack there of, were masked by the audible sound of several electric guitars played by musicians from the bed of pick-up trucks.

Their musical notes mimic that of actual engine sounds and exhaust notes. And as these vehicles pass a small petrol station in the desert, the music stops to reveal that all vehicles in the race are in fact, fully electric. The big foot, actually has 30 separate batteries in it that total 360 volts and the Tachyon Speed, has about 1,250bhp of EV power at its disposal.

The video ends with the words, E.ON is setting the electric car free, referring to the idea that any car, regardless of age, can be converted into a fully electric one. This maybe a startling revelation to some, but many manufacturers including Bosch, already produce modular systems that can be adapted to support multiple platforms.

E.On however isn’t a manufacturer but a major supporter of the EV platform and is currently running The ‘Freedom is Electric’ campaign. It showcases the diversity of the world of electric vehicles, charged using E.ON’s fast-charging technology, which will be available in thousands of locations across Europe.

It’s ultra-fast charging network, offering 150 kW of charging power with a modular upgrade option to 350 kW, will enable charging of a full 400 kilometres range battery in only 20-30 minutes. This will help somewhat, to make electric cars more practical as daily drivers and for long distance commutes.

All vehicles that were featured in the film, including the motorbikes and drones used for filming, were actually EVs. Not a single drop of fossil fuel was used in the entire making of the video, which exemplifies the notion of electric mobility being the future of modern transportation.

Koenigsegg achieve new world record with Agera RS

We are sure you’ve heard of Koenigsegg’s earlier 0-400-0 km/h feat, where it blitzed the previous record held by the Bugatti Chiron. Now, it has outdone itself yet again by using the same car, the Agera RS, to break the production car speed record.

Based on Koenigsegg’s official twitter page, the automaker boasted its latest achievement by tweeting that its Agera RS had achieved a 2-way average speed run of 444.6km/h. The vehicle was driven by the company’s factory test driver, Niklas Lilja.

This effectively makes the Koenigsegg Agera RS the fastest car in the world, beating the 427.6km/h record that was set by the Bugatti Veyron Supersport in 2010. The Swedish automaker has been playing second fiddle to the French automaker for quite sometime.

A Koenigsegg Agera RS driven by factory driver Niklas Lilja has recorded a 2-way avg speed of 444.6 km/h (277.9 mph). A new world record! pic.twitter.com/FXUjKpTW1q

— Koenigsegg (@koenigsegg) November 4, 2017

Yes, we have video of today’s runs and will publish, along with our full story, ASAP. For now, though, we celebrate 🎉 pic.twitter.com/JBRBHB1d0z

— Koenigsegg (@koenigsegg) November 5, 2017

But recently however, it seems as though Koenigsegg has decided to challenge the status quo. It is now hell bent on smashing every speed record that Bugatti holds, which includes the title of Fastest Car in the World. The Swedes can now hold their heads high, knowing that they have bested the masters of the game.

Under the hood of the Koenigsegg Agera RS is a 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 1,160bhp. That figure is bumped up to 1,341bhp if the car is equipped with the 1 MegaWatt package. That said, there’s no word yet on the specs of the car that shattered the Veyron’s record.

However, Koenigsegg have said that they will reveal the full story and more information about the car in due course. Until then, all we can do is speculate on the car’s setup. But stay tuned and we will let you know more as we find out.

Jeep make subtle changes to new 2018 Wrangler

Jeep has updated its stalwart, the Wrangler, for the 2018 model year. Though the automaker touts that the changes are quite extensive, many of them aren’t as obvious as they may seem. Both the two and four door versions largely resemble their predecessors with the exception of certain tweaks done here and there.

The vehicles get refined styling that maintain the look of the original but improved further. The Wrangler’s unique elements include a keystone-shaped grille, iconic round headlamps and square tail lamps, improved aerodynamics as well as a fold-down windshield that should appease off-road purists.

These vehicles have been made available with a number of different door, top and windshield combinations. Jeep has also loaded them with the latest safety features and advanced technologies. This should make them enticing vehicles for those looking for an SUV that offers bang for their buck but also offers a certain level of individuality.

One of the oldest SUV manufacturers to date, Jeep has been in the business for more than 75 years. It’s been at the forefront of developing very capable offroading vehicles that can handle the toughest terrain. The automaker is owned by FCA or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and is a major player in the SUV market especially in North America.

Ferrari threatens to leave F1 if sport’s proposed changes are made

After the recent announcement made by Liberty Media, the owner of F1 regarding certain changes to powertrain specifications, several engine suppliers are up in arms about it. The issue surrounds the proposed idea of standardizing powertrains.

Several automakers, especially those who have worked tirelessly through R&D to develop competitive technology, aren’t willing to forgo this in order to allow for a more level playing field. Ferrari is one such team, and has threatened to walk away from the sport as reported by Motor Authority.

Ferrari isn’t too happy with the proposed plan which was made vocal by its CEO and Chairman, Sergio Marchionne. He likened the move of standardizing such mechanicals to similar rules that define how NASCAR racers are developed and built.

Unlike other Motorsport categories, NASCAR’s rule book dictates pretty much everything that include body dimensions and mechanicals need to be built to a certain code. This effectively ensures that very little can be altered by each team, making sure that the spotlight is shone on driver talent rather than massive R&D budgets.

Renault and Mercedes-AMG, two other major players in F1 share Marchionne’s sentiment. Like Ferrari, they too are engine suppliers to a number of other teams in Formula One and as such, aren’t too happy with having their hands tied during R&D.

This isn’t the first time that Ferrari have threatened to leave, it has done so several times in the past when it didn’t agree with the path F1 was taking. These threats haven’t amounted to anything in the past, probably because whether Ferrari realizes it or not – the two share a symbiotic relationship.

These new regulations haven’t been set in stone and once each team has given its own two cents, certain changes will probably be made to keep the big guns happy. Till then, stay tuned and we will let you more about this issue as it unfolds.

Source: Motor Authority

Vintage Fiat to celebrate the automobile on heritage drive

One of the oldest Fiat cars in existence will make its way from Hyde Park in London down to Madeira Drive in Brighton, as part of the notorious heritage trial on 5th November, 2017. This 1899 Fiat 3½hp is owned by FCA UK Ltd, and is on permanent display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

The car can seat two adults and two small children facing the driver – not very comfortable but it works. Powering this vehicle is a horizontal two-cylinder engine of 697cc that is mated to a three-speed (no reverse) gearbox. This Fiat can reach a top speed of 34km/h and return a fuel consumption figure of 14.9km/L.

FIAT or Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, was founded by Turin investors in July 1899. It initially operated out of a temporary factory but moved into a purpose-built one in March 1900. The company benefited greatly from the acquisition of two businesses, one of them being a bicycle manufacturer.

This company had a prototype car called the Welleyes, which Fiat used to derive its own car. From there, Fiat grew to an industrial giant and is now, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers.

The automobile has come along way since its humble beginnings, and this 1899 Fiat 3½hp is a testament to that. Many of the creature comforts and technology that we take for granted today came about out of necessity as a result of attempts of modernizing early vehicles to suit customers’ needs.