MAGAZINE: Road 30: Toyota GT86 & Subaru BRZ Special: Standard & Tuned

Open publication - Free publishing - More banzai

This month's Road Magazine is all about the cult car cachet of the instantly iconic Toyota GT86 & Subaru BRZ. Travis drummer and Road race ace, Neil Primrose drives the standard Subaru BRZ across the South Lakes and gives his expert verdict. Road Editor, Phil Royle takes the Toyota GT86 on an early morning road trip on some of the UK's quietest roads, to discover its charms. And we take a look at three of the best tuned versions of the cars that are rapidly becoming tuning icons too – with Sumo Power & JRM Racing's GT86 kit in R&D at Snetterton, the developing Litchfield Motors BRZ Performance Pack and Fensport's sprinting GT86. We hope you enjoy this issue of Road, 100% FREE...? Please do share it with your friends and family on social network sites and forums. Enjoy! Team Road, out! Also, check out our 30+ back issues of Road Magazine on our new look website: www.roadmagazine.co.ukAnd see some extra behind the scenes images here on our jam-packed Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/roadmagblogLike it?! LIKE it...!!

NEWS: Citroën Announce New DS3 RRC: Regional Rally Car

Following the success of the Citroën Racing DS3 WRC, here is the new WRC-inspired DS3 Regional Rally Car (RRC) for private drivers, designed to gradually replace the Super 2000 style rally cars. The car has been built to be used in championships below WRC level, including ERC and some national championships. Citroën say: "Visually different, with slight changes under the bonnet, the RRC otherwise maintains the key strengths of the DS3 WRC. We are proud to present the DS3 RRC. Faithfully derived from the DS3 WRC, the double World Rally Championship-winning car*, this version has been designed for private drivers and is suitable for use in a wide variety of competitions (WRC-2, ERC, MERC, etc.)."
Having come into force at the start of 2011, the new FIA World Rally Cars regulations allow manufacturers to produce a Regional Rally Car (RRC) variant of their models. Set to gradually replace cars in the Super 2000 category, these products are intended for use in the championships below the level of the WRC: WRC- 2 (formerly S-WRC), European Rally Championship (ERC), Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), some national championships and so on.
The World Rally Championship-winning car in 2011 and 2012*, the Citroën DS3 WRC is now available in an RRC version. Visually, the two models are different since the regulations are more restrictive as regards aerodynamic features on the RRC. The bumper intakes are smaller and the rear spoiler complies with the S2000 standards.
Under the bonnet, the 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine has been slightly modified, with a specific engine flywheel and a 30mm booster flange (compared with 33mm on the WRC). Maximum power output therefore drops to 275bhp. The other significant change concerns the brakes in tarmac configuration: the diameter of the discs has been reduced from 355 to 350mm and the water-cooling system has been removed.
Aside from these changes, the Citroën DS3 RRC maintains all the strengths of its big sister: reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage offering a high level of safety and resilience, MacPherson suspensions and Citroën Racing adjustable shock absorbers, six-speed sequential gearbox, etc.
Developed over the summer during test sessions on gravel and tarmac, the Citroën DS3 RRC is now available for leasing from Citroën Racing Technologies. Its modest running costs and versatility make it an intermediary option between the DS3 R3 and the DS3 WRC.

Looks terrific and we hope the new RRC cars will revitalise the privateer rallying scene. Tres bon Citroën!  

DS3 RRC TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CHASSIS
Structure Reinforced body with welded, multi-point roll cage
Bodywork Steel and composite fibre

ENGINE
Type Citroën Racing - 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection engine, with a 30mm
diam flange
Bore x stroke 82x75.5mm
Capacity 1,598cc
Maximum power 275bhp at 6,000rpm
Maximum torque 350Nm at 3,250rpm
Distribution Double overhead camshaft valve train driven by timing belt
4 valves per cylinder
Fuel feed Direct injection controlled by Magneti Marelli SRP-HP unit

CLUTCH
Type Cerametallic twin-disk

TRANSMISSION
Type Four-wheel drive
Gearbox Sadev six-speed sequential - Manual control
Differential Front and rear mechanical, auto-locking

BRAKES
Front Ventilated disks, 350mm (tarmac) and 300mm (gravel)
Water-cooled 4-piston callipers (tarmac)
Rear 300mm - 4-piston callipers
Distribution Adjustable from cockpit
Handbrake Hydraulic control

SUSPENSION
Type MacPherson
Shock absorbers Citroën Racing three-way adjustable shock absorbers
(low- and high-speed compression and rebound)

STEERING
Type Hydraulic power-assisted steering

WHEELS
Tarmac 8x18’’ wheels - Michelin tyres
Gravel and snow 7x15’’ wheels - Michelin tyres

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES
Length / Width 3,948mm / 1,820mm
Wheel base 2,461mm
Track 1,618mm (front and rear)
Fuel tank 75 litres
Weight 1,200kg minimum / 1,350kg with driver pairing (regulations)

* Subject to publication of the official results by the FIA. 

NEWS: Scion FR-S (Toyota GT86) Tuned Versions Rock SEMA

What sort of Scion FR-S (USA Toyota GT86) would you create with a $15,000 budget and three months? Well, three lucky USA tuners got the opportunity to do just that and created three very different versions for the SEMA show, on right now. See them all and read the fully story on the excellent Toyota blog: http://blog.toyota.co.uk/scion-fr-s-tuners-to-rock-sema.
And stay tuned here on the blog and new look www.roadmagazine.co.uk website tomorrow, for our own GT86/BRZ special issue of Road Magazine, featuring three fabulous UK-tuned versions. And see more images and info backstage at www.facebook.com/roadmagblog.

And read what we thought of standard and tuned GT86's and BRZ's in the latest FREE issue of Road Magazine: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_30_small/1

NEWS: Subaru FREE Winter Inspection

Subaru are generously offering owners a free-of-charge vehicle inspection and top-up of essential fluids this Winter via their dealer network, to "ensure Subaru owners stay mobile in poor conditions."
Recent research from the AA suggests that 80% of roadside breakdowns could be avoided if fluid levels were checked and topped-up regularly, and Subaru is offering this service to customers, absolutely free. The inspection, carried out by trained Subaru technicians, includes checking tyre pressures, and topping up engine and gearbox oil, the engine coolant and screen wash. A full visual health check will also ensure that cars are operating to the best of their abilities.
Haydn Davies, Marketing Director of Subaru UK, commented: “Winter brings more hazardous driving conditions, with cold temperatures, damp or icy roads and poor visibility. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is already designed to keep our customers as safe as possible whatever the weather, while an enviable reliability record helps keep owners mobile, too. At the same time we like our dealers to have regular contact with our customers so we hope many of them will make use of this latest offer.”
Subaru UK’s latest offer for the season comes on top of the opportunity to store wheels and tyres at the dealer over winter, as part of the ground-breaking ETC aftersales package.
To find out more about Subaru’s winter health check and to find your nearest Subaru dealership, visit www.subaru.co.uk. Very nice eh?

NEWS: Silverstone Motorsport UK Show This Weekend

It's Silverstone MotorSport UK this weekend – 3rd & 4th November – aiming to promote all categories and types of national racing, in a packed show at the prestigious Silverstone Wing exhibition complex at Silverstone Circuit, the Home of British Motor Racing. And we've helped sponsor the event, to show our support for British motorsport in these difficult times. You going to show your support?

The organisers say: "Silverstone MotorSport UK has been designed to appeal specifically to those who are looking to get involved in club motorsport and provide individuals with the chance to meet manufacturers, clubs, teams and suppliers to discuss their next racing steps. If you are new to motorsport and looking to get involved there are no shortage of places to start!"

Kart fans will be well catered for with The British Superkart Association, who run the MSA British Superkart Championship and the British Superkart Racing Club, who organise the British GP in attendance. And for those not looking to go down the karting route, some of the biggest names in specialist, sports car and kit car manufacturers will be showcasing their latest cars, including Marcos Sportscars and MCR. In the “Kit Car Pavilion,” you’ll find a host of manufacturers including DJ Sportscars and AK Sportscars and magazines Total Kit Car and Kit Car Magazine.
Clubs will be well represented too, with the 750 Motor Club, Monoposto Racing Club, Red Dragon Race & Track Club, 360 Motor Racing Club, MG Car Club, and the Hovercraft Club of Great Britain coming down. And, in addition to the racing clubs, there will be a number of championships showcasing their championships, including Classic Formula Ford, RGB Champsionship, Formula Vee, Sport Specials, Fueltopia, MR2 Cup, Subaru Cup, Nippon Challenge and BMW Compact Cup.
And there will be a large display of trade stands to pick products from too.
Silverstone MotorSport UK will also feature a ‘live’ stage presented by www.theCheckeredFlag.co.uk and Motors TV and we will be interviewing a number of 2012 champions from a range of motorsports.
On the day admission is £15 per adult ticket, or £37.50 for a family of four (two adults and two children). Concessions apply. Or save money by booking in advance at www.motorsportshow.co.uk
All Motor Racing Club members benefit from a 33% reduction on the admission charge (just £10 instead of the standard on-the-door ticket price of £15) on production of their MSA Licence or club membership. Parking for all show visitors is FREE.
Keep up with the latest show news online at www.motorsportshow.co.uk, www.twitter.com/SMUKshow and www.facebook.com/SilverstoneMotorsportUk

VIDEO: Genius or madness? Autoglym shine at BTCC final. Groan!

There are some good, bad & ugly viral videos out there. We think this is all three, and a few more unpublishable adjectives besides. It's certainly the cheesiest viral we've seen in a long, long time. It's either genius, or the worse viral ever... you decide! It shows Autoglym BTCC drivers and teams revealing their secret why their cars are so quick... wax! And features the Take That song, 'Let It Shine.' Groan...

NEWS: Road Magazine Website Re-Design

Big thanks to Steve at www.skiddmark.com and www.fitchmedia.com for the fresh new look we've got for our Road Magazine website. Check it out at: www.roadmagazine.co.uk. It's not completely finished yet, but the backbone is there – designed to make it easier for you to find all of the 30+ back issues of our ace FREE monthly magazine, by topic, direct off the home page. Just click on the image that sucks you in to enjoy each FREE magazine – there's something there for every petrol head! And you'll find it easier to link to our SoMe sites too, with a live feed of both the blog and Twitter feeds, and links to our ace Facebook page (like us!): www.facebook.com/roadmagblog. Plus, there's information about advertising with us, which is great value and highly targeted. And you can see the biogs of Team Road, to find out who brings you all this great stuff, FOC.
Please do share the website, blog and SoMe links with your petrol heads brothers and sisters. In return, we'll give you a quality monthly magazine, daily blog and rammed Twitter feed and Facebook page FREE! Suweet!

VIDEO: 24h-Rennen 2012 Nürburgring Tim Schrick: Scirocco TDI vs Porsche 911

Question: Is a Porsche 911 faster than a gas-powered VW Scirocco on the Nürburgring?
Answer: Not if Road pal, Tim Schrick is driving the Scirocco.
This is footage from the Nürburgring 24-Hr 2012. Hilarious.
The pass is inevitable... and perfect, when it comes... go Tim!

NEWS: Donington Park "Thunder In The Park" Christmas Track Days

Christmas is approaching – love it or loathe it! And we all know things can get a bit stressful at this time of year, so why not counter-act that stress with some classic track day action at one of the UK's best circuits, Donington Park, and blow off some seasonal steam? 

Donington Park are running their popular "Thunder in the Park Track Days" during December – with two quiet days (98db limit)* on December 15th and 16th and a special unsilenced day on December 28th. The track days are sessioned into six 20 minute rotation sessions throughout the day, with professional instructors available for those looking to brush up on their racing skills.
Gemma Toogood, Head of Commercial Sales & Marketing at Donington Park, said: "We’ve had a fantastic year here at Donington in 2012, so we thought it would be only fitting to let motoring fans get up close and personal with the circuit and drive their own beloved cars round the track. With Christmas coming up it’s the perfect present for the petrol heads among us – and we even have an option to hire cars, particularly if you fancy a spin in a Caterham 7 Superlight.”
Prices for the Thunder in the Park Track Days begin at £99, booked in advance.
* For more details about the track days, noise limits and vehicle hire, please visit the Donington Park website at: http://www.donington-park.co.uk/experiences/thunder-in-the-park-track-days/

Treat yourself, or why not even make it a Christmas present for someone you love? Work off some of that turkey, lapping the Craner Curves at pace... perfect Christmas pass time to us...

See how much fun Donington Park can be in our Tim Schrick special of Road Magazine here: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_17 

NEWS: Audi Blitz FIA World Endurance Championships

With two podium places in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in China, to finish off their amazingly dominant season, there can be no doubt who blitzed the 2012 series – Audi and their new hybrid R18 e-tron Quattro; out of reach of its competitors since August. 

At the finale at Shanghai, the Audi factory drivers Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer finished in third place and won the Drivers’ World Championship as well - subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA. The second title crowns a successful debut season of the first hybrid sports car from Audi.
Audi said: "We have shaped the new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) not only by winning both titles, but five times, the team secured the top spot on the grid and on five occasions in eight events, an Audi R18 achieved overall victory – including the brand’s eleventh success at the Le Mans 24 Hours where the Audi R18 e-tron quattro clinched the first ever victory of a hybrid sports car in this classic endurance event.
"An intensive duel with Toyota marked the second half of the season – including the finale in China. The new World Champions in the number "1" hybrid sports car only had to take third place at the Shanghai 6 Hours to win the title. Their lead in the standings now amounts to 13.5 points. The driver trio secured three single wins this season and completed their tally with three second places."
Second place in the championship goes to an Audi squad as well. Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish, who had started from the front row in China, finished the race as the runners-up behind the Toyota of Nicolas Lapierre/Alexander Wurz. The Danish-Scottish duo’s track record this season reflects seven podium positions, including victory at the season opener, the Sebring 12 Hours, together with Dindo Capello. In addition, they were the most efficient combination in the field. At seven of the season’s eight rounds, the Michelin Green X Challenge Award went to car number "2".
The title win with the R18 e-tron quattro in China completes a unique endurance racing season for Audi. With the R8 LMS GT3 sports car, Audi decided the Bathurst 12 Hours and the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring, Spa and Zolder in its favour this year.
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport) said: "It’s nice that after the Manufacturers’ World Championship we were able to decide the Drivers’ World Championship in our favour as well. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to finish the year with a victory in China. We’ve got very strong competitors, which provides us with high motivation to work hard for next year."
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest) said: "Now we’ve won all the titles. Well done to Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer. Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish came back with a strong showing in China even though it wasn’t enough for victory. Both squads performed flawless pit stops at the end of a tough season. The WEC is a fantastic new championship and we’re the first to have won it."
Tom Kristensen (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2) said: "This track suited our Japanese competitors particularly well. Congratulations to them on winning the race! At the same time, I’m happy about a good race by Allan, our team and me. There were two reasons why we didn’t have a chance of achieving the title win. Our rivals in the battle for the title were driving an Audi as well, and these cars simply don’t fail. Marcel, André and Ben truly deserve the title with their performances."
Allan McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2) said: "Second place was the best we could achieve today. We squeezed the maximum out of the car and the tyres but Toyota was simply quicker. Congratulations to Marcel, André and Ben on winning the World Champion’s title. They were incredibly good. We compete against each other but work together as a team."
Marcel Fässler (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1) added: "I’d like to thank Audi very much because without this brand I could have never experienced a success like this. I’ve got tremendous team-mates and a top-flight team. The title means incredibly much to me. It’s a great feeling to be World Champion."
André Lotterer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1) reflected: "Winning Le Mans and the World Champion’s title together is simply brilliant. And I’m happy to be able to share this success with Marcel and Ben. The three of us are really good friends. A huge thank you goes to Audi and to our team. Our car was always superb. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to take victory today but after winning the title we can be very pleased."
And Benoît Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1) summed it up: "I’m more than happy after this great season. The World Champion’s title is a nice chapter in a driver’s biography. I want to thank Audi very much for the good season."
Shanghai Race results
1 Wurz/Lapierre (Toyota) 191 laps
2 Kristensen/McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) + 58.570s
3 Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi R18 e-tron quattro) + 1m 42.814s
4 Belicchi/Cheng/Primat (Lola-Toyota) - 6 laps
5 Brabham/Chandhok/Dumbreck (HPD-Honda) - 6 laps
6 Kane/Leventis/Watts (HPD-Honda) - 9 laps
7 Martin/Graves/Beche (Oreca-Nissan) - 11 laps
8 Dalziel/Potolicchio/Sarrazin (HPD-Honda) - 11 laps
9 Lahaye/Nicolet/Pla (Morgan-Nissan) - 12 laps
10 Kaffer/Minassian/Perez Companc (Oreca-Nissan) - 12 laps
Photographs and information available at www.audi-motorsport.info.

NEWS: New RS Porsche Silverstone Driving Experiences

The Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone are laying on three new courses with an ‘RS’ flavour, to celebrate 40 years of the iconic RennSport brand – the GT, the Evolution RS and the Ultimate GT courses.

Porsche say: "The opportunity is now available for keen drivers to appreciate the true nature of the latest Porsche 911 RS models using the bespoke facilities at the Porsche Experience Centre. By enrolling on a GT Course (£400) a driver can explore the focussed track-derived dynamics of both the naturally-aspirated 911 GT3 and the bi-turbo 911 GT2.
"The original 2.7 Carrera RS has inspired many generations of 911 RS models in the years since its launch, including the 1992 ‘Type 964’ RS, the 1995 ‘Type 993’ RS and the ‘Type 996’ RS of 2003. The Evolution RS (£500) course concentrates on the latest incarnations of the 911 GT3 RS. The GT3 RS encompasses the huge dynamic ability of the 2.7 Carrera RS and is testament to the Porsche belief that its cars should perform to the highest level both on road and on track.
"Included in the Evolution RS experience is 90 minutes driving the legendary first generation ‘Type 997’ 3.6-litre 911 GT3 RS from 2006, the second generation ‘Type 997’ 3.8 911 GT3 RS from 2009, and the ultimate edition of the genre, the 2011 911 GT3 RS 4.0.
"The 911 GT2 and GT2 RS are the most extreme road-going derivatives of the 911 yet produced and the Ultimate GT (£550) course demonstrates the devastatingly impressive performance of these machines. This 90-minute driving experience and one-to-one tuition begins with the GT2 before moving on to the most jaw-dropping evolution of the RS series: the 620 hp Porsche 911 GT2 RS."
The first RS was the 1972 911 2.7 Carrera RS, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. The car was developed from the 911 S, tuned for "raw track ability." They only built just over 1,500, and it's now a serious collectors item, as future RS models will be too. Enjoy them all at the excellent Silverstone Porsche Experience Centre. You can book the new RS courses now by calling 08443 575 911 or online at: www.porsche.co.uk/experience.

VIDEO: Sabine Schmitz & Klaus Abbelen 2012 Frikadelli Racing VLN Highlights

The best of Sabine Schmitz and Klaus Abbelen racing on the Green Hell this year in the VLN in their awesome Frikadelli Racing RSR. Awesome! Want to know how to race the Ring? Watch and learn... and enjoy the sound of this bonkers fast, incredible sounding, amazingly driven hardcore 911 racer in action. Some incredible pasess to relish...  and just look at the telemetry too! Utterly insane, and we love it! Like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frikadelli-Racing-Official-Fanpage/160145224008529?fref=ts

NEWS: Castle Combe Circuit Calendar to Christmas

Our good friends at "Britain's friendly circuit" – historic Castle Combe – may have finished with the year's race activities, but the events, special offers and action keeps on rolling, right up until Christmas. They include:

• Friday 26th October 2012: Car Track Day, last one of the year! Call 01249-782417 to book, or visit http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/trackdays/carinformation.asp for details. It's a sessioned day, of 15-mins per session, with only 20 cars on track at a time, so plenty of space. Instruction is on hand and the price is £170 per driver or you can club together with a friend as a second car and driver is only £125 and you can split the difference. Nice!
• Friday 26th and Saturday 27th October 2012: Richard Edmonds Auction. The South West auctioneer Richard Edmonds returns to Castle Combe Circuit for his last sale of the year and he is sticking to his winning combination of great pre-war vehicles and genuine British class. Lots include: A 1952 AJS 18MS, 1961 Royal Enfield Constellation 700cc, a brace of John Deers, with a Model A and B booked in, a 1950 Ferguson TED 20-750 and a 1959 Fordson Power Major. Different! Viewing of lots is 10am to 5pm on Thursday 25th October, 8.30am to 6pm: Friday 26th October and from 8am on Saturday 27th October. The auction starts at 9.30am prompt (Friday 26th October) and 10am prompt (Saturday 27th October). Admission is £10 (admits two). Further details: www.richardedmondsauctions.com
• Saturday 27th October 2012: Bristol Pegasus Sprint: The Bristol Pegasus Sprint remains one of CCC's most popular end of season events. It is aimed at club competitors and attracts a number of one-make championships including Morgan, TVR, Scimitar, MGs and Triumph. Get to see competition cars of all makes plus road classes compromising every day road cars that you get to see on your daily commute to work. Admission is FREE! Further details: www.bristolpegasus.com
• Friday 2nd November 2012: Startline Young Driver Experience, aimed at under-17-year-old (12-16, over four feet eight inches) drivers, wanting to get a head-start before they get their provisional licence. This is a press launch day and offers an opportunity for students to get behind the wheel for the first time and in a safe, enclosed, historic circuit environment, with great instructors. There are two courses: Starter Drive, which is a two-hour course with approx. 35 minute drive time (max. 30mph) and includes basic driving skills, based in the paddock with one lap of the circuit at the end of the course. Or there's the Advanced Drive, a four-hour course with approx. one-hour drive time (max. 40mph). This includes basic driving skills, car maintenance and road safety and includes the "Beer Goggle Walk," based in the paddock and on the circuit. Pre-booking essential. Full details can be found at www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk or by telephoning 01249 782417.
• Finally, Castle Combe Circuit is offering a FREE Gift on selected Driving Experiences, Season Tickets, Track Days and more purchased this Christmas…! Take your pick from a variety of ace CCC racing experiences. All driving experiences including the “truest to motor racing experience,” on courses like the Single Seater Driving Experience or Track Days Experience. You can buy these, or event Season Tickets online at www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk, or by telephoning 01249 782417.

VIDEO: Toyota GT 86 Fails Moose Test! Hilarious!

You've got to hand it to Toyota... not only do they make an utterly brilliant car in the GT86, but their marketing, PR & advertising campaigns have been inspirational and spot on. This may not be 'official' but it is an utterly magical, hilarious viral video – showing a drifting GT86 as it 'fails the moose test.' Quality work for Toyota! And look out for our cover story on our road test with the awesome GT86 out in www.roadmagazine.co.uk next week...

VIDEO: Subaru BRZ Laguna Seca

USA pro driver, Randy Pobst hot laps the 2013 Subaru BRZ around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as part of Motor Trend's 2012 Best Driver's Car competition. You can read Randy Pobst's track notes, click here: http://www.motortrend.com/features/performance/1208_2012_subaru_brz_lamborghi..
. And look out for our BRZ test next week, with Travis drummer, race ace and Road writer, Neil Primrose giving it the once over in the Lake District, via www.roadmagazine.co.uk

NEWS: New Lexus LS Range Unveiled

We love the Lexus LS range here at www.roadmagazine.co.uk: It's THE perfect limo. When we tested the LS600h (http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_15), we found it lacking nothing and nigh-on-perfect. But Lexus obviously thought their flagship model could be improved upon, amazingly – as they have just revealed a brand new LS range, starting from £71,995 and including world-first technologies – like their digital ‘climate concierge’ system (monitoring facial temperatures of the driver and passengers!). Luxury is all in the details folks!
There's also a brand new F Sport model available for the first time (pictured), a re-introduction of the LS 460 petrol model following requests from customers and there will be three models in the range: LS 460 Luxury, LS 460 F Sport and a full hybrid, 5.0-litre V8 with 439bhp LS 600h L Premier, costing £99,495. The LS is available to order now, with customer deliveries from January 2013.
Lexus say: "True to Lexus tradition, the price tag includes a high specification that is rich in advanced ‘world-first’ technology and luxury features, combined with precision fit and finish and attention to detail. For the first time, the LS range includes an F Sport model, combining sporting exterior and interior design elements with numerous dynamic enhancements."
The LS 460 also makes a welcome return, in two trims, Luxury and F Sport and is powered by a 382bhp (285kW) 4.6-litre V8 Dual VVT-i petrol engine. The Luxury is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic bi-xenon headlamps, and LED daytime running lights. Cabin comfort is assured with leather upholstery, four zone climate control featuring nanoe technology, and air conditioned electrically adjustable front seats (16-way for driver and 14-way for front passengers). The interior is lit by the world’s first Dynamic Illumination System with soft white interior lamps and a dynamic instrument panel lighting that moves and changes in intensity in line with vehicle start-up and switch-off. On-board entertainment is provided by a 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system with DVD player, DAB tuner, Bluetooth and USB/Aux ports. Satellite Navigation and on-board entertainment information is presented on a 12.3-inch central display – the largest on the market today. Meanwhile, the LS 460 F Sport builds on the Luxury specification with 19-inch F Sport alloys, Brembo brakes, a lateral damping system, a Torsen limited slip differential, and suspension modifications. The exterior look of the car is augmented with F Sport design elements, including a more aggressive front spindle grille and sports styled bumpers. The interior has a sportier look too, with a dark cabin finish, perforated leather seats and steering wheel; Lexus scuff plates, aluminium pedals, and an aluminium effect finish on the dashboard.
There will be a range of options, to go with the well-specced LS range, including: Night view system, which captures images of the night time field of view using a near-infra red camera and displays the night vision images on the 12.3-inch central display, as well as metallic or mica paint, in a range of eight exterior colours in the LS Luxury and Premier and seven in the F Sport range (which will have black upholstery as standard, but can be specified with Sport White). F Sport models will also feature aluminium dashboard inserts as standard, regardless of interior upholstery.

New LS prices

MODEL	OTR PRICE
LS 460 Luxury	£71,995
LS 460 F Sport	£74,495
LS 600h L Premier	£99,495
OPTIONS	PRICE
Night view system	£1,515

We can't wait to try it out... and play with the new toys! 

Find out more and see more images at: https://www.facebook.com/lexus?fref=ts

VIDEO: Blue Lexus LF-LC concept car

Lexus are on a massive roll at the minute – building some truly outstanding cars and getting under the skin and into the brains of the Porsche, BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz drivers. Now they've just revealed this – the LF-LC Blue concept, at the Australian International Motor show. It uses carbon fibre elements incorporated using the technology developed for the awesome Lexus LFA supercar, and it also showcases the Lexus Hybrid Drivesystem – engineered to deliver highest power output yet, at 500bhp (372kW). Nice!
The LF-LC is a further development of the model which became the sensation of the Detroit motor show earlier this year and now it swaps that car’s burning red exterior for a lustrous Opal Blue finish, inspired by the natural base colour of the Australian gemstone. It's a stunning, futuristic looking set-up, as the video shows.
Lexus says: "The LF-LC combines advanced technologies and materials with an organic design that points to styling cues that will influence future Lexus sports models. The concept in particular pioneers use of lightweight carbon fibre and the next generation of Lexus’s industry-leading full hybrid powertrain. The experience and in-house capabilities Lexus has gained in the development of the LFA supercar have directly benefited the creation of the LF-LC, notably in the successful marrying of carbon fibre and aluminium alloy materials in its construction to achieve a light body mass: It provides an ideal platform for the next generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system. Dubbed Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive, it features a new, high-energy battery pack designed to deliver to greater power from a unit that is smaller than those used in Lexus’s current full hybrid model range. LF-LC Blue demonstrates what the future may hold for sports cars. Lexus has been synonymous with hybrid power, superior build quality, comfort and reliability; with the LF-LC it now reinforces its design and technology credentials. The concept hints at what is to come from Lexus, which is now actively studying how it can engineer and build a vehicle like this in the future." We think it's mega, and having driven the existing hybrid range already this year (to be show-cased in a forthcoming Lexus special of www.roadmagazine.co.uk) and seen just how special they are... we are very eager to test the new breed. Going to be seminal we reckon... but what do you think?

NEWS: Bond Cars

With the 23rd James Bond film - Skyfall - about to go live on October 26th, rumours are circulating what car will Daniel Craig be sliding about past RPG's. We know there's a return to the iconic Aston Martin DB5, a Land Rover and an Audi A5, but 'the car' is uncertain... what's your vote on?
Meantime, why not enjoy a look back through the Bond cars of past films with this infographic, called James Bond: Driving Licence to Kill; exploring the history of Bond’s cars and vehicle-related gadgets, done by motoring.co.uk.

You can see the full infographic here... http://www.motoring.co.uk/images/bond/james-bond-007-cars.jpg. Enjoy! 

NEWS: Royle Media: Perfect PR, Slick Social Media, Deft Design & More

The PR, Social Media, design, imagery, writing and publishing for Road Magazine & Blog is done by happy husband and wife team, Phil & Bonnie Royle of www.roylemedia.co.uk. If you enjoy the FREE Road monthly magazine, daily blog and social media tweets and FB posts, please LIKE them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/roylemedia and follow their new Twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/RoyleMedia. And contact them for affordable, high-impact PR, SM, design work, publishing, websites, blogs, digital media solutions and more via the website or Facebook page. First class, friendly, problem solving, 1-2-1 customer service and affordable quality products is the name of the Royle Media game. Let them boost your brand today, as they have for Road Magazine, Sumo Power, Castle Combe Circuit, Mitsubishi Motors UK PR, Subaru PR, Plays Kool Motorsport, Purslane restaurant and many more happy clients over the years.

VIDEO: Porsche 918 Spyder Nürburgring 7:14 Lap. Smug?

Here's the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time film of the 800bhp hybrid Porsche Spyder – putting it into 5th place on the laptime leader board – just ahead of the new Donkervoort D8 GTO and just behind the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR and Gumbert Apollo and the miles behind the Radical SR8 and SR8LM in the overall records stakes. 

The Spyder was piloted by Porsche and Manthey Racing ace, Marc Lieb and long term Porsche tester, two-time WRC champion and legend, Walter Rohrl, who said: "The car simply defies physics..." Enough said? Short and sweet I guess...

Or maybe you prefer what Porsche's strange PR department had to say: "Sometimes, words cannot describe a feeling. But in this case, a simple figure can. Location: Nürburgring, Nordschleife. Car: Porsche 918 Spyder. Lap time: 7 minutes, 14 seconds. Equipment: Optional Weissach Package, street-legal tires. Any questions left?" Bit abrupt, if not smug eh? 

Visit this ace, controversial website for the list of ever-changing Green Hell lap records: http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html

NEWS VIDEO: Laponie Ice Driving New Cars & Courses

Our pals at Laponie Ice Driving have unveiled their 2013 events and what a cracking line up it is – with a choice of over 28 high-powered cars (including Lambo Gallardo’s and Porsche 911's) and 20 ace instructors, taking place on 750 acres of frozen lake in Lapland, with replica F1 circuits. If you like your driving, sideways, and safe, in an unreal location... you should book one and have a memory of a lifetime. Brand new for 2013 are two Lamborghini Gallardos, three Audi S4s and six Subaru STi S Imprezas, joining up with Porsche 911, Corvettes and more cult cars. They say: "There really is nothing quite like learning to drift on a private frozen lake in Lapland - all 750 acres of it - under expert instruction. Moreover, you can now drive on one of two replicas of the Silverstone Formula 1 circuit, as well as on other famous Formula 1 tracks. For the past seven years, Laponie Ice Driving has been thrilling participants, ranging from complete novices to semi-professional drivers. And yes, it really is possible to learn how to drive fast and safely on ice in two or three days. You can choose your car, and you will be assured of at least four tutored hours behind the wheel each day- hours never to be forgotten."
And Laponie now has UK representation, so for further information please do get in touch (in case you were wondering, Laponie is the French for Lapland!)
See more or book for yourself: www.laponie-ice-driving.co.uk
NB: The video above is for the old 2012 courses and an old offer we ran, but shows you how cool it all is! See more videos here: http://www.laponie-ice-driving.com/uk/videos.php#ancre

VIDEO: Usain Bolt Vs Nissan R35 GT-R

Great little viral video from Nissan here using the world's fastest (& coolest?) man, Usain Bolt to market the power and pace of the phenomenal Nissan R35 GT-R.

NEWS: Donkervoort D8 GTO Test Results in!

The Dutch destroyer that is the brand new Donkervoort D8 GTO, has gone even faster than expected and stated it would do at its media info launch earlier this year – knocking out some incredible stats at its testing at a roasting hot (32C) Nardò Ring in Italy. 

How do these vital stats grab ya?
0-100 km/h: Standard 340bhp 3.3 sec & Premium 380bhp in just 2.8 sec
0-200 km/h: Standard 340bhp 9.4 sec & Premium 380bhp in a mental 8.6 sec.
Top speed: Standard 340bhp 255 km/h & Premium 380bhp 270 km/h. 

Sweet as ****!

The D8 also managed a lap around the track of 2:29.8sec, which, let us tell you... is fast! 

Donkervoort said: "The first test day kicked off with the high speed track, where the car had to be driven at top speed for several laps. Immediately afterward, the GTO was placed in a walled-in enclosure in order to warm up for an additional 45 minutes, with the engine shut off. The same procedure applied for the acceleration tests, stationary tests and track laps at racing speed during the hottest and coldest part of the day. After the European homologation requirements, which were carried out on day 2, the Donkervoort Development Team was especially looking forward to the results of the over two hour long endurance (race simulation) test on the track on day 3. How would the GTO come through it in the high temperatures and could anything still be improved? This endurance test too went exceptionally well. After a making a couple of improvements to the wheel suspension tuning, during 2 hours of virtually non-stop driving ,the times were faster lap after lap. Finally, the fastest lap time clocked was 2 min 29 sec. A time that brought a frown to the face of many a test driver for the colleagues present when this was compared to their own times. In the end, two days earlier than planned, the Donkervoort team bid a content and proud farewell to the Nardò Ring and headed home. With these splendid results and latest improvements, the quality and performances of the new GTO are permanently established." 

Find out more about the lightweight, Audi turbo powered beast here: www.donkervoort.nl 

See more images on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/roadmagblog

VIDEO: Thomas Papapaschos ANGRY 600PS Nissan Silvia Portaria Hill Climb!

Greek Driving Academy instructor, Thomas Papapaschos letting rip in the unbelievably cool and angry, 600PS Nissan Silvia up the Portaria hill climb. This video shows in-car footage from the second leg of practice, and is very cool! Love it! That sound on booooooost is mental oriental!

NEWS: Road Snapper Richard Seymour Wins AOP Award

Many congratulations to Road pal and snapper, Richard Seymour, who has just won the prestigious 'Commissioned Advertising Best in Category' in the top flight AOP Awards 2012, from a massive 3500 entries, with this first rate image above. You can see his work here: www.richardseymour.co.uk
And like him on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/richardseymour.co.uk

And you can see his work in Road here: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_27_small and here: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_5-shows

VIDEO: Colin McRae & Subaru Legacy RS

Tour De Corse 1993. Classic McRae and Ringer action in the car that made him a household name – not the Impreza WRC, but the awesome and oft-over-looked Legacy RS. Flat four turbocharged rally porn at its very best... just brilliant!

VIDEO: Nürburgring Nordschleife Electric Lap Record Lap with Toyota TMG EV

And here's the video... mental fast! Instant electric power is fascinating to watch and weird to hear! Great driving too Jochen.

NEWS: Toyota Break Nürburgring EV Record Again

Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) continued its record-breaking success with the TMG EV P002 – setting a new electric record on the legendary 20.8km Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany, with an electric (sorry!) time of 7:22,329, with driver Jochen Krumbach at the helm. This smashed their own record set by TMG last August by over 25 seconds! This achievement marks the second milestone for TMG’s electric powertrain this year following its new record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, United States. As with the Pikes Peak success, TMG’s latest electric milestone used pioneering off-board battery-to-battery charging technology. The TMG DC Quick Charger was developed in partnership with Schneider Electric GmbH to meet the challenge of recharging an electric race car at tracks without reliable access to grid power. Mounted in the rear of a Toyota Hiace van, the TMG DC Quick Charger uses Schneider Electric’s EV Link technology and includes a 42kWh lithium ion battery, which can be charged direct from the AC power grid. After an overnight charge, the TMG DC Quick Charger is able to quickly deliver high levels of power to a battery-based electric car without additional installation or infrastructure, making it the perfect solution for electric motorsport.
Ludwig Zeller, TMG General Manager Electrics and Electronics: "Since our Nürburgring record last year, we have developed our electric powertrain to deliver more power, more consistently, over a longer distance by managing the temperature of batteries, motors and inverter. Pikes Peak was a clear illustration of the improvements and we have now reinforced that at the Nürburgring. But this achievement is not only about on-track performance; we are also very proud of the DC Quick Charger which again provided a reliable power supply in a remote location. This is an aspect of electric motorsport which has not been discussed at length but it is very significant; electric race cars need to be charged and it is a challenge to have the right infrastructure at race tracks, particularly temporary street circuits. Together with our partners at Schneider Electric, we have developed a solution to charge a race car literally anywhere in the world. This, along with the TMG EV P002 powertrain, represents a major step forward for electric motorsport." Incredible stuff. You are staring at the future her folks...! Like it or not, it's darn impressive stuff...

NEWS: New Falken Winter Tyre

So, the leaves are starting to fall, along with the heavy rain... and soon it will be ice and snow. Time to consider some Winter boots for your motor? If you have never tried these, you really should. The difference in grip in ice, snow and cold, wet conditions is staggering. And here is a brand new Winter tyre from Falken, the Eurowinter HS449 winter tyre, with "an innovative tread pattern and compound delivering improved control and grip." The tyre is available in 57 initial sizes, with a further 32 being added in January 2013. Falken say: "A comprehensive set of ten product improvements has led to the creation of Falken’s new Eurowinter HS449 winter tyre. The HS449 incorporates tread, compound and construction changes to improve wet braking, stability and noise – following a rigorous testing programme in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Cold weather tyre compounds typically contain silica helping the tyre to be more flexible at low temperatures (below 7˚C). For the Eurowinter HS449, Falken’s engineers have increased the proportion of silica to improve braking on wet surfaces by 11 percent (compared to the predecessor model HS439). A higher concentration of polymer in the tread compound enhances stability, delivering an increase of 13 percent over the HS439.
Whilst relevant for all cold weather scenarios, Falken has made strides to ensure braking is particularly improved on snow. In such conditions, the 45 percent increase in tread coverage is designed to improve stopping distances. The novel three-dimensional zig-zag lamellar structure was chosen to boost grip on snow and ice, whilst three dimensional fins optimise even wear of the tyre. Though not a prime consideration for many customers, Falken has lowered tyre noise by incorporating five-phase shifted tread bars. The Eurowinter HS449, the fifth new tyre introduced by Falken to the UK market this year, is available now from a wide range of dealers.