VIDEO: Subaru BRZ Milk Gymkhana

Hilarious! Watch this Spanish TV advert by Subaru and I defy you not to want to own a Subaru BRZ! Genius! Our kind of morning milk run! And enjoy our test of the Subaru BRZ, by Travis drummer and Road race ace, Neil Primrose here.

NEWS: New Garmin nüvi 3500 Series Test

We're just about to do a long term test of the brand new, as yet unreleased Garmin flagship model – the nüvi® 3500 series of personal navigation devices (PNDs), pictured above. You can see more images of the new nav on our Facebook page and we will be taking it on a 1,000 mile road trip to the French Alps soon too, which should see what it's capable of. That report will be in a forthcoming issue of Road Magazine.

The range-topping £280-£310 model is the company’s first GPS navigators combining the ultra-thin design with a large, 5-inch capacitive glass display. The new model features the Guidance 3 navigation engine, 3D Traffic and is made Live Ready through compatibility with Garmin’s newest Android™ application, Smartphone Link.
"The nüvi 3500 series is the most full-featured, top tier navigators," said Clive Taylor, Director Automotive Product Marketing "This series offers it all, from the thin and stylish form factor and large display to the most premium capabilities like 3D Traffic and access to Live Services via Garmin’s Smartphone Link app. What’s more, all of these features are included with the purchase of the device, so customers with Android phones and a corresponding data plan don’t have to worry about any additional costs, fees or subscriptions."
Powered by Guidance 3: As the flagship nüvi series in the Premium range, these PNDs feature the Guidance 3 navigation engine, which provides a faster, more intuitive user interface to enhance the speed and accuracy of searches and routing. Lane assist with photoRealTM junction view realistically displays road signs and junctions along the route with photographic detail to clearly mark the correct lane to be in for junctions and exits, including 65,000 junction views in Europe (four times more than in previous nüvi models.)

Guidance 3 also includes myTrends™, the ability for the nüvi to automatically remember frequent favourite route destinations and predict the destination without the user needing to activate a route. And there's 3D Traffic for Life: To keep drivers moving instead of sitting in traffic wasting time and fuel, the nuvi 3590LMT offers subscription-free 3D Traffic for the lifetime of their product. Garmin sat nav’s with 3D Traffic technology computes with 80 million detailed traffic sources to confidently plan the best route around future traffic on the journey ahead.

In addition, there's Live Ready with Smartphone Link for the nüvi 3590LMT, an Android app that provides live services to the sat nav, letting nüvi users add live services such as 3D Live Traffic – providing real-time information to help users navigate in and around congestion, traffic camera images, safety camera updates including mobile speed traps crowd sourced by the Speedwatch community of users, weather, parking and fuel prices to their sat nav, utilizing the smartphone's mobile data plan.

The nüvi 3500 series includes the 3540LT with free lifetime traffic updates (Western Europe £279.99) and the Bluetooth® enabled nüvi 3590LMT with free lifetime map updates for the whole of Europe, voice-activated navigation, free lifetime traffic updates, and Smartphone Link support (£309.99).

The new nüvi 3500 series goes on sale to the public in March 2012. For more information about individual models, features and pricing, visit http://www.garmin.com/move and find out more on Twitter at http://twitter.com/garmin. And of course stay tuned to the blog for more testing and reviews.

NEWS: RMA Track Day Diary 2013

Having been involved in the Oulton Park filming of 'Racing Legends - Colin McRae' with Sir Chris Hoy, good pals and Road track day operating buddies, RMA Track Days, are back to their bread and butter now – running first class track days in the UK and Europe. If you want to know what one looks like, check out our Tim Schrick special at Donington Park. They are incredible – open pit lane, overtaking either side, great camaraderie and the best cars imaginable on track. Do one this year! You will not regret spending the extra cash, if only for the amount of track time and space you get, let alone the machinery (and media!) you get to mix with. Expect to see Team Road at some of these events, as usual, in a cracking press car or pasting folk in our old, but not to be underestimated Project S4! The RMA Track Days 2013 dates so far include: 

• Guadix, Spain: 10th & 11th February 2013: Very limited amount of space remaining on this event which is principally designed for those looking for some pre-season testing in decent weather. Book your place now!
• Donington Park - £240: 'Noisy' day: 118 dB(A), 7th March 2013. Make full use of this amazing track in cars that struggle to pass usual 110 dB(A) or lower sound regs. Always an amazing line up on track at this event. 
• Brands Indy - £199: 105 dB(A), 27th March 2013. Just before the first British Touring Car Championship meeting, so expect this event to sell out well beforehand & the track to be full of BTCC stars. Book your place now!
• Silverstone GP - £399: 105 dB(A), 17th April 2013. Home of British Motorsport... need we say more? 
• Spa-Francorchamps, 13th, 14th & 15th May (13th is for cars on road tyres only, 14th is for road and track shod cars and the 15th is for track prepared and seriously quick cars only). Great format on one of the best circuits in the world. 
• Other dates include: Dijon 16th July, Brands Hatch GP 25th July, Le Mans 18th August & Spa 23rd & 24th Sept.

NEWS: Sébastien Loeb To Race McLaren 12C GT3 in 2013 FIA GT Series

So, this is what the incredible nine-time World Rally Champion, Sébastien Loeb is up to instead of demolishing WRC rivals this season. Yup, as rumoured, the most successful rally driver of all time is now turning his hand to contesting the FIA GT Series this season – having come third in the French GT Championships in 2012. He will be driving one of two examples of the monstrously beautiful MP4 12C GT3 being run by his team, Sébastien Loeb Racing. Loeb will be joined in the cockpit by McLaren GT factory driver Alvaro Parente from Portugal for the six-date season. Find out more about the new series – which features six events, each with two races of one hour – here.

Is the world of GT racing ready? We very much doubt it... good luck Seb! 

VIDEO: Colin McRae's Garage

Following last night's amazing BBC2 'Racing Legends' program by Sir Chris Hoy – which did such a fabulous job of documenting his incredible life and some of the cars he drove, we take a look back around Colin's amazing garage, back in 2006, with Jon Desborough. Poignant reminders again, but so nice to hear the great man chatting with Jon about some of the cars that he enjoyed keeping, and competing in. We miss you Colin!

NEWS: Castle Combe 2013 Car Track Day Dates & News

Our good friends at Castle Combe Circuit have announced their track day dates for cars for 2013 – with 11 great dates to pick from, at fabulous value for money. Better still, if you book any of the first three car track day dates before 28th February 2013 at full price – £170, and CCC will give you a voucher to book any remaining day during 2013 for just £100 (saving £70), on any date of your choosing. Nice!
Track day novice? Fear not! CCC will offer a few FREE sighting laps to get you settled in and on the right lines. To book you dates, go to www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk or call Emma in the Circuit Office on 01249 782417. Full dates are:

Friday 19th April/ Friday 19th July/ Friday 3rd May/ Friday 2nd August/ Friday 31st May/ Friday 30th August/ Wednesday 12th June/ Friday 6th September/ Friday 28th June/ Friday 4th October

And, have you ever wondered how to transfer from a Track Day Driver to a Race Driver? Well, CCC can help. They are running a FREE seminar at their Driver Open Day on Sunday 3rd February 2013 (in the Strawford Centre situated within the Paddock) – aimed at track day drivers considering racing.
Contact the office for details.

The 2013 racing, Action Day and show season looks busy for CCC too, opening on Easter Monday, 1st April 2013, and including events like Japfest, Rallyday, RS Combe and new this year over the weekend of 27th/28th July is the French Car Show. The first Action Day is the Spring Performance Day on 27th April 2013, with track time available at just £35 (booked in advance). Check out the website at www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk for full details of all race meets, shows and Action Days.

VIDEO: VW Motorsport Monte Carlo Rally Story

VW Motorsport tell the story of their incredible, historic podium place in their first ever WRC event – a very slippery, extremely tough Monte Carlo Rallye. Quite something, and set to bring new life to this year's championship. We reckon having Carlos Sainz on-board was a lot to do with the car being so good out of the blocks, not to detract from Mr Ogier's drive, or the rest of the team of course! But he is a God...

VIDEO: Timo Kluck "Fast as Hell" – 911 GT3 RS 4.0 @ Nordschleife

Timo Kluck gets stuck into some serious testing for a Dunlop Sport Maxx race in his Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0. I think "on it" describes it quite well, don't you?  

VIDEO: McLaren P1™ "The Best Driver's Car In The World"

Check out this beautiful short film about the next incredible McLaren to be unveiled soon – the McLaren P1™– shot here undergoing testing, in 'XP development car' spec, carrying race track-inspired camouflage, as you can see with pictures on our Facebook page. Incredible looking thing eh?
McLaren say: "The McLaren P1™ was unveiled to the world as a design study at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012, and was met with the glare of a thousand camera flashes. Since then, development of the technology beneath the carbon fibre skin has continued at great pace. The team at McLaren Automotive has continued the relentless testing programme for the car. The goal being: to produce the best driver’s car in the world on road and track."
McLaren are pouring all their MP4-12C experience and five decades of F1 and motorsport know-how into the car and are promising "to raise the supercar performance bar."
They say: "Using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) aerodynamic modelling and bespoke Formula 1™-derived dynamics simulation tools, outstanding performance against aggressive targets was established even before the first prototype builds.  Detailed analysis has continued hand in hand with physical testing to accelerate the further development of the McLaren P1™. A dedicated team of McLaren engineers, technicians and racing drivers are running a fleet of XP-codenamed vehicles, around the clock in some of the most demanding conditions, and on roads and circuits across the globe. The rigorous testing procedures for the McLaren P1™ have seen the development team working closely with McLaren Automotive technology partners on bespoke components and developments, including Akebono on a highly-efficient braking system, Pirelli on high performance tyres and Mobil 1 on leading cooling, lubrication and hydraulic fluids. As all these activities converge on the final specification, a remarkable vehicle is emerging.  The McLaren P1™ is set to deliver truly outstanding road and track dynamics and performance, coupled with levels of driveability and refinement unprecedented in such a supercar. The obsession to detail which McLaren is known for carries through with the work being done by the McLaren P1™ development team. This fascination that everything should be designed for a reason has filtered down even to the striking camouflage being worn on the development cars. Designed in-house by the team behind the shape of the car, the graphic incorporates the outlines of famous circuits from across the world, each of which is significant in the history of the brand."
The race is now on for the McLaren P1™ ahead of the next public appearance… and tickets for that are going to fought over, for sure. Incredible stuff!

NEWS: Alfa's D.N.A Aiding Winter Driving & Your Wallet

A car we've just had on test set to appear in Road Magazine soon – Alfa Romeo's Giulietta – may be front-wheel-drive, but it's got a traction trick up its sleeve in their clever D.N.A system. The new, intelligent D.N.A Vehicle Dynamic Control system (as fitted on both Alfa MiTo and Giulietta ranges), enables drivers to select from ‘D’ (Dynamic), ‘N’ (Natural) and ‘A’ (All-Weather) driving modes at the simple flick of a switch. And in All-Weather mode, the ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) system continuously monitors tyre grip, the car’s yaw and the steering angle – decreasing the throttle opening and applying brakes to individual wheels to maintain stability, whilst also boosting the VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system and DST (Dynamic Steering Torque) feature (providing steering torque movements to prompt natural correction of oversteer). And it works a treat it has to be said, not to mention being easy to operate, at the flick of a switch: 

Damien Dally, Head of Brand, Alfa Romeo UK said: "Innovations such as the Alfa D.N.A. system help make Alfa Giulietta one of the safest models in its class with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating including an 86% score in the Safety Assist category. We think it’s a great choice all year round, but it’s also the smart choice in these tough Winter months when drivers rely more on their vehicle’s technology to keep them safe and in control."

Best of all, customers who brave the conditions in the last few days of January to take out an ‘All-Weather’ test-drive can currently benefit from 5 Years Warranty, £2,000 Alfa Romeo deposit contribution and 5.5% APR across the Giulietta range. And, as an extra incentive customers can benefit from an additional £500 on any new Alfa Giulietta registered before 31 January 2013. For full terms and conditions or for more information on Alfa Romeo visit http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk

VIDEO: GAZOO Racing Toyota GT86 Is Go!

Sadly, I can not understand a word they are saying in this film, but that does not detract from the fact I am so looking forward to watching it race this year, especially at the Green Hell. You?
Read our rammed Toyota GT86 special here.

VIDEO: Think You're Quick On Snow?

What with all this Wintery weather here in the UK, maybe you think you're a quick driver on snow & ice? Think again... as Pontus Tidemand's Vintertest Ford Fiesta RS WRC explains rather nicely in this ace bit of on-board footage, with a great view of the lines and great sound. Go on son! Neat!

NEWS: Reach 200,000+ Petrol Heads With Road Magazine Ads

Got an automotive brand that needs great exposure in a top-quality, 100% FREE, well established, leading digital car magazine? Look how many folk the last four issues of Road Magazine have reached – on average, over 200,000 views each monthly magazine. And with full page, hyperlinked adverts (which stay online indefinitely getting hits) from as little as £130 per monthly magazine (for a full 2013 campaign), what's stopping you? Why pay more, for a lot less? We even give you advertorial and editorial opportunities in the magazine and here on the blog and social media, adding further value. Contact us today by emailing proyle@roadmagazine.co.uk to take up this great offer. Get your brand the advertising & editorial coverage it deserves, for a lot less than you pay elsewhere...
See our 30+ back issues here.

VIDEOS: Monte Carlo Rally 2013 Videos

Watch all the videos of the amazing 2013 WRC curtain raiser – Monte Carlo – including the amazing, auspicious VW Polo R WRC debut on our Facebook page. An hour very well spent this lunchtime I think you will agree...?

TEST: Saxon Brand Sonax Car Valeting Gear

With all this wonderful Wintery weather comes a ton of gritting salt – corrosive in the extreme to your prized motor. So, with this in mind, we decided to get hold of a multitude of quality, brand new Sonax valeting gear from Saxon to give our press cars on test and Road Magazine project cars a post-Winter treat, to keep them sweet. Saxon's Sonax brand has been used by the McLaren F1 team and the Red Bull Racing team – and if they’re good enough for Mark, Sebastian, Jenson and Lewis, then they’re certainly good enough for us and our old faithful project cars! 

Saxon say: "We are on hand to help show your car some love, offering everything from car cleaning products, chamois, sponges and touch up paints to car tidies, in-car entertainment and the famous Little Trees® air fresheners, ensuring your car looks as good as new, and stays that way – especially after a harsh Winter. And with a new valeting range from its Sakura brand for 2012 the job has never been easier, so roll up your sleeves and rid your car of signs of winter wear with Saxon."
The Sonax collection, which has been specifically designed for the UK, includes a Deep Gloss Shampoo, Polishing Wax, Paint Renovator, Wheel Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, Interior Cleaner, Cockpit Shine, Cockpit Cleaner and Tyre Care. Prices start from £3.99 for a 500ml bottle of shampoo, which can last up to 20 washes.
Saxon’s brands are available from independent retailers, supermarkets and retail chains nationwide, to find your nearest stockist simply call Saxon on 01488 689 400 or email info@saxon-brands.com with your postcode and they will tell you where to go to get hold of the good stuff.

We will wait until the snow clears here before getting to our post-Winter valet, and let you know how we get on soon, using the expert help of our pal, Stuart Staples, a pro-valeter who runs Auto Genie Car Care. His opinion will count. More updates here soon. Meantime, thanks to Porcha at Whitefoot PR and of course Saxon.

NEWS: Amazing Car Auction @ Race Retro Event, Feb 22-24

Race Retro at Stoneleigh Park is closing in, taking place February 22-24th this year. As usual, the event will be packed with great old school cool cars, drivers, displays and activities with themes this year including covering Team Lotus, the Renault Alpine and Group B Rally beasts. Nice. One of the biggest attractions also has to be the amazing Silverstone Auctions sale, which (as ever) is loaded with amazing old skool cool machinery. 

One that stood out for us – (a) because we've always wanted to own one having been on a few, hairy, memorable stages in a similar one,  (b) have seen it rally back in the late 1980s and (c) because it's a bargain – is this 1985 Ford Sierra Cosworth Group B rally car, still wrapped in its 1988 Ulster Rally livery, as driven by Gwyndaf Evans there and in the Lombard RAC of that year and 1987. Bertie Fisher also drive the car on the 1987 Manx International Rally. Legends. 

Originally a press car, the Ford special vehicle competition team at Boreham turned the "Cossie" into a full works Group N vehicle and its recently been revamped by BGMsport, to meet current historic MSA and FIA regs. And, with 291bhp on tap from the Cosworth turbo engine and rear-wheel drive, C234 HVM, is one hell of a lot of fun waiting to happen. It's also a steal if it hits its estimate of just £27,000-£30,000. Sorely tempted! Are you?

See more images on our Facebook page. 

VIDEO: WRC Monte Carlo 2013 Round-up

What a Monte Carlo Rallye – four days, 16 ace special stages and 425.93Km of drama in classic, tricky Winter alpine conditions! And what an incredible start to the 2013 season – mainly thanks to the injection of excitement the arrival of VW Motorsport and Sebastian Ogier/Jari-Matti Latvala gave in the new VW Polo R WRC. It not only looked amazing, but did the business – setting out its stall with an incredible (Ogier) win on SS1 (in VW's first ever WRC event!), and staking claim to an amazing second place, with Ogier driving the doors off the new car, to come in behind the amazing Sebastian Loeb, taking his unreal 77th WRC victory and 7th Monte Carlo Rallye win, by 1m39s in his Citroen Total Abu Dhabi DS3. And Dani Sordo in his Citroen DS3 WRC was third. Incredible! Roll on the rest of 2013 and the WRC. 

After a great Sebastian fight for first on day one and two, the final day was loaded with drama too, ending up with two stage cancellations – after three of the top seven – Evgeny Novikov, Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hanninen – crashed out in very slippery, icy conditions on the legendary Col de Turini. And you can see Jari-Matti Latvala's spectacular shunt in the video above. Ouch!
The cool, calm, collected and uber-talented Loeb said to WRC: "I’m always happy when I win, and Monte-Carlo is one of the most exciting rallies I’ve done. This one was really, really difficult. The conditions were extreme compared to what we have usually and winning wasn’t easy."
And the amazing Sebastian Ogier said to WRC: "I’m so happy, it’s like a victory for me. I’m a competitor and I’ve never been happy to finish second but this weekend it was really the target, and to start the season like this is amazing. I’ve been waiting for one year, I’ve done so many tests and it was frustrating sometimes, and now here we are with the Polo on the pace already."
Bring on Rally Sweden, the only true snow event of the WRC year, February 7-10th. We only wish Loeb was up for the whole year, not just four events – giving him the chance of 10 WRC crowns. But, I guess he's already proved he is the best rally driver of all time... awesome. 

NEWS: Peugeot 208 GTi Launch & Hunt For Nürburgring 24Hr Racers

To celebrate the launch of the new Peugeot 208 GTi (see pictures on Facebook), Peugeot is on the hunt to recruit eight lucky drivers for the epic Nürburgring 24 Hour Race in May 2013. How mega is that?! 

Eight European countries (UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland) are inviting race licenced drivers to register on the internet, between 16th January and 3rd February 2013 via www.208GTiracingexperience.peugeot.com. 

Peugeot say: "This competition is aimed at drivers, from 18 years of age, who hold a valid full driving licence and have held a national (Grade A) or International Race Driver Competition Licence for at least two years. To participate in the national pre-selections, which will take place between 18th and 28th February 2013, candidates must be among the first 400 to register (for each country concerned) on the website: www.208GTiracingexperience.peugeot.com (see full terms and conditions for entry requirements). The five winning candidates, from each national pre-selection event, will then be assessed on 4th March 2013 during an international final at the La Ferté Gaucher circuit, in France. So, from the 40 national winners, eight (one from each of the eight participating countries) will be selected to drive the 208 GTi in the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race." 

To make it even more amazing, the eight lucky winners will gain familiarisation with the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit during the first three races of the VLN championship, between 23rd March and 27th April 2013, getting them ready for the epic Nürburgring 24 Hour Race 2013 in May in the new 208 GTi Peugeot Sport (pictured). This car has been specially developed for this endurance event by Peugeot Sport, using the latest technology designed for the 208 R2, 208 Type R5 and RCZ Racing Cup. 

This 208 GTi Racing Experience celebrates the launch of the eagerly awaited 208 GTi, which goes on sale in the UK in mid-April. Through this exciting competition, Peugeot Sport will deliver, for one lucky UK winner, an experience of a lifetime in the new 208 GTi. Get involved and follow the stopry on Twitter with the hashtag #208GTIRacing. 

NEWS: Conrad Grunewald Drift Camaro Update II

We've had another ace Hankook/Top 1 Oil Chevrolet Camaro drift car project report from our main man Stateside, Conrad Grunewald via our USA correspondent Ashley Van Dyke. It looks like things are making really solid progress, as Conrad says: "Hey Roadies! It's Conrad here and I am back in the great state of North Carolina to check in on the boys at B.R.E as we continue to develop the new car for 2013. We are excited that you are following along on the development and we hope that you are as excited about the season to start as we are!" You betcha (Ed)!
Since the last update, the crew at B.R.E. have been making solid progress on the build plan for Conrad Grunewald's Hankook/Top 1 Oil Chevrolet Camaro, as top-notch parts from our 2013 partners roll in. The bulk of the work at the current stage is mocking up the parts for fitment. The roll cage has been completed, and the transmission tunnel is ready for the new dogbox, built to match the new Chevrolet Performance engine. The chromoly front and rear crash structures will be completed once all of the body panels have arrived. The O.M.P seat has been installed. The pedal setup from Wilwood has been mounted and installed. The steering column and steering wheel location have been determined. The Speedwire electronic system has been mocked up, and is ready for the ECU from Chevrolet Performance. Again, B.R.E. continues to pay attention to all of the small details that will take this Camaro to the next level.
"It’s been great working on Conrad's Chevrolet Camaro," said Terry “TJ” Johnson Jr, B.R.E Lead Fabricator. "I feel like we’re going back to the old school days of modifying a production car that people are actually buying at the dealership. This is not a kit car that comes with instructions. It’s really giving me an opportunity to apply my creativity and fabrication skills in a new way. I can’t wait to see our hard work pay off when Conrad gets behind the wheel at Long Beach!"
Best of luck with the rest of the build – which you will be able to keep up with every step of the way with here and on our Facebook and Twitter page.

NEWS: Goodwood Breakfast Club Dates 2013

Goodwood has confirmed its 2013 dates for their fabulous Breakfast Club – now in its eighth season. The brilliant events bring together petrolheads from across the south and beyond to the stunning Goodwood estate and circuit on the first Sunday of the month (starting in March and excluding July and September when the epic Festival of Speed & revival meets are on). Folk stop for a hearty (organic, naturally) breakfast and gentle admiration of all things automotive, with a usually stunning collection of cars, and bikes always on display. And best of all, they are still 100% FREE for visitors to enter.
Goodwood say: "Our Breakfast Club is firmly established as a ‘must attend’ event for thousands of car and motorcycle connoisseurs who appreciate an enjoyable Sunday morning drive through the quiet West Sussex country roads down to Goodwood, where they are able to meet like-minded enthusiasts, admire some fabulous machinery, and eat a tasty Goodwood organic breakfast, before heading back home in time for the Sunday roast, to do a bit of gardening and DIY, or simply put their feet up and watch the Grand Prix!" It's the perfect Sunday morning drive event – done with the usual Goodwood class, slick organisation and style.  
The dedicated and detailed Goodwood Breakfast Club website has regular updates on each monthly theme, and visitors are encouraged to pre-register online at (www.goodwood.com/breakfastclub) to help ensure a prime parking position with a theme-relevant vehicle. A full list of the 2013 Goodwood Breakfast Club dates and theme will follow soon, and expect to hear about it here on the blog and on Facebook. Happy Sunday driving all!

NEWS: Next Generation Honda NSX Concept

More stunning pictures of Honda's replacement of a true motoring legend – the Honda NSX – have been revealed today, with the development of the NSX Concept, seen out in America at the North American International Auto Show. And it look marvellous! Inside and out... 

Honda says: "The new NSX Concept showcases the evolution of the next-generation supercar’s styling and design, including a first look at the possible direction for its interior design, as unveiled at the 2013 North American International Auto Show. The design stays remarkably true to the original concept styling, maintaining its low and wide stance with the dynamic and alluring proportions that are highlighted by clean, modern and simple surfacing, and edgy details that communicate supercar attitude and a high-tech feel."
The new, clean, slick press images are particularly focused on the typically Honda futuristic interior – boasting "outstanding visibility, a strong driving position, and an intuitive “Simple Sports Interface” that minimises interior clutter, allowing the driver to focus on the driving experience. Consistent with the spirit of the original NSX, Honda’s designers have strived to deliver synergy between man and machine."
Honda's new NSX will aim to deliver "a new sports car experience that combines supercar dynamic capabilities with advanced environmental performance." And the car will be powered by a mid-mounted, direct-injected V6 engine mated to Honda’s Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system, which sounds fabulous.
As previously announced, the new NSX is being developed by a global R&D team led by designers and engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. located in Los Angeles, California, and Raymond, Ohio. And the new car will also be manufactured at a new production facility in central Ohio. 

European car fans will be able to see the NSX concept on the Honda stand at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March.

See more images on our Facebook page here.

VIDEO: Tommi Mäkinen Testing Subaru R4 Racing 2013

Ex-WRC God and four times champion, Tommi Mäkinen may have 'retired,' but we are chuffed to see he is still busy in rallying... these days testing, building and preparing Group N and R4 rally cars via his website. Just imagine how well they go with his expertise!  And if you wanted proof, or just to see a classic "Mak attack" in action again, here is the legend out testing in the Kees Burger TMR Subaru R4 Racing 2013 model, in the Finnish snow. Still got it Tommi! Love it!

VIDEO: Volkswagen Polo R WRC All Set For Rallye Monte Carlo WRC Debut

Finally, after years of development, months, 20,000 miles and 100 days of testing by the VW Motorsport team and dream team drivers, Jari-Matti Latvala and Sébastien Ogier (with seven WRC wins in total), the wait is almost over – the epic, historic Rallye Monte Carlo starts at 9am on Wednesday 16th January on the 45.27Km's of SS01, Le Moulinon. And we can not wait.  

Here's some footage of the car being tested in classic damp, cold, icy, snowy Monte conditions late last year, and it's looking good we reckon. Very good. Sure, both car and team have a lot to do and learn to catch up/keep up with the likes of Citroen and Ford, but we reckon the Dakar-victorious VW Motorsport team are set to make waves with their brand new Polo R WRC. Watch this space!
This epic rally will mark Volkswagen’s first ever season in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) – in a brand new car with some 1,700 parts designed completely from scratch and 17 months of preparations, making its competitive debut. VW say: "The appearance of the Polo R WRC in the FIA World Rally Championship heralds a new era in motorsport for Volkswagen – and where better to make your debut than the legendary Rally Monte Carlo?"
"I cannot wait to finally getting going. The entire team at Volkswagen is looking forward to the WRC debut of the Polo WRC," says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. "World Championship rallies in the top WRC class are new territory for the team. Furthermore, the Polo R WRC has been developed from scratch, features a lot of innovativeideas, and will be making its competitive debut. The ‘Monte’ will give us our first indication of how we compare with the opposition – our rivals already have two years’ experience of the regulations that came into force in 2011, and have been driving in the WRC for many years. Our goal for the Rally Monte Carlo is to gain as much experience as possible and to finish with both cars."
Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7 driver said: "I can hardly wait for the season to get started. I may already have five years as a works driver in the World Rally Championship under my belt, but both the Volkswagen Motorsport team and the Polo R WRC are new to me. As such, I will be making my debut in two regards. The tests up to now have shown that the Polo R WRC is very reliable. This is probably the most important finding so far – and a good basis for future technical developments over the course of the season. I have already developed a good feeling for the car on asphalt and snow, which is a good sign ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo. It is greatfun driving the Polo R WRC. It is very stable and the driveability of the engine is also very good. I would like to get the season off to a good start at the ‘Monte’. The result is not the top priority yet, although I would obviously love to pick up some World Championship points."
Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8 driver, adds: "The ‘Monte’ is a very special rally. After all, it is my home rally. However, the season- opener near my home will be an extraordinary experience for the entire team, as it is the first rally with the new Polo R WRC. We have been working towards this moment with Volkswagen for over a year. We can hardly wait to finally get started. However, it is difficult to judge how we will compare to the opposition, as we have not yet raced against the other teams under competitive conditions. Making your debut in a world championship with a completely new car is a big challenge, particularly as the other manufacturers have several years more experience than we do. For this reason we must be patient and concentrate at first on reaching the finish without any problems. Experience shows that this is anything but simple at the Rally Monte Carlo, as anything can happen at this event."
Can VW Motorsport – responsible for wins on the epic Rally Dakar in 2009, 2010 and 2011 with the Race Touareg – make the Polo R WRC a winner from Wolfsburg?

Only time will tell. But we are really chuffed to see VW back in rallying and committed to WRC for the forseeable. It's great for the sport and sure to be good for the brand. We are hoping for a load of hot WRC-style road car spin-off specials to light up their range.
The Volkswagen Polo R WRC will compete in nine WRC rounds: Monte Carlo/France, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Finland, Greece, France and Mexico. So, best of luck to all the VW Motorsport team in the Monte. Hear how they get on here and on their Facebook page.

Three questions for ... Jost Capito
1. If you could have chosen a rally for the Polo R WRC to make its debut at – would you have taken the Rally Monte Carlo?
"The Rally Monte Carlo is not only the most iconic rally on the World Championship calendar, but also the most difficult and complex. The surface alternates regularly between ice, snow, rain and dry asphalt, which can make the strategy difficult and tyre selection something of a lottery. We are obviously delighted that the Polo R WRC will make its debut at this highlight."

2. In Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala you have signed two very quick drivers. Who do you feel is the stronger?
"They are both equally strong. As a Scandinavian, Latvala grew up on gravel – however, he has made huge progress on asphalt in recent years. The same applies to Ogier, who also has what it takes to win on any surface. Both have seven WRC wins to their name. In the end it will come down to who performs best on the day to determine who is the quickest."

What goals does Volkswagen have for the 2013 season?
"We are aware that we will be up against strong opposition with decades of World Rally Championship experience. The Polo R WRC, on the other hand, is making its debut this year and the team also has a new look to it. As such, we have to set realistic goals. We want to make it onto the podium under our own steam in the second half of the year."

NEWS: Dubai 24 Nissan PlayStation® GT Academy Success

The Dubai 24 ended in success for the European and Russian GT Nissan PlayStation® Academy winners – with two of the four latest PlayStation®3 gaming experts taking the chequered flag in an exceptional second place in class, whilst the second Nissan 370Z Nismo GT4 car crossed the line in ninth position after some dramas in the night.
The No.127 Nissan 370Z Nismo, raced by Wolfgang Reip and Mark Shulzhitskiy, with their pro team-mates Lucas Ordonez and Roman Rusinov, finished the race in second position. Lucas gave them the best possible start by qualifying the car on pole position in the SP3 class and then getting the race underway before handing over to Roman. Next it was the turn of Wolfie, who beat 830,000 Gran Turismo®5 gamers to the 2012 GT Academy Europe title, to take the wheel for his first stint in an international race and true to form with endurance racing the Belgian had a baptism of fire!
"It was a great feeling to get out there on a very busy track with the best drivers and cars we have ever raced against," he said.  "I had a good, clean run and took the class lead just before the end of my stint. Unfortunately on my in lap another car lost a wheel and the first I knew about it was when I hit it at full speed. I realised exactly what had happened and hoped the damage to the front of the Nissan wasn’t too bad. I then got to witness the RJN boys at work and they repaired my car in less than an hour."
This incident put the No.127 car right back to ninth place in class and meant that for Mark’s first stint he was under pressure to make sure all was well with the car by venturing out at a slower pace and building up to full racing speed. Like Wolfie he did a great job and started the fight back that would continue through the night. By first light they were up to third place and after steadily chipping away at the leaders throughout Saturday morning it was Russian driver Mark who crossed the line in a well-deserved second place.
Across the garage in the No.147 car it was a tougher race. German winner Peter Pyzera and his mentor and Road Magazine friend, Sabine Schmitz, teamed up with US winner Steve Doherty and Nissan regular Alex Buncombe. They had a great getaway when Alex took the class lead but at the start of the night Sabine had an off when running on cold tyres straight after a ‘Code 60’ period (note: there are no safety cars at the Dubai 24 Hours, just a Code 60 where cars must slow to 60kmh). At first the rear end damage to the car looked terminal but just over one and a half hours later the RJN team got the car back on track, this time in the hands of Peter.
"This has been a really great experience and I hope it is just the first step in a long racing career for me," said Peter. "We lost a lot of time last night but we kept our focus and pushed on all the way to the flag. It was actually good for me that we lost time as I was very nervous before the race but when we lost time it made me want to get in there and fight to get it back. All we had to do today is remember everything we have been taught. It was a great experience and I want to do it again now."
Despite the setbacks the No.147 Nissan crossed the line in ninth place after 24 hours of racing with American winner Steve Doherty at the wheel.
"This has been another great event where a big group of people, both behind the scenes and in front, have pulled together to turn dreams into reality," commented Nissan’s Director of Global Motorsport, Darren Cox. "It was great to hear that Radio Le Mans listeners voted to give the ‘Spirit of Le Mans’ award to the RJN boys. They deserve that. As well as the race team we have driver coaches, media trainers, film crews and agencies who all work hard to make this happen. The level that the four new drivers have achieved in just five months is testament to all that work and the reality is that ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’!"

Like the GT Academy lot on Facebook  here. And see some more images of the race on our Facebook page. 

NEWS: Cognoscenti Historic Car Club Launch. What-what!

Meet Cognoscenti – a brand new, very exclsuive car club, for those with a passion for historically important and significant motor cars, driving great roads, living the luxury lifestyle and Scotland! The organisation is set to officially launch this year, but ran its first event late in 2012, with a wonderful drive featuring some 30 incredible classics driving some of the best roads in stunning Scottish surroundings. The first drive also took in a private lunch at the stunning, brilliantly eccentric Candacraig House in the heart of Royal Deeside (Billy Connelly and Pamela Stevenson’s Highland retreat). The event organisers were coy about the value of vehicles taking part on this exclusive excursion but we are estimating somewhere in the region of £15 million!

The club says: "Although designed for those with their own classic car, people can join in by being chauffeured in a 1924 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. This is ultra exclusive and high end club – staying at the best of places not normally available to the public. The trips involve some stunning scenery with the very finest of food and drink. And it's all less than 90 mins away from the City or Gatwick Airports."

The chaps behind The Cognoscenti are David Goodwin and Raymond A Gray. If David has one passion in life, it is classic motor cars and he will drove the launch event in a stunning 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. He said: "I know that there are many people in Scotland and the UK who share my passion for wonderful automobiles. The problem has been getting like-minded people together to share their memories and experiences of their pride and joy. As I regard Scotland has having some of the finest driving roads and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, I decided to set up The Cognoscenti to allow fellow enthusiasts the chance to actually drive some of these wonderful cars and enjoy the very best that Scotland has to offer." 

The Cognoscenti already has plans for more one-day events such as dinners, whisky tastings and distillery visits but also extensive three and five night tours next year with several routes planned around Scotland staying in some of Scotland’s most iconic properties such as Gleneagles Hotel, Aldourie Castle, Fasque House and Drummuir Castle. Ultimately, it is hoped that historic car enthusiasts from all over the world will travel to Scotland to take part. 

Cognoscenti consultant Helen McKenzie-Smith said: "Although we haven’t yet officially launched The Cognoscenti, word has already began to spread and we have received a number of enquiries from as far away as America and the Far East."
The first drive was filmed by Aberdeen based B4 Films for North American TV channel PBS as part of their TV series ‘Great Estates’ about Scottish Country Estates, to be broadcast coast to coast prime time. later this year
Mike Cantlay, Chairman, Visit Scotland is extremely supportive of The Cognoscenti and their vision of showing the best of Scotland in this unique way. He said: "Scotland is in the fortunate position to be home to a plethora of great driving roads made all the better by some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery. This event and those that are planned for the future will showcase Scotland’s at its very best and act a great endorsement of Scottish tourism."
For more information, please do email david@the-cognoscenti.com or helen@the-cognoscenti.com

Cars included in the first rally included:
Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, AC Le Mans Coupe 1964 ‘A98’, Ferrari 250 GT Ellena, Ferrari 246 GT Dino, Maserati Mistral Spyder, Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe, Aston Martin DB6 Volante, Jaguar E-Type S1 Coupe FHC, AC Ace Bristol, AC Cobra 427, Aston Martin DB4 Series V, E-Type Lightweight, Austin Healey 3000 Mk 1 Rally Rep, Jaguar E-Type SIII V12 2+2 Coupe, Rolls Royce Silver Ghost (Ex Maharaja), Bentley 3 / 4 ½, Bentley Continental S1 DHC, Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental, Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III, Rolls-Royce 4 door Barker cabriolet, Austin Healey 100M
Jaguar E-Type SIII Roadster Commemorative. 

See some more images of the first drive event on our Facebook page here.
And visit www.the-cognoscenti.com for more information.

NEWS: Stunning New Lexus IS Revealed

Lexus are on a mission. Having just re-vamped the luxury limo range, and showcased the LF-CC and LF-CC concepts last last year, now here's the first official images of the new-generation Lexus IS, released ahead of the car’s world debut at the Detroit motor show, when it will be unveiled January 15th. The new IS features: 

• Powerful and elegant exterior references Lexus’s LF-CC concept car
• Clean cabin design with sportier driving position
• Increased wheelbase and width make for more cabin space and greater luggage capacity
• IS F Sport models display individual exterior styling and adopt more supportive seats

Lexus say: "The pictures reveal powerful and elegant exterior styling and a cabin that is more spacious and driver-focused. Even at first glance it is clear to see how faithful Lexus has remained to the acclaimed LF-CC concept car that trailed its design thinking at last year’s Paris motor show."
The exterior design features an LF-CC concept-inspired spindle front grille arrangement, rapidly becoming a hallmark of all new Lexus models, the bulk of the cabin concentrated towards the rear, with a rising line flowing from the lower body into the rear lamp clusters and a new "powerfully articulated" headlamp cluster design, with Lexus’s signature L-shaped daytime running lights presented independently below.
And on the inside, is gorgeous, clean lines and "an ergonomically ideal environment created for the driver." It is a work of art we reckon – featuring little touches like a new LFA-style steering wheel design and position, giving a sportier feel. And the centre console controls feature a Lexus first: electrostatic switches that need just a finger touch to adjust the air conditioning temperature. The new IS’s increased width and longer wheelbase also allow for significantly more comfort for rear seat passengers and greater luggage capacity, too.
Additionally, the new IS F Sport models can be instantly recognised thanks to their special grille and front bumper design. The “waistline” of the spindle-shaped grille is set higher than on the standard models, creating a larger lower grille that can draw in the greater volume of cooling air needed for sportier driving. And the IS F Sport also has an exclusive seat design that provides extra support. The seats are made using an integrated foaming method that ensures there are no gaps between the upholstery and the filling, giving both excellent comfort and great lateral holding – not to mention nowhere to drop the contents of your pockets!
It looks excellent and we can not wait to test it. See more images on our Facebook page. Meantime, do enjoy our very recent Lexus special here.

MAGAZINE: Road Magazine Fiat Special

Open publication - Free publishing - More autocar

This month's FREE Road Magazine is Bellisimo! It's a Fiat special – featuring the deliciously-designer, brand new Fiat 500 'Colour Therapy' range inspired by the 1970s, the new GenIII Panda range with the all-conquering 4x4 making a welcome return to the world again, a road test on a lively TwinAir Punto and a feature from across the pond, by Ashley Van Dyke on a very cool Fiat 500 racer in the fabulous Pirelli World Challenge. Plenty of Fiat-fun for everyone! Ciao!

VIDEO: Fiat Punto Thief TV Commercial

We've also got the re-vamped 2012 Fiat Punto on test in this month's FREE Road Magazine and here's an amusing advert we sadly didn't see in the UK.
Read the FREE Fiat special here: http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_32_small

VIDEO: 2013 Fiat Panda 4x4 Snow Test

In the latest issue of Road Magazine, we look at the new Fiat Panda range, including the ace, new Panda 4x4 in third generation, better than ever guise. Love it! See it in action on deep snow here in this film and read what we thought about it here… http://issuu.com/roadonlinemagazine/docs/road_32_small

VIDEO: Fiat 500 Color Therapy

Wowzers! You dig the new Fiat 500 'Colour Therapy' 1970s inspired range? Well, read all about it in the latest FREE issue of Road Magazine here.

VIDEO: Pipercross Autosport International 2013 Promo

It's the Autosport Show, January 10-13th, and everyone's trying to get media and customer attention, so it's PR mania. We spotted this promotional video for Pipercross performance air filters and thought it worked nicely. Likey?

NEWS: Halfords To Offer Driving Tests

First they offered us a heady mixture of car parts and bicycles, then they started basic car parts fitting with their increasingly popular, innovative 'We Fit' service and now Road Safety Minister, Stephen Hammond has given Halfords the green light to offer driving tests! The tests will be available from the Halfords store in Wellingborough from Tuesday 5 February. And other branches of Halfords across the country are expected to start offering tests in coming months, with all tests being conducted by Driving Standards Agency (DSA) examiners.
The government say: 'The move is part of an initiative to offer a more local service for driving test candidates. As well as using conventional test centres, DSA is working with public and private sector partners to provide driving tests in areas that don’t have a local test centre.'
Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said: "We are very pleased to be working with Halfords to provide a more local service for driving test candidates. This is a great example of working with private sector partners to provide an important local service that is convenient as well as being cost effective."

And Halfords Commercial Director, Paul McClenaghan, said: "Halfords is already a local destination for motorists, who come to us for a diverse range of automotive products and services. We’re always seeking new ways in which to enhance our offer, so working with the Driving Standards Agency is a natural fit for the business and extends the help we are able to provide to motorists."
The government is currently consulting on proposals to improve the way all motoring services are delivered. The Motoring Services Strategy consultation outlines long term proposals to put customers firmly at the heart of the way motoring services are delivered, so that they best serve the consumer while getting the best possible deal for the taxpayer.
Presumably, all of the test cars will have a nice fresh Magic Tree hanging from the rear view mirror? No excuse not to...

Image by Road snapper, Neil Denham

RANT: DAB Radio

Hoo-bloody-ray! Finally, only decades after the invention of DAB radio (in 1981 would you credit it?!) and what seems like a millennia into an apparent "digital age",  car manufacturers are at long last getting into fitting DAB radios as standard into their vehicles – with BMW and VW rolling it out as standard. Although still only 25.5% have DAB as standard – so come on car makers! Sort it out!
So, after years of only being able to enjoy the crisp, velvety sounds of my favourite radio station of all time when I've been testing luxury, top end cars, I can now get the imaginative, creative, incredible BBC 6Music (UK station of the year) in all BMW's in the range, and VW are following on, as are even Vauxhall in their van range (although as an option!). Bravo Munich decision makers! Now come on the rest of you – get DAB into ALL your cars, whatever they cost.
The people of the world need the dulcet, genius tones of Mr Shaun Keavney and his legendary 'Middle aged shout-outs', Huey Morgan's on-air accidental swearing, the heroic, hilarious Adam Buxton, the voluptuous voice of Nemone and all the rest of the uber-talented 6Music crew. (And, apparently, there are lots of other DAB radio channels too!)
CAP New Vehicle Data expert David Saville said: "In the first quarter of 2010 only 3.8% of vehicles registered had DAB radio as standard, with 33% of the remainder of those sold having it available as a cost option. By the third quarter of this year 25.5% of cars registered had DAB as standard and 26% of the remainder of those sold had it available as a cost option.
"BMW’s announcement that DAB would become standard across their entire model range is a real shot in the arm for a less piecemeal approach by the industry to DAB.
"Whether it’s in 2015 as originally planned (with the analogue switch-off), or later, DAB will be essential rather than a ‘nice to have’ option. Experience shows us that where the Germans lead in the car market, others follow, and we therefore expect most manufacturers to start making DAB standard across their ranges in the coming year to 18 months."
The news that BMW will be rolling our DAB in their cars comes amid speculation that the slow adoption of DAB by British radio listeners in general will force a delay in the analogue signal switch-off, which was originally planned for 2015. The government has promised to maintain the analogue signal until 50% of radio listening is via a DAB receiver but the current figure stands at 31%.
Observers have speculated that up to 25m cars could be left with no radio signal after the switchover but CAP is confident that the new car market will be fully geared to the change, whenever it occurs.
Whatever, we applaud BMW, or as Mr Keaveny would say "kiss you on both cheeks!" DAB is here and mobile, at long bloody last!

VIDEO: Z Cars GM V8 Supercar Test @ Nurburgring With Tim Schrick. Get Involved!

Our amazing pals at Z Cars have gone and done something rather special. We've been lucky enough to know about this project for many months now, since it was just an idea on paper, then a chassis in development and now it's an R&D 'mule.' And it's special. Really special.

We still can't tell you much (as mum's the word for now), other than it's being built under the terms of a special projects supply from General Motors. But we can show you how unbelievably quick it is in this video of our good pal Tim Schrick (who we put up for the test via Royle Media) putting it through some suspension R&D at the Nurburgring in Autumn 2012. Just watch how fast its going at the end of the lap, after Tim gets into it, not to mention making mincemeat out of two BAC Mono's at the four minute mark! Jees! 

The weapon of a car is going to be a gorgeous, top-spec, bonkers fast V8 mid-engine, street-legal supercar – and Z Cars are looking for a customer to become part of the program. The package includes the lucky customer getting the first finished car and meantime, being invited to test sessions and press events. It's a once in a lifetime experience for 2013. All serious enquiries should go via the Z Cars offices by calling +44 (0)-1964-527725. Fancy it? We do! 

Oh, and here's what it looks like with bodywork on too... lush! 

More details here on the blog, and @Roadmagazine and @Roylemedia on Twitter soon... 

NEWS: New Atom 3.5 Unveil @ Performance Car Show 12.01.13

The latest Atom 3.5 from the Ariel Motor Company will make its UK public debut at The Performance Car Show on 12-13 January 2012, held at Birmingham’s NEC, alongside the Autosport Show.
The new Atom has more power (310bhp) from its 2.0-litre Honda iVTEC K20Z4 engine and quotes 2.7s 0-60mph and a top speed of 155mph – making one of the quickest things you can buy, quicker still! Ariel say the chassis is stiffer and there's better traction, dynamic balance and more fun to be had in their 3.5 too. 

The car will debut at the Performance Car Show the race-ready Ariel Cup car which we showed you last year – set to storm UK circuits in the one-make race series this year and offering a 2.0-litre Honda Type R iVTEC engine, more enclosed bodywork, a modified chassis, rollover protection, race instrumentation and Ohlins suspension.
"The Atom is one of the most unique cars in the world and we’re delighted to debut these new editions to the UK public at The Performance Car Show," said Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel. "Moving from road to racing is something that we’ve long talked about. We’ve worked hard to make sure the Ariel Cup is right for on-track competition and we’re looking forward to the public’s feedback at the show."
"The Atom is one of the most exciting cars around, and it’s great to host the first public showing of these fantastic models," said Paul Garlick, PistonHeads.com Brand Manager. "Renowned for its looks and even more so for its performance, both the new road-going Atom and its racing counterpart are set to be outstanding to drive."
Tickets for The Performance Car Show are on sale now, priced at £31 for an adult and £20 for children (under fives are free). Tickets also include entrance to sister show Autosport International, which features some of motorsports finest cars and top racing stars.
For more information call 0800 581 1419 or visit www.pistonheads.com/show.

One not to miss... 

VIDEO: Tim Schrick's New Project Evo IX Wagon Is Go! Sideways!

Happy New Year Roadies!
To launch us sideways into 2013, we have had word from our very good schnell freunde, Tim Schrick – who's finally been bitten by the turbo nutter barge bug. After years of only being a RWD, normally-aspirated, lightweight car man, Tim's got into the AWD, boost junkie phase of his life, and bought himself a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX Wagon load lugger to smoke abut sideways in, with luggage! No doubt, he will be running more boost, upgraded suspension and much more soon, and blasting it around the Ring, four-wheel-drifts at every turn. Meantime, here he is 'testing' one (up against an Audi RS6) for his old TV show, D-Motor. Nice driving, as ever Tim!
Stay tuned here for more of Tim's Project Evo Wagon updates and videos here and at Road Magazine.