One of the UK’s leading specialist classic car insurance brokers – Footman James – has announced it will be sponsoring the Manchester Classic Car Show for the second year running. Taking place at Event City exhibition centre on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, the event attracts visitors and exhibitors from all over the UK; this year it will host hundreds of cars from all eras, up to 100 clubs, a significant trade presence, classic market area, restoration demonstrations, classic car dealers, private display entries, a concours competition and live Group B Rally action! Andy Fairchild, Footman James’ Managing Director said: “We are proud to be associated with the hugely popular annual Manchester Classic Car Show. Fast establishing itself as a pinnacle event in the industry, this year’s show will offer enthusiasts plenty to keep them entertained across both days. “We are of course well placed to be main title sponsors for the show as a leading classic car insurer and will use the event to further encourage the huge enthusiasm and diversity of the UK classic car scene.” The inaugural show took place last year in 2013 with wide acclaim. Andy Rouse, Show Organiser explained: “The Manchester Classic Car Show aims to reflect and showcase the very best of the UK’s classic motoring scene – and after such a positive response from our first show last year, we’re pretty confident we can meet this! As a quality national show, we are delighted to be so well supported by Footman James and look forward to a prosperous and beneficial relationship.” Tickets for the show are as follows: Advance: £13.00 On the door: £15.00 Children: FREE (under 16s accompanied by a paying adult) Car parking is free. For further information about the show please contact Andy Rouse on 01527 910 229, email
Great news for British circuit fans – "The Friendly Circuit," Mallory Park Race Circuit in Leicestershire is set to re-open its gates again, with a Motorsport Extravaganza Open Day on Saturday 1st March. And better still… the whole event is FREE admission to everyone. Get involved!
In a statement, the management of Real Motorsport Ltd said: "We are pleased to announce that Mallory Park will officially re-open on 1 March from 10.30am, with a special 'Meet the Team' day, when visitors will have the opportunity to view a host of cars and bikes, as well as the chance to talk to the stars. The circuit will be open to all who wish to attend with no admission charges. In addition, the Mallory Park team will be joining forces with its chosen charity, 353.org.uk, to raise funds for our military guys and girls returning from overseas action. We look forward to welcoming all motorsport enthusiasts – young and not so young!"
There will be plenty to see with displays from all aspects of motorsport: * Classic F1 cars * BSB Superbike teams * Rally, including Group B monsters * Speedway * Supermoto * Track day companies (2 and 4 wheel) * Race driving school * Mallory Motorsport Club "Club Mallory" * Classic vintage cars and bikes. & "Much more – including motorsport celebrities from all activities, and World and National Champions." Sounds like a really good day out, so come on UK track day and motorsport fans… get behind this iconic, independent circuit and show your support by attending this free event on March 1st, to get Mallory Park back on the track day and motorsport map.
Check out the brand new Honda Civic Tourer – which our staff snapper Neil Denham tested at its UK launch yesterday – available soon in dealerships across Europe from £20,265. It's a practical family car "designed in Europe, for European customers" squaring up directly to the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, VW Golf & Skoda Octavia etc… tough competition. The high-tech range includes a 1.6-litre 1-DTEC (manual) and 1.8-litre i-VTEC (both manual and automatic) – offering 120PS/300Nm and 142PS/174Nm respectively, and fuel economy of 74mpg for the more expensive oil burner and 45mpg for the cheaper petrol model, which is on the money. The diesel offers an 800+ mile range! Styling wise, it's a sharp estate – sorry tourer – with typically futuristic Honda lines, but is a little clumsy from the rear. And the interior is just as swooping, colourful and modern (remember the old Prelude VTEC dash, a la Star Trek? It's like that, only more C21st and less 80s), which confused our staff snapper Neil's eyes. He also said the sat nag was a bit of beat and refused to acknowledge the presence of the A5! On the plus side, the boot is class leading huge at a massive 624 litters – enough to house 2873 tennis balls, 513 books, 25 pumpkins, 8 cabin luggage bags, Two golf bags & two golf trollies, Four golf bags or three large suitcases so we're told! – and the Tourer also features very neat secret compartments that are vacuous, as well as 'magic' seating to alter the layout, to suit your load. Very cool stuff. Neil said the petrol model, whilst characteristically smooth and slick, was a little gutless, even unloaded. But the diesel model really flew along nicely on a strong torque curve. And the manual gearboxes were direct, fast-acting and smooth. Best of all, the ride quality and handling ability were superb – thanks to the adjustable damping, which works a treat. If you're in the market for a practical, reliable, comfortable, spacious and unusual family estate… it's well, well worth visiting a dealership for a test drive now. There's plenty to love about the new Honda Civic Tourer… not least it's DNA:
See a load more images from the launch event of the new Tourer and its touring car DNA pal on our Facebook page here.
Fancy owning a motoring icon owned by a motoring icon? The awesome 1992 Honda NSX, once owned by legendary three times Formula One World Champion Aryton Senna, is set to go under the hammer at Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro & Classic Car Sale on the 22nd and 23rd of February.
How's about that then? The car was originally purchased by Antonio Carlos de Almeida Braga, close personal friend, manager and mentor of Senna, for the driver to use when he visited his home in Portugal. Following Senna’s tragic death at Imola in 1994, the car remained in the garage at Braga’s home where it was not allowed to be touched or driven by anyone. After two years it was eventually sold to a buyer who kept it only a short time before being purchased by the current owner seventeen years ago. Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions, said: “Very rarely does a car with such pedigree and provenance come to market, especially with such a powerful and personal link to arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time, and as such, we’re incredibly excited to offer it for auction.” The car, offered with an estimate of between £75,000 to £85,000, is presented in black with a black leather interior, manual gearbox and has covered just 31,800 miles. When choosing the car Braga made sure it was set to the same specification that Senna chose for his own NSX and is regarded as the ultimate combination for the car. This year sees the 20th anniversary of the death of the racing icon and the car could prove a great investment for buyers with heightened interest in the much admired model as the 25th anniversary of its introduction approaches next year. Senna was personally involved in the development of the NSX due to Honda supplying engines to the McLaren F1 team, a partnership which is set to resume again for the 2015 season. Nick added: “We’re extremely pleased to be able to offer another item so closely linked to Aryton Senna. Over the past few years we’ve been privileged to offer race suits, helmets and signed photographs amongst other pieces connected to him as well as other F1 drivers such as Fangio and James Hunt.” We reckon £75-85,000 is a bargain (& conservative estimate). It's sure to go up in value, as an NSX in this condition – let alone having been owned and driven by the man Senna himself. Cool as ****!
For more information on the car please visit here.
Our ace Project P38 V8 Range Rover gets to sing it's V8 tune loud and proud, thanks to an incredible Janspeed exhaust cat back stainless steel system this week. You can read the full fit & test feature on our website here. Enjoy!
For the past year, we've been running a iconic Land Rover Range Rover V8 top-spec, 4.6-litre Vogue as a project car. We bought it at auction (which is a right laugh), and have been slowly enhancing it, fixing stuff and generally fettling it to make it a better vehicle. So, if this sort of V8, LPG, tuning, product testing, 4x4 and spannering stuff floats your boat, you can read the first two instalments on 'Project P38 V8' here on the Road Magazine website. There are 11 instalments in total. Enjoy V8 fans!
Established in 1989, loaded with great cars and people and offering overtaking either side, expert tuition, race car rental, stella special guests/new car events and the best circuits to lap on, we think RMA days are definitely the best track days we've ever been on.
And very soon, their packed 2014 track day season gets underway at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on February 4th, from just £150. But we're particularly looking forward to Spa-Francorchamps, 26-27th May, which is always a very special event – showcasing RMA's European track day pedigree to perfection. Put simply… these Euro-events are the best track days you can have. RMA Boss Graham Clarke says: "With the Christmas and New Year holidays well behind us, people's thoughts are now turning towards this years track day season. With bookings are beginning to pour in thick and fast, Spa in May is already half full already. Some of the initial 'early bird' booking prices have started to increase, although there are still substantial savings to be made. For example, the Brands event above started at £99, it's now at £150 with the final price set to be at least £225 if not more! The noisy day at Donington in March is up £50 on it's starting price but still a bargain at £225, although it won't stay like that for long either! There are other examples and whilst the uptake is encouraging, we would much prefer to see our regular supporters taking advantage of these early booking prices, so if you are in a position to commit early, please do so and book now!" And talking about the Spa with Audi event in 2013, Graham added: "Those who joined us at Spa last September will no doubt remember Audi joined us in force with a fleet of their supercars comprising of three fabulous R8 V10 Plus, a pair of RS6's and an RS4 all available for our regular customers to drive round the awesome Spa circuit. They also brought a film crew with them and produced a lot of high quality footage, both in and out of the car. Take a look here."
We recommend RMA events as highly as is humanly possible and urge you to give them a try. You'll never look back – as their heady mixture of low numbers, open pit lane, overtaking either side, amazing retro and modern cars to battle with, slick operation, excellent facilities, great staff and jolly nice attendees is unsurpassed… in our quite vast track day experience.
Falken Tyre Europe are providing support for the U17's Motor Club Autosolo at Autosport International 2014 – helping get youngsters into motorsport. Building upon the success of its inaugural support of the Under 17 Motor Club in 2013, Falken Tyre Europe will be helping more young drivers to get involved in motorsport – by providing tyres for their Autosolo event at Autosport International (Jan 9th-14th 2014). Autosolos are a series of timed, ‘all-forward’ (i.e. no reversing) courses on hard surfaces such as car parks or airfields. Unlike traditional autotests, there is no requirement for special techniques such as spin turns. Cars must be taxed, insured, have an MOT certificate if applicable and be driven to the event. Road tyres are also specified with Falken’s ZE914 ECORUN and Sincera tyres popular, both providing a blend of grip and affordability. Twenty competitors a day including Under 17 Motor Club members will provide visitors to the Autosport Show with a taste of the sport through passenger rides on a course inside one of the halls. This year, for the first year, rides will be available on all four days of the event. Cars set to appear include Mazda MX-5s, Nissan Micras, Citroen Saxo, and a Peugeot 205. “Falken is delighted to expand its support to enable young drivers to learn about car control in a secure environment and to make the first steps into competitive motorsport, with the opportunity to actually take part,” says Stefanie Olbertz, Falken Tyre Europe’s motorsport marketing manager. “The demonstrations will provide a great opportunity to show the motorsport enthusiasts this growing branch of motorsport that is breeding ground for competitors that don’t have the budgets for karting.” Falken’s backing for the Under 17 Motor Club follows its support for other youngsters in UK motorsport in 2013. This includes 11 year old Catherine Harris in BriSCA Ministox, Hazel Johnson in North West rallying as well as enabling 19 year old race driver Christie Doran to experience its drift cars. Further information can be found at: www.falken-europe.de
Our (unscientific, but none-the-less user-based, and hopefully useful) consumer tests of the new Shell V-power Nitro+ unleaded continue, with surprising results on two of the oh-so-thirsty V6 and V8 Road Magazine Project Cars.
Our twin-turbo V6 Audi S4 is loving its new fuel – seemingly more so, the more it sups. It's definitely running more turbo boost with the higher octane fuel – giving it a noticeable surge in torque on turbo spool-up. And, when I've eco-tested it on a recent run, it returned it's best ever mpg, 29.5 – which ain't bad for a 300+bhp forced aspiration V6 eh?
And whilst our Project P38 4.6-litre V8 Range Rover can only dream of hitting just shy of 30mpg (despite being LPG converted, so it might get close in cost per mile terms), it's also loving the V-Power Nitro + treatment, feeling much more peppy and powerful and also returning more miles per gallon.
It might cost more at the pumps this new Shell V-Power fuel, but – with a light right foot – it's saving you money with improved mpg. And, hopefully, it's reducing servicing costs/extending the lifetime of our engines, thanks to the fact its designed to clean out nasty, power-sapping engine deposits from the moment you turn the key.
And the more of the fuel you use, the more it cleans up and frees up your engine, with its clever "Friction Modification Technology" – as tested with Ferrari, which is designed to instantly reduce friction in critical engine areas, thereby helping the engine to deliver more power to the wheels.
It's certainly working with our old performance cars, and we hope aiding their long-term health.
Shell has teamed up with Formula One™ fan, Jake Humphrey, to launch the new V-Power Nitro+ Unleaded (and Diesel) and he says: "I’ve spent the last four years travelling the world with the F1 circuit and have seen first-hand how Shell share with Ferrari the passion for performance in motorsports. They’ve competed in over 500 races together and that is a testament to the fuels Shell produce. It’s a thrill to know that when I fill up with Shell V-Power Nitro+ Unleaded I will experience the same technology that is developed for Ferrari on the track, in my own car." David Moss, Shell UK Retail General Manager, adds: "Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuels come with a racing seal of approval having been inspired by the Shell Technical Partnership with Ferrari, the titans of Formula One racing. At Shell, we are committed to making better fuels for our customers. Formula One helps us to deliver those better products. Our Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuels are the result of over 60 years of innovation and shared passion for performance with Ferrari in the motorsports arena and we’re excited about giving UK drivers the opportunity to try them for themselves and experience just what these new fuels can do." For more information, visit www.shell.co.uk/vpower.
Lucky David Appleby Engineering has announced it will become the first Bentley Continental GT3 customer team – taking delivery of the new, glorious, 600bhp, twin turbo V8 race car in January. The team, which will race under the Generation Bentley Racing banner, has been formed to develop young talent in motorsport for drivers, engineers and mechanics and will compete in the British GT Championship in 2014. Drivers James Appleby (GB) and Steve Tandy (GB) will take the wheel next year in British GT and the car is available to compete in the FIA Blancpain endurance series for interested parties. The team is keen to take full advantage of the Continental GT3's eligibility for a wide spectrum of worldwide endurance racing. James Appleby from Banbury, initially began his racing career in the SEAT Cupra Championship in 2008. James has since competed regularly in the Aston Martin GT4 at a European level as a Junior Aston Martin Racing team driver and was presented the star of the future award by Aston Martin Racing in 2010. Steve Tandy from Gloucestershire started his career racing classic sportscars in 2006 and is very familiar with the British GT Championship having competed for the last two seasons in the GT3 class achieving two overall wins and a multitude of podium finishes. Launched at Goodwood in July this year, the new 1300 kg Bentley Continental GT3 race car features a 4.0 litre V8 twin turbo V8 developing an unrestricted 600 bhp. The new race car is based on the road-going Continental and has received an aerodynamic package of enhancements while retaining its iconic and recognisable form. Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, comments: “I am delighted that David and his team will be competing with the Continental GT3 in our home country in 2014. The team has a wealth of experience and I'm confident that their energy and professionalism will see some very encouraging results next year. We'll be supporting them every step of the way and I wish them every success in the British GT Championship.” David Appleby, Managing Director, David Appleby Engineering said: "Having had enormous success in GT4, we are very excited to be taking it to the next level. The Continental GT3 is a fantastic package of British design and engineering, and it's eligibility for both British GT and Blancpain makes it a perfect racecar for us."
Generation Bentley Racing will make its debut at the opening round of the British GT Championship taking place at Oulton Park on 19 April 2014.
Hyundai Motorsport have rewarded their Finnish test driver, Juho Hänninen, with a drive in the second i20 WRC in next year's debut championship for the team – alongside lead driver Thierry Neuville. Watch Juno testing in Finland here. Hyundai say: "Hänninen has impressed in his test driver role and will contest selected events in 2014 as a perfect complement to lead driver Thierry Neuville." 32-year-old Hänninen knows the new car inside out – having become well-acquainted with Hyundai Motorsport throughout 2013, having completed an impressive 3,500 testing kilometres at the helm of the i20 WRC this year. The Finn has played an integral role in the team’s preparations for its debut WRC season and will be another strong asset to Hyundai Motorsport in its debut season. “I am very pleased to continue our working relationship with Juho,”commented Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal, Michel Nandan. “He was the first driver to sign for Hyundai Motorsport earlier this year and he was the one who completed the first ever runs in the Hyundai i20 WRC. He has shown great loyalty to our new team and it is fitting that he joins us at a number of specific events during our maiden WRC season.” “Juho has done an outstanding job in testing this year. He has proven to be a very complete driver with a perfect mix of speed and technical abilities, as well as being a real team player giving valuable feedback to our team of engineers” continued Nandan. “He brings with him a vast experience of WRC and he has completed the most kilometres in the Hyundai i20 WRC this year so we feel he will be an ideal complement to Thierry.” Hänninen will be joined in 2014 once again by his co-driver Tomi Tuominen and will make his WRC debut for Hyundai at February’s Rally Sweden, an event he knows very well. He made his WRC debut in Sweden in 2006, winning the Group N class, and finished sixth in this year’s event. Hänninen has tasted success in a variety of different rally cars in his career and has been victorious in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the FIA European Rally Championship and the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship since his World Rally debut. He has set a high standard in the S2000 category in recent years and took his first WRC stage win at Monte Carlo this year, underlining his potential at the pinnacle of international rallying. “I am really honoured to have been chosen by Hyundai to be one of the drivers of the second i20 WRC car in 2014, including Rally Sweden, which is one of my favourites,” said Hänninen. “I have been working with the team a lot since May and it has been a really fantastic project to be involved in. All the people in the team are very nice and it has been friendly environment, but with everyone still giving 100% all the time. It’s been a pleasure to work with them in testing and I really respect the opportunity to drive some rallies for the team in 2014.” Alongside his occasional appearances in the second Hyundai i20 WRC car next year, Hänninen will also continue to play a vital testing role as the team prepares for 2015. Hyundai has already revealed that a number of drivers will share the second i20 WRC throughout 2014. An announcement on who will be Thierry Neuville’s team-mate at Rallye Monte-Carlo will be made in due course.
We wish Juho Hänninen, Thierry Neuville and Hyundai all the very best in WRC in 2014 and beyond. It's a great looking, fab sounding little car and we hope is a real competitor against the VW Polo R and Citroen DS3 and Fiesta RS WRC cars. Geat to have such diversity coming into the revitalised top rallying action.
Alfa Romeo’s signature Alfa D.N.A driving mode selector will now feature across the entire 2014 Alfa Romeo range as standard, regardless of engine or trim level. And to mark the range update, Alfa Romeo teamed up with one of the world's elite parkour athletes, Ronnie Shalvis, to put the Alfa D.N.A. system to the ultimate agility test. In the film sequence above, Ronnie takes on both Alfa MiTo and Alfa Giulietta in the ultimate urban playground, pitting man against machine on both road and ice surfaces to see who has the greater control of their environment. Basically, it's a viral video to make something that sounds quite dull, look cool… and show the DNA system is not all PR fluff. The 2014 Alfa MiTo and 2014 Alfa Giulietta will feature the driving mode selector with three distinctive settings – ‘Dynamic’, ‘Natural’ and ‘All-Weather’ – while the Alfa Romeo 4C supercar has an additional forth setting specifically for track driving: ‘Race’ mode! Ronnie Shalvis commented: "With parkour, you have to adapt to varying and challenging environments, whilst remaining agile and dynamic. If you fail to respond to a situation or mistime a move, it could result in serious injury. When everything works together, though, and you nail those difficult manoeuvres, it’s an amazing feeling! Making the film with Alfa Romeo was a fantastic experience and I think it really demonstrates how having that control of your environment lets you stay safe but also have a lot of fun." Damien Dally, Head of Brand, Alfa Romeo UK, noted: "The Alfa D.N.A. system ensures that every 2014 Alfa Romeo can adapt to the prevailing driving conditions, varying the cars numerous dynamic characteristics from power delivery to steering feel and VDC stability control intervention. Despite its sophistication, the driver only has to simply flick the switch to select the appropriate driving mode and the car will take care of the rest." About Alfa D.N.A: The Alfa D.N.A. system lets drivers manually select from one of several different driving modes depending on the road conditions: ‘Dynamic’, ‘Natural’ and ‘All-Weather’, as well as ‘Race’ in the Alfa Romeo 4C. Once a mode is selected, Alfa D.N.A then automatically adjusts settings for throttle response, power delivery, power steering assistance, VDC stability control and braking Pre-Fill. Where fitted, ALFA TCT gear-changes and adaptive suspension settings are also adjusted. DYNAMIC ‘Dynamic’ mode provides a more immediate throttle response, with making fifty percent of the engine’s torque available within the first 10 percent of pedal travel. Pre-Fill braking is activated to boost braking performance and more steering weight is added for a sportier, more involving drive. In addition, the electronic dynamic and stability systems (VDC, DST, ASR) become less intrusive and for models fitted with the ALFA TCT gearbox, the gearshift characteristics are reconfigured. NATURAL Natural mode is designed for everyday driving with the performance levels drivers expect from an Alfa Romeo but delivered more progressively with optimum fuel consumption. ALL-WEATHER In All-Weather mode Alfa’s VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system is more intrusive whilst ASR (Anti-Slip Regulator) is lightened, allowing the wheels to slip and gain traction in icy conditions. Models equipped with ALFA TCT can also pull away in second gear, further helping avoid wheel spin. RACE (Alfa Romeo 4C only) Activated by holding the selector forward whilst in ‘Dynamic’ mode, ‘Race’ mode puts the driver completely in control, disabling stability control (re-engaging only under emergency braking) and ASR. Alfa’s Q2 differential control remains active. ‘Race’ mode allows drivers to push the Alfa Romeo 4C to its limit on the track. For more details visit: www.alfaromeo.co.uk
Check out our FREE Wales Rally GB special of Road Magazine – featuring the tale of VW's total dominance in this historic, gritty gravel event and the 2013 season (unbelievably their 1st in WRC!), a local WRC2 win by Elfyn Evans' M-Sport Ford, Citroen's many rolls, Olympian Amy Williams & TV's Tony Jardine's ace class win and a report from the new 'RallyFest' stages, and more. This epic event – when it was the iconic Lombard RAC, then Network Q – is what made me a petrolhead, motoring journalist and lifelong rally fan. Standing stage-side as a young boy, obligatory bobble hat on and armed with an airhorn, I witnessed the legendary Group B cult cars – 205 T16, Delta Integrale, Audi Quattro – spit flames and gravel, wastegates chattering: I was hooked. I adored that era of rallying, but I’m not all misty-eyed. The event, the cars and the world of rallying got faster and evolved and I moved with it – always enjoying the unique, special sport. But, in recent years, our only UK WRC round – Wales Rally GB – lost its way, the crowds, and the buzz that went with them. I’m not sure, but it may have even come close to losing WRC favour too: A tragedy. Cue a re-think, a revitalisation of this historic, amazing, challenging event. And boy, did MSA Chairman, Alan Gow and all the Wales Rally GB team work wonders this year – new North Wales base, night stages, the introduction of family-friendly “RallyFest” stages, lively ceremonial start/finish, pop concerts... the lot. And, best of all, 196-miles of some of the best, most challenging, technical, slippery, tricky and epochal special stages in the world – Hafren, Sweet Lamb, Myherin, Gartheiniog, Dyfi... names that sing louder than a male voice choir to rally fans the world over. The event re-brand – and targeted, hard work of the PR and social media team – not only created what is essentially a new Wales Rally GB event, but it did something even more magical... it brought the crowds back, and with it the uniquely Welsh forest flavour. And the WRC and national drivers didn’t disappoint... as you can read here in our Wales Rally GB special.
How much time do you think you spend stuck in traffic a year? And which cities in the UK are the worst for the misery of gridlock? Well, TomTom has the answers, from a recent Traffic Index survey – revealing British commuters are spending nine working days a year stuck in traffic. Ouch! The survey out today reveals:
Traffic jams in 11 out of 17 of Britain's biggest cities have got worse in the past year. Cities where congestion levels have gone up since this time last year include Belfast, Brighton, London, Manchester, Leicester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle. Only Edinburgh, Leeds-Bradford and Nottingham have seen congestion levels improve. In others such as Bristol, Birmingham and Glasgow congestion levels have remained just as bad in the past 12 months. The TomTom Traffic Index shows that Belfast remains the most congested city in the UK, with journey times up to 88 per cent longer in morning peak times and 32 per cent throughout the day. Second is Bristol with journey times up to 66 per cent longer in evening peak times, followed by Brighton where travelling during rush hour takes 45 per cent longer than usual. Despite the congestion charge, driving in London now takes more time than last year with drivers enduring rush-hour journey times of up to 60 per cent longer than non-peak times. Over the course of a day, driving in London takes 29 per cent longer than it would if traffic were free-flowing, making the capital the fifth most congested city in the UK – just behind Edinburgh. Sat nav firm TomTom analysed more than nine trillion pieces of data worldwide to compile its traffic index, which showed that Moscow remains the most congested city globally, followed by Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro. “We are seeing a clear pattern which shows that congestion levels increase as economies emerge from recession. The traditional responses to tackling congestion, like building new roads or widening existing ones are no longer proving effective. The way traffic is managed needs significant change,” says TomTom's Chief Executive Officer, Harold Goddijn. The TomTom Traffic Index is the world’s most accurate barometer of traffic congestion in 169 cities across six continents. It compares travel times during non-congested hours (free flow) with travel times in peak hours. The Index takes into account local roads and highways. “The findings indicate that real-time traffic information has the potential to ease congestion in urban areas by routing drivers away from gridlock, and help commuters to make smarter decisions,” commented Goddijn. The TomTom Traffic Index shows that across the UK, typical journey times take 23 per cent longer in morning and evening rush hours. Cardiff has seen the biggest increase in congestion in the past year, followed by Portsmouth and Brighton. Contrary to popular belief, the average driver in London does not experience the most extra travel time due to congestion - those in Belfast, Bristol, Brighton and Edinburgh are in worse shape. While those cities are smaller, congestion adds relatively more travel time to driving trips than it does in London. Belfast, Bristol and Edinburgh all top London when it comes to evening rush hour commuting. In Belfast an average morning commute travel time can be almost doubled by congestion. With new bus lanes, commuters may have better options during peak periods. Bristol has the highest proportion of people cycling to work in Britain and that may be the best option, especially in the centre.
How depressing! Try getting one of the latest TomTom GO 6000's like us… it's helping us avoid traffic hell all over the place. Ace!
Cool specs, raw talent and a dude to boot, 25-year-old Belgian driver Thierry Neuville is now set to be Hyundai Motorsport’s No.1 driver for its inaugural 2014 WRC season in the new i20.
Ogier and VW may have dominated the 2013 WRC season, with their amazing, record breaking wins – but there can be no doubt that Neuville is the WRC's hottest property… and the move by Hyundai to sign him clearly states their ambition for WRC. And we salute them for that… and wish Neuville and the Hyundai Motorsport team the very best of luck. It's really great to have two new manufacturers in the sport.
“I am thrilled to announce Thierry Neuville as the lead driver to our new WRC team,” says Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal, Michel Nandan. “Thierry is having a fantastic 2013 season and is proving himself to be one of the most exciting young drivers in WRC. His raw speed, driving skill and dynamic approach to rallying make him the ideal lead driver for Hyundai.”
“By signing a driver of Thierry’s talent, we can show that Hyundai’s WRC engagement is serious and focussed on long-term success after signing with the talented young driver, Thierry. It is also great recognition for the work that the entire team has carried out in such a short time. We both share similar values and objectives to win the championship in the long-term so we are proud to have Thierry in the team and as an ambassador for the Hyundai Motorsport brand.” Neuville, along with his co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul, will join Hyundai Motorsport behind the wheel of the new i20 WRC rally car in all 13 WRC events in 2014, beginning with the team’s debut at the Monte-Carlo Rally in January, signalling the start of the Belgian driver’s third consecutive WRC season. Neuville’s experience will be invaluable to Hyundai Motorsport as the manufacturer begins its first fully-fledged championship WRC campaign with a team and car that have been developed from scratch, impressively in under a year. Neuville’s eye-catching performances this season have challenged the established competitors in WRC and have resulted in his reputation as one of the most exciting, young and dynamic drivers coming up through the WRC ranks. “I am pleased to be joining Hyundai Motorsport for the 2014 World Rally Championship,” comments Thierry Neuville. “I believe Hyundai Motorsport is the perfect fit for me because it is a young, emerging and ambitious manufacturer team with long-term objectives for championship success and I have long held aspirations of driving for a manufacturer team. I wasimpressed with the team’s facility, their approach to the rally programme and their clear potential. I hope my two years of experience in WRC will be beneficial to the team as we build a harmonious working partnership. We know we have a steep learning curve ahead of us in our first season but I am convinced we will have a successful future together.” In two competing seasons in the World Rally Championship, Neuville has contested a total of 32 rallies. He finished seventh in the 2012 championship, which acted as a prelude to a championship challenging 2013 season in which he has so far claimed four consecutive runner-up results (Italy, Finland, Germany and Australia), in addition to two third-place finishes (Mexico, Greece), leaving him second in the WRC standings with one rally left to run.
Maybe a win in Wales Rally GB for Neuville will set the tone for next year… in the Hyundai which looks very quick indeed. See tarmac test below:
Portable Navigation Device specialists, TomTom don't just make perfect sat nav devices designed to take the sting out of navigating and now avoid traffic jams (like the GO 6000 we have on test does, which is mega, see below...!) – they are branding genius'. To prove this, TomTom has teamed up with DDB and Tribal Worldwide to create "a light hearted and funny take on the frustrating experiences of being stuck in traffic" for some new advertising in the UK and Germany. TomTom says: "The campaign plays on insightful, awkward moments when you want to reach your destination as quickly as possible – such as sitting in an unexpected traffic jam after mistaking your travelling partner for being pregnant. "The aim of the campaign is to change how people think about and use their portable navigation device (PND), from it being a thing they use for the occasional journey to an unknown destination, to a device they use every day to help avoid traffic jams on their daily commute and get to their destination faster. "So whether you are trying to make it to an important meeting on time, trying to get home to see the kids before they go to bed, or simply trying to escape an awkward moment in your car, TomTom Traffic will always find the quickest route." Gary Raucher, SVP of Marketing for TomTom added: "The team really helped bring the TomTom brand to life and show how a PND becomes relevant to daily driving when it delivers real-time, accurate traffic information. This is an important campaign for us, being the first significant above-the-line campaign we’ve launched since 2009 and the first to be developed with DDB." And Mark Chalmers, ECD at DDB & Tribal Worldwide, Amsterdam said: “Best friends or colleagues, husbands or wives, we've all dropped some clangers and need a quicker journey as a result. Just like our scenarios, the TomTom device is for the daily commute, the airport trip or the big day out. As the campaign develops, we'll be opening it up to the public with a real time, social media tactic, created by consumers, as they contribute live, via Twitter, to improvised comedy shows in cars. “ The campaign runs in the UK and Germany until the end of 2013. Listen to the radio commercials here, and check out the full campaign on the TomTom website. Check it out...
Hyundai Motorsport are in the middle of a huge R&D session (and now homologation testing) on their forthcoming i20 WRC car – having just completed a gruelling 15 day, 1000Km gravel and tarmac rally test, with Juho Hänninen, Bryan Bouffier and Chris Atkinson alternating behind the wheel in both Spain and Germany. The aim...? An inaugural season like VW have just had surely! .
Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan, said: “This month was exceptionally busy for us. We were out testing the i20 WRC on both surfaces for more than half of the month, with our three test drivers swapping the seat on four separate test sessions. We now have two latest-spec i20 WRC cars, which allows us to further intensify the development schedule by alternating between the two chassis. Overall, it was a positive month as we managed to test new parts, try different set-up solutions and cover some good mileage with the car.” October’s testing kicked off with a four-day gravel test in the south of Spain where the team continued to assess the behaviour of the i20 WRC in warm weather conditions with both Juho Hänninen and Chris Atkinson on duty. “During this test we took the opportunity to continue the development of the car on gravel conditions, similar to the ones we will find in Portugal and Sardinia next year. We tried several configurations for these kinds of terrains and evaluated some new components which we hadn’t tested before,” explained Nandan. The Hyundai Motorsport team then moved from the south of Spain up to the Catalonia region for a five-day gravel test. This was followed by a tarmac test in Baumholder, Germany, home of the iconic Arena Panzerplatte, which forms part of Rallye Deutschland’s itinerary. “After concentrating on loose surfaces in the first part of October, we took the i20 WRC to tarmac for a test on the same conditions of Rallye Deutschland. We had some new suspension parts to try as we hadn’t tested on tarmac since August,” Nandan continued. In the final week of October, the team continues tarmac development in Catalonia on the roads of Rally de España, the penultimate round of the WRC, which was held last week. “Testing on the same roads as the rally allows us to start to have some references on the stages we will tackle next year,” concluded Nandan. This month marked also the beginning of another important process for the Hyundai Motorsport team. The dossier for the homologation of the i20 WRC needs to be compiled and lodged by the FIA by the end of October. We at Road wish them well on their WRC journey – bringing greater diversity and talent to the sport.
One of the most over-looked cars in recent years has got to be Subaru's super XV, which we loved in our test in the last Subaru special of Road Magazine. Maybe this limited run edition of the XV – a Black Edition – will help make people give it the attention it deserves...? It certainly looks great! The limited run model with a choice of 2.0-litre Boxer diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission, or the 2.0-litre Boxer petrol unit and a Lineartronic automatic transmission, has "visual changes to boost the XV’s rugged, go-anywhere appeal" and still offers the XV's statute as the highest Euro NCAP safety rating in its class, with an attractive price from £24,495 (OTR).
The special is exclusively finished in Crystal Black Silica paint, and offers front, rear and side silver-resin underguards, front and rear mudflaps, a cargo step panel and a foldable cargo tray. Whilst inside, the Black model is fitted with heavy-duty rubber floor mats. The All-Wheel-Drive XV Black is priced at £24,495 (on-the-road) for the 2.0i Lineartronic and £24,995 for the 2.0 Boxer diesel, and is based on the existing SE model. Motorists will pay just £1,000 for all the extras fitted as standard to the XV Black, which – if fitted separately as options to other models in the range – would total over £1,600, meaning the new Limited Edition model offers both exclusivity and value for money. Subaru say: "The XV enjoys a class-leading five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating and at 90%, one of the highest scores for child occupant protection ever recorded, making it ideal for young families. Perfectly suited to everyday use in an urban or out of town environment, the ‘go anywhere’ XV combines the highest ground clearance of any vehicle in its segment with the lowest centre of gravity. Efficient engines and lightweight body mean the XV is able to return a 50.4mpg on the combined cycle and emits only 146 g/km CO2 (2.0-litre diesel models). "The new XV Black Limited Edition features Subaru’s typically generous standard equipment levels, including Subaru’s standard-fit Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system, providing world-class hazard avoidance capabilities. Other standard features include front, side, curtain and knee airbags, 17-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, heated front seats, wiper de-icers, cruise control, folding door mirrors, dual-zone air-conditioning, rear view safety camera, Bluetooth, HID headlamps, and rear privacy glass." Check it out! And see more pictures on our Facebook page. Subaru XV Black Limited Edition
Our staff snapper Neil Denham just went on the launch of the ace new Mazda MX-5 Sport Graphite special. The new £18,495-£23,695 funster ragtop MX-5 with the magic formula of its RWD, 160PS two-litre lump and six-speed slick manual gearbox, offers a fresh face and TomTom sat nav upgrade as standard in the range. And this special of only 500 Sport Graphite model adds 17-inch dark alloy rims, black leather heated seats, Meteor grey roof and black headlamp inserts, as well as a range of "eye-catching" paintwork, like this Zeal Red Mica. See more of Neil's ace images on our Facebook page, and expect a full test in a second Mazda special of Road Magazine in the new year. Meantime, read the last one FREE here.
McLaren's P1 hypercar performance figures have been released, and make for some unreal reading, in all areas! Check them out below...
Acceleration
0-100km/h (62 mph) 0-200km/h (124 mph) 0-300km/h (186 mph) Standing quarter mile (400m) V Max
2.8 seconds 6.8 seconds 16.5 seconds 9.8 seconds @ 245 km/h (152 mph) 350 km/h (217 mph) electronically limited
Braking
100-0 km/h m (ft) [sec] 200-0 km/h m (ft) [sec] 300-0 km/h m (ft) [sec]
30.2 (99) [2.9] 116 (380) [4.5] 246 (806) [6.2]
Fuel efficiency
mpg (combined) litres/100km
34.0 mpg 8.3 l/100km
Emissions
CO2
194 g/km
McLaren says:
Groundbreaking levels of performance The McLaren P1™ has been designed from the outset with one clear goal: to be the best driver’s car on road and track. The confirmation of the performance figures underlines this, and gives further insight into the potential of the latest model from the Woking-based firm. Fitted with a twin powerplant powertrain generating 916 PS (903 bhp) from the highly efficient 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 petrol engine and the lightweight electric motor, the McLaren P1™ storms from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.8 seconds, and hits 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.8 seconds – quicker than many hot hatches reach half that speed. The relentless acceleration, delivered as a result of the instant torque offered by the electric motors and the optimised turbos, sees the McLaren P1™ reach 300 km/h (186 mph) in just 16.5 seconds. By way of a benchmark, this is a full 5.5 seconds quicker than the legendary McLaren F1. Top speed is electronically limited to 350 km/h (217 mph). Despite these impressive figures, the McLaren P1™ still returns 34.0 mpg (8.3 l/100km) on the EU combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of 194 g/km. The electric motor offers a range of 11 km (6.8 miles) in full electric mode on the NEDC cycle, which sees emissions drop to zero. The braking figures are equally as impressive for the McLaren P1™, with the levels of performance provided by the bespoke Akebono system. The specially formulated carbon ceramic discs, coated in silicon carbide, can bring the McLaren P1™ to a halt from 62 mph (100 km/h) in a distance of just 30.2 metres. This figure is even more impressive when compared to the recognised stopping distances, which suggests that more than three times the distance – 102 metres – is required to bring a car to a halt from 100 km/h (62 mph).
First customer takes delivery In a year of celebration for McLaren, this week has seen another significant milestone in an important chapter of McLaren Automotive with the first customer delivery of the groundbreaking McLaren P1™. Series production of the latest addition to the McLaren range commenced over the summer, and the first car, finished in a striking Volcano Yellow and contrasting visual carbon fibre, rolled off the bespoke production line at the end of September – a fitting tribute during the month of the 50th anniversary celebrations. The first example of the McLaren P1™ was collected from the McLaren Technology Centre by its UK-based owner. “We designed the McLaren P1™ from the outset with one clear goal: to be the best driver’s car on road and track. The confirmation of the performance figures underlines this. “I am very proud of our Woking based team and everything they have achieved with this ambitious project. The handover of the first McLaren P1™ is another milestone in our 50 year history,” commented Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive Ltd. The P1 production process A total of 375 examples of the McLaren P1™ will be produced, and will be hand-built in the state-of-the-art McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, England. This £40 million Foster + Partners designed facility is an ultimate embodiment of McLaren values, fusing precise production techniques with hand craftsmanship and incredible attention to detail. The McLaren P1™ is custom-built by a carefully selected team of 82 technicians in a four-stage assembly process. From start to finish, the build takes 17 days of skilled work. Once running at full capacity, the McLaren P1™ line will see one car completed each day, with production due to run until mid-2015. Stage 1: Structural Assembly The bespoke manufacturing process commences with the preparation of the carbon fibre MonoCage chassis. The one-piece MonoCage weighs just 90kgs, and includes the integrated roof structure, an integral roof snorkel and air intake ducts, as well as providing a fully sealed compartment for the battery. Stage 2: Painting In total the McLaren P1™ consists of seven lightweight panels, all of which are made from carbon fibre – front and rear clamshells, bonnet, doors, front and rear bumpers. Due to the extended painting processes involved, and to minimise disruption to the facility within MPC used for the 12C and 12C Spider, each McLaren P1™ is prepared and hand painted in a dedicated paintshop in the McLaren Technology Centre while the chassis structure is being prepared. The complete set of body panels for each McLaren P1™ is painted together to ensure a perfect colour match. This process takes three days, including surface preparation of the carbon fibre panels to ensure flawless paintwork on every single car. Stage 3: Trim Assembly The fully prepared carbon fibre MonoCage chassis and the hand-painted carbon fibre body panels are brought together on a dedicated production line within the MPC. This ten-stage process is the most recent addition to the MPC, and sees the sub-assembly of battery, front sub-frame, doors, rear clamshells and bumpers fitted as it moves along the line. Two dedicated McLaren technicians work on each of the production stages for the McLaren P1™, with each step taking a full working day to complete. Stage 4: Final Assembly As each car reaches the end of the McLaren P1™ line, it is then subjected to the same rigorous testing regime and sophisticated quality control procedures as the 12C and 12C Spider models to ensure it meets the required quality and performance levels. This phase of production takes a total of seven days to complete. For the McLaren P1™, this includes a full day shakedown at a proving ground, testing every element of the car’s performance. The McLaren test drivers and a team of technicians run through the different settings and modes to examine and verify the performance ahead of final delivery to the customer. Each example of the McLaren P1™ is then put through the Monsoon Test, in which 16,000 litres of de-ionised recycled water is released on to the car to ensure all seals are correctly finished. A complete underbody check and diagnostics review is then carried out, before the final dispatch audit confirmation.
Now we're just waiting for that Green Hell lap time and video...
