Home//Evo/March 2015/In This Issue
Evo|March 2015Ed SpeakIT WAS, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THE most entertaining day I’ve had in my five years at evo – and I wasn’t even driving. Before Christmas, the team got distracted in an editorial meeting (no surprise there). The conversation turned to Best Motoring – a Japanese video team that produces astonishing races featuring every performance car you can dream of. Want to see an F40, a Diablo, an NSX-R, a Skyline and a Venturi go balls-out in a full-on race? Check out Best Motoring.The format is endlessly entertaining. The drivers are generally Super GT or drift stars and therefore their competitive instinct tends to overrule common sense – leading to frequent moments where you’re watching the films through partially covered eyes.We’ve wanted to create a homage to Best…3 min
Evo|March 2015NSX IS BACK! ...AND WHY IT DOESN’T FEAR ITS RIVALSTHE WAITING IS over. At the 2015 Detroit motor show we finally got to see Honda’s longanticipated new NSX in production form – and learned some (but not all) of its technical secrets. How long have we waited? It seems like an age, because, erm, it is. Way back in 2005, with the first-gen NSX still in full production, a stray remark from an engineer suggested that the NSX replacement would have a V10 engine and that work on it was at full gallop. When asked about this, Takeo f*ckui, Honda’s then chief exec, said he’d produce this replacement NSX when Honda won a Formula 1 grand prix... The company withdrew from F1 in 2008, though it’s planning a return with McLaren this year. That V10 NSX was shelved and…6 min
Evo|March 2015THE RIVALS: How the new NSX comparesHONDA NSXEngine V6, 3500cc (tbc), twin-turbo, plus three electric motorsPower 550bhp+ @ n/a rpmTorque n/aWeight c1450kg (est)Power to Weight 385bhp+/ton (est)0-62mph c3.5sec (est)Top speed c200mph (est)Price c£150,000 (est)NISSAN GT-REngine V6, 3799cc, twin-turboPower 542bhp @ 6400rpmTorque 466lb ft @ 3200rpmWeight 1740kgPower to weight 316bhp/ton0-60mph 3.2sec (tested)Top speed 196mph (claimed)Price £78,020ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE SEngine V8, 4735ccPower 430bhp @ 7300rpmTorque 361lb ft @ 5000rpmWeight 1610kgPower to weight 271bhp/ton0-62 4.5sec (claimed)Top speed 189mph (claimed)Price £99,995MERCEDES-AMG GT-SEngine V8, 3982cc, twin-turboPower 503bhp @ 6250rpmTorque 479lb ft @ 1750-4750rpmWeight 1570kgPower to weight 326bhp/ton0-62 3.8sec (claimed)Top speed 192mph (limited)Price £110,495PORSCHE 911 TURBOEngine Flat-six, 3800cc, twin-turboPower 513bhp @ 6000-6500rpmTorque 524lb ft @ 2100-4250rpmWeight 1595kgPower to weight 327bhp/ton0-62 3.4sec (claimed)Top speed 195mph (claimed)Price £118,349AUDI R8 V10Engine V10, 5204ccPower 518bhp @ 8000rpmTorque 391lb ft @ 6500rpmWeight 1620kgPower to weight 325bhp/ton0-62…1 min
Evo|March 2015Shock Ford GT to fight FerrariIF EVER AUTOMOTIVE thunder was stolen, Ford’s theft of Honda’s publicity for its second-gen NSX at the Detroit motor show was the moment it happened. Rumours of a supercar reveal circled pre-show but few expected a machine quite so over-the-top, and the car’s aggressive styling created a positive buzz within the Cobo Center. If there is any controversy, it concerns the new Ford GT’s downsized powerplant – a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 developing over 600bhp. It is, of course, an EcoBoost engine, and its deployment here demonstrates Ford’s commitment to the turbocharged petrol setup that’s now offered in every Blue Oval sold in North America and Europe, including the new Mustang. But in a supercar? Even with Ferrari 458-beating power, you can’t help but think back to the nightmare Jaguar experienced…3 min
Evo|March 2015Detroit 2015: best of the restMINI JCWThe quickest Mini John Cooper Works yet gets a 228bhp 2-litre engine and a 0-62mph time of 6.1sec. Myriad bumper vents cool the turbocharged lump and hard-worked front brakes; pricing starts at £22,865.ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDERAdditional bracing and an aluminium roll-bar add just 10kg to Alfa Romeo’s roofless 4C, displayed in eye-searing Giallo paintwork at Detroit. The coupe’s 237bhp turbocharged engine and dual-clutch transmission remain.BENTLEY BENTAYGAAnother British SUV named but not displayed was the Bentayga. Named after a mountain on Gran Canaria, its styling will be a toned-down take on 2012’s polarising EXP 9F concept. Petrol, diesel and hybrid options will be available.PORSCHE 911 TARGA GTSAn acrobatic targa roof adds another dimension to Porsche’s 911 GTS. Like the coupe, there’s Alcantara trim, 20-inch alloy wheels and a 424bhp flat-six…2 min
Evo|March 2015How it feels to be a champWhat was your best moment of 2014?Chasing down Neel Jani in the Porsche during the final round at São Paulo, Brazil. There was a 20-second gap between us, but he had doublestinted on his tyres and I was on a fresh set; nobody had managed to double-stint on a set of tyres in the race so we knew he’d be managing his tyres and I had to be ready when they dropped off the cliff.I was driving flat-out through the traffic, closing the gap with each lap. I was on a [driving] double-stint and the circuit is a really physical and quick track – we were around three seconds a lap quicker than the previous year. The car felt great, the crowd was great and really getting involved. We had…2 min
Evo|March 2015WHAT MAKES A McLAREN LOOK LIKE A MCLAREN?MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE has a new chief designer, with robert Melville (pictured) being promoted into the role having worked at Woking since 2009 as senior designer. Melville, 37, takes on one of the most coveted jobs in the industry. reporting to design director Frank Stephenson, he’ll help forge the future design direction of the brand and its cars. According to Mclaren, this role will include ‘building up on the new family look that debuted with the groundbreaking P1’, which is a heavy hint for the design direction of the new Sport Series model due to be unveiled in the second quarter of this year. I’m very honoured with this recognition and look forward to turning our future vision work into reality,’ says Melville. ‘Mclaren has always innovated with class-leading performance and…2 min
Evo|March 2015STEER-BY-WIRE EXPLAINEDIT’S NOT NEWS that modern cars are becoming more dependent on electronic controls. We already have throttle-by-wire, where you dictate the amount of throttle by the position of a sensor under your foot. But how would you feel about removing the mechanical link in something potentially more serious, such as the car’s steering?That is exactly what Infiniti has done with the Q50 saloon’s ‘Direct Adaptive Steering’ (DAS) system, which is the first of its kind in a production car. It uses a steering position sensor behind the wheel that sends a signal to the steering rack via three computer-controlled modules.Before you spit out your tea and complain about what might happen if electrical power was lost, Infiniti has planned for that eventuality. The old pinion connection between the rack and…3 min
Evo|March 2015evo lays down new challenge for young designersTWELVE MONTHS AGO evo ran a successful project with the Royal College of Art, specifically its first year Vehicle Design students. Their brief was to come up with an ‘evo Car of the Future’. Readers then voted for their favourite concept via our web and social channels, and winner Tom henwood took a giant stride towards a career as a car designer. This year evo and the RCA have joined forces again and set an altogether different task for the new students. we’ve asked them to reinterpret the iconic nissan GT-R for 2030. The big nissan is an evo favourite, a car with a tremendous global following and, from a design perspective, it has a number of signature features that the students can develop. The twist in the brief is…2 min
Evo|March 2015VW Polo GTITest location: circuit de la comunitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain GPS: 39.486632, -0.629889The Golf GTI ethos has so far failed to be successfully distilled into the smaller Polo. Has that changed with this latest attempt?SCALABILITY. IT’S an idea audi likes to exercise with its mainstream saloons and estates. but perhaps the true home of the nearly life-size simulacrum is Wolfsburg, for the new Volkswagen Polo GTI seems to be exactly that: a Golf GTI rendered a few degrees smaller, cheaper and less powerful. the initiative seems entirely plausible. if you can’t quite afford the seventh iteration of the hot hatch legend, here’s the next best, slightly cosier and slower thing – correct down to the fancy architecture of the radiator grille and iconic tartan seat trim.There have been three generations of…5 min
Evo|March 2015Romeo Ferraris Cinquone STest location: opera, milan, Italy GPS: 45.372414, 9.211664FOR MORE THAN 50 years, romeo Ferraris has been tuning road cars, competing in various motorsport series around the world and – just because it’s cool – racing offshore powerboats. The eponymous Signor Ferraris founded his company in 1959 as a humble engine-builder. he quickly diversified into tuning and racing, forming close relationships with Fiat and BMW.While Ferraris himself has since retired to focus on his new hobby (ultra-luxury watchmaking, since you ask), his son mario has taken over the reins of the family business. now based in opera, near milan, the company continues to race and tune road cars. Its latest project, however, is perhaps the most ambitious yet; with a fully hom*ologated road car, Romeo Ferraris is now a car manufacturer…3 min
Evo|March 2015Outside LineIF THERE’S ONE CERTAINTY IN THIS chaotic and rather daft job of mine, it’s being asked what the best car I’ve ever driven is. I’m a little ashamed to say the only thing more predictable than the question is my answer: the McLaren F1. However, ask me what ranks as the best drive I’ve ever had and it’d take a great deal more thought to arrive at the definitive answer.It’s not simply a case of trawling through the fastest, most exotic cars I’ve been fortunate enough to try. A supercar never harms your chances of experiencing something unforgettable, but it’s by no means a guarantee. To prove the point, although I’ve driven numerous F1s, one hasn’t played a starring role in my best drives.It’s a fine and rather obtuse distinction…4 min
Evo|March 2015Porsche Panamera GTSTest location: B671, Cambridgeshire, UK GPS: 52.525964, -0.395347 IF YOU LIKE your supersaloon served without forced induction, diesel power or electric assistance, you have very few choices these days. Gone are the V10 M5s and non-turbo e63 AMGs of this world, and while there is a certain ‘dare to be different’ appeal about a Vauxhall VXR8 GTS, it’s unlikely to tempt anyone familiar with more prestigious brands. Step forward this £93,391 Porsche Panamera. The latest GTS, it draws attention to itself in the Panamera range for two reasons: the GTS badge (which has been attached to exceptional Porsche drivers’ cars of late) and a rollicking normally aspirated V8 engine. All other Panameras, bar the Turbo and Turbo S, are powered by six-cylinder turbocharged or, in the case of the e-Hybrid,…3 min
Evo|March 2015Audi R8 LMXTest location: Bedfordshire, uK GPS: 52.150713, -0.666821 YOU DON’T NEED to be an R8 geek to be seduced by the runout limited-edition LMX, but if you do happen to be a fan of Audi’s original supercar its myriad details and distinguishing features make it something rather special. Based on the R8 V10 Plus, a total of just 99 LMXs will be built. the chances of encountering one in the wild are slim to say the least, but you’re unlikely to confuse it with a common or garden model. externally there’s plenty to catch your eye, not least the beautiful metallic Ara Blue paintwork (matt-finish daytona Grey and Mythos Black are also available) and a large fixed wing that sits proudly on the tail. Like the front splitter, canards, mirrors, side…4 min
Evo|March 2015Romeo Ferraris Cinquone STest location: opera, milan, Italy GPS: 45.372414, 9.211664 FOR MORE THAN 50 years, romeo Ferraris has been tuning road cars, competing in various motorsport series around the world and – just because it’s cool – racing offshore powerboats. The eponymous Signor Ferraris founded his company in 1959 as a humble engine-builder. he quickly diversified into tuning and racing, forming close relationships with Fiat and BMW. While Ferraris himself has since retired to focus on his new hobby (ultra-luxury watchmaking, since you ask), his son mario has taken over the reins of the family business. now based in opera, near milan, the company continues to race and tune road cars. Its latest project, however, is perhaps the most ambitious yet; with a fully hom*ologated road car, Romeo Ferraris is now a…3 min
Evo|March 2015SIX SHOOTERIT SHOULDN’T HURT, BUT IT DOES. You’re a connoisseur; you don’t care too much for the amazing shrinking performance figures phenomena and you don’t live for pub bragging rights. But when the Porsche 991 GT3 you’re driving gets monstered for the first time by a Corvette Z06 – and I mean buried, decimated, annihilated – well, to use the local vernacular, it kinda sucks.Fortunately the rational part of your brain kicks in again soon after. You’re in a GT3. ‘Just wait for the corners, my friend,’ you think. ‘Then it’ll be a different story.’ Only it isn’t: the Z06 doesn’t just hold its advantage – it keeps on driving away. Bit by agonising bit those four huge tailpipes you’re following get smaller and the big V8 shockwave, which earlier almost…17 min
Evo|March 2015On trackTHE SOUTH CIRCUIT at Bedford Autodrome is cold and greasy. You can almost hear the RS5 cackling in delight. And that gentle whimpering? Probably me when the M4 key is thrust into my hand. These are not conditions that bode well for the M4, which is spiky in the dry and pretty intimidating when there’s even a sliver of moisture on the ground. Even so, it feels like a good car in which to set the benchmark.On the first exploratory lap it’s clear that the BMW needs to be turned down as much as possible: the M DCT ’box is too violent in maximum-attack mode, lighting up the rears in a straight line when going from third to fourth gear with an angry thud. The most aggressive Sport+ throttle map…2 min
Evo|March 2015NO MAD MENON CHRISTMAS EVE, JUST AS EVERYONE WAS BATTLING TO FIND THE end of the roll of Sellotape to finish wrapping their presents, the Ariel Motor Company sent out a tweet. It read: ‘New Year, New Website, New Car. The Ariel Nomad is coming Tuesday 6th January 2015,’ and it was accompanied by two renderings of what could only be described as fun on four wheels. Part recognisable Atom, part Tamiya RC buggy, the Nomad was a complete surprise and everyone loved it.Ariel duly released pictures and a short video of the real thing on the first Tuesday of the New Year and then unveiled it in the metal on the Bilstein stand at the Autosport show at Birmingham’s NEC a few days later. It didn’t disappoint. Several orders were received…12 min
Evo|March 2015TARGA MANIAIN AN ERA WHEN MOST ELECTRICALLY powered roof mechanisms look as if they could detach themselves and walk down the road, the one attached to the latest Porsche 911 Targa is still a thing of mystery and wonder. From the opening of the simple petal-like flaps in the brushed steel Targa hoop that releases the soft part of the hood, to the point where there’s so much going on at once it tests the elasticity of your attention, the 19-second opening ceremony deserves, at the very least, a ripple of applause.It’s the industrial scale of the operation that amazes and numbs. So many expensively whining motors, so many exquisitely timed near-misses, so few geometric shapes left unexplored. I mean, who thinks up this stuff? A performing seal spinning a ball…11 min
Evo|March 2015Watches1 BRM V6 DLEDMV From: brm-manufacture.comPrice: €2900 If you’re wondering what ‘DLEDMV’ stands for, it’s an acronym for de l’essence dans mes veines, which is what the French say instead of ‘petrolhead’. It’s also the name of a hugely successful car blog with which Gallic watchmaker Bernard Richards has teamed up to create a special version of his V6. Fans will know that the standard V6 features a 44mm case and a car-inspired ‘shock absorber’ system to protect the movement. This DLEDMV, meanwhile, is distinguished by having its hands, ‘shocks’ and strap stitching in lime green. 2 Breva Génie 03 Speedmeter From: breva-watch.comPrice: €50,000 Regular readers might recall the Breva Génie 01 ‘weather watch’ featured in evo 192. Since then the young Swiss brand has introduced the 02 altimeter watch…1 min
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Issue June 2018 - EvoEvo|March 2015Watch techSwatch Sistem51 Having revolutionised the Swiss watch business with its original, inexpensive quartz models – which have sold in the hundreds of millions since their 1983 launch – Swatch has now turned on its head the idea that a mechanical watch needs to be especially complicated. Enter the Sistem51, a self-winding watch costing £108 and which, as the name suggests, contains a mere 51 parts. Originally announced at the Baselworld watch show in April 2013, the Sistem51 movement comprises five separate modules that are formed into a single unit held together by a single screw. Perhaps most impressively of all, it’s assembled entirely by robots. The high-tech escapement has no regulator, with the beat rate instead being set at the factory by laser, negating the need for the usual manual…1 min
Evo|March 2015RALLY LEGENDSevo snapper AstonParrott focuses his lens on an unknown point in the darkness opposite. Then they appear. Headlight beams skipping over the horizon, tracing great arcs through the valley as they plot an unpredictable path down an otherwise invisible road on the far hillside.The beamsscythedownhill,leavingindelible lines on Aston’s long-exposure image. They disappear from view periodically; warbling engine note and hoots from spectators’ air horns growing louder as the lights eventually begin ascending our side of the valley. Then it reappears once more: a six-spotlight-strong lamp pod momentarily blinding the crowds as a brick-shaped Audi scrabbles around the hairpin then charges uphill and disappears once more into the night. This is rallying.Crowds no longer line the ragged edges of the stages, diving for the sidelines mere seconds before an airborne rally…13 min
Evo|March 2015Renaultsport Mégane 275 TrophyNEW ARRIVALI KNOW WHAT you’re thinking. Why didn’t I go the whole hog and blag a Trophy-R? Well, aside from the fact that there was only a handful left when I came to place my order (in marked contrast to the old Mégane R26.R, which proved hard to shift when new), having spent the last ten months living with a mid-engined two-seater, I rather fancied a car that offered a bit more practicality. Besides, much as I love the Trophy-R’s commitment to the cause, I’ve always harboured the sneaking feeling that kudos, rarity and 100kg diet notwithstanding, a well-specced Trophy would be the prime choice. This is my chance to put that theory to the test.Renault has been smart with the marketing of its hardcore RS Méganes, grabbing headlines with…3 min
Evo|March 2015SIX SHOOTERIT SHOULDN’T HURT, BUT IT DOES. You’re a connoisseur; you don’t care too much for the amazing shrinking performance figures phenomena and you don’t live for pub bragging rights. But when the Porsche 991 GT3 you’re driving gets monstered for the first time by a Corvette Z06 – and I mean buried, decimated, annihilated – well, to use the local vernacular, it kinda sucks. Fortunately the rational part of your brain kicks in again soon after. You’re in a GT3. ‘Just wait for the corners, my friend,’ you think. ‘Then it’ll be a different story.’ Only it isn’t: the Z06 doesn’t just hold its advantage – it keeps on driving away. Bit by agonising bit those four huge tailpipes you’re following get smaller and the big V8 shockwave, which earlier…16 min
Evo|March 2015On trackTHE SOUTH CIRCUIT at Bedford Autodrome is cold and greasy. You can almost hear the RS5 cackling in delight. And that gentle whimpering? Probably me when the M4 key is thrust into my hand. These are not conditions that bode well for the M4, which is spiky in the dry and pretty intimidating when there’s even a sliver of moisture on the ground. Even so, it feels like a good car in which to set the benchmark. On the first exploratory lap it’s clear that the BMW needs to be turned down as much as possible: the M DCT ’box is too violent in maximum-attack mode, lighting up the rears in a straight line when going from third to fourth gear with an angry thud. The most aggressive Sport+ throttle…2 min
Evo|March 2015Subaru WRX STINEW ARRIVALTHE VERY FOUNDATIONS of the mag were built on the impreza, Stu. it doesn’t get much more evo than this,’ said the editor as he handed me the key to our WR Blue Pearl fast fleet WRX STI. of course, nick is right. Back in the day there were times when the car park here resembled a forecourt of a specialist who only dealt in Japanese rally specials, with factory cars rubbing door handles with grey imports. The magazine’s contents page was never left wanting for an impreza v Mitsubishi twin-test.But that was more than 15 years ago and the motoring landscape has changed. a lot.Not least because Mitsubishi has recycled its Lancer evo production line to turn out plug-in hybrid SUVS, and the lukewarm hot hatch of the…3 min
Evo|March 2015Porsche I 996 CarreraIt’s been a while since my last update on the 996. Don’t worry, there have been no disasters, it’s just that progress on the planned upgrades has been slow. as you may remember, I need to get the bilsteins refurbished and while I’m at it I’ll be fitting new Powerflex bushes all round. However, the body’s tatty state was becoming too much to bear, so everything else was put on hold while I saved the funds to get a respray. I’m not one of those people who needs a 17-year-old car to be ‘as new’ in order to enjoy it, but the grazed rear bumper, split splitter and general flat, stone-chipped look was getting me down.So the 996 was booked in with Prestige Car Refinishing in northampton and my evergrudgingly-helpful…2 min
Evo|March 2015Ford Fiesta STIT’S A RATHER nippy minus 65 degrees outside as I write this. That’s cold enough to freeze petrol or make a Geordie think about a long- rather than a short-sleeved T-shirt. I’m not on the ground, but cruising at 38,000ft, looking down on a fluffy carpet of clouds over France. As it’s a BA flight there’s half-decent legroom and seat 12F has a conveniently placed porthole so that I can keep an eye on the starboard wing. All in all I’m relatively comfortable.Were I in the Fiesta, however, I think life would be equally pleasant. Naturally there would be fleeting concerns about how the ST was quite so airborne (I’ve enjoyed a bit of airtime over the odd humpback bridge, but never have I accrued enough altitude to earn air…2 min
Evo|March 2015Lancia Delta IntegraleYOU MIGHT BE expecting a wintry yarn culminating in at least the partial ruin of our italian protagonist, but the truth is that the Lancia hasn’t missed a beat. I’ve just been enjoying it.If you want to go fast in an integrale the first step is to keep the garrett t3 turbo lit. Approaching bends, come out of the throttle a half-second later than is sensible before firmly angling as appropriate the thin, corrected-grain leather steering wheel. then open up the throttle the moment the nose is tucked in. the mechanical torquesensing diff will do the rest.The reality is that outright power is humble, so you need to use as much as you can as often as possible to get the Delta flying, and fly it does. or so I…2 min
Evo|March 2015DRIVERS’ VIEWS2014 WE CCHAMPION ANTHONY DAVIDSON ‘My first experience of carbon brakes was on an F1 car back in 2001. Obviously, the overall stopping performance compared to an F3 car was a lot greater, but that was mainly due to the aerodynamic and mechanical grip rather than brake disc material. I then drove an Indy car in 2002 with steel brakes, which, contradictorily, stopped almost as well as an F1 car. ‘In terms of sheer braking power, then, I wouldn’t say carbon brakes stand out; it’s the other benefits of the material – which are naturally harder for the driver to feel, such as weight saving – that reduce overall lap time.’ CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, EVO RICHARD MEADEN ‘I can recall the anticipation of driving one of the early road applications of…2 min
Evo|March 2015Kia Proceed GTService time for the Kia this month, and with more than 14,000 miles on the clock, evo’s hardest working fast fleet member was overdue some love. As a result I now own an A4 sheet of paper with a thousand ticked boxes on it and the car has four new michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres.Eternally chock-full of heavy photography equipment, the Proceed GT was also in need of new front brake pads. the bad news was that it needed new front brake discs, too. Yes, this car works hard.With it now back in good health, I’ve wasted no time in using it for all of my shoots. the Kia’s suspension does a surprisingly good job considering it’s a sporty hot hatch, absorbing the nastiest surprises British roads have to offer.…2 min
Evo|March 2015Fast FleetRENAULT MÉGANE 275 by Richard Meaden Contributing editor NEW The (not quite) hottest of hatches joins the fleet under Meaden’s stewardship. Will it be a worthy R8 replacement? SUBARU WRX STI by Stuart Gallagher Managing editor NEW It’s a mixed start for the Impreza – sorry, WRX STI – as evo returnee Gallagher gets to grips with his new long-termer FORD FIESTA ST by Henry Catchpole Features editor You knew the ST was hugely exciting; what you didn’t know was just how utterly brilliant its heated seats are. Really VW GOLF GTI by Sam Riley Film-maker Riley hopes time and patience will reveal the true virtues of understeering winter tyres. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow BMW M4 by Dan Prosser Road tester Prosser decrees that the…2 min
Evo|March 2015Ed SpeakIT WAS, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THE most entertaining day I’ve had in my five years at evo – and I wasn’t even driving. Before Christmas, the team got distracted in an editorial meeting (no surprise there). The conversation turned to Best Motoring – a Japanese video team that produces astonishing races featuring every performance car you can dream of. Want to see an F40, a Diablo, an NSX-R, a Skyline and a Venturi go balls-out in a full-on race? Check out Best Motoring. The format is endlessly entertaining. The drivers are generally Super GT or drift stars and therefore their competitive instinct tends to overrule common sense – leading to frequent moments where you’re watching the films through partially covered eyes. We’ve wanted to create a homage…2 min
Evo|March 2015THE LEGEND: Recalling the originalTHE WORLD BECAME a poorer place in November 2005 when production of Honda’s exquisitely engineered ‘Japanese Ferrari’ ended. Nothing else possessed the original NSX’s medley of abilities. It may have had less than 300bhp, but the power delivery of its 3-litre (later 3.2) VTEC V6 seemed never-ending. And all the time that perfectly weighted steering, that sublime composure.Constructed in aluminium, bristling with race-bred tech and honed by Senna, it barely showed its 15 years in production. So easy was it to drive, so undemanding to live with and so well made, you sometimes forgot it was a supercar at all.But that was always Honda’s idea. The supercar as a switch: docile and pliable in town, the real deal on the open road. No supercar had ever done the crossover thing…1 min
Evo|March 2015Shock Ford GT to fight FerrariIF EVER AUTOMOTIVE thunder was stolen, Ford’s theft of Honda’s publicity for its second-gen NSX at the Detroit motor show was the moment it happened. Rumours of a supercar reveal circled pre-show but few expected a machine quite so over-the-top, and the car’s aggressive styling created a positive buzz within the Cobo Center.If there is any controversy, it concerns the new Ford GT’s downsized powerplant – a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 developing over 600bhp.It is, of course, an EcoBoost engine, and its deployment here demonstrates Ford’s commitment to the turbocharged petrol setup that’s now offered in every Blue Oval sold in North America and Europe, including the new Mustang. But in a supercar? Even with Ferrari 458-beating power, you can’t help but think back to the nightmare Jaguar experienced in the…3 min
Evo|March 2015OR THERE’ S THE … Shelby GT350R MustangThink of the standard Shelby Mustang GT350 as America’s take on a Porsche 911 GT3 and this new GT350R as the RS version. It has a six-speed manual gearbox, very few amenities, a big rear wing and a red line above 8000rpm. It makes for an impressive brace from Ford – as if the new GT wasn’t enough.The R is 59kg lighter than the GT350, with carbonfibre wheels contributing 24kg to that figure. Ford has even dispatched with the exhaust resonators, which is all the better for hearing the glorious 500-plus bhp flatplane-crankshaft 5.2-litre V8 engine sing.The magnetic dampers are also retuned, the suspension has been lowered and wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are fitted. Sales begin late this year, but we won’t see right-hand-drive versions or official…1 min
Evo|March 2015Detroit 2015: best of the restMINI JCW The quickest Mini John Cooper Works yet gets a 228bhp 2-litre engine and a 0-62mph time of 6.1sec. Myriad bumper vents cool the turbocharged lump and hard-worked front brakes; pricing starts at £22,865. ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER Additional bracing and an aluminium roll-bar add just 10kg to Alfa Romeo’s roofless 4C, displayed in eye-searing Giallo paintwork at Detroit. The coupe’s 237bhp turbocharged engine and dual-clutch transmission remain. BENTLEY BENTAYGA Another British SUV named but not displayed was the Bentayga. Named after a mountain on Gran Canaria, its styling will be a toned-down take on 2012’s polarising EXP 9F concept. Petrol, diesel and hybrid options will be available. PORSCHE 911 TARGA GTS An acrobatic targa roof adds another dimension to Porsche’s 911 GTS. Like the coupe, there’s Alcantara trim,…2 min
Evo|March 2015Porsche: the plan for 20151 min
Evo|March 2015How it feels to be a champWhat was your best moment of 2014? Chasing down Neel Jani in the Porsche during the final round at São Paulo, Brazil. There was a 20-second gap between us, but he had doublestinted on his tyres and I was on a fresh set; nobody had managed to double-stint on a set of tyres in the race so we knew he’d be managing his tyres and I had to be ready when they dropped off the cliff. I was driving flat-out through the traffic, closing the gap with each lap. I was on a [driving] double-stint and the circuit is a really physical and quick track – we were around three seconds a lap quicker than the previous year. The car felt great, the crowd was great and really getting involved.…2 min
Evo|March 2015Ford Focus ST TDCi EstateON PAPER THE previous-gen Focus ST had pretty much everything we look for in a hot hatch. It had a punchy turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to six well-suited ratios, the steering had plenty of feel and was quick to react to inputs (a little too quick for some, truth be told), and the chassis was taut with plenty of adjustability and good body control.But the old ST would also torque steer for England at the slightest whiff of excess throttle and therefore thwart your opportunity to enjoy that chassis and the strong, 247bhp engine. And the less said about the interior – and the centre console in particular – the better.The new ST aims to address these issues and more. Ford claims it’s the most advanced Focus to date, with…4 min
Evo|March 2015News in briefSEAT Leon ST Cupra 280 Looking for a cut-price alternative to the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R estate? SEAT’s Cupra 280-badged ST could be the answer. It develops the same 276bhp as its five-door and SC counterparts and sprints to 62mph in 6.0sec with the optional DSG transmission. Prices for SEAT’s quick estate car are set to start at a tempting £28,505. Those McLaren number plates… Several readers contacted us asking why the number plates on the McLarens in evo 205 were different on the cover to those inside the mag. The answer? we originally changed the plates out of courtesy to the owner, but then discovered he was happy to run with the originals. Unfortunately, our cover had already gone to print… BBR MX-5 MK4 We drove BBR’s latest tuned…1 min
Evo|March 2015Audi RS Q3Test location: Munich, Germany GPS: 48.135125, 11.581980IT WAS NARY a year ago that Richard Meaden’s review of the original RS Q3 was published in these very pages, and it caused something of a stir in the hushed halls of evo. R8 aside, recent RS models had been underwhelming, and there was a general fear that a sub-compact SUV (to use marketing jibber jabber) with an RS badge on it could mark an absolute low point for the RS brand. quattro GmbH’s version of the BMW X6M. Yet Dickie used words like ‘enjoyable’ and ‘responsive’ and topped it all off with four and a half stars (evo 190).Now the Q3 has been updated, which means a few tweaks have been carried out on the RS model too. From the outside it’s…3 min
Evo|March 2015TMG GT86 CS-R3Test location: estering, Germany GPS: 53.448458, 9.691589WHAT MODERN rallying is crying out for, if you believe its countless detractors, is some old-fashioned spectacle. due to the relentless march of tyre, suspension and aerodynamic technology, the quickest way through a corner is no longer to arrive backwards with an armful of corrective lock and a bootful of throttle, but to instead scribe a neat and tidy line. What’s missing, says the Ford escort mk2 generation, is rear-wheel drive.The revolution is gaining traction. In evo 205 henry Catchpole drove tuthill Porsche’s 911 GT3 R-GT, an FIA-hom*ologated machine that has already competed in the World rally Championship. and now, toyota’s dedicated motorsport division, TMG, has built a stage-going version of its Gt86 sports car.Built to mid-spec r3 regulations and developed to work on…5 min
Evo|March 2015PetrolheadIT’S LATE EVENING, CHRISTMAS DAY. THE M40 is quiet. In the dense black of a winter’s night distant lights mark out towns and villages, each full of waning family bonhomie and bilious turkey bellies. Inside our car, however, all is well. My baby son is asleep in the back while my wife dozes in the passenger seat. Then something very bad happens: the fuel light comes on.This is unwelcome. It’s been a lovely day but now it’s cold, it’s dark, and I want to get home. What I don’t want to do is stand for five minutes sluicing juice into the tank, getting all shivery and miserable, and waking up the baby in the process. But hang on here. We’re in our Merc CLS Shooting Brake family wagon. It runs…4 min
Evo|March 2015SimulationsGameLET’S RACEPrice: £25 (Race Experience) From:letsrace.co.ukWATCH OUT in the first three gears,’ we’re cautioned. ‘We’re using the new 2014 F1 cars with turbochargers, so full throttle is asking for trouble.’ We’ll need to stay off the right-hand kerb on Barcelona’s flick-flack turns seven and eight, too. There’s a hefty ‘sausage’ kerb on the inside and it’s easy to highcentre your car if you run wide.‘And if you need to get out, let us know,’ we’re finally warned. ‘if you stand up in the car and someone crashes into it, you could be launched from the co*ckpit and end up under the machinery.’ crikey. if you’d walked into the room at this point you’d be forgiven for thinking we were listening to a real race briefing, but instead we’re about to…3 min
Evo|March 2015Audi RS Q3Test location: Munich, Germany GPS: 48.135125, 11.581980 IT WAS NARY a year ago that Richard Meaden’s review of the original RS Q3 was published in these very pages, and it caused something of a stir in the hushed halls of evo. R8 aside, recent RS models had been underwhelming, and there was a general fear that a sub-compact SUV (to use marketing jibber jabber) with an RS badge on it could mark an absolute low point for the RS brand. quattro GmbH’s version of the BMW X6M. Yet Dickie used words like ‘enjoyable’ and ‘responsive’ and topped it all off with four and a half stars (evo 190). Now the Q3 has been updated, which means a few tweaks have been carried out on the RS model too. From the…3 min
Evo|March 2015InboxLetter of the MonthBond beaterSo 007’s new company car in the upcoming Bond film Spectre will be the Aston Martin DB10 (Radar, evo 205). It is without a doubt a gorgeous car that somehow resembles the shark from Live and Let Die.However, even more amazing is that the villain in Spectre will drive the incredible Jaguar C-X75 hypercar – probably the best-looking hypercar ever (not) made. And as you have reported on evo.co.uk, instead of the concept’s four-pot hybrid powertrain, the movie car will be powered by the F-type’s 5-litre V8. Not only will this probably make it a better drive than the original concept car, but it also means Bond’s Aston could well be overshadowed by the villain’s Jag.Perhaps in the light of this news, Jaguar’s ‘It’s good to…4 min
Evo|March 2015A NEW ORDER?There are cerTain benchmark cars around which categories naturally seem to form – the Golf GTI, Porsche’s 911, BMW’s M3. Rivals circle them with bigger engines, stalk them with better pricing and attempt to topple them with greater glitz. Yet somehow these challengers never quite manage to steal the crowns.But things are changing. The 991 911 no longer looks imperious and the new M3/M4 hasn’t exactly been lavished with unalloyed praise. So, splashing up the outside lane of the M1 on a wet Monday morning, the grey BMW up ahead looks very much like it’s being hunted by the two cars behind.We’re heading for the place that locals humbly call God’s Own Country. Dan Prosser is in the BMW, Will Beaumont is in the Audi RS5 and I’m in the…17 min
Evo|March 2015ENEMY WITH INKeep your friends close, but your enemies closer,’ said Michael Corleone, very slowly and quietly, in the second part of the Godfather trilogy. Good advice. ‘But,’ I might have replied in my own, widely slated Al Pacino impression, ‘the tricky thing can be knowing who is your friend and who is your enemy.’ BMW certainly keeps Alpina close. Its cars are sold through BMW dealerships and offered with BMW warranties, while the distinctive Alpina bodykits are even developed in BMW’s wind tunnel. But is the purveyor of pinstripes and multi-spokes friend or foe? With the latest B4 and D4 coupes, I’d say customers are being offered a more tempting alternative than ever to BMW’s own M4. And that makes Alpina an enemy.A quick look at the spec sheets has normally…7 min
Evo|March 2015MINIS ON TRACKTHE INTERNET IS GOOD FOR MANY, many things: shopping, staying in touch with friends and family when you can’t be bothered to actually speak to them, portraying on social media a far more exciting life than you really lead, and reading dumbed-down motoring content in bite-sized, snappy, PRheavy, detail-light form (except on evo.co.uk, of course). Allegedly.You see, I mainly use the internet for one thing. No, not that. For me the single greatest thing about the internet is watching videos from the Japanese magazine Best Motoring International. And this is evo’s little tribute to its amazing catalogue of videos that lurk on YouTube, waiting to be discovered.If you don’t know about them, the format is simple. Get a group of experienced and charismatic racers together and a bunch of rival…13 min
Evo|March 2015SimulationsGame LET’S RACE Price: £25 (Race Experience) From: letsrace.co.uk WATCH OUT in the first three gears,’ we’re cautioned. ‘We’re using the new 2014 F1 cars with turbochargers, so full throttle is asking for trouble.’ We’ll need to stay off the right-hand kerb on Barcelona’s flick-flack turns seven and eight, too. There’s a hefty ‘sausage’ kerb on the inside and it’s easy to highcentre your car if you run wide. ‘And if you need to get out, let us know,’ we’re finally warned. ‘if you stand up in the car and someone crashes into it, you could be launched from the co*ckpit and end up under the machinery.’ crikey. if you’d walked into the room at this point you’d be forgiven for thinking we were listening to a real race briefing,…3 min
Evo|March 2015HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGYCARBON WAS FIRST USED IN A BRAKING system on the Vickers VC10 aircraft in 1972. The technology was developed by Dunlop and shortly after was adopted by the Concorde programme. With twice the energy absorption capabilities of cast iron discs, the pioneering technology effectively returned four times the stopping power while saving a great deal of weight, too.Those brakes used a carbonfibre reinforced carbon construction, known as carbon-carbon. This is in contrast to modern road car applications, which use a composite of carbon and ceramic – essentially a mixture of resins and powders reinforced by carbon fibres. The advantage of carbon-carbon is durability, but the construction cost and manufacturing time is greater than that of carbon ceramic by an order of magnitude (months compared to a couple of days). Where…3 min
Evo|March 2015TEST AND RESULTSTHE OBJECTIVE OF THIS TEST WAS TO replicate the most extreme circuit use in a repeatable, measurable way. On Bedford Autodrome’s long back straight, we executed consecutive emergency stops from 100mph to standstill, with no recovery time between runs. Using a VBOX GPS data logger, we precisely measured the stopping distances to record elongation, which would illustrate how effectively each braking system resisted fade under the most demanding of conditions.To ensure our data for each car was comparable, we ran both on the same fuel load, the same tyres (Pirelli P Zeros) at the same tyre pressures, and in the same ambient conditions. The process involved accelerating briskly to 110mph, allowing the car to gradually coast down to an indicated 105mph (in order to remove as much accelerative and decelerative…6 min
Evo|March 2015Fast FleetRENAULT MÉGANE 275by Richard MeadenContributing editorNEWThe (not quite) hottest of hatches joins the fleet under Meaden’s stewardship. Will it be a worthy R8 replacement?SUBARU WRX STIby Stuart GallagherManaging editorNEWIt’s a mixed start for the Impreza – sorry, WRX STI – as evo returnee Gallagher gets to grips with his new long-termerFORD FIESTA STby Henry CatchpoleFeatures editorYou knew the ST was hugely exciting; what you didn’t know was just how utterly brilliant its heated seats are. ReallyVW GOLF GTIby Sam RileyFilm-makerRiley hopes time and patience will reveal the true virtues of understeering winter tyres. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snowBMW M4by Dan ProsserRoad testerProsser decrees that the latest M-car is most at home on the track – a verdict that bodes rather well for the next CSLPORSCHE 911…2 min
Evo|March 2015Z/28 on track?It looks fantastic and appears to go great. My only concern with a Yank tank would be weight, but the Z/28 ain’t too bad at 1732kg, and with 305-section tyres and a wider front track it should deal with the engine mass upfront. It’s worth noting that it is lighter than the Nissan GT-R, and they get plenty of track work. For me I’d say it’s a great road car for occasional track use, as I’d imagine it eats tyres and goes through superunleaded at an astonishing rate. McSwede Well, having just looked at the specs I’d happily beast the Z/28 around a track. I would pick Llandow, as it’s quite tight in places and I’d like to see if the Camaro would actually fit through the chicane at all!…2 min
Evo|March 2015BMW M4IT’S DOUBTFUL MANY privately owned BMW m4s venture onto circuits but, as long as m stands for ‘motorsport’, track performance will always be central to the m-car remit. Besides, with hardware such as the optional BMW m carbon ceramic brakes (£6250), the active m differential and that solidly mounted rear axle, the m4 should be more than cut out for a spot of track work.In fact, in certain ways it’s actually better on a circuit than it is on the road. one of its shortcomings as a fast road car is the way that it deals with vertical inputs. even undulating circuits are smoother than a typical back-road, so that dynamic flaw simply doesn’t present itself. the electrically assisted power steering, meanwhile, can be numb on the road, but with…2 min
Evo|March 2015Skoda Octavia vRSWith me taking lots of overseas trips lately, EEU has unfortunately spent the majority of the past few weeks being road tested by Purple Parking’s finest heathrow off-site valet staff. these ‘road testers’ report that they’re really impressed by the performance and the noise, which leads them to believe the car has a 3-litre V6 rather than a turbocharged 2-litre four-cylinder. they also seem gobsmacked by how far Skoda has moved on. almost as gobsmacked as I am when checking the average fuel economy when they hand back the keys. Still, who can blame them for trying to get it into single digits?Talking of noise, I’ve been playing around with the VRS’S driving modes. as with many Volkswagen group products these days, you can adjust a whole host of settings…2 min
Evo|March 2015NO MAD MENON CHRISTMAS EVE, JUST AS EVERYONE WAS BATTLING TO FIND THE end of the roll of Sellotape to finish wrapping their presents, the Ariel Motor Company sent out a tweet. It read: ‘New Year, New Website, New Car. The Ariel Nomad is coming Tuesday 6th January 2015,’ and it was accompanied by two renderings of what could only be described as fun on four wheels. Part recognisable Atom, part Tamiya RC buggy, the Nomad was a complete surprise and everyone loved it. Ariel duly released pictures and a short video of the real thing on the first Tuesday of the New Year and then unveiled it in the metal on the Bilstein stand at the Autosport show at Birmingham’s NEC a few days later. It didn’t disappoint. Several orders were…11 min
Evo|March 2015MINIS ON TRACKTHE INTERNET IS GOOD FOR MANY, many things: shopping, staying in touch with friends and family when you can’t be bothered to actually speak to them, portraying on social media a far more exciting life than you really lead, and reading dumbed-down motoring content in bite-sized, snappy, PRheavy, detail-light form (except on evo.co.uk, of course). Allegedly. You see, I mainly use the internet for one thing. No, not that. For me the single greatest thing about the internet is watching videos from the Japanese magazine Best Motoring International. And this is evo’s little tribute to its amazing catalogue of videos that lurk on YouTube, waiting to be discovered. If you don’t know about them, the format is simple. Get a group of experienced and charismatic racers together and a bunch…13 min
Evo|March 2015TARGA MANIAIN AN ERA WHEN MOST ELECTRICALLY powered roof mechanisms look as if they could detach themselves and walk down the road, the one attached to the latest Porsche 911 Targa is still a thing of mystery and wonder. From the opening of the simple petal-like flaps in the brushed steel Targa hoop that releases the soft part of the hood, to the point where there’s so much going on at once it tests the elasticity of your attention, the 19-second opening ceremony deserves, at the very least, a ripple of applause. It’s the industrial scale of the operation that amazes and numbs. So many expensively whining motors, so many exquisitely timed near-misses, so few geometric shapes left unexplored. I mean, who thinks up this stuff? A performing seal spinning a…10 min
Evo|March 2015Renaultsport Clio 182SUCHIS THE predictability of owning a rattly old French hatch that the brake issue i thought had fixed itself (evo 204) resurfaced recently. Perplexed and frustrated, i nicknamed the car Bipolar Bernadette.It was only thanks to helpful tweets from evo readers that i learned these symptoms were most likely caused by air in the ABS pump. Bleeding the brakes with the solenoid open was the fix. Finally.Car back to good health, my plans to turn it into a fast road and track toy can continue. i’ve been acutely aware of the engine rocking a little more on its original mounts lately, so i’ve decided to fit an uprated set. the web tells me this will yield a drastic improvement to throttle response and reduce gearlever movement (an issue on my…1 min
Evo|March 2015VW Golf GTIIT’S BEEN A month since I started running Pirelli Sottozero 3s on the GTI, which is long enough for a candid update on how these winter-spec tyres are performing.Now the tyres are nicely bedded in, I’ve noticed that I have lost some confidence when pushing the Golf through corners compared to how I was driving on the standardfit Bridgestone Potenza S001 summer tyres – there’s quite significant understeer, especially on roundabouts, where the traction control light blinks frantically on exit. even pulling away from junctions I’m getting significant wheelspin in second gear.Being kinder, I suppose it’s all about getting used to the rubber, and perhaps i need to adapt my driving style to get the most from the Gti on cold-weather tyres. And apart from the aforementioned concern, the Pirellis…1 min
Evo|March 2015McLaren 12c SpiderSINCE MY LAST report on the mclaren 12c Spider about eight weeks ago (evo 204), it has had it pretty easy. my air miles over this period have probably outnumbered my road miles by 100 to one. However, each time I finally made it back home, the Spider started up right away with no protest. I cannot understate the value of always leaving a car on a battery conditioner if it has to sit for a bit – that fully charged battery really helps with ice-cold starts and I firmly believe that it also helps keep all the electricals fully functional.Now the trees have all shed their leaves, the 12c has had its first proper cold-weather test. For several days on one of the rare weeks when I was in…2 min
Evo|March 2015RALLY LEGENDSevo snapper Aston Parrott focuses his lens on an unknown point in the darkness opposite. Then they appear. Headlight beams skipping over the horizon, tracing great arcs through the valley as they plot an unpredictable path down an otherwise invisible road on the far hillside. The beamsscythedownhill,leavingindelible lines on Aston’s long-exposure image. They disappear from view periodically; warbling engine note and hoots from spectators’ air horns growing louder as the lights eventually begin ascending our side of the valley. Then it reappears once more: a six-spotlight-strong lamp pod momentarily blinding the crowds as a brick-shaped Audi scrabbles around the hairpin then charges uphill and disappears once more into the night. This is rallying. Crowds no longer line the ragged edges of the stages, diving for the sidelines mere seconds before…12 min
Evo|March 2015NSX IS BACK! ...AND WHY IT DOESN’T FEAR ITS RIVALSTHE WAITING IS over. At the 2015 Detroit motor show we finally got to see Honda’s longanticipated new NSX in production form – and learned some (but not all) of its technical secrets.How long have we waited? It seems like an age, because, erm, it is. Way back in 2005, with the first-gen NSX still in full production, a stray remark from an engineer suggested that the NSX replacement would have a V10 engine and that work on it was at full gallop. When asked about this, Takeo f*ckui, Honda’s then chief exec, said he’d produce this replacement NSX when Honda won a Formula 1 grand prix... The company withdrew from F1 in 2008, though it’s planning a return with McLaren this year.That V10 NSX was shelved and so (it…7 min
Evo|March 2015THE LEGEND: Recalling the originalTHE WORLD BECAME a poorer place in November 2005 when production of Honda’s exquisitely engineered ‘Japanese Ferrari’ ended. Nothing else possessed the original NSX’s medley of abilities. It may have had less than 300bhp, but the power delivery of its 3-litre (later 3.2) VTEC V6 seemed never-ending. And all the time that perfectly weighted steering, that sublime composure. Constructed in aluminium, bristling with race-bred tech and honed by Senna, it barely showed its 15 years in production. So easy was it to drive, so undemanding to live with and so well made, you sometimes forgot it was a supercar at all. But that was always Honda’s idea. The supercar as a switch: docile and pliable in town, the real deal on the open road. No supercar had ever done the…1 min
Evo|March 2015THE RIVALS: How the new NSX comparesHONDA NSX Engine V6, 3500cc (tbc), twin-turbo, plus three electric motors Power 550bhp+ @ n/a rpm Torque n/a Weight c1450kg (est) Power to Weight 385bhp+/ton (est) 0-62mph c3.5sec (est) Top speed c200mph (est) Price c£150,000 (est) NISSAN GT-R Engine V6, 3799cc, twin-turbo Power 542bhp @ 6400rpm Torque 466lb ft @ 3200rpm Weight 1740kg Power to weight 316bhp/ton 0-60mph 3.2sec (tested) Top speed 196mph (claimed) Price £78,020 ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE S Engine V8, 4735cc Power 430bhp @ 7300rpm Torque 361lb ft @ 5000rpm Weight 1610kg Power to weight 271bhp/ton 0-62 4.5sec (claimed) Top speed 189mph (claimed) Price £99,995 MERCEDES-AMG GT-S Engine V8, 3982cc, twin-turbo Power 503bhp @ 6250rpm Torque 479lb ft @ 1750-4750rpm Weight 1570kg Power to weight 326bhp/ton 0-62 3.8sec (claimed) Top speed 192mph (limited) Price £110,495 PORSCHE 911…1 min
Evo|March 2015OR THERE’ S THE … Shelby GT350R MustangThink of the standard Shelby Mustang GT350 as America’s take on a Porsche 911 GT3 and this new GT350R as the RS version. It has a six-speed manual gearbox, very few amenities, a big rear wing and a red line above 8000rpm. It makes for an impressive brace from Ford – as if the new GT wasn’t enough. The R is 59kg lighter than the GT350, with carbonfibre wheels contributing 24kg to that figure. Ford has even dispatched with the exhaust resonators, which is all the better for hearing the glorious 500-plus bhp flatplane-crankshaft 5.2-litre V8 engine sing. The magnetic dampers are also retuned, the suspension has been lowered and wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are fitted. Sales begin late this year, but we won’t see right-hand-drive versions…1 min
Evo|March 2015WHAT MAKES A McLAREN LOOK LIKE A MCLAREN?Organic fluidity: ‘Headlamp is part of the duct’s leading edgeLightweight processes and materials: ‘Integration of components (structural P1 carbon monocell also ducts air to the engine)’Layering: ‘airflow is directed in front of and behind panels to where it’s required for cooling, downforce and heat evacuation, resulting in a lean, “lightweight” aesthetic’Active aero: ‘Combination of active front and rear diffusers and rear wings (with drag reduction system)’Shrink wrapping: ‘Optimised cabin and ergonomics help deliver minimal frontal area. Body panels shrinkwrapped over the package for optimal air flow’Controlling the air: ‘Centre-line profile is like a le Mans prototype – very low rear end for minimal dragMCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE has a new chief designer, with robert Melville (pictured) being promoted into the role having worked at Woking since 2009 as senior designer.Melville, 37, takes…2 min
Evo|March 2015evo lays down new challenge for young designersTWELVE MONTHS AGO evo ran a successful project with the Royal College of Art, specifically its first year Vehicle Design students.Their brief was to come up with an ‘evo Car of the Future’. Readers then voted for their favourite concept via our web and social channels, and winner Tom henwood took a giant stride towards a career as a car designer.This year evo and the RCA have joined forces again and set an altogether different task for the new students. we’ve asked them to reinterpret the iconic nissan GT-R for 2030. The big nissan is an evo favourite, a car with a tremendous global following and, from a design perspective, it has a number of signature features that the students can develop. The twist in the brief is that we…2 min
Evo|March 2015News in briefSEAT Leon ST Cupra 280Looking for a cut-price alternative to the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R estate? SEAT’s Cupra 280-badged ST could be the answer. It develops the same 276bhp as its five-door and SC counterparts and sprints to 62mph in 6.0sec with the optional DSG transmission. Prices for SEAT’s quick estate car are set to start at a tempting £28,505.Those McLaren number plates…Several readers contacted us asking why the number plates on the McLarens in evo 205 were different on the cover to those inside the mag. The answer? we originally changed the plates out of courtesy to the owner, but then discovered he was happy to run with the originals. Unfortunately, our cover had already gone to print…BBR MX-5 MK4We drove BBR’s latest tuned mX-5 in evo 202, but…1 min
Evo|March 2015Porsche Panamera GTSTest location: B671, Cambridgeshire, UK GPS: 52.525964, -0.395347IF YOU LIKE your supersaloon served without forced induction, diesel power or electric assistance, you have very few choices these days. Gone are the V10 M5s and non-turbo e63 AMGs of this world, and while there is a certain ‘dare to be different’ appeal about a Vauxhall VXR8 GTS, it’s unlikely to tempt anyone familiar with more prestigious brands.Step forward this £93,391 Porsche Panamera. The latest GTS, it draws attention to itself in the Panamera range for two reasons: the GTS badge (which has been attached to exceptional Porsche drivers’ cars of late) and a rollicking normally aspirated V8 engine. All other Panameras, bar the Turbo and Turbo S, are powered by six-cylinder turbocharged or, in the case of the e-Hybrid, supercharged engines.Curiously,…3 min
Evo|March 2015Audi R8 LMXTest location: Bedfordshire, uK GPS: 52.150713, -0.666821YOU DON’T NEED to be an R8 geek to be seduced by the runout limited-edition LMX, but if you do happen to be a fan of Audi’s original supercar its myriad details and distinguishing features make it something rather special.Based on the R8 V10 Plus, a total of just 99 LMXs will be built. the chances of encountering one in the wild are slim to say the least, but you’re unlikely to confuse it with a common or garden model. externally there’s plenty to catch your eye, not least the beautiful metallic Ara Blue paintwork (matt-finish daytona Grey and Mythos Black are also available) and a large fixed wing that sits proudly on the tail. Like the front splitter, canards, mirrors, side blades and…4 min
Evo|March 2015STEER-BY-WIRE EXPLAINEDIT’S NOT NEWS that modern cars are becoming more dependent on electronic controls. We already have throttle-by-wire, where you dictate the amount of throttle by the position of a sensor under your foot. But how would you feel about removing the mechanical link in something potentially more serious, such as the car’s steering? That is exactly what Infiniti has done with the Q50 saloon’s ‘Direct Adaptive Steering’ (DAS) system, which is the first of its kind in a production car. It uses a steering position sensor behind the wheel that sends a signal to the steering rack via three computer-controlled modules. Before you spit out your tea and complain about what might happen if electrical power was lost, Infiniti has planned for that eventuality. The old pinion connection between the…3 min
Evo|March 2015Ford Focus ST TDCi EstateON PAPER THE previous-gen Focus ST had pretty much everything we look for in a hot hatch. It had a punchy turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to six well-suited ratios, the steering had plenty of feel and was quick to react to inputs (a little too quick for some, truth be told), and the chassis was taut with plenty of adjustability and good body control. But the old ST would also torque steer for England at the slightest whiff of excess throttle and therefore thwart your opportunity to enjoy that chassis and the strong, 247bhp engine. And the less said about the interior – and the centre console in particular – the better. The new ST aims to address these issues and more. Ford claims it’s the most advanced Focus to…4 min
Evo|March 2015ChampLOGIC SUGGESTS THAT A NEW CAR WILL always be better than the car it replaces. This is nearly always the case because rarely does a manufacturer take a backwards step and release a model that’s genuinely worse than before. The new car might be different – and therefore a few of us will declare that it’s not as good – but in reality it will be better. New cars are cleaner, more powerful and offer stronger performance. That makes them better, right?Before Christmas a 991 GT3 came into my life. It’s a sensational car and I can see why evo holds it in such high regard, but as a diehard Porsche fan and serial 911 owner I was a little hesitant about buying a car that could only be specified…4 min
Evo|March 2015Watches1 BRM V6 DLEDMVFrom:brm-manufacture.comPrice: €2900If you’re wondering what ‘DLEDMV’ stands for, it’s an acronym for de l’essence dans mes veines, which is what the French say instead of ‘petrolhead’. It’s also the name of a hugely successful car blog with which Gallic watchmaker Bernard Richards has teamed up to create a special version of his V6. Fans will know that the standard V6 features a 44mm case and a car-inspired ‘shock absorber’ system to protect the movement. This DLEDMV, meanwhile, is distinguished by having its hands, ‘shocks’ and strap stitching in lime green.2 Breva Génie 03 SpeedmeterFrom:breva-watch.comPrice: €50,000Regular readers might recall the Breva Génie 01 ‘weather watch’ featured in evo 192. Since then the young Swiss brand has introduced the 02 altimeter watch and pulled the wraps off this, the…1 min
Evo|March 2015Watch techSwatch Sistem51Having revolutionised the Swiss watch business with its original, inexpensive quartz models – which have sold in the hundreds of millions since their 1983 launch – Swatch has now turned on its head the idea that a mechanical watch needs to be especially complicated. Enter the Sistem51, a self-winding watch costing £108 and which, as the name suggests, contains a mere 51 parts.Originally announced at the Baselworld watch show in April 2013, the Sistem51 movement comprises five separate modules that are formed into a single unit held together by a single screw. Perhaps most impressively of all, it’s assembled entirely by robots. The high-tech escapement has no regulator, with the beat rate instead being set at the factory by laser, negating the need for the usual manual adjustments.With a…1 min
Evo|March 2015Z/28 on track?It looks fantastic and appears to go great. My only concern with a Yank tank would be weight, but the Z/28 ain’t too bad at 1732kg, and with 305-section tyres and a wider front track it should deal with the engine mass upfront. It’s worth noting that it is lighter than the Nissan GT-R, and they get plenty of track work.For me I’d say it’s a great road car for occasional track use, as I’d imagine it eats tyres and goes through superunleaded at an astonishing rate.McSwedeWell, having just looked at the specs I’d happily beast the Z/28 around a track. I would pick Llandow, as it’s quite tight in places and I’d like to see if the Camaro would actually fit through the chicane at all!FlewyI wouldn’t choose a…3 min
Evo|March 2015TMG GT86 CS-R3Test location: estering, Germany GPS: 53.448458, 9.691589 WHAT MODERN rallying is crying out for, if you believe its countless detractors, is some old-fashioned spectacle. due to the relentless march of tyre, suspension and aerodynamic technology, the quickest way through a corner is no longer to arrive backwards with an armful of corrective lock and a bootful of throttle, but to instead scribe a neat and tidy line. What’s missing, says the Ford escort mk2 generation, is rear-wheel drive. The revolution is gaining traction. In evo 205 henry Catchpole drove tuthill Porsche’s 911 GT3 R-GT, an FIA-hom*ologated machine that has already competed in the World rally Championship. and now, toyota’s dedicated motorsport division, TMG, has built a stage-going version of its Gt86 sports car. Built to mid-spec r3 regulations and developed…5 min
Evo|March 2015Outside LineIF THERE’S ONE CERTAINTY IN THIS chaotic and rather daft job of mine, it’s being asked what the best car I’ve ever driven is. I’m a little ashamed to say the only thing more predictable than the question is my answer: the McLaren F1. However, ask me what ranks as the best drive I’ve ever had and it’d take a great deal more thought to arrive at the definitive answer. It’s not simply a case of trawling through the fastest, most exotic cars I’ve been fortunate enough to try. A supercar never harms your chances of experiencing something unforgettable, but it’s by no means a guarantee. To prove the point, although I’ve driven numerous F1s, one hasn’t played a starring role in my best drives. It’s a fine and rather…4 min
Evo|March 2015PetrolheadIT’S LATE EVENING, CHRISTMAS DAY. THE M40 is quiet. In the dense black of a winter’s night distant lights mark out towns and villages, each full of waning family bonhomie and bilious turkey bellies. Inside our car, however, all is well. My baby son is asleep in the back while my wife dozes in the passenger seat. Then something very bad happens: the fuel light comes on. This is unwelcome. It’s been a lovely day but now it’s cold, it’s dark, and I want to get home. What I don’t want to do is stand for five minutes sluicing juice into the tank, getting all shivery and miserable, and waking up the baby in the process. But hang on here. We’re in our Merc CLS Shooting Brake family wagon. It…4 min
Evo|March 2015ChampLOGIC SUGGESTS THAT A NEW CAR WILL always be better than the car it replaces. This is nearly always the case because rarely does a manufacturer take a backwards step and release a model that’s genuinely worse than before. The new car might be different – and therefore a few of us will declare that it’s not as good – but in reality it will be better. New cars are cleaner, more powerful and offer stronger performance. That makes them better, right? Before Christmas a 991 GT3 came into my life. It’s a sensational car and I can see why evo holds it in such high regard, but as a diehard Porsche fan and serial 911 owner I was a little hesitant about buying a car that could only be…4 min
Evo|March 2015CERAMIC BRAKES DEMYSTIFIEDPERHAPS THE BIGGEST innovation in road car braking technology since the widespread adoption of ABS has been the introduction of carbon ceramic brake systems. the technology, derived from aviation and motorsport, promises significant performance gains, albeit at a cost – Porsche charges £5787 for its PCCB carbon ceramic brakes, while BMW wants £6250 for the m3/m4’s uprated system, which is more than 10 per cent of the list price of the car itself. you’ll also have to fork out some £7400 for a set of ceramic stoppers on your Jaguar F-type r Coupe. the list of second-hand performance cars that trade for that kind of money is long and distracting…In an effort to provide some sort of objective platform from which to judge the value of carbon ceramic brake systems,…1 min
Evo|March 2015DRIVERS’ VIEWS2014 WE CCHAMPIONANTHONY DAVIDSON‘My first experience of carbon brakes was on an F1 car back in 2001. Obviously, the overall stopping performance compared to an F3 car was a lot greater, but that was mainly due to the aerodynamic and mechanical grip rather than brake disc material. I then drove an Indy car in 2002 with steel brakes, which, contradictorily, stopped almost as well as an F1 car.‘In terms of sheer braking power, then, I wouldn’t say carbon brakes stand out; it’s the other benefits of the material – which are naturally harder for the driver to feel, such as weight saving – that reduce overall lap time.’CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, EVORICHARD MEADEN‘I can recall the anticipation of driving one of the early road applications of carbon ceramic brakes – the Porsche…2 min
Evo|March 2015InboxLetter of the Month Bond beater So 007’s new company car in the upcoming Bond film Spectre will be the Aston Martin DB10 (Radar, evo 205). It is without a doubt a gorgeous car that somehow resembles the shark from Live and Let Die. However, even more amazing is that the villain in Spectre will drive the incredible Jaguar C-X75 hypercar – probably the best-looking hypercar ever (not) made. And as you have reported on evo.co.uk, instead of the concept’s four-pot hybrid powertrain, the movie car will be powered by the F-type’s 5-litre V8. Not only will this probably make it a better drive than the original concept car, but it also means Bond’s Aston could well be overshadowed by the villain’s Jag. Perhaps in the light of this news,…4 min
Evo|March 2015BMW 2002FIT A CAGE, I thought. How hard can that be? It can’t take much more than a weekend’s work…Almost 12 months after deciding to install a cage I finally fixed a Safety Devices frame to the inside of my car – only to remove it almost immediately. Don’t worry, I don’t now think that a six-point cage (the rear portion of which is shown here) with a cross brace, harness bar and door bars is too extreme for a humble road car. No, I still think it’s a perfectly sensible idea. It’s just that the cage only went inside so that the reinforcement plates could be correctly welded into position before the car was painted.But it didn’t exactly slip in. Like a tortuous puzzle, it required a few attempts and…2 min
Evo|March 2015A NEW ORDER?There are cerTain benchmark cars around which categories naturally seem to form – the Golf GTI, Porsche’s 911, BMW’s M3. Rivals circle them with bigger engines, stalk them with better pricing and attempt to topple them with greater glitz. Yet somehow these challengers never quite manage to steal the crowns. But things are changing. The 991 911 no longer looks imperious and the new M3/M4 hasn’t exactly been lavished with unalloyed praise. So, splashing up the outside lane of the M1 on a wet Monday morning, the grey BMW up ahead looks very much like it’s being hunted by the two cars behind. We’re heading for the place that locals humbly call God’s Own Country. Dan Prosser is in the BMW, Will Beaumont is in the Audi RS5 and I’m…17 min
Evo|March 2015ENEMY WITH INKeep your friends close, but your enemies closer,’ said Michael Corleone, very slowly and quietly, in the second part of the Godfather trilogy. Good advice. ‘But,’ I might have replied in my own, widely slated Al Pacino impression, ‘the tricky thing can be knowing who is your friend and who is your enemy.’ BMW certainly keeps Alpina close. Its cars are sold through BMW dealerships and offered with BMW warranties, while the distinctive Alpina bodykits are even developed in BMW’s wind tunnel. But is the purveyor of pinstripes and multi-spokes friend or foe? With the latest B4 and D4 coupes, I’d say customers are being offered a more tempting alternative than ever to BMW’s own M4. And that makes Alpina an enemy. A quick look at the spec sheets has…6 min
Evo|March 2015Porsche 911 SCI’ve got a real thing for driving my SC at night – especially at this time of year when the air is cold and the surface a little slippery.There’s something satisfying about the ritual of climbing into the car, adjusting the heater sliders, giving the engine a good few minutes to warm up and then slithering out onto the road. that is, until you realise you can’t see a thing. Yep, there are many pleasures of driving an old 911 when the sun has gone down, but rubbish headlamps counteract them in one fell swoop.RPM technik, which carries out the repair and servicing work on my SC, suggested I try its lumetechnik LED headlight conversion. Putting 21st century headlight tech on a car from the ’80s? Sounds good to me.LEDS…2 min
Evo|March 2015Audi S1IT’S STILL VERY early days with the s1 and, due to my being away a lot in the run-up to Christmas, it’s covered few miles. Frustrating, as I’m still running the engine in so can’t use the full rev range, nor full throttle. having said that, 273lb ft available from just 1600rpm means we’re hardly crawling around. In fact the engine feels super-strong and I can’t wait to cross the magic 1000-mile mark so I can give the s1 a proper workout.The weather turned pretty much as the s1 arrived and I’ve got a feeling that it will excel in wet and wintry conditions. It’s running on 225/30 r18 Bridgestone Potenza s001s (not winters, although I might investigate some), so there’s plenty of grip. But rather than feeling locked-down, the…2 min
Evo|March 2015CERAMIC BRAKES DEMYSTIFIEDPERHAPS THE BIGGEST innovation in road car braking technology since the widespread adoption of ABS has been the introduction of carbon ceramic brake systems. the technology, derived from aviation and motorsport, promises significant performance gains, albeit at a cost – Porsche charges £5787 for its PCCB carbon ceramic brakes, while BMW wants £6250 for the m3/m4’s uprated system, which is more than 10 per cent of the list price of the car itself. you’ll also have to fork out some £7400 for a set of ceramic stoppers on your Jaguar F-type r Coupe. the list of second-hand performance cars that trade for that kind of money is long and distracting… In an effort to provide some sort of objective platform from which to judge the value of carbon ceramic brake…1 min
Evo|March 2015HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGYCARBON WAS FIRST USED IN A BRAKING system on the Vickers VC10 aircraft in 1972. The technology was developed by Dunlop and shortly after was adopted by the Concorde programme. With twice the energy absorption capabilities of cast iron discs, the pioneering technology effectively returned four times the stopping power while saving a great deal of weight, too. Those brakes used a carbonfibre reinforced carbon construction, known as carbon-carbon. This is in contrast to modern road car applications, which use a composite of carbon and ceramic – essentially a mixture of resins and powders reinforced by carbon fibres. The advantage of carbon-carbon is durability, but the construction cost and manufacturing time is greater than that of carbon ceramic by an order of magnitude (months compared to a couple of days).…3 min
Evo|March 2015TEST AND RESULTSTHE OBJECTIVE OF THIS TEST WAS TO replicate the most extreme circuit use in a repeatable, measurable way. On Bedford Autodrome’s long back straight, we executed consecutive emergency stops from 100mph to standstill, with no recovery time between runs. Using a VBOX GPS data logger, we precisely measured the stopping distances to record elongation, which would illustrate how effectively each braking system resisted fade under the most demanding of conditions. To ensure our data for each car was comparable, we ran both on the same fuel load, the same tyres (Pirelli P Zeros) at the same tyre pressures, and in the same ambient conditions. The process involved accelerating briskly to 110mph, allowing the car to gradually coast down to an indicated 105mph (in order to remove as much accelerative and…6 min
Evo|March 2015CHRYSLER 300C HEMI V8The Next Big ThingI KNOW WHAT you’re thinking: the 300C is already a big thing, and a somewhat preposterous and ungainly one, too. True, it’s not the ideal car for tackling a trackday at Croft or a record-breaking run up the Futa Pass, but with oil prices plummeting, pump prices dropping and the government’s admission that promoting ‘low emission’ diesels was a mistake, has there ever been a better time to splurge on a shameless, gasguzzling muscle car?Well, probably. But if you believe in the old American adage that ‘you can’t beat cubes’, you probably won’t need much persuading that there really ought to be a Hemi-engined 300C on your drive, even if it is only there so you can annoy your neighbours by doing rolling burnouts every time you…2 min
Evo|March 2015Or consider…Vauxhall MonaroThis Vauxhall take on the muscle car was essentially a rebadged version of Australia’s Holden Monaro. Coupe body, V8 engine, six-speed manual and up to 493bhp – all from just £9k. Superseded by the VXR8 saloon.Lotus CarltonControversial in its early-’90s heyday thanks to an unrestricted 177mph top speed, made possible by its 377bhp twin-turbo V8. Just 950 built, and only 320 in right-hand drive, so prices can now nudge £40,000.Bentley Turbo RYou could buy a 300C and fit a ‘Bentley’ grille – or just buy a Turbo R for under £10k.…1 min
Evo|March 2015Ask the expertQ I currently own a 2006 BMW M5 (E60) that I only drive on weekends. However, I don’t need a four-door car and would prefer to change into a more sports-focused coupe. Question is: do I hold on to the E60 M5 in hope that it will one day become a little more collectible? Or should I sell now and get into something like a CLK63 Black Series, Porsche 996 GT3 or Turbo, Porsche 993 Carrera or Ferrari 360 Modena? Enjoyment and investment potential are key concerns. Vince Trimboli, Melbourne, AustraliaA I’m uncertain how the E60 M5 market is holding up down under, but here in the UK a good example of the same vintage as yours can easily be had for £20,000, and sometimes less. In all likelihood, values…1 min
