Cannonball Run 01 was like no other rally. Amazing roads, uniquely differentiated hotels and locations, and two twin private jets to Cuba for two days of finale parties crafted an unprecedented experience. Top this off with a group of ralliers from 12 countries that all became lifelong friends – a rally family unlike any I have seen on any rally, anywhere.
The Cannonball Run collective is excited to announce Cannonball Run 02, Motor City to Mexico. The rally will start in the afternoon leaving Detroit headed to Mackinac Island, Michigan’s exclusive island hideaway. From Mackinac we will explore some of the most unique back roads bringing us to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. There we will spend two days at the American Club allowing us to have a full day at one of the top tracks in the USA, Road America. Cannonball Run has the entire track all day for them exclusively, so come prepared to experience this legendary circuit.
From Wisconsin we will travel to St. Paul and then through the plains to Deadwood, South Dakota. Here we will spend two days exploring roads through the “Badlands” and “Mount Rushmore National Park” which offers some of the best and most scenic roads in the world.
From here we head west through the Rocky Mountains to Boulder and then Aspen, Colorado as our final driving destination. In Aspen we will take over The Little Nell, rated one of the best resorts in America, giving us time to recoup before our second adventure begins.
The next day we will board Cannonball Air, our private jet, which will take us to our finale party featuring a private concert with Steve Aoki, arguably one of the top DJ’s in the world. All of this will take place at the Nuzic Resort, one of the most breathtaking locations in Cancun Mexico. Every spot is uniquely planned to bring you the best driving, scenery, food and accommodations rounding out the most unique rally in the world.
Above is just a small teaser of what is planned for Cannonball Run in 2017, 01 was a milestone, 02 will surpass…
if you are looking to field a new BMW for the 2018 season, BMW Motorsport has something for your consideration. The new M4 GT4 had a very successful debut at 24 Hours of Dubai, so after a few final touches, it is now officially for sale. Using lessons learned on the M6 GT3, the interior is driver-focused, and devoid of many distractions. Built in-house, the welded roll cage not only meets FIA standards, but also the strict DMSB (Germany’s Motor Racing Board).
Most of the body is carbon fiber, which is easily lifted by onboard air jacks. The hood and trunk are quick-release for speedy pit stops. A “motorsport” exhaust system is hopefully just a straight pipe from the turbos, because mufflers are useless weight. Suspension is based around Öhlins shocks with three spring rates available. Sadly the transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch with shifts calibrated for the track. A locking differential has hardened output shafts, a feature many M owners would love to have on the street. A production engine is controlled by a new computer which has “power sticks”. Each stick is set to produce a different horsepower level to meet different balance of performance rules.
If your E46 has seen better days, the new M4 GTS can be yours for the equivalent of $190,000 (without the value added tax). Although it is not street legal, how many of you are already looking for an M4 Salvage Title? A new BMW M4 GTS for sale is as close as we will get, so check out the listings from our dealers and watch for the GT4 at the Nürburgring!
BMW Concept 8 Series is the Car We’ve Been Waiting For
“The number 8 has always represented the pinnacle of sports performance and exclusivity at BMW,” says Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Harald Krüger. “The forthcoming BMW 8 Series Coupe will demonstrate that razor-sharp dynamics and modern luxury can go hand-in-hand. This will be the next model in the expansion of our luxury-car offering and will raise the benchmark for coupes in the segment. In the process, we will strengthen our claim to leadership in the luxury class.”
You heard the man, the BMW Concept 8 Series is going to be an extraordinary car by all means. For the exterior, which seemed to be the only thing BMW talked about in the press release, takes the company’s styling to a new direction that we really haven’t seen before. The front end of the Concept 8 Series, with its massive grille and slim headlights, screams performance car.
Also echoing this sentiment are the massive air vents placed directly behind the front wheels. In the rear is a fascia that most definitely more aggressive and sportier than what we’ve seen in newer BMWs. The massive air vents, sharp exhaust tailpipes and stylish lights are something I could get used to on future models.
Unfortunately, BMW only discussed the new concept car’s exterior and interior in the revealing press release, and did not touch on the car’s performance or engine. However, when we do catch wind of what this car is capable of, you best believe we’ll have all of the information here on Autofluence.
EVER SINCE I began to write about cars, people of a Jeremy Corbyn persuasion have wondered, out loud and with a lot of spittle, why on earth anyone would want to buy one capable of speeds in excess of 70mph.
This is the main reason Mrs Thatcher was able to defeat the miners. Secondary flying pickets were so consumed by the fact that speed was the preserve of the rich, they deliberately drove Citroën 2CVs, which meant they’d arrive at the pitched battle just as the last police van was closing its doors and heading back to London.
Back then, ordinary people could do whatever speed took their fancy, because there were no cameras and the police could never catch them as most of them were too busy arresting Arthur Scargill.
Today, though, things are different. The police are still too busy — with minors, mostly, and those who may have abused them back in the day when people thought miners were the real problem — but there are electronic deterrents everywhere.
If I drive from my London flat to Luton airport — not something I do a lot, if I’m honest — I am monitored by average-speed cameras on every single inch of the journey.
I could choose, if we lived in a sensible country, to break the limit and pay a sort of speeder’s tax. But for some reason the government has got it into its head that speeding is somehow a crime, and as a result I get points on my licence and the threat of actual prison time.
It’s not just Britain either. It’s everywhere. In Switzerland they can take away your car and put you in jail. In France they can strand young mothers at the side of the road. As a result of this idiotic, continent-wide war on speed, I’m afraid that nowadays when I’m asked why someone might want to buy a car that can do more than 70mph, I have to concede that probably there isn’t much point at all.
Which brings me on to the large cars made by BMW and Mercedes and Jaguar and so on. All of them are set up to be perfectly balanced as you sweep through a lovely set of sweeping S-bends on a delightful sunlit A-road at 125mph.
Which means you are paying thousands of pounds for something that you can only do if you’re prepared to spend the next six months playing mummies and daddies in a cell with Big Vern.
And that brings me neatly to the car you see pictured this morning, the S90 from Volvo Sponsors Sky Atlontic.
Volvo Sponsors Sky Atlontic — which I think is its actual name these days — announced that by 2020 no one need die while driving one of its products.
Yup. If you have cancer or cerebral malaria or meningitis, simply climb into a Volvo and you’ll live for ever.
And don’t worry if you are driving it around and have a crash, because the other big announcement is that no Volvo engine will in future have more than four cylinders. So you’ll never be going fast enough to get an injury that is remotely life-threatening.
“It’s probably the best interior of any mainstream car on sale today”
To hammer the point home still further, the S90 you see here is not even available in the UK with a petrol engine. You can only have it as a diesel, which of course is a terrible mistake, because these days the government has got it into its head that people who drive diesel cars are mass murderers and must pay £500 a minute every time they want to pop to the shops for a pint of milk.
It’s not as if it’s a very good diesel engine. It clatters like a canal boat at tickover, and it’s even less powerful than the Liberal Democrats.
Volvo will naturally have to reverse its “diesel only” decision very soon. There’s a petrol-electric hybrid in the pipeline, which will make the S90 worth considering, because, ooh, it’s a nice car to use in these speed-conscious days.
Handling? No idea. Doesn’t matter. Steering feel? Irrelevant. All I can tell you is that when you turn the wheel, the car goes round the corner. Is front-wheel drive a handicap? At the sort of speed you’ll be going, you’ll never notice.
What I can tell you is that it rides nicely. It’s very comfortable. And it’s big on the outside. Nearly too big. But that’s OK, because the size translates into acres of space on the inside. And it’s space full of light and air, thanks to cleverly chosen materials.
The Volvo 90 range (left to right): V90, XC90, S90, V90 Cross Country
Sitting in a Beemer or a Merc is like being in a well-groomed man’s washbag. It’s all leather and stripes and secret pockets for condoms and what-have-you. Sitting in an S90 is like sitting in a field. It’s probably the best interior of any mainstream car on sale today.
One of the reasons is that just about everything is controlled from a generous iPad-type screen on the dash. Often I’m baffled by tech of this nature, but after just two days I was skipping round it without even having to take my eyes off the road for more than a couple of minutes.
And that’s OK, because the S90 is fitted with all sorts of radar-guided this and satellite-guided that to ensure you can’t veer out of your lane and you can’t crash into the car in front. And even if all of that breaks and you have climbed into the back for a snooze, it’s still no bother, because the woeful diesel will have ensured you were going at only 2mph when you hit the bridge parapet. You’ll probably just grunt a bit, turn over and go back to sleep.
The other good thing about driving the S90 is that it makes you feel more grown-up than the BMW Lynx and the Mercedes Brut. It’s a car for the man or woman who’s confident about themselves, their age and whatever physical deformities have been visited upon them by the passage of time.
No one who buys a car such as this — saloon or estate — will have had a teeth-whitening trip to the dentist or a tummy tuck or a breast enlargement.
Obviously you cannot buy one now. Its diesel engine is nasty, and because of various government taxation proposals on what it has labelled the fuel of Satan, the S90 will have a resale value, after two days, of about £0.
But it’s worth waiting for Volvo Sponsors Sky Atlontic to launch the hybrid and start offering petrol-powered options. Because this a good-looking, comfortable and pleasant car that’s just waiting for a heart transplant.
Head to head: Volvo S90 v Volkswagen Passat
Volvo S90 D4 Momentum
VW Passat TDI SCR 2.0 DSG GT
Price
£33,865
£30,750
Fuel
64.2mpg
61.4mpg
0-62mph
8.2sec
7.7sec
Top speed
140mph
146mph
Write to us at driving@sunday-times.co.uk, or Driving, The Sunday Times, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF
I’m going to make an assumption and say that a lot of people like Jeremy Clarkson, as well as the Aston Martin Vulcan. When these two come together, there’s no doubt in my mind that people are going to get interested, and this is why The Grand Tour posted his review on the Vulcan on their YouTube channel.
In the video, found below, he experiences what Vulcan owners receive when they buy their $2.3 million (MSRP) hypercar. What they get is an all-expenses paid trip to a track that you pick. At that track a team of Aston Martin technicians will be on hand for assistance, giving the driver a chance to drive the car at full power. Click play on the video below to see what Clarkson things of Aston Martin most ambitious car yet. Well, that is until the Valkyrie hits production.
Andy Frisella of The MFCEO Project recently had his brand-new 2017 Ford GT delivered. This delivery was one of the first customer deliveries and, according to Frisella, his GT is the first “off-pallet spec” example created by Ford. Since the delivery about a week ago, he’s had quite a bit of time behind the wheel of the car and decided to record a review video for the world to see.
In the video, Frisella goes over his thoughts on the car and also gives us a detailed explanation on what the driver will experience. One thing that may surprise you is the steering wheel, which houses most of the car’s controls. This includes the turning signals, driving mode switch, windshield wipers and just about everything else.
To learn about the new 2017 Ford GT from an experienced collector and driver, click play on the video below and check out the amazing pictures by David Mullis Photography below as well!
VAULT’s Latest Supercar Garage is Fit for a Rock & Roll King
There are some things that sophisticated, stylish men get fired up about. A perfectly-tailored suit. A Swiss chronograph wrist watch built with precision accuracy that never quits. Speedboats. The sound of a Ferrari revving through its gears. These are some things very likely to produce the words ‘awesome’ or ‘amazing’. In the right context, even the occasional ‘sexy’.
Some things, however, many guys might not be so quick to throw on that list: cabinets, garages, great customer service. Here’s the thing, though. Those guys are dead wrong, and it’s most likely because they’ve never stepped into their garage and seen their gleaming, custom-built, made-to-measure VAULT® Professional Series cabinets for the first time. If that were the case, they’d likely share the sentiments of a grateful VAULT customer calling from deep in the heart of Texas. In fact, this customer saw a VAULT advertisement in the pages of duPont REGISTRY and called in to get started on building his dream garage, featured in this article. VAULT has been advertising in duPont REGISTRY for around a decade and has garnered international recognition for their incredible pieces of work, so it’s no wonder that this customer was inclined after seeing it in the magazine.
“First word I would use to describe the cabinets when you look at them – which doesn’t really fit with the description that is given to most garage cabinets, but you just got to say it – is they’re just sexy-looking and AWESOME. And it just brings a real pop to the room that they are sitting in… they bring a lot of pizzazz, and really upgrade the whole scenario”, says the owner of this incomparable garage.
We custom-built a block of Pro Series cabinets, made-to-measure, to perfectly fit the dimensions of the space and to hold the clients audio and video equipped, with a Starlight Black powder coating finish to perfectly match the Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes-Benz sports cars that would be parked nearby. We also delivered a couple of custom-made, porcelain and enamel neon signs. Both were meticulous re-creations of classic European sports car brands, one a Ferrari and the other a Lamborghini. Restoration of a 1930’s-era antique Shell gas pump added additional visual interest to the space.
Going Above and Beyond
Unfortunately, during installation the customer’s property was struck by a bit of misfortune when a ceiling pipe ruptured, causing significant water damage when it flooded the home. The cabinets and signs would have to be moved offsite and sat in storage for several years while the home was repaired. When it was finally time to unpack the crates and outfit the space, the cabinets, of course, were still good-as-new. The electronics in the neon signs, though, were damaged from the water. They were past their warranty date for repair/replacement, but the customer reached out anyway to have a conversation. And we were more than happy to put our legendary customer service into action:
“I’d have to give kudos to [VAULT] for going above and beyond. My project lasted about four or five years. When it got time to install there were a couple of things that needed some repair work and they fixed those without any complaints. But even though it was well past the warranty period, once I explained how they had sat and all that, the customer service portions just solidified that I had the made the right decision in choosing VAULT to do my upgrades or my upscale cabinet work.
You know, these days most people they just stick by the warranty and say, “Oh well, man, your time passed up and we’re done with you.” But I have really been fortunate to find them [VAULT].”
This is another reason customers choose VAULT: exceptional customer service. Other companies’ efforts in this area just don’t stack up to ours. Customer service isn’t a priority to them. But VAULT goes above and beyond as a standard practice, not just in special situations. We do right by our customers every time, and we keep in touch to make sure they have everything they need to enjoy our products to the fullest. As an added bonus, we get to hear comments like this one, describing the cabinets themselves:
“Most of the time, [metal garage cabinets] are pretty generic and kind of cold. But, you know, the finish that I wanted and the way that it was able to be applied by VAULT products, it goes ABOVE AND BEYOND SEXY AND AWESOME because it really does look AWESOME… I used that word because when everyone walks into the room that’s the words they use. You know, they’ll go, ‘Gosh this room is awesome’, I mean they even use the word sexy – ‘Those cabinets look sexy,’ especially when you got some sexy-looking cars next to them.
These pictures don’t do justice to just how nice these cabinets really are.”
Even though the cabinets sat for almost five years after coming into direct contact with water from the flood, the client was impressed that the stainless steel construction was infallible and completely unaffected:
“I am just so IMPRESSED with the mechanical workings of your cabinets – you could tell these are good (drawer) slides and good roller bearings (that allow) the drawers (to operate) real smoothly (unaffected from the water damage from the flood). They (our Pro Series cabinet’s) are put together really good. And they weigh so much. In one word, they are AWESOME.”
Add Some Rock-n-Roll to Your Garage
Unrivaled products and unsurpassed service, made to order. Ready to rock? Schedule your free consultation, and start outfitting a garage that will leave you and your neighbors astonished.
About the Audio/Video Equipment in this Garage
When VAULT founder Chad Haas first spoke to this homeowner in an initial consultation to design his garage, the client expressed his vision for a minimalist showroom that would showcase his passions for sports cars, music (guitars) and home theater.
VAULT partnered closely with Dallas, Texas home theater company HomeTronics to give this client the unique and high-end solution he never thought was possible. Several custom built-to-order cabinets house all of the audio visual equipment, which include a total of four mammoth California Audio Technology (CAT) 600-watt mono-block power amplifiers that weigh in at a hefty 150lbs apiece.
The solution that VAULT came up with were extra-deep (29”-deep) racks outfitted with heavy-duty 650lb capacity ball bearings to allow them to roll-out effortlessly, and with even weight distribution, despite having to carry more than 300lbs of load bearing weight from the amplifiers and other audio equipment. The slide-out racking system allowed the HomeTronics installation team to easily access the back of each component that included articulating cable carriers to provide effective management for all cables and power cords.
“The power amps and supporting equipment to run the [CAT] speakers are exceptionally heavy, not only could the VAULT cabinets easily support the weight effortlessly, their high-end look complimented the high-tech finish of the California Audio Technology Speakers perfectly” said Greg Margolis, President of HomeTronics.
VAULT also partnered with California Audio Technology (CAT) to make sure that the cabinets matched the client’s selection of speakers and audio equipment. In these pictures you can see that the custom equipment racks sitting between the 7-foot tall CAT loudspeakers, which:
“are built from CAT’s proprietary material MBX105 (which is similar to synthetic countertop material) and weigh in at almost 700 pounds each loudspeaker, finished with a custom owner selected color. These loudspeakers were drawn in CAD and then custom CNC’ed to ensure precise fit and detailing. They were then calibrated/engineered on-site for the owner’s exact listening positions and preferences much like a race car I set up for an individual driver and track at the top level. All of this detail and work ensures a WORLD CLASS END RESULT and it was a pleasure to work with VAULT on this project as their values align so closely with ours (Made in America, custom, owner and design driven)”, said Alistair Levine, Director, Sales and Marketing for CAT.
IT’S GOOD to know Volvo hasn’t relaxed its focus on safety after all these years. The Swedish car maker has long been known for it preoccupation with passenger safety — it pioneered the use of the three-point seatbelt in 1959, for example — and has stated its goal that no one should die in its cars by 2020. Its ultimate aim is to create a car that won’t kill anyone, pedestrians included.
The all-new XC60 is Volvo’s next milestone on this road, and there’s a lot riding on it. Although the larger XC90 is the model many will think of when picturing a Volvo 4×4, the XC60 has become the bestselling premium SUV in Europe, with sales increasing every year since its launch nine years ago, which is an almost unheard of shelf life for a car.
The new version includes reams of technology designed not just to protect you and your family in the event of an accident but also to help avoid the accident in the first place.
The headline feature is City Safety with Steer Assist, which is active between 31 and 62mph and will recognise a last-minute, seat-of-your-pants swerve and apply steering support and braking to individual wheels to help you complete an emergency manoeuvre without ending up wrapped around a tree. Volvo says it will introduce a fully autonomous car in 2021, but until then the Swedish company wants to ensure that the driver is very much still in control. This XC60 simply gives them superhuman reflexes.
Below 31mph, the XC60 won’t interfere with the steering wheel but will still be on the lookout for potential head-on collisions, and will assist on the braking front, helping bring the car to a halt as quickly as possible. A slight irritation is that if you leave the car in Pilot mode and approach a queue of stationary traffic, the brakes are applied well after you might start pressing the pedal, making it feel like a hair-raising game of chicken. The car will, in our experience, step in and stop itself in time; it’s just a little more sudden than you might like.
Run Off Road Mitigation recognises when you’re about to drift off a road and does its best to keep you on the black stuff, rather than in a ditch, while another system helps keep inattentive drivers from drifting into oncoming traffic. The XC60’s Blind Spot Information System also has steering support and will help move itself back into lane if the driver tries to pull out to overtake on the motorway and there’s a speeding car approaching from behind.
At the car’s launch in Barcelona we weren’t able to try out most of these safety features, but we were able to use Pilot Assist, an advanced cruise control that helps steer the car, keeping it in lane and a safe distance behind the car in front. Such systems help you keep an eye on the road, and traffic, ahead. However, those who take pride in maintaining a constant speed on motorways may find it frustrating when their XC60 is accelerating and slowing down in sync with the car in front.
It is remarkably adept and sure-footed if pushed hard
What’s more, this sort of tech is improving all the time: the autonomous steering system for Pilot Assist has been updated since it was added to the XC90, for example, so the smaller SUV’s version is actually more sophisticated, turning corners more smoothly and working at up to 80mph.
As with big-name rivals such as the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Land Rover Discovery Sport, the XC60 is four-wheel-drive only, so expect it to be able to handle a slippery surface without too much fuss. In reality the XC60 is more likely to be dealing with the hazards of the school run than Arctic tundra, so its ability to handle a couple of kids, tow a trailer or smother the odd sleeping policeman are arguably far more important.
On twisty roads it is remarkably adept and sure-footed if pushed hard, at least when fitted with the optional air suspension. And those aforementioned sleeping policemen are more stepped over than run over. Volvo says it isn’t aiming to produce the sportiest or most comfortable cars, but instead to create vehicles that inspire confidence in the driver. Well, in Dynamic mode our Volvo was sporty, and in Comfort it was comfortable. And having so much control was confidence-inspiring. Job done.
Be warned, though: we didn’t try the version without air suspension, and its handling may be different.
Under the bonnet buyers in Britain get a choice of two diesel motors, one petrol and one “twin engine” plug-in hybrid option lifted from the XC90 (all future Volvos will have a plug-in variant). We didn’t get to try out the hybrid, but it’s the most potent option with a combined 407bhp and a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds. It also offers the best fuel economy and CO2 emissions, with an official 134.5mpg (combined) and 49g/km respectively. However, it costs £56,850, so it’s likely to be a niche model.
The T5 petrol is the one for those who can’t afford that but are concerned about diesel emissions, and it has plenty of poke: 250bhp and a 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds. Then there’s the 232bhp D5 diesel with PowerPulse, which at low revs spins the turbochargers with compressed air to reduce the lag between you pushing down the throttle and the engine delivering its thrust.
For our money, it’s worth forgoing a bit of oomph in favour of kit: the 188bhp D4 diesel in R-Design trim is £39,705. It should cost less at the fuel pumps, too, returning 55mpg.
For all the talk of saving lives, Volvo has really found its aesthetic mojo. Long gone are those Seventies boxes; Volvos now have curves in all the right places. As you might expect, the XC60 borrows heavily from its XC90 big brother, inside and out, with striking split-level headlights, a large grille and a rear light cluster that comes horizontally inwards, as well as downwards, framing the rear window.
The interior is even more impressive, essentially taking everything you’ll find in 90-series Volvos (the S90 saloon, V90 estate and XC90) and squishing it to fit inside the XC60. There’s the portrait-format touchscreen in the centre of the dash and an uncluttered layout with a mix of light and dark tones and soft and hard materials.
It’s not available in a seven-seat version, unlike the Land Rover Discovery Sport
In function, though, there are some grumbles. For example, front dual-zone climate and seat adjustment controls are all via the centre touchscreen, so if you’re setting the sat nav and the passenger decides to adjust their lumbar support via the button on the side of the seat, your destination-setting activities have to be put on hold. And it’s not available in a seven-seat version, unlike the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Having said that, the mention of electrically controlled lumbar support suggests a certain level of creature comforts, and, boy, is the XC60 packed with features. As standard, all cars have an eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, cruise control, keyless start, LED headlights with active high beam (or automatic dipping), rain-sensing windscreen wipers, powered tailgate, rear parking assist, dual-zone climate control and touchscreen infotainment with sat nav and DAB radio. In addition, you get most of the safety aids.
If you want the high-end audio of a Bowers & Wilkins stereo or the convenience of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, you’ll need to pay extra (£2,500 and £300 respectively).
A longer wheelbase than in the previous XC60 gives more room inside, and even those over 6ft tall have plenty of space in the back seats, so child seats are no bother. There’s even a properly spacious boot.
So what we have is an attractive SUV with a classy interior that drives remarkably well for a car of its height (with the air suspension) and is possibly the best at avoiding accidents. It’s not cheap, but neither are similarly powered rivals from BMW, Audi and Land Rover. So, as is to be expected with SUVs, whether you choose the Volvo or a competitor will come down to style and badge appeal.
IS IT the end of the road for the MiTo? According to Alfa Romeo boss Reid Bigland, speaking earlier this year, there are no plans to replace the supermini when the model reaches the end of its current life. On the back of success with the new Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV, the company is focusing on larger cars that will sell well in major markets including China and America; traditionally, those buyers aren’t enamoured with cute little runabouts.
It’s a shame, really, because the MiTo might not be perfect — in fact it’s a long way from perfection, as you’ll see — but it is arguably one of the best-looking little cars on UK roads.
The original MiTo was launched in 2009 and mechanically, the car hasn’t changed much since then, although there were tweaks in 2014 and a more thorough update came at the end of last year. It now looks more like a shrunken Giulia, so still pretty, with new sports grilles, dark-finish headlamp bezels, revised rear bumper designs and new alloy wheels. Inside there are new seat upholsteries and a new finish on the centre console, dashboard and door trims.
Buyers also get updated tech and the 1.3-litre turbodiesel engine, which we tested, has been upgraded to increase power and reduce CO2 emissions (just 89g/km).
This is all good news but, like rearranging the furniture on the Titanic, none of it saves the MiTo from its most troublesome issue: the way it drives. If the Ford Fiesta is the high watermark of supermini handling, the MiTo is struggling around in the silt.
At first it feels as if the suspension is firm, especially compared with the Fiesta. Bumps tend to send a shock through the chassis and the corners the car can feel quite unsettled; go round a fast bend on an uneven surface and you tend to get vibrations through the chassis and an unbalanced ride.
Which would be fine if the firm ride translated to stability and sportiness out on the open road, but turn sharply and the front end seems curiously spongy; it dips and bobs in corners. And when you drive over road humps, even at crawling speed, the nose bounces off the bump and then dives towards the ground on the other side. This isn’t helped by the fact that the front plastic trim is low so it tends to scrape the ground.
It could be that the springs are too soft and, to compensate, the dampers (which control the up-and-down motion after the spring has been compressed) have been turned up to 11. Other cars of similar size are far more capable under the same loads.
The MiTo has Alfa’s trademark three driving modes, under the neat acronym “D.N.A.”: Dynamic, Natural and All-weather. Switching between them alters the traction control, braking, stability control systems, steering effort and throttle response, but unfortunately doesn’t help the handling.
“You’ll have the armrest folded up for the most part, as, in a triumph of idea over function, it gets in the way while changing gear”
Frustratingly, Alfa has made the comfort on a nice straight road extremely good, giving you a hint that this could have been a good car. There’s a bit of noise from the tyres but compared with almost every other supermini, the MiTo is well insulated, making it a relaxing motorway cruiser.
Or it would be; the driving position, which the similarly-heighted Jeremy Clarkson in 2012 found to be “set up for that orang-utan that used to hang around with Clint Eastwood,” isn’t far from ideal. The roofline is quite low so if you are quite tall you have to cower forward slightly and look up. But then, if you’re as long as Clarkson or I, you probably wouldn’t be looking at a daily driver as small as a MiTo, anyway.
Meanwhile, the updated 1.3-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel engine, with 95bhp, is surprisingly quiet and refined. It also pulls well if you treat it roughly, but we found there’s not a lot of grunt low down in the rev range. If you’re used to larger diesels or turbocharged petrols it may be a surprise that you have to give it so much wellie to wake it up. Its CO2 emissions of 89g/km are marginally better than the 1.5TDCi Fiesta engine, which has the same power, and makes the engine tax free for models registered before April 1 this year. However, this is less appealing under new tax rules: it’s now £100 for first year and £140 from year two.
Aside from the driving position, the interior is a mixed bag. It employs some rather nasty hard plastics on the doors and around the edges of the dashboard, then across the centre of the dashboard is fake carbon fibre-effect plastic, which is actually rather good to look at, and is moulded nicely; the shapes are good.
The switchgear is lifted from the Fiat parts bin, which is understandable but mildly disappointing in an Alfa. The stereo works well, and connects to your phone without any problem but it’s not the most attractive touchscreen infotainment system – it looks a little aftermarket.
The armrest between the front seats adds to comfort on long runs but you’ll have it folded up for the most part, as, in a triumph of form over function, it gets in the way while changing gear. Similarly, tall cups won’t fit in the cupholder as the centre of the dash protrudes over the top of the clasp. You have to wonder how on earth it comes about during the design process; don’t these people try these things for themselves?
Also my knee rested against the hard plastic door handle, which isn’t very comfortable, and the five-speed manual gearbox isn’t the smoothest.
These grumbles aside, there’s a fair amount of kit on even the most basic MiTos: alloy wheels, air conditioning and a 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with DAB and Bluetooth connectivity. Our “Speciale” press car came with larger wheels, rear parking sensors and cruise control, and was packed with optional sat nav (£750) and dual-zone climate control (£450). So for a small car the MiTo is fairly well kitted out.
Meanwhile, the rear seats are tight but not criminal and the boot is not a bad size, either. In terms of interior space for a small car, you’re doing alright.
The MiTo, then, proves itself to be a typical Alfa Romeo; Alfa of old, at least. There are plenty of flaws, which are in part balanced out with good levels of kit and oodles of style, and the overall package has plenty of character. It’s a car you could love, despite its irritations. But it’s a shame that it’s biggest problem is the way it drives. You want Alfa to do much better than this with a supermini but it looks like it may be a while before the company tries again, as it leaves small cars to Fiat and tuner Abarth, while it focuses on saloons and SUVs designed to sell in China and America. More’s the pity.
Cars spitting flames isn’t crazy nowadays, but an Aston Martin V8 Vantage shooting three-foot flames is.
This insane English Aston Martin sports car was stumbled upon by YouTuber TheCarGuy18 in Belfast. In order to make the flames possible, it has a flame kit that purposefully dumps unburnt fuel into the rear of the exhaust, results in the massive flames. He notes in the description that this was filmed on private property and out of harm’s way because frankly, this is a borderline weapon.
What do you guys think of this mod? Is it cool, unsafe, or would you install one on your car? Let us know in the comments section below.
Koenigsegg Automotive AB has confirmed that a new Agera RS crashed during testing. They say that the new supercar, known as Agera RS Gryphon, was undergoing shakedown testing when the driver lost control due to wet conditions.
As to who was testing the car, Koenigsegg noted this in a blog post regarding the crash: “The testing was being performed at facilities owned by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS). Koenigsegg is using NEVS facilities for testing, test driving and to prepare its cars for the US market, in parallel with its own testing facilities in Ängelholm.”
Koenigsegg Agera RS Gryphon
Thankfully, the driver and passenger were both taken to the local hospital where they were assessed and released. As for the car, the body damage is there, but there is no structural damage.
Koenigsegg has also revealed in an Instagram post that the car belonged to none other than Manny Khoshbin. However, because of the accident, they will be building him another Agera RS. As for the crashed car, they will repair the car and keep it as a demo car. Could this be the first test car with gold leaf detailing?
Elextra: New Electric Supercar Boasting 0-60 in Under 2.3 Seconds
Battery powered cars have been around since the beginning of the automobile, but only recently has technology allowed them to be competitive. And now that the charging technology is widespread, a group of Swiss designers have unveiled a sleek new sedan. Only 100 examples of the new Elextra are planned, and they will be assembled by hand in Stuttgart, Germany. Two electric motors allow for all-wheel-drive and a combined output of 680 horsepower. This will launch the carbon fiber body to 62 mph in less than 2.3 seconds. With a 370 mile range at highway speeds, it is perfect for city commutes or road trips. The top speed is limited to 155 for insurance reasons, and more details will be released later this year.
By using composites for most of the structure, the manufacturer claims a 25% weight savings compared to aluminum bodies. It will face competition from pre-owned Karma Reveros and Tesla Model S. Each new player in the electric game forces the others to sharpen their pencils, so we hope the Elextra is a success. Stay with us for more updates and electrifying news.
Chevrolet Releases 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Pack
If you need a new track car, you should consider the Camaro ZL1 1LE. We saw the first example in person earlier this year, and its ready for a fight. The 650 horsepower LT4 V8 is the same 6.2-liter small block found in the Corvette Z06 and the Cadillac CTS-V. Yes, we’ve mentioned it before, but now Chevrolet has given it a price an option code. ZL1 buyers will need to add$7,500 to their order and select the A1Z package.
On top of the already potent ZL1, the 1LE will arrive with much more carbon fiber and less weight. New forged wheels are an inch shorter and an inch wider all around. They are wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires. Multimatic DSSV shocks on all corners will adapt to any situation. Caster and ride height are adjustable on the front, and the rear sway bar has 3 settings. A fixed rear seat along with thinner glass and the new wheels give the 1LE a 60-pound weight advantage over the ZL1. Get your racing shoes ready, because automatic transmissions are not an option. The Tremec six-speed manual is the only gearbox offered, and it has active rev-matching. That feature has divided us on the fun factor. We first experienced it in the ATS-V and it took some getting used to. I am all for lighter flywheels in the name of fuel economy, but it would be nice to control the engine speed between shifts. Thankfully it can be disabled after start up.
Other included luxuries are dual-zone climate and Bose audio for a grand total of $69,995. That makes it the most expensive Camaro ever offered, but also the most capable. With a skidpad rating of 1.1g, it will be able to keep up with cars several times its price. As soon as they hit our dealers you will see them here. But until then, check out these great offers on Chevy Camaros for sale.
