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Ken Block took his Ford Fiesta and an unnecessary amount of GoPros to drift all over Russia. Ken Block is on a mission of destruction as he battles the elements, races rogue skiers and tries to take out as many cameras as he can! Is Ken Block the best driver in Russia ?!
Who is the Stig from Top Gear? Somehow Ken Block? 😉
Jaguar Heritage Racing – The Technical Story
Jaguar Cars has a rich and long history, from the humble origins of the Swallow Sidecar company in 1922 through to the successful multi-national company of today. In 2010, Jaguar celebrated its 75th anniversary.
With Jaguar’s Test Centre based at the ever-challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife, Jaguar Racing Heritage took to the world famous track to celebrate its sporting legacy and the technical story of Jaguar that has helped shape the driving experience of the modern era.
Please enjoy the attached video!
The car dubbed the Dacia STCC Edition uses a body inspired by the firms Logan model. Logan is a popular model build by Dacia, a romanian company accuired by Renault.
The Dacia Logan STCC has been captured on video ahead of its racing debut in the Swedish Touring Car Championship scheduled for May 3-4.
The Dacia Logan STCC is manufactured by Swedish firm Solution F and uses a V6 3.5-liter mid-mounted engine producing more than 400 bhp (298 kW). The mill is linked to a 6-speed sequential gearbox and helps the 2,204 lbs (1,000 kg) racer sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) in three seconds, en route to a top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h).
A Race track is probably the last place you’d expect to see a Dacia Logan on, but thanks to the Company’s Swedish dealer the car is going to compete at this year’s STCC (Swedish Touring Car Championship), and by the looks of things it is ready to see some action. So apart from the body shell, this car isn’t really a Dacia. But still, it is quite cool to see an economy car tear up the track like this. Kudos to Dacia and Swedish team Solution F.
One of the most reliable vehicles in the Toyota stable, the RAV4 has been produced since 1994, and was most recently updated in 2006; the 2013 versions offer even more durability, as well as a sleeker design, and some efficient engine modes that use Toyota’s Integrated Dynamic Drive system.
As a sports utility vehicle, the RAV4 is one of the leading competitors to the Mazda CX-5 for value, and is set to be spun off into an all electric model later this year. At present, the RAV4 is one of the most comprehensively packaged sports utilities on the market, and should be considered by families and drivers that want long term durability.
Drivers have a choice of several trims for the RAV4 – these include the entry level Active, the mid range Icon, and the premium Invincible. All these trims have a variation on the RAV4’s standard and all wheel driving system, as well as an automatic petrol option alongside diesel engines.
The 2.0 litre petrol engine is the most powerful in terms of speed, while the 2.0 and 2.2 litre diesel engines deliver better economy at 57.6 mpg for the 2.0 diesel, and 176 g/km of CO2 emissions for the 2.2 diesel. The diesel engines are best if you want to get a low mileage, and if you’re not particularly invested in having a sports utility vehicle that can rapidly accelerate.
Exterior upgrades to the 2013 RAV4 from the earlier model include swept back lights, less of a scallop line, and a curvier, sleeker appeal. The driving position in the RAV4 has also been adjusted for a higher vantage point, while you get plenty of space within the rear. Handling for the RAV4 is flexible, if not going to deliver significant speed on the road – the larger diesel engines are slightly noisier, but still capable of cruising on the motorway.
The 1600kg weight RAV4 is stabilised against rolling, although you probably won’t want to push the RAV4 too fast on tight corners.
For interiors, the RAV4 comes with Bluetooth, air conditioning, a CD Player, and a home lighting system as standard, and extras for higher trims that include Dual Zone Air Conditioning, rear view cameras, leather steering wheels, roof rails, and leather seats. The Invincible trim version of the RAV4 also has a keyless push button start installed.
The five seater RAV4 also gives you plenty of space. When combined with optional extras for roof racks, the RAV4 is ideal for large families, and is tough enough to stand up to extended periods of driving overseas.
So, what do get out of the RAV4? Primarily, you get a competitive economy and Toyota’s reputation for durability; the RAV4 is in a low tax band, and has a five year warranty, putting it ahead of the three year warranties usually given with sports utility vehicles.
Safety features also include a hill start assist, ISOFIX child seat fixings, and aftercare maintenance that pushes the RAV4 in front of its rivals for durability. Toyota are also set to release an all electric version of the RAV4 by the end of 2013, which will further increase its economy.
Guest posts offered by Lisa Jane
The 2014 Audi A3 appears to be a cool and classy-looking luxury ride. But if you’re hankering for a hatchback, you’d better not wait for the new model. The next A3 is coming to the U.S. only in sedan format, whereas the 5-door hatchback continues to be offered in Europe. Rubbing some salt in the wound is the fact that the A3 sedan is arriving only after the hatchback goes on sale in other markets.
On top of these, Audi has confirmed that its A3 Sportback e-tron Plug-In Hybrid, revealed just last month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, will also be offered in the U.S. This model will offer a peak output of 204 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, an electric-only range of about 30 miles and fuel economy approaching 100 mpg-equivalent.
The base 2015 Audi A3 will offer the 1.8-liter TFSI engine, which rates at 170 horsepower and sends drive to the front wheels only. Next in line is the 2.0-liter TDI, which rates at a lower 150 horsepower but should have a healthy torque rating.
The A3 e-tron Plug-In Hybrid features a 1.4-liter TFSI engine paired with an electric motor and delivers the aforementioned 204-horsepower peak rating.
At the top of the ladder is the 2.0-liter TFSI, which will be offered in the A3 quattro and sporty S3 all-wheel-drive models. Audi hasn’t released figures for this engine, but overseas it outputs as much as 300 horsepower.
Creating the world’s most beautiful four-door sports car was a technical challenge relished by the industry-leading Aston Martin engineering team.
The Aston Martin Rapide S is a four-door ultra-luxury sedan that borrows styling elements and mechanical components from the brand’s elegant sports cars. Though many of its rivals serve up more space for the rear passengers, the Rapide S does offer enough room for four adults to go along with its exotic looks and impressive performance.
Filmed at the Rapide S global media launch Aston Martin Director of Product Development Ian Minards gives an overview of the many innovative technical and engineering features, including the assertive new front grille.
