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THE UNDEFEATED: HOINDA'S FK8 CIVIC TYPE R IS OUR LINEAL CHAMP, WINNING EVERY MOTOR COMPARISON AS WELL AS BOTH PERFORMANCE CAR OF THE YEAR AND BANG FOR YOUR BUCKS. While the Porsche 911's record at PCOTY might well suggest that it was the definitive MOTOR champion, even Zuffenhausen's iconic coupe can't boast the 100 per cent knockout ratio of the Honda. A few wheedling phone calls secured us some time with the Type R LE, Honda letting us know that this pristine low-kilometre car would shortly be sold. [Extracted from the article]

In between building space transportation vehicles, planning to colonise Mars and Inventing new methods of high-speed transport, the 43-year-old Canadian billionaire entrepreneur found time to create the world's first manufacturer of all-electric cars. By positioning the Model S as a luxurious sedan, Tesla aims to elevate the electric car from intriguing curiosity to a viable means of everyday transport. [Extracted from the article]

A standard feature of the car is the level control system which uses hydraulic springs to ensure the Evo II can carry its full 500kg payload without being overloaded. The Evo ll's brakes are a no-holds-barred affair, in line with the car's race potential. This is Mercedes' wildest road car yet. [Extracted from the article]

6162CC V8, OHV, 16v, supercharger POWER 474kW @ 6500rpm TORQUE 815Nm @ 3900rpm O-IOOKM/H -4.16sec WEIGHT 1895kg • PRICE$169,900 LIKE: Huge lungs; fantastic soundtrack; meaty controls; charisma; collectability DISLIKE: Rare; expensive; thirsty; firm on road; tyres won't like damp surfaces IDEALLY, WE'D HAVE first driven the W1 on the road. But, given production doesn't start until April and HSV isn't even sure there will be a press car (though there's certainly a desire for a car to be made available) a handful of laps around Philip Island might be the best we'll ever manage. Then again, the R-spec Pirellis would be having an effect and HSV admits that the tyres are probably the bulk of that difference, helping to justify such a radical fitment for what is ostensibly a road-going car. [Extracted from the article]

Nnt the dynamic choice, thoughM440i xDrive Gran Coupe5118,900 [Ba]I6/3.0T2B5/500all19251564.7-6.9TBCIf you want a sedan with coupe styling [and lots ef grunt], 0MW has ypu ccveredM440i xDrive Convertible5139,990 [8a]I6/3.0T295/599all19651454.9--TBCExtra weight dulls performance over its two-door coupe siblingi4 M50 Dual Motor xDrive5124,990 [la]Dual EM400/795all22151813.9--TBCIs this the M car of the future? Model S Performance$154,200 [la]Dual EM451/931 all22412532.7-0.04.0 Oual electric motors provide epic acceleration, but Oz infrastructure limits it to urban dutiesModel X Performance$185,212 [la]Dual EM451/931 all24872262.8-0.04.0 A b100dy guick, and now much cheaper, way to haul a family in silenceToyota www.toyota.com.au86 GTAug 17$32,180 [6m]F4/2.0152/212rear12391237.6315.369.44.DAbout as much fun as you can have in a car, regardless of price. [Extracted from the article]

M4Competition xDrive Convert.Mar 22176,900[Ba]16/3.OTT375/65081119951883.7--4.0For those who want the go-fast coupe and8tan Not the dynamic choice, thoughM44Oi xDrive Gran Coupe9115,900[Ba]16/3.OT285/500all182515641-6.9TBC Ifyouwant asedan with coupestyling [andlots of grunt],BMW has youcoveredM44Oi xDrive Convertible$135,900[Ba]16/3.01285/500all19651454.9-- TBC Extra weight dulls performance over its two-door coupe siblingi4M5O Dual Motor xDrive$124,900[la] Dual EM400/795all22151813.9-- TBC Is this the M car o f the future? Watchout Audi, the83isgunning forthe RS4'sniche88Gran Coupe$322,900[Ba] VB/4.4TT467/80081121002183.4-11.9TBC Sits neatly between the M850iand MB Gran Coupes from BMW with an big dose of Alpina flairXB79264.900[88] VB/4.4TT457/90081126551724.2-12.0TBC Big, brashandoutrageously power f ul. [Extracted from the article]

Despite plenty of independent and well-heeled owners and custom car shops taking on the challenge of building a lifted 911, this will be new territory for factory-fresh versions of Porsche's most famous model. Along with its traditional range of drive days, Porsche will also offer owners of the 911 Dakar to join pre-planned expeditions where customers can drive their vehicles to an array of stunning locations around the world traditionally inaccessible for sports cars. Porsche's iconic sports car heads off the beaten track IT'S TIME FOR sports cars to get their revenge against the encroaching forces of performance SUVs. [Extracted from the article]

PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 RS: The car Porsche said it would never build is finally here. A playful wink from the Cayman GT4 RS's architect -- GT division boss Andreas Preuninger -- when discussing how high the bar can be elevated from here indicates that this is not the zenith for the current era of Porsche performance cars; the 911 GT3 RS is, after all, waiting in the wings. View the issue from distance and yes, the GT4 RS and GT3 do much the same thing in being ferociously capable track cars from a Porsche GT department that seems determined to give the purely internal combustion-powered sportscar an all-time farewell party. Porsche has listened to our criticisms of the GT4 and fitted the shortest possible gear ratios to the RS's seven-speed PDK dual-clutch (as is modern RS tradition, there is no three-pedal variant). [Extracted from the article]

2009 WHAT: BMW 760Li The dual-clutch was the technology that killed the flabby old torque converter auto, right? 09 TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS: DUAL-CLUTCH GEARBOX WHEN: 2003 WHO: VW We're venturing into slightly controversial waters here, with a certain constituency of drivers holding dual-clutch transmissions largely responsible for the demise of the good old manual. [Extracted from the article]

Venerable hrand takes important EV stepM550i xDrive PureAug 20$137,900 [8a]V8/4.4TT390/750all10102153.62-8.94.0Baby M badge brings serious torque, active dif f and adaptive dampers, all for a bargain priceM550i xDrive$152,900 [8a]V8/4.4n390/750all19152043.8-8.94.0Full-fruit version adds laser headlights and luxury, along with active roll bars and rear-wheel steeringM5 CompetitionFeb 19$244,900 [9a]V8/4.4TT460/750all19952433.7811.5310.64.5Less weight would have been preferable to more power, but 3.3sec O-100km/h is silly fastM5 CS$274,900 [9a]V8/4.4TT467/750all19252563.0--TBCDoes the M5 need a Club Sport' version? Just don't call it a muscle carMustang GTJul 19$63,690 (6m) $66,690 [10a]V8/5.0339/556rear17321964.53'12.49'13.04.0With hugely improved steering and suspension, it's what'Stang should have been from the startMustang GT Conv.$74,901(103)V8/5.0339/556rear1802188--12.73.5Copped the power and torque hike, but even more of a price rise. [Extracted from the article]

FAST CAR GUIDE THE FAST GUIDE TO QUICK CARS 400 CARSRated * TERRIBLE* * TOLERABLE* * * NOT BAD* * * * BRILLIANT* * * * * BLIMEY * All performance figures are manufacturer claims,#those in italics are as-tested by MOTOR. Will be popular in suburbs like Toorak and VaucluseTurbo S E-H. CoupeApr 20$299,300 (8a)V8/4.0TTH500/900all25351973.8-3.94.0Beserk-accelerating 2.5-tonne Cayenne a little too bulky to appeal to your inner Walter RohrlCayenne Turbo GT CoupeApr 20$336,100 (8a)V8/4.0TT471/850all22202123.3-11.9TBCIs this the new king of performance SUVs? Less convinced about that rear stylingC43 AMG Coupe$129,200 (9a)V6/3.0TT287/520all16751714.7-9.24.0The car you buy if the C63 feels a bit too full-on, and it would be the quicker car in the wetC43 AMG Cabriolet$150,300 (9a)V6/3.0TT287/520all18101594.8-9.53.5Solid mix of class and performance; hefty price tag, thoughC63 S AMG CoupeAug 19$183,300 (9a)V8/4.0TT375/700rear17252174.56#2.48#8.74.5Thunderous power and engaging handling, but pricier than rivals and a heavy so-and-soC63 S AMG Cabriolet$204,800 (9a)V8/4.0TT375/700rear18502024.1-9.34.5Front-row seats to hear AMG's thumping 4.0-litre eight. [Extracted from the article]

PUT IT IN THE BANK Lexus' new twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 wouldfeature a hot-vee turbocharger set up,which will help with packaging what isalready a fairly wide engine. The new twin-snail V8 will be nodifferent, with the team at Yamahabrought in to fettle everythingdownstream of the combustionchambers, ensuring the engine sounds asgood as the LC looks. [Extracted from the article]

In rare early cases, the addictive pops and bangs ofthe RS' exhaust caused the factory plastic plenum toexplode. The Volvo-sourced 2.5-litre five-cylinder Duratecengine, indeed, was shared with the ST but gained aforged camshaft, pistons and conrods, a largerwater-to-air intercooler, free-flowing intake and exhaust,a larger BorgWarner turbo and a doubling of boostpressure. The boffins at Rallye Sport hadclearly watched and learned in the interim, bestowingthe Mk2 RS with a more progressive Quaife torque-sensingdifferential and Ford's patented 'Revoknuckle'front end with lower scrub radius and kingpin offset toquell torque steer. [Extracted from the article]

Last month I aimed a backhanded swipeat car-cleaning snobs and now I'm about to be smittenby the gods of detailing. From the junction with theseemingly endless dirt of Baw Baw's South Face Road tothe Thomson Dam itself, the road cedes about 130m ofaltitude and packs a lot of challenge into just 15km. ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE ROADSTER ASTON MARTIN'S VANTAGE ROADSTER SURVIVFS ANFARTHQUAKE BUT DOES IT REPRESENT THE GOLD STANDARDIN SPORTING DROP TOPS? More specifically, the car is in a no-touch laserwash machine in Moe and the mechanism is trying towrite itself off. [Extracted from the article]

It'sa Type R before it's a hot hatch: Honda's R philosophy justhappens to have been applied to a hatchback in this case,rather than a coupe like the Integra or a supercar like theAyrton Senna-tweaked NSX. Usually you risk makingan old car feel geriatric if you drive it after a newer one.but the 205 GTI enjoys ouch a huge weight advantage overthe later cars that the contest feels rigged in its favourfrom the outset. Like the Civic, it feels likeits drivetrain just happens to be in a hatch, and its realreferences aren't to GTIs of old but to Subaru WRXs andMitsubishi F.vos. There is a new, manual,conventionally powered hot hatch here to enjoy, and sucha mad variety of machinery present, covering 32 of thehot hatch's 45 or so years, that we begin to appreciate justhow far the idea of the hot hatch has evolved. [Extracted from the article]

02CARS OF 2022 MCLAREN ARTURA ARIVAL: HI OUTPUT: 500kW/720Nm ENGINE: 2993cc V6, DOHC,24v, twin-turbo, hybrid THE MCLAREN ARTURA kickstarts a bold new chapter forthe Woking brand. OUTPUT: 298kW/475Nm ENGINE: 2997cc V6,DOHC, 24v, twin-turbo A NEW AFFORDABLEturbocharged coupe Is a rareoccurrence these days. The twin-turbo V6 alone,produces 488kW, or 163kW perlitre - the highest specific outputever fitted to a road car. [Extracted from the article]

There were a lot ofgood people at Audi whocould have designed amid-engined rally car tobeat Renault, Peugeot andLancia, but we had todesign a road car to be arally car. TEAM E-LEGEND MARCUS HOLZINGERDESIGNER/FOUNDER An Audi fan since forever,Holzinger loves fast cars anddreams of power-oversteeringhis quattros. MANUEL EGGINGERCO-FOUNDER Egginger likes to think big, hasa history of driving vintage andmodern rally cars and wants tosee E-Legend grow way beyondits current one-hit-wonder status. It was a road car, not aspecialised rally car "Audi wanted people tobelieve four-wheel-drivepassenger cars were thefuture. [Extracted from the article]

So how does a 26-year old from East Hampshire findherself in the role of an unseen Bond baddie with a needto launch their Land Rover Defender into low earth orbit? Before she found herself strapped into the Defender,Hawkins had to pass a simple test Morrison uses to assessall potential stunt drivers - hold a drift around four conesand then stop on a mark. While Chris' team was responsible for preparing theDefender that Hawkins used for her jump - and its nineidentical siblings - it was Morrison that ensured thedriver returned to terra firma safely on all eight takes. IT MUSTBE DESTROYED, WE SPEAK TO THE STUNT TEAMBEHIND THE LATEST BOND MOVIE A LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 sits stationary in thepouring rain. [Extracted from the article]

In that order, Audi replaced theV8 with a Porsche co-developed2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 with waymore power and torque and pairedit with ZF's sublime eight-speedautomatic transmission. In its place is the ZFeight-speed already successfullyfitted to Audi's larger RS cars.This drive in the RS5 was timelyas I'd recently driven the similarlyequipped BMW M3 and M4. Ifelt that the Audi calibration wasfirmer in its most aggressive mode,matched by the bark of the soundcoming from the exhaust. [Extracted from the article]

I30 N-LINE PRICE: $29,420 PWR: 114kW/tonne ENGINE: 159ICC inline 4, DOHC, 16v, turbo IN ITS PRE-UPDATE SR-badged guise, the Hyundai I30 was seemingly the default answer to any warm hatch question. 03 PEUGEOT 508 PRICE: $57,490 PWR: nSkW/tonne ENGINE: 1598cc inline 4, DOHC, 16v, turbo THE PEUGEOT 508 is an underrated car that definitely deserves more recognition from the driving cognoscenti. [Extracted from the article]

MOTOR TIP Pit exit flows you out onto the inside of Turn One. MOTOR TIP Pay particular attention to tyre temperatures and track conditions at Turn Five, The Sweeper. There are obviously the big kerbs on the outside there so depending on what sort of car you're in, that will determine whether you can chase it all the way out wide and use the exit kerb or not. [Extracted from the article]

Finally, Toyota states that the new GR 86 has a centre of gravity that's 1.6mm lower than the previous 86. Toyota has integrated some clever bits to the latest car's cabin in order to keep it relevant and fresh. Worth of getting acquainted with the Toyota 86, the Aichi, Japan automaker has officially debuted its ground-up replacement: the 2022 GR 86. [Extracted from the article]

3902CC V8, DOHC, 32v, twin turbo POWER 500kW @ 6200-8000rpm TORQUE 760Nm @ q-lOOKM/H 3.0sec (claimed) WEIGHT N/A PRICE $1.75m (est.) Instead, it says it wanted a powerful, mid-engined car with pedigree and has picked an Italian supercar maker's excellent V8 machine as the basis for the Arese. It's a novel pleasure to find a slice of wit in the labelling of a car's controls, although you can be assured that the Arese RH95 is a very serious machine indeed. [Extracted from the article]

Performance suspensionlacks sophisticationGT-R Premium$193,800 (6dc)V6/3.8TT419/632all17652373.20#11.21#11.74.0Improved ride and transmission tweaks for MY20 are welcome, feelssuited to the street more than everGT-R Track EditionNov 16$235,000 (6dc)V6/3.8TT419/632all17602382.7-11.74.0In a track environment, it's simply awesome. Just don't call it amuscle carMustang GTJul 19$63,690 (6m) $66,690 (10a)V8/5.0339/556rear17321964.53*#12.49*#13.04.0With hugely improved steering and suspension, it's what 'Stangshould have been from the startMustang GT Conv.$74,901 (10a)V8/5.0339/556rear1802188--12.73.5Copped the power and torque hike, but even more of a price rise. Still has anagricultural engine and snappy handling370Z RoadsterJun 18$61,490 (6m) $63,990 (7a)V6/3.7245/363rear14781685.8-10.9*3.0Suffers little in the conversion to drop-top, but $11K for a creakyroof is too much370Z NismoJul 18$61,990 (6m) $64,490 (7a)V6/3.7253/371rear14801715.87#14.07#10.63.5visual and aural refresh courtesy of Nismo. [Extracted from the article]

03GREATEST RESTOMODS RUF SCR PRICE: $1 millionOUTPUT: 375kWENGINE: 4.0-litreflat-6 WHAT LOOKS LIKE a classic964 that's been given acontemporary nip-and-tuckmasks 83-years of RUFexpertise and experience,carefully distilled into theirlandmark SCR. We'll take a W111 5.5 coupe in834 Mossgreen metallic, overCognac leather, with a Makassarwood veneer, please 10GREATEST RESTOMODS SINGER911 (CLASSIC) PRICE: $800,000+(BYO 964)OUTPUT: 223kW-290kWENGINE: 3.8/4.0-litreflat-six THE ONE THAT needs nointroduction. GREATEST RESTOMODS We round up some of the finest cars thathave been revitalised with a second shot at life 01GREATEST RESTOMODS LEGENDEAUTOMOBILERENAULT TURBO 3 PRICE: TBAOUTPUT: 294kW (claimed)ENGINE: TBA LEGENDE AUTOMOBILE IS anewcomer to the restomodscene, bursting into view withits radical re-imagining of theiconic Renault 5 Turbo. [Extracted from the article]

The first Countachshaped the Lamborghini design DNA like no other car;the new Countach translates that unconventional andedgy character into the future." The wheelbase of 2700mm isa massive 250mm longer than the original Countach, butfour-wheel steering helps the new LPI 800-4 to a turningcircle of just 11.4 metres, making it significantly wielder intown than the original, which featured a 13m turning circle. The 112-car production run, which is currently underway for 2022 deliveries, is another nod to the heritageof the Countach, the number a tribute to the 'LP 112'internal project name used during the Countach'sdevelopment. [Extracted from the article]

Blessed withperformance, materials technology, reliability and safetythat would hitherto be unthinkable but not saddled withendless electronics or bloated by spiralling power outputsand hybrid or EV powertrains, the Zonda isn't so much aclassic car as a timeless statement of supercar drama andexcitement. You bet.0-100km/h in 3.6sec,0-200km/h in 9.8secand a top speed of345km/h TOP LEFTOpting for theClubsport packaffords aero, with600kg of reardownforce generatedat 300km/h LEFTWhile the Zonda F isno doubt a supercar,it's not withoutcreature comforts- the floor is evencovered in leather BELOW LEFTBeing rear-wheeldrive only, the ZondaF needs wide tyresfor purchase makethat 335/30-seriesMichelin Pilot SportCup 2s then BELOWWe wouldn't be ableto get away with thatamount of anglehere it seems theCarabinieri are a littlemore tolerant ABOVEIconic circular quadexhaust emits atantalisingsoundtrack huntingfor tunnels isdefinitely required LEFT MAINEven in a sea ofsupercars, the ZondaF stands out. It's not just any Zonda F. I guess there isn't'just any' F as just 25 coupes were built, but this oneis the personal car of Horacio Pagani himself. [Extracted from the article]

ALPINA CLASSICS PROGRAM While the new car environment is adifficult one to navigate, thegrowing appreciation for classicsglobally provides an opportunityfor Alpina with its large backcatalogue. Now again they have a six-cylinder hybrid whichI think is very good because an Alpina customer istypically six-cylinder or V8 customer. Unusually for a premium brand, Bovensiepen saysAlpinas - in Europe at least - are often the main andonly car for customers: "I'm not completely familiarwith the Australian market, but especially in EuropeAlpina is usually the first car and the everyday driver. [Extracted from the article]

Aston Martin sports car racer Darren Turner knocked about 15 seconds off the regular Vantage's best lap time at the Nurburgring while testing the F1 Edition there earlier this year. Moers gave Becker a clear directive for the Vantage F1 Edition: It had to be quicker around the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife than the regular Vantage, and the improved lap time couldn't simply be down to fitting a stickier set of tyres. [Extracted from the article]

Of course Nissan's world-beating R32 GT-R famously launched in 1989, but so did this: the Z32 300ZX, further bolstering Nissan's multi-pronged assault on global sports car markets. Now with all-new multilink suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, a viscous differential, anti-lock brakes, and a brand-new 24v DOHC naturally aspirated 3.0-litre V6 capable of 165kW (Aus-spec cars), the 300ZX proved a refreshing return to sporting form. [Extracted from the article]

THE THUNDEROUS M5 CS MAY BE ONE OF BMW'S LAST GREAT PETROL CARS. The e-Tron GT is the first electric Audi to wear an RS badge, and although it shares a great deal of its DNA with the Porsche Taycan, it's very much its own character in look, feel and approach. While the Q4 e-Tron is the mainstream electric SUV Audi plans to sell a blue million of, the e-Tron GT's job is to be the sexbomb flagship to sprinkle a bit of stardust on the e-Tron brand. SOCKET TO M: THE RS E-TRON GT IS AUDI'S NEW ELECTRIC FLAGSHIP. [Extracted from the article]

THUNDER STRUCK: MERCEDES-AMG ARMS ITS SUPER SEDAN WITH EXTRA GRUNT AND MORE COMPLIANCE. With rear seats in place it offers 565 litres to the AMG's 540 litres (though we suspect that figure doesn't load the Audi to the roof), but drop the rear seats and the RS6 swallows 1680 litres. In standard guise the $216,000 RS6 has a handy price advantage over the $253,775 E63, but as-tested the unadorned Mercedes is cheaper than the $263,350 Audi. [Extracted from the article]

The magazine subscription for this month is going to be awarded to the reader who writes in and describes their most entertaining moment of mechanical ineptitude. One full registration fee is paid for the first car plus a modest admin fee for each of others. The Mustang's a great new car choice insofar as Ford has done a great job of incorporating new tech but retaining an authentic-feeling muscle car vibe. [Extracted from the article]

To operate, the Elva is much like any McLaren, save that the chassis and powertrain modes are now on rocker switches a finger's stretch from the steering wheel. The Elva, by dint of being not just the most powerful non-hybrid McLaren but also the lightest of all since the Fl, is a car that more than makes good on the promise of its appearance. [Extracted from the article]

Audi will never build a car quite like this again, and a Lamborghini-tinged V10 may never be more attainable. A dying breed, a car like the Audi D3 S8 can only be thought of as functionally extinct. [Extracted from the article]

Despite the claimed kerbweights being separated by just 13kg, the Porsche feels like a heavier car than the McLaren. As a performance road car, it had no equal at the time it was launched and so it was almost inevitable that, in a race series based on road cars, it would also be top of the tree. So, for 1996, Norbert Singer was tasked with producing a car that was based on a 911 road car but could beat the mighty F1 on track. And the fact that Porsche never fulfilled the full homologation quota of 25 road cars means this is the rarest of our trio. [Extracted from the article]

The Nevera uses an electro-hydraulic brake booster with a brake pedal feel simulator to distribute braking force between the friction brakes and electric powertrain, and is capable of regenerating more energy than any other production car. Nevera Is something of a rolling shop front for what Rimac can do without budgetary constraints. The Nevera Is Rimac's second car. [Extracted from the article]

BUYING A MODERN CLASSIC WORSHIPPING THE DEPRECIATION GODS MERCEDES-BENZ'S GLORIOUS 6.2-LITRE M156 V8IS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION ALONE '06 TO '10 WHILE THE USED market may have gone nuts in recenttimes, it pays to keep an our ear to the ground lookingfor the hidden gems of the performance car world. ENGINE & TRANSMISSION The M156 V8 is generallyregarded as a durable and reliable engine, however,there were known issues afflicting early iterations. Despite costing more than $200K when new, thegoing rate for a CLK 63 today sits at about $45K;making it one of the cheapest ways into owning therevered M156 6.2-litre V8 (although an ML63 can be hadfor about half that, again). [Extracted from the article]

THURSDAY 8AM MANSFIELD THE ALFA ROMEO Giulia Q is still a beguiling thingand, after a couple of days with the two cars, I like itmore than the BMW. Viewed objectively, the BMW ought to be night and daybetter than the Alfa Romeo Giulia Q. That's the nature ofevolution and it's clear where a version of automotivenatural selection has taken place, the Bavarian sedanadopting those traits that the Giulia introduced backwhen we first drove it in 2017. THE COMPARISON: BMW M3 COMPETITION VS ALFA ROMEO GIULIA Q CAN BMW'S ALL-NEW M3 COMPETITION ECLIPSE THECAR THAT REWROTE THE RULES IN THE SPORTSSEDAN SECTOR, THE ALFA ROMEO GIULIA Q? What is worthy ofnote is that the Alfa Romeo Giulia Q is a receding speck inthe BMW's overstyled mirrors. [Extracted from the article]

THE INTERVIEW LANDO NORRIS LANDO NORRIS HAS DANIEL RICCIARDO IN HIS WAY,BUT THAT WON'T STOP HIS 2021 STATEMENT THATHE'S THE DRIVER TO LEAD WOKING'S PROMISED RETURNTO THE FRONT OF THE FORMULA ONE GRID MCLAREN IS ONE of the sporting world'sgreat sleeping giants, but recently it hasstirred. Norris has no shortage of weaponry with which to takeon Ricciardo. And Ricciardo is as determined to asserthis position in the team as Norris is to upset the order. [Extracted from the article]

This mid-life facelift has donewell to keep the big Bentley wagonlooking fresh as it faces downnewer competition, but it pays toremember that despite the SUVbody, the Bentayga bones are thatof authentic, traditional Bentley- a raffish gentleman's express. The 4.0-litre V8 under thebonnet is mated to an eight-speedautomatic gearbox. [Extracted from the article]

Almost overnight itsi30 established N's credibilityas a performance arm every bitas hardcore and as dedicatedas M at BMW and GR at Toyota.For the i20 N, Hyundai's stuckto the same methodology. There's somethingof the Sex Panther to the i20 N'schassis set-up as the Hyundai andI get underway at dawn; grumpymechanical limited-slip diffgraunching as I back off the drive;unyielding springs and dampersjarring as we work our way west. Again, the i20 N's hugelytalented chassis takes thestrain - set your speed, leavethe brakes and powertrain wellalone and just surf the curves. [Extracted from the article]

As the iM2 so clearlydemonstrates, Flasch doesn'trecognise any workable ceiling orgentleman's agreement to limit thepower of M cars. PACE NOTES NEWS / REVIEWS / LATEST TECH / MOTORSPORT [1] BMW M Division's 50th birthday present toitself is a 1000W M2. The iM2 was foreshadowed inan interview with BMW M's CEOMarkus Flasch last year. [Extracted from the article]

Bonkers fastX7 M50i$161,900 [Ba]V8/4.4TT390/750all24801574.7-11.63.5Behind the huge kidney grille is a lovely V8 twin turbo beast, bot it tips the scales at two and a half tonnesCaterham www.caterhamcars.com.auSeven 275Sep 17$73,700 [5m]14/1.6100/160rear5901706.5314.86.23.0Entry-level Caterham is great fun to steer It's an emotional purchase for the cash - there s guicKerSeven 485 S$114,ODO [6ml14/2.0177/206rear6752624.5-7.73.5The proper, full-fruit, no-electronics Caterham experience. Just be prepared to pay for itSeven CSR$115,000 (6m)14/2.0177/206rear7002534.5-7.74.0A truly special driving experience, but It's 71B Boxster money for a car without a proper roof Chevrolet www.hsv.com.auCamaro 2SS Camaro ZL1Junl9$86,990 [6m] $89,190 (10a)V8/6.2338/617rearFID19B4.5312.57134.0A proper rear-drive VB with an LSD for under S100K. [Extracted from the article]

2993CC 6cyl, dohc, twin-turbo POWER 375kW@ 5510-7500rpm TORQUE 650Nm @ 2750-5500rpm 0-100KM/H 3.9s WEIGHT 1725kg • PRICE $159,900 LIKE: Implacable front end; gutsy motor; smart electronics; brakes DISLIKE: Considerable bulk; styling; crippleware manual decision I HAVEN'T NAILED Turn One at Phillip Island. No it doesn't bang home shifts with the urgency of a dual-clutch, but it's certainly no impediment to enjoying the car on track, and the rubber dimple-backed wheel- mounted shift paddles are a tactile delight. [Extracted from the article]

The V8 Vantage arguably defined the modern era of Aston Martin, and as premium manufacturers increasingly shy away from free-breathing large-capacity engines, we suspect that many will gaze upon these rear-drive V8s with much the same regard as V8 Astons of old. ENGINE & TRANSMISSION The Vantage's V8 powertrain is known to be a durable unit, however, proper maintenance should be adhered to. [Extracted from the article]

Power shuffle AMG has fitted the GLA 45 S with the same 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system that is used on the A45 S. using a pair of multi-plate clutches on the rear axle to move power to whichever side needs it most. The GLA is simply more focused and capable, hiding its SUV design with hatch-like dynamic characteristics, capable of higher-highs than the RS Q3 on tarmac at every turn. Your official warning: if you see a Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S or Audi RS Q3 lurking around the bottom of a twisting mountain road, do not try and outrun them unless you are packing a serious piece of equipment. Though it disguises its weight adequately, the Audi's body control can't match the AMG's, making its SUV nature more prominent than the GLA. [Extracted from the article]