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A guest post by Neill Watson, photographer-writer-blogger
Yellowwheels editor Timtim posed me a really intriguing question today over a quick email chat – which is best, a lightweight car with minimal horsepower or a car with a bit more weight but a lot more power? A very good question and one that I believe I’ve answered to my own personal satisfaction this year. However, as the Americans are fond of saying, “your mileage may vary”
BMW M3
To put this into perspective, let me explain one of my day jobs. In addition to being a car photo-journalist, I’m also a track instructor. I spend a significant slice of my waking hours sitting in a variety of cars, from a 640BHP Lamborghini LP640 to a 120 BHP Lotus Elise and pretty much everything in between, either driving or imparting my limited knowledge. From BMW E46 M3 (a personal favourite) to Ferrari 458 Italia, I have a fair bit of seat time in them all. So, which is best? A 640 Bhp projectile or a 120 BHP mountain goat?
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Limited edition Lexus LFA unveiled before 2011 Geneva Show
A $375,000 supercar, of which only 500 will be built, not exclusive enough for you? Good news: the petrolheads over at the Lexus skunkworks have honed a special lightweight, track day version of their already awesome LFA for you. Only 50 will be made and christened “Nürburgring Package”. These special, limited edition cars are tuned to deliver exceptionally fast track times and sport large aeordynamic aids to keep downforce and consequently cornering speed high. To compensate there’s an extra 10bhp to push that huge wing through the air, supplemented by a 100kg weight reduction that sees acceleration maintained and, no doubt, braking distance reduced. To keep the connection with the Nürburgring going, buyers will be given free tuition and a years pass for the Nordschleife – this car is, after all, built to celebrate class victories there.
Here’s a Yellowwheels totally exclusive video of the car being unloaded for the photoshoot. You won’t see this anywhere else!
That massive carbon wing is fixed in position, unlike the standard car’s retractable one. There’s a huge front dam/tray that reduces effective ground clearance beyond the 10mm ride height lowering. Subtle chin winglets help channel air where it’s wanted, whilst at the rear, just over the tail-lights, Lexus have added small flaps. Inside, a liberal dose of carbon fibre and Alcantara replaces the standard leather. The Geneva Motor Show will be the car’s first public appearance on 3rd March.
Porsche 918 RSR on the menu at 2011 Detroit Auto Show
Take a Porsche 918 Spyder, a GT3R Hybrid, a 917 short-tail, a 908 long tail, mix your ingredients in a Stuttgart bowl. measure out 70% Gulf Racing blue and infuse with 30% liquid metal chrome. Pour into a CFRP oven-proof container and bake for 9 months in a moderate autoclave. Carefully place 917 fan into top cover and insert front splitter and RS Spyder racer’s wing, and allow to become cool. Now decorate with orange stripe and “22″ to recall racing glories. Voila, a “racing laboratory” and PR exercise neatly baked, with a Michelin 4 rubber ring rating. However, this is an experimental recipe and should be tasted with reserve until a full race version has been prepared to perfection.
Ingredients:
1 RS Syder V8 race engine and drive-train (563 bhp – 767 bhp when blended with flywheel)
1 GT3R Flywheel accumulator and electric motors (204 bhp, care, may spin viciously)
1 918 Syder monocoque and body (peel and grate, cover with fold forward doors)
1 917 fan cooling system (boil 40 years to reduce)
1 908 Body styling cues (free lunch)
add a liberal dose of racing heritage
(CGI rendering optional )
Read on for master-chef’s full description and baking tips – a foodie’s feast
Thinking of beatling down to the land of OZ to sample GM’s latest fire-breathing V8 monster? No need, as Vauxhall have sailed their yellow submarine across the sea to these hallowed shores. Sporting gills of gargantuan proportions and LED crested slats up front, Vauxhall call the black grille a “Shockwave”. We’re not sure what the rear black paneling below the “Superflow” spoiler is called, surf-wave? Once you’ve wrenched your eyes off the Hot Wheels rims you might want to peek inside for some visual relief.
Step down the conning tower into the sub’s command centre, where there’s plenty of space to have all your friends on board, and it’s all military black and grey with sonar dash display, and hang on – a trio of supplementary analogue instruments – depth gauge, oxygen mix and dive angle no doubt. Better hand you over to Vauxhall’s spec sheet before this submariner’s analogy sinks…Full speed ahead Mr Parker.
Valencia orange M car completes BMW’s über-sports lineup
1 Series: you’ve been tangoed! BMW’s baby coupe storms into the picture ripe and ready to be peeled and juiced. While squeezing a laudable 227 bhp per tonne out of it’s fruity 3.0 litre engine. More tangerine than navel orange, it sits at the bottom of the M range, but has to call itself 1 Series M Coupe to distinguish it from the original M car, the M1. That M1 was a mid-engined supercar, but such is progress, that it is out-performed by this shopping car on steroids. And it’s those steroids that make this car desirable: without the wide arches, extra spoilers and hot engine the 1 Series looks a bit plain Jane.
Great to see Porsche inject a little ooomph into their Cayman. It’s been quite a while since it’s been in the news. Porsche have had their hands full launching Panarmeras, Cayennes, Speedsters, racers, hybrids, concepts and a zillion 911 variations. In the meantime the unassuming but highly desirable Cayman has been consistently winning sportscar driving comparisons. It’s carved out a cosy niche below the 911 while delivering sheer driving pleasure derived from its superior drivetrain layout and practical hatch bodyform. Now don’t get too excited though, as there’s only a modest 10 bhp power output boost at a heady 7,200 rpm over the Cayman S, but the real news is the 55 kgs shaved off the car’s kerb weight. That’s equivalent to ejecting a lightish adult and bumps up the power to weight ratio to a useful 250 bhp/tonne. It also makes it 75 kgs lighter than Porsche’s über-car-of-the-moment the GT2 RS. Naturally for an “R” iteration there’s stiffer suspension and more of a trackday handling setup, just don’t go looking for the ICE and aircon as there ‘aint none…
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