Welcome to

Yellowwheels.com

automotive webzine

We aim to inform, entertain, and surprise you ! We like to do things our own way and bring you original content from the motoring world, and it doesn't have to be yellow !

Read our top features

Mercedes C220 C-Class

We drive 4000 miles in a Mercedes C220 CDi - Read test our report

Read our top features

The car that launched a website

Why yellowwheels.com ? - This is the car that inspired a website - Read how Yellowwheels came to be

Read our top features

Lambo & Mini USB test

Useful stuff: Lambo & Mini USB test - we check out these miniatures for your laptop and fingers

Visit our shop

UK Amazon shop

Buy your next satnav or accessory at our YW UK Amazon shop - Help support this site by buying via us !

Read our top features

YW electric kiddy car race

Electric BMW & Mini - We hold our first electric kids car race - follow the race and tantrums!

Geneva Show 2011 – Porsche 918 RSR

On March 29, 2011, In Auto Shows, Cars, Events, Hybrid, Motor Racing, Motor Shows, Racing Cars, Supercars, by yellowwheels

2011 Geneva Motor Show - Porsche 918 RSR

Up close with Porsche 918 RSR Hybrid

A year ago Porsche’s 918 surprise at the Geneva Motor Show blew us away. Looking small and dainty but extraordinarily desirable it was pitched as a Carrera GT replacement. Yet it didn’t quite have the commanding presence of the GT, even if it’s spec and integration of hybrid technology made it worthy. If it’s 7:30min Nürburgring lap time is anything to go on, then it certainly qualified on speed and agility. Something about the folded paper look, lack of roof and delicate detailing of the show car made us want to put some horny rims on, install a loud exhaust and wake up the neighbours.

Geneva Motor Show 2011 - Porsche 918 RSR - embroidered seat and electro fill cap

Now exhibited in racing trim at the 2011 Geneva Show, that desire is mostly answered. the fixed roof, arch-filling racing slicks, additional carbon aerodynamic aids and orange “racing” decals vaguely recalling Gulf Oil sponsorship of the past, give it a butchness it was otherwise lacking. If Batman turned up in this beast, Gotham City would stand back and know what was coming. If Batman had turned up in the 918 “prototype”, he’d have Robin mince out slyly, while he conducted proceedings from his iPad3.

(more…)

Tagged with: 2011 • 918 RSR • flywheel • Geneva Motor Show • Hybrid • mechanical • Porsche

Detroit Motor Show – Porsche 918 RSR

On January 11, 2011, In Auto Shows, Hybrid, Motor Shows, Racing Cars, Sportscars, Supercars, Trackday, by yellowwheels

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

(more…)

Tagged with: 918 • Detroit Motor Show 2011 • Porsche • RSR

Porsche reveal new Cayman R

On November 17, 2010, In Auto Shows, Cars, Coupés, Motor Shows, News, Sportscars, by yellowwheels

Porsche Cayman R lands on LA Auto Show docks

It’s the Cayman’s turn to get the “R” treatment

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…

(more…)

Tagged with: 2010 • Cayman • LA Auto Show • Lightweight • Los Angeles • Porsche • R • track day car

Paris Motor Show 2010 – Porsche 911 Speedster

On October 27, 2010, In Auto Shows, Cars, Convertibles, Motor Shows, News, Roadsters, by yellowwheels

Paris Motor Show 2010 - Porsche 911 Speedster

Porsche shave a couple of inches off a windscreen and make the roof manual – Hey presto, you have a Speedster

Another year, another pointless Porsche. Faced with a Paris showstand potentially devoid of new models, the 911 Speedster was conjured up by Porsche’s “Exclusive” department to lend a hand to the mildly modified 911 lineup. 356 of these marketing specials will be made to satisfy the collectors appetite. Naturally specs have been bumped up marginally, and a few exclusive bodystyling and interior mods incorporated to justify the 144,100 UKPounds ticket price. You have to wonder though why you’d want one of these specials over the standard convertible. I mean, manual roof, inferior air management when roof down…And a lesson from history for the aficionados: The 1989 911 Speedster had a limited run of 171 cars, but was then superseded by a wide-bodied turbolook version of which 2,103 were made, making a mockery of the exclusivity of the Speedster.

Having said all that, we admit that it drew our attention, as intended, and we know in our hearts, that once at the wheel of a Speedster all these criticisms would evaporate – blown into the weeds by the sheer thrill of driving any 911!

(more…)

Tagged with: 2010 • 911 • Paris Motor Show • Porsche • Speedster

Paris Motor Show 2010 – Porsche GT2RS photos

On October 19, 2010, In Auto Shows, Motor Shows, Supercars, by yellowwheels

Paris Motor Show 2010 - Porsche GT2 RS

Porsche GT2 RS photo gallery

We covered Porsche’s GT2 RS back in May when announced, but first saw it in the flesh at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, and couldn’t resist posting some photos. See how many carbon fibre additions you can count…

(more…)

Tagged with: GT2 • GT2RS • Paris Motor Show • Porsche • RS

Porsche expand lineup with awesome GT2 RS

On May 12, 2010, In News, Sportscars, Supercars, by yellowwheels

The New Porsche 911 GT2 RS most powerful 911 ever

You’re a car manufacturer exhibiting at the Moscow motor show, so you need some new metal to show off, right? Except they mean business in Russia, so poncing around with some-eco concept is not going to endear you to the Gasprom billionaires eager to flout some mean motoring muscle. Bring forth the 620bhp Porker GT2 RS. You can trump your Igors as well as your Donalds with “Most powerful Road Porsche ever”, or “7 minutes and a bit ’round the ‘Ring”. Cool, that is, ’till the next iteration of the 911, which, historically has to be ’round the next kurve (or at the Paris Show next September?)

We’re fans of lightness here at YW, so the news that this GT2 RS sheds 70kgs over it’s GT2 sibling is welcome. You’ve just ejected an adult passenger’s weight. Now consider there’s an extra 90bhp to play with and it’s hardly a surprise that this is one quick car. Power-to-weight ratio is king, as long as you can still transmit torque to the road, and with 325/30 ZR 19 width rubber, it should translate into fast forward motion. How’s this weight lost? Carbon bonnet, inner door panels, seats, spoilers and…these days every damn thing is made of carbon!

Porsche’s Geneva Show was all hybrids, but there’s none of that here. To keep PC the GT2 RS squeezes a couple of extra miles out of a gallon of jungle juice and coughs out a few less CO2s. Mention this under your breath in certain circles though, as 284 g/km and 23.7 mpg is not exactly “green”. Maybe it’s time to refresh the smaller cars in Porsche’s lineup, rather than magic another über-batmobile out of the Stuttgart hat. Where’s the new Boxster/Cayman? That’s more up our street – leave the Cayennes and Panemeras (hippos and mammoths) and give us the new wünder-sports-lightweights (hares and whippets).