News Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Dream of Driving

Land Rover Freelander 1 now considered a Land Rover Heritage vehicle

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Jeff

::cck::92
::/introtext::

Have you always wanted to drive a classic Land Rover but can only afford a measly first generation Ford Escape? Good news! Land Rover now considers the Freelander 1 a Heritage vehicle. You’re a quick badge-swap away from all your hopes and dreams.

Land Rover has announced that the Freelander 1, produced between 1997 and 2006, is the newest Heritage vehicle, which is defined as having been out of production for longer than 10 years. The Freelander 1 remains one of Land Rover’s best-selling models. Over 9,000 individual Land Rover Heritage Part numbers are now available for the Freelander 1, for when they all inevitably end up on the side of the road in a cloud of toxic smoke and bits of metal. They’ve got you covered.

“With the addition of the Freelander 1 as a Heritage model, Land Rover is reaffirming its support and commitment to its loyal customers by providing exceptional cars, services, parts and experiences for models more than 10 years out of production,” said Tim Hannig, director, Jaguar Land Rover Heritage.

Land Rover has seven other Heritage vehicles in addition to the Freelander 1, including the Series I, II, and III, Range Rover Classic and P38 Range Rover, and Discover 1 and 2.

Source: Land Rover

[…]

Nissan withdrawals GT-R LM Nismo from 2016 WEC

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Jeff

::cck::90
::/introtext::

Nissan announced Wednesday, December 23rd that they would be withdrawing their LMP1 car, the beguiling and bemusing front-engine, front-wheel-drive GT-R LM Nismo, from the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship. That means three less cars fighting for an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What a shame.

In the press release, Nissan stated that the reason they quit was because they performed so poorly with the GT-R LM in the 2015 season. Well, Nissan, winners never quit and quitters never win. Nissan went on in the release to emphasize their involvement in other global motorsports, trying to prove that they aren’t a total failure.

Source: Nissan

[…]

Porsche ushers in future by referencing past: the new-ish 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Jeff

::cck::88
::/introtext::

For 2016, Porsche has renamed its entry level sports cars, the Boxster and Cayman, as the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, referencing the 718 RSK racecar from the 1950s. Moreover, the new 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman will share the old car’s engine layout, a flat-four engine, albeit supplemented with a turbocharger.

In addition to the name and engine changes, the 718 Boxster will been priced higher than the 718 Cayman, to be more in line with the traditional pricing of other coupes and convertibles across the industry. The two cars will be more similar than ever, with their new engine being equally powerful in both cars, as well as other visual and technical similarities.

After years of slowly and deliberately moving away from numeric names, it’s a nice change of pace knowing that people will stop confusing Porsche’s mid-engined sports car with their full-sized suburban-sheikh SUV. It will be much more convenient to distinguish the new 718 from the old 987 and 986 with the new name. And you’ll know exactly where it falls in the lineup with Porsche’s other current sports car, the 991 911, which succeeded the 997; which is far superior to the previous 996, the terrible successor to the 993 (the last of the air-cooled greats). But, even the mighty 993 has nothing on the legendary 930 or 965. The 718 will join the ranks of other great four-cylinder Porsches in addition to the original 718, including the 914, 924, 944, 951, and 968. See Porsche? Numbers are way easier to understand.

But the most important news is that Porsche’s best car is now Porsche’s cheapest car. The 718 Cayman is the driver’s Porsche, and will be cheaply available for your local investment account manager to snap oversteer into your neighbor’s mailbox in a torrent of four-cylinder, turbocharged, liquid-cooled fury.

[…]

Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept impresses boy racers everywhere

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Jeff

::cck::84
::/introtext::

Subaru debuted their new Impreza Sedan Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week. The concept is the first example of Subaru’s new modular platform, which means the platform has many modules, I think (or, more seriously, that most new models will be built upon that platform, regardless of model type). Although just a concept, it will heavily influence the Impreza that will arrive within the next few years, as well as other future Subarus.

The new design, called Dynamic x Solid, is less angular and more muscular than Imprezas past, and even boasts an integrated rear spoiler for all those subtle racer boys out there. The front of the car has Subaru’s signature hexagonal grille and hawk-eye headlights. After all, it’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

Assume a more racerified WRX and STI Impreza concepts will come along in the future as well. But for now, we can pour over this handsome press photo!

Source: Subaru

[…]

BMW displays Concept Compact Sedan: a new 1 Series?

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Jeff

::cck::83
::/introtext::

BMW showed off what it called “The BMW Concept Compact Sedan” this week at the Auto Guangzhou, one of the largest auto shows in China. BMW says its design is influenced by its target market in China, that is, the youthful generation that are “confident, dynamic and extremely quality conscious.” I’m not sure how a generation of people can be dynamic, but we’ll take BMW’s word for it.

Concepts don’t always make it to production, but in this case, it may be within reason to presume that what we are looking at may make it in some way to production as the next generation, front-wheel-drive, four-door 1 series compact. BMW has said that the emphasis of this design was on a roomy cabin for passenger comfort, unlike most car companies whose sole goal is to give their customers chronic backache. Keep a lookout for design cues from this concept making their way into future compact BMWs.

Source: BMW

[…]

Amateur racers rejoice: The Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport has arrived

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Jeff

::cck::82
::/introtext::

Porsche debuted the track version of its celebrated road-going Porsche Cayman GT4, the Cayman GT4 Clubsport, this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Sales of the superior-balanced 911’s kid brother started immediately at debut for a racecar-bargain $165,000, ready to be raced in several race series around the world.

The GT4 Clubsport is powered by the production-based 3.8L flat-six from the road-going GT4, and a six-speed PDK transmission with paddles on the steering wheel. It tips the scales at 2,866lbs (1,300kgs), and boast suspension bits from the 911 GT3 Cup.

If you have recently found yourself the heir of an inheritance, here is your chance to show off your amateur racing prowess in one of the most capable and well-handling production-based cars from Porsche, a company steeped in motorsport tradition.

Source: Porsche

[…]

Self-driving Volvo Self Drives LA Mayor

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Jeff

::cck::81
::/introtext::

A 2016 Volvo XC90 equipped with the company’s new Adaptive Cruise Control with Pilot Assist drove Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti and Volvo Cars of North America CEO Lex Kerssemakers through the city’s apocalyptic, horrendous rush hour traffic to arrive at the Connected Car Expo this week.The Pilot Assist will be available on all new XC90s and will be able to follow the vehicle ahead in stop-and-go traffic as well as handle acceleration, braking and steering at speeds up to 30mph.

“The Pilot Assist system in the all-new XC90 is just another step toward our vision of a day when drivers will be able to choose between driving themselves on a spirited run along Mulholland Drive, and safely delegating the driving to the car in rush-hour traffic,” said Kerssemakers.

The automaker claims that by 2020, no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car, which is a bold goal to set. In a philosophical Hit and Run, Volvo plans to save every driver by 2020, leaving an XC90 sized hole in 150 years of evolutionary theory.Volvo underestimates the power of dumb. But hey, I’m sure no one is going to complain about being relieved of the duty of driving in rush hour.

Source: Volvo

[…]

The New Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Burbbble Bot

::cck::80
::/introtext::

Autobobili Lamborghini unveiled the Huracán LP 580-2, the rear-wheel-drive version of its Huracán LP610-4 this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Paradoxically, Lamborghini says it is a “serious car for serious drivers: it is maximum driving fun,” meaning, of course, that serious drivers can’t be trusted with the same horsepower as all-wheel-drive-loving, non-serious, fun-hating drivers.

“The Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2 continues the Lamborghini tradition of pure, visionary and technology-driven models,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “The rear-wheel drive model fits perfectly into our Huracán family, appealing to those wanting an even more intense driving experience, or who currently drive other rear-wheel-drive marques and aspire to driving a Lamborghini. This is the purest expression of a Lamborghini to date, with class-leading technological refinements.”

Technically speaking, the new LP 580-2 has 580bhp and is 30bhp down on its all-wheel-drive twin, but is also 73lbs (33kg) lighter. It has a 40/60 front/rear weight distribution and the steering set-up and selectable driving modes are tuned to provide oversteering characteristics, which is, ironically, uncharacteristic of all other Lamborghinis. The LP 580-2 sits on new 19” rims wrapped in Pirelli PZeros. It has also gotten a mild redesign of its front and rear, accenting a young and more assertive look, which isn’t shared by anyone who can actually afford to buy it.

Source: Lamborghini

[…]

McLaren 650S pics leak ahead of Geneva

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Chris

::cck::13
::/introtext::

Pictures of the McLaren 650S have been leaked by AutoBant (@AutoBant) on Twitter ahead of the official reveal in Geneva. This is McLaren’s newest supercar to be slotted in between the entry level 12C (or MP4-12C? Is anyone sure of the name?) and the halo hypercar P1. The design of the 650S is exactly in between the P1 and the 12C as well. The front end is the P1, the 12C is the rear. Rather uninspired design, huh McLaren?

Snapped at a recent preview, This IS indeed the (more powerful) Mclaren 650S To be unveiled officially at Geneva 🙂 pic.twitter.com/dXw7aGgAic

AutoBant (@AutoBant) February 16, 2014

[…]

After the Sebring 12 Hours

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Jeff

::cck::12
::/introtext::

The 62nd annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring concluded yesterday with a victory for the Ganassi Ford EcoBoost/Riley DP team in the Prototype class with drivers Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Marino Franchitti. The team’s first victory at Sebring also made them the first team to win the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500, according to IMSA.

Porsche won the GT Le Mans class in the #912 911 RSR, making it their second class victory, winning both Daytona and Sebring. The Prototype Challenge class and the GT Daytona class were won by CORE Autosports in their ORECA FLM09 and Mangus Racing in their Porsche 911 GT America, respectively.

Throughout the 12 hours, 11 full course cautions and one red flag resulted in 30 lead changes among 11 different cars.

The series’s next race will be at Long Beach for the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase April 11-12.

[…]