Autoblog

Ariel Atom V8 pitted against Citroën DS3 racer and BMW HP4 superbike

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, BMW, Citroën, Motorcycle, UK

Autocar took an Ariel Atom V8, BMW HP4 superbike and X-Games gold medalist Liam Doren's Citroën DS3 rallycross ride to an airstrip for a drag race. Sadly for all the drivers and for us, the clouds took to the sky and poured more and more rain on the track before the big race.

It's still a fun theoretical battle. The 550-kilogram Ariel Atom brings a 3.3-liter V8 with 475 horsepower, 268 pound-feet of torque and a 748-hp-per-ton ratio. The engine-restricted, 1,300-kg DS3 Rallycross rocks a 2.0-liter four-cylinder set for the day to about 560 hp, 600 lb-ft and - because of its variable boost - anywhere from 454-577 hp-per-ton. The HP4, naturally, does the most with the least, its 169 kg hauling a 1.0-liter engine with 163 hp, 83 lb-ft and a screaming 757 hp-per-ton.

It's a shame the weather didn't allow the entrants to show all they could do, especially the two-wheel-drive Atom. Nevertheless, it does demonstrate how critical the amount of available traction is to get the most from high-performance machinery, and there's lots of launch-controlled action and a winner crowned in the video below.

Continue reading Ariel Atom V8 pitted against Citroën DS3 racer and BMW HP4 superbike

Ariel Atom V8 pitted against Citroën DS3 racer and BMW HP4 superbike originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autocar compares new Maserati Quattroporte to Jaguar XJ

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, Jaguar, Maserati, Luxury

Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe took the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte on a spin along snowy mountain roads to test it for a specific brief: as a limousine for the chauffeured class. It's sporting credentials are impressive: Twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8, 532 horsepower, 475 pound-feet of torque in casual circumstances that rises to 532 lb-ft in overboost, a 0-to-60 mile-per-hour sprint of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph.

However, citing Maserati's desire to not just increase its sales to 50,000-per-annum by 2015, but to sell many more of its cars in China, Sutcliffe wanted to find out if the livery side of the Quattroporte could match its sport sedan side. So after taking the pilot's seat and trying out the sport settings, Sutcliffe hops in back to test out the CEO's seat.

Then he compares the Quattroporte against the long-wheelbase Jaguar XJ with its supercharged V8, a sedan that's 15,000 pounds less expensive than the Maserati. It doesn't take long for him to find that one of them is a clear winner when it comes to transporting VIPs. To find out which one, enjoy the video below.

Continue reading Autocar compares new Maserati Quattroporte to Jaguar XJ

Autocar compares new Maserati Quattroporte to Jaguar XJ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yes, Virginia, you can drift a 17-horsepower Renault Twizy

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Videos, Renault, Electric

On one side of the Renault Twizy ledger you have a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive "coupe" with instant torque and a RenaultSport-tuned suspension. On the other, you have the equivalent of 17 horsepower. None of those figures would keep Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe from getting to the bottom line, which was to see if he could make the Twizy drift.

Before you ask, no, the video does not contain any electronic music nor a panda in a suit. But it's still worth watching the segment below. As an added bonus, we've included a video of the scissor-doored city car hooking up on the dyno, as well.

Continue reading Yes, Virginia, you can drift a 17-horsepower Renault Twizy

Yes, Virginia, you can drift a 17-horsepower Renault Twizy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAC Mono single-seat road car is "fan-bleeding-tastic"

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, UK, Specialty

Autocar's ex-racer scribe Steve Sutcliffe sat himself in the middle of the BAC Mono - which is the only place to sit, actually - and came away with a helmet full of glee. The £79,950 single-seater apparently drives just like an F3 car, an effect created in part by its 1,190-pound weight, 280-horsepower, four-cylinder Cosworth engine and its F3 suspension. Sutcliffe said it handles better than a Lotus Elise, which one might expect of a race car for the road, but that it also drives better, too.

Briggs Automotive Company is making 35 Monos this year, but they're all spoken for. Next year's run of 50 is also sold out. So while you wait for 2013 and a bunch of money to afford it, there's the video after the jump to keep you entertained. Another video you'll find there: Bjork's "All is Full of Love," which was said to have influenced the BAC Mono's design. That's what we call cool.

Continue reading BAC Mono single-seat road car is "fan-bleeding-tastic"

BAC Mono single-seat road car is "fan-bleeding-tastic" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Nissan GT-R pitted against F3 racer... in the wet

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:16:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan, Racing

Nissan GT-R vs. Formula 3 racer - Click above to watch video after the jump

People love running the Nissan GT-R against anything else they can think of... as long as it has four wheels, it must be compared to the Japanese coupe. We've read countless stories of Godzilla taking on cars far above its power grade and price range, yet the stories and videos keep popping up. To be honest, we would compare the turbocharged Nissan to a Wal-Mart shopping cart if it meant we could score some more heavily-bolstered seat time. Autocar seems to agree with this notion, because they lined up a Nissan GT-R, a Formula 3 racecar and a rain-soaked racetrack.

Steve Sutcliffe of Autocar managed to talk himself behind the wheel of a Red Bull Formula 3 racer, and he ran it for a few laps around a wet track. He set his best time, then jumped into the GT-R. Did he manage to better his time in the purpose-built racer? See for yourself by checking out the video after the jump.

[Source: Autocar via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Nissan GT-R pitted against F3 racer... in the wet

Video: Nissan GT-R pitted against F3 racer... in the wet originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Autocar and Top Gear test out the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Videos, Porsche, Racing

Autocar gets the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid on track - Click above to watch video after the jump

Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe and Top Gear magazine spent a day lapping the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid down straights and over the kerbs, and they both caught the action in moving images. Sutcliffe gives running commentary on what it's like to drive, notably explaining how he has to make sure not to add that extra 160-horsepower electric boost coming out of corners.

Of course, if you prefer your videos strong and silent, then the Top Gear vid is for you - nothing but the sound of the racer doing its thing. Grab your popcorn and follow the jump.

Gallery: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid at 2010 Nürburgring 24 Hours

[Sources: Autocar, Top Gear]

Continue reading Video: Autocar and Top Gear test out the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Video: Autocar and Top Gear test out the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Autocar drives the McLaren F1 GTR ahead of P11's debut

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, UK, Celebrities

Click the image above to view the video after the jump

Some guys have all the luck. Fresh off his adventure chasing a Lamborghini LP670-4 SV around Millbrook with a Corvette ZR1, Steve Sutcliffe is back in front of Autocar's cameras -- only this time he's driving a McLaren F1. And not just any old McLaren F1. No, Mr. Sutcliffe is driving a F1 GTR -- one of the McLaren Le Mans winning race cars converted back to street duty. Chassis number 10 owned by Pink Floyd's drummer and certified auto maniac Nick Mason, to be precise.

So, what's the difference between a regular F1 and a F1 GTR? Weight. About 400 pounds. The F1 GTR barely tips the scales at an unbelievable 2,068 pounds. That's Lotus Elise territory. Yet it still packs the mid-mounted 617 hp BMW M Power V12. And instead of the regular F1 gears, the GTR sports much shorter (i.e. quicker) gears, which has the "who cares?" effect of lowering the top speed from 240 mph to 180 mph.

Before you get ahead of yourself, listen to Sutcliffe run through the gears -- it sounds as if he's whipping the car. And if you're not smiling when he says, "There's a very small, red dot in the mirror," we don't know what's wrong with you. Pay special attention to Steve's facial expressions throughout the clip -- they tell the full story. Oh, and the video has something to do with the new McLaren P11's debut, but frankly, we don't care.

Continue reading VIDEO: Autocar drives the McLaren F1 GTR ahead of P11's debut

VIDEO: Autocar drives the McLaren F1 GTR ahead of P11's debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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