Inside Lane

“We Name Our Perfect Companion For Summer 2011.”

Issue 27 Summer Is In The City

Here we are at last! The sun is in the sky over dear old England giving its residents a break from seemingly relentless rain. This presents the

perfect opportunity to sample some alfresco motoring and so we go in

search of our 2011 summer conveyance.

Also news from both the track and the road for your reading pleasure.

Lets go, weʼre burning daylight just talking here...

Dawn-Till-Dusk

Audi for years consecutively ruled

the most prestigious motorsport

event in history. The Le Mans 24

Hour test man and machine to it’s

limits and the Germans were on quite

the role until 2009 where the

Peugeot team stole their crown. The

French racers were set to do it again

in 2010 until their cars spectacularly

dropped out one-by-one leaving the

gates open for some Audi revenge.

This year Audi are leaving nothing to

chance and hope to dominate

without the help of lady luck thanks

to their new R18.

The Audi R18 TDI is a big change

from the previous alfresco endurance

racers they produced. The 3.7 litre

V6 diesel has just finished testing

over in the states and baring a

complete diagnostic is ready for the

main event. This year will be a titanic

battle between the French and the

Germans both bringing all new cars

and a hunger for victory. The R18

has already proven itself to be faster

and more efficient than its

predecessor, two traits that bode well

for an endurance event.

“The Environment Won’t Know What’s Hit It!”

If the world wants me to drive an

environmentally caring car it must do two

things. Firstly it must not leave me in any form

of detriment when compared to a standard car.

Performance for example is often surrendered

in favor for more MPG’s or the finished product

is dulled down to save weight .etc It should

behave just like every other car on the road!

Secondly I would like to see this technology

bring more than just better economy to the

drive. There are so manny innovative

applications for things such as KERS that are

only now being taken advantage of. Porsche hit

the nail on the head with the 918 Spyder

Concept last year and today that very goes on

sale.

The 918 is a Hybrid. It has all of the eco-

friendly tech green peace want in every car but

the key difference is that it doesn’t invalidate its

core purpose of being a performance machine.

This gorgeous piece of engineering is limited to

just 918 examples at the cost of £672,000

each. What you get in return for that vast sum

is not just Porsche’s new performance flagship

but a step into the future of supercars. Its V8

combustion heart is coupled with two electric

motors producing a total BHP reading of

around 715. 0-62MPH is completed in 3.2

seconds and the top speed is said to be over

199MPH. Considering that the car will return

94MPG there is just nothing else quite like it.

Production begins 18th September 2013 and

Porsche are saying that the cars will be

delivered in the order of who purchases first.

So if you want to be top of the list we suggest

you give your local Porsche dealer a call now.

Lady In Red...

Speed is something man has craved

since he has been able to walk. It’s a

competitive edge that once was a

guaranteed meal ticket and gauge for

dominance. Today we have

supermarkets and no need to chase

deer on foot but that craving for

blistering acceleration and colossal

overall speed is still there. That’s why

cars such as the Bugatti Veyron

exist, to quench our thirst for

dominance. But what if you don’t

have a spare million? How do you

get would 250MPH+ kicks then?

We reported on the Hennessey

Venom GT last year and were

absolutely blown away by some of

the figures it produced. 267MPH,

0-60MPH in 2.5 seconds, but more

importantly a price well under current

hypercars. Ok, so at the end of the

day it is a highly modified Lotus

Exige and so could never hope to be

as complete as a Veyron but “bangs

for your bucks” is the name of the

game… Hennessey have just

released images of chassis 3 in a

voluptuous red.

Venom GT

Power To The People!

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Saved

The Lancer Evolution, or Evo as it has fondly become known as, is the alternative to the

Subaru Impreza. Think fire and ice, red VS blue, religion against science… The Evo is a

legend and in its tenth incarnation it is better than ever, the FQ400 being a particular

masterpiece. However the cars very existence came under threat when Mitsubishi

announce it was to kill off the Evo in favor of a much more “green” model line-up.

Now just weeks after the

announcement the Japanese

company have made a dramatic U-

turn. Due to immense public

disproval from fans and Evo

loyalists alike the car is to remain in

production. This is the right choice

as without this car the brand would

not be as renowned as it is today.

They promise to “evolve” the car,

into what we are not too sure

thought rumors of a hybrid Lancer

Evolution have been about for some

time.

Also Mitsubishi has decided to drop

prices of the fabled car in the UK to

a very reasonable £29,699.

Watch Out!

Watch Out!

M3 Killer About!

We rather like Mercedes-Benz new C-Class

Coupe. It still holds a high status demeanor but

with its bold curves really does stand out in

terms of design. The car is to take on the likes

of the 3 Series, no easy task, but Mercedes

feel that this machine has what it takes.

However the arch rival has a weapon that will

merrily drive a stake through the new cars

heart, it is of course the M badge. The

performance mark of BMW is undoubtably top

of its class but now Merc have let the crazy

AMG engineers out to play in a bid to combat

the Bavarians.

The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe sure

looks the business with bulging arches and

swollen body lines. Challenging not only the M3

but also the brilliant Audi RS5 this car has to

have the sheer performance to take on its

fellow Germans. Lucky for the three pointed

star it does in a very big way. The 6.2 litre V8

gives the driver 451BHP under their right foot

with the capability of doing 0-62MPH in just 4.5

seconds. But it is the torque levels that really

put this cars main rivals to shame as its 443lb-ft

is a vast quantity more than the M3 and RS5.

Top speed is limited to 155MPH but that

0-62MPH time can drop by a further 0.1

seconds by ticking the option for the

performance pack bringing total BHP to 480.

The C63 Coupe is equiped with a 7-speed

transmission that can swap cogs in as little as

100ms.

Expect to see this monster on the road in July.

Grrr Just Try It..

Back Off Death Wish?BANG

“I EAT CHILDREN”

Summer Shoot-OutIt began with a shortlist of cars we would merrily take ownership of this summer... Key criterial of value for money, excitement and driving pleasure eventually whittled this list down to two. The battle commences and we begin with an Italian stallion.

Ferrari California

A lot of manufacturers are diversifying their product

line. Dyson are making hand-dryers, Google are

making phones and even Porsche are making four

door super cars. So amidst the fog of creativity

Ferrari were feeling a little left out. However making a

new Ferrari just for the sake of it is a very dangerous

thing to do. Make a car that goes beyond the DNA of

the brand and it will be scrutinised for not being a

proper Italian stallion, worse still if you make a poor

car it could damage the entire brand image. To

ensure they don’t stray from the paddock, Ferrari has

revived one of its most illustrious nameplates…

California. The original car became one of the most

desired cars the world had ever seen, even Steve

McQueen bought one! However a simple name

doesn’t make a great car and so the only way to find

out if Ferrari’s latest offering was up to standard was

to get hold of one.

This car represents a lot of firsts for the iconic brand

such as; Ferrari’s first front engine V8, Ferrari’s first

seven speed DCG (dual clutch gearbox), and

Ferrari’s first metal folding roof. The car we were

presented with was in true Ferrari fashion, red with

beige upholstery. I must say at this point that when I

was shown pictures of this car I didn’t think it

particularly striking, but in person it was extremely

eye-catching with its aggressive bonnet scoop and

sweeping rear curves. So, at least it looks as a

Ferrari should.

The previously mentioned front mounted 4.3 litre V8

at the heart of this car produces 460BHP and will

keep going to an epic 193MPH! 0-60MPH is done in

less than four seconds making this one of the fastest

metal retractable roofed cars in the world. The

performance figures speak for themselves, this car is

no push-over, and coupled with a fantastic DCG

gearbox the car absolutely fly’s. For those of you who

don’t know what a DCG gearbox is, it’s a gearbox

with two clutches. Basically if you in 2nd gear the box

will already have both 1stand 3rd selected, primed for

an ultra-fast gear change. Also with it being a 7

speed, it enables the car to become an amazing GT.

The long-legged gearbox is happy to potter around

at 60 or go into warp at 160, either way it certainly

has the speed of a Ferrari.

The roof is the party peace of the

California, being able to retract its

hard-top into the boot in less than

14 seconds for you to experience

the best alfresco Ferrari has to

offer. The F430 drop-top was a

fantastic car, so don’t think for a

second I’m about to say

otherwise, but the fact it was a

supercar meant that having the

roof drown led to people gawping

at whoever was inside. The

California is by no means

understated, but it’s much more

discrete in darker shades of paint.

The result of our red California

was that it turned many heads,

thought the orchestra playing

under the bonnet may have had

something to do with it. The

California brings all the pros of a

coupe without the cons of a rag

top. The chassis is firm and the

steering responsive; all that

Ferrari know-how that has been

perfected over 60 years has been

personified in this car. Most

importantly it goes like a Ferrari

should.

This step into a new sector of the

market was a brave move on

Ferrari’s part, and I’m pleased to

say it has certainly paid off.

Despite all its differences in

comparison with its sable mates,

it manages to remain pure in

Ferrari ethos. Ok, so the rear

seats can fit little more than a

pineapple in them but you must

remember this is no BMW or

Audi, the seats will never be

used. This car is powerful,

beautifully styled, comfortable

and above all, a Ferrari.

“We have had a loving spoonful of Italian Passion but now it is time for some ruthlessly efficient German Engineering. Enter the Audi R8 V10 Spyder...”

Audi R8 V10 Spyder

The Audi R8 is a collection of impossible things. It is a performance

behemoth yet as refined as a luxury saloon. It is a mid-engined

supercar yet is practical. It is German but reframes from being

stereotypically sterile. When the four rings later decided to laden the

astonishing car with a 5.2 litre it quite simply became one of the best

cars on sale at any time in history. Now summer is in the city and as

temperatures rise well above toasty nothing gave us more pleasure

than sampling the R8 V10 Spyder. In essence it is the very same car as

its coupe sibling but what effect has cutting its head off had?

A major problem with creating a convertible from a car that was

originally designed to be a hard-top is that you remove one of the most

structurally integral parts of the car. The result is all to often a great car

ruined by extra weight and handling that can be likened to wrestling a

moose up a tight staircase. Audi have attempted to reduce this rather

unwanted trait by adding extra chassis support and some carbon fibre

body panels. The rag top may be 100KG heavier than the coupe but the

performance figures from that 5.2 litre V10 do a very good job of

brushing the laws of physics aside. 0-62MPH is completed in a rapid 4.1

seconds and the Spyders top speed of 194MPH is by no means

sluggish.

The fabric roof can complete the R8’s transformation in just under 19

seconds and if you have the unfortunate luck of being caught out by the

British weather, the transition can be made on the move providing you

are under 30MPH. Now a fairly obvious side effect of having the roof

down is the increase in general noise. Not that I am complaining as

most of it is produced in a glorious fashion by the howling V10. The

sound is incredible as at low revs it emits a rather growly tone that is

enough to scare innocent bystanders into a state of alert but let all 10

pistons come out to play and the symphony is nothing short of epic!

The R8 is all-wheel-drive but thanks to various

onboard systems that only Stephen Hawking

could explain, the balance of the machine is as

precise as a decimal point. Make no mistakes

this is a big car but it darts through corners

with the agility of a mosquito and seemingly

never ending levels of grip. It is so incredibly

manageable and composed at all times. So

much so that words need to be invented to

describe just how good the handling is. The

car is equipped with a proper 6 speed manual

that so satisfying to use that it would be a

crime if you chose the R Tronic flappy paddles.

This car flatters you and then rewards you

further the more you punish it. But once you

have finished being a hooligan and decided

that the tyres have had enough torture for one

day you can relax and drive home in German

luxury. The seats that were holding you in

place firmly whilst the engine propelled you

towards the horizon now hug you in comfort.

The lavish upholstery really does make this

feel like a car that is worth £112,000. Better

still there is a usable boot that you can fit more

than just socks in! Unlike many supercars of

this caliber the Audi R8 Spyder can also

achieve an impressive 16 MPG meaning you

need not feel too guilty about killing the polar

bears.

What you get from this car is something that is

usable everyday and not something just to

bring out for a Sunday drive. Just like the

coupe it is an utter joy in motion be it bumbling

along an A-road or testing your bravery, this

machine never ceases to impress. It such a

complete product with no real flaws worth

mentioning. I said that the coupe was “the

most complete car I have had the pleasure if

reviewing.” Well I was wrong… The Spyder

adds an extra level of engagement and by

being every bit as good as its fixed roof

counterpart becomes one of the best

investments in motoring you could make.

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