To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Volkswagen’s iconic Golf GTI model, not only has the Wolfsburg giant created an obligatory model, the GTI Edition 35, but also a fun campaign, featuring a pair of nutty scientists – using the latest GTI as a time travelling machine. They head back to 1976 to witness the original car, and the engineers behind it. Such a great idea.
Volkswagen will be sharing more of their journey through the last 35 years at Facebook.
Think your job’s good? Not only did evo magazine’s Dickie Meaden get to drive Audi’s Le Mans 24 Winning R18 TDI at Italy’s Misano World Circuit, but he was given tuition beforehand – by a certain Alan McNish. Jealous much? (more…)
Volkswagen’s Golf Blue-e-Motion has won its class at this year’s RAC Future Car Challenge, which took place last weekend.
Repeating last year’s success, this year the Blue-e-Motion was piloted by Folko Rohde, an electric motoring engineer with Volkswagen, and co-driver Fabienne Kleinert. The route began at Brighton’s Madeira Drive and ended 92 kilometres (57 miles) later, on Pall Mall, a street in the City of Westminster, London. Competing in the Prototype class, the Golf went home with the Most Energy Efficient Regular Car title.
Returning a figure of 12.1 kWh, the Golf was, understandably, some way off the overall winning (microscopic) Gordon Murray Design T.27 (7.0 kWh), but streets ahead of the highest-placed Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid (27.6).
Electricity from a lithium-ion battery, with an energy capacity of 26.5 kWh, feeds the motor, which develops a maximum power of 85 kW/114 hp and a continuous output of 50 kW (67 hp). 270Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque is available as soon as you step on the loud (or quiet) pedal. A range of around 150 kilometres (93 miles) is possible, depending on driving style and use of systems such as air conditioning. Volkswagen plans to have a production version of the Golf blue-e-motion in showrooms by 2013.
[Source: Volkswagen]
As part of evo magazine’s search for its car of the year, Chris Harris got behind the wheel of Porsche’s epic GT3 RS 4.0 model. Producing 368 kW/500 hp from its naturally aspirated 4.0 L unit, this RS can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.9 seconds and travel around the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in just 7 minutes and 27 seconds. (more…)
Now, this is what you call dedication. Or perhaps, insanity? This Lamborghini Gallardo was taking part in the Targa High Country, a tarmac rally that takes place on closed roads around Victoria, Australia, when its occupants, Jason and John White, suddenly felt liked they were being barbecued alive. A brief, mid-stage discussion regarding their options saw them carry on until the end – and win the event by a clear ten seconds. (more…)
