Happy birthday to an absolute legend! Volkswagen’s best-selling automotive of all time and Europe’s hottest automotive ever turns 50 in the present day. On March 29, 1974, sequence manufacturing of the Golf Mk1 began on the Wolfsburg plant in Germany. Since then, greater than 37 million models have been offered. Doing the maths, over 2,000 folks have purchased one each single day during the last half a century.
The Beetle’s alternative initially emerged on the finish of the Sixties when Porsche developed the EA 266 prototype. Over 50 automobiles had been constructed however the undertaking was in the end cancelled in October 1971. Those automobiles had a water-cooled inline engine tucked away beneath the rear bench seat, which technically made the automotive mid-engined. The location of the fuel engine made issues troublesome concerning restore and upkeep work.
Volkswagen EA 266
It did allow a prime velocity of 116 mph, which wasn’t too shabby for an econobox. Although a mid-engined hatchback appears like a whole lot of enjoyable, the truth was utterly totally different. Rumor has it the engine ran too sizzling and fumes would enter the cabin. Not solely that however the automobile was claimed to be fairly loud in addition to unstable on a moist street.
Chances are it will’ve been too costly to construct anyway, so the automotive was scrapped. It additionally seemed awkward and would’ve been a ache to restore given the engine’s hard-to-access location. VW says that of the 50+ automobiles produced by Porsche within the late Sixties and early Seventies, solely a handful have survived.
Volkswagen EA 276
Volkswagen EA 276
Around the identical time, the EA 276 was being engineered at house in Wolfsburg with a front-wheel-drive, front-engined structure. Only one was ever made, however even that prototype wasn’t totally purposeful. It had the Beetle’s air-cooled boxer engine below the hood, whereas the gasoline tank was situated beneath the rear seats. The small hatchback—which seemed higher however nonetheless a bit uncanny—had a torsion beam axle and a spacious cargo space.
The EA 276 undertaking was deserted as properly as a result of the engine know-how it used was already outdated for what was supposed to be a world product. However, the one-off automotive did affect the first-generation VW Gol launched in Brazil in 1980 with the 1.3-liter air-cooled engine from the Beetle however mounted on the entrance. The Gol hatchback spawned a Voyage sedan a couple of yr later.
Volkswagen EA 337
The true Golf earlier than the Golf was the EA 337, penned by none apart from Italdesign’s Giorgetto Giugiaro. The manufacturing mannequin transitioned from sq. to spherical headlights whereas the flip alerts had been moved from the fenders to the entrance bumper. In addition, the door handles of the Golf Mk1 stand out from the physique whereas on the EA 337, the handles sit flush with the physique. The Golf’s windscreen shouldn’t be as flat as on the prototype.
Giugiaro needed the oblong headlights to enter the manufacturing mannequin and echo the taillights when it comes to measurement and structure. However, VW determined to go together with spherical lights as a result of these had been cheaper to provide. He recollects being requested to attract a “mass-produced car that should be a modern compact car with a boot lid.” He remembers VW asking him to “design a successor to the Beetle for us. And will be satisfied if the space in the interior is about the same as that of the Beetle.”
Although Giugiaro has designed every little thing from the BMW M1 to the Lotus Esprit, he as soon as stated the Golf was “the most important car of my career.” Back in 2008 when he celebrated his 70th birthday, the iconic automotive designer said the success of the original VW Golf “opened many doorways for me.”
As far because the automotive’s identify is anxious, “Golf” comes from the German phrase for the “Gulf Stream” (“Golfstrom”) ocean present. Fast ahead 50 years later, VW nonetheless makes use of the long-lasting moniker for the eighth technology of its compact automotive. The hatchback/wagon duo lately went by means of a mid-cycle facelift and can stay on sale for a number of years till an all-electric Golf Mk9 takes its place within the lineup.
Pol Tarrés is a person, fantasy, and legend who’s used to having his achievements measured in titles, championships, podiums, and medals. He holds accolades such because the 2011 Trial Junior World Champion and took fifth on the 2022 Africa Eco Race. But he added a brand new success metric to the checklist again in 2020: toes.
Tarrés straddled a Yamaha YZ450FX to 22,165 toes on March sixth, 2024, as he ascended the world’s highest energetic volcano, the Ojos Del Salado, which is situated in Chile. By doing so, Tarrés put his identify within the Guinness Book of World Records as soon as extra, this time for setting an altitude report aboard a wheeled machine.
Instead of resting on his laurels, Tarrés descended the volcano and ready to experience up it once more the very subsequent day. But this time, he’d be piloting a motorbike greater than twice the load of his YZ450FX as he went again to his trusty Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid.
Less than 24 hours after cementing his identify within the report books, on March seventh, Tarrés clicked his Tenere 700 World Raid into first to ascend the volcano as soon as extra. He did not cease using till he reached an altitude of 21,909 toes, breaking his personal ADV altitude report from 2020 by 1,707 toes. The feat is unimaginable, however how Tarrés entered the report books this time is much more spectacular.
When Tarrés broke the ADV bike altitude report in 2020, he used an oxygen tank, which he stored in his backpack. Even with this, because of the low oxygen ranges and monumental bodily process, he burned round 20,000 energy per day using towards the altitude report. But this time, he did not use an oxygen tank—he was naturally aspirated. This man is our sort of loopy.
Watch Him Do It
When Tarrés set the primary report in 2020, a movie crew recorded the entire thing and turned it right into a 19-minute-long documentary.
Thankfully, There was a movie crew with him once more this time, and we are able to look ahead to one other documentary someday within the close to future.
In December, Le Mans legend Romain Dumas was on the wheel of the extremely modified Porsche 911 Carrera 4Sthat broke the altitude record for wheeled automobiles. But Dumas isn’t the one connection this record-setting 911 has to the legendary 24-hour enduro. Its trick suspension was initially meant for Le Mans.
While a lot of this Carrera’s drivetrain is unmodified, its suspension has been completely redone, geared up with a system Porsche calls the Warp Connector. Originally created for the Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid, it was shelved early on in that automobile’s growth and unused till this venture.
It’s not like the suspension system in some other Porsche.
How It Works
Instead of letting every nook function independently, the Warp Connector suspension goes in the wrong way, interconnecting all 4 corners for optimum traction. The entrance axle and rear axle are every related transversely to their very own centrally mounted springs and dampers. For the entrance axle, that spring and damper setup is positioned beneath the hood, simply in entrance of the windshield cowl. For the rear axle, the spring and damper might be discovered on the rear of the cabin, the place you’d usually discover the parcel shelf.
Above, a 3D diagram of the Warp Connector suspension supplied by Porsche.
The “connector” within the Warp Connector is the ultimate piece of the puzzle. It’s a stable bar that connects every axle longitudinally by way of a sequence of pivot factors. The bar creates a form of twist rigidity between the entrance and rear, so if one axle articulates a sure manner, the bar enacts a power onto the opposite axle, coaxing it to articulate in the wrong way.
This means any upward power going right into a wheel — say, one tire driving over a giant rock — is translated into downwards power to the opposite three wheels. The reverse wheel receives its downward power by way of the centralized spring and damper, whereas the alternative axle receives its downward forces by way of the Warp Connector bar. The system’s interconnected nature means all 4 corners are performing on one another always, pushing one another to remain related to the floor under. The result’s a 911 that may preserve its stability over massive rocks, dips, and undulations. Here’s an indication of the system in motion:
Engineers have been hesitant to assemble a full-size prototype with such a drastically completely different suspension setup. So they constructed a scale mannequin first.
“[The suspension’s] inventor came with the idea to build an RC model car with exactly the same system,” says Sven Schaarschmidt, chassis engineer for the record-setting automobile. “It looked a bit different than in the real car, but the working principle was exactly the same thing. We were able to play with the car on a desk, moving the wheels and looking at all the connections. It gave us an idea if it could really work in a big car.”
One query stays: If the Warp Connector works so nicely on this 911, why was it dropped from the 919 venture?
“The problem was that [the 919 engineers] had a number of other issues to solve with the car,” Schaarschmidt informed Motor1. “To make it easier to analyze all the issues, They wanted to simplify the car and remove the system. Then the car was working so well that they saw no reason to bring it back.”
Porsche received’t say whether or not it plans to do extra with the Warp Connector idea, although contemplating simply how a lot area it takes up within the record-setting 911, viable manufacturing functions are seemingly few and much between. Still, it’s a formidable little bit of engineering that’s value highlighting. It helped obtain a world document, in spite of everything.
If we needed to guess, the Warp Connector’s reappearance would seemingly are available a motorsport software, seeing as that’s the place it originated, anyway. Race automobiles don’t want to fret about occupying a bit of further cabin or cupboard space, making it an interesting selection for competitors use. But that’s simply hypothesis on our finish.
The Lancia Stratos holds a special place in automotive history, renowned for its unique design, rallying success, and limited availability. Its status as a coveted classic has made it a symbol of automotive excellence. For those who admire the Stratos but are unable to invest in an original, there is an affordable alternative – the Lister Bell STR. This meticulously crafted replica, developed by LB Specialist Cars, is currently available for purchase in the US at a significantly lower cost than the original Stratos.
This particular replica, designated as an “Assembled Vehicle” in Michigan, provides enthusiasts with the opportunity to embrace the allure of the Stratos without the rarity and high price tag attached to the original. It is street-legal and features a five-speed manual transmission, along with several distinctive components that make it an appealing option. These include 15-inch Compomotive coffin-spoke wheels, Gp4 round-arch fiberglass body, Gaz adjustable coilover suspension, front lamp pod, roof scoop, and Alcantara and leather upholstery, all of which contribute to a faithful homage to the iconic original.
+++ Hollywood actor Tom Holland, football legend Gareth Bale, and other stars tee off +++ DJ Locksmith impresses the crowd on the West Course and in the Championship Village +++ Entire European Ryder Cup team competes in the flagship event of the DP World Tour +++
Munich/Wentworth. The BMW PGA Championship, regarded as the most prestigious golf tournament in Europe after The Open, kicked off with the Celebrity Pro-Am at the Wentworth Club just outside London on Wednesday. The event featured numerous stars from sports and showbusiness playing alongside some of the biggest names in golf, creating an exciting start to an exceptional week of sport.
A large crowd gathered for the first highlight of the “Festival of Golf” – a name that reflects the tournament’s sporting class, live concerts, and the Celebrity Pro-Am. Among the stars entertaining their fans were Hollywood actors Tom Holland (known for his roles in the “Spider-Man” and “Avengers” film series) and Tom Felton (famous as Draco Malfoy in the “Harry Potter” film series), as well as five-time football Champions League winner Gareth Bale. Former world-class footballers like Jermaine Jenas, Theo Walcott, and John Terry, as well as cricket stars James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Kevin Pietersen, joined them on the legendary West Course at the Wentworth Club. The VIP presence also included former Westlife singer Brian McFadden and DJ Locksmith, a member of top DnB act Rudimental.
In addition to displaying his golfing skills, Leon “Locksmith” Rolle impressed fans with his musical talent, delivering an electrifying live performance on the Show Stage in the BMW PGA Championship Village. Live music has been a prominent feature of the BMW PGA Championship for many years, and now the program has been expanded to include Wednesday. Jax Jones and The Wombats will perform over the weekend.
Starting from Thursday, the spotlight will shift to the pros on one of European golf’s biggest stages. The tournament boasts an exceptional field of players, competing for a prize fund of nine million US dollars, which includes the entire European Ryder Cup team. Notable players include Rory McIlroy (NIR), Jon Rahm (ESP), Robert MacIntyre (SCO), Viktor Hovland (NOR), Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG), Tyrrell Hatton (ENG), Ludvig Åberg (SWE), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Nicolai Højgaard (DEN), Shane Lowry (IRL), Justin Rose (ENG), and Sepp Straka (AUT).
Captain Luke Donald (ENG), his vice-captains Thomas Bjørn (DEN), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Edoardo Molinari (ITA), and Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL), as well as previous winners Billy Horschel (USA, 2021) and Danny Willett (ENG, 2019), will also participate in the BMW PGA Championship.
With so many talented golfers, both the fans and BMW are excited for a thrilling competition filled with birdies and eagles. BMW will contribute £10 for each birdie and £100 for each eagle to the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), the official charity for the BMW PGA Championship 2023. CALM focuses on suicide prevention and utilizes the donations to support life-saving work. Visitors to the BMW PGA Championship can also donate to CALM at various locations around the grounds, including the popular Mega Putt Challenge.
McLaren’s transition from a legendary motorsport brand to a prominent supercar and hypercar manufacturer has only strengthened its reputation as an industry leader. The McLaren 765LT, for instance, exemplifies the brand’s relentless pursuit of performance, featuring state-of-the-art aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and cutting-edge technology that pay homage to McLaren’s racing heritage. To experience the present and future of McLaren performance, the automotive YouTubers from AutoTopNL take the 765LT for a thrilling top-speed run in a new video on their channel.
Germany’s famous Autobahn serves as the backdrop for this adrenaline-fueled challenge, taking advantage of the highway’s absence of speed limits. With an expansive open road and plenty of straight stretches, the McLaren 765LT warms up before unleashing its full power. After bringing the engine and tires up to optimal temperatures, the driver unleashes the 755 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque from McLaren’s 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The speedometer rapidly climbs as the high-performance powertrain generates boost from its turbochargers, propelling the supercar to a speed exceeding 202mph. This high-speed test drive further confirms that McLaren is not merely producing road-focused supercars, but rather race-inspired models that have the ability to deliver exceptional lap times on professional tracks. If you’re interested, you can check out all the McLaren 765LT models currently available for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking on the link below.
A rare 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B prototype, which was previously owned by World Rally Championship legend Colin McRae, fetched an impressive $606,042 (480,500 pounds) at the Silverstone Festival auction on August 26. This marked the first time the car was made available in a public auction.
Delivered by Subaru in November 1998, the 22B was one of only three prototypes created for the limited-run model inspired by rally racing. The automaker produced a total of 400 units for Japan, along with 16 for the United Kingdom, 5 for Australia, and the three pre-production examples. Interestingly, the Japanese units reportedly sold out on the first day of availability.
In January 2022, Formula One legend Kimi Raikkonen took on a new challenge as the Team Principal of the Kawasaki Racing Team’s MXGP squad. This move has proven to be a successful one as the team continues to excel in the ongoing 2023 season.
Formula One racers are known for their high fitness levels. Fans of the sport are often treated to videos and social media posts of their favorite drivers engaging in various sports activities such as cycling and karting. However, what is not commonly seen is F1 drivers participating in motocross, unlike MotoGP riders who often engage in motocross activities.
There could be several reasons for this disparity. While F1 drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Daniel Ricciardo have expressed their love for street motorcycles, these activities are usually considered personal hobbies rather than part of their training or competition. It remains unclear whether F1 drivers are prohibited from pursuing activities that could potentially put them at risk of injury and affect their professional careers.
However, a recent interview with Kimi Raikkonen during the 2023 MXGP season revealed his lifelong passion for motocross. Despite not actively competing in serious MX races, Raikkonen mentioned that he participated in some club races in the past using a Kawasaki KX250. He has been riding motorcycles regularly since childhood, both for fun and as part of his physical training routine. He particularly enjoys the unique physical demands of motocross.
During the interview, Raikkonen was asked if he was allowed to race motocross as a Formula One driver. In response, he said, “Sometimes I went riding in small club races, but it was just for fun, and I have a small track at home here with the kids. I did not race at a high level, and I felt it was part of my fitness program. I don’t know what any of my teams thought about it as I never mentioned it to them.” Raikkonen’s reserved nature and tendency to keep his personal pursuits private make this statement particularly intriguing.
As for the performance of the KRT MXGP team in 2023, there are only four events left on the season calendar as of August 18, 2023. After 15 rounds, Romain Febvre, a rider for the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, currently holds the second position in the championship standings with 672 points. The championship leader is Jorge Prado of GasGas with 770 points.
The Audi TT is widely regarded as an iconic car. When it first debuted in 1999 (2000 for the US), the TT captured attention with its Bauhaus-inspired design, which set it apart from the Volkswagen Golf it was based on. Over time, the TT gained popularity as a sporty coupe, and its performance capabilities became a significant part of its story.
The first generation of the TT included two impressive trim levels. In 2003, Audi introduced a 3.2-liter VR6 engine paired with a groundbreaking dual-clutch DSG transmission. Then, in 2005, the TT Quattro Sport model was introduced, featuring aggressive bodywork and a powerful 240-horsepower version of the regular car’s 1.8-liter turbo four engine (unavailable in the US). Moving on to the second generation, the Audi TT RS made its debut in 2009, boasting a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five engine generating 350 hp. It offered a six-speed manual and a seven-speed DSG transmission.
Wayne Rainey, a living MotoGP legend, made a surprise appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2022. Alongside racing legends Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz, and Mick Doohan, Rainey rode his 1992 championship-winning Yamaha YZR500 at the event. This was a special moment not only for the racing fans but also for Rainey himself. He never expected to ride his championship-winning bike again. Thanks to Yamaha’s three-year project, his dream became a reality.
In this video, Rainey talks about the experience and the technical details that made this ride possible. Due to his paraplegia, Rainey can only feel the handlebars when he’s on the bike. To ride again, he needed hand-operated button controls to shift gears. Yamaha made modifications so that operating the clutch lever allows him to shift. It took some getting used to, but Rainey was thrilled to get back on the bike.
Other considerations included mountain bike-style pedal clips to secure his boots on the pegs and a special tank pad that provided support and improved his connection to the bike. These modifications ensured that Rainey’s legs stayed in the right position and gave him more control over the bike’s movements.
Although Rainey was used to having a dedicated pit crew and technical staff in professional racing, his appearance at Goodwood was not drastically different. The crew positioned the bike, and once Rainey was ready, he would signal to the person holding the bike, and they would step aside as he rode away.
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