Audi Sport celebrates 40 years with RS E-Tron GT Ice Race Edition

By

-

December 14, 2023

Audi has revealed an ultra-rare special edition of the electric RS E-Tron GT, paying tribute to a spectacular ice racing event.

Only 99 examples of the Audi RS E-Tron GT Ice Race Edition will be sold worldwide, with just four right-hand-drive cars made available to UK enthusiasts.

Named after the annual GP Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria, this collectable coupe also pays tribute to 40 years of Audi Sport. Originally known as Quattro GmbH, the division has produced many high-performance road cars over the years, starting with the Audi RS2 Avant in 1994. Audi Sport was also responsible for the R8 supercar.

Freeze frame

Making the RS E-Tron GT Ice Race Edition stand out is a bespoke livery, created by Audi’s Exclusive customisation team. A Florett Silver RS E-Tron GT with a black carbon fibre roof is the starting point, before a foil wrap is applied.

Silver and white accents in the livery are meant to reference snow crystals and ice lakes, while striking violet tones are inspired by winter sports eyewear. Black 21-inch alloy wheels, along with dark privacy glass, offer a degree of contrast.

An Audi Exclusive leather package continues the theme inside, with a combination of diamond silver and black upholstery, plus bright violet stitching.

Instead of a physical numbered plaque, the Ice Race Edition has a unique serial number displayed on its infotainment screen. There is also a special background for the Multi Media Interface (MMI), along with a purple setting for the interior ambient lighting.

Cold as ice

The Ice Race Edition comes with front seats with heating and ventilation, a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a head-up display. Standard equipment for the RS E-Tron GT also includes carbon-ceramic brakes, adaptive air suspension and Quattro all-wheel drive.

Audi has left the electric powertrain unchanged, which means 598hp as standard. A ‘Boost Mode’ can lift this to 646hp, and slash the 0-62mph time from 3.6 seconds to 3.3 seconds. Fully charged, the RS E-Tron GT can cover 295 miles.

The price to own one of the four UK examples of this rare commemorative RS E-Tron GT will be £150,630 – around £30,000 more than the standard car.

ALSO READ:

Electrikhana 2 is Ken Block’s final bittersweet drift video

The outrageous Abt XGT is an Audi R8 DTM racer for the road

Audi RS E-Tron GT 2023 review

Covid and flu virus: how to sanitise your car

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

-

December 13, 2023

0

Keeping your car sanitised is especially beneficial during the winter months, when viruses such as Covid and flu are more widespread. Cleaning your car will reduce the risk of infection, helping keep you and your family safe and well.

In this article, we have put together a list of the key areas to sanitise, both inside and outside the vehicle. You should repeat this process regularly, especially if you are vulnerable to infections or carry a lot of passengers in your car.

For more general advice about cleaning the interior of your car, including removal of food and drink stains, read our separate guide here.

Which parts of the car should I clean?

These are the areas of your car where bacteria is most likely to accumulate. You should pay them particular attention when cleaning:

Around the driver – the steering wheel, centre console, levers, buttons, switches and internal door handle
Around the front passenger – the glove compartment (inside and out), dashboard buttons and internal door handle
Rear-seat area – cup holders, armrests, switches, cabin lights and internal door handles
Seat belt clips – an often overlooked area. Parents could unwittingly spread germs by fastening belts for children
External door handles – the first point of contact with any car. The boot latch is important after a food shop, as many don’t consider the risk of passing germs from a shopping trolley to the car. Handles are also at risk after filling up with fuel. Wear gloves at the pumps or, better still, carry latex gloves in the car
Engine area – if you have performed any car maintenance, clean the bonnet release, engine bay, oil cap, windscreen fluid cap and oil dipstick
Boot – internal release, parcel shelf and spare wheel compartment
Touchscreens – these screens are magnets for grubby fingerprints and germs
Car keys – these can be rife with dirt and bacteria

Which car cleaning products should I use?

Rubber gloves are an essential part of the car cleaning process. Dispose of them afterwards – and avoid touching your face while cleaning. Many home cleaning products are suitable for the job. However, don’t use bleach as this can damage plastics, vinyl and upholstery inside the car.

Damian Jeffries of car service app Fixter says: “Isopropyl alcohol is one of the best products to use and is widely available. However, Isopropyl alcohol is not suitable for leather seats, so it’s vital to use special leather cleaning products for these.”

Normal soap and water is recommended for cleaning touchscreens, as household glass cleaners can affect the anti-glare coatings. Don’t overdo the water, though, or you could make the car’s interior damp, encouraging misted windows and mould – not to mention electrical issues from water seeping into the dashboard.

ALSO READ:

How to claim compensation for pothole damage to your car

How to use the emergency refuge areas on smart motorways

The hidden secrets of everyday motoring

Slinging mud: passing judgement on the Ineos Grenadier

By

John Redfern

-

December 12, 2023

0

Few vehicles have generated as much controversy or as many column inches in recent years as the Ineos Grenadier.

Whether it’s the idea being formed in a London pub, the various legal battles with Jaguar Land Rover, or the fact this British 4×4 is built in France, the Grenadier was creating headlines before it even turned a wheel.

Since completed Grenadiers have started to leave the production line, the mud-slinging hasn’t stopped. Its styling, interior quality, road manners and prices have all been discussed and dissected. Ineos certainly faces an uphill struggle to win over the Land Rover faithful.

Pulling the pin

So, when I arrived at Deepdale Off Road Driving Centre in County Durham for a belated birthday 4×4 experience, then found an Ineos Grenadier parked outside, I thought my eyes were deceiving me. Yet although we were minutes from Barnard Castle, there was no need to test my vision – it really was a Grenadier.

Graeme Gill, owner and instructor at Deepdale, was one of the first to put down a deposit for a Grenadier. The off-road centre had previously used classic Land Rover Defenders, but needed a new option for a hard-working 4×4.

With a traditional ladder frame chassis and solid axles, plus those Defender-inspired dimensions that led to a courtroom fight with JLR, the Grenadier was a strong contender for the job.

Strong enough for it to be carrying us across the 15 acres of Deepdale’s snow-covered off-road course, in fact, dodging pheasants and frozen ponds along the way.

A real tough mudder

I’ve previously written about my love-hate relationship with the original Land Rover Defender, following my experiences of learning to drive in one. I’m now firmly in the pro-Defender camp, and understand the appeal it holds for enthusiasts.

There is no denying the Grenadier’s similarities to the vehicle Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted to emulate. Off-road, its slow steering requires plenty of concentration on what the front wheels are doing – just like in a Defender. But the smooth-shifting ZF automatic gearbox is light years ahead of the stick-stirring needed in a classic Land Rover, even if the BMW-supplied shifter can be fiddly.

Hill descent control was never available in the original Defender either, but is standard on the Grenadier. Even in the worst combinations of mud and slush, it never missed a beat, smoothly guiding the Ineos down steep, slippery slopes.

And the Grenadier was just as effortless going back up those hills, thanks to its BMW-supplied 3.0-litre 249hp diesel engine – along with Graeme’s tutoring and encouragement.

A true 4×4, not an SUV

The centre console may seem like a riot of buttons, but the Grenadier’s cabin makes more sense when you start prodding and poking. Having a dedicated switch to engage Offroad mode and disconnect all the driving assistance systems is a neat feature. Locking the centre diff is still done by a pleasingly old-school lever, though.

Being built with such a solid focus on real off-road use has naturally created a 4×4 less suited to life on tarmac. However, a brief road test made it clear the Grenadier is hardly a menace to society. A lack of self-centring for the steering takes some mental recalibration, along with some arm twirling, but it soon becomes second-nature.

The torque from the BMW diesel makes it more than capable of getting up to speed when joining dual carriageways, and the brakes felt surefooted, even on the chunky BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres. There is enough sound deadening to have a conversation with your passenger at motorway speeds, too.

All part of the charm

Is the Ineos Grenadier perfect? No. Like the original Defender, there is some built-in ‘character’ to address. The driver’s footwell is cramped, there is still not a great deal of elbow room, and it weighs a hefty 2,700kg.

Factor in the substantial price tag – even the cheapest versions now start at almost £65,000 – and it’s easy to see why the Grenadier has taken so much flak.

Clearly, the Grenadier will never replace the iconic status of the classic Land Rover Defender. It can’t hope to replicate the decades of enthusiasm behind the vehicle that inspired it, but the Grenadier does emulate the spirit and abilities of the original.

Buyers expecting the Grenadier to be just another luxury SUV are likely to be surprised. But for those who want a dedicated 4×4 for driving off-road, the Ineos is hard to beat.

Call me a convert, then. Although if money were no object, I would still be straight on the phone to Twisted Automotive for a restomod Defender T110 TVS…

ALSO READ:

Ineos Grenadier 2023 review

Land Rover Defender 90 review

Best luxury SUVs to buy in 2023

Electrikhana 2 is Ken Block’s final bittersweet drift video

By

John Redfern

-

December 7, 2023

0

Hoonigan and Audi have released the final chapter in Ken Block’s series of drift videos, which is now available to watch on YouTube.

Electrikhana 2 features the incredible 680hp Audi S1 Hoonitron, a bespoke-built drift car, being driven by Block at speed through Mexico City.

Filmed just weeks before Block’s tragic death in January 2023, publication of the video was understandably put on hold. However, the Block family took the decision to complete and release Electrikhana 2 in Ken’s memory.

Vorsprung durch drift

Developed by Audi Sport especially for Ken Block, the S1 Hoonitron features a carbon fibre chassis, two electric motors and an FIA-specification roll cage.

Following completion of the first Electrikhana movie, filmed in Las Vegas, Block requested upgrades to the S1 Hoonitron for his next video. These included reducing the weight of the car, along with creating a digital transmission to simulate multiple gears.

Selected via a paddle shifter, the simulated gearbox allowed Block to perform more accurate slides in Mexico by better controlling the Hoonitron’s power delivery.

Audi Sport also engineered the ability to switch into reverse gear at any speed, and even have the front and rear axles pull in opposite directions. The latter function allowed Ken to perform a huge stationary burnout.

A continuing legacy

Despite Ken’s death, the Block motorsport story looks set to continue. His daughter Lia Block won the 2WD category of the American Rally Association championship in 2023.

She is also set to take part in the 2024 F1 Academy series, and recently drove the Audi S1 Hoonitron in a special feature with French rallying legend, Michele Mouton.

The 43 Institute has been created in Ken Block’s memory, acting as a charitable organisation to support those working in motorsport, action sports and the creative industries.

ALSO READ:

Ken Block’s amazing ‘Hoonicorn’ Ford Mustang is now an RC car

This is Ken Block’s insane 1,400hp Pikes Peak Porsche

Audi RS E-Tron GT 2023 review

New British coachbuilder Allesley to reveal ‘ultra-luxury’ SUV

By

John Redfern

-

December 6, 2023

0

Allesley is new automotive luxury brand, launched with a mission to create coachbuilt cars for those who want something truly bespoke.

Based in Coventry, the 20th century home of the UK’s coachbuilding industry, Allesley aims to channel that history and heritage into modern car design. Both established car manufacturers and private buyers will be able to access its services.

The company’s first creation, a one-off ‘ultra-luxury’ SUV seen in the teaser sketch above, is set to be revealed next year.

‘Design, technology and creativity’

Allesley has brought together experts from within the automotive industry, led by CEO Paul Abercrombie. Having spent a decade in the luxury market, Abercrombie’s achievements include transforming a small architectural practice into a global construction consultancy.

The CEO says Allesley will “transcend all existing standards for bespoke car inception, elevating design, technology and creativity to new heights for a discerning global customer base”.

The company will operate as a separate, but linked, associate of the existing HPL Prototypes. This will ensure Allesley has access to HPL’s computer-aided design (CAD) studios, milling machines, trim shop and five-booth paint facility.

Chris Devane, CEO of HPL Prototypes, commented: “As we celebrate our 25th year, the time is right to launch Allesley. This remarkable and exciting new brand will draw on our world-leading expertise, and with a dedicated new team, bring to life bespoke vehicles for a new audience.”

Meet the designers in person

The new company will be based in the same beautiful 1930s Art Deco factory as HPL, where clients will be able to meet designers in person, examine paint and trim options, and use virtual reality (VR) to envisage how their vehicle could look.

Allesley plans to reveal its first project in 2024. The SUV (which we think resembles a Bentley Bentayga in the sketch, albeit possibly with three doors rather than the usual five) is based on an ‘existing world-leading luxury product’, but with every element significantly enhanced.

A new coachbuilt body will be combined with an upgraded interior, with the latter claimed to ‘take material quality, craftsmanship and surprise-and-delight features to a new level.’

ALSO READ:

Bentley Batur 2023 review

David Brown Mini eMastered 2023 review

Classic car news and reviews on Retro Motor

Leather car interiors are better for the planet, say suppliers

By

John Redfern

-

December 5, 2023

0

A group of global automotive leather manufacturers and suppliers called One 4 Leather claims genuine cow hide interiors are better for the environment.

An increase in the number of ‘vegan leather’ alternatives used by car manufacturers has seen animal hide replaced with PU and PVC materials instead.

However, the One 4 Leather group questions how sustainable such products are, and has released data that outlines the potential impact if the automotive industry ditches leather for good. The group aims to dispel myths about the industry, while also hoping to promote the use of leather as a ‘preferred choice’ for car interiors.

On a hiding to nothing?

One 4 Leather references research by the World Wildlife Federation, which notes that leather is a by-product of the meat and dairy industry. As such, One 4 Leather says no cow is bred solely for its hide.

Some 331 million cattle are processed by the meat industry each year, creating more than 2.18 billion cubic metres of leather hide. This is equivalent to twice the volume of Mount Everest.

A substantial 40 percent of all hides are sent straight to landfill. The automotive industry takes 18 percent of the remainder for leather upholstery – enough to wrap around the earth 1.8 times if laid end-to-end.

Do have a cow, man

Based upon these figures, One 4 Leather estimates that if the automotive industry dropped real leather completely, 35 million hides would go to landfill. This would mean an extra 644 million kg of CO₂e being emitted each year.

The One 4 Leather group commented, “The automotive industry can make a difference to the planet by using more leather in its cars, thus reducing the number of hides going to waste. If the demand for automotive leather increases by just 10 percent, it would save 3.5 million hides from landfill. That’s a saving of over 64 million kg of CO₂e and enough leather for 1.1 million car interiors.

“Car manufacturers are keen to promote greener options to leather in the form of PU and PVC materials. However, most leather alternatives contain more than 80 percent plastic. It’s the small amount of plant or vegetable (mushroom, pineapple, cactus) content that grabs the headlines. These composite materials are difficult and currently very expensive to recycle, so they will inevitably end up in landfill.”

ALSO READ:

Will the Tesla Cybertruck be legal in Europe?

Winter tyres: are they worth the expense for driving in the UK?

David Brown Mini eMastered 2023 review

Will the Tesla Cybertruck be legal in Europe?

By

Motoring Research team

-

November 30, 2023

0

Tesla Cybertruck wouldn’t be legal in Europe

After two years of delays, Tesla has finally built its first Cybertruck – and is today (30 November) set to hold a high-profile delivery event for the first customers.

The first example of the radical electric pick-up was produced at the Gigafactory in Texas. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his company plans to make about 250,000 Cybertrucks a year, depending on demand, with sales starting later in 2023.

Tesla Cybertruck vs the most powerful pickups and SUVs

However, there remains a large question mark over whether the Cybertruck will be sold in Europe. According to a German TUV safety certification expert, the vehicle will require “strong modifications to the basic structure” before it can be sold on this side of the Atlantic.

First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas! 🤠 pic.twitter.com/ODRhHVsd0t
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 15, 2023

Because the Cybertruck is classed as a light duty truck in the USA, it gets exemptions from many safety regulations, including for pedestrian safety. That’s not the case in Europe, however.

The Cybertruck reportedly has up to 1.9 million pre-orders from prospective buyers around the world, but when exactly it will be sold outside America – if indeed it can be – remains unclear.

Innocent bystanders

Stefan Teller, automotive expert at SGS-TUV Saar GmbH, outlined his concerns about the Cybertruck. “The front of the vehicle must not be stiff,” he explained. “The bumper and bonnet must be able to absorb energy to protect pedestrians.”

This means the aforementioned “strong modifications to the basic structure,” would be necessary. Teller follows that, for type approval, the Cybertruck needs to comply with 50 to 60 different regulations.

Looking back at the reveal of the Cybertruck, much was made of how stiff and strong its rolled stainless steel structure and panels were. Great for resisting damage, perhaps, but less so for the occupants and unwitting pedestrians.

‘A big task for Mr Musk’

Regulations require that new cars deform in very specific ways, depending on the nature of an accident. For the occupants, the car’s structure needs to collapse in order to dissipate energy. For pedestrians, the vehicle must cushion the blow in the event of an impact.

With the Cybertruck, explained Stefan Teller, “nothing is deformed in the event of an impact. Instead, enormous forces act on the occupants. Airbags then no longer help.”

On this basis, “It will not be possible to sell it in this country [Germany] as a mass-production vehicle on the basis of type approval”. And with post-Brexit Britain falling into line with EU regulations, the same scenario seems likely here. “It is still a big task for Mr. Musk,” concludes Teller. Perhaps too big, we suspect.

ALSO READ:

Which suits you best, a plug-in hybrid or an electric car?

How accurate is the official range of electric cars?

Best luxury SUVs to buy in 2023

The outrageous Abt XGT is an Audi R8 DTM racer for the road

By

John Redfern

-

November 29, 2023

0

The Audi R8 is not long for this world, with production of the current model due to finish by the end of 2023. No replacement for the flagship V10 coupe and roadster is planned.

Unofficially, German tuning company Abt is helping the ultimate Audi go out with an explosive bang. Don’t mistake the new XGT for merely an R8 with wild, motorsport-style aero. This is the real deal.

Abt has spent two years working out how to convert a GT2-specification Audi R8 – as used in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) racing series – into a road-legal supercar.

A true road racer

At the heart of the Abt XGT is Audi’s mid-mounted 5.2-litre V10 engine, producing 640hp and more than 405lb ft of torque. Lightweight construction and a rear-wheel-drive layout mean the XGT tips the scales at only 1,400kg.

Depending on the downforce setting for its gigantic rear wing, the XGT will be able to reach a top speed of more than 190mph.

Several of Abt’s DTM drivers have been involved in developing and testing the XGT. Their conclusion: “The road handling, steering behaviour and acceleration cannot be compared with any road car”.

More than 40 new parts were developed by Abt specifically for the vehicle, including a modified air-con system, new instrument cluster and even central locking. Drivers will sit behind the same steering wheel as the racing version, while Abt has even submitted the XGT for crash testing.

‘The quintessence of our heritage’

Such attention to detail from Abt is expected, with the company’s racing team having claimed more than 250 podiums in DTM competition since 2000.

Managing director Hans-Jürgen Abt said the motivation for the ambitious project “was the challenge itself that spurred us on to develop this unique complete vehicle. The XGT is the quintessence of our heritage”.

Abt plans to produce 99 examples of the XGT, with all cars sold via the Scherer Sport dealership in Mainz, Germany.

You can place an order now, although the cost of driving a DTM racer starts at €598,000 (£519,000). This includes VAT, but not options such as the retro Audi Sport livery pictured above.

ALSO READ:

New 2024 Callum Skye is an electric all-terrain sports car

McLaren 750S 2023 review

Best supercars to buy in 2023

Classic Aston Martin goes green with EV power and biodegradable parts

By

John Redfern

-

November 26, 2023

0

Electric restomod specialist Lunaz has revealed a new sustainable classic car concept based upon the Aston Martin DB6.

Although currently just a design study, the technology, materials and options fitted to the DB6 are all ready to enter production.

It means that, for a customer who wants to drive a classic car with cleaner conscience, Silverstone-based Lunaz can build a restored and updated Aston Martin DB6 to this same specification.

No fossil fuels for power or plastics

Like other vehicles created by Lunaz, including the Bentley S2 Continental we drove earlier this year, the DB6 is fully electric. Its 375hp motor is combined with battery options between 80kWh and 120kWh, providing a range of up to 255 miles.

On the inside, the DB6 concept swaps oil-based plastics for a unique biodegradable composite material. Produced from the discarded shells of eggs and nuts, it replicates the original wood veneer on the dashboard.

Bio-based materials are used for the door cards of the DB6, along with a leather alternative for the accent piping on the headlining and seats. The latter is derived from cider and juice production in the drinks industry.

Inspired carpets and recycled trim

Low-carbon leather is found throughout the cabin of the Lunaz DB6. The Savannah-coloured hide is claimed to be 30-50 percent below the industry standard for carbon emissions, along with being 100 percent biodegradable.

Recycled fabrics are also found in the carpets, including regenerated nylon taken from waste material such as discarded carpets and fishing nets.

Lunaz founder David Lorenz said: “As this magnificent DB6 shows, we can create authentic, truly luxurious interiors worthy of the most famous marques using materials with the smallest possible environmental impact. These are very exciting times for us, our clients and our industry.”

ALSO READ:

Electric Bentley S2 Continental by Lunaz review

Aston Martin DB12 review

Read all our restomod reviews

New technology has slashed the number of Range Rover thefts

By

John Redfern

-

November 24, 2023

0

In recent years, the Range Rover has gained the unenviable accolade of being among Britain’s most-stolen cars.

DVLA data ranks the previous-generation Range Rover as the second-most stolen vehicle between 2019 and 2022. This included more than 5,000 Range Rovers being taken without their owners’ consent in 2022 alone.

However, an investment of £10 million in new technology by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has led to a rapid reduction in the number of vehicles being stolen.

Free updates for previous models

Around 65,000 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models built between 2018 and 2022 have received security upgrades at Land Rover dealerships. The result has been a dramatic 40 percent reduction in the number of these vehicles being stolen.

The updates included changes to the Body Control Module, which help to prevent thieves from taking the car without a key.

Land Rover has continued to contact owners of eligible models, encouraging them to arrange to have the complimentary software upgrades applied. Vehicles that are outside their factory warranty period are eligible, too.

Stepping up security

Along with improving the theft-resistance of older SUVs, JLR has also ensured the latest Range Rover and Range Sport models exceed the security standards set by industry experts, Thatcham.

Since January 2022, just 0.07 percent of new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models in the UK have been stolen. In addition, only 0.3 percent of new Defenders have been subject to theft.

Patrick McGillycuddy, MD of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “While vehicle theft in the UK is affecting the whole car industry, at JLR we understand the negative impact this can have on the ownership experience for our clients. Our investment of more than £10 million demonstrates our ongoing commitment to tackling this issue”.

ALSO READ:

New 2024 Callum Skye is an electric all-terrain sports car

Range Rover 2022 review

Range Rover KR restomod review