New Toyota GRMN Yaris is already 2022’s hottest hatch

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January 17, 2022

The Toyota GR Yaris has already gained cult status for transferring rally car thrills to the road.

From winning the 2021 UK Car of the Year Award, to generating an endless waiting list, the homologation special’s impact has been huge.

Despite the GR Yaris being quite a hardcore proposition, however, Toyota has found ways to make it more extreme. Meet the limited-edition GRMN Yaris.

Toyota previously used the GRMN name name in 2018, applied to a limited-run performance version of the previous Yaris.

Be in it to win it

First, a disclaimer. Toyota will only sell 500 examples of the GRMN Yaris, and only to Japanese customers. Even they will have to enter a lottery to be in with a chance of owning one.

The three-cylinder engine’s power output unchanged, at the standard 268hp found in Japanese-market cars. However, torque has increased by 20lb ft to a total of 288lb ft.

The six-speed manual gearbox is upgraded, with shorter ratios used for the first four gears. A new clutch is also fitted, with the all-wheel-drive system gaining mechanical limited-slip differentials both front and rear.

Toyota has also managed to trim 20kg in weight from the diminutive Yaris. An extra 545 spot welds are added, with more structural adhesive used.

Track day or rally stage?

Other changes include the addition of a carbon fibre bonnet, suspension lowered by 10mm and a 10mm wider track.

As with the ‘regular’ GR Yaris, those lucky enough to bag a GRMN can pick from two options packages. The Circuit Pack is limited to just 50 examples, with the option to specify a bespoke Matte Steel exterior finish.

Circuit Pack cars gain a set of 18-inch BBS wheels, Bilstein suspension dampers and a special bodykit with a huge carbon fibre rear spoiler.

The Rally Package adds parts developed from the All Japan Rally series. Underbody protection, a Gazoo Racing suspension setup and a hefty roll cage are included.

Brace yourself

Room for the extra rear scaffolding comes from the GRMN Yaris being a strict two-seater. All versions get a pair of deep Recaro buckets, which are fitted with side airbags.

Ditching the rear bench seat contributes to the weight-saving exercise. It also places the GRMN Yaris in a special class of two-seat hot hatches, such as the Renault Megane R26.R.

Prices for the GRMN Yaris are not cheap, with the base car starting at the equivalent of £46,900. The reservation lottery is open now, with deliveries to customers expected later this year.

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Jenson Button’s 1970 Ford Bronco is up for auction

By

John Redfern

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January 14, 2022

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A Ford Bronco belonging to racing driver Jenson Button is listed for auction on the Collecting Cars website.

It seems not even the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion has been able to escape the lure of ‘Bronco Fever’.

However, Button’s restored and upgraded 1970 Bronco is now ready and waiting for a new owner.

Winning ways

Button’s Formula 1 career saw him enter more than 300 races between 2000 and 2017. His crowning glory came in 2009, driving for the hastily established Brawn GP team. Button took six wins that season, securing himself the F1 Drivers’ World Championship.

Eight more years with McLaren would follow until his retirement in 2017. Since then, Button has appeared as a TV pundit for Sky Sports F1, and also won the 2018 Super GT championship in Japan.

More recently, he has relaunched the Radford coachbuilding company, and worked with Lotus on the development of the new Emira sports car.

Classic looks, extra performance

After a successful career driving Formula 1 cars, a classic SUV might feel a little on the slow side. Having owned this first-generation Bronco for four years, though, it has benefited from a number of important upgrades.

Previously restored, the Dark Blue paintwork hides a Ford 302-cubic inch (4.9-l) V8 engine. Fitech fuel injection, an Edelbrock air filter and an MSD ignition kit with push-button start are all fitted.

A three-speed automatic transmission controls the power, sending it to all four wheels. The Bronco’s suspension has been lifted, with uprated Bilstein shock absorbers.

A set of improved Wilwood brakes are installed on the front axle. These hide behind a set of 17-inch Method alloy wheels, wrapped in 35-inch BFGoodrich rubber.

California Dreamin’

On the inside, the Bronco has seats upholstered in luxurious cream leather. A new wood-rimmed steering wheel is fitted, with the classic SUV using a Borgeson power steering rack.

The side windows of the Bronco are deleted, with a bimini soft-top installed over a half roll cage. This makes it perfect for life in Los Angeles, CA, where Button currently resides.

A Kenwood stereo, complete with a USB connection, is on the dashboard. Upgraded headlights and set of KC driving lamps are also present and correct.

Auction-ready again

With extra performance and a host of notable upgrades, this classic 1970 Bronco is likely to appeal to collectors. Add the fact that it is owned by a championship-winning Formula 1 driver, and interest should be keen.

Last year saw Button sell his Porsche Carrera GT and 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo. He previously sold a McLaren P1 in 2018.

The auction for Jenson Button’s Bronco is live on Collecting Cars now, with bidding open until Thursday 20 January.

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Breakdowns caused by potholes hit three-year high

By

John Redfern

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January 14, 2022

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RAC patrols were called to attend more than 10,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2021.

It marks the highest annual total seen by the company since 2018, and equates to an astonishing 27 call-outs each day.

The new data, released for National Pothole Day 2022, is intended to highlight the scale of the problems caused by poor quality road surfaces across the UK.

Pothole problems sink further

The 10,123 RAC call-outs attended during 2021 saw potholes causing broken suspension springs, distorted wheels, and damaged shock absorbers.

This made for a 10 percent increase compared to the 9,198 pothole breakdowns the RAC attended during 2020.

In fact, broken roads accounted for 1.5 percent of all incidents dealt with by the breakdown company during 2021.

RAC data did show a slight fall in call-outs towards the end of 2021. However, the 1,688 pothole-related breakdowns still represented 0.9 percent of all RAC breakdowns attended in the final quarter of the year.

Time to turn the tide?

Information used to power the RAC’s own Pothole Index has found that UK drivers are now more at risk of damage from broken tarmac. Compared to data taken since 2006, hitting a pothole is now 1.63 times more likely to result in a car breaking down.

Rotting roads

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The rot appears to have well and truly set in when it comes to the country’s roads, with our patrols going out to vast numbers of drivers who, through no fault of their own, are breaking down because of the wear-and-tear caused by potholes.

“This is ridiculous because it is almost entirely avoidable if roads were maintained properly. With drivers contributing so much in terms of tax to the Government, the very least they deserve are roads that are fit for purpose.”

Lyes added: “On National Pothole Day, our message to the Government is clear – it’s time the tide was turned when it comes to potholes and local councils are given the levels of funding they need to get their roads up to a reasonable standard.

“Clearly, promises of one-off pots of cash from the Government to fix the problem haven’t done the trick and we urgently need some fresh thinking.

“Ring-fencing a proportion of existing taxation and earmarking these funds purely for local roads over a long-term period would give councils the financial confidence they need to plan their road maintenance work, and finally break the back on this age-old problem.

“This is something we know would be popular with drivers.”

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Ford takes double win in 2022 NACOTY awards

Ford takes double win in 2022 NACTOY Awards

By

John Redfern

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January 11, 2022

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After months of detailed evaluation and voting, the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) judges have named their 2022 winners.

Founded in 1994, the NACTOY Awards are the longest-running new vehicle awards not associated with a single outlet.

A group of 50 journalists from magazines, newspapers, websites, and television and radio stations in the U.S. and Canada voted on a field of nine contenders spread across three categories.

American-made Civic impresses

The Honda Civic has picked up the prestigious Car of the Year award, beating the new Volkswagen Golf and all-electric Lucid Air.

The eleventh-generation Civic is sold in both hatchback and sedan form. In 2021, Honda started building the five-door liftback in the United States for the first time.

An improved exterior design, larger interior and new engines all helped the Civic take the top prize.

New Ford Maverick takes truck win

Winning in the all-important truck category was the new Ford Maverick.

Launched last year, the Maverick was marketed as the cheapest new Ford product to buy in North America. Ford has designed its compact truck to appeal to non-traditional pickup buyers.

Capable of towing up to 4,000 lb, the Maverick is offered with multiple engine options. An efficient 2.5-liter hybrid can offer a range of up to 500 miles.

For 2022, the Maverick beat the Hyundai Santa Cruz and radical electric Rivian R1T.

Bronco Fever continues unabated

Finally, taking victory in the utility class was the seemingly unstoppable Ford Bronco.

Proving that the retro-inspired SUV is about more than just nostalgia, the Bronco beat the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV70 to take the winner’s trophy.

Endless customization options, specialist off-road packages and two different body styles all add to the Bronco’s appeal.

Winning the 2022 NACTOY Award for top truck will further endorse Ford’s decision to bring back the Bronco.

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Hennessey Venom F5 deploys full 1,800 horsepower in latest test

By

John Redfern

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January 11, 2022

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The outrageous Hennessey Venom F5 hypercar is continuing to be pushed to its limits as it undergoes performance evaluation.

New video footage has been shared by the Texas-based company, showing the Venom F5 deploying more than 1,800 horsepower.

It marks the latest step in development of the mid-engined machine, even with all 24 production examples already sold.

Faster and furiouser

Last year, Hennessey undertook high-speed testing of the Venom F5 with ‘only’ 900 horsepower. The latest runs, held at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds in Florida, allowed the hypercar to use maximum power.

The bespoke 6.6-l twin-turbocharged V8 ‘Fury’ engine can produce a peak output of 1,817 horsepower and 1,193 lb-ft of torque.

To make use of full power, the Venom needs to be in special ‘F5 Mode’. Named after the highest category on the Fujita tornado intensity rating scale, F5 winds can reach a peak of 318 mph.

The new round of testing saw the Venom F5 reach more than 250 mph, allowing Hennessey’s engineers to assess high-speed stability.

Aiming for beyond 300 mph

Hennessey’s ultimate test will come later: attempting to hit the flame-spitting Venom F5’s theoretical top speed of 311 mph. This will also take place at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds, using the Kennedy Space Center’s 3.2-mile runway.

Once the initial production run of 24 cars is complete, Hennessey plans to create further enhancements for the Venom F5.

A bespoke track pack is top of the list, potentially adding even more performance to the $2.1 million (£1.54 million) hypercar.

Plans for a radical six-wheel electric hypercar, named Project Deep Space, were also announced by Hennessey at the end of 2021.

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1 in 4 nearly-new cars now cost MORE than new

By

Richard Aucock

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January 11, 2022

0

The global semiconductor shortage is showing no signs of easing – and prices of nearly-new cars are continuing to rise as a result.

Leafing marketplace Auto Trader reports that 1 in 4 nearly-new cars (those aged 12 months or less) now cost more than their brand new equivalents.

What’s more, half of all nearly-new cars are now priced within 5 percent of a brand new motor.

Indeed, prices are rocketing for all used cars, with the average price of a secondhand car surging 30.5 percent in 2021.

The average used car on Auto Trader now costs £17,816.

Despite the rising prices, used cars are also flying off the forecourts faster than ever; the time to sell fell 28 percent last year, from 41 days to 32.

‘Bubble burst’ unlikely

“2021 was a remarkable year fo the automotive industry,” said Auto Trader’s Richard Walker.

“Our sector has remained resilient in the face of significant challenges and is on track for strong continued price growth well into the second half of the year.

“The two main factors fuelling this, supply constraints and strong customer demand, both show no signs of easing any time soon.

“Claims of an imminent ‘bubble burst’ are failing to take these key dynamics into account.”

Beat the queue

Auto Trader says that customers are switching to nearly-new in order to beat lengthy waiting times for new cars. Some manufacturers are quoting 12 months or more.

The switch is being encouraged by manufacturers significantly reducing consumer offers due to the semiconductor shortage.

These would ordinarily be used to drive demand – but with this exceeding supply, car makers have less need to offer such attractive incentives.

The eagerness to find suitable nearly-new cars is also behind a huge 27 percent increase in visits to Auto Trader during 2021, adds the firm – cementing its position as the UK’s leading new and used car marketplace.

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Rolls-Royce defies pandemic with record sales and new Coachbuild division

By

Tim Pitt

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January 10, 2022

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Rolls-Royce achieved record sales success in 2021. The British company delivered 5,586 new cars worldwide – up 49 percent on 2020 and the highest total in its 117-year history.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, record numbers of Rolls-Royces were sold in China, along with the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions.

Sales growth was driven by the new Ghost and Ghost Black Badge, with ‘high demand’ also reported for the Cullinan SUV. Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood factory is running a two-shift pattern at ‘near-maximum capacity’, with order books full until the autumn.

First EV due next year

CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös described the 2021 results as “hugely encouraging as we prepare for the historic launch of Spectre, our first all-electric car”.

Due in late 2023, the electric Rolls-Royce will be a sleek four-seat coupe in the style of the current Wraith. Goodwood is being readied for the switch to EV production, with some 37 new apprentices joining the team later this year.

Müller-Ötvös also hinted that Rolls-Royce will “continue to evolve as a true luxury brand, beyond the realms of automotive manufacturing”. What form this may take isn’t yet clear, but the brand could follow the lead of Bentley, which markets its own home furnishings, jewellery, ski and golf equipment, fragrances and more.

Coachbuilt creations

Rolls-Royce’s financial results should also be boosted by a renewed focus on bespoke cars such as the one-off £20 million Boat Tail (pictured above) – the most expensive new car ever, and rumoured to be owned by Jay-Z and Beyonce.

A new Coachbuild division was established last year to handle these projects, which have included the Phantom Oribe (co-created with French fashion house, Hermès), Phantom Tempus and the Wraith and Dawn Landspeed Collection cars.

It all adds up to being the ‘undisputed leader in the +€250k segment’, says Rolls-Royce.

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Highland fling: an incredible Lamborghini road-trip

By

Tim Pitt

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January 8, 2022

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Not since Mel Gibson painted his face blue and bellowed “FREEDOM!” has such a blood-chilling cry echoed across the Scottish Highlands. The metallic howl of the Huracan STO’s 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 cuts through the crisp morning air like a bandsaw slicing through stone.

I’m driving the best new supercar of 2021, off the grid and off the leash, and my senses can hardly keep up.

Rewind 24 hours and the good folk of Edinburgh are awoken by an equally rousing dawn chorus, as 11 new Lamborghinis rumble, snarl and snort through the city streets.

Our 7,200hp cavalcade – the entire UK press fleet – includes two Aventadors, three Urus SUVs and six Huracans. Tourists stare, camera phones point and an overloaded schoolboy drops all his bags in excitement. I know how he feels.

Vantage point

Our route takes us north to the Cairngorms, then onto some of Scotland’s best driving roads. First, though, there’s a long schlep up the A9, with 50mph average speed cameras to keep any exuberance in check.

At least my high vantage-point in the yellow Lamborghini Urus offers a great view of the multi-coloured convoy ahead – and of the fearsome Aventador SVJ Roadster filling my mirrors.

The Urus looks every bit as angular and outrageous as the low-slung supercars, while its big-chested turbocharged V8 serves up 650hp for 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds. Switch into Corsa mode and it feels ruthlessly focused, too. Nonetheless, as we approach the coffee-stop in Pitlochry, the prospect of driving that Super Veloce Jota is all I’m thinking about.

Lord of the ‘Ring

Back in 2018, the flagship Aventador broke the Nurburgring lap record, aided by sophisticated aerodynamics and the small matter of 770hp. As a road car, though, it’s rather more compromised, with unforgiving pushrod suspension, a jerky robotised manual transmission and hopeless rearward visibility. On cold, slightly damp tarmac, it’s hard not to feel intimidated.

Still, forget what’s behind you (they can’t keep up anyway), learn to trust the accurate steering and prodigious grip, and this old-school brute thrills like few other supercars can.

After starting out in the Lamborghini Urus, I’m now going to the opposite extreme: the Aventador SVJ Roadster.

Highlands here we come… pic.twitter.com/0XpBE7WCL1
— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) November 24, 2021

Its gear shift gets better the faster you go, walloping through the ratios with breathless intensity as the 6.5-litre V12 soars beyond 8,000rpm, smothering you in its blood-and-thunder roar.

The SVJ demands all of your attention, all of the time, but the rewards are worth it.

Head rush

After a solid night’s sleep in Braemar, I skip breakfast and jump into a Huracan Evo Spyder for a blast up to Glenshee ski resort. There’s frost on the windscreen and I can see my breath, yet I can’t resist dropping the roof to enjoy the 640hp V10 in all its operatic glory.

Rawer and even more animalistic than the Aventador’s V12, this is one of the all-time great engines. Its modern dual-clutch gearbox is fittingly sharp, too.

Just had one of *those* drives in the Huracan STO.

Nuanced and confidence-inspiring where the Aventador SVJ is brutal and – on cold roads – quite scary.

All topped-off by an 8,500rpm V10, of course… pic.twitter.com/7soEtDTNeB
— Tim Pitt (@timpitt100) November 24, 2021

In the Huracan STO, that incredible drivetrain meets a balletic rear-wheel-drive chassis, lightweight carbon fibre panels and aero inspired by Lamborghini’s Super Trofeo racer. The result, as we approach 2030, is surely one of the high water marks for combustion-engined sports cars.

The following day, these same mountain roads would be closed by snow, but on that perfect morning, the STO delivered a visceral, all-consuming experience that I’ll never forget.

Electric dreams

As I trundle back towards Edinburgh airport, again at a steady 50mph, I mull over what the future holds for Lamborghini – including the company’s first EV, due later this decade.

Perhaps I’ll be proved wrong, but I can’t see how a car powered by batteries and near-silent electric motors will deliver the emotional sucker-punch of a Huracan or Aventador. Enjoy them while you still can.

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Dacia ‘mud wash’ gives 4×4 owners the off-road look

By

John Redfern

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January 7, 2022

0

Dacia plans to open the world’s first ‘mud wash’ in London later this month.

Designed to (safely) cover 4x4s in real mud, Dacia wants drivers to experience the ‘adventure ready’ lifestyle of going off-road.

It follows a survey by the Renault-owned company, which found that 40 percent of 4×4 drivers have never ventured beyond the tarmac.

No tough mudder required

The poll asked 1,000 city-dwelling 4×4 owners about their experience of owning their cars. Almost a fifth (19 percent) said they have never even ventured down a dirt track.

More than a third said the most “challenging terrain” they had tackled in their 4×4 was crossing a speed bump on the school-run.

Despite this bias towards road use, 17 percent said they wished they could be more adventurous with their 4×4. And 13 percent said their families were not adventurous enough, holding them back from doing more.

‘Swap the telly for wellies’

To help change attitudes, and demonstrate the affordability of the Duster 4×4, Dacia has created the ‘Adventure Ready’ Mud Wash experience.

On Tuesday 18 January, 4×4 owners will be able to book an appointment at Dacia’s London West showroom. A team of ‘anti-clean’ specialists will then apply mud across the outside of each vehicle, giving the impression of its owner living an off-road lifestyle.

Appointments will need to be pre-booked by 12 January, and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Luke Broad, brand director for Dacia UK and Ireland said: “Our ‘Adventure Ready’ Mud Wash is about setting car buyers up for a year of adventure and embracing all that comes with it. The Dacia Duster is the perfect all-terrain vehicle to get Brits out into our fantastic countryside more often.”

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YouTube is coming to Volvo cars

By

Richard Aucock

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January 6, 2022

0

Future Volvos will offer YouTube video playback as the Swedish firm expands the capability of its new Google Android-based infotainment system.

Embedded YouTube will allow electric Volvo Recharge owners to stream videos while waiting for their cars to charge.

Crucially, the safety-conscious company says videos will only play when the vehicle is fully stationary.

The firm hints that YouTube is only the first video platform coming to Volvo; it is “the beginning of enabling video streaming in Volvo cars.

“Allowing our customers to watch videos while charging or when waiting to pick up their children from school is part of our promise to make their lives better and more enjoyable,” said Volvo’s Henrik Green.

“With YouTube and other major streaming services coming soon, our customers can enjoy their charging break instead of seeing it as just a hassle – making electric car ownership that bit easier.”

Add in Volvo’s highly-acclaimed audio systems, and the firm says it’s an environment that will rival many home set-ups.

“I would not be surprised if this means that people spend more time in their Volvos, even when they are not going anywhere,” said Mr Green.

Since Volvo Cars’ offer also includes unlimited data, customers “can watch YouTube as long as they want”.

Volvo hasn’t given a timetable for the rollout of YouTube – nor specified which markets will get it – but says that it’ll be made available through a download via Google Play.

Other apps coming to Volvo include the electric car charging tools Chargepoint and Plugshare.

Volvo’s also aiming to step up the integration of its cars with Google Assistant-enabled devices, “turning cars into smart devices”.

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