Mountune’s new M52 division has launched an upgrade package for the Volkswagen Golf GTI, boosting the iconic hot hatch to 310hp. The Stage One kit comes hot on the heels of a similar upgrade for the Golf R.
The Stage One GTI calibration is essentially a software tweak, which you can install yourself at home. Costing £715.50, it’s described as ‘an affordable option to dramatically increase the performance of the GTI whilst retaining an OEM+ feel’.
Five settings are included in the Stage One package, including ‘stock’, ‘valet’ and ‘anti-theft’. For those worried about their standard clutch kit, there’s also a low-torque tune included.
In terms of acceleration, the 0-60mph dash is cut from 6.4 to 5.4 seconds. You can even time it using the performance measurement facility. Also included is a gauge display, adjustable shift light, data logger, fault code reader, zip-up case with associated wiring and the all-important M52 badge.
If you want to give your GTI some growl to go with the added bite, M52 offers its X3 induction system. We sampled this on the company’s demo Golf R and it certainly added some throatiness to the EA888 engine’s soundtrack.
“The Mk7.5 Golf GTI Stage One upgrade is the latest development to come from M52,” said Alec Pell-Johnson, director of Mountune and M52.
“We are still relatively new to the world of VW performance upgrades, but using our knowledge and expertise gained from our time working with Ford vehicles, we have been able to produce a high-quality power upgrade that comes at an affordable price. We are looking forward to seeing the response from our ever-growing M52 community.”
Parent and child parking bays are designed for young families who need to open their doors wider. Located closer to the shops, they make life easier for parents who don’t want to ding doors – and safer for kids, who don’t need to cross a busy car park. One in four drivers has, however, misused these spots.
Indeed, nearly two thirds of parents say they’ve noticed someone misusing a parent and child parking bay, meaning they had to park elsewhere.
To get a handle on the problem, insurance comparison website Confused visited supermarkets across the UK.
The North East apparently has the highest proportion of people who misuse the bays: 64 percent were observed doing so. By contrast, in the South West just five percent incorrectly used parent and child bays.
When asked about why they use these bays incorrectly, 31 of drivers said it was because they couldn’t find a space. Another 31 percent said they observed a large availability of parent and child spaces, so they thought it was OK.
Some said it was ‘only for a few minutes’, as their justification. Others said they did so because it was late in the day.
Parent and child bays: the rules
Is your car child seat dirtier than your toilet?
Unlike permit-only spaces or disabled bays, your child is effectively your badge here. In general, the rule is you can use a parent and child bay if you have a child aged under 12. Tesco says that pregnant women should ask in-store about the use of these bays.
While Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco have enforcement, including the issue of fines. Morrisons will ask people to move, or place a sign, but not issue a penalty. Lidl and Aldi say they rely on their customers to be honest with their parking, although the latter has an online reporting system.
A leading car leasing company has launched a new subscription service. Intelligent Car Leasing says it’s the first broker to offer the facility.
The firm has teamed up with Wagonex to offer contract lengths of between six months and two years. Everything except fuel is included in a fixed monthly fee.
Prices start from £311 a month for a Citroen C3, based on a 24-month subscription. Alternatively, the same price gets you a Citroen C1 for six months.
At the opposite end of the scale, a DS 7 Crossback costs £780 a month on a two-year subscription. Electric cars are also included: a Nissan Leaf costs £500 on a one-year subscription.
Insurance, servicing, maintenance, tax and roadside maintenance are included in the price, although delivery costs vary according to location and the choice of car.
‘Now is the time’
Marc Murphy, head of sales and marketing at Intelligent Car Leasing, said: “Increasingly, consumers want new ways to access the services they desire, whether it’s for films, clothes or for online deliveries.
“We believe now is the time for consumers to switch on to the benefits of car subscriptions, where all services are wrapped into the one package, and there’s the flexibility to choose different cars when they want and to stop the subscription at their convenience. It really is the next step forward in car usership models.”
Joakim Thomter, head of platform at Wagonex, added: “Flexibility is the essence of car subscriptions, which allow the consumer to drive a car without any long-term financial commitment.
“We are an established player in the subscription market, and partner with a number of recognised automotive brands. This now includes Intelligent Car Leasing in the broker space.”
Car subscription forms part of a varied blend of mobility services in which Personal Contract Hire (PCH) is helping to fuel the move away from the traditional car ownership model. According to British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) figures, PCH accounted for 64 percent of all new contracts written in 2018.
Lego is making its LA Auto Show debut with the launch of a new Top Gear rally car.
The Lego Technic App Controlled Top Gear Rally Car – to use its full and rather long name – is the first set launched in partnership by the two global brands. It costs £124.99.
But there’s bad news if you had visions of racing it around the living room on Christmas morning: the rally car doesn’t go on sale until 26 December.
Still, at least that means the skirting boards and the cat are safe for another day. Controlling this after one too many Christmas gins could be a challenge.
The Top Gear rally car is controlled via the Lego Technic Control+ smartphone app and contains functions such as steering, multi-touch control and gyro control.
A total of 463 Lego elements have been used, including a large motor, an extra large motor and a Bluetooth controlled smart hub. Batteries (and the Stig) aren’t included.
Lego Technic sets are designed for more experienced builders – finishing the Top Gear car won’t be a five-minute job. Lego says it’s suitable for ages 9+, but we wonder how many mums and dads will disappear to the shed for a few hours on Boxing Day.
Jason Easy, head of licensing UK at BBC Studios, said: “It’s exciting to have collaborated with Lego Technic on this and it’s a very natural fit for the Top Gear brand. The Lego Technic Top Gear Rally Car is the result of several months hard work from the Lego and BBC Studios teams and we can’t wait to see it on the shelves soon.”
Niels Henrik Horsted, marketing director for Lego Technic added: “We are really excited to finally reveal the app-controlled Lego Technic Top Gear Rally Car.
“The car offers a challenging build for ages 9+ who are into authentic play and intrigued about how things work. The Control+ app gives an extensive play experience with several different play modes and exciting challenges.”
It’s official: the holidays are coming. The chances are, your children will be wondering when the Coca-Cola Christmas lorry will be rolling into a town near you.
The tour got underway last week, with the big red lorry visiting Edinburgh and Cardiff.
This week, the Coca-Cola lorry will be in Taunton, Newcastle upon Tyne and Bristol, before continuing on its nationwide tour.
Back in the summer, Guy Martin set a record for the world’s fastest tractor. Driving a specially prepared JCB Fastrac, he reached 103.6mph. Impressive though this achievement was, however, both JCB boss Lord Bamford and seasoned racer Martin wanted more.
At the wheel of Fastrac Two, Martin then secured a Guinness-verified two-way average record of 135.191mph. His VMax at the Elvington airfield, where Richard Hammond had his rocket car crash, was a scarcely believable 153.771mph.
The story played out in full last night (Sunday 17 November) on Channel 4’s Guy Martin: The World’s Fastest Tractor. As Martin says, “It’s still a working tractor, so could have gone straight into the nearest field to put in a shift”. We met with Guy in London for a tour of his monstrous machine.
From arable to airfield
JCB is now building its electric digger
JCB’s head of the project, Alex Skittery, says retaining the Fastrac fundamentals was the biggest challenge. Around 50 percent of the vehicle is still a ‘normal’ Fastrac: a tractor that ordinarily tops out at 43mph. But detail changes such as the bonnet – thinner than standard, and made of aluminium – help boost speed.
The cab remains brick-shaped, but the Fastrac has been slimmed-down and lowered to reduce frontal area. There’s also an air dam that could make a McLaren Senna envious. It reduces turbulence around the front wheels and guides air to the side-mounted radiators. Part of the underfloor is flat, and you’ll spot a diffuser out-back.
The wheels are JCB-spec, albeit balanced for higher rotation speeds. Even the tyres come from the same supplier, BKT, though the knobbly treads have been shaved down. They won’t be scooping sods in a field, but they’re by no means slicks.
The clutch and differential are much like the ones you’ll find on a normal JCB, even though both have to handle more than 1,000hp for repeated runway blasts. So it’s unmistakably a Fastrac, just a couple of tonnes lighter…
The 1,000hp tractor
Record-breaking car hits 175mph… with no driver
The heart of a 150mph tractor is fundamentally the same 7.2-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel that JCB fits to many of its machines.
“More air and more fuel equals more horsepower, and that’s what we needed,” said Skittery. To that end, with the help of Ricardo, a much larger turbocharger, electric supercharger and more powerful injectors were fitted.
More power means more heat, however. So to cool the air that makes its way through the large inlet trumpets and turbo, there’s an enormous new charge air cooler and ice box. Yes, an on-board container of ice, with 25kg used per run. The team reckons Tesco in York ran out of ice that day.
Guy Martin explained the extent of the cooling: “We were winding five bar of boost into it. The air leaving the turbo was 250 degrees, and getting cooled to 30 as it left the charge cooler. Just mega.”
What about the heat at the end of the combustion cycle? To deal with temperatures of nearly 900 degrees centigrade, the exhaust manifold is made of inconel – F1-grade stuff.
Think of an unlikely world speed record and Guy Martin would love to give it a go. To look at his high-octane output over the years, you suspect he’d be first in line if Andy Green had a sick day for cracking 1,000mph in the Bloodhound LSR.
Guy’s a veteran of the Isle of Man TT, soapbox speed records, sled speed records, and the Nurburgring record for the fastest Ford Transit. He’s got the specific experience required, too, having headed to this runway previously to hit 272mph on his motorbike.
So what was it like to take a JCB to speeds a tractor had never been before?
“It were a right interesting job,” says Martin, in his inimitable style. His excitement and enthusiasm are that of a 17 year-old who’s just successfully completed his first handbrake turn.
“It was all about trying to do 150mph. We went with Mk1, and it’s great that we did 103mph. Then the boss said we needed to do 150mph. I’m normally an optimist, but also a realist. I said there’s no way we’re getting to 150mph. Anyway, what have we done? 150mph.
“I’m Harry Horsepower”
“That last run was a bit of a lap of the gods. We were pressing the Ricardo boys for more power and we were worried we’d need a wheelbarrow for picking up bits of engine. I think the phrase we used for that last run was “sh*t or bust” to get past 149mph.
“It was dead stable. You could sit and have a fag, not that I smoke. The first few runs I was hanging on for grim death, but the more I did, the more I got used to it. The hardest bit was the gearchanges. You had to get it exact, to not shift too late and get into the flat-spot, but not shift too early and lose boost and momentum.”
“We used every bit of the runway, backed up to the grass, and set a flag out for braking. Still, we nearly ended up on the grass at the end.”
Martin was a part of the team that prepared the Fastrac. His insights should have proven invaluable. In spite of his in-depth engineering acumen, he had a very simple request.
“They didn’t get a lot from me about handling or how yellow me overalls were. I just wanted more horsepower. I’m Harry Horsepower.”
JCB has been setting speed records for years. In 2006, its diesel-powered Dieselmax streamliner set a new diesel record of 350mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, which still stands.
Lord Bamford, JCB chairman, is an avid car enthusiast, collector and racer, with classics in his collection such as a Ferrari 250 GTO that regularly sees action at Goodwood.
It’s also worth noting that the Fastrac was already the world’s fastest tractor in showroom spec. You won’t see a 1,000hp+ Fastrac in dealers any time soon, though.
It seems only right, then, that JCB should be the company to engineer such an unlikely record – and that Guy Martin should be the pilot to get it there.
As for going faster? Martin reckons it was petering out at that 153mph mark, even though there was another gear to go. Perhaps Harry Horsepower will get his wish for an even quicker run soon.
The Mazda 3 has been named 2019 Women’s World Car of the Year by a panel of female judges.
Established in 2010, Women’s World Car of the Year is based on the criteria women use when buying a car. Safety, value for money, aesthetic appearance, storage space, child–friendliness, ease-of-driving, colour, sex appeal and environmental footprint are the relevant categories.
The all-female jury is made up of 41 jurors from 31 different countries, including Sue Baker and Maggie Barry of the United Kingdom. The jury has a collective audience of around 260 million people.
Based on the female-friendly criteria, the Mazda 3 hatchback and saloon took top honours, while also securing the Women’s World Family Car of the Year award.
In the UK, the Mazda 3 is available from £20,595 in hatchback form and £23,555 as a four-door saloon. Standard spec includes LED headlights, keyless entry, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Right now, Mazda is offering a £1,250 deposit contribution on Mazda 3 models purchased on a Personal Contract Plan (PCP). Monthly payments start from £219 a month.
The following cars took category honours at the 2019 Women’s World Car of the Year, which was held at the Dubai International Motor Show.
New Zealand’s Sandy Myhre, Woman’s World Car of the Year CEO, said: “Creating time in a motor show specifically for women is a world first. Women’s World Car of the Year has never announced their results live from a motor show so that’s innovative and to be able to interview women driving instructors from Saudi Arabia live on the stage is pioneering. The fact all these things are happening in Dubai in the UAE is highly symbolic.”
Previous Women’s World Car of the Year winners include the Volvo XC40 (2018), Hyundai Ioniq (2017), Jaguar F-Pace (2016) and Volvo XC90 (2015).
One of the major stars of the 2019 SEMA Show was a new limited-edition Mustang by famed tuning company Roush Performance.
Designed to celebrate the induction of company founder Jack Roush into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the 2020 Jack Roush Edition Mustang will see just 70 units produced.
To be fair, commemorating success with a muscle car powered by a 775 horsepower supercharged V-8 engine is far more exciting than cake or balloons.
A true motorsport legend
Jack Roush began his automotive career in the 1960s, initially working for Ford followed by a year with Chrysler. Roush would ultimately leave the major manufacturers to start his own engineering company. Roush Performance would begin in 1995.
Alongside running his businesses, Roush competed in various forms of motorsport, including NHRA drag racing, the IMSA GT series, and also the 24 hours of Daytona.
He founded his flagship NASCAR team in 1988, which has since competed in over 3,500 top-level Cup Series races, and seen his drivers win eight championships between them. It makes him the most successful team owner in NASCAR history.
Help save the manuals!
Helping honor those achievements is the 2020 Jack Roush Edition Mustang, which hosts the most powerful engine ever fitted to a Roush Performance ‘Stang.
At the core of this Mustang is a 5.0-liter V-8, fitted with a Roush Phase 3 supercharger, responsible for boosting total output to 775 horsepower. Torque is rated at an impressive 670 lb-ft.
Roush is also keen to note that a six-speed manual transmission is fitted, making it one of the few remaining sports cars with a stick option.
A Roush active exhaust system gets added, along with a Powertrain Cooling Package to keep the engine, transmission, and differential chilled during track activities.
Ready for the track
Suspension changes include the fitment of a custom-calibrated MagneRide setup, along with lowering springs and uprated Brembo brakes. Most impressive is the carbon fiber Active Aerodynamic rear spoiler, which adjusts to provide optimum downforce.
An optional Competition Package can also be specified, which adds lightweight racing wheels combined with Continental racing slick rubber. Naturally, these can only be used on a race track, but do come with a track day-ready toolbox to help fit them.
For the interior, Roush fits a custom package that includes sports seats in a leather and suede combination. The steering wheel is also finished in suede for extra grip on track.
Strictly limited supply
Making sure everyone knows you have bought the Jack Roush Edition is an aero kit that includes a front splitter, functional hood vents, a rear diffuser, and a black rear panel. Special graphics and badging have also been added.
Roush plans to build just 70 examples of the Jack Roush Edition Mustang, with 60 of these allocated for North America. A further 10 have been reserved for international markets, with the first cars expected to be available in the spring of 2020.
It means if you happen to be a fan of Jack Roush, or just love quick Mustangs, you’ll need to be lucky to bag one of these special editions.
Search for ‘Golf R stolen’ on Google News and you’ll be presented with some grim stories. These aren’t exactly tales of the unexpected – the hot Golf has been a target for many years – but it’s the rate at which the cars are being stolen that’s most alarming.
Many are stolen from driveways in the middle of the night, with owners becoming the latest victims of the keyless theft epidemic. Even more chilling is the fact that some thieves are breaking into homes to grab the keys.
What’s the appeal, aside from the fact that the Volkswagen Golf is worryingly simple to steal? Put simply, the Golf R blends in. Plus it’s a very easy car to drive fast, with plenty of power and four-wheel-drive traction.
For armed robberies, ram-raiding and drug trafficking, the Golf R is the perfect vehicle. To passers-by, it looks like an ordinary Golf, but it packs enough punch to outrun the police if the thieves are caught in the act. Stick a pair of fake number plates on a Golf R and the criminals can move about undetected for weeks.
Last night, Harry Metcalfe tweeted a list of stolen vehicles in the Cotswolds area. Of the 32 cars on the list, 11 are Volkswagen Golf R hatchbacks or estates. That’s a third.
I receive alerts from local police regarding rural crime. Here’s today’s list of stolen vehicles. Seems Golf R & quick Audis are the new Ford Sierra Cosworths when it comes to nickability.. pic.twitter.com/GeZ1U9Np7r
Metcalfe asked if the Golf R is “the new Ford Sierra Cosworth when it comes to nickability”, which is a fair question.
Like the Golf R, the ‘Cossie’ was stolen in large numbers and became the ram-raiders vehicle of choice in the 80s and 90s. The Sierra RS Cosworth was still being used as a getaway vehicle as recently as 2003.
There was a time when the RS Cosworth was virtually uninsurable. Park one outside your house and there’d be a good chance it would be gone in the morning. Some owners were followed home, with the thieves returning in the dead of the night once they knew where the car was parked overnight.
It was a similar story for the Escort RS Cosworth. In common with the Sierra, its door locks were as useful as an umbrella in a blizzard, and many were stolen for some Roxette-inspired playtime. Jeremy Clarkson famously owned one and, although this might be an urban myth, I’m pretty sure he was quoted £20,000 to insure it.
What is true is the fact that he opened his front door one morning to find that somebody had half-inched the rear wing. Ford made the ‘Aero Pack‘ a delete option in 1993 – not that many owners chose to order their Cossie without the body furniture.
Fast forward to 2019 and it’s easy to draw comparisons between the Cossies of the past and the Golf R of the present. Only last month, police in the North West advised Golf owners to review their home security. “Just to reiterate, we have seen a recent pattern of suspicious activity, attempt burglaries and burglaries at addresses with a Volkswagen Golf on the drive,“ the police said in a message.
“If you have a Golf, please review your home security, secure your driveway if possible. Check your CCTV and security lights work.“
Scary times if you’re a Volkswagen Golf R owner. Would you consider selling yours to buy something less likely to be stolen? Let us know in the comments section.
The Mitsubishi eK X and eK Wagon kei cars have been named 2020 Car of the Year in Japan.
The diminutive pair – which aren’t available in the UK – took the honours at the Automotive Researchers and Journalists Conference (RJC) in the country.
RJC praised the pint-sized heroes’ comfortable cabin and interior space, as well as their performance and efficiency.
It’s the second win in a row for Mitsubishi, with the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross named 2019 RJC Car of the Year at the conference in 2018.
Previous winners include the Suzuki Swift (2018), Nissan Note (2013), Nissan Leaf (2012), Honda Insight (2010), Mazda RX-8 (2004), Honda Civic (2001) and Toyota Prius (1998).
The first RJC Car of the Year was the rotary-engined Mazda RX-7, back in 1992.
Mitsubishi launched the eK Wagon and eK X (pronounced ‘eK Cross’) in March 2019. The eK X is the first crossover variant of the eK kei car.
The pair, developed by Mitsubishi and Nissan, boast all-new platforms, engines and CVT transmissions. They also feature MI-Pilot, a single-lane driver assistance system – the first of its kind in a Mitsubishi.
MI-Pilot includes tech not normally associated with the kei car segment. Adaptive cruise control and forward collision mitigation have been the preserve of much larger vehicles.
The eK Wagon champions the customer’s “desire to seek out new destinations with greater assurance,” says Mitsubishi. Meanwhile, the eK X “responds to the wishes of adventurous customers seeking new challenges”.
At launch, the ek Wagon was priced from 1,296,000 to 1,506,600 JPY (£9,300 to £10,800), while the eK X cost 1,414,800 to 1,765,800 JPY (£10,100 to £12,600).
Of greater interest to UK customers is the launch of a new Mitsubishi Mirage in Thailand on 18 November.
The new Mirage will feature bold new styling to bring it into line with the rest of the Mitsubishi range, but other details will be confirmed next week. Could the Mirage make it three RJC wins in a row for Mitsubishi?
One of the major stars of the 2019 SEMA Show was a new limited-edition Mustang by famed tuning company Roush Performance. 
Jack Roush began his automotive career in the 1960s, initially working for Ford followed by a year with Chrysler. Roush would ultimately leave the major manufacturers to start his own engineering company. 
Helping honor those achievements is the 2020 Jack Roush Edition Mustang, which hosts the most powerful engine ever fitted to a Roush Performance ‘Stang. 
Suspension changes include the fitment of a custom-calibrated MagneRide setup, along with lowering springs and uprated Brembo brakes. Most impressive is the carbon fiber Active Aerodynamic rear spoiler, which adjusts to provide optimum downforce. 
Making sure everyone knows you have bought the Jack Roush Edition is an aero kit that includes a front splitter, functional hood vents, a rear diffuser, and a black rear panel. Special graphics and badging have also been added.
