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Portland, OR -- Horsepower can be intoxicating, enticing, and intimidating all at once. The desire to go ever faster is engrained in the human psyche; why else would we produce the machines we do, rejoice at racetracks, and speed across salt flats as fast as we possibly can? Speed demons are just that: demons. They need to be satiated, and well contained or else...

So, what happens when all that rebellion (and I do mean all) is housed in modern-day American Muscle, swathed in loud colours, and coupled with an exhaust note that would make the devil blush?

You've got yourself the brand new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. Yessir.


700 horsepower? Really?
I'm here to tell you that, yes, the Challenger Hellcat has a proper 707 horsepower supercharged 6.2L HEMI SRT that also pushes heads back with 650 lb-ft of torque. Just look at those numbers again. Let them sink in. Seven hundred and seven horsepower.

The Challenger Hellcat enters an exclusive club reserved for million-dollar cars that include the likes of the Bugatti Veyron, Gumpert Apollo S, and even the Canadian-grown HTT Plethore LC-750. That's a pretty ballsy move considering this American badass costs under $70k.

And now you're thinking: Sure, it has all that power, but you'll spend all your time trying to keep the backend from wiggling around instead of actually driving the thing.

Well, here's where I tell you you're wrong, very wrong.

Sure, you can get the newly sculpted and oh-so retro rear to push out playfully with the right amount of right-foot pressure, but you can also traverse a snaking racetrack with precision and only minimal body roll. The brakes will be used significantly in the Hellcat (those corners come up quickly with all those horses racing out the rear tires), but the Brembos are up to the task, trust me.

Handling is perhaps the most precise I've encountered behind the wheel of a beefy American muscle car. A few recon laps in and I was able to throw the Hellcat around as if I were behind the wheel of a much lighter, more nimble vehicle with half the horsepower.

What's it like to drive 700 horses?
Just like driving 458 horses or 500 horses. It's all about having a healthy respect for the power you harness beneath your right foot. Overstay your welcome in the Hellcat's powerband (which is essentially everywhere, all the time) and it will scratch, hard.

However, on the street, the devilish Hellcat can be docile and even purrs a little on wide open stretches. Tight cornering and switchbacks aren't as pleasant in the Challenger, but only because of its width and wheelbase that's a bit large for narrower streets. This can be a cruiser though, and those who want a Challenger will want it to cruise just as easily as it tackles the drag strip.

Is the design really based on the 1971 model?
The 2015 Dodge Challenger looks more like the ‘70s era model than every before, and that's just pure class and the perfect look in my opinion. From the dual chrome inserts in the front fascia to the much narrower rear end, the '15 Challenger is all kinds of sexy and all kinds of American muscle in just the right proportions.

Of course, subtle hood changes across the lineup change that front fascia look, with the Hellcat's being the most dramatic with clean front bumpers and a wider front lip and splitter than the other models (as well as a larger wing in the back to keep extra pressure on the rear wheels when you really let the ponies out).

Thankfully, the interior is much more modern than the ‘70s. With the latest and greatest in auto tech, the 2015 Dodge Challenger can be just as cool and connected as a MINI Cooper with apps, driver settings, Uconnect, and even front collision warnings and blind spot detection.

Why does the Hellcat come with three keys?
That's right: three keys. Dodge isn't sick of people asking for replacement fobs when they lose them, Dodge thought this one through and each Hellcat comes with a very special red key fob (and two black ones). The red key fob unlocks and unleashes the fires of hell (read: all 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque). The black keys limit that amount to around the 500 mark. And you can take that a step further by putting the Hellcat in valet mode and really limiting the revs, horsepower, speed, etc. Because 700 horses really is no joke.

Could the Dodge Challenger Hellcat be an everyday car?
I tried my best to imagine life with a Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Waking up to that V8 growl every morning, the sound of the supercharger whining through the neighbourhood on cool, crisp fall mornings, rowing my way through six short-shift gears (because I'd obviously have the $1,000-extra manual over the 8-speed automatic), and I think it could.

The Hellcat buyer is a specific one. He/she is someone who knows the Challenger model, knows the history, and has an affinity for American muscle and American cars in general.

Here's what I think: Any foibles the new Challenger has are made non-existent by what it is as a whole. Dodge has managed to truthfully recreate a halo car, perhaps the halo car, in the new Challenger Hellcat. These halo cars are bought on mostly emotion, and if nothing else the Challenger Hellcat raises all kinds of emotions (and adrenaline).

A new study by Kaspersky, Motor.com and IAB Spain shows that connected cars from BMW are the most vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The web portal used in the infotainment system and data-sharing services is especially compromising.

More specifically, information to access BMW's website can be stolen via phishing, keylogging or social engineering, allowing unauthorized access to the vehicle.

An attacker could also use mobile remote opening services on a smartphone to create virtual car keys. In other scenario, hackers who break into the car's system and access SIM-based functions could potentially send fake instructions.

While known cyber-attacks against vehicles have been performed by security experts as part of experiments, a number of automakers have joined forces to counter this growing threat. Named Battelle Cyber Innovations, the group hopes to strike a deal with makers of smartphones, which are more likely to be infected with a computer virus that could spread to a connected car's on-board platforms.

Source : cnetfrance.fr

Last Friday, Aston Martin confirmed a bespoke product program for a new super sedan that will see the historic Lagonda nameplate rise from the ashes in a strictly limited series.

The return of Lagonda follows in the wake of other headline-grabbing projects such as the One-77 hypercar, V12 Zagato, and last year's CC100 Speedster Concept which started out simply as a centenary celebration design concept but later turned into two customer commissions.

Based on Aston Martin's existing flexible VH architecture, the new car will draw inspiration from the highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976 and feature many of the same cutting-edge engineering techniques seen in modern Aston Martin sports cars such as the use of carbon fibre in the body panels. It will be hand-built in Gaydon, Warwickshire, in a dedicated building previously given over to the creation of the One-77.

The Lagonda will be offered exclusively in the Middle East (as a result of specific market demand) and by invitation only, so pricing details remain confidential. Look for it to be extremely expensive given its rarity, quality, and luxurious nature.

“The new model, like its exclusive siblings the One-77 and V12 Zagato, has been created as a piece of exceptional automotive art. It has been designed and developed entirely in keeping with the spirit and ethos of previous Lagonda super sedans,” said Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman.

Source: Aston Martin

Photo: Aston Martin

From press release

The 2014 version of the annual Targa Newfoundland international rally has published a revised schedule that adds a day of pre-event activities, organizers have announced.

Saturday, September 13, will be devoted to registering competitors and crews, technical inspection of the cars and meetings for organizers. The new schedule reflects the structure of the event from prior years.

"We had hoped to be able to compress some of the activities like registration and tech inspection into our Sunday schedule to make the event a little shorter for everyone involved," explains organizer Robert Giannou.

"But travel plans, ferry schedules and the sheer volume of work that has to get done before the competition means we had to revert to the old model."

The pre-event activities on the Saturday will be centered at the Jack Byrne Arena in Torbay and include registration of competitors, technical inspection of vehicles, first aid training for competitors, and a car show that runs from 3pm to 9pm.

A welcome reception for competitors is scheduled for the Saturday evening.

"Targa Newfoundland is a marvel of organization, but even our fantastic volunteers only have 24 hours in a day, and sometimes we just need to give them a little more time," Giannou concludes.

The ceremonial start of the 2014 edition of Targa Newfoundland will be held at The Keg restaurant on the St. John's waterfront just after 12:00 noon on Sunday, September 14. Following the start, competitors will do three familiarization Targa stages in Flatrock and Torbay.

The stages, known as Prologue stages, are not timed and do not affect the competition. Rather, they're a chance for local fans to catch some of the action, for teams to warm-up for the week, and for officials and timing crews to hone their skills before the rally begins in earnest on Monday morning, September 15.

Porsche South Africa bought the Kyalami Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit for $19.5 million at an auction.

It was sold to a telephone bidder, on behalf of Porsche South Africa, in an auction lasting around one minute and 50 seconds.

"Porsche South Africa is going to keep it as a track. I believe they are going to develop around the track, which will then enhance the value for the owners," said Lance Chalwin-Milton, joint managing director of The High Street Auction Co.

Porsche South Africa is an independent importer and isn't part of Volkswagen AG Porsche, according to a representative of the Stuttgart, Germany-based maker of the 911 sports car.

The South African Grand Prix was held 20 times at Kyalami between 1967 and 1993.

The great Gilles Villeneuve won the race in 1979, driving his Ferrari 312 T4 to first place from his teammate Jody Scheckter and Jean-Pierre Jarier in a Tyrrell-Ford.

Here's a video of Ayrton Senna taking the start of the 1992 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

From nascar.com

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards will not return to compete for Roush Fenway Racing in 2015, but the 34-year-old won't say which team will take him on.

Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush announced his organization's 2015 Sprint Cup line-up at Indianapolis.

From 2015, the team will run veteran Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., both of whom currently compete in Sprint Cup for RFR, as well as 2014 Nationwide Series regular Trevor Bayne.

Edwards has competed in Sprint Cup for Roush Fenway since 2004.

He has 23 wins and has finished fourth or higher in points four times, including 2011 when he and Tony Stewart finished the season with identical points totals. Stewart edged Edwards for the title on the basis of the number of wins during the season.

Edwards is also a 38-time winner in NASCAR's Nationwide Series and won that series' title in 2007 with RFR. He has six career wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

"You look around at all the stuff that's going on, not just in the NASCAR world but in all of sports," Edwards said. "Change sometimes just on its own is a good thing from a performance standpoint”.

Alex Guenette ran a masterful National 250, a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCaTS) race run this past Saturday night at the short Autodrome St. Eustache oval. Finishing second behind repeat winner Scott Steckly, this was the second podium for Alex this season, in addition to repeating his second-place result at this event last year.

Starting from the fourth position on the grid aboard his Motos Illimitees No 39 Dodge, Alex went on to fight for every position throughout the 250-lap race, especially as he was on the outside row for every one of the six restarts after caution periods.

On a flat oval like St. Eustache, the quick line is on the inside and drivers on the outside lane must find a way to get back to the bottom lane on restarts despite the racers who started inside making every effort to prevent that move. In fact, Alex dropped from fourth to ninth on the first restart of the race on lap 44 and then proceeded to pass all of the more experienced driver who had slipped ahead of him on restarts, such as Andrew Ranger, D.J. Kennington, J.R. Fitzpatrick and 2014 points leader Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.

Alex Guenette, Dodge. (Photo: Matthew Manor)

Alex was happy with how the later restarts developed. “I restarted 7th on lap 117 after the pits stops, and was back up to 3rd four laps later, so that worked out pretty well and meant I was back up to 2nd on lap 208.” Three more caution periods saw the Motos Illimitées No 39 restart on the outside of the front row and fight its way back in the quicker lower lane cleanly, a key to the second-place finish.

But the work was not all done as the 18 year-old driver tried to run down leader Scott Steckly. Alex admitted he was trying hard. “I pushed as much as I could to catch him and go for the win but he was simply too quick. I am satisfied with second place and especially with how the car worked throughout the race and how I drove against the more experienced racers, especially when Alex Tagliani bumped me hard on one of those late restarts. It was great to repeat last year's scenario and do well before my family, friends and fans.”

Multiple NCaTS champion Scott Steckly repeated his 2013 victory, with 2014 points leader Louis-Philippe Dumoulin taking third at the finish.

The No 39 Motos Illimitées Dodge will be back on track for the season's premier event, the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. Practice and qualifying take place on Saturday August 9 and the 50-lap race with pit stops will be held on Sunday afternoon, August 10.

Daniel Ricciardo claimed a stunning victory for Red Bull Racing in Hungary on Sunday, winning the second Formula 1 race of his career.

The Australian passed Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in the final four laps as a pre-race downpour and two safety-car periods created wildly differing strategies and led to a breathtaking finish.

Ricciardo, on much fresher soft rubber, passed Hamilton with four laps to go. One lap later and he dived down the inside of Alonso at the first corner, and from then on it was plain sailing as he replayed his success in Canada.

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, winner in Hungary. (Photo: WRi2)

Veteran NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon clinched a spot in the Sprint Cup Chase by winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Gordon timed the final restart perfectly, passing his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne on lap 144 of 160.

Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR

Twenty years after his victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400, Gordon finished 2.325 seconds ahead of Kyle Busch who with teammates Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth finished 2-3-4 in the 20th Sprint Cup race of the season.

However, Hamlin may get penalised tomorrow as his No. 11 Toyota failed to pass the post-race inspection.

The win was the 90th of Gordon's career -- third-most all-time -- his second of the season and his record fifth at Indianapolis, breaking a tie with teammate Jimmie Johnson for most Cup wins at the Brickyard.

The victory also clinched Gordon a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming he attempts to qualify for the remaining six races of the regular season.

Penske Racing's Joey Logano ran fifth, and Kahne slipped to sixth in the final 17-lap run after leading 70 laps and, for most of the afternoon, looking to be the likely winner.

Sprint Cup standings:
1 Jeff Gordon 717 points
2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 693
3 Brad Keselowski 666
4 Matt Kenseth 661
5 Jimmie Johnson 628

Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR

From GMM

Daniel Ricciardo has joined the upper echelon of F1's very best drivers.

In the paddock, a big rumour is that for its new works Honda partnership beginning next year, McLaren is on the market for one of the sport's 'big three' drivers.

They are Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

But is a new kid on the block about to join their calibre? So far in 2014, Australian Ricciardo has stunned the paddock with his rise from Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso.

He has undoubtedly humbled reigning quadruple world champion Vettel over the first half of the season, recording two wins to the German's none.

25-year-old Ricciardo, two years younger than Sebastian Vettel, recorded his second career win on Sunday, audaciously overtaking none other than Hamilton and Alonso for good measure in Hungary.

Podium of the Hungarian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Asked if he has now established himself at the top of F1, Spaniard Alonso agreed afterwards: "Yeah, definitely. I think he's leading the champion team. That says it all."

Lewis Hamilton agreed: "Not only one of the nicest guys in the paddock but also one of the best drivers here, for sure."

Throughout 2014, although regularly beaten by Ricciardo, Vettel has kept up an amiable relationship with the Australian, including in Hungary where he appeared for the customary post-victory team photo.

Still, the plaudits are not flowing quite as smoothly from his mouth.

Sebastian Vettel looked to have the upper hand on Daniel Ricciardo around the twisty Hungaroring until the race, where the safety car and a spin halted his progress.

"It was not a good race," he is quoted by Germany's DPA news agency. "It was simply a question of being at the right place at the right time."

Sebastian Vettel said the safety car helped Daniel Ricciardo.

"That was his good luck," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "And then he did everything right."

Sebastian Vettel is now looking forward to the summer break, which is "good for everyone. It was a tough first half of the season," he admitted.

News 28 Jul, 2014

The Government is to slash the cost of applying for a UK driving licence with first licences costing £16 less and renewals down by £6

Volkswagen AG's luxury Audi brand plans to cut spare-part prices in China as global automakers rush to change their pricing strategies after Chinese anti-monopoly regulators began probing the auto industry.

Audi brand plans to cut spare-part prices in China as global automakers rush to change their pricing strategies after Chinese anti-monopoly regulators began probing the auto industry.

Jaguar Land Rover has created a training course to attract former military personnel amid a shortage of skilled workers in Britain. Ford and Bentley are also competing for talent with trainee programs as the U.K.'

Starting with its 2015 models, GM will offer buyers free monthly vehicle-diagnostic reports through OnStar, and allow those customers to sign up to receive maintenance notifications from their dealerships.

The Car Allowance Rebate System, also known as cash for clunkers, was a lifeline at a desperate time for the U.S. auto industry.

Jaguar Land Rover aims to attract former military personnel amid a shortage of skilled workers. Ford and Bentley are also competing for talent as the UK's expanding auto industry devises ways to draw workers to manufacturing.

Audi aims to beat German rivals Mercedes and BMW to launch a plug-in hybrid diesel powered car. Audi will present a plug-in hybrid diesel drivetrain next year, the brand's technical development chief, Ulrich Hackenberg, said.

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton was at the wheel of a shiny new Mercedes for the start of Sunday's Hungarian grand prix.

Team boss Paddy Lowe is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport as revealing that "pretty much everything" was damaged when a fuel leak set the championship-chaser's W05 on fire in Hungaroring qualifying.

With full spare cars no longer allowed, Mercedes mechanics worked through the night to build Hamilton a new car from scratch from a spare monocoque.

Hamilton will not effectively be penalised for changing his gearbox and engine, as he is already at the very rear of the field for the race, so Lowe decided simply to break 'parc ferme' regulations.

Lewis Hamilton walks away as the marshalls put out the fire that destroyed his Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRi2)

"We needed to get the car out of parc ferme and rebuild from scratch if we want to be ready in time," he said.

"We can look later to see what components (from the qualifying car) have survived," added Lowe.

Briton Hamilton will therefore start the race from pitlane.

But the news is even worse for the 2008 world champion, who is already 14 points behind teammate Nico Rosberg in the drivers' points standings.

The lost engine in Hungary means Hamilton is now onto his fourth set of components for the season, out of a maximum five for 2014 before penalties begin to apply.

From GMM

Niki Lauda has accused fellow Austrian and F1 rival Dr Helmut Marko of playing games to secure the services of world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Earlier in Hungary, the paddock was alight with speculation Vettel has been made offers - some "outrageous" - to switch from Red Bull after the 2015 season.

The source of the rumour was undoubtedly Marko.

"I don't know which sources Helmut has, or doesn't have, but they seem to vary, let's say," Vettel said in Hungary.

Lauda, the team chairman at Mercedes, categorically denied he is out fishing for a potential new teammate for Nico Rosberg.

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel is in the middle of a tug-of-war between Lauda and Marko, (Photo: WRi2)

"I know absolutely for sure and clearly that we have not made any offer to Sebastian," the triple world champion is quoted by Speed Week.

Lauda, 65, accuses Marko - the Red Bull figure most directly in charge of developing, signing and re-signing drivers - of playing contract poker ahead of negotiations with Vettel over his services for 2016 and beyond.

"What is Helmut doing?" Lauda asked rhetorically. "He is closing Sebastian's doors, by forcing people to make these public denials.

"But I am sure Sebastian will eventually figure it out and ask him: 'What are you doing?'"