WRC : La Skoda Fabia R5 homologuée / The Skoda Fabia R5 homologated

La nouvelle Skoda Fabia R5 a été homologuée par la Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) après 15 mois de développement et quelque 10 000 km d’essais. Elle va succéder à la brillante Skoda Fabia S2000.

Dès sa première sortie officielle, au Rallye Monte-Carlo 2009, la Skoda Fabia S2000 avait montré tout son potentiel aux mains de Juho Hanninen (leader de l’ES2 à l’ES8) et Jan Kopecky (4e).
En six ans, elle a remporté 15 victoires de catégorie en Mondial (1 temps scratch absolu avec Ogier en Sardaigne), 27 victoires et 3 titres en Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), 24 succès et 3 titres en Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes (ERC) et 12 succès et 3 titres en Championnat Asie-Pacifique. Skoda parle aussi d’une cinquantaine de titres nationaux… La plupart de ces succès ont été remportés avec Michelin.
Skoda Motorsport est concentré depuis plus d’un an sur le développement de la nouvelle Skoda Fabia R5. Plus de 10 000 km d’essais ont été parcourus avec les pilotes de la marque, Esapekka Lappi, Jan Kopecky, Raimund Baumschlager ou encore Freddy Loix, et sur tous types de terrain.
La Fabia R5 vient de recevoir le feu vert des inspecteurs de la FIA et devrait donc débuter officiellement très prochainement. On parle du Rallye du Portugal, Skoda Motorsport ayant réservé deux places en championnat WRC-2…
La nouvelle Skoda Fabia est la 4e voiture à répondre au règlement R5 (moteur 1.6-Litre, 4x4…) après la Ford Fiesta R5, homologuée à l’été 2013 et écoulée à plus de 100 exemplaires, la Peugeot 208 T16 et la Citroën DS3 R5, apparues en course au printemps 2014.
Le staff technique de Skoda Motorsport a donc eu le temps de travailler sur la fiabilité et la performance, de peaufiner les détails avant de présenter le dossier d’homologation. Le carnet de commandes serait déjà bien rempli…

Skoda Fabia R5

The new Skoda Fabia R5, successor to the successful Fabia S2000, has been homologated by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) after 15 months of development work and around 10,000km covered in testing.

The Skoda Fabia S2000 gave an eloquent illustration of its potential on its debut, the 2009 Rallye Monte-Carlo, in the hands of Juho Hanninen (who led from SS2 to SS8) and Jan Kopecky (4th).
In the space of six years, it has claimed 15 WRC class wins, one fastest stage time (Ogier in Sardinia), 27 event victories and three titles in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), 24 victories and three European Rally Championship crowns and 12 wins and three titles in the Asia-Pacific Championship. Skoda also quotes around 50 titles at national level. Most of these successes were achieved on Michelin tyres.
For more than a year, Skoda Motorsport has been focused on the development of the new Skoda Fabia R5 which has covered more than 10,000km in testing with drivers like Esapekka Lappi, Jan Kopecky, Raimund Baumschlager and Freddy Loix.
The Fabia R5 has now received the green light from the FIA’s homologations department and its debut is expected very soon, possibly at the Rally de Portugal where Skoda Motorsport has book two WRC2 slots.
The new Fabia is the fourth R5 car (1.6-litre engine, 4x4) after the Ford Fiesta R5 (homologated in the summer of 2013, 100 cars sold), the Peugeot 208 T16 and the Citroën DS3 R5 which made their debuts last spring.
Skoda Motorsport’ technical staff has had the time to work on the newcomer’s performance and reliability and to carry out detail fine-tuning. The order book is said to be quite full already.

'Calipso’ is one heck of a Honda Dominator

What happens if you unleash a group of Italian custom bike builders on an unsophisticated Honda NX650 Dominator? Now you can own ‘Calipso’, built by South Garage Motorcycles from Milan…

Custom trailblazer

One of the very first projects to emerge from the Milan-based custom shop in 2013, ‘Calipso’ started life as a dual-sport 1999 Honda Dominator – a model well known for its purposeful, rugged nature. Examining the photographs more closely, we can see that this single-cylinder machine features a flat track-style seat, tail and alloy fuel tank, upgraded USD front forks with twin disc brakes and an entirely reworked set of controls and electronics. Taking into account the custom exhaust and leather-trimmed saddle, this must surely be the most highly detailed NX650 in existence. Currentlyfor sale in the Classic Driver Market, the listing states that the machine is ‘completely restored' and 'like new’.

View the full range of customs and classics in the Classic Driver Market.

Motorcycle Adventure - Bush to Beach

A cracking 900 kilometre motorcycle adventure on the mid north coast of New South Wales, Australia organised by rideadv.com.au

This ex-Works Aston Martin Ulster is set to break a World Record

At its Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in June, Bonhams hopes to sell a very special Aston Martin Ulster: one of the last of the famed ‘Team Cars’...

The 1935 Ulster in question is best known as LM19, one of a series of cars that was continually developed from 1928 onwards, with Le Mans glory in mind. According to Aston Martin’s then-chief designer and co-owner, Augustus ‘Bert’ Bertelli, the final clutch of cars – of which LM19 is one – were among “the best cars I ever built”. Today, LM19 is widely accepted to be one of the very best pre-War sports cars.

From France, to Ireland, to Italy

Indeed, the LM19 Team Car was entered in the prestigious Le Mans race in 1935, which was followed soon afterwards by the RAC Tourist Trophy race in Ireland. The year after that, it was robbed of a likely class victory at the Mille Miglia due to a burnt-out valve.

If the going’s good at Goodwood...

Owing to the car’s exceptional provenance – which also includes an outing at the 1936 French Grand Prix – the car is eligible for a host of top-tier historic racing events. What’s more, should it sell within its £1.6m – £2.2m estimate or higher, it will also become a World Record holder as the most expensive pre-War Aston to be sold at auction.

Photos: Bonhams

The 1935 ex-Works Aston Martin Ulster ‘LM19’ will be sold at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on 26 June, 2015.

Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk DED Car - Telluride To Tuweep

from Fred Williams Brand Manager, Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off Road

The new Jeep Cherokee is really making people mad, and rightfully so. It is different, and different is strange. If you grew up driving a fullsize Cherokee Chief SJ (pre-'83) you were probably mad when they "watered it down" and made the Cherokee XJ ('83-'01) and made the big burly Cherokee into a unibody midsize SUV. And when Chrylser/Fiat/Jeep came out with the new Cherokee this past year with Unibody and front and rear independent suspension, you were probably upset if you are a tried and true XJ owner. But is it really as bad as we all make it out to be, or are we mostly just scared of change?

I can tell you that Jeep owners usually hate change until they get to know it. Jeepers can be a bit stuck in the rut and happy to be there. I say this out of my own personal experience as both a Jeeper and someone who's around them all the time. So when this new Cherokee arrived it attracted a mob of displeasure that almost escalated to pitchforks and torches en route to Jeep headquarters. Of course, the majority of the problem is the name. If they had just called it something else they probably wouldn't have this uprising on their hands. The reason OEM's keep repeating model names is due mostly to cost. It can cost them millions to get lawyers to trademark a new name, but an old name is easily and inexpensively applied to a new model even if the new one doesn't really look or act like the prior ones.

So what would be the most appropriate name for this new Jeep? What about Jeepster or Renegade? Maybe Liberty or Pioneer? Personally I think it should have been the Jeep Eagle because it reminds me more of an AMC Eagle 4-wheel-drive station wagon than the boxy XJ or big SJ, but no one asked me.

I have been torn over whether this Jeep should even be in 4WOR. It's pretty close to a Subaru in form and function, and I'm not sure they fit the bill for these pages, but it's also close to a giant RZR or side-by-side with its full independent suspension, and those things are all over the trails. Jeep did bring a pretty cool version to Moab ("Jeep's Jeeps," Sept. '14) built as a rally-type car and called the Dakar. I decided to take a stock Cherokee Trailhawk on an adventure road trip from Telluride, Colorado, to the Tuweep Overlook on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I know many will claim this Jeep is nothing but a car, but I can tell you I wish every car performed off-road as well as this Cherokee.

Jeepers like big flat noses like the one on this Jeepster Commando. They are not as fond of the swoopy new Cherokee's laidback grille and windshield. However, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation are really putting the screws to automakers, with stringent greenhouse gas emissions limits and average fuel economy minimums. That is why future Jeeps are going to be swoopier and less flat. Don't like the design? Vote in a new government.

We started in Telluride, Colorado, on the weekend of the Blues and Brews music festival with plans of crossing some cool mountain passes, but the Black Bear Pass out of Telluride was closed the one weekend we were there, so we took mountain roads to our next stop in Silverton via Ouray. The Cherokee Trailhawk is a fun little road trip machine, perfect for two people looking to camp and explore Colorado. But it could definitely have used more power under that matte black sticker for the high-altitude climbs, especially if you plan on bringing more than one friend (but, then again, we always want more power).

Due to lack of planning on our part we rolled into Ouray on the same day as a Jeep Jamboree event and didn't even know it was going on. Had we gotten there earlier we would have taken the Trailhawk over some trails with its flat-grilled brethren to see how it would do. As it was, we only got to park next to the bigger Jeeps, where we felt they gave our Trailhawk that look you give your weird little brother whom you suspect of being adopted. If you're looking for an opportunity to go wheeling in Colorado check out the Jeep Jamboree events. They have them countrywide, but Colorado has great trails with awesome views, so we'd recommend one there.

We opted to explore on our own from Ouray to Silverton and found a silver mine road to get dust on the too-clean Jeep KL (we'll refer to it as the KL from now on so as not to offend disgruntled SJ and XJ owners). The little scrapper was fun to chug up these roads, and the Firestone Destination A/T tires offer reliable traction on mountain trails that lead to unknown destinations.

We arrived in Silverton and stayed at one of the small private hotels along the main street. Silverton is an awesome town packed with more cool old 4x4s than we could shake our front and rear independent suspension at. Old Jeeps, Rovers, Cruisers, and trucks are hidden all over the backstreets of Silverton.

Silverton is also the destination of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (durangotrain.com). This train has been running between the two mountain towns for over 130 years and now hauls more tourists than the silver it was designed for. This area of Colorado saw a huge mining boom, and because of that, many of these small towns cropped up. We opted to head south in the Jeep rather than hopping the train to Durango.

Along the drive we kept coming back to the realization that the Jeep Cherokee is actually not a bad car, especially if you are looking for this type of car. We don't spend much time in cars-we're usually in trucks and SUVs-so it's hard to say, but we can really see that if you're in the market for something like a Subaru, you should definitely consider the Cherokee KL as a competitor.

Durango is a great southern Colorado town, but we were ready to get the Cherokee KL dirty. After one night in town we pointed the raked back grille and LED running lights south in search of something worth testing the Jeep on. We soon found ourselves on the Kennebec Pass, where the KL found itself diving into high mountain mud.

Keenebec Pass is just shy of 12,000-feet in elevation. The KL climbed up with ease. However, after reaching the V-notch at the top we started wondering how far we wanted to go. The Jeep was in low range and clawing along, with a few scratches added to the Mopar-equipped rock sliders, but when we were heading down the back side, the track got narrow and off-camber and was quite possibly a dead-end (or we'd be dead if we didn't stay on trail). We eventually opted to turn around (thank goodness for a short wheelbase) and go back the way we came in.

From there we left Colorado and headed toward Arizona, but we had to stop and grab a photo by this mountain cabin as a reminder that this type of vehicle is perfect for anyone looking for a capable weekend getaway machine. Though we don't expect huge aftermarket support to show up too soon for these crossover utes, we could see rally-inspired builds happening, perfect for moderate snow wheeling and gravel-road blasting.

We missed the epic views of the Rocky Mountains, but soon we were marveling at massive rock formations as we headed toward the Four Corners region of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. We have been through this area before in lots of different old 4x4s (you may recall our "CA to PA in a CJ" story, Apr. and May '12), and we can honestly say that although a trip may be more exhilarating in an old Jeep that may or may not break down at any moment, the views and countryside are no less impressive in a late-model 4x4 with satellite radio, onboard Wi-Fi, a 3.2L Pentastar V-6, a nine-speed transmission, tons of power outlets, and Jeep's Active Drive Lock 4-wheel drive system.

We have a rule when it comes to 4x4s. You have to be able to sleep in them because you never know when you'll need to. When we went through Page, Arizona, and every hotel was booked (more bad planning, but great road tripping) we decided it was time to try out that folding flat rear cargo area of the Trailhawk. Our camping gear had been lost in shipping, but the local Wal-Mart was able to supply us with just enough gear for a safe, comfortable night car camping along the shores of Lake Powell.

From Page, we bonsai-ed to the final destination of the trip, Tuweep Overlook (also known as Toroweap, depending on whom you ask) on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. This isolated campsite is accessed via 60 miles of dirt from Kanab and Fredonia, a journey that gave the little KL a chance to spread its wings and fly over gravel corrugation and a few cattle gates. Be careful if you head this way, as there are plenty of oncoming work trucks, rocks looking to puncture tires, and big cows ready to crush your low-flying crossover SUV.

The camping at Tuweep is about as deserted as you can get in a vehicle, but even so you can't drive right to the edge of the Grand Canyon in your 4x4. Well, you could, but you're not supposed to. We only had 50 or so yards to go from the driver's seat to edge of our greatest American hole in the ground, so we followed the rules and walked the last segment. If you do plan to camp, you'll need to get a permit. We recommend a 4x4 to get there-the last few miles turn from easy gravel to rough rocky trail. Also, there are bathrooms at the overlook but no showers or water, at least not that we saw, so plan accordingly. If you'd like to visit the overlook but not stay, we recommend the cabins at Jacob's Lake or the North Rim Park of the canyon as nearby lodging, but check availability early.

I have traveled in a lot of different 4x4s and done quite a few off-road-trips in Jeeps, from old CJs to XJs. This new Cherokee is worthy of the Jeep brand name. Is it the most capable Jeep ever? No. Is it the most capable Cherokee ever? That is debatable because the SJ and XJ were never optioned with a rear locker, but they did have big strong axles and respectable suspensions plus a V-8, and we like V-8s. The real question is will the aftermarket embrace this vehicle and start offering suspension kits and accessories to make it even more talented off-road, or will the KL follow the Compass and Patriot as watered-down Jeeps good for gravel roads and not much more? We had a blast road tripping in this Jeep and never felt like it would leave us stranded, but we also drove with more caution than we would have behind the wheel of a Rubicon. Maybe that is the best conclusion we can draw: If you're looking for good moderate adventure, then you can get by with a good moderate adventure vehicle.


From: http://www.fourwheeler.com/events/1505-jeep-cherokee-trailhawk-ded-car/#ixzz3WN0mXM1k
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NEW AND NOTED: MOTORCYCLE GEAR

For those of you lucky enough to be in the northern hemisphere, spring has arrived. The snow may have receded, but there’s an avalanche of cool new gear hitting the shelves.

We’ve picked out a few items worthy of your consideration, from big brands to unknown upstarts. This time we’re taking a top-to-toe approach, from helmets to boots. If there’s anything you think we’ve missed, let us know in the comments.

DMD Racer Most modern motocross helmets just don’t have the allure of the vintage designs. So the Italian maker DMD has recreated the classic 70s-style lid using modern technology—with a carbon/Kevlar shell that meets the European ECE 22.05 safety standard.

The £299 Racer comes in five sizes and includes a removable, washable liner, plus a padded chinstrap with a double D-ring closure. The spec might be basic, but it’s a solid and stylish option to open face lids. Choose from white or black finishes, or drop another £100 for a hand-painted ‘Line’ option. [Buy]

Simpson Street Bandit The Bandit is one of those iconic helmet designs that everyone recognizes: It’s the two-wheeled equivalent of the Simpson Diamondback worn by The Stig in Top Gear. Safety has never been the Bandit’s strong point though—until now. The helmet has been revamped and re-released, and now meets the Snell M2010 standard as well as DOT.

It’s still probably not as safe as a Schuberth lid, but you do get a bigger eyeport area for a better field of vision. And you can upgrade the standard clear shield for a smoke, amber, iridium or mirrored visor. The Street Bandit is available in gloss and matte black, but really, the only color to select is white. [Buy]

Spidi Fandango The Italians are cottoning on to the revival of classic motorcycle style. We’ve seen Dainese dip a toe in the waters with the 36060 range, and Alpinestars has just announced its Oscar collection. Now it’s the turn of Spidi: the $699 Fandango jacket is a collaboration with our friends at the famous French magazine Cafe Racer.

We’re told that it’s crafted from “the finest cowhide available in the Italian tanning district of Vicenza, Italy,” but it’s the design details that attract the eye. There’s a pocket on the back for storing gloves, and ‘blind’ patches on the chest and sides to provide space for nametags and club insignia. You also get shoulder and elbow protectors, and an insert suitable for a back protector. [Buy]

Saint 100% Kevlar Drills Saint is a new arrival on the apparel scene that shows huge promise. Their core product is a AU$350, 100% Kevlar drill pant with 360° tensile strength and great looks. These are pants you can wear all day, but they also have significant burst and slide abrasion resistance.

They’ve been tested at CE approved facilities in both the UK and Italy, recording times of 3.62 seconds—just shy of the ultimate Level 1 rating of four seconds. (To put that into perspective, a standard pair of denims will burst on impact and disintegrate in less than half a second.) You also get triple-stitched seams, quality YKK zips, and 3M reflective material on the cuffs for extra visibility at night. The perfect alternative to jeans. [Buy]

LD&CO Made To Measure Kevlar Jeans The concept of personalization has been slow to reach the ‘casual’ motorcycle market, helmet paintjobs aside. A few months ago, we highlighted Ruste, which will add a Kevlar lining to your favorite pair of jeans. Now LD&CO have taken the concept a step further, offering Kevlar jeans in made-to-measure sizes. Using WWII-era denim sewing machines in Phoenix, Arizona, LD&CO will make you a fully tailored pair of selvedge denim riding jeans with a heavyweight Kevlar lining.

You supply your measurements and the style you want, and for just $198 they’ll do the rest within 60 days. If you’re in a hurry, Huckberry has a selection of sizes in 15-ounce Cone Mills Denim and a slim straight fit.

ICON 1000 Prep Boots Icon’s tough, retro-styled Elsinore boots have been a smash hit for the Portland, Oregon based company. The sequel has now arrived, in the form of the more subdued but equally high performance Prep boot. Icon describes the $270 boots as “Historically significant silhouettes re-imagined with modern materials and construction techniques. And then given a personal twist of moto-apocalyptic 80s fever dreams.” And we can’t do better than that.

The boots are waterproof and heavily armored, with steel shanks, reinforced toe boxes and heels, and a 12-inch top grain leather upper section for a true three-quarter leg fit. Take your pick from Stealth Black or Brown. [More info]

via BIKEexif

Clutch’s XS650 is a Japanese café racer à la française

We wouldn’t usually feature a customised Yamaha XS650, simply because it’s such a common phenomenon. But this subtle yet stunning rework of the 45-year-old bike by Parisian workshop Clutch Custom left us with no other option…

Our collective eye has been caught by Clutch’s creations before, when founder Willie Knoll went to work on a Triumph Bonneville T100. This time around, his company went for a café racer appearance, albeit with some details that make the concept its own.

Brave decisions

The donor bike’s engine was soon rebuilt with a big-bore 750cc kit and Dell'Orto carbs. Despite the extra power, Knoll made the brave decision to stick with drum brakes, machining a new axle to fit the front forks borrowed from an SR500. A custom tank was fashioned, and then came a rebuilt rear frame with a custom café-racer-style seat cowl. “I didn’t have a specific inspiration for this bike,” says Willie, “I just wanted to created a solo ride that was different from other custom XS650s, with a bit more power and some nice bespoke touches.” It worked.

Deft details

As is always the case with custom bikes, it’s the little details that separate a great build from a good one – as Willie has clearly discovered. The bespoke tank is crowned with one of Clutch Customs’ trademark knurled filler caps, while the yellow headlight is a nod to France’s automotive past.

Photos: Clutch Customs

You can find several classic Yamaha motorcycles for sale in the Classic Driver Market.