Opel Adam R2 Rally Car concept headed to Geneva

Opel has announced plans to introduce the Adam R2 rally car concept at the Geneva Motor Show.

Built to meet FIA R2 specifications, the model is based on the Adam Cup and is described as "chic, classy, [and] eye-catching."

Dressed in an OPC body kit, the Adam R2 has a quick release hood, a roof-mounted scoop and lightweight racing wheels. There's also a sport-tuned suspension (with asphalt and gravel settings) and Brembo brakes.

The stripped out interior has Sparco racing seats, a roll cage and a digital instrument cluster. The cabin also features an electric fire extinguisher and a MONIT trip computer.

Power is provided by a 1.6-liter EcoTec engine that develops approximately 185 HP (136 kW) and 190 Nm (140 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to a five-speed sequential transmission which motivates the front-wheels via a limited-slip differential.

Opel plans to finalize the development and homologation of the Adam R2 later this year. It will eventually be eligible to compete in every national championship in Europe.

Source: Opel

UN NOUVEAU PROGRAMME EN VUE POUR PEUGEOT ?

Info ou intox ? On ne sait pas encore quel crédit apporter à la mise en place d'un nouveau programme Peugeot mais la rumeur enfle de plus en plus dans les paddocks, et même sur le continent américain. On va casser de suite l'ambiance car cela n'a rien à voir avec une arrivée en compétition de la 908 HYbrid4. Depuis janvier 2012, les activités de Peugeot Sport sont concentrées sur le service compétition-clients aussi bien rallye qu'en circuit avec la Peugeot RCZ Cup. On pourrait penser à un retour en WRC avec une 208, mais débuter un tel projet en pleine crise économique serait certainement politiquement incorrect. On a ensuite pensé à une arrivée en GT3, mais la marque sochalienne n'a pas réellement de modèle adéquat. Le rallye-raid ? Peugeot a été longtemps sur le devant de la scène avec ses 205 Turbo 16 et autres 405, mais il faudrait un défi technologique pour cela. Une auto Hybride au look de 208 au Dakar, c'est une hypothèse...

Il y a aussi la piste Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Le Lion a connu de belles heures de gloire au Colorado. Tout le monde a encore en mémoire le magnifique film de la montée d'Ari Vatanen en 1988 au volant de sa monstrueuse 405 Turbo. Un an plus tard, c'est Robby Unser qui raflait la mise, une nouvelle fois sur une 405 Turbo. Plusieurs constructeurs, dont Toyota, s'y essaient avec des nouvelles technologies, alors pourquoi pas Peugeot. Ce n'est pas un secret que Peugeot surfe actuellement sur la vague nostalgique avec la sortie d'une bombinette badgée GTI, donc un retour dans le temps n'est pas à exclure...

by Laurent Mercier(Endurance-Info)

BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK team launches 2013 title bid

At BMW’s headquarters in Munich, the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK team officially launched their 2013 Superbike and Superstock 1000 FIM Cup title bids, after BMW announced last season that they would handing over their SBK racing efforts to BMW Italia.

The team will be fielding Maro Melandri - who won six races last year and finished third overall and Chaz Davies in World Superbikes on the lighter BMW HP4 which is based on the S1000RR, while Sylvain Barrier will try to defend his Superstock title and he’ll be joined by South African rider Greg Gildenhuys.

Stephan Schaller, President of BMW Motorrad said, “Motorsport will once again play a major role for BMW Motorrad this year. 2012 was by far our most successful season to date in the FIM Superbike World Championship. With six wins, 18 podiums, six fastest laps, the second place overall in the Manufacturers’ Championship and the title win in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, BMW Motorrad established itself as one of the top teams in the series. With this strong position as a basis, we have realigned our works commitment for the coming season. I am more than confident that we can achieve our goals with the new structure, experienced team management, and works riders Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies.These goals are to firmly establish ourselves among the top teams at the pinnacle of production-based motorsport in the long term, and to claim as many wins and podiums as possible.”

BMW Motorrad Goldbet Superbike Team 2013

“Our close cooperation is the key to have a competitive package. We are one team and we have a continuous information flow. The bike is a complex package, any change to the engine or the electronics has an impact on the chassis and vice versa. My role is to steer the information flow. We plan the development process according to the riders’ feedback and requests as well as to the current competitive situation,” said technical director Andrea Dosoli.

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Nashville to LA! Winter Road Trip in a Topless Deuce Roadster

On this episode of HOT ROD Unlimited, Staff Editor Thom Taylor drives a channeled, topless Deuce roadster in the dead of winter from Nashville to LA, encountering what you would expect in the middle of winter: ice, rain, cold, frost, and did we mention cold. Thom drove the roadster back to LA to promote HOT ROD's 65th anniversary event, HOT ROD Homecoming, taking place in March 2013 (HotRodHomecoming.com). Watch the roadster slip, slide and spin 2,000 miles as Thom takes Interstate 40 through eight states and 70-degrees of temperature change, taking breaks for burnouts, breakdowns, bad weather and junkyards.

HOT ROD Unlimited appears every other Friday on the Motor Trend channel. http://www.youtube.com/motortrend