McLaren X-1 photographed at Bahrain GP

Based on MP4-12C

The McLaren X-1 one-off was seen last weekend at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.

As you might remember, this truly uniqueX-1 was developed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and is based on the MP4-12C. The vehicle tips the scales at around 3,086 lbs (1,400 kg) and "shares the same major mechanical components as the 12C, including the twin-turbo 616 bhp (460 kW) engine."

It was conceived for a wealthy client who already owned a McLaren F1, an MP4-12C and a Mercedes-Benz SLR. The client wanted MSO to implement styling cues from a 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance Ghia, 1961 Facel Vega, 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K, 1959 Buick Electra and a 1971 Citroën SM, mixed with a grand piano, Airstream trailer, Jaeger-LeCoultre clock, Thomas Mann Montblanc pen and an eggplant - resulting in something that only Batman would drive.

An additional photo is available at the source link below.

Source: teamspeed.com

via Worldcarfans

Coma takes win in opening stage in Sealine Rally

KTM factory rider and three times Dakar winner Marc Coma of Spain was the pace setter on the opening day of the Sealine Rally in Qatar to win the first of four hard stages in this, the second round of the World Cross Countries Rally Championship.

Fresh from his victory in the Desert Challenge, Coma said it was a difficult but satisfying day. “I am happy with the stage and I’m in a good position but it was a tough day with difficult navigation and it was necessary to stay focused. I had a good starting position and after I caught the riders in front I was able to open the race. It was perfect.”

Riders are in a bivouac in the desert near Doha and completed the first of four very long loop tracks that make up this year’s second edition of the Sealine Rally. In a new format this year, riders have one day less but a very heavy program with the timed special each day representing at least 97 percent of the total kilometers. Tuesday’s stage, which featured a range of fast and stony desert terrain and dunes, had a timed special of 405.12 km from a total distance of 415.11 km.

After an early morning start to avoid the searing heat desert heat, Coma completed the first stage in four hours 58.46 and crossed the line with a 2.04 advantage over Portugal’s Paolo Goncalves. KTM’s Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter was third and Coma’s two KTM factory teammates Jakub Przygonski of Poland and Chaleco Lopez of Chile were fourth and fifth. The top five riders, all veterans of the Dakar Rally have already distanced themselves from the next group and there is 19-minute gap between Lopez and the sixth placed rider. Coma, Przygonski and Lopez are all riding the KTM 450 Dakar-winning Rally bike

Coma is looking to build on the world championship points he picked up in the Desert Challenge as he lays the foundation stone to retain his world title. Making a welcome return to racing after a shoulder injury kept him out of the Dakar 2013, Coma considers the early season as important confidence builders. Speaking to journalists after the ceremonial start on Monday evening Coma said: “I’m pleased with my riding. My navigation is strong, my speed is good and I know my fitness will be fine,” Coma said. “I will try to win again like last year. I feel that there’s a perfect route for a perfect race here.”

Wednesday’s Stage Two is the longest of this year’s edition with a total distance of 423.28 km including 413.19 km of timed special, relating to 99.5% of the total distance.

Photos by Chytka M.

KTM Results
Sealine Rally at Doha, Qatar
Stage One total distance 415.11 km – including timed special of 405.12 km

1, Marc Coma, Spain, KTM 4 hours 58.46
2, Paolo Goncalves, Portugal, Speedbrain at 2.04
3, Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norway, KTM at 4.00
4, Jakub Przygonski, Poland, KTM at 6.02
5, Chaleco Lopez, Chile, KTM at 12.01
6, Juan Carlos Salvatierra, Bolivia, Honda at 31.15
7, Khalid Khammis Ozair, Honda, 50.47
8, Mohammed Al Balooshi, KTM, 52.07
9, Rafal Sonic, Poland, Honda, 56.22
10, Quin Cody, USA, Speedbrain, 1:15.23

Rally concludes Friday after four stages

Volkswagen Taigun almost ready for production

Polo-based SUV also planned

A production version of the Volkswagen Taigun Concept is about to arrive in dealerships soon.

VW's chief designer Klaus Bischoff "deeply believes" the Taigun will reach the market in the near future. Although it was presented in Brazil last year, the small SUV will be sold in Europe and other markets as well since "it would be stupid to sell it in just South America."

As a reminder, the concept is 81mm taller and 83mm wider than the up! and comes with a 50mm longer wheelbase. Power is expected to come from the same engines as the city car, including a turbocharged, direct-injection 3-cylinder 1.0-liter seen in the up! GT Concept. That engine generates 109 bhp (81 kW) and 162 Nm (120 lb-ft) of torque.

Besides the new-gen Tiguan due in 2014 and Touareg scheduled for a 2015 release, Volkswagen is likely to introduce next year a crossover based on the Polo platform which will be positioned below the Tiguan as a smaller and more affordable alternative.

Source: autoexpress.co.uk

via Worlcarfans

Valentino Rossi drives Kyle Busch’s NASCAR Toyota

from Twowheelsblog

Following the Austin GP Valentino Rossi flew to North Carolina with Yamaha’s Lin Jarvis to take part in a promotional event for sponsor Monster Energy with three time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The MotoGP champion got a chance to drive Busch’s V8 650hp Toyota Camry after getting instructions and pointers from Busch on how to handle the powerful car - Rossi has tested a Ferrari F1 a few times, driven a Ferrari 458 Italia in several endurance races, and driven a Subaru Impreza WRC, a Ford car and he also tested a Mercedes C-Klasse DTM car - but driving along 24-degree banked turns was a first for the Italian who was able to get up to around 185 miles per hour and actually able to drop his lap times.

Talking about the fascinating experience Rossi said, “At the beginning it was a bit strange because it’s difficult to go straight. But after some laps, I had a lot of confidence and I was able to go faster and faster and faster. I must say I got along very well with Kyle. He’s a good guy. I like him and he gave me a lot of important advice.”

“It was so cool to understand the feeling!I have a lot of friends from Europe and Italy who follow NASCAR. It looks like it’s a completely different type of racing than what we do in Europe and I expected something more like this –exciting, high speed and a great feeling in the corner. In the bank you have a lot of grip, so you are glued on the racetrack. It was great, I enjoyed it a lot. I love driving the race car, and I always have, so it was exciting to drive a NASCAR,” concluded Rossi.

Busch was impressed by Rossi’s talent on four wheels and said, “I thought it was a really cool experience and it also helps when you have two guys who are enthusiastic about their sport and have a good mantra about it. I think Rossi is a really cool dude. We were just having fun, hanging out together. To me, I thought the experience was awesome. It’s cool Monster Energy brought us together, it was a lot of fun. Just getting the feeling of asking him about his sport and him asking me about NASCAR a little bit. Just having the dialogue there was good. And as far as driving the car, I thought he did pretty good. He started out a little slow, which is fine, but every lap he picked it up a lot. He got to where he was running some competitive lap speeds – times that would put him in the top-15 in Nationwide Series practice. That’s pretty good for a guy in his first start, who is just coming over and getting used to things and someone that is used to driving on two wheels.”