Tests hivernaux : VW en Suède, Hyundai en France / Winter testing: VW in Sweden, Hyundai in France

Les teams Volkswagen Motorsport et Hyundai Motorsport ont effectué chacun une semaine d’essais, l’un en Suède, l’autre sur les routes de l’Ardèche.

Deux semaines seulement après l’arrivée du Wales Rally GB, c’est déjà reparti pour les tests hivernaux en vue du début de saison 2015.

Volkswagen Motorsport a commencé par les essais préparatoires au Rallye de Suède. L’équipe allemande a dû se rendre à Borgafjäll, à 800 km au nord de Karlstad, pour trouver de la neige. Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala, Andreas Mikkelsen, mais aussi Marcus Grönholm ont pu tester la nouvelle VW Polo R WRC spec. 2015 et les nouveaux pneus Michelin X-Ice North 3 qui seront proposés aux partenaires de Michelin au Rallye de Suède 2015.

Les essais 2015 de Hyundai Motorsport avaient débuté la semaine suivant le Wales Rally GB avec du roulage sur terre dans le sud de la France avec la future Hyundai i20 WRC qui sera lancée en cours d’année 2015.

Puis, cette semaine, l’équipe coréenne était en Ardèche, du côté de Mézilhac, pour préparer le Rallye Monte-Carlo. Thierry Neuville et Dani Sordo ont roulé chacun deux jours et cumulé les kilomètres au volant de la Hyundai i20 WRC spec. 2014. Ils ont également pu passer en revue la gamme de pneumatiques que Michelin mettra à disposition de ses partenaires WRC au Monte-Carlo, à savoir trois types de pneus Pilot Sport (SS4 super-soft, S4 soft et H4 hard), et le pneu Alpin 4 en version cloutée et non-cloutée. Le pneu Pilot Sport SS4 n’a encore jamais roulé en course.

Les tests hivernaux vont se poursuivre en décembre avec Hyundai qui se rendra en Suède semaine 50, avant deux jours supplémentaires pour le Monte-Carlo en janvier. Ford et Volkswagen prépareront quant à eux le Rallye Monte-Carlo semaine 51. Citroën attendra le mois de janvier pour effectuer ses essais en vue des deux épreuves hivernales du championnat 2015.

Volkswagen Motorsport and Hyundai Motorsport have been testing in Sweden and France’s Ardèche region respectively.

Just two weeks after the end of this year’s world championship in Wales, winter testing has already started to prepare for 2015.

Volkswagen Motorsport kicked off its programme by preparing for Rally Sweden in Borgafjäll, 800km north of Karlstad, where it was able to run on snow. Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala, Andreas Mikkelsen were joined by Marcus Grönholm. They took turns to evaluate the new 2015-spec VW Polo R WRC and the new Michelin X-Ice North 3 tyre which the French firm’s partners will have for the Nordic fixture.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motorsport began the week after Wales Rally GB with a gravel test in the south of France with the new-generation Hyundai i20 WRC that will make its debut in 2015.

This week, the Korean squad was in France’s Ardèche region to prepare for the Rallye Monte-Carlo. Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo spent two days each in the 2014-spec Hyundai i20 WRC. Their mission included sampling the tyres Michelin’s WRC partners will have for the season’s curtain-raiser, namely the Pilot Sport (SS4/super soft, S4/soft and H4/hard), plus studded and non-studded versions of the Alpin 4. The Pilot Sport SS4 has never been used competitively.

Next on Hyundai’s diary (Week 50) is a trip to Sweden, followed by two more days in January to build up to the Monte.

Ford and Volkswagen’s Monte preparations are scheduled for Week 51, while Citroën will start its work ahead of the 2015 calendar’s two wintry events in January.

2014 SEMA Week day 2

James Bond to drive new Aston Martin DB10 in ‘Spectre’

The new Bond movie ‘Spectre’ will once again see 007 drive an Aston Martin but, in a fresh twist, the new sports car from Gaydon will be developed and built specially for him. Just 10 examples of the new, bespoke Aston Martin DB10 will be produced…

The new DB10 was unveiled at Pinewood Studios, the home of the James Bond films, by Aston Martin in collaboration with EON Productions. Aston design chief Marek Reichman and his team worked with Sam Mendes, the director of the new Bond adventure ‘Spectre’, to create the ideal GT car for use in the film. The DB10 is a fitting celebration for this, the 50th anniversary year of the partnership between Aston Martin and EON Productions that began with the Aston Martin DB5. Of course, the DB10 is more than ‘just’ a film car – it’s also a hint at the future direction of the sports car brand. Aston CEO Dr Andy Palmer seemed in high spirits as he described the “wonderful new sports car created especially for James Bond”, commenting that he was “incredibly proud of everyone in the team at Gaydon who have brought this special project from concept to reality”.

All 10 examples of the Aston Martin DB10 will be built by the skilled craftspeople at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters,  although it’s not yet known if, or how many of, the Bond cars will be sold to customers, rather than used purely for filming. ‘Spectre’ is due for release on 6 November, 2015.

Former James Bond cars and plenty of other classic and modern Aston Martins can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

AUTOLOGUE GAMBIT

At the recent Motorcycle Live event in the UK, it was clear to see manufacturers fully accepting the current interest in ‘New Wave’ customs. But which manufacturer had embraced it the most? BMW with their R-NineT? Ducati’s new Scrambler? Yamaha and the popular Yardbuilt series, perhaps? Seemingly, it was the Chinese manufacturer Herald Motor Company (nee. HJC). With two-dozen bikes on the stand, virtually every one was either factory customised or modified by an aftermarket builder in some way. Cafes, Trackers and Scramblers resplendent in their small capacity glory looked fantastic under the show lights. The quality of these machines is rising exponentially and we’ve already seen them successfully modified in the UK by Mutt Motorcycles. It’s likely we will soon see the same from that other industrial heavyweight, India.

With a relatively small presence in Western markets, it’s easy to forget that companies like Bajaj Auto are some of the largest producers of motorcycles in the world. Their capacity far exceeds many brands familiar in Europe and America. Simple air cooled steel framed bikes, made in the millions, is this a new, cheap source of donor bikes I wonder? In India the usual suspects of CB750s, NX650s and BMW R-series bikes are both scarce and expensive, so builders are picking up the torch and displaying their handmade skills on home-grown products, like this: The Gambit by Autologue designs.

Autologue is the brainchild of a team of passionate automotive designers and engineers. Formed in October 2013 by Mukul Nanda, he’s been involved with numerous vehicular projects including various cars, bikes, ATVs and Go-Karts. You name it, if it has an engine and wheels, then Mukul has likely had fun building and modifying it. Autologue’s aim is to bring Indian automotive design and customisation on par with global standards, and by doing so on a beloved domestic product, providing inspiration for thousands of others.

Based on a Bajaj Pulsar 180, a well loved entry level bike, the project came about when a customer wanted something light and simple that could tackle the hilly terrain of North East India. Despite this being a 1000 miles away from their Pune base and with a modest budget, Mukul and his team were eager to tackle the familiar Pulsar and transform it’s anonymous looks. What strikes you first about the Gambit is that beautifully crafted bodywork. Fashioned from steel, the tank with its concave sides, shows Autologue’s handiwork to it’s best. Any sacrifice in fuel capacity accepted as worthwhile in the bike’s metamorphisis; the frugal engine barely sips at the reservoir anyway

The matching side panels, made by Mukul’s team, cover the air intake, ensuring the engine doesn’t eat too much dirt. Purposely juxtaposed, they aren’t curved like the tank and look neatly OEM. The bodywork is coated in a groovy ’70s inspired paint job. The metallic orange shimmers, with white infill panels hosting the psychedelic characters. Out back a black leather tuck and roll seat sweeps with a classic scrambler vibe. ‘Partners be damned’ jokes Mukul, this is a bike for the singular person; the seat and lack of passenger pegs ensuring this is one of the few single occupancy bikes in India.

The mechanicals were kept as Bajaj provided, they are well tested and a known quantity on Indian roads. A new exhaust system was manufactured though, giving that thumping single soundtrack a lift. The megaphone finished system clad in a layer of black pipe wrap from port to silencer. The bike is functional too, featuring not only usefully sized mudguards at both ends but a custom bash plate keeps the powerplant pebble dash free. Lighting has been swapped out for a mesh covered Bates Style unit, keeping things classy. While the standard cast 6-spoke Pulsar wheels remain, some suitable dual sport tyres vastly improve the bikes ability on uneven terrain.

A great little project, we hope to see more builds based on more unusual platforms. Have no doubt that there will be more to come from Mukul and his team: Autologue are flat out working on their next projects. Check out theirFacebook page and Website for the latest developments.

from The Bike Shed