Jul
4,000 Kilometres, 8 States, 14 Days, Three Time Zones – A Million Smiles
Unless you saddle up a horse and wear a Stetson hat and spurs, you can’t get more American than driving Route 66 with a vintage American muscle car. When I first got a bee in my bonnet about driving Route 66, I was told that it no longer exists, except in songs and movies. After a bit of research, I discovered that it was officially decommissioned in the 1980s and no longer features on maps. But, as for the actual road, it’s still mostly there, and the patches where it’s unpaved and unpassable are easy to pass by.
In Fact, It’s a ‘Thing’
I also learned that Route 66 still holds a special place and it’s become quite a thing to do for fans of American culture and us petrol heads alike. I decided that it’s my kind of thing and signed up for a two-week car trip to experience some authentic American fun. I flew to Chicago, Illinois where the Route 66 trip begins and was met by the tour organizer who was, incidentally, wearing a giant Stetson hat! After a short drive to the hotel, I met some of the other guys and gals who were also on the tour. We toasted our trip with some ice-cold Budweiser beers and swapped car stories.
Ready, Set, Rev!
The next day each of us was introduced to the car we selected when we signed up for the tour. I was almost jealous of Dean who had a white 1968 Mercury Cougar GT-E and of Alex who cleverly chose a gorgeous yellow 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT. But hey, how much more muscle can you want if you have a 1967 Mustang fastback with a 390 V8 at your disposal? Especially if it’s in mean midnight black with an even meaner devil red interior. The rumble is unmatched by anything you can find today with all the modern mufflers and CAF requirements and I was super happy with my choice as I roared towards the start of the historic Route 66.
When the Ultimate Muscle Car Meets Kitschy Americana
Nothing can quite describe the feeling of absolute freedom you feel driving across America and stopping along the way for a selection of quirky and wonderful sights. Weirdly, it’s some of the more kitschy stops that make you truly feel like you’re in the ‘land of the free and home for the brave.’ Like some of the rusty truck stops in the middle of nowhere, the massive neon signs dotted along the way and odd things like two giant yellow and red arrows and massive Tiki head. Or, even more peculiar, Cadillac Ranch, a weird art installation of brightly painted Cadillacs half-buried in the sand which made Burt wonder if he’s having an acid flashback. All along the Interstate, we were playing cat and mouse, one vintage muscle car bolting past the other as it begins to get ready to catch up.
Hello California!
After two weeks of stunning scenery, jaw-dropping archaeological sites, interesting hotel and motel stops, even more interesting conversations, and of course the pure adrenaline from driving a ridiculously awesome car, we arrived at our final destination: Santa Monica, California. Known as the Mother Road, Route 66 certainly lived up to her reputation of generosity and kindness. Even though it was one of the longest car trips I’ve done and in one of the least luxurious cars, it was also the most laidback and friendliest. This is a car trip I definitely want twice on my bucket list!
Jul
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is Almost Out
The most powerful street-legal Ford ever built is about to hit the road. Are you as stoked as I am about this? After a range of teasers from the press about the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 coming out soon, its actual specs were finally revealed. Clever Ford! While most car manufacturers are pretty open about what their next models will pack, Ford decided to make us petrol heads even more excited about the release of the latest and greatest Mustang, by keeping the juicy details secret for months. But before we get into the nitty-gritty of what makes this Mustang the best by far…
Let’s Just get one Thing out The Way
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a mouthful. And I’ve had more than one discussion with car enthusiasts about the crazy long name. Some say that it’s such a powerful piece of machinery, it deserves an effusive, wordy name. Others say the car should (and does) speak for itself and Ford should shorten it. Either way, have you ever wondered where it comes from? The Ford part is obvious, Ford is the manufacturer, and Mustang is the model. Shelby is the name of the man responsible for these mean machines, and the GT500 is to say that this is a big block car and not a small block like the GT350.
Another interesting fact about the name is that it took a while before it was chosen. Names like Torino, Panther, Comet, Colt and Stiletto were suggested. One of the names that were strongly considered was Cougar. I don’t like any of them, Mustang is just fine, thanks. Even if the rest of it makes it long.
Now let’s talk about those specs.
0-60 in Just Over 3 Seconds and This is Why
Powered by a hand-assembled 5.2-liter aluminium alloy V8 engine which, by the sound of it, works in perfect harmony with the supercharger. Even though it’s not a Voodoo engine, it’s definitely packing some magic and produces a spine-tingling roar. The quad exhaust with five-inch outlets is just what this beast needs and the all-new 7-speed DCT gearbox undoubtedly makes it a fun driving experience. Who doesn’t love powerful acceleration at low speeds and a steady growl at high speeds? Yes, I know there’s no manual transmission available and I also enjoy being complete control of the four wheels I’m playing with. But hey, we can’t have it all, and this Mustang comes very, very close to perfection.
760 Horses, And Then Some
With a whopping 760 horsepower, 847 Newton-meters of torque, and the most downforce ever in a Mustang (thanks to the front splitter, GT-4-like wing and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres), most car enthusiasts would be thrilled to take one of these formidable cars for a test drive. Add the deliciously aggressive looks, and we are positively drooling. And if you think it can’t get better, check out the pricing! This is a supercar but at a Ford price.
Jun
A Spectacular Arctic Experience
My favorite kind of road trip is measured in thousands of miles and revs. It involves me in an exhilarating car and plays out in a super cool area. By ‘super cool’ I don’t usually mean it literally. But this time, the road trip I took was 100% icy! I went on an arctic driving adventure that took me from London to Iceland to Stockholm and all the way to the Swedish Laplands.
Six Days, Seven Stunning Cars To Choose From
What can be more exhilarating than driving a Ferrari? Driving it on ice! For just over a week I negotiated spectacular natural beauty in icy cold conditions, with a fun assortment of cars. The trip started with an ‘Italian Job’-style chase with classic Mini Coopers through the back streets of London followed by dinner in a restaurant so lavish it made me feel like James Bond. Yes, I did have a martini (or two!) The next day we flew out to the Icelandic Highlands where we spent two days taking a fleet of custom-made four-wheel-drive Toyotas across rough terrain with spectacular scenery that featured majestic waterfalls and glaciers. I loved driving the powerful modified Toyota Hilux allocated to me.
We stopped for lunch and a dip in the Geysir hot springs. The evening was spent marveling at how magnificent the Northern Lights are in real life, as we sipped on cups of Brennivín, Iceland’s unsweetened potato schnapps.
Sensational Sweden
From Iceland, we flew to Sweden. The adventure there started with a fun jaunt through the Swedish Laplands on snowmobiles – who says you need four wheels to have fun!? But by the next day, I was ready for some more motoring action. After a relaxing evening that involved fine dining at a Michelin-star restaurant in Stockholm and sipping on sparkling wine in a hot tub, I was ready to take on the full-scale F1 circuit replicas in the ice and snow.
Two Days Of Intense Ice Driving
We were told we could choose our rides from a selection of sports and supercars that included a Ferrari 458, a Ford Focus RS, a Porsche 911 GT3 and a Subaru WRX STi. Each day we covered around 75 miles in seven driving sessions. This meant every driver could try every available car at least once. My first choice was the WRX. I was excited to try its iconic symmetrical all-wheel drive, especially on ice. Once I got used to how different the steering is to other cars and got the hang of it, I loved how it handled and was really happy about choosing it to do a technical circuit. I also enjoyed the Focus and made full use of its Drift Mode button for a riotous ride.
A True Bucket-List Experience
This experience was not my first exhilarating road trip, but it was definitely one of the best. I loved that it had a combination of off-road and track driving experiences and that I now feel comfortable driving in a full-on Arctic environment. This sure is one for the books!
Jun
Audi’s Last TT And First Car To Be Sold Exclusively Online
The new Audi TT Quantum Grey Edition is out in Europe! But there’s a catch to owning one. You can only buy it online. There’s also only 99 of these stunning sports cars available in Germany and selected countries in Europe.
A Very Special, Special Edition of the TT
Based on the 45TFSI Quattro S Tronic, the TT Quantum Gray Edition is driven by a powerful 2-litre four-cylinder engine. Yes, of course, it’s turbocharged and has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for sleek navigation. It hits 100km in an impressive 5.2 seconds and tops out at 250km/h. To make it even more appealing, this TT’s exterior clearcoat is partially matte and it has striking red contrasts inside the car – exactly the kind of detail that sets Audi apart. What makes the TT different, and infinitely more ‘buyable’ than many other comparable sports cars, is that it is one of the few true everyday sports cars. It is 100% suitable to city driving and offers reasonable interior space, excellent visibility and is comfortable enough to drive to work and back in the week while also being great for weekend jaunts on winding roads.
Buyers also have the option to secure leasing or purchasing deals through a simple process online from the comfort of their home or office and can have their new Audi registered with a custom license plate before it’s delivered. It’s the small things..! While buying something really expensive online may sound a bit unconventional, Audi is not the only auto company exploring digital sales.
More And More Car Makers Are Looking At Online Sales
Earlier this year, Tesla announced that they will soon begin closing most of their brick and mortar stores with the intention of only selling their vehicles online. Known as industry pioneers, this is not surprising coming from Tesla. But these days it’s not only the most progressive companies that are dipping their toes in the digital marketplace. Mercedes, Volvo and Hyundai have all begun testing online car sales with European customers and have had some success. People seem to be interested, but get nervous when it comes to parting with their hard-earned cash for something they haven’t actually seen. Hyundai is tackling this by using malls in the UK where buyers can see and test drive cars before buying. Tesla offers customers a week to return the car if they’re not happy with it, something other car makers should consider doing to give shoppers peace of mind.
Will Car Buyers Support An Online Shift?
In a world where over 100 million products can be sold by an online vendor in a single day, it’s clear that more and more people are feeling comfortable with spending money on products they haven’t physically encountered. But, although buying a new set of golf clubs or a new coffee machine from Amazon may be a timesaver, buying a car is another story. Everybody is different and we all have our own ideas of what makes a car comfortable and suitable. Online car sales could definitely work for the die-hards though – those who are massive fans of a certain brand and trust it enough to buy the latest version without trying it first. I guess if it was the latest GTI, and the only way to get my hands on it was on the internet, I’d definitely buy it online.
May
The Most Powerful GTI Yet Will Be Launched In October
The countdown has begun for GTI enthusiasts. Excitement is mounting as the launch of the Golf GTI TCR has officially been scheduled for October. And soon after this, the latest and greatest GTI will be making its way to roads around the world.
What’s Taking So Long?
Developing the most recent GTI has been anything but smooth sailing. Volkswagen experienced a lot of pressure with software bugs that delayed the car’s debut. Originally scheduled to take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Golf VIII’s official launch has now been pushed back by a month. But despite delays, GTI fans can still look forward to a debut before the end of the year. According to the media, production will begin around the end of the third quarter and the official market launch is planned to be in Germany at the end of February 2020. As always, VW is promising that pricing will be sharp considering what you get for it.
Power, And So Much More
The GTI TCR flaunts a seven-speed dual clutch transmission that helps drive the 2.0-litre turbo engine with a whopping 213kW of power. This is a massive jump in performance from the max 180kW available until now. In layman’s terms, this machine can knock out the standard 0-100km/h in as little as 5.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 250km/h but for those who need it, it’s possible to have this increased to 260km/h. Why not? Standard features are rumored to include sporty front seats and leather steering, ventilated disk brakes, LED headlights, lane-keeping assist and a completely digital instrument cluster. There’s also the infotainment system that supports over-air updates, which was the feature that gave Volkswagen so many headaches during the development phase. Glad the software bugs are squashed and the headaches sorted, we’re in for a thrilling ride!