Archives for September 2015

2016 Volkswagen Passat Launched in New York City

September 24, 2015 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

September 21, 2015

Amidst plummeting stock and other corporate chaos from the recent scandal involving Volkswagen’s TDI emissions testing fakery, a refreshed 2016 Passat was launched in New York.

From the mouth of Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn – “…we have totally screwed up.” The very contrite executive was frank in admitting the multinational corporation’s dishonesty, and pledged that the company would fix the problems the affected cars – VW and Audi models with 2.0 liter turbocharged TDI engines sold from 2009 – 2013 and 2015. It’s a screw up that will cost the company billions of dollars and untold reputational damage reverberating through Europe and Asia, and has triggered the resignation of CEO Martin Winterkorn. But business is business, and Mom always said that the best way to confront your problems is head-on, so Volkswagen did just that.

Most obvious in the refresh is ridged hood and thinner headlights, giving it a sleeker look. The four bar grille is more prominent and squared off, geometric fog lamps integrated below.

In back, chrome, chrome, chrome. North America likes chrome, and chrome accents were added between the tail lights and along the back bumper.

The 2016 model will be the first Passat available with an R-Line® version. Black accents, rocker panels… sporty.

The diesel dust-up will hopefully be settled for the 2016 Passat with a 2.0 liter TDI, but the 1.8 liter four-cylinder and the 280 hp 3.6-liter VR6® engine are out of the scope of the emissions issue.

While pricing for the full 2016 Passat line will be released later in the year, the Chattanooga-produced base 1.8T S model starts at $22,440.

: Michael Horn

: 2016 VW Passat

: 2016 VW Passat

: 2016 VW Passat

: 2016 VW Passat R-Line

: Lenny Kravitz on a 2016 Passat

: 2016 VW Passat R-Line

: 2016 VW Passat

: 2016 VW Passat

: 2016 VW Passat

: Lenny Kravitz 2016 Passat Reveal

: Lenny Kravitz 2016 Passat Reveal

: Lenny Kravitz 2016 Passat Reveal

: Lenny Kravitz 2016 Passat Reveal

: Lenny Kravitz 2016 Passat Reveal

: Lenny Kravitz 2016 Passat Reveal

: Lenny Kravitz 2016 Passat Reveal

Famous Subaru Rally Cars at GRC LA

September 21, 2015 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

The Red Bull Global Rallycross double header in Los Angeles was sponsored by Subaru Tecnica International, and they didn’t just bring two extra in drivers to compete – they brought a whole bunch of rally cars for fans to get close enough to touch.

David Higgins’ 2015 Subaru WRX STI Rally Car is currently a legend-in-the-making. Higgins – along with co-driver Craig Drew – has been winning every Rally America National Championship this year with a blistering pace, leaving competitors such as Ken Block and Subaru Rally Team USA teammate Travis Pastrana in the proverbial dust. The Open Class rally car is kitted out with RECARO SPA proRacer seats, a kevlar fuel cell, and other performance modifications by partner Vermont SportsCar. (To see more of this car in action, check out STPR and NEFR coverage here on the TheGarageBlog.) Higgins also competed in the LA double header with the Subaru team.

Higgins

Mark Higgins set a new lap record of 19.26 minutes on the Isle of Man’s 47-mile TT course in 2014 in a U.S.-spec 2015 WRX STI with the three-legged IOM emblem on the side. This broke his own former record of 115.36 set in a 2010 WRX STI. Mark, incidentally, is Dave Higgins’ brother.

From 2006-2007, Travis Pastrana and Ken Block both competed in rallies in this 2006 WRX STI, Pastrana besting Block and Colin McRae in the 2006 Summer X Games in this car.

While the livery looks a lot like that of the Subaru driven to victory by Richard Burns 2001, this 1999 WRC99 Impreza has actually never been run in a rally. It was a gift to Burns after placing third on the podium and winning the driver title in the 2001 World Rally Championship with co-driver Robert Reid, winning over Colin McRae (then driving for Ford) and Tommi Mäkinen. He was the first Englishman to win the title. Burns succumbed to brain cancer in 2005.

More views and cars:

Shaking It Up at the Red Bull GRC Double Header in L.A.

September 18, 2015 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

At the onset of the Red Bull Global Rallycross double header presented by Subaru Tecnica International, all contenders were looking to narrow the wide gap between themselves and points leader Ken Block by racing their way to the podium. In addition to full-season drivers Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen, Subaru Rally Team doubled their presence with winning-streaking rally driver David Higgins and fan favorite Travis Pastrana all in new STi livery. After disappointingly not making the podium in the Volkswagen-sponsored Washington DC race, Beetle drivers Scott Speed and Tanner Foust were also tweeting smack in the weeks leading up to LA. This literary device, while clumsily executed here, is known as foreshadowing.

Setting up camp once again in the Port of Los Angeles by the aptly named WWII cargo ship SS Lane Victory, this year’s 1.13km (.702 mile) track looked like it would be exciting when it was first announced that in addition to thirteen turns, the standard dirt hazard, and Kobalt Tools Joker Lap, the course looped around the inside featuring a cross-over jump. It was already apparent in Friday’s practice sessions that the two days of racing would be full of dust and door banging, but after Lites driver Alejandro Fernandez hit the wall of the tunnel into a barrel roll – coming to rest on his roof – there would be dramatic spins and related carnage.

Besides the extra Subie drivers, one new addition to Super Cars was Rhys Millen Racing’s Brian Wong. Wong competed in GRC Lites the first half of 2015, moving up to a Hyundai Veloster with twice the horsepower for LA. Millen, who hinted at racing in LA on social media, will race in Barbados in October.

The person to beat was Ken Block, and he did not have an easy day on Saturday. After getting knocked around and out of the heats, his driveshaft broke in the semi-final – then spun in the Last Chance Qualifier won by Travis Pastrana.

In the final it looked like it was going to be Speed with the win, Foust in second, and Isachsen in a hard-fought third place, until a competitive Patrik Sandell edged past the Subaru driver in the last lap. Still, the fourth place finish was the best for Subaru Rally Team this season in what is a development year for them. Sandell is having a great year having come in second in DC and upset Block for the win in the in the second of two Detroit bouts.

The Lites finals were less eventful than practice, and everyone stayed shiny-side up. Olsbergs MSE team battled with Miles Maroney and Alex Keyes for the first two podium spots. Oliver Eriksson took first and Austin Cindric came in second, while Alex Keyes ultimately grabbed third.

Sunday was yet another day of shake-ups. Some particularly aggressive contact by Sebastien Eriksson over the jump drove Bucky Lasek into the wall. The car was taken off course on a flat bed and couldn’t be fixed in time to qualify for the final.

Everyone has a bad week now and then, and this was a heck of a bad one for Ken Block. After taking second in both the heat and the semi-final, contact in the final knocked him down to 9th. Meanwhile, Scott Speed was given the broom after once again finishing first. The General Brian Deegan edged past Tanner Foust for second.

More brooms were need in Lites, as the two Olsbergs MSE drivers once again took the podium – this time with Austin Cindric in first and Oliver Eriksson in third. Miles Maroney fought his way to second on the podium. Cindric and Maroney are now tied for first in championship points.

The Guts and Determination Award had to go to Lites driver Collete Davis. In her first Lites race this year, her car was knocked off the jump, wedged sideways between the jump and the safety fence. She was fine, the car was extracted and she was actually able to continue racing. Sunday in LA, her wheel flew off in a heat, then more car issues forced her into a Sunday drive around the final. Despite the limping car, she hung in there and finished to get her points.

Next up for Red Bull GRC is another double-header at Bushy Park, Barbados October 3-4. As of press time, yours truly won’t be there unless a miracle occurs (yours truly is certainly open to miracles), so catch it all on NBCSN, and I’ll be back with more galleries from the season-ender in Las Vegas.