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The 2019 New York International Auto Show

April 21, 2019 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

2019 is a curious year for the New York International Auto Show – at first look, there are some automakers that are notably absent – BMW, MINI, Volvo, and Mitsubishi skipped the show this year. In automotive parlance, the show is leaner, or more “muscular”. However the space on the show floor was taken up by some fresh new faces, most prominently with Rivian, the U.S.-based company producing electric adventure vehicles with a 400-mile range.

There were some significant launches; among them, Hyundai showed up with the 2020 Venue, a new SUV, as well as a sleek new Sonata with a digital key. Lincoln thankfully dropped the confusing letter-number naming convention with the Corsair, a compact luxury crossover that can seat five people. Toyota’s new offerings include the new revamped Highlander as well as a cute Yaris hatchback. Subaru showed off their sixth-gen 2020 Outback in the middle of a rather nice-smelling booth highlighting national forests.

Concept cars were super slick, creatively named, and largely electric – Kia revealed their HabaNiro concept with 300-mile all electric range. The Genesis Mint luxury electric concept was hard to even get close to after an off-site reveal the night before. VW showed up with not one but three concepts: the ID. Buggy, the compact Tarok Pickup Concept, and the Basecamp (the latter two have combustion engines). Another company new to NYIAS, Mullen, revealed the modular, aluminum and carbon fiber Qiantu K50 electric sportscar.

In the “If You Have to Ask You Can’t Afford It” supercar section of the show, Swedish maker Koenigsegg introduced their road-legal Jesko to North America, and Sleepy Hollow, New York’s Glickenhaus drove his 700-hp SCG 003S to the show. Dubbed the world’s most expensive SUV, the oddly angular and very very large Karlmann King will set you back about $2.3 million – perhaps more if you choose the armored option.

And then there were the special editions – so many fancy badges! Nissan was celebrating the 5oth Anniversary of the GT-R with some beautiful classics joining the 50^thAnniversary Edition. Tangentially, there is another larger independent booth display of classic of Z’s downstairs. (Not to be outdone, Toyota is displaying some classic Supras – JDM fans, this show’s for you). Dodge’s Challengers and Chargers will now be available in the Stars & Stripes Edition, and Alfa Romeo created a limited-edition 019 Quadrifoglio NRING (Nürburgring) for both the Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Giulia. Last but not least – Ford celebrated Mustang Day with the Ford Mustang Performance Package and hot dogs.

The New York International Auto Show in the Jacob Javits Center is open until April 28, 2019.

Review: 2019 VW Jetta

February 16, 2019 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

It’s no small secret that Americans and Europeans have their differences, and one needn’t look any further to illustrate that point than to look at what kind of cars we like to drive. The 1970’s fuel crisis made a great argument for the hatchback-the idea being to get the maximum amount of room possible for people and cargo on a relatively small footprint. VW’s Golf was a raging success and proved the formula worked, and it was what a lot of people wanted. Well, almost everyone. For whatever reason, Americans looked at hatchbacks and decided they looked kind of cheap. And those new car buyers didn’t want to be seen driving something they perceived as being cheap looking. So, in 1980, VW had the brilliant idea to take the Golf, put on a trunk on it, and call it a Jetta.

Thirty nine years and seven generations later, that formula has been sales gold for VW. With Audi’s and BMW’s commanding premium prices, the Jetta was the only game in town if you wanted a German sedan on a budget most people could afford. And while the people who bought their Jettas loved them, VW looked around and saw their competition enjoying greater sales numbers. The problem, as I believe VW saw it, was the Jetta cost a little more, and VW engineers were obsessing over things the average American buyer didn’t really care about. The solution was the Jetta would be built with the American buyer in mind.

The purists were less than thrilled at the realignment. But the Jetta experiment continues to evolve, and for 2019 an all new, seventh generation has arrived. First impression is the Jetta appears a bit larger than Jettas of yore. And you would be right-today’s Jetta is around the same size as a Passat was twenty years ago. While the Jetta has grown to America specific proportions, the styling definitely has a German accent. It is no nonsense, not flashy nor trendy. The smart, creased styling gives the Jetta an upscale look. Our test car, finished in Platinum Grey Metallic with contemporary LED head and tail lights and a ‘just right’ amount of chrome looked serious enough for any junior executive to own without apology. Our SEL model let the car down in one area worth mentioning: the 16″ alloys look comically small on the car and betray the otherwise high end appearance. In fact, during my week with the Jetta, the only criticism I received about the car’s looks were that the wheels were too small.

Inside, the Jetta overall is a pleasant place to spend time. Utterly contemporary, the satin chrome accents and door handles, piano black surfaces and dark grey faux wood trim work in concert to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment. The controls are intuitive, displays crystal clear, and I appreciated the driver-focused infotainment screen. At night, you and your passengers will be entertained being bathed in soft ambient LED lighting-there are ten hues to choose from to set the right mood. The only letdown were the hard plastics found on the door caps and center console, which serve as reminders you’re sitting in the cheapest VW sold on these shores.

During my time with the Jetta, I took a 400 mile round trip from my native Connecticut to a wintry retreat to Atlantic City, and it was here I was able to appreciate the Jetta’s cabin and features. The seats provided plenty of comfort, and I loved how the steering wheel felt in my hands. Music is a must for any road trip, and the Beats audio did not disappoint. The trip really provided an excellent opportunity to use Apple CarPlay, which allowed me to use Google Maps for navigation, access Pandora radio, and send and receive text messages. It was a great companion, and very simple to use. Even after slugging through New York Friday rush hour traffic, I arrived feeling fresh and relaxed.

All Jettas are motivated by a 1.4L turbocharged four cylinder rated at 147hp. This proved to be perfectly adequate for merging onto highways and passing-the Jetta never felt out of breath. Fuel economy is excellent, with a rating of 30MPG city, 40MPG highway. After cruising at a pretty good clip for hours, I was impressed that I was still able to average 40MPG. You can get a six-speed manual in a Jetta-but you are forced to settle for the base model, as all other Jettas come standard with an 8-speed automatic. Left on its own, the automatic will rush to the highest possible gear for max efficiency, which is fine, but you find yourself constantly lumbering around at about 1,000 rpm where there is no boost on immediate tap. A friend and former Jetta owner found it an affront, and ignorant of longtime buyers that VW will not offer a manual across the line, and I agree.

In this Volkswagen tuned for American drivers, I set my expectations pretty low for ride and handling. I was pleasantly surprised. The Jetta feels well controlled and buttoned down. Ride was about as stiff as I would have hoped for a non-GLI Jetta. While the handling felt just right, the super light steering felt out of place, as if the handling people and steering people never once met to decide what the Jetta driving experience, as a whole, should be.

The Jetta is available in five trim levels-base S, SE, sporty R-Line, SEL, and SEL Premium. Our SEL test car came standard with LED head and tail lights, panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, leatherette seating, dual zone auto climate control, push button start, auto dimming rear view mirror, 8 speaker Beats audio with Sirius XM satellite radio, 8″ infotainment touchscreen, VW’s 10.25″ Digital Cockpit gauge cluster, rearview camera, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane assist. Including delivery, our test car stickers at $25,590USD, which represents a solid value for the features you get in return.

After seven generations, it’s only natural the Jetta has evolved from Golf with a trunk to a car with a personality all its own. Yes, the Jetta we see now is tailored specifically to the North American car buyer, but in this iteration, VW has smartly, if only slightly, moved the needle closer to it German ancestry. When asked ‘who is this car for?’, I would have to say the Jetta would be perfectly suitable for the small family who want out of the crossover craze, or anyone looking for an easy to live with highway commuter with a just right amount of amenities and style for a weekend date night.

VW Beetle Not Long for This World

March 15, 2018 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

After teasing the car buying public with concept cars of the iconic Beetle for the better part of the 1990’s, North American car buyers made it clear to Volkswagen they wanted their beloved Beetle back. And in 1997, VW gave us the New Beetle. While it certainly evoked the look of the original, this time around the Beetle was front engined, water cooled, and front wheel drive to suit its Golf underpinnings.

The New Beetle was a runaway success. The Baby Boomers who drove them in the 1960’s and ’70’s and feeling nostalgic flocked to the showroom. Young buyers were instantly drawn to the unique styling the New Beetle’s vanilla competition lacked. Such was the success of the New Beetle other automakers jumped on the retro bandwagon. Anyone remember the Plymouth PT Cruiser, Chevy HHR and the reborn Ford Thunderbird?

Predictably, the excitement eventually wore off. Everyone who was clamoring for a New Beetle had already run out and bought one. The addition of a convertible provided a much needed shot in the arm, but that too soon faded. The occasional special edition here and there was just not enough to keep buyers coming back and getting the car much media attention. After a long fifteen year run-unheard of these days, with practically no development, the New Beetle was replaced.

In 2012, now just called the Beetle, assured the faithful that VW had not abandoned the car, as many had speculated. A redesign also gave VW an opportunity to address a polarizing feature of the New Beetle. With its super cute, super curvy lines, many dismissed the New Beetle as a chick car, which is enough for some male buyers to not even consider it. A car with a flower vase did not help either. While still maintaining the Beetle look, this new car was lower, wider, and more serious. Being less cartoonish and the flower vase long gone, this Beetle certainly Yet, it seems the new look did little to attract new buyers. And six years later, the car has seen little change.

So, in a recent article from Autoblog, it was revealed from a VW exec at the Geneva auto show that there will not be a third generation Beetle. VW is shifting focus to crossovers and EV’s. Apparently, the idea was floated for an EV Beetle, which could have allowed designers to get even closer to the original Beetle’s appearance, but that notion was scrapped. For their ‘nostalgia’ car, Vee-Dub fans will eventually see an EV production version of the Microbus inspired concepts we’ve been seeing.

So, if everyone loved the Beetle so much, what happened here? Well, the Baby Boomers got their nostalgia fix, and soon moved on. The young buyers it attracted got married, started families and needed something more practical. In 1997, the New Beetle was in a league of its own. Eventually, the MINI Cooper came along, and then the Fiat 500. While Fiat and MINI were able to expand their line to encompass different body styles for different buyers, doing the same with the Beetle just didn’t seem possible. Also, VW seemed extremely limited in regards to what they could do to evolve the Beetle, so they just didn’t bother. VW had painted themselves into a corner, and with no evolution of the car, it simply faded from memory. VW knows we are looking forward to the Bus, but this time around, let’s all hope that constant development and improvement will be needed, otherwise it will suffer the same fate as the reincarnated Beetle.

Review: 2017 Volkswagen Passat

March 30, 2017 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

What is the best selling Volkswagen of all time? Beetle, right? No. Ok, the Golf? Wrong again. It’s the Passat. As an American, I was shocked at this news. While the rest of the world was happily snapping up Passats, here in North America VW’s mid-size car has lived in relative obscurity, save for a small but dedicated cult following. How was this possible? See, the Passat was a little bit smaller, a little bit pricier, and rode a bit firmer than the Accords and Camrys we were buying in droves. That was enough to relegate the Passat to the sidelines this side of the Atlantic. VW realized that if they were ever going to be competitive here, there was no option other than to build us a Passat that suited the tastes of the North American mid-size car buyer.

And in 2012, VW did just that. With a brand new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, VW rolled out a Passat especially for North America. The Garage was quick to check out this completely different Passat, but that was five years ago. It was time to check in, and see what is new with the Passat. Almost shockingly, remarkably little. For 2016, the Passat received an exterior refresh. Although the hood, front fenders, front and rear bumpers and trunklid are completely new, it will take a sharp eye to notice any noticeable difference. While most of the Passat’s competitors have introduced completely overhauled cars since the Passat went on sale, VW stuck with a mild refresh. Depending on your tastes, that can be a good or bad thing. Uncomfortable with the stigma of a ‘boring’ midsize car, the competition is leaning towards swoopier, edgier styling. In contrast, the Passat, with its simple, broad styling forgoes today’s fads in favor of a classy, clean look. Exciting? No, but over time the Passat’s no nonsense styling will likely stand the test of time.

The design philosophy of keeping it simple carries over to the interior. Gauges are large and easy to read. All controls are simple and intuitive to use. This works fine if austerity works for you, as nothing more than a sliver metal band sweeping the dashboard is all there was to break up the black and grey interior. While simple enough to use, the newer cars from the competition offer larger and slicker infotainment systems. What the Passat does have going for it are the things buyers want in a mid-size car-chiefly a large, roomy cabin with excellent visibility. It is comfortable with plenty of room for four adults to ride in comfort. In fact, when asked to recommend a car this size, and I’m told they have two growing teenagers, the exceptional rear seat room puts the Passat at the top of the list. Buyers are also treated to a large trunk. Add in excellent build quality and a quiet cabin at speed, it is these areas where Passat is clicking off all the right boxes.

The other notable change from its 2012 introduction is in the engine bay. Gone are the 2.5L inline five and 2.0L four cylinder turbo, replaced with a 1.8L four cylinder turbo rated at 170hp, paired to a six-speed automatic. That may sound like a modest amount of grunt for a car this size, but the Passat feels quick and never strained. Fuel economy is EPA rated at 23/34 MPG city/highway. Respectable numbers, but the Passat’s economy figures trail the competition. VW continues to offer a 2.8L VR6 rated at 280hp. Since the four cylinder seems to offer all the motivation most buyers will ever need, unless you really have to have a six, I find it hard making an argument for the extra cost and the hit you will suffer at the gas pump. Currently no diesel is available while VW continues sorting out the TDI scandal. With ride comfort taking priority, buyers expecting a German sport sedan driving experience are going to come away disappointed.

The Passat is offered in four trim levels. Our test car was the top-spec SEL Premium. Standard equipment includes 18″ alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, foglights, power folding side view mirrors, rain sensing wipers, power sunroof, dual zone auto climate control, power heated front seats, leather interior, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, park assist, blind spot monitor, navigation, Fender premium audio, and VW Car Net for smartphone integration. Including destination, our Passat carries an MSRP of $31,815USD, which is a reasonable price for this class of car thus equipped.

VW’s experiment worked. By building a mid-size car featuring the qualities North Americans want, the Passat has been a success. What works in Wolfsburg was never going to work in Waco. It may not offer much in terms of thrills, but the Passat offers a great little engine, comfortable, roomy interior, a generous trunk, quiet comfortable ride at a fair price. In other words, what North Americans always want in a mid-size car. Is it truly a German car though? Well, think of it as a car built in America with a German accent.

This GTI hillclimb car bends the laws of physics

March 17, 2017 by Gary Grant 3 Comments

Anyone who has ever competed in a first generation Volkswagen GTI at any level (my first autocross was in one, way back in 1983), knows that the cars were great fun to toss around and had a penchant for cornering on three wheels. Sometimes, if you were really crazy, you could get them up on two. European hillclimb driver Daniel Wittwer is not like the rest of us.

In this video, shot by the folks at MPZRACEVIDEO on YouTube, Wittwer pushes the limits of his 2.0L 16V powered hatch to the absolute, laying down a master class in the manipulation of the laws of physics. He also proves that he is more than a little bit nuts, just tagging the armco barriers ever so slightly a couple of times.

Subaru and Volkswagen take top honours in Canadian Car of the Year Awards

February 16, 2017 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

In a live reveal this morning at the fantastic John Basset Theatre in downtown Toronto, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada announced the Canadian Car/Utility Vehicle of the Year.

As I have for the past number of years, I had the honour of announcing the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, which for 2017 is the Subaru Forester. Program director David Taylor joined me in the announcement, by crowning the Volkswagen Alltrack the Canadian Car of the Year.

: CCOTY Director David Taylor presents the Canadian Car of the Year Award to Volkswagen Canada President and CEO Maria Stenström

: Subaru Canada Vice President Ted Lalka accepts award from CCOTY Co-Chair Gary Grant

Since 1985, AJAC has named the Canadian Car of the Year as a tool to aid consumers who are researching a new vehicle purchase. As the program has evolved over the years, the Canadian Truck of the Year distinction was added and then morphed into the Utility title in a nod to the increasing presence of crossover vehicles into the light truck segment.

A full year of planning goes into the award each year, the highlight of which is the annual Testfest event, where Canada’s top automotive journalists spend the better part of a week evaluating vehicles. Of course the awards ceremony is the most visible and important aspect of the program, but while a week of testing cars is actually work, it is good fun too.

This was the program’s first year on the stage in the stunning John W.H. Basset theatre, having opened the show in past years, in a secondary hall in the South building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The announcements followed the global unveiling of Aston Martin’s stunning new AM-RB 001 concept vehicle. The combination of the two events kicked off the show in a fashion more in keeping with some of the more prominent shows on the global circuit. More on that in a story to follow.

Photo credit Michelle Siu via AJAC
Video credit James Davidson & Sam Fellows via AJAC

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

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.

: Sandell in practice

: Deegan in practice

: Higgins in practice

: Foust at sunset

: Working hard overnight in the paddocks

: Foust checking out course Saturday

: Super Cars

: Higgins

: Super Cars start

: Block spinning

: Arpin – fire

: Joker lap

: Heading towards crossover

: Isachsen going over jump

: Pre-grid

: Post-heat inspection

: Arpin’s battle scars

: Pastrana

: Joker

: Speed in front

: Wong

: Crossover | under

: Speed

: Foust

: Speed

: Foust

: Lites

: Lites

: Lites

: Lites

: Lites Checkered Flag

: Keyes

: Lites podium

: Super Car podium

: Super Car champagne spray

: Sandell with son

: Speed

: Super Cars

: Pastrana

: Heat start

: Foust vs. Block

: Wong

: Foust

: Subies

: Higgins

: Eriksson contact with Lasek

: Lasek out of contention

: Sad Subie

: Sunday final start

: Isachsen vs. Deegan

: Speed

: Joker

: Speed taking checkered flag

: Speed & Deegan checkered flag

: Speed sweeps double header

: Carnage

: Speed

: What up dawg

: Super Car Spray

: Lites

: Lites

: Lites

: Lites

: Davis

: Olsbergs MSE sweep

: Lites selfie

: Lites spray

: Post-race inspection

: Lites tire

Gallery: The Desert Dingo Class 11 Beetle

August 3, 2015 by ponycargirl 1 Comment

As one of three automakers supporting drivers in Red Bull Global Ralllycross, Volkswagen brought a special display of racing and off-road vehicles to the Detroit doubleheader July 25-26, 2015. Scott Speed and Tanner Foust both compete in VW Beetles with Andretti Autosport. While the record-setting Jetta Hybrid LSR and Jetta TDI Cup Car were both pretty cool, they didn’t catch the eye quite like the Desert Dingo Class 11 Beetle.

This isn’t the actual 1107 – according to the Desert Dingo blog, it’s currently being prepped for Vegas 2 Reno – but it’s 1115 wrapped with the same graphics and dubbed 1107B. No matter – the air-cooled 1.6L four-cylinder 1969 Beetle is beyond cool. With some changes to the engine and transmission, 1107b is equipped with desert racing tires and Bilstein suspension to handle tough off-road desert races such as the Mint 400 and Baja 1000.

If you’re going to GRC in Washington DC August 15, be sure to check it out as it will be there as well. In the meantime, here’s a full gallery.

Higgins and Drew Dominate at New England Forest Rally

July 21, 2015 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

For the 25th anniversary of the New England Forest Rally based in Newry, Maine – and encompassing rally stages in both Maine and near Errol, New Hampshire – speculation was high. Subaru’s rally team – Dave Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew – were so far undefeated this season, but some formidable competition was posing a serious challenge. Would the streak continue to win the championship with Adam Yeoman (2011 Rally America Rookie of the Year) and Jordan Schulze, the inimitable Ken Block with Alex Gelsomino, Dave Sterckx with Renaud Jamoul, Nick Roberts / Rhianon Gelsomino, and team mate Travis Pastrana and Chrissie Beavis in the mix?

In short – yes. And there was some bad rally juju for the others along the way. After hanging tight in second place, FY Racing’s Yeoman and Schulze were out after Stage 10 with a ball joint failure. Sterckx and Jamoul had a flat on day one and lost three minutes, then on the second day – in stage 11 of 13 – lost another two minutes to an electrical issue, knocking them out of podium contention.

As early as Stage 2, Pastrana / Beavis were facing some disappointment; the car had some frantic repairs on the side of Route 5 heading to the start of the stage, arriving around four minutes late. They couldn’t continue, however, and after a couple of donuts for the fans and marshalls hanging out at the start, it was back to service for the team – Pastrana saying that they would definitely be back on Saturday to start Stage 4.

Block and Gelsomino weren’t without their own challenges. Block struggled with some engine issues, and had to finish the sixth stage with a throttle pedal zip-tied together after losing a disagreement with a bank. Roberts / Gelsomino had a flat in Stage 1, rolled in Stage 2, then the engine lost power in Stage 5 and they couldn’t continue after stalling on the way to service.

Ultimately, Higgins and Drew handily maintained their winning streak coming in first overall to win the championship, with Block / Gelsomino in second, and Pastrana / Beavis making up some incredible time for the third place.

Beyond the battle for the top three podium spots and the chance to spray some champagne, there was a whole lot of other things going on at NEFR. Lucy Block, married to some guy named Ken, drove an Ford Fiesta R2 with the best livery this side of the Martini-inspired Porsche.

M-Sport partnered with partnered with Team O’Neil to introduce some new Fiestas to the American market with Ramana Lagemann driving a Ford Fiesta R5 2000cc, and Brendan Reeves piloting the R2 1000cc. Ken Block is also in an M-Sport, the Fiesta HFHV.

Another surprise entry to NEFR was Colombian Gustavo Yacaman, better known for driving a Ligier LMP2 in the FIA World Endurance Championship. While he competed in GRC Lites in 2013, NEFR was his first stage rally, racing in a 2WD 2009 B-Spec Honda Fit.

The New England Forest Rally is held in otherwise serene forests on either side of the Maine and New Hampshire border chock full of beautiful views, thick pine trees, lots and lots of mosquitos, deer flies, and the looming spectre of a wayward moose. Fortunately, there are way more spectators than mooses, and it gets quite crowded from the Parc Expose to the final stage. Congratulations to all winners, both national and regional – and congratulations to the New England Forest Rally for 25 years of success.