Tag Archives: Goodwood

Avante Garde Hyper Typage – Devine DS

Star of the seriously bizzare at the 2014 French Motorshow was the Devine DS which Citroen offered up as a vision for the future of it’s DS brand.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

As if to emphasise the DS as a stand alone brand the Devine features no Citroën badging.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

While the avant garde design is based on the most important C segment hatchback dimensions, think Citroën C4, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, the Divine DS does not prefigure any specific model that is being planned for production.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The 20 inch front wheels are powered by a 266hp 1.6 litre four cylinder engine sourced from sister company Peugoet’s RCZ R model.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

It is unlikely that the front hinged front and rear hinged rear scissor doors will ever go into production on any model, they were fitted merely to offer viewers a great view of the bold hyper typage interior.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

According to Citroën ‘Hyper-typage’ is a new concept for an interchangeable interior ambience manifested by dashboard and door scrolls that can be changed in just 15 minutes.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The three ambiances envisaged are sober‘Mâle’ alternating alternating carbon fibre textile with glazed, burnished leather, sophisticated and elegant ‘Parisienne Chic’ made in cooperation with fashion embroidery experts Maison Lesage, and finally a darker and even more glamourous ‘Fatale Punk’.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Fashion jeweler Swarovski was responsible for setting crystals into the Divines head lights and door panels.

Divine DS, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Exterior design leader Bertrand Dantec points out that since technology provides a panoramic digital rear view both the interior rear-view mirror and rear window have been dispensed with, though the rear view door mirrors have been retained.

Thanks for joining me on this “Avante Garde Hyper Typage” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Discovering The World – Renault Captur Concept

Following the 2010 Renault DeZir concept, which represented the falling in love stage of life, the Renault Captur concept car, representing the Discovering The World stage of life, was shown to the public at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The design of the mini SUV Captur, seen here at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, was credited to Julio Lozano working under the guidance of Renault’s design chief Laurens Van den Acker.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Like the DeZir the Captur features butterfly doors, the carbon fibre body also features a removable roof panel.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Nissan’s Juke platform was used as the starting point for the running gear which includes a twin turbocharged 1.6 L dCi “Energy” engine that produces 158hp.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Despite it’s all wheel drive appearance only the Captur’s front 22″ wheels are driven, the ‘RX2’ mechanical self-locking differential will transfer the available torque to the driven wheel with the most grip.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Performance data suggests a rest to 62mph time of 8 seconds and a top speed of 130mph.

Renault Captur, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show Renault announced it’s Captur compact cross over based on fourth generation Renault Clio running gear would go into production.

Thanks for joining me on this “Discovering The World” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be visiting the Atwell Wilson Museum. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Electric Sprinter – Peugeot EX1 Concept

As part of Peugeot’s 200th Anniversary Celebrations their design center at Vélizy in the South Western suburbs of Paris created the electrically powered EX1 Concept in time for a public debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The water droplet shaped carbon composite monococque chassis is optimised for weight and rigidity, the whole vehicle weighs less than 1,000 kgs / 2205 lbs.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Two electric motors, one for each axle, combine to produce 340hp, enough to turn the EX1 into a record breaker for vehicles weighing less than 1000 kgs.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The complete car measures 0.99 meters / 3′ 4″ high by 1.7 meters / 5′ 8″ wide.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

In September 2010 the EX1 was taken to Linas-Montlhery autodrome just south of Paris where Nicolas Vanier set six records in one afternoon.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

They were 0-60mph in 3.55sec, 1/8 mile 8.89sec, 1/4 mile in 14.4sec, standing kilometre in 28.16sec, standing mile in 41.09sec and overall top speed of 161mph.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Chinese blogger and competition driver Han Han drove the EX1 at Taipingsi military airport in Chengdu, China three months later where he lowered the 1/8 and 1/4 mile records to 7.08.62sec and 12.67.54sec respectively.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Nicolas Vanier also drove the EX1 in China and lowered his 0-62 mph time to 3.49sec and recorded a longitudinal acceleration of 1G over a total sprint of 39 meters.

Peugeot EX1 Concept, Goodwood Festival of Speed

These electric record breaking achievements indicate Peugeot is well on the way to offering it’s electric vehicle customers of the future with incomparable driving experiences.

Thanks for joining me on this “Electric Sprinter” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be visiting Castle Combe for a spot of preseason testing. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Showcasing Creative Technology – Citroën Survolt

At the Geneva Motor Show in 2010 the Citroën stand showed the Survolt concept sports car, designed showcase the companies Creativity and Technology, to the public for the first time.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The zero emissions Survolt is based on the Citroën Revolte hybrid concept supermini that was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 with styling influenced by the 2008 GT by Citroen petrol powered concept sports car.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The cockpit features a large amount of glass, that hides a chrome finished safety cage within the cabin.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The low slung motorsports heritage of the design means that the vehicle is as difficult to enter and exit as one might expect of any purpose built competition vehicle.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

Unlike the hybrid Revolte the Survolt is only powered by two electric motors with a combined output of 300hp.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

Silently the Survolt will accelerate from rest to 62 mph in less than 5 seconds and on up to a top speed of 160 mph.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

The batteries are believed to give the all wheel drive Survolt a range of 120 miles between recharges.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

It is believed Citroën are looking at founding a one-make racing series based on a production version of the Survolt.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

Limited production of the Survolt is believed to be a possibility from 2018.

Citroën Survolt, Goodwood, Festival of Speed,

If you cannot wait that long to try the Survolt virtual versions are available on the Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Asphalt 8: Airborne and GT Racing 2 games by Gameloft, on Racing Rivals by Glu Mobile or Driveclub for PlayStation 4.

Thanks for joining me on this “Showcasing Creative Technology” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be going for a test drive. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Blue Merc – Mercedes Benz 36/220

According to this linked German report Malcom Campbell decided to buy a Mercedes Benz 36/220, otherwise known as a 710 SS after his own Bugatti T43 caught fire leaving Rudolf Carraciola to win the 1929 Tourist Trophy aboard a 36/220 entered by EJ Knight.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

However to the best of my knowledge Malcolm Campbell did not take part in the 1929 TT though his T43 did retire after a pit fire from the 1928 TT which was won by Kaye Don driving a Lea Francis Hyper S.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,
World Land Speed record breaker and racing driver Malcolm Campbell took delivery of a 36/220 in 1930 and raced it on three occasions up to 1932.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

His best known result with the car, which I believe was painted blue, was a 5th place finish in the 1930 Irish Grand Prix that was won by Rudolf Caracciola, who was now his team mate, in a similar car in July.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

One month later Malcolm finished 10th place overall and 1st in the over up to 8 litre class in the 1930 Tourist Trophy that was won by Tarzo Nuvolari driving an Alfa Romeo.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

Malcolm’s last known appearance in his Mercedes Benz was at the 1932 1000 mile race at Brooklands from which he and Chris Staniland retired with a broken piston.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

Today’s featured white car was billed at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed as Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1930 Mercedes Benz 710 SS Rennsport and according to the DVLA website this car was registered in the UK on the 7th of May 1931.

Mercedes Benz 36/220, Goodwood, Festival, Of, Speed,

The DVLA website also reveals that this car is no longer powered by the original supercharged 7036 cc / 429 cui, but rather one of 5128 cc / 312.9 cui capacity.

Thanks for joining me on this “Blue Merc” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a seriously futuristic Citroen. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Closest Thing To A Vette – Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro

When Chevrolet revealed it’s Camaro pony car in 1967 it envisaged most would be sold with either Standard, Super Sport SS, or Rallye Sport RS options packages, but to meet the requirements for participation in the SCCA Trans Am series, mandating a maximum engine capacity of 302 cui / 5 litres, a small number of Camaro’s were offered with the Z/28 option package, an option so rare many smaller Chevrolet dealerships did not even know it existed.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

For 1968 Chevrolet gave the Z/28 a marketing budget with the strap line “Closest thing to a Corvette, yet” emphasising that that it came “on like a Corvette for a lot less.”

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The 302 cui V8 with a 4″ bore and 3″ stroke had a compression ratio of 11:1 which when fed by the 4 barrel Holley carburetor with fuel distributed by a tuned aluminium manifold produced 290hp at 5,800 revolutions per minute.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Handling was aided by either quick or fast ratio steering racks, multileaf rear springs with bias mounted shocks, 15″ x 16″ wheels with Nylon cord Wide Tread GT high performance tyres and power disc brakes to order.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The rear spoiler was an optional extra and the stereo rally stripes were described as having no mechanical function but a great psychological value.

Chevrolet Z/28 Camaro, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

When Car Life tested a Z/28 in 1968 they concluded it was an “easy car to drive very fast”, the ’68 Z/28 seen in these photographs at Goodwood Festival of Speed was first registered in the UK on July 1st 1991.

Thanks for joining me on this “Closest Thing To A Vette” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for FIAT Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Moving To The Suburbs – Peugeot 907

To celebrate the moving of Peugeot’s 40 year old design center, from La Garenne in the center of Paris to Vélizy in the South Western suburbs of Paris, Peugeots styling chief Gérard Welter and designer Jean-Christophe Bolle-Reddat concieved today’s featured Peugeot 907 Coupé Concept.

Peugeot 907, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The carbon fibre coupé body features front wing / fender vents that hark back to innumerable Ferrari’s from the 250 GT’s to the more modern Maranello.

Peugeot 907, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The 500 hp 6 litre / 366 cui V12 engine is built from two 3 litre / 183 cui V6 engines spliced together with a single new crankshaft and 4 new overhead cams to operate the 48 valves.

Peugeot 907, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The six speed sequential gearbox is mounted in front of the rear axle and all four wheels have double wishbone independent suspension.

Peugeot 907, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

As per late 1950’s Ferrari Testa Rossa the air intakes sit beneath a plastic bubble, and as per contemporary racing practice for front engine cars the exhausts are short with exits behind the front wheels.

Peugeot 907, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

Although the 907 was never designed to go into production this car is a completely drivable prototype.

Peugeot 907, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The 907, seen here at Goodwood Festival of Speed 10 years after it’s launch at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, is estimated to be able to reach 60 mph from rest in 4 seconds with an estimated top speed of 186 mph.

Thanks for joining me on this “Moving To The Suburbs” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be visiting Wimbledon. Don’t forget to come back now.

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