Video: Autocar pits McLaren MP4-12C against turbo Toyota GT86

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, UK, Racing, Comparisons, McLaren

Autocar pits a Toyota GT86 Turbo against a McLaren MP4-12C on track.

The Toyota GT86, in all of its forms, is one of the best-handling cars money can buy, a trait that can put a smile on the faces of all but the most jaded car enthusiasts. But if good handling isn’t what they’re looking for, then what is? Our first guess would have to be more power, something the 200-horsepower Toyota would benefit from. Autocar tries out that theory by driving two turbocharged GT86s on track, then pitting the more powerful one against the 616-hp McLaren MP4-12C in a track battle.

The first GT86 turbo Autocar‘s Steve Sutcliffe drives makes around 255 rear-wheel horsepower and a bucket-load more torque than the stock car. That’s plenty of power to either have a lot of fun or get into a lot of trouble. But the GT86 that Sutcliffe tails in the McLaren is race-prepped, stripped to the bone and wears slicks to harness a heavy-hitting 335 hp at the wheel. Weighing in at under 2,500 pounds, the Toyota can’t overcome the MP4-12C’s power-to-weight ratio of 5.3 pounds per horsepower, but it comes pretty close.

Enjoy a lot of chasing and drifting fun in the video below!

Continue reading Autocar pits McLaren MP4-12C against turbo Toyota GT86

Autocar pits McLaren MP4-12C against turbo Toyota GT86 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Jaguar, UK, Electric

Jaguar C-X75 - Autocar drive video screencap

There’s lucky, and then there’s “I got to drive the Jaguar C-X75.” The crew from Autocar is among the handful of souls who can honestly make the latter statement. Jaguar invited the publication down for a little time in both the passenger and driver seats around the automaker’s proving grounds. While there’s no end to the jealousy oozing from our pores, the good news is that there were a few cameras on hand to capture the experience. As you may recollect, the C-X75 Concept was a unique hybrid supercar concept built to duke it out with the likes of the Ferrari LaFerrari, Porsche 918 and the McLaren P1. The British automaker put it on track for production, but unfortunately stopped the project about six months ago.

With a twincharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine capable of revving to 10,000 rpm, the C-X75 concept yields 502 horsepower and gets partnered with four electric motors – one at each wheels. A 19kWh lithium-ion battery pack serves up 300kW of power, and combined, the motors and battery are capable of yielding an additional 194 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Combined, the driveline is good for more than 850 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Said another way, the C-X75 will do the 0-60 miles per hour dance in under three seconds.

And Autocar got to drive it. You can watch the video for yourself by scrolling below.

Continue reading Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar

Never-was Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar driven by Autocar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Autocar reviews the Ariel Atom V8

Filed under: Performance, Videos, UK, Specialty, Racing

Ariel Atom V8 reviewed by Autocar

Autocar drives the Ariel Atom V8 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ariel finally put together its long-awaited Atom V8 and handed to the keys to some lucky sonofa Autocar to take the eight-pot pocket rocket out for a spin. Matt Prior got some seat time in the light-weight sportscar and provides great insight into this new Atom. Phrases from Prior include; “fastest production car anyone has ever driven,” “utterly brilliant” and “TEE HEE HEE.”

There are a lot of stats to wrap your head around, but this one seems to sum up it up best: The V8 Atom produces 900 horsepower per ton. By comparison, the Bugatti Veyron produces around 530 horsepower per ton. There’s more, but why spoil it when you can hop the jump and watch Prior’s jealousy-inducing spin.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Autocar reviews the Ariel Atom V8

Video: Autocar reviews the Ariel Atom V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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