Tag: driven

Video: McLaren P1 gets driven first by Jay Leno

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, UK, Celebrities, Racing, McLaren

2014 McLaren P1s at Top Gear Test Track

The crew at Jay Leno’s Garage have been pretty busy this week. Besides getting some face time with General Motors’ Ed Welburn and the Cadillac Elmiraj Concept, the funny man and his film crew managed to make off with the new Porsche 918 Spyder. Now, Jay and his team are in the UK to drive the new P1, visiting the McLaren Technical Center in Woking and heading out to the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome.

In case you’re wondering, yes, Jay is the first person outside of McLaren to drive the new hybridized hypercar, and not surprisingly is on the list to take delivery of one of the production models. As rumors swirled this past weekend about the P1’s blistering Nürburgring time, it’s exciting to see it lap another fan-favorite circuit The video offers a cool look inside the laboratory-like assembly line where the P1 is built, as well. Take a look below for the full video.

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McLaren P1 gets driven first by Jay Leno originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: McLaren P1 gets driven first by Jay Leno

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, UK, Celebrities, Racing, McLaren

2014 McLaren P1s at Top Gear Test Track

The crew at Jay Leno’s Garage have been pretty busy this week. Besides getting some face time with General Motors’ Ed Welburn and the Cadillac Elmiraj Concept, the funny man and his film crew managed to make off with the new Porsche 918 Spyder. Now, Jay and his team are in the UK to drive the new P1, visiting the McLaren Technical Center in Woking and heading out to the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome.

In case you’re wondering, yes, Jay is the first person outside of McLaren to drive the new hybridized hypercar, and not surprisingly is on the list to take delivery of one of the production models. As rumors swirled this past weekend about the P1’s blistering Nürburgring time, it’s exciting to see it lap another fan-favorite circuit The video offers a cool look inside the laboratory-like assembly line where the P1 is built, as well. Take a look below for the full video.

Continue reading McLaren P1 gets driven first by Jay Leno

McLaren P1 gets driven first by Jay Leno originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch and hear Renault’s awesome Twin’Run driven in anger

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Videos, Hatchback, Renault

We’re a little tardy in getting to this, but the engine notes will make up for the delay. When Renault revealed the Twin’Run concept at the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix earlier this Summer, it didn’t reveal much of the engine note. This was an appalling shame, since the not-road-legal Renault 5 revival had a mid-mounted, race-tuned Nissan V6 that could soar to a practically unsilenced 7,000 rpm.

A few members of the auto journo cabal have corrected that, Top Gear being one of them by including the Twin’Run in its Speed Week festivities. Calling it “deafening, smelly, brilliant,” the verdict of Sam Phillip was that it “makes every car on Top Gear’s Speed Week… feel as woolly and distant as a tumble-dried sheep.” Them’s pointed words when “every other car” includes metal like the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series.

You’ll can check out Top Gear‘s run around the Charade Circuit in France below. We’ve also included a longer clip of the Twin’Run doing some dynamic testing (worth it for the 360-degree-stunt alone), and an in-depth piece from Autoweek Holland.

Continue reading Watch and hear Renault’s awesome Twin’Run driven in anger

Watch and hear Renault’s awesome Twin’Run driven in anger originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 16:58:00 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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Ben “The Stig” Collins names the five worst cars he’s ever driven

Filed under: Etc.

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

The five worst cars Ben Collins has ever driven – Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the course of his years donning the white suit and helmet for Top Gear, pro driver Ben Collins has had the chance to drive an enviably wide array of cars. Their track times all went up on the power lap board, but there are better ways of evaluating how a car handles under pressure – like asking the guy who drove them. That’s what Australian car site Drive did, and got the former Stig to jot down some notes. They weren’t in Morse Code, but while his list of the worst five cars he’d ever driven includes some obvious choices, a couple may surprise.

First up on Ben’s hit list: the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. When we drove it, we found its dynamics were lightyears behind its looks, and His (deposed) Stiginess apparently agrees. At the end of Collins’ list is another supercar – the TVR Sagaris – which he feels was horribly emblematic of the company that produced it, while pointing to the fact that Jeremy Clarkson loved it as evidence enough of its dubious distinction.

In between these two European supercars on Collins’ list comes the Fiat Multipla, whose horrid styling was surpassed only by its dismal performance, and the Cadillac Escalade, which the Englishman found to be all show and no go – particularly off road. Finally, the previous-generation Dodge Charger drew the Stig’s ire for its gross weight and lamentable slushbox. If for America’s sake alone, we can only hope that, heavier still though it is, Collins might take a crack at the new model.

Gallery: Ben Collin’s Five Worst Cars

Fiat MultiplaCadillac EscaladeDodge ChargerTVR Sagaris

Ben “The Stig” Collins names the five worst cars he’s ever driven originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Caparo T1 gets driven by Mika Hakkinen

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, MISC

caparo t1 video screencap

Autocar rides shotgun in the Caparo T1 – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Caparo T1 is the devil on four wheels. There are widespread tales of the T1 attempting to harm anyone who tries to tame it. Autocar must’ve heard these stories and decided to leave the driving to two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Hakkinen.

The T1’s unusual layout allows for a passenger to ride slightly behind the driver. That’s the vantage point from which Autocar magazine’s Mark Tisshaw took in the action. His narrative is a bit dry, but we’re assuming that’s because Hakkinen and the Caparo fried his senses. Click past the jump to watch footage of a Caparo T1 not harming anyone. Thanks for the tip, Tim!

Gallery: Caparo T1

[Source: Autocar via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Caparo T1 gets driven by Mika Hakkinen

Video: Caparo T1 gets driven by Mika Hakkinen originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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