Hyundai And Haldex Teaming Up On Awd System
With Hyundai's upward trajectory, it was only a matter of time before it began looking beyond the world of front-wheel drive. The Genesis sedan and coupe are the automaker's first forays into rear-drive power, and it looks like Hyundai wants to jump in the deep end with an all-wheel-drive system supplied by Haldex. The Swedish company has already developed a number of systems for Audi, Bugatti and the rest of the Volkswagen group, but the system for Hyundai is expected to be similar to Saab's cross-wheel drive (XWD) set-up. An electronic differential can send power between the front and rear axles and then onto an individual wheel, with the ability to monitor wheel slippage in fractions of a second and then adapt torque distribution accordingly. If Hyundai can modify the Genesis coupe's turbocharged four to integrate with this new all-wheel drive system and slap it into something about the size of an Accent, a WRC contender couldn't be too far off.
Spied! Stripped-Out,Race-Ready GT-R
While we're still trying to stop drooling over the GT-R, Nissan is already working on a club racer version of its super coupe. Spies posted on a race track in Japan snapped off a few shots of the lightweight prototype undergoing testing and, judging from the extent of the modifications, it appears that Nissan is working on a Group N version of the GT-R or possibly a V-Spec variant.
Most of the mods seem to address a combination of weight reduction and race prep, with a full roll cage, tow hooks and air-jack adapter, along with a bare-bones front bumper, modified air scoops, lower ride height, and a set of sizeable Volks shod in ultra-sticky rubber.
After unseating the Porsche 911 Turbo's time on the 'Ring, it looks like Nissan is taking aim at Stuttgart's road-going racer, the 911 GT3.
EVO X VS. STI At Tsukuba
Bench racers, take your seats; the battle is about to begin. Two of Tsukuba Circuit's finest hot shoes took out JDM versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and the Subaru Impreza WRX STI (2.0-liter) and, after the brake dust settled, the new Subie beat the Evo by a scant half a second. The new STI clocked a lap time of 1:05:95, while the Evo X trailed at 1:06:46. Comparing the times their forefathers laid down shows that the extra pounds put on by both models has slowed them up, with the outgoing Evo IX coming in at 1:05:07 and the last-generation STI passing the traps at 1:04:72.
We're guessing that much of the STI's success is due to its longer wheelbase and new double wishbone rear suspension, but the Evo's engine placement, further forward than its predecessor, isn't doing it any dynamic favors. We'll wait for our own shootout before drawing conclusions.
Benefits Of Getting Smart
You may have noticed a few oddly shaped city cars hanging around the local Starbucks in the last few weeks. For the uninitiated, that's the new Smart Fortwo that's has been on sale in Europe for years, with the new model finally making its way Stateside this January. As the time of writing, Daimler (Smart's parent company) has taken over 30,000 US orders for the diminutive coupe. And while that's all well and good, the too-tall fuel miser is of little interest to most gearheads. Enter Brabus.
The German tuning haus, world-renowned for its mad Mercedes modifications, has been tricking out the Fortwo for years and, with Smart's American arrival, it's looking to expand. The orange terror seen here is the firm's Ultimate 112 package that bumps output of the 1.0-liter turbocharged three-pot to 110bhp and sends power to 18-inch rollers wrapped in 235/30/18 rubber out back. In addition to coilovers at each corner, the Ultimate comes with a new front fascia, fender flares, side skirts and rear bumper to house the central-exit exhaust.
While it's unlikely we'll be seeing this particular Brabus-outfitted Fortwo any time soon, Smart says it may begin selling the tuner's wares some time this year, along with a larger-displacement engine mounted in the rear.
Watch Out, WRX. Lancer Ralliart Coming With 260bhp And Evo IX AWD
It's accepted wisdom that the sales success of the Subaru Impreza WRX caused Mitsubishi to rethink its policy of keeping Evolutions off US-bound boats. Not content to take that lying down, Subaru brought over the STI and the war rages to this day. But Mitsubishi's decision to saddle us with the warmed-over Lancer Ralliart left a gaping hole in the automaker's line-up. Buyers not willing to shell out the extra clams for an Evo are forced into Subaru dealers to pick up a WRX, but Mitsubishi is planning to rectify the matter post haste.
The long-awaited answer to the WRX will likely come in the form of a new Ralliart model with a detuned version of the 4B11T/C found in the new Evolution X. Output is rumored to be around 260bhp, with power shoveled to all four wheels via the Evolution IX's all-wheel-drive system. Not only does that put the 2008 WRX at a 36bhp disadvantage, but Subaru's all-wheel drive set-up lacks the electronic wizardry of the Evo's-if Mitsu decides to give it an ACD.
Expect the Lancer Ralliart to hit dealers early 2009.
By Damon Lavrinc
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