Maxxd.com

Author: Olly

WILLIAMS F1 TEAM SOLD TO US INVESTORS

Longstanding Williams F1 team has been sold to US investment firm Dorilton Capital having been on sale since May. Thankfully, the Williams name will remain on the grid.

The announcement comes during the same week that all 10 constructors signed the Concorde Agreement, which hopes to bring about a more level playing field in Formula One for years to come.

Dorilton Capital has also announced that it has no plans to move the traditional base from Grove in Oxfordshire.

An announcement from Williams said: “This marks the beginning of an exciting new era in the history of Williams, which with its new owner, is well positioned to capitalise upon the sweeping rule changes coming into Formula One with the new Concorde Agreement.”

Williams F1 has been a part of the grid since 1977 and has taken nine constructors championships and seven world drivers championships in its time, although their last championship came in 1997 with Jacques Villeneuve. Williams hasn’t won an F1 race since 2012.

Deputy team boss, Claire Williams, said: “This may be the end of an era for Williams as a family owned team, but we know it is in good hands. The sale ensures the team’s survival but most importantly will provide a path to success.”

Matthew Savage, Dorilton’s chairman, said: “We look forward to working with the Williams team in carrying out a detailed review of the business to determine in which areas new investment should be directed.”

Source

August 21, 2020
Volkswagen starts production of ID 4 SUV, reveal coming in Sept.

It hasn’t even been revealed yet, but production of Volkswagen’s ID 4 electric crossover SUV is already underway at the automaker’s plant in Zwickau, Germany.

The plant is where VW also builds some of its ID 3 electric hatchbacks, and it’s where the first U.S.-bound ID 4s will be built. Eventually, by 2022 to be exact, VW will also build the ID 4 at its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The ID 4 will make its world debut in late September, though photos of the Tesla Model Y rival have already surfaced on the website of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Information submitted with the photos reveal a length of 180.8 inches, a width of 72.9 inches and a height of 64 inches. The Model Y measures in at 187 inches in length.

Teaser for Volkswagen ID 4 debuting in September 2020

VW previously said the ID 4 will reach the U.S. in 2020, though it isn’t clear if there’s been a delay due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The ID 4 is based on the modular EV platform known as MEB, which made its debut in the ID 3. The ID 4 will initially come to the market with a single electric motor powering the rear axle, but a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive option will be made available at a later date.

As for battery sizes, something similar to the ID 3 is likely. The electric hatch comes with battery sizes in 45, 58 and 77 kilowatt-hours. Range of the ID 4 with the biggest battery should top 200 miles, when measured by the EPA.

Beyond the ID 3 and ID 4 in VW’s ID family of electric cars, we know there will be a van that will spawn both lifestyle and commercial versions. It’s due in 2022 and billed as a modern successor to the iconic Microbus. Also rumored to be in the works are a sedan and wagon based on the ID Vizzion concepts, and a mid-size SUV based on the ID Roomzz concept.

Source

August 20, 2020
FC THROWBACK: WAR PIG – TUNED VW RABBIT

Welcome to this week’s FC Throwback, where we take a look back at some of our favourite previous feature cars. This week it’s James Taylor’s 1983 VW Rabbit from 2013… This stanced-out, bomber-style, rat-rod Rabbit has plenty of military bits inside and out… and so does the owner.

When James White blew the motor in his turbo’d 2006 Jetta, he did what any self-respecting tuner would do. He bought an ’83 Rabbit beater to run around in while he rebuilt his main car.

What he didn’t plan on doing was acquiring such an affinity for the little pocket rocket. “Something about the Rabbit just made me fall in love,“ said James. “At first, I just started doing small mods like putting a 1.6L cam in the 1.8 head.” He also added an adjustable cam gear, headers and exhaust and deleted everything that wasn’t necessary for it to run, freeing up horsepower.

James continues: “Then one day I decided to turbo. So my attention shifted away from the Mk5 Jetta as I proceeded to source parts for the turbo build.” Sometimes a mistress is just more intriguing than the wife.

Looking to make his mistress a little more, er, muscular, James started scouring junk yards in search of parts. His first turbo came from a Saab, a 9000 T3. After that blew up he moved to a T3 unit with ported and belled compressor housing. And to keep it in sleeper mode, the turbo is hidden behind the firewall. Of course the machine gun-end blow-off valve suggests something sinister lurks under the hood.

James estimates power to be a little over 200hp with 13lbs of boost. Since the gutted Rabbit weighs only 1,860lbs it has the uncanny ability to put a few big block Corvettes on their asses. And all this power is made with the stock 1.8L bottom end! Non-military issue equipment includes the V-Maxx coilovers and 14×6 Scirroco teardrop rims among other upgrades.

James White and his friends have come through with a menacing military rat that deserves accolades from soldiers and citizens alike. The fact he pulled it all off on a budget and with shrapnel in his leg – sustained in Iraq during his eight years service – makes both he and the car deserving of a full, 21 gun salute.

TECH SPEC 1983 VW RABBIT (MK1 GOLF)

Styling
Custom rattle-can paint job, Cabriolet tail light swap, single rounds conversion with H4s, badgeless grille, GTI front lip, anodized gold JDM tow hooks, military jaw decale.

Chassis
V-Maxx coilovers, prothane poly inserts for motor mounts, control arms, 9.4in rotor brake disc up front, Mk3 8.9in Wolfsburg, 6x14in 16v Scirocco teardrops painted in textured black, Toyo Proxes 195/45x14s tyres front with 205/50x14s at the rear.

Interior
Custom 6-point cage, MK2 GTI Recarro seats, 4-point harnesses, all VDO individual gauges, AEM UEGO wideband, Wolfsburg steering wheel, 5-pane wink mirror, custom M249 machine gun barrel shifter.

Tuning
Stock 1.8L JH bottom end, P&Pd ABA head, Techtonics 268 cam, Autotech adjustable cam gear, custom turbo manifold, custom short runner intake manifold, EMUSA .50 Trim T3 Turbo with ported and belled compressor housing @ 13psi, Forge boost controller (mounted in cabin), Godspeed 38mm external wastegate (hood dump), Ford Probe side mount intercooler, Digifant 1 ECU, 26lb injectors, BBM FPR Adapter, BBM fuel rail, silicone intake systems slim line 12-inch fan, ACCEL plug wires, MSD Blaster 2 coil, NGK plugs, custom 2.5in straight piped turbo back exhaust, Clutch Masters FX400 sprung 6 puck clutch, Sachs pressure plate.

Words & photos Isaac Mion

Source

August 20, 2020