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  • Toyota has questions for potential GR Super Sport owners

    Toyota wants to get to know anyone interested in buying the forthcoming GR Super Sport, the road-car counterpart to its Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) class race car. Based on a questionnaire first spotted by Motor1 on Friday, the automaker appears to be screening potential buyers before deciding whether to sell them one.

    Toyota would not confirm that the questions represent a screening process. “While a sales process for the GR Super Sport has not yet been determined, we are having preliminary conversations with potential customers who might find a vehicle like this to be of interest,” Toyota spokesman Michael Kroll said in an email statement.

    The long questionnaire asks what performance cars applicants currently own (there’s room for up to 10 entries) and to rank by order from most to least favorite. Toyota also wants to know how much they drive each of those cars, and what performance cars they plan to buy in the future.

    The questionnaire also specifically asks whether applicants currently own a Toyota 2000GT or Lexus LFA, indicating that Toyota will weigh brand loyalty in its decisions.

    Other questions ask how often applicants drive on a track, whether they have an FIA competition license, or whether they own a race team.

    Shown only in camouflaged prototype form so far, the GR Super Sport is a homologation special for the new LMH class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). LMH is the new top class in the WEC, and requires manufacturers to build a minimum of 25 road cars based on their race cars by the second year of competition. That number is expected to be bumped higher for the following years. Given the small number of available cars, we can see why Toyota would screen buyers to narrow down the list of eventual owners.

    Toyota GR Super Sport prototype

    Toyota GR Super Sport prototype

    Toyota first showed a concept version of the GR Super Sport in 2018, using components from the TS050 Hybrid race car designed for the outgoing LMP1 class. That car included a twin-turbocharged 2.4-liter V-6 and an electric motor-generator, making a combined 986 hp.

    However, LMH class rules limit the racing version to 670 hp and doesn’t require a hybrid powertrain. It’s possible the road car will have a higher output, though, as 670 hp doesn’t always cut it for a supercar these days.

    While the road-car concept had an enclosed cabin, the prototype shown last year was a roadster. It’s possible the final version will have a canopy-style roof, in line with a patent application Toyota filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in early 2020.

    Toyota will compete against ByKolles and Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus (SCG) in the LMH class’ initial season, with other manufacturers expected to join in later seasons. Pre-season testing begins at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps April 26-27, followed by the season opener, also at Spa, May 1. The WEC’s marquee event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has been pushed back from June to August in the hope that the Coronavirus pandemic will be under control enough to allow spectators.

    While Toyota isn’t the first automaker to set up an application process for a new supercar, rival SCG has said it will sell its 007 to anyone with enough cash. The company declared on Twitter Saturday that “we have no lists. We require you to buy nothing but what you want to.”

    Update: This story has been updated to include the quote from Toyota.

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  • VW GOLF GTI MK8 REVIEW

    The go-to hot hatch has long been the Golf GTI, but recent generations have lost a bit of the sparkle and rivals like the Focus ST and i30N have made it look dowdy. With the new VW Golf GTI Mk8, Volkswagen claims to have injected the fun back into the GTI, but has it? And could it possibly be worth that pricetag?

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    VW Golf GTI MK8: what you need to know

    It’s been much talked about, the new Mk8 VW Golf GTI. Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, there’s not a lot of change from the Mk7 to the 8, at least not visually anyway. The front end gets a nip and tuck with an optional full-width light bar across the grille, but that’s about it. Dare we say it’s all a bit facelift(y) rather than new model…

    While visually it might not be much different, underneath is where all the magic takes place. Despite still carrying over the EA888 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the previous generation, it now produces 242bhp in base form, equivalent to the Performance model in Mk7 guise. However, VW has implemented a new, higher-pressure fuel injection system and revised combustion and emissions controls for a smoother, punchier drive.

    The biggest changes come in the handling department with three key components. The first is an electronic limited-slip differential, which was previously an option on the Mk7. The second is a new Vehicle Dynamics Manager. Essentially what this Vehicle Dynamics Manager does is not only just control the XDS differential, but also the adaptive dampers, adjusting them up to 200 times every second. This then forces the components to work together harmoniously for greater traction, handling and overall driving dynamics in order to meet the car’s overarching target of being more fun.

    The third are stiffer spring rates. VW’s aim was to focus on better rotating the car’s chassis in tighter corners and in doing so has stiffened the front springs by 5%, and the rear springs by 15%. As a result, you can induce lift-off oversteer like never before in the previous generation and inject some fun into the driving experience.

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  • ASTON MARTIN SAFETY CAR REVEALED

    Aston Martin has revealed its all new safety and medical car ahead of the start of the 2021 F1 season, with it now sharing duties with Mercedes at race events. 

    The introduction comes as no surprise given Mercedes and Aston Martin’s relationship has developed strongly over the past year or so. Within that time frame, Mercedes has increased its stake in Aston Martin to 20% while also allowing Aston Martin to raid its powertrain and electric/electronic architecture departments amongst other technologies.

    Aston Martin safety car

    The new safety car is an Aston Martin Vantage, which features a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine from Mercedes-AMG. Here it’s been given a spruce up with an extra 24hp, bumping its power to 528hp. A new vane grille and front splitter generate as much as 155kg of downforce at 124mph, which equates to some 60kg more than the regular Vantage makes at the same speed.

    Instead of the single infotainment screen, there are now two digital displays, one with a live television feed of the race, the other with vehicle statistics, lap timing of the F1 cars and where their positions are on the track.

    A variety of other tech is on board, this includes controls for the LED lightbar, siren and radio communications, as well as the FIA Marshalling System, telling the driver which sections of the track are flagged.

    The medical car comes in the form of the Aston Martin DBX. Using a version of the same twin-turbo V8 engine, it produces 525hp and will hit 181mph. On board is a whole host of medical equipment, fire extinguishers and a defibrillator.

    Aston Martin safety car

    Live vital medical information from the drivers gloves is also fed to the medical car in the event of a collision to help diagnose the condition of the driver.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “We are very pleased to announce our new partnership with both Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG to provide the Official Safety and Medical Cars to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.”

    Tobias Moers, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “Together with the whole company, I am extremely proud of the Aston Martin brand’s return to Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, for the first time in more than 60 years and represents the start of a significant new era for Aston Martin.


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