Following last month’s 7.3 magnitude earthquake, the Ebisu circuit operators are appealing for financial support after finding the damage was more than first thought.

While Ebisu circuit resonates with petrolheads around the world, it is reeling from the damage caused by Japan’s most recent earthquake, which was in itself an aftershock from the earthquake and tsunami devastation caused in 2011.

Thankfully, the majority of the track came away unscathed, parts of it were hit hard by the earthquake and subsequent land slides.

With Covid already causing the cancellation of a number of high profile events that take place at Ebisu, the earthquake has proven to be more costly than first thought, with the circuit appealing for donations in order to repair the damage caused and remain open for years to come.

Seen by some as the mecca of drifting, lets hope Ebisu makes a quick recovery.

Source

The long-awaited, top-of-the-range new Land Rover Defender V8 is here and comes equipped with bespoke styling and the in-house AJ V8 engine.

The new Land Rover Defender V8 represents the most powerful and fastest Defender ever to reach series-production. It’s an engine we’re all familiar with now, having featured in the Jaguar F-Type and Range Rover Sport. Here it produces a humble 518bhp and 461lb ft of torque, making its claimed 0-62mph time just 5.2 seconds and topping out at just shy of 150mph in short-wheelbase, three-door 90 guise.

Inside, the V8 Defender gets more performance touches including an Alcantara steering wheel in place of the standard leather item. Behind the wheel sits new chrome-finished paddle shifters.

It may comes as a surprise to learn that Land Rover has been lapping the new V8 defender around the Nurburgring in an attempt to increase its handling abilities by ushering in some chassis tweaks. As a result, a new Dynamic drive mode is available alongside the regular driving modes already available on the Defender. The new mode sharpens throttle response and firms up the variable dampers.

Elsewhere in the chassis department, there are stuffer suspension bushes and thicker anti-rolls bars and a fancy yaw controller connected to the rear differential that varies torque across the rear axle for optimal grip.

How much does the V8 Land Rover Defender  cost?

Prices for the new Defender V8 start from £98,505 for the 90 variant, while the large five-door 110 starts from £101,150. Styling changes over the regular model include a quad-exit exhaust, similar to that found on the Range Rover and Jaguar, as well as 22-inch wheels and blue front brake calipers.

Source

Cupra is marking its 3rd anniversary with a bang unveiling the Formentor VZ5, which comes with 385bhp and 354lb ft of torque. 

The Cupra Formentor is the brand’s first standalone model, meaning you won’t see an equivalent Seat on the road. While previously the top dog of the range was the tried and tested 2.0-litre turbo EA888 motor, here, the Cupra Formentor VZ5 gets a similar version of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine found not only in the Audi TT RS and RS3, but also in the RS Q3, too.

Cupra Formentor VZ5: what you need to know

As you’d imagine, being a halo model means you get the full works thrown at you, and not just in the engine department mentioned above. At the rear, the exhaust is now a Lexus RC F-esque stacked quad exhaust, while extended wheel arches hide 20-inch wheels with Akebono six-piston brakes up front to help stop all that power.

As mentioned, underneath the bonnet is the 2.5-litre engine, which produces 385bhp and 354lb ft of torque here. Official figures have the Cupra Formentor VZ5 excellerating from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds, interestingly, that’s 0.3 seconds quicker than Audi’s RS Q3. It’ll go on to a limited 155mph.

Thankfully, Cupra has focused entirely on performance, dropping the ride 10mm for a sportier stance, while the 4Drive all-wheel drive system has been designed to optimise traction at all times.

Inside, the performance vibe continues with a flat-bottom steering wheel equipped with gearshift paddles, a Cupra mode button and engine start-stop. You also get some pretty serious bucket seats, too.

Just 7000 examples are being built but here’s the kicker, all will be left-hand drive only. Not to worry, though, it’s suggested that some models will officially be imported into the UK and expected to cost around £50,000.

Source