Le Mans Legend, Bentley Boy: Meet Guy Smith

An MG Metro, Senna and race mode: with Le Mans just around the corner, I spoke with Guy Smith, one of the drivers who piloted the Bentley Speed 8 to its 2003 victory.

The Yorkshire based racer has enjoyed a successful career from driving go-karts as a six year old, to his latest win in the Blancpain Endurance series at Silverstone with the Bentley Continental GT3. Smith won American Le Mans in 2011 and has driven for Bentley racing since 2001.

So what does one feel in 'race mode' at the helm of the world's best job?

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An overload of emotions; nerves, stress, and exhilaration ascend, according to Guy. "When it's just you, the car and the competition element, there is nothing quite like it!" he says.

But even Le Mans winners start somewhere, and it isn't always a blisteringly fast race car as he tells me.

Share a little about your car history.

Well my first ever car was a 1 litre MG metro which was far from sporty but being my first car I loved it. I currently have a Bentley Continental GT V8 which is just amazing; it's fast, luxurious and amazingly practical. There are not many cars out there that can offer that.

Who has inspired you?

It was very inspiring to meet Senna. It was only a brief meeting on stage at the Autosport awards where he presented me with the young kartist of the year, but I still have a photo of that on my office wall!

My dad has been a huge inspiration to me in both, racing and life in general. He took me all over the world karting working as my number one mechanic. It was he who first pointed me in the direction of motor sports and gave me my first taste of it. He used to rally when I was first born so I would sit in my pram and watch him work on his car. He has also been a great mentor in other aspects of my life.

Which sub £15k car would you drive to Le Mans?

There are many great cars now for around that price so its a tough choice, but maybe an older Audi TT convertible and although they are a bit girly they are great fun.

Who was the first person to ask for your autograph?

I really can't remember!

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Of the events you've raced in, some of the toughest are 24 hours of Spa, 1000km of Nurburgring and Le Mans. Which one did you find the most challenging?

Le Mans is a lot of hard work and there is a lot of testing and build up leading up to the event and the race is mentally very tiring. However, I would have to say that Spa is probably the toughest as the weather conditions can be very mixed and there is physically no time to rest there.

Porsche are returning to Le Mans this month, 15 years after their last win. What challenges do you think they will face, particularly with Audi's dominance?

They will be fine as they have a lot of experienced people there and a huge budget. The biggest thing for them will be the pit stops and getting the race team ready.

The biggest mistake you have almost made?

Too many to mention!

What is your next big thing?

I am contracted to drive for Team Bentley in the Blancpain GT series and I have just signed to race in the US later this year in the Pirelli World Challenge for Dyson Racing Team Bentley, so all of that keeps me pretty busy.

Guy's twitter: @theguysmith

Go on, follow me too: @indianstig

Published on 05/05/2014 at Oppositelock

Pimp My Ride: Asian Style

Those who miss Xzibit’s West Coast customization exploits in the form of Pimp My Ride need look no further: A new car customisation show is cruising to British TV screens.

Series one of Kustomize Kingz is now airing on BritAsiaTV, with a uniquely northern twist.

Nav and Shizzo

The show focuses on Enkhanz work, a Bradford based company which specialises in car customisation and vehicle repairs.

Presented by recording artist Shizoo, the series will showcase the processes of matte wrapping a BMW 6 Series Coupe, crystal studding a Ferrari 360 and much more.

Filming on set

While Pimp My Ride would find a tired, usually unroadworthy car, Kustomize Kingz start with a premium car that Amir Khan would be proud to park on his driveway.

In fact, the two time boxing champion’s Range Rovers feature in the series, along with Imran Khan and various other celebrity clientele.

Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverly opted for a Barugzai styling pack, 22 inch wheels and carbon fibre side blades. "I love my cars, I’ve got a Porsche Cayenne, Range rover and now my Audi R8. I like my cars to be different, so I asked Naveed to work his magic,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

The team make a plan

Naveed Khan, CEO of Enkahz and Kustomization Kingz promise to bring a clean line-up of EnKahnz exclusive car designs, attractive concepts and distinct customizing bringing individuality to every car.

“We have evolved the car show concept for a new generation,” says the show’s director Oz Dion. “The show aims to inspire young and older people to illustrate that there is something special about the correlation between success and hardwork.”

Series two is already in the works, and will bring even more customisation, luxury and lustworthy motors.

Kustomize Kingz is aired on Saturday evenings at 9pm on BritAsia TV, Sky channel 833. You can find them on twitter as @kustomizekingz.

Published on 17/04/2014 at Asian Image

Spiders and Car Insurance

So lets get this out of the way first: I'm freaking terrified of spiders. There is something about the little buggers that turn me into a little girl, I've no shame in admitting that.

Anyway, today I get into my car to find a massive cobweb on the dashboard that wasn't there yesterday. Obviously I'm unsettled by this, but I have somewhere important to be and I'm on my merry way.

As I'm driving, it then dawns upon me that this spider is still in the car somewhere. It's probably sitting behind the steering wheel waiting for the right moment to jump out and make me crash. This'll hike up my premiums next year. The insurance companies would love that.

Then I start to wonder, what if spiders and insurance companies are working together? They probably pay the nasty little buggers to do just that: cause arachnophobic young drivers to crash, thus having a reason to increase already extortionate premiums to line their pockets and hereby increase their profits. 

Think about it: when filling the claim form, what will you write for 'cause of crash?' Will you put terrifying ninja spider? Of course not, that's absurd. You'll lie and choose a conventional excuse and the insurance company will have gotten away with it. It's just what they want. 

Being the crooks that they are, I wouldn't put it past them to pull a conspiracy like that.

I bet the government is in on it too.

First Published: 30/01/2014

Location: Jalopnik OppositeLock

An Automotive Year in Five Photos

Twenty-thirteen has been an eventful year for the automotive world. We've seen birthdays: The iconic Porsche 911 hit 50, and Aston Martin has made it to 100.

Many interesting cars have been released, from the nippy Ford Fiesta ST, through the breathtaking Jaguar F Type range, right through to the next generation of hypercars. Mclaren, Ferrari and Porsche have proven that a hybrid is no longer the exclusive preserve of the eco-hatchbacks, whilst setting blisteringly fast Nurburgring lap times. 

The car industry too has seen good news; TVR is to be revived and making sports cars again to the delight of enthusiasts, whilst the likes of Jaguar, Bentley and Lamborghini have shown SUVs that would not normally be associated with their brands. It's certainly been a busy year.

Closer to home, 2013 has also been an active year for UK Wheels Events. We've tried to capture it in the following five photos.

The Preston Supercar Meet is a monthly gathering of cars. Not restricted by its namesake, everything from a tuned Mini to Ferrari 458s have been the centre of attendees' curiosity. It represents just that: a gathering of petrolheads who love cars. Some drive from as far as Cheshire or Liverpool to present what they drive and admire that of others.

The 'Fast Ford Face-off' above was taken at the December meet. 

On April 1st, the Preston Supercar Meet visited Oulton Park for the British GT season opener.The day involved a spirited drive from Preston, a few parade laps of the track, and two stints of GT racing. There were some fantastic cars on display including a Bentley Speed 8 and an Enzo.

The above photo captures the essence of the day. Fervent preparation before the car is wheeled from the tent to pits; the anticipation building as onlookers catch a glimpse of a silent racer which will soon be on the limit on track; a magical snapshot of what happens behind the scenes of each race.

The Chatsworth House gathering is the largest annual gathering of TVRs. Each year, hundreds of Blackpool Rockets gather in Derby and park together on the main grounds. It is a magnificent sight, not only for it's sheer magnitude, but the  wide spectrum of colours on display. The faint rumble of Inline Sixes and V8s make a soothing backdrop as cars continue to arrive.

This picture is a TVR Tamora arriving on the scenic grounds of Chatsworth. Some TVR owning UKWE members drove in convoy from Lancashire, making for a memorable journey.

UKWE's partner Amari Supercars holds a quarterly open day. Their customers and PSCM are invited to the showroom to view current stock. Not only does this offer the chance to view showroom content, (which is often wall to wall with Ferrari and Maseratis) the car park also gets filled with vehicles that are equally impressive.

This is a shot from the October open day. The parking area is full, demonstrated by this customer V12 Vantage in a unique shade of Amethyst red.

One of the larger car gatherings in the North West is Supercar Sunday at Mitton Hall, Whalley. Naturally, UKWE and PSCM members contribute to the turnout. Taking place during the summer months, there is always a nice balance of classic and and modern cars in attendance. Notable cars that have attended include an Ultima GTR and Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. 

This Ferrari 308 is also a PSCM attendee. This picture was taken towards the end of the event, earlier flanked by a Jaguar E Type. 

First Published: 24/12/2013

Location: ukwheelsevents.com

A Day at Griffiths Detailling

“A valet makes a car shiny, a detail makes a car perfect.”

Valeting and detailing essentially serve the same purpose; to improve the aesthetics of a vehicle by making it gleam. But there are differences in technique, cost, and more importantly, outcome.

After a valet, a car will be well tidied, usually having been through an exterior wash and interior vacuum. 

On the other hand, a detail offers more extensive methods of cleaning. Every possible area of the car is washed, including wheel arches, doorsills and the engine bay.

Bodywork is often removed to access these area. The process takes days, and is often completed with paint correction and protection, all to refine a car’s visual value.

If done correctly, a detail will not only fix any imperfections, but will also protect the exterior from road salt. After a protection detail, a Ferrari owner noted that the dirt now simply ‘falls off’ the F355 during regular cleaning.

Griffiths Detailing offer a range of detailing services. Using G Techniq and Auto Finnesse products, they can do everything from a simple car wash to a full paint correction and protection detail. 

Their detailing studio is based in Warrington, and they provide a mobile unit that can travel UK wide.

Chris Griffith established his business in 2002 after leaving the Army. From daily drivers and vans, his work has grown to include higher end vehicles. He has detailed everything from showcars to supercars, with a portfolio including Ferraris and Lamborghinis of all vintage, an Alfa Romeo RZ, and more recently, a Ford RS200.

So what drives Chris to finish cars at concours condition?

“My own cars are always immaculate, and I’m passionate about getting a car perfect. It’s become an obsession almost, it kills me to see these cars going away in less than perfect condition!”

For more information on their services, visit www.griffithsdetailing.com

Photography by Matthew Parkinson

First Published: 01/11/2013

Location: www.thesupercarkids.com

Amari Supercars in TSK Magazine

“We’re going to get another red Testarossa soon to go with the black one, so we’ll be the only dealer with two Countaches and two Testarossas.”

These are the words I heard as I squeezed between a 25th Anniversary Countach and a stunning white Murcielago roadster, surrounded by a plethora of other gleaming exotics.

The man who spoke them is Adam Kennedy, Manager of Amari Supercars.

Based near the M6 Motorway in Preston, the supercar dealership is owned by Sheikh Amari, who has been involved with the supercar business for longer than most. “I’ve had my nappies changed in a Lamborghini,” he admits.

Their showroom boasts an impressive stock of around 60 cars ranging from a ‘normal’ Porsche 911 turbo to a Carrera GT. Whereas ordinary Ferraris are sold on a regular basis, Amari have stocked cars ranging from valuable to extremely rare. The list includes a Bugatti Veyron, Porsche 356 Speedster, two Ferrari Enzos, a Maserati MC12 Corsa, Gumpert Apollo and a number of F40s. They currently hold the lowest milage example of an RHD Lamborghini Countach in the world.

As for future stock, they will be one of the first in the UK to receive the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. 

Amari do more than just sell cars. They own an approved service centre which caters to all luxury and prestige vehicles. All stock undergoes an evaluation and service before sale, including a  detail and valet. “We aim to sell a car just how it came out of the factory, only with more miles” explains Adam. Cars and services both come with a warranty.

Now that you have a gleaming supercar, why not give it a personal touch? The showroom offer a selection of private number plates- at a price. D14 BLO will set you back a cool £30,000. However, there are cheaper options for the budget conscious buyer.

Along with selling and servicing, Amari have tried their hand at customizing a supercar. Based on a Gallardo, the Invidia 540 is a unique conversion made to resemble a Gallardo STS. Upgrades include a wide-body kit made of fiberglass and carbon fiber, improved brakes and a power upgrade to 540 bhp. A convertible version is currently being built.

Finally, the Amari franchise offers a members only club. Club A keeps customers in touch with the showroom through which drives and meets are organized for members.

Sheikh Amari said: “It would be great to gather all the supercar owners throughout the North together every quarter here at Amari Supercars. They can see new cars coming in, our service and diagnostics centre, and we’ve also got a detailing team. We’re a one stop shop for supercars.”

For all your supercar needs, visit Amari’s website at www.amarisupercars.com

First Published: 04/05/13

Location: The Supercar Kids Magazine (Issue 6 p33-34)

Exploring My TVR Addiction

Every so often, I manage to convince myself that TVRs are not worth the hassle and that there are many more sensible alternatives to aspire to. But then I go to my local car meet and it all goes out of the window; seeing their curves, outrageous shapes and hearing those thunderous engines makes me want a TVR more than anything else. This recently came up in a conversation with Russell Larcombe who subsequently offered me the passenger seat in his purple Sagaris for a run to the Chatsworth House TVR gathering.

I arrived at the starting point where around 20 or so TVRs would be driving in convoy. The Tivs were rolling in one by one. You certainly hear a TVR before seeing it, and in various bright and two toned colours, they lit up the parking area like fireworks. Soon enough, we began the journey.

This was my first ride in a TVR and what’s instantly noticeable is that even the most trivial aspects of the car are a novelty. For instance, whereas almost every car in the world has ticking indicators, the Sagaris beeps. There is nothing so mundane as a door handle in a modern TVR, there are three identical unlabeled buttons on the dashboard, one of which opens the door (just pray that you don’t hit it at high speeds). The rev counter and speedometer needles turn in opposite directions. All of this was before I had even heard that guttural burble that becomes a roar above 2500 rpm.

As our group thundered towards Derbyshire, the Tivs were visible in the rear view mirror, spread out on the motorway like vibrant skittles. You really don’t need to go fast to appreciate the Sag- with it’s asymmetrical shape and sideways exhausts, it really is an event at any speed. Due to the low sitting cockpit, 70 mph feels like 100.

To compare with a Nissan GTR, both take you to immense speeds but the GTR does so in comfort. Only it’s torque and whistling turbos give you a sense of the rapidness- the Nissan surges forward in a single swift motion.

On the other hand, that glorious Speed Six howl is clearly heard in the cockpit, with every vibration felt. The bonnet shakes and rattles, almost as if the engine is trying to escape.

The two are entirely different beasts; the Nissan being a precise touch screen keyboard and the TVR a mechanical typewriter. That isn’t to say the Tiv outdated, as effortlessly rising revs followed by a smooth gear change shows it is anything but.

After a couple of hours on motorways and sublime country roads, we arrived at Chatsworth House. The Sag was parked in the top row with the others, and I spent the next few hours ogling, photographing and drooling over TVRs of all generations.

Needless to say, today was fantastic and a huge thanks to Russ for the ride which made me feel like a ten year old in a purple car. As I type this, I can still hear the Sag’s crackle and pop on the overruns ringing in my ears.

As for my Tiv addiction? Well, today for me was like throwing an opium addict into a poppy field. Immense. I know that I must have a TVR, in all of its quirky, characterful glory. I simply must. Young drivers’ insurance rates be damned, my first car will be one built in Blackpool.

Fayaz

First Published: 28/04/13

Location: Pistonheads.com, Sprint Magazine

Amari Supercars/ PSCM Open Day

Last Sunday saw an impressive turnout at the Amari Supercars open day. Customers and enthusiasts alike gathered at the Preston based dealership to view an impressive stock of vehicles that were on display.

The open day is the first of many planned by Amari. The aim is to bring customers together at the dealership, showcase their stock, and demonstrate what Amari Supercars have to offer. Event host, Sheikh Amari said: “It would be great to gather all the supercar owners throughout the North together every quarter here at Amari Supercars. They can see new cars coming in, our service and diagnostics centre, and we’ve also got a detailing team. We’re a one stop shop for supercars.”

Attendees were able to speak to the sales team and view around 60 vehicles for sale, including Ferraris, Porsches, Aston Martins, Maseratis and Bentleys. The in-house service centre was open for viewing, showcasing a Lamborghini Countach being serviced.

Whilst the showroom featured some stunning cars, customers brought equally impressive vehicles. The car park featured over 50 cars including an immaculate Porsche 993 Turbo, a Ferrari 430 Scuderia Spider, a Noble M12 GTO, some TVRs and Nissan GTRs amongst others.

Along with customers, the Preston Supercar Meet (PSCM) were invited to the event. The  monthly gathering of petrolheads drove from there usual meet at the Phantom Winger to join others at Amari. 

Preceding the meet, the weather was cause for concern with ice and gale force winds, but fortunately the roads remained dry. PSCM organiser Phil Hutton said of the meet: “For the weather, it’s an excellent turnout. Some of our best meets have been during the winter!”

Overall, the event was good day out for the Preston Supercar Meet and Amari’s customers. Future open days will be just as spectacular, and hopefully warmer.



First Published: 29/03/13

Location: ukwheelsevents.com

The Styling of Modern Supercars

At the turn of the decade, we have seen flagship replacements from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Mclaren. It is apparent that we have moved onto the next generation of supercars, and a noticeable trend is occurring; the styling of these cars are becoming increasingly aggressive.

 It started with the quintessential supercar brand, Ferrari. The 458 came along with a bang in 2009, to much critical acclaim. From the sharp lines of the hood to the louvres feeding into the engine bay, it looks positively menacing from just about any angle. It was a radical move away from the F430, which now looks almost bloated by comparison. 

The FF released two years later has all the right design cues of the 458- Glaring headlights, and a wide front grill. But in the process of adding rear seats, it somehow lost the elegance of the 458, resembling a grinning Dr Eggman without the mustache.

Many enthusiasts, myself included agree that while it looks nice, it just seems slightly excessive for a four seater hatchback, but then again, it is a Ferrari!

The Enzo replacement shows no sign of bucking the trend. The teaser shot reveals a a low, wide beast coming out of the darkness, one that is bound to be as striking as the 458 and F12 Berlinetta.

If any company could be accused of excess, it has to be Lamborghini. Ever since the Miura their designs have resembled fighter jets rather than automobiles, from the Countach to their latest model.

Lets step back for a moment: It’s 2001 in Sant’Agata, the Diablo’s successor has just been shown to the world. The Lamborghini Murcielago has almost 600hp and an appearance of a bat from hell. It looks like it would bite your head off if you approached it in the wrong manner with wide wheel arches and massive twin exhausts.

In fact, only became more aggressive with age, getting revised intakes on the LP640 and a massive rear wing and even more air vents on the SV. 

It seemed that nothing short of adding machine guns to its successor would match the lion that was the Lamborghini Murcielago.

Yet in 2011, it was replaced by the Aventador. The lion is now a fluffy cat.

The Aventador looks like it has been designed exclusively with a ruler. Its appearance is terrific and embodies Lamborghini’s outlandishness to the core, however, it almost looks like it is trying too hard.

Likewise with the Mclaren P1. After the MP4-12C was criticized for looking too generic and almost ‘boring’, Mclaren unveiled their latest flagship at the Paris 2012 motor show and it looks like it comes straight from a Need for Speed game. It was designed entirely by wind tunnel, and the swooping shape shows it. 

So exotics are certainly looking meaner than ever, but is that a bad thing? Nobody buys a Mclaren for school runs or the weekly shop, it is there to put a smile on your face. A Lamborghini exists for the purpose of going fast and releasing that eight year old within you.

 Supercars have always been over the top, excessive and flamboyant. So when the next Ferrari looks like it wants to eat you, be glad that it doesn’t look like a Pontiac Aztek.



First published: 15/01/13

Location: fayazismail.blogspot.co.uk 

10 Speed Record Holders

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexpenfold/

Cars have always been getting faster and faster.. and faster. But how fast will the laws of physics allow road cars to go?

With top speed records come the ultimate bragging right: “We make the fastest car in the world”. Its the ultimate spec in top trumps, more than horsepower or price. Here are the last 10 record holders for the fastest production car.

 Ferrari 288 GTO 

188 MPH in 1985

Ferrari created the 288 GTO to participate in Group B, but the series was cancelled before they could enter. As a result, the successor to the much acclaimed 250 GTO never competed in a race series. It did have credentials; undoubtably it is one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made, and the fastest car in the world for a period before the 959 took it’s place. Although Ferrari’s claim of 190 was never proven, it did manage 188 mph in the hands of Auto, Motor und Sport magazine.

Porsche 959 
195 MPH in 1986

Like the 288 GTO, Porsche made the 959 to go rallying in Group B. Homologation required 200 road cars, resulting in the 959 we have today. During its production, it was the most technologically advanced supercar there was. AWD was unheard of on a sports car before. The 959 set the precedent for technology combined with motoring; hadn’t it been for the 959 we wouldn’t have  the likes of the Bugatti Veyron today. 

Ferrari F40 

201 MPH in 1987

The Ferrari F40 was many things- it was the last car overseen by Enzo before his death. It is regarded by many as the ultimate drivers’ car with no electronic aid or luxuries to speak of. It is also the first road car ever to break the 200 mph barrier; nothing to write home about in 2012, but an achievement beyond belief in 1987.

The F40 was the complete opposite of the Porsche 959. The Porsche was a technological masterpiece whereas the F40 had little more than a set of pedals, a gearstick and an enormous turbocharged V8.

Bugatti EB110 GT

209 MPH in 1991

You couldn’t accuse the Bugatti EB110 of being boring- it had a V12 engine with no less than four turbo chargers producing 603 bhp. In 1991! Michael Schumacher even owned one. On it’s debut year, Auto, Motor und Sport magazine clocked it at 209 mph, making it the fastest production car of the time. Despite this, sales never really took off as the world was in the middle of a recession, and Bugatti went bankrupt.

The EB110 has never really gotten the recognition it deserves.

Jaguar XJ220 

217 MPH (banked circuit) in 1992

Like the Bugatti, the XJ220 is largely a forgotten supercar. Customers wanted a V12 and AWD when they placed orders- the production car got a turbocharged V6 with two wheel drive. Even so, racing driver Martin Brundle took it to 212 mph on the famous Nardo track, Italy. After removing the catalytic converters and increasing the rev limit to 7900 rpm, the XJ220 maxed out at 217.  It was calculated that the car would have exceeded 223 mph on a straight road, hugely impressive for 1992.

Mclaren F1 

241 MPH in 1998

The Mclaren F1 is legendary, in part due to the fact that it held the top speed record for seven years (over a decade if you consider it began production 5 years earlier). When Mclaren began producing the car, they expected it to top out at 231. It would be five years until Andy Wallace piloted the XP5 prototype to 241 miles per hour with a higher rev limit.

During the test, Wallace humorously observed: “It will not go faster than 391 (kmh).. but still, 391 is quite fast, isn’t it?”

Even today, 20 years later the Mclaren F1 remains the worlds  fastest naturally aspirated car.

Koenigsegg CCR 

241 MPH (banked circuit) in 2005 

When the CCR came out in 2005, Christian Von Koenigsegg suspected his car could break the mighty Mclaren’s 7 year reign. So in February he and a group of Koenigsegg engineers reached 241 mph on the banked Nardo circuit, matching the top speed of the Mclaren F1. Like the XJ220 before it, it would have been faster on a straight but unfortunately, the Bugatti Veyron came and broke the record a mere two months later, shattering the CCR’s chance to be king.

Bugatti Veyron

253 MPH in 2005

The Bugatti Veyron could accelerate to 62 in 2.5 seconds, and keep going till 253 mph.

It is a first in the automotive world, not because it can reach an insane speed, but because it does so with ease, and immense comfort for the driver. It has a cabin upholstered in leather, airbags, air conditioning,  and an automatic gearbox.

The Veyron is such a car that anyone could hop in and max it- provided with enough space of course, because at top speed you’ll be covering the length of a football pitch every second. 

SSC Aero

256 MPH in 2007 

SSC beat the Bugatti Veyron in 2007 by 3 mph. The SSC Aero had come a long way from it’s conception, where the first few were built on space frames made for Pontiac Fiero based Lamborghini replicas. It has a Corvette C5R race car engine producing over 700 hp. For the top speed run, SSC had a 12 mile section of highway closed in Nevada.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport 

267 MPH in 2010 

Volkswagen AG spent 6 years designing the Veyron, so you could understand why they were slightly miffed when the Aero SSC broke their record after two years and only three mph. They didn’t hang around  for long though, as three years later they gave the world the Veyron SS. It has 1200 bhp and a slightly redesigned  all carbon fibre body. A Bugatti test driver managed to do 267 mph, but they are limited to a meagre 259 at production to prevent the tires from disintegrating.

Koenigsegg Agera R 

273 MPH in 2012/13?

The Koenigsegg CCR never really got it’s chance to shine, but the Agera R should change that. An even more powerful version of the already insanely fast Agera, the R has never been tested to top speed. Koenigsegg say it could theoretically reach 273 mph and there’s no reason to doubt them- the Agera R already holds the acceleration record, going from standstill to 186 mph in 14.5 seconds. given time, this could be the fastest car in the world. Koenigsegg will have to hurry though- If rumours are correct, Bugatti will be
introducing a 1600 hp Veyron at the Frankfurt motorshow in 2013.



First Published: 15/12/12

Location: The Supercarkids Magazine (Issue 4, p36-41)