Drag Race: VW Golf R vs Touareg V8 TDI

Well this is awkward. We're usually used to seeing supercars go at each other, not diesel SUVs and hatchbacks. Still, none of these two cars could be called "slow" in any way.

As you know, the Golf R isn't just a family hatchback. Well, it is, but it's no entry-level petrol-burner. It's got a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine, sending 300 HP to all four of its wheels, which is a recipe of fun regardless of where you live.

The Golf R can reach 62 mph (100km/h) in 4.9 seconds, which no too long ago was supercar territory. The first gen 4.2 FSI Audi R8 hit 62 mph in 4.8 seconds if you remember. So we have ourselves quite a capable hot hatch over here.

In the other "corner" we've got size and we've got torque. Precisely 340 HP and no fewer than 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. There is of course a massive weight disadvantage but also a disparity in mid-range pulling power.

If the two cars met from a rolling start, we'd actually expect the heavier yet torque-happy Touareg to jump out in front, at least for a bit. But seen as though this was a standing start, it just couldn't get off the line as quick as the much lighter Golf R.

Even so, it was an interesting match-up, and they measured the time/speed all the way up to 160km/h (99 mph). So in the end, we have a pretty clear picture of what the difference is between these two cars.

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2013 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition

The 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition, both in coupe and convertible variants, will arrive in Chevrolet dealerships this spring after a limited, one-time production run.

Just like the coupe model, the Camaro Hot Wheels Edition Cconvertible features a flashy metallic paint scheme with graphic accents, red line alloys, Hot Wheels grille and the toy car company logo on the grille and decklid plus Hot Wheels Edition sill plates.

The special Camaro is available in 2LT (V6) and 2SS (V8) trims, with SS models featuring a 6.2-liter V8, offered as the “L99” on automatic-equipped vehicles and the “LS3” on manual-equipped models. The L99 has 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft (556 Nm) of torque, while the LS3 develops 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft (569 Nm) of torque.

LT-based models feature the “LFX” 3.6-liter V6 engine rated at 323 horsepower. A dual-mode exhaust system is available with the six-speed manual transmission, as well as LT models with either the manual or the automatic transmission.

The 97th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, with the Opening Day being on Saturday, May 11.

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Formula 1: Indian Grand Prix

After 11 straight wins, it lost to Ferrari. It then continued its streak, claiming a startling 15 wins out of 16 starts but by a strange twist of fate, the one it lost was on Scuderia’s home ground and, at the same time, the first Italian GP after Enzo Ferrari’s death…

That was then and this is now. The latest Formula 1 race was the Indian Grand Prix and Sebastian Vettel took an easy win, his fourth in a row. It was an almost perfect race for the reigning world champion, who extended his lead in the drivers’ championship by seven points.

Fernando Alonso, who until the previous race at Korea was leading the standings, managed the best he could with a car that’s clearly inferior to that of his rival.

As always, he drove brilliantly to pass McLaren’s Jenson Button and, when his KERS failed, Red Bull’s Mark Webber. He then started closing in to Vettel, but eventually had to settle for second place.

After the race, Ferrari’s top driver admitted that “it’s not easy at the moment to fight Red Bull… we knew we were not fast enough but we lost the minimum points”. Alonso added that he and the team “will not give up” and that he hopes they will perform even better in the three remaining races of the season.

Vettel was asked what it is that has made him the favorite for the title: “There’s not one thing that stands out and makes a difference. I think it’s all of us working hand in hand together and I’m glad to be part of that and just enjoying the moment.”

The winner, who currently has an advantage to snag his third title in as many years at the tender age of 25, said that he was also very proud to be the first driver since the late Ayrton Senna to lead every single lap for three consecutive races.

As for the rest, McLaren had another not too impressive weekend, by its own high standards, claiming fourth and fifth positions with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button respectively. The only silver lining was that it did much better than in Korea and Button recorded the fastest lap of the race. Small comfort for a team that’s used to being a title challenger...

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Andrea and her VW Golf GTI V Club Sport

Apart from being a qualified real estate agent and having won the Miss Yamaha 2012 and Monster Energy Girl titles, the 23-year-old woman has also obtained an "A" racing license and will participate at events such as the Nürburgring-based VLN and GLP series.

Having prepared her Volkswagen Golf GTI V, BBM Motorsport didn't miss out on the opportunity to showcase Andrea alongside her race-prepped car.

BBM Motorsport's Golf GTI V Club Sport tune entails a series of upgrades starting with the 2.0-liter TSI engine that benefits, among other things, from a new turbocharger, a big double-DIN charge air cooler and a custom exhaust system to lift output from 197hp (200PS) and 280Nm to 331hp (336PS) and 460Nm respectively.

The tuner quotes a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 275km/h (171mph).

The Club Sport package also brings a KW Club Sport coilover suspension with adjustable strut bearings along with Stoptech brake system with new discs in the size of 355 x 32 mm and 4-piston calipers, while the GTI rides on 18-inch lightweight TEC-rims by ASA wrapped around in semi-slick tires size 225/40-18.

The car's exterior is covered in a matte-teal foil wrap while inside, the rear seat bench was eliminated and replaced with a race-spec roll cage, while up front, is a pair of racing bucket seats.

According to BBM Motorsport, Friedrich's GTI tips the scales at 1,275kg or 2,811 pounds.

The complete transformation costs €19,500 (equal to US$25,215), excluding installation.

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Ford Formula Racer

Ford's engineers were able to tune the engine and lift output to 202-horses (205PS). They then switched it with Formula Ford’s usual 178HP (180PS), 1.6-litre EcoBoost power unit and set out to conquer the Nordschleife.

According to the automaker, the project team also modified the car so it would be fully street legal for on-road use by fitting it with wheel covers, front and rear lights and indicators, aerodynamically designed wing mirrors and a horn.

Power is transferred to the road through a 6-speed manual gearbox and road-legal tires.

With the 202hp 1.0-liter EcoBoost under its hood and racing driver and course specialist Nick Tandy behind the wheel, the Formula Ford model lapped the 'Ring in 7 minutes and 22 seconds to register the 11th fastest time ever on the circuit.

The Formula Ford completed the 20.832 km (12.94 mile) Nordschleife circuit at an average speed of 169 km/h (105 mph).

To put it into perspective, the road-legal Formula Ford beat previously recorded fastest times of many (production and street legal) supercars including the 700 horsepower Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, the 660 horsepower Ferrari Enzo and the 602 horsepower Pagani Zonda, according to the Blue Oval.

"This little engine has people rubbing their eyes in disbelief," said Nick Tandy, 28. "It’s simply astonishing that a 3-cylinder, one-litre engine can deliver that kind of performance."

The company claims that the car's unofficial top speed is expected to be 255.5 km/h (158.8 mph) with a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of less than four seconds, while delivering 2.4 l/100 km (117mpg UK or 98mpg US) at 56 km/h (35mph), and 5 l/100 km (56.7mpg UK or 47mpg US)) at 120km/h (75 mph).

"We wanted to prove that size doesn’t matter by showing everyone what an amazingly capable engine we have developed in the 1.0-litre EcoBoost," said Roelant de Waard, vice president of Marketing and Sales at Ford of Europe. "What better way than by beating some of the best supercars in the world on the Nordschleife, while using a fraction of the fuel."

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2013 VW Jetta Hybrid Sets New Speed Record for Hybrids at 185mph

The regular 2013 Jetta Hybrid combines a 1.4-liter turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder TSI gasoline engine that produces 150hp with a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission and an electric motor that provides an additional 27-horses.

The car that reached a top speed of 185.394 mph (298.363 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Nevada during the Southern California Timing Association’s (SCTA) annual Speed Week was specially modified according to SCTA rules.

Volkswagen doesn't go into a lot of details about the changes made to the Jetta Hybrid or does it reveal the performance numbers. Here's what the company does say:

"To achieve the kind of horsepower needed to run at 185 mph (298 kph) at Bonneville, the powertrain was modified by Volkswagen R&D in Wolfsburg, Germany. Project integration and other modifications to enable the car to run safely on the salt were handled by A-Salt Racing and Advanced Product Engineering, based in Camarillo, California. The implementation and final calibration of the drivetrain in the car was supported by the engineers from the Volkswagen Test Center California in Oxnard, CA."

According to Volkswagen, the 185mph run is the fastest speed ever achieved by a production-based hybrid car on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

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