Japanese Kingdom

In this blog post we will be looking into the best of japanese vehicles. From GTR's to EVO's to fabulous Honda NSX and the Toyota Supra (which everybody loves regardless of the age)

MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO X

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is more sophisticated, involving and technologically-advanced than ever before. It incorporates every bit of knowledge Mitsubishi Motors has gained through creation of the previous nine generations of Lancer Evolution and from decades of competing successfully at the highest levels of international rallying.

Most importantly, Lancer Evolution X connects and interacts completely with the driver in all conditions, providing the very highest levels of driving pleasure to match its mighty performance.

And the legendary Evo X’s been tweaked to produce even more power than the old one. Special edition FQ-440 MR features include an ECU re-map, tubular Janspeed exhaust manifold, swollen HKS turbo, bigger intercooler - all help boost the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot to a huge 440bhp and 412lb ft. Still no manual ‘box though - it feeds all four wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch auto.

But it’s not just an exercise in power hoikery. It gets lowered suspension front and rear (that’ll save most owners their first job…), Alcon brakes all-round with six-piston calipers up front, new 18-inch BBS rims, Xenon lamps, and what the company calls ‘motorsport silicone’ window wipers

SUBARU IMPREZA

The new WRX STi is roomier than the old car – thanks to the wheelbase growing by 25mm, and the A-pillar base living 200mm further forward than on the previous generation. Subaru claims more legroom and shoulder room as a result, complimenting a cabin which the Japanese maker claims has seen a marked step up in quality. Given this car will compete with premium performance machinery like the Audi S3 Sportback and BMW M135i, that’s a key area where the STI needs to up its game. Phrases like ‘carbon effect trim’ in the press material don’t fill us with confidence, mind…

Of course, those damned German rivals are fine steers too, but Subaru reckons the new WRX STI (oh how we long for that Impreza badge again) can hold its own. Modifications like a reinforced steering gearbox mount and comprehensively retuned spring and damper rates are supposed to kill the two birds of refinement and fun handling with one stone. We’ll be the judge of that when we get behind the wheel this summer. Your £28,995 (just £2k more than a 197bhp BRZ coupe, don’t forget) buys an awful lot of performance. The new 2.5-litre boxer turbo develops 301bhp at 6000rpm, and 290lb ft at 4000rpm. And surely, you don’t need telling it’s all-wheel drive, and uses a six-speed manual rather than any new-fangled twin-clutch nonsense

NISSAN GTR

The fastest car down an unknown road. Which sounds like the title of a concept album, but is nevertheless true. The R35 GT-R is Nissan’s finest hour, and almost makes up for the Micra. A four-seater two-door with a decent boot and four-wheel drive that’s mightily rear-biased. Bolt that to a suite of electronic cleverness that’ll boggle whatever’s left of your mind, and you’ve got a legend that reliably minces cars twice the price.

The engine is a 3.8-litre V6 (VR38DETT, if you want to get technical), punting out 550bhp and 466lb ft of torque. It’ll do over 193mph, but more than that, use the ‘R-Start’ launch control, and you can get 0–62mph acceleration times below three seconds, run after run. That’s not a car, that’s a missile. But it’s not enough for Nissan: it’s to get Nismo branding and become even faster. Like, wow. Homologated to let Nissan go racing, the R32 was claimed to have 280bhp, as were the R33 (1994) and R34 (1999) successors. GT-R buyers in the UK should beware – there are plenty of imported GT-Rs floating around on the used market of greatly varying quality. We’d prefer to stick to the cars brought across by Nissan itself, and that’s what our test is based on.

The 473bhp grey-imported GT-R it caused quite a stir; it demolished pretty much every challenge we laid before it, including being crowned the winner of our annual Best Driver’s Car shootout. The official 523bhp version of the car turns the GT-R into a super supercar.

The GT-R has always had price on its side. It’s not a cheap car: it’s better value for money than cars that are seemingly as fast, and it can outperform cars of a similar price.

TOYOTA SUPRA

Since 1979, the Supra has established its own, respectable family tree. And now we have a fourth-generation Supra—one that rushes to 160 mph rather than 110, and one that shares as many parts with a Celica as a Tappan oven shares with a Ferrari F40.

Which is apt, actually, because the 1993 Supra Turbo definitely cooks, and it steals more than a few F40 styling cues—the shape of its grille, its trapezoidal head­lamp lenses, and its colossal brake scoops. Not to mention the plagiarized rear wing, which appears to have been unfastened from something manufactured by Aerospatiale but is, praise the Pharaohs, only an option. (As Joseph Campbell once said, "Not one shred of evidence exists that life is serious.")

The 1993 Supra shares its 3.0-liter inline six with the Lexus SC300 and GS300. The naturally aspirated iteration produces 220 horsepower at 5800 rpm. But with two turbos strapped to the iron block's star­board flank, it musters an additional 100 horsepower, as well as a pot-walloping 315 pound-feet of torque—32 pound-feet more than a twin-turbo Nissan 300ZX can summon.

The Supra's turbos are sequential. The smaller one spools up to full boost at around 2500 rpm. Its big brother crashes the party with a bottle rocket of thrust at 4500 rpm, kicking in with all the subtlety of a Holyfield uppercut. Once this engine is force-fed through both turbos, you may want to examine whether the switchable traction control is on duty. The Supra Turbo has no trouble painting impressive black stripes as its massive rear Bridgestone 255/40ZR-17s spin freely exiting second-gear corners on Atlanta Motor Speedway's tricky roadcourse. Plenty of throttle-induced oversteer, here, but if you run shy of courage, simply lift, even at mid-turn. The tail tucks in, and the drama subsides, unless, like us, you enter Turn Three at 140 mph and the compres­sion on the banking reduces suspension travel to the length of a Q-Tip.

HONDA NSX

The Honda NSX changed the way the world viewed the Japanese motor industry. Alongside the Mazda MX-5 and Lexus LS400, it proved that there were no longer any more areas of the market that the Japanese couldn't attack. the NSX was something rather special, though - a fully-fledged mid-engined junior supercar; a Ferrari 348 rival.

And when the NSX was launched in 1990 it left the competition behind, in terms of reliability and practicality. The chassis was perfected at Suzuka, with late-development input from F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna. Senna convinced Honda to stiffen the NSX even more and totally change the rear suspension geometry to give the NSX uncompromising traction. Even if that would subsequently be proven to be at the cost of tyre wear.

Today, this is evident in the cult fillowing the NSX has picked up along the way. And boy, is it deserved. The engine is a masterpiece - for a power unit designed in the middle of F1's turbo era, it was unusual that Honda decided to keep it naturally aspirated. But, for the purest throttle response and cleanest power delivery, this would be essential. The all-aluminium power has a specification sheet that reads well today: 24-valves, four cams and VTEC variable valve timing for 270bhp at 7300rpm.

Thank you for reading our blog post and please feel free to comment.

V8 lifestyle

We all have a soft spot for a big v8 engine don't we? This blog post will show us the best of v8 engine cars and a little about them. I hope you can enjoy the read and comment if you could please.

Mercedes Benz C63 AMG

The Mercedes-AMG C63 is a high performance saloon car that’s been designed to rival models such as the BMW M3 and Audi RS4.

Based on the Mercedes C-Class compact executive saloon, the C63 features a subtly reworked version of the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine that recently made its debut in the Mercedes AMG GT sportscar. Despite being smaller than the old C63’s naturally 6.2-litre engine, the new unit manages to deliver even more power and even greater efficiency.

Like the larger E63, the new C63 is now available in standard and even more powerful C63 S guises. The entry-level model delivers 469bhp, 650Nm of torque and a 0-62mph time of 4.1 seconds, while the S packs a hefty 503bhp and 700Nm, but only lowers the time for the benchmark sprint by a tenth of a second. Both engines achieve 34.5mpg on the combined cycle and emit 192g/km of CO2.

Performance for both versions is blistering. The V8 engine responds crisply to the throttle, while the muscular torque delivery allows you to blast past slower traffic in the blink of an eye.

BMW M5

No other super saloon offers the BMW M5’s combination of mind-bending straight-line performance, dynamic ability and everyday usability. Some will mourn the loss of the previous M5’s manic V10, but the new 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 returns even more performance and uses less fuel. The F10 generation’s dual-clutch gearbox is a vast improvement over the old car’s SMG ‘box, too. 

This M5 is an altogether more refined machine than the E60 version, but it still boasts class-leading dynamics and a degree of agility that sits completely at odds with the near two-tonne kerb weight. Whereas the current generation M3 and M4 models are less than convincing in their dynamic make-up, the M5 is perfectly judged. 

The restrained, but handsome exterior styling and superbly appointed cabin simply complete the package. This M5 is a high water mark both for BMW and for the super saloon as a whole. 

AUDI RS5

Audi can’t quite match BMW and Porsche for racing car heritage, but it’s been making up for lost time ever since the legendary Quattro broke cover in 1980. The brand now offers everything from a compact hot hatch to a full-blooded supercar, but it’s the sleek RS5 that’s closest in spirit to the famous eighties original.

With its smooth coupe lines, muscular V8 powerplant, grippy four-wheel-drive transmission and four-seater cabin, the Audi promises to be a supercar for all seasons.

The Audi RS5 was launched out to mark the 30th anniversary of the original Audi Quattro – and it builds on that car's reputation by offering even more power and technical sophistication. It rivals the BMW M4 and Mercedes C63 AMG, and has a 444bhp 4.2-litre V8 which drives all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic gearbox. It's incredibly capable in all weather conditions, but it's not the driver's car that Audi would have you believe.

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Zero260Blog



Pick Up Trucks!

The UK pick-up truck market is in the throws of a renaissance with a series of new models arriving over the coming months or having already launched onto the scene. It’s great news for the pick-up truck buyer with the quality of the available products available set to take a significant upwards turn, but which pick-up is best?

The Mitsubishi L200 is now in its fifth generation and steady improvements have seen it remain as one of the most popular pick-ups on the market. The latest offering adds car-like sophistication, distinctive styling and a long list of kit, including dual-zone climate control, touchscreen infotainment, lane-departure warning and powered, leather seats.

The 2.4-litre diesel pumps out 178bhp and a muscular 430Nm of torque, delivering strong performance and refinement. Head off-road and four-wheel drive can be engaged with a twist of a rotary control, allowing the L200 to explore where other trucks can’t reach. Stick to the tarmac and you’ll discover direct steering and a composed ride.

If you’re searching for one of the best double-cab 4x4 pick-ups on the market, then look no further than the Nissan Navara. It’s not the cheapest, but the low-ratio gearbox helps provide a superb off-road experience and the steering is responsive, making cornering composed and the truck easy to control at speed.

Under the bonnet, the 2.3-litre diesel is smooth and refined, with the twin-turbo version boosting output to 187bhp. All models come with Nissan’s autonomous breaking technology, which helps the Navara achieve low insurance groupings, while higher-spec models boast a touchscreen sat-nav.

The Volkswagen Amarok is only available as a double-cab in the UK and it is expensive, but is one of the few pick-ups that can actually deliver on the claim to feel ‘car-like’ from behind the wheel. Thanks to a great combination of rugged practicality and a quality feel, it remains one of the most desirable pick-ups on the market.

It’s fuel economy where the Amarok really sets the standard though with VW’s BlueMotion technology lowering fuel use and emissions. The 2.0-litre BiTDI twin turbodiesel engine delivers plenty of pulling power, and a claimed 35.3mpg. Selectable or permanent four-wheel drive also guarantees impressive off-road ability.

In the past, the Ford Ranger was solely focused on practicality and usability, but the latest facelifted version has gone some way to ditching this perception and there is now a sense of style to go with the workhorse image. It’s still not the last word on mechanical sophistication, but it’s built to last, has excellent off-road ability and can tow 3,500kg in some guises.

The 158bhp 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel has plenty of punch, pulls smoothly and has lots of low-down torque. The 5-cyliner 3.2-litre range-topping unit is the strongest in the pick-up class but it's also noisy. Neither engine is particularly economical by today's standards either. 

Rewind two years and the Isuzu D-Max was the top pick-up choice on the market, but now it’s starting to show its age with a host of rivals all trying to catch a customer’s attention. It’s still a solid choice though, offering low running costs, a five-year warranty and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

Available in single cab or double cab, all models use a 2.5-litre twin-turbo diesel, which develops 163bhp and 400Nm of torque. The engine is great for towing, with the 4x4 model able to tow up to 3,500kg. The interior is limited and way behind all of its major rivals.

German Hatch back Galore

The world of Hatchbacks. To be totally honest we here at Zero260blog are not the biggest of fans of hatchback cars, however we do admit that there are some absolute beasts on the road! Here are some of the best hatchback's  that we could think of and please leave us a comment of what you think.

The new Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG is an ultra-high performance hot hatchback based on the regular A-Class.

It combines hatchback family car practicality with breath-taking performance, incredible levels of grip and running costs which are fairly low consider the speeds this car is capable of. It isn't cheap, though.

The A 45's chassis is shared with the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG, but where the former is a proper hot hatch with a rock-hard ride and a sportier-sounding exhaust, the significantly more expensive CLA is slightly quieter, slightly more comfortable and boasts a much bigger boot.

With a maximum output of 355bhp and up to 450Nm of pulling power, the A 45 AMG’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is the most powerful series production four-cylinder powerplant in the world. Merc says the result is a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 4.6 seconds while its top speed stands at 155 mph (electronically limited).

On the road it doesn’t feel quite that fast unless you use the launch control system, but it’s certainly an event. The noise is aggressive and the handling – thanks to four-wheel drive – is balanced and stable with a huge amount of grip.

Although this is a serious performance car, the A 45 AMG leads its segment in terms of fuel consumption, returning an official claimed average of 40.9mpg with CO2 emissions of 161g/km.

BMW has taken heed to critics of the 1-Series, who grumbled that the looks were challenging and the engine range spiralling. Solution? Its biggest facelift ever, introducing a far sharper nose, a much nicer rear end and some stonking new engines that further its performance and eco credentials over rivals. The 1 has never been better.

It still comes in three-door and five-door guise, with badges aligned to the 2-Series (so they bear little relation to engine capacity…) and BMW’s simplified the trim line-up. The old one was a top 10 best-seller regular. BMW’s aiming for more of the same with this.

The upshot is greater levels of comfort and refinement rather than a more-focused driver’s car. The 1-Series will still wag its tail under provocation, but, for better or worse, this is not what this car is about these days. Saying that, BMW has now launched an M135i variant which, with 320bhp from a turbocharged 3.0-litre straightsix, does bring a welcome dose of classic BMW enthusiasm.

Audi’s S1 hot hatchback is the relative baby of its S model line-up and delivers stunning and accessible performance thanks to quattro four-wheel drive and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, as well as all of the class and quality you’d expect from Audi – even in this souped-up supermini.

This attractive blend of speed, stability and upmarket appeal does come at a price, though – prices start at £25,420 for the three-door S1, rising to £26,155 for the five-door S1 Sportback.

It’s a considerable chunk more than even rivals like the MINI John Cooper Works, but the Audi is the only all-wheel drive car in its class, so offers something extra compared to the group of front-wheel drive rivals.

However, be careful, because even a few light options can send the price rocketing towards £30,000, pushing the S1 towards a different league of hot hatch that outguns it for performance and practicality, including the Volkswagen Golf GTI, SEAT Leon Cupra and BMW M135i.

The Audi is still fast and will accelerate from 0-62mph in a blistering 5.8 seconds, which is one full second quicker than rivals like the Ford Fiesta ST and Renaultsport Clio. However, this pairing cost £17,395 and £19,145 respectively and make the Audi look quite pricey. In the Ford’s case, it’s even more fun to drive, too.

On paper, what is essentially a Golf GTI with more power and four-wheel drive doesn’t sound all that exciting yet, in the R, VW has made a genuinely rapid car with that rare knack of feeling totally secure and, at the same time, fantastically biddable, as if it were always working out the best way to extract the most pace from any given input on any given road.

Think of it as a Golf GTI with a reprogrammed ability map that comes into its own beyond 8/10ths, where the less powerful front-drive car would be starting to get distinctly ragged, and you’ll have a fair idea of the Golf R’s exceptional skill set.

If it lacks the nth degree of hardcore conviction and precision that make the RS Megane such a sublime driving tool, it arguably more than compensates with a fully-rounded repertoire of practical everyday abilities as well as the sophistication, myriad refinements and build excellence synonymous with the Golf. A potent package in every sense.