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Skoda Octavia vRS: Czech Speed

Skoda, the Czechoslovakian fourth tentacle of the Volkswagen family of manufacturers, has spent nearly two decades methodically chipping away at any notions of shaky reliability. Skoda’s efforts have apparently paid off with not only a growing following in the West and particularly in Britain, but widespread critical praise with the automotive press. All of this progress has resulted in the development and production of a sporty new version of the Octavia sedan; the vRS.

vRS Interior

After floundering a bit in the past to simply reinvent image misconceptions with consumers, Skoda’s confidence in producing the sporty Octavia vRS is a sign that the Czech company has finally found a solid foothold in the European market and is ready to take a larger bite out of their European competition. One of the appeals to the Skoda line is a wide variety of options available to customers including a variety of new powerplants. This is in part thanks to a large monetary investment in technology by VW that has allowed the vRS to deliver performance that if not truly sports car-like, is definitely spirited. In fact, most critics give the nod towards the vRS over the VW GTi in terms of driving satisfaction. The kudos begin with the 200 horsepower engine that drives the front wheels of the vRS and is the most powerful ever to appear in a Skoda. This efficient 4-cylinder is capable of a 0 to 62mph time in a respectable 7.3 seconds and has a top speed of 149mph. Skoda claims that it produces enormous torque (more than a Porsche Cayman S) and is mated to a six-speed transmission and utilizes a specially-tuned chassis and suspension set up to ensure that handling is up to the rigors. Despite the performance edge to the vRS, Skoda has kept fuel efficiency at a combined 35mpg. 18-inch wheels, twin exhaust and red brake calipers are the only mild indications of this car’s driving dynamics. Upgrades to the Octavia’s interior include, leather, sport seats, dual climate control and a laundry list of safety and child seat components.

Not that anyone needs reminding of the dollars relative weakness in comparison to the Euro, but pricing for the vRS is slightly more than 17,000 pounds or $33,095. Even so, the vRS is a solid option in the sport sedan segment.

Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Hybrid Racer Debuts, Fails To Charge Audience

Photo Source: Motor Dude

Recently, Peugeot unveiled their new green Le Mans contender, the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Hybrid Racer. Although heralded as a major achievement in the racing industry and praised for its environmental progressiveness, I am not enthused. If an automobile doesn’t translate into a real world application, like the Peugeot 908 hybrid racer largely fails to do, then I’m just not interested. To be perfectly honest, I think dropping that kind of cash to engineer a top performance race car that stores any unused kinetic energy is a waste. When was the last time a Formula 1 racer interrupted his crew chief by saying, “Well yes Hank, 0-60mph in under 3 seconds is very impressive, but what kind of gas mileage does it get?”

I’ll hand it to Peugeot though, the design department did a hell of a job creating an aesthetic for the 908 HDi that was both sleeking and imposing, in an impending-alien-probe sort of way. Bottom line: if this were street legal, I’d be all over it, but as it stands, it doesn’t seem particularly exciting.

2008 Lotus Elise SC

A Red Lotus Elise SC

Ever since my best friend in High School had a 1986 Fiat Bertone, I have had a fondness for mid-engine sports cars. Such a bare bones and unashamedly single-minded vehicle made it a unique contrast to the Mustangs and Camaros that were the typical car selection of a teenage boy in my hometown.

Sure the muscle cars always had more horsepower and straight ahead top speed. But with the engine screaming just behind your ears, it handled the extreme curves of the roads that wind through the mountains where I lived so well that you felt you were ready to compete in a GT road race. Fast forward to the 2008 Lotus Elise SC, a car that does so much right, it may be the best pure sports car in the world.

The Lotus Elise SC is essentially a supercharged version of the entry-level 190-hp Elise. A 1.8 liter DOHC putting out 217 horsepower does not sound especially impressive, but in a car that weighs only about 2,000 pounds it is more than plenty. Weight is a big part of what makes this car work so well. The Lotus-designed lightweight chassis is constructed of epoxy-bonded aluminum and steel rear subframe wrapped in a composite fiberglass body.

The Toyota-engineered engine is coupled with a Magnusson supercharger that gives the Elise SC a top speed of 150 mph propels the car to 60 mph in a respectable 4.4 seconds. The SC has the same engine used in the upscale Exige, but with a different supercharger that Lotus engineers tuned to coax out a similar power output while maintaining 20-26 mpg. In something so small, so light this performance can only be described as thrilling.

Agility is the first test. Not the cars, but yours. As you climb, fall or basically crawl into the Elise you become quite aware of its proportions. The Elise is just 44 inches tall, 73 inches wide and 149 inches long making it shorter than the diminutive Toyota Yaris.

The available options and interior is not overflowing with amenities, though you do get a leather wrapped steering wheel, seats and door trim, AC, electric windows, airbags, antilock brakes and even (gasp) a cupholder. Traction control and limited slip differential are also available.

The white on black gauges that stare you in the face are effective in communicating to the driver that this is a vehicle that you will drive, not the other way around. The driver’s attention is mandatory if you are planning on taking corners at any significant speed. Steering is responsive and precise and the ride is on the very firm side but completely appropriate and befitting the racecar feel of the SC. The driving pleasure of the SC more than overcomes any minor lack of manners or comfort. In fact, the ride is surprisingly pleasant compared to what would be expected of such an overtly racecar oriented vehicle.

For those that are looking for the automotive equivalent of a booty call, the base price of $54,000 is not that much to ask. When’s the last time an impractical $54,000 car was considered affordable? But for a car that delivers like few can, it’s a downright bargain.

Exclusive: Ronaele Debuts their Monoceros 700hp Mustang at Daytona Turkey Run

DSC_0070-EC.jpg picture by willfusion

There seems to be plenty of Specialty Mustangs and Mustang Customizers out on the market these days, and the word coming down from Ford is that the demand is still there for more. But one Auto Customizer just raised the bar for themselves and the rest of the market. With their car 95% completed Ronaele finds the Turkey Rod Auto Show in Daytona Beach to be a great location to debut their Monoceros 700 R Mustang. What started out as one man’sÂ wish-list based off a stock Mustang GT has turned into one mean street machine that is eager to see its time in the sun.

Monoceros was told to us to be anÂ Indian word that stood for something mythological and unattainable; such as a Unicorn or Dragon. In the case of Ronaele’s Monoceros 700R Mustang and for the rest of us that just may be the case. And do not let that 700 R moniker fool you into thinking this is all about the badging. The Monoceros earns its 700 marking as she is dyno’d at 700-hp at the rear-wheels; because 699-hp would just not suffice.
(To learn more and to see a plethora of photos click now)

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