Latest news with #Akrapovic
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Aston Martin DBX S Smashes Bentley's Goodwood Hillclimb Record As Quickly As It Was Set
The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed is always one of the biggest highlights of the automotive calendar, and this year did not disappoint, with numerous reveals, dynamic debuts, and hillclimb runs. One of the most impressive ventures up Lord March's driveway during the timed shootout was that of the Bentley Bentayga Speed, which broke the old Bentayga W12's record to become the fastest internal combustion engine SUV ever to tackle the course. Unfortunately for Bentley's 641-horsepower SUV, the 717-hp Aston Martin DBX S was also in attendance, and it broke Bentley's record before the weekend was out. You can watch that record run from onboard at the bottom of this article. Related: Listen To How Akrapovic Turns Bentley's V8 Models Into Angry Brutes The Bentayga Speed's expedition up the Goodwood Hillclimb was timed at 55.8 seconds, while the DBX S took just 53.12 seconds. A difference of over a second and a half is quite something for such a short course, and the onboard video suggests that there was still time to be made. The launch looked good, but the shift to second gear seemed a little delayed. At the first bend, Madgwick, there's some tire squeal, and as the DBX S goes onto the Fordwater "straight," some corrective steering is required. After clearing the right-hander before St. Mary's corner, the DBX S experiences some proper oversteer as the sharp left-hander tightens up before heading to the slowest part of the track, Lavant, before the kinked Lavant straight ahead of the finish line. It's not the cleanest lap it could have been, but that the Aston snatched the record anyway speaks to the potential of the super SUV. We can't ignore the fact that the Bentayga Speed's run was set in damp conditions, so it's reasonable to assume that a quicker time could be achieved in the same weather experienced by the DBX S. However, a difference of more than 70 horsepower is tough to overcome. Bentley's Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, also with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, generates 771 hp, but there has been no indication that this powertrain will be fitted to the SUV. If it is, perhaps the Bentayga will have a chance of reclaiming the record, but that extra power would also come with extra weight. Regardless, the next 12 months of gloating (at least) belong to Aston, and with more and more super SUVs going the hybrid route, the DBX S may own the ICE SUV record at Goodwood for all time. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Hero Centennial deliveries begin, is based on the Karizma XMR
Hero raised ₹8.58 crore with 75 units auctioned of 'The Centennial' CE100 limited edition motorcycle that pays homage to the legacy of the manufacturer's founder and Chairman Emeritus, Dr. Brijmohan Lall Munjal. Check Offers Hero MotoCorp has commenced the deliveries of Centennial in India. If you have not heard of the Centennial, then it is a limited edition motorcycle based on the Karizma XMR. The Centennial was sold through auction to employees of the company, associates, business partners and stakeholders. Only 100 units of the Centennial were produced to celebrate the 101st birth anniversary of Dr. Brijmohan Lall Munjal. 75 units of the motorcycle were auctioned and it raised ₹ 8.6 crore for charity. The highest bid was ₹ 20.30 lakh for the Centennial number CE100. The remaining 25 units will be given to employees and customers through various contests. While the chassis and the engine of the Centennial is shared with the Karizma XMR, Hero is using a few top-of-the-line equipment so that the limited edition motorcycle stands out. Also Read : Hero Super Splendor XTEC and Glamour updated with OBD2B compliant engine It features new suspension hardware, including an Akrapovic exhaust, body panels made from carbon fibre, a swingarm made from milled aluminium, and a hydroformed tube handlebar. Apart from this, there are 43 mm upside-down forks in the front that are fully adjustable for compression and rebound as well. At the rear, the monoshock is sourced from Wilbers, and again, it gets full adjustability. Few other things that the motorcycle gets is a carbon fibre seat cowl and milled aluminium special edition numbered badging on the side covers. There are also diamond-cut alloy wheels on offer. The brand also developed handlebar mounts, triple clamps, and rear-set foot pegs. All of these changes also helped Hero MotoCorp in reducing the weight by 5 kg when compared to the Karizma, which for reference weighs 163.5 kg, kerb. In terms of the engine, it is carried forward from the Karizma XMR. It is a 210 cc, single-cylinder liquid cooled engine that is tuned to produce 25.15 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 20.4 Nm. The gearbox on duty continues to be a 6-speed unit. Check out Upcoming Bikes In India. First Published Date: 10 Jul 2025, 11:23 am IST
Top Gear
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
This concept BMW superbike gets Akrapovic exhausts and *NOS*
The 'Titan' is based on the R 1300 R, which is BMW's most powerful boxer-engined production two-wheeler yet Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. The folks at BMW's two-wheeler division, Motorrad, have been given a fun day off to design this super-aggressive concept bike which features Akrapovic exhausts and a nitrous bottle for extra boost. Yikes. Dubbed the 'Titan', it's spun off the new R 1300 R, so it shares the same 1300cc two-cylinder boxer engine producing 143bhp/110lb ft. That makes it the most powerful production series boxer engine Motorrad has ever used - now even more powerful with a bit of a NOS kick. BMW hasn't specified how big of a kick, so best hold back your 'too soon, junior' quips.
Car and Driver
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Volkswagen Golf R Review, Pricing, and Specs
Overview A practical sports car, the Golf R is what you get when you add more power and all-wheel drive to the already entertaining GTI hatchback. There's 328 horsepower on tap—87 more than in its sibling—and reactions are further sharpened through various chassis tweaks. This car's low-volume status means VW now only imports it with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (go back a couple years if you want a manual), and it comes in one very loaded but pricey trim. All but the speed-freakiest would likely be satisfied with a cheap-by-comparison GTI instead, but there's no denying the R's performance cred. What's New for 2026? The Black Edition trim offered in 2025 goes away, leaving just the standard model for this year. A new exterior hue called Graphite Gray Metallic joins the roster. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 Volkswagen Golf R is expected to start around $49,000. Golf R $49,000 (est) 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k $60k $70k $80k For 2026, the Golf R is sold in just one fully loaded trim level, making the decision rather easy. The only major choice is whether to go for the enticing Euro Style package that VW says saves around 80 pounds: it gets rid of the sunroof, swaps in manually adjustable front seats, and includes a meaner-sounding Akrapovic exhaust system that's lighter than the standard setup. Engine, Transmission, and Performance As of 2025, the Golf R's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is rated at 328 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque; a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is the sole gearbox offered. The standard 4Motion all-wheel-drive system features a rear differential that can actively distribute torque between the left and right rear wheels for improved handling. When we drove the 2025 Golf R, we found it to be just as responsive and eager as before, and the boosted turbo-four feels equally great on either twisty roads or the racetrack. 0–60-MPH Times Volkswagen claims the latest Golf R is capable of hitting 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Based on our previous testing, however, we feel that number may be a tad conservative. For instance, a 2022 Golf R with the seven-speed automatic transmission hit 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds in our hands. We also tested a 2023 Volkswagen Golf R as part of a 0-to-150-to-0 speed test where it sprinted to 150 mph and returned to a stop in just 40.2 seconds—well before its rivals, the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Elantra N, which were also part of the same test. View Exterior Photos Volkswagen Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG The EPA hasn't released any fuel-economy information for the 2026 Golf R yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings of 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy testing, part of our extensive testing regimen, the automatic Golf R averaged an impressive 34 mpg. For more information about the Golf R's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo The standard Golf R interior comes with nicely bolstered high-back sport seats rendered in black leather. Opting for the Euro Style package replaces the front thrones with lighter pieces wearing fake suede with cloth inserts that go without ventilation and offer power adjustment only for recline. There are R logos and blue accents in several spots, including the stitched-leather steering wheel. Unlike the GTI, the Golf R retains frustrating touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls, which include an R button to expedite access to the drive-mode menu. The Golf's interior materials and design have been updated over the years, but the basic five-passenger-and-cargo format has remained set in stone for decades because it works. View Interior Photos Volkswagen Infotainment and Connectivity A 12.9-inch infotainment screen dominates the middle of the dashboard. A revised menu structure teams with updated software to streamline operation, including more user-defined widgets in the home screen, and a static, full-time lower control bar keeps certain commands in view 24/7. HVAC controls are reimagined into more intuitive illuminated sliders like in other new VW products. Instrumentation is displayed in a 10.2-inch digital driver's screen; a configurable head-up display keeps critical data visible. The system includes a GPS lap timer that learns the circuit before activation and allows the user to set three waypoints to allow for comparing times over certain sections, as well as compare the fastest and slowest laps and display them concurrently. The G-meter offers three modes to zoom in on reactions and hone your performance. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features The Golf R offers an array of driver-assistance technology, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. For more information about the Golf R's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature Warranty and Maintenance Coverage It's unlikely that Volkswagen will alter its warranty schedule for 2026. We expect it to carry on with the existing coverage that provides an average powertrain warranty but some of the best limited warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance programs currently available in the segment. Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 20,000 miles Specifications Specifications 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback PRICE Base: Golf R, $48,325; Black Edition, $49,640 ENGINE turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection Displacement: 121 in3, 1984 cm3 Power: 328 hp @ 6500 rpm Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch automatic DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 103.5 in Length: 169.1 in Width: 70.4 in Height: 57.8 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 51/41 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 35/20 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 3400 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 4.0 sec 100 mph: 10.2 sec 1/4-Mile: 12.5 sec Top Speed: 155 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 25/22/31 mpg More Features and Specs
NZ Autocar
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
GTI Edition 50 celebrates a half century of hot Golfs
A half century after the arrival of the Mk1 Golf GTI, Volkswagen has revealed the hot new Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50. This is essentially the successor to the Clubsport S. This new Edition 50 is about as hardcore as a Golf GTI gets. At almost 240kW from the EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol it also stumps up with 420Nm. By comparison, the standard GTI makes 195kW and 370Nm. Golf GTI Edition 50 is said to hit 100km/h from standstill in 5.5 seconds, right up there with Civic Type R. Top speed is limited to 269km/h. It's hardly a stripped out three-door lightweight special like its forebear either. This retains the practical five-door body and rear seats, along with a fully-loaded cabin and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Power goes to the front wheels only, the grounding of it assisted by an electronically controlled limited slip differential. Read our test of the Current Golf GTI. When fitted with the optional GTI Performance Pack, the Edition 50 gets all-new suspension kinematics. There's more negative camber, 20 per cent stiffer springs, retuned adaptive dampers, stiffer rear wheel hub connections and firmer bushes. The DCC (dynamic chassis control) and VDM (vehicle dynamic management) are tweaked to suit the new set-up. So too is the steering. It also rides 15mm lower on forged 19-inch alloy wheels that, together with Bridgestone Potenza Race semislick tyres, reduce unsprung weight by 8kg. An Akrapovic titanium exhaust system subtracts another 11kg off the total weight compared with the GTI Clubsport. 'It is also the most capable on the track,' said chassis development boss Lars Frömmig. So VW is clearly wanting to rival the best in class for driver engagement. And it is already the fastest of any production VW around the Nurburgring, posting a time of 7min and 46.13 sec. Styling changes are relatively restrained. There are two heritage colour options not available on standard Golf GTIs, Moss Green and Tornado Red. Meanwhile, the forged wheels are finished in red and black and the front and rear lights have smoked inners. And there's a unique stripe on the sill but the look is the opposite of outrageous. Inside is a special tartan fabric trim along with microsuede inserts, plus red seatbelts and Edition 50 badges. But the seats themselves are standard GTI pews. The twin-screen layout is standard fit, and comes with customisation options. VW has not yet said how many it intends to build or what the price premium over the GTI will be. However, we do know that the first RHD deliveries are due early in 2026.
