2017 Automation Geneva International Motor Show

Oskiinus · 14 March 2017 18:35

1400 Nm of torque? One crazy best

Awildgermanappears · 14 March 2017 18:37

Oh the 1989, unlimited boost cars had far more than that.

Hshan · 14 March 2017 19:12

And THAT is a proper sports utility vechicle. So much want

DeusExMackia · 14 March 2017 19:46

#Evening Y’all!
Day 6 has just finished up, but it’s been a fairly quiet day, so I’ll be waiting until tomorrow to do a proper round-up. In the mean time, however, here’s what I’ve been up to to day. As part of their Rally Hisotry Exhibition, EADC took me out for a special set of test drives in some of their greatest cars.

One could not ask for a better place to test rally cars on tarmac than the Alps. An almost endless amount of twisting mountain roads and gorgeous Alpine scenery; what more could you ask for?

Well, how about some rally legends from one of the discipline’s most prestigious competitor’s, EADC (or rather, MBS as they were known up until 1995). Their exhibition has been drawing in big numbers since it opened last Friday, yet some might say it’s a shame that these classic cars are being kept static. Not today, however.

I’m in an EADC Verona being driven across the border out to Thorens-Glières, a little French town about 40 mins away from the Palexpo. Some executives in the company have convinced the Authorities to close off a couple of roads surrounding the settlement to let us drive without hindrance, in exchange for a few shotgun rides in some of the cars of course. Upon arrival, I’m greeted by a selection of some of the finest off-road racing machinery ever made, and I make a beeline for the Mk 1 Vole.

Clad in Lemon Yellow paint and rocking skinny off-road tires, this car was actually far from a success, and never won a single race during its time with the factory team. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to take it for a spin, however; there’s just something about a nippy 60s family car that’s been tastefully tuned.

The thrummy 1.4l i4 bursts into life and we’re underway. It’s a 12 valve unit, unusual today but fairly common back when this thing was new. And with 119hp being sent to the rear wheels of this 863 kg mosquito of a car, it’s an absolute rocket off of the line.

I’m lucky enough to be driving this myself, though they’ve given me a passenger in the form of current EADC racer Timo Mäkleläinen to make sure I don’t do anything stupid, plus they’ve limited where I can go. We blast down the D2 through a picturesque Alpine valley, scaring some of the locals with our un-silenced exhaust sounds, hitting 60 mph on some of the longer stretches of road.

The Vole is a darling to drive; sharp at low speeds, ever-so-slightly loose at higher speeds, adding a nice sense of danger to keep you on your toes. The steering isn’t heavy, but you really do have to work it, adding to the sense of involvement you feel driving it. Those skinny wheels, however, do not provide much grip, and the understeer became hard to ignore after a while. But we can this thing some slack - after all, it is 50 years old.

As far as warm-ups go, that was a good one. Far from rally perfection, like some of the other cars here, but such a joy to drive. Up next, however, we really are going all out. Standing in front of me, decked in its distinctive blue and yellow livery is the Vole Mk III Group B. As far as Group B monsters go, this was one of the maddest - a V8 powered hatchback. How they manage to get that through the regulations, we’ll never know, especially given how its rivals were running with engines based off of road-going variants.

Unsurprisingly, I’m not allowed behind the wheel of this thing, but Timo Mäkleläinen is, and it’s one of his favorite cars of all time. “Honestly, if someone had told me my job would include driving this for a living, I’d have tried to join the team far earlier in my career” he says with a childish grin on his face.

The startup procedure in a Group B car is quite something - turn off the safety, engage the fuel lines, start the ignition and then switch to the rich fuel mixture. By this point, the 2.8l V8 seems to be trying to tear it self out of its mounting brackets, but Mäkleläinen brings it under control by slamming the car into first and shoving his foot on to the accelerator. One minute we’re stationery, the next we’re doing 80 mph through a French village.

This time, we’re heading up the twisting switchback corners of the D55, otherwise known as the Route de Giléres, a thin piece of tarmac that creeps its way up to a large open shelf on the side of a mountain. I don’t have much time to admire the scenery however, as right now I’m fearing for my life every few seonds. I may well be in safe hands with Mäkleläinen, and I keep reassuring myself that he is a professional, but by god he drives this thing hard.

The noise the Mk III makes is biblical. Unlike the broad, consonant sounds of equivalent Group B cars, the V8 snorts and shouts all the way up to 8300 rpm, and one can’t help think that there’s a very real prospect of this car starting an avalanche. As we snake up the mountain, sliding round the switchback bends and bombing along through the pine forests, the wave of noise this car makes engrosses your senses and only heightens the drama.

I may well be in a constant state of shock currently, but that doesn’t mean I’m unable to appreciate the strengths of this car. How this chassis manages to take all the punishment it receives is beyond me, but it holds up without fail even under the greatest of forces. The short wheel base also makes a difference - despite the front-heavy weight distribution, sliding the Mk III is very easy and allows it to carry speed through the corners without a hitch.

In little over 6 minutes, we’ve made the 13km trip to the Centre De Vacances Ufoval on the shelf. I was hoping to take some time to appreciate the beautiful views, but Mäkleläinen has other plans, and quickly stops the car, puts it into reverse and J turns before heading back down the road.

The Vole Mk III Group B thoroughly shook me, to say the least, but what a shaking it was. This car is electric, visceral and mad. A V8 hatchback that sounds, goes and drives as crazily as that idea is in the first place. How do you follow that up? With EADC’s most successful rally car ever, that’s what!

The 2003 Vixen dominated WRC throughout the mid-noughties, it’s chunky coupe styling becoming evocative of the period in the sport. Comparatively, this car is far more sophisticated than anything else I’ve been in today - it actually has a bit of an interior, for one - but it’s also the fastest (just). 414 hp comes from its 2.0l Turbo i4, meaning its good for 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, which, according to Mäkleläinen, is very manageable despite the massive amount of torque the turbos create when they kick in.

The noise is exactly what you’d expect - the distinctive, rough and rounded warble of Group A rally cars, with a few bangs from the backfire. For its time, the Vixen was very advanced, featuring direct injection, an electric LSD and some nifty limited-active suspension. The result is a car that can deal its power properly; it feels like a professional athelete in comparison to the rabid dog that is the Vole Mk III.

This time, we’re heading south down the D5 to Aviernoz, before turning off for a hill climb up the Route de l’Anglettaz. The road hasn’t been well maintained, and resembles light gravel more than anything else. Perfect.

The car is poised and pointed, and responds instantly to every move. I’m able to pick up all the sounds of the car, from smooth clunk of the sequential gearbox to the change in power distribution from the electric LSDs. It’s a car that feels like its working, but certainly still requires you to work it too. It’s more than happy to let loose both when you want it to and when you don’t want it to, but that challenge only makes Mäkleläinen happier to go faster.

We reach the top, where we find the Chalet Restaurant de l’Anglettaz. A couple of other EADC cars are here, along with some other lucky journalists like myself. I sit down outside to chat with the engineers who maintain these things with a plate of cured meats and gourmet polenta. In this landscape, with the stark snow-dusted mountains and thick forests contrasting the gorgeous sky, the Vixen could not look more at home, and the afternoon sun really brings out the detail on its vents and scoops.

Suffice to say, EADC are a company who know rallying. They’ve managed to turn a whole lineage of their cars into rally machines with remarkable success, and it’s great to see just how proud they are of this heritage. Getting driven around in them is just the icing on the cake.

.

The EADC/MBS Rally Exhbition is open until the 18th March, and is free for all visitors.

Dorifto_Dorito · 14 March 2017 21:22

#OAM Announcement

Although we are still mourning the death of our co-founder Audie Whittingmore, the show must go on. So after the announcement/reveal of the new OAM Chevalier II, we now present the OAM Traveller II!

_{OAM Traveller II Concept at NAIAS in January}

##US/EU Standard Spec
So much like the Chevalier II, the new Traveller II is completely overhauled when compared to the concept car shown at NAIAS in January. One potential issue someone _{cough cough Gavin Anderson} pointed out, the Traveller II appeared to have the same 600 hp beast that the Chevalier II concept had…meaning that the Traveller II was an absolute monster. Fortunately, the Concept only had that engine because it was the only one we had lying about at that time. We were originally going to place the V6 from the 2014 OAM Apache (not released yet technically), meaning the Traveller II would be ~~somewhat~~ controllable for everyone.

With a now more controllable 265hp 3.0L V6 TwinTurbo, the standard spec of the Traveller II still maintains the feel of power of the concept’s V8, but is now more nimble and agile with the lighter and smaller V6. The Traveller also has been restyled for a neater look while still looking imposing on the road.

Inside, the new Traveller has 5 premium leather heated seat. While the infotainment is standard, the Traveller II also comes with keyless entry, rear parking camera, traction control, ABS and electronic stability as standard. This makes the Traveller II rather comfortable.

However, unlike the Chevalier II, there is no difference between the EU Spec and US Spec, bar the plastic bumper trim on the EU spec, again to meet regulations.

###Stats | US/EU Spec

Coming soon to OAM dealerships in the US and General Industries Dealerships in Europe (sorry asia…not today) Prices start at $/£ 25,870.

##US V8 Muscle

Sadly for you all in Europe, the V8 Spec of the Traveller II is not coming to Europe. OAM are not willing to disclose as to the reason why yet. But for you lucky Americans, heres the OAM Traveller II

This new ‘Muscle’ Spec of the Traveller II is based on the Traveller II Concept shown at NAIAS. With the same 510hp engine as the Chevalier II, the Traveller II is fast. Very fast, reaching 215mph and going 0-60 in 4.7s. Along with the new engine, the Traveller II ‘Muscle’ also has new carbon ceramic brakes for more efficient braking.

Inside, the interior is basically the same as the standard model, same premium heated seats, same driver assists, but the infotainment has been upgraded to the same BOSE surround sound in the Chevalier II. The Traveller II Muscle also features launch control making it faster on a drag strip than most other cars.

As said earlier, there will be no EU spec of this car, however, you folks in Europe should not fear, as we are planning a track oriented version of the Traveller II to make up for the lack of American V8 Muscle.

###Stats | V8 Muscle Spec

Coming to OAM dealerships in the US soon! Prices start at $31,980

Dorifto_Dorito · 14 March 2017 21:26

The engine was based off a road going variant found in the Vole III Homologation…wait thats the other way round…woops

Also Timo Mäkleläinen’s father drove for MBS in the 1980s

DeusExMackia · 14 March 2017 21:35

Thanks for clarifying that, was wondering how you got around the rules otherwise You should get one of those homologation specials on the Ads thread…

And nice! Thought you’d used the name before.

Dorifto_Dorito · 14 March 2017 21:36

There is a homologation spec in the AutomationTrader Thread. ‘Needs restoration’ and that jazz.

NormanVauxhall · 14 March 2017 22:16

#ZNOPRESK PRESENTS

#THE ZRP WRC ZAP!

Znopresk Reparto Performance seen some hopes for the next WRC season and started to work to a lab car where test all the tehcnologies useful to create a real WRC competitor after years since the latest truly competitive rally car in the late 70's,

The platform that will host the new incarnation of the World Rally Car for Znopresk is the ZAP, and this car it is a step in that direction, but it will not be the final WRC car; it will be a special limited edition (250 pieces) created in order to test some technologies on the road.

The rear suspension changed from the basic ZAP! torsion beam to a indipendent configuration, allowing to install a AWD trasmission, a BMMA based V6 found its place under the bonnet tuned to hit 250 horsepower and the interior were truly sport oriented, with bucket seats, 4 point seatbelt and integrated rollcage.

The car is track ready, but still road legal, like a Porsche GT2 in a smaller and cheaper package.

Dorifto_Dorito · 14 March 2017 22:32

Ive always wanted a rival for the new EADC Weasel Rally, looks like ive found one!

anon14927014 · 14 March 2017 22:59

Cornaldie Automotive introduces new rally support vehicle???

Was the question one journalist from rally news network screamed. Whispers and mumurs from the crowd, with the question “what?” surfacing through the deadening of noise…Silence. The representative from Cornaldie Automotive steps center stage…

"We know that our presence to Geneva brought great interest to our brand. We are a relatively young company, and this is our first ever Geneva appearance. Since we do not have a motorsport team as of yet, we’d like everyone to know… by showing, that we at Cornaldie Automotive are vivid motorsport enthusiasts. You’ve seen our ability to create Hypercars like the Veloci Concept R, Luxury cars such as the Echelon LX and others, but we’ve never shown an offroad capable vehicle. This is why ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to take the time to introduce to you… The Cornaldie Automotive RU-1 Rally Support Vehicle.

“A total of 10 will be built… and packed with the latest support technology, these vehicles will be used as a sponsorship tool for cross country, or multi-stage rally/ raid events. With over 600 hp, and over 500 ft-lb of torque, this support truck could potentially be the stepping stone into a full fledged rally raid team in the future. I’d also issue an official invitation to @Dorifto_Dorito at EADC and @DeusExMackia for a test drive at this year’s EADC rally exhibition stages in hopes of a sponsorship and promotions agreement at this year’s cross country rally events. All other sponsorship requests will be handled by our marketing department at marketing@cornaldie.auto.co. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”

Dorifto_Dorito · 14 March 2017 23:12

@doncornaldie While this vehicle certainly looks impressive, we at EADC are not the correct authority to use this vehicle as a support truck, instead we would direct you to the FIA. However, we certainly see potential in the RU-1 as a competitor for the Paris-Dakar Rally, where we believe that it would certainly do quite well in.

anon14927014 · 14 March 2017 23:15

For team support, not general. We’re already in dialogue with the FIA. While it would be an interesting proposal to compete, we do not believe we can fully commit resources to a racing team at this point. Maybe in the future.

Dorifto_Dorito · 14 March 2017 23:16

We would be glad to see you enter some races in the future!
EDIT: That being said, we would be more than glad to see whether it would be worth replacing our old line of OAM Prowler support trucks.

EDIT #2: [quote=“doncornaldie, post:239, topic:20209”]
600 hp, and over 500 ft-lb of torque
[/quote]

yeah with that much power and torque, you’ll be giving some of our group B cars a tough time

anon14927014 · 14 March 2017 23:19

It is our intention my friend, and we’re confident that we will. Our financial forecasts for our new product line does look inspiring.

SideswipeBL · 15 March 2017 02:38

I’m liking the enormous Nitrex badges on the side.

anon14927014 · 15 March 2017 07:16

Loving the orange pin stripe

Darkshine5 · 15 March 2017 11:27

WARNING the following rant is rated MA15+ it contains strong language, and crude homour

Over at DSD
Broadmeadows Overseer takes to the stage with a nervous looking bunch of French DSD employees unveiling the cars. as the following music is played

> In a very very strong Australian Accent
INTRODUCING THE ALL NEW, THE ALL POWERFUL, THE ALL MIGHTY MINI MICRO MACHINE, THE PISS ANT!!!

[from side of stage PUISSANT YOU MORON PUISSANT For fucks sake!]

She’s a midnight rider, a devil of the night. She has bold curves and bolder torque curves. She may be tiny but what lies within is mighty. The 2017 DSD Pray sant

[from side of stage PUISSANT< PUISSANT FUCKING MORON…PRE SON…PRE SON ITS FUCKIING EASY]

well sorry!

Anyway. The PRRRREEEEEEEESAAAAAAAAN will come in a variety of trims Including a convertible option. This…vehicle, is capable of astonishing fuel economy and brisk performance that will not cost $40000 or $30000 or even $20000 the …PRESAN will start at $9990!

We decided that to make life easy for us at DSD that the individual trims would have titles relating to famous cities of the car designed for that region.

The first trim that we have for you is the Osaka

Styled by coach builders Licorne the PRESONT is made from an AHS mono chassis with a single stamped Mixed Alloy body, with the exception of the front spoiler the body is completely one steel piece with complex lines and billet alloy highlight featured through-out the French inspired body work. All trims are Transverse mounted FWD with the Osaka featuring a 660cc 4 cylinder engine coupled with DSD’s electric drive enhancement which boosts power thanks to a 80Nm electric engine that is powered by reclaimed energy from the brakes. This is all controlled by an onboard ecu that feeds in torque when needed and bleeds it away at higher RPMS, with the 660cc petrol engine and electric motor running together at max capacity we see a total of 65hp at 8000rpms, which may not seem like much and compared to the rest of the DSD range is about 350hp less than what you normally would find in our vehicles, the Puissant
[WOOHOOO HE GOT IT RIGHT]
is well balanced and very very light. The Osaka is available with a 5sp manual gearbox with viscous LSD which combined with the low weight of the car means a top speed of 200km/h is possible. All trims of the Puissant are fitted with Federal medium compound tyres and alloy rims.
Two seats are fitted as standard along with cd/Bluetooth stereo and the highest grade safety equipment we could fit into that french body shell. And it comes in a convertible model!

The next trim is the Monaco.

The Monaco is fitted with a 1799CC DOHC 30V v6 and is to be marketed more towards obviously the European market but also the Australasian and America’s.
The v6 is beautifully balanced and very tune-able, featuring DFI and 95oct fuel this little motor produces 120hp/168Nm and revs to 8000Rpm and straight thru mufflers enhance the already throaty intake bellow. Behind the engine is a 6sp manual gearbox/viscous combo and will allow the Monaco to race to 100km/h in just 7.4seconds and a top speed of 240km/h. This trim features the exact same interior as the Osaka but traction control and launch control are now standard.the Monaco retails for just over $12000.

Finally we come to the Aubagne trim.

Only available in Western Europe and Dubai, the Aubagne is the ducks nuts!
Featuring a a larger displacement 2202cc 220hp naturally aspirated v6, with throttle per cylinder technology and long tube exhausts manifolds flowing into a dual stainless steel exhaust system.
The sound this car makes is unlike anything DSD has made before. Behind this power plant we find a 6sp manual gearbox with a viscous LSD that along with larger diameter tyre propels the car to 100km/h in just 5.6second and a top speed of just under 300km/h. A full underbody tray and air scoops for the brakes are fitted as standard equipment on this trim only. Inside we find two Deer leather seats from the Saratoga and the usual CD/Bluetooth radio system. This is also the only trim to feature adaptive dampers to keep the car flat and slightly oversteery. Expect a retail price of $17500

Test drives are available from here
darkshine5 - DSD PUISSANT GENEVA TEST DRIVES.zip (109.1 KB)

stay tuned because tomorrow Darkshines will be here with the R model Saratogas and all engine specs will be released, goodnight.

anon14927014 · 15 March 2017 15:15

300 km/h in a car that weighs 983 kg, with low aero efficiency…yikes! You sure know how to scare people.

Dorifto_Dorito · 15 March 2017 16:00

#EADC Sojourner 2017

So at the start of Geneva, we showed a teaser for our latest SUV, the Sojourner. So without further ado, here is the Sojourner Concept 2017!

The Sojourner Concept from the outside looks like your average SUV, however, inside there is a little bit of sport pedigree inside it. The 3.5L i6 is derived from the i6 variant of the EADC Corsair. Yes this ~~not very~~ little SUV is packing an engine from out entry level sport version of the Corsair. Inside, the interior is very spacious with nice leather seats, standard infotainment, electric windows and basically everything you would expect to find in a the Standard Verona. Currently we are expecting to be able to finalise and release the finished version of the Sojourner by June/July.

Meanwhile of course, since EADC like to ramble on about its rally heritage/prestige, we would also like to unveil our latest attempt to make a car decent for the Paris-Dakar Rally.

With a modernised version of the infamous 2.8L V8 ‘Nadier-Schoefield Peregrine Twin Turbo’ from the MBS Vole MkIII Group B car, the Sojourner Dakar Special produces 623hp, directed to all four wheels through a DSG and electronic LSD. This allows the 1.6 Tonne car to reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, and reach a top speed of 173mph.