2011 Nissan PlayStation GT Academy 3 Review

GT Academy's global footprint is growing. 2011 marks the third season of GT Academy in Europe, as well as the inaugural year in the USA. 

This year's European competition will run across 10 countries with the online gaming phase starting on 4 March and continuing until 17 April. Leaderboards for each participating territory will highlight the fastest 20 racers who will proceed to a live territory final. Only two from each final will make it to the intensive six-day driver training `Race Camp' to be run at the world-famous Silverstone circuit. The winner of Race Camp will continue to be trained in high-performance Nissan race cars and compete in a series of national-level races in order to qualify for an international race licence and an entry into the Dubai race. 

Since the first GT Academy in 2008, the innovative competition has established itself as a real and credible route into top-level motor sport for Gran Turismo gamers. Lucas Ordoñez, the Spanish winner of the first instalment in 2008, went on to finish second in the 2009 European GT4 Cup and fourth in 2010. Frenchman Jordan Tresson, the winner of last year's GT Academy competition, finished equal fourth with Ordoñez in the GT4 series. Both racers are expected to announce new programmes for 2011 soon. 

"In Gran Turismo 5 we continue to bring the worlds of real and virtual racing closer together and the GT Academy programme, in partnership with our friends at Nissan, perfectly illustrates this ambition," explained Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Gran Turismo games and president of Polyphony Digital. "It is also a great showcase for the fact that GT5 will continue to offer players more than just the game they have bought. It fully utilises the online functionality of GT5 and highlights the community elements. I think that we shall see a lot of friends challenging each other to take part in GT Academy and seeing how good they are against others. I am sure that most people with an interest in motor sport have dreamt about having a go for real. The competition has already made that dream a reality for the previous two winners, so it is well worth entering - even if it is only your friends you want to beat!"

 When the virtual racing stage of the game ends, the emphasis will shift to Nissan's stunning sports cars with the 370Z and GT-R playing starring roles at the Silverstone Race Camp. "It has been a great pleasure for us to see so many of our cars recreated in stunning detail on the new GT5 game," said Nissan International's Vice-President of Marketing, Vincent Wijnen. "But GT Academy is even more special as we watch the incredible progression of somebody racing our cars in the game to enjoying great success racing them at full speed on international race circuits. GT Academy has become a great `grass roots' mainstay of our international race programme and we enjoy the partnership with PlayStation very much." 

GT Academy in 2010 enjoyed enormous success with 1.2 million gamers taking part. The competition found a very high-profile fan in judge, and former Formula One team boss, Eddie Jordan, who commented at the Silverstone event: "This has been extraordinary, I have been absolutely blown away. I could not believe that these gamers, with no experience of racing cars, could do this. They really are great drivers, all of them, and they can be rightly proud of what they have achieved. I know that they have all had an amazing experience that will stay with them forever." 

Residents from 10 European countries, combined into six territory groups, are eligible to take part in GT Academy 2011. They include: 1. Germany and Austria; 2. France and Switzerland; 3. UK and Ireland; 4. Spain and Portugal; 5. Italy; and 6. the Netherlands. 

2011 Honda Civic Ti Review

Race-car looks are combined with high-spec interior equipment on Honda's new limited edition model, the Civic Ti. Based on the 1.4 and 1.8 i-VTEC SE variants, the Civic Ti comes with £3,700 worth of extra equipment over and above the standard model. 

The 5-door Civic is inspired by this season's Honda Racing British Touring Car challenger, and is fitted with unique, 17-inch `Pro Race' wheels from Team Dynamics, Honda's racing partner in the BTCC. 

The sporty image of these matt black wheels is enhanced by Honda's `GP' body kit finished in Crystal Black, which provides a stark contrast to the exclusive Premium White Pearl body paint and body colored trim. The race-like GP kit includes front spoiler, rear spoiler (finished in white), side skirt inserts and rear body skirts. Inside, the Civic Ti is equipped with a state-of-the-art Pioneer Navigation Multimedia System, which offers full-scale sat nav, entertainment and communication with a 3D graphic touch screen. 

This high-end multimedia unit includes a map database covering 44 countries, multiple sensors to ensure more accurate positioning, a traffic message channel receiver to avoid traffic jams and a hands free telephone system. It also plays CD, DVD, iPod, iPhone and USB devices, with on-screen controls. 

The Pioneer system provides another link to the BTCC team, as the global audio/video and electronics firm is the main sponsor of Honda Racing Team's attack for the 2011 title. 

Honda dealerships in the UK will sell just 500 of the limited edition Civics, which go on sale in March. Prices start at £15,995 OTR for the 1.4 i-VTEC and £16,995 for the 1.8 variant.

Perodua Myvi 1.5 Extreme

The new 2011 Perodua Myvi 1.3 was launched in June 16 with 3 variants: Standard, Premium and Elegance. To further boost the sales of Myvi model, Perodua now launched 2 new variants – the new Myvi SE and Myvi Extreme with 1.5-litre DOHC 16V DVVT engine to all its prospective customers. The new Myvi 1.5 is marketed with the catchphrase “Lagi Power, Lagi Best”.

Despite the fact that Perodua developed the new Myvi 1.5 at the same time as the current Myvi 1.3 model. However, we think that Perodua have done a great job in styling the car and well responded to their customer requirement and feedback in terms of performance.

The new Myvi SE and Myvi Extreme are priced between RM 50,900 and RM 61,700 depending on the specifications. Both variants offer the choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

On-the-Road (OTR) price in Peninsular Malaysia

Perodua Myvi 1.5 SE
- Manual – RM50,900 – RM 51,400
- Automatic – RM 53,900 – RM 54,400 (with standard audio headunit)
- Automatic – RM 56,000 – RM 56,500 (with multimedia & navigation system)

Perodua Myvi 1.5 Extreme
- Manual – RM 58,200 – RM 58,700
- Automatic – RM 61,200 – RM 61,700

2011 Bentley Ice Speed Record Review

Bentley has announced its most potent and radically styled convertible ever - the 202mph (325km/h) Supersports `Ice Speed Record' convertible. This new model, limited to just 100 cars worldwide, is a celebration of the Company's world ice speed record set two weeks ago by Finland's four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen in a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible.




Driving the all-wheel drive, biofuel-powered 6-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible on the perilous frozen Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland, Kankkunen achieved a speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) eclipsing his own ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set in 2007 in the Continental GT. Both the new Supersports `Ice Speed Record' convertible and Juha's record-breaking Supersports will be on display on the Bentley stand at the Geneva Show from 1st March.

2012 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake

The legendary Ford Mustang line has spit out many iterations in its decorated history, but of all the versions of that line, none has been more powerful than the Shelby GT500 Super Snake.

First introduced in 2008, the Shelby GT500 Super Snake has been the crown jewel of the Mustang line, a car that blends torque-twisting muscle with a supercar-like power that very few American-made cars can reach.

This month, the latest incarnation of the Shelby GT500 Super Snake will slither its way to New York when it makes its official debut at the New York International Auto Show.

The car’s debut in New York is symbolic of the rich history between the annual event and the American marquee. According to John Luft, president of Shelby American Inc., the New York International Show holds a special place in the hearts of Shelby. "The very first Shelby car was introduced there in 1962, as well as the 1968 and 2008 Shelby GT500KR and the 2006 Shelby Hertz GT-H," he said. "This year, we’re returning with one of the most powerful and important Shelbys ever built."

Needless to say, we’re all gearing up for the New York Auto Show, especially for the unveiling of this American icon.

2011 Toyota FT 86 II Review

The new Toyota FT-86 II Concept makes its world debut at the Geneva motor show, giving the clearest indication yet as to the final design of Toyota's next sports car. It marks a return to the passion for driving that has inspired great Toyota cars of the past, starting with the legendary 2000 GT in the 1960s. 

With its long, low bonnet, high wings and rear-set cabin, the Toyota FT-86 II pays homage to Toyota's sports car history and is an entirely driver-oriented concept. It was created at Toyota's European design studio ED2, where its styling was dubbed `functional beauty': its bold, sweeping form has been generated purely according to the constraints of function and aerodynamics. 

The low, highly aerodynamic bodyshell is stretched tight over the engineering hard points, with the muscular bodywork rendered as compact as possible. The concept measures 4,235mm long, 1,795mm wide and 1,270mm high, with a long, 2,570mm wheelbase. Rather than using a heavy, large displacement powertrain to secure performance, the FT86 II returns to Toyota's sporting roots by combining a free-revving boxer petrol engine with a compact and lightweight six-speed manual transmission and a low center of gravity to achieve the best possible power to weight ratio. 

Both the powertrain and the driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimize balance for maximum poise, high-speed stability and agility. With a front-engine/rear-wheel drive configuration, this gives the car lively, accessible performance that is easy to harness and enjoy. 

The Toyota FT-86 II Concept is the latest stage in the development of a new, compact rear-wheel drive sports car that is being jointly developed by Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru). The new model will be launched in Europe in 2012. 

2011 Anderson Lamborghini Gallardo White Review

As might be expected, the company ANDERSON headquartered in Dusseldorf is unlikely taboo that you could not throw overboard. This company is well-known for its bold solutions for top flight vehicles of different origin exceeding the declared specifications. So this Lamborghini Gallardo White Edition is a further proof of the inexhaustible creativity of this team from the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia.


Performance kit takes the horsepower from 560 to 600 hp. This is done with series of modifications that include the use of software optimization and the addition of a modified air filter and a sport exhaust system with additional Rennkats. The tuning package includes a remote-controlled valve adjusting system that lets driver opt from three different levels of noise and also reduces approximately 22 kg in weight. A special sport suspension module combined with a precise undercarriage significantly changes the driving dynamics. Three-piece, shiny black rims - each with a white painted deep dish - in dimensions of 9x20 inch with 245/30-20 tires in front and 12.5 x 20 inch with 325/25-20 rear provide adequate adherence with the asphalt surface.

Externally visible modifications include carbon trim, widening aero kit consisting of front apron, side skirts, rear bumper diffuser and a rear spoiler. And window and tail light tinting should be mentioned also. The look is completed by LED lights on the sides of the vehicle and contrasting red-painted calipers. 

The interior features exclusive white carbon details. There are the vents, the hand brake lever, the shift paddles, the dashboard, the steering wheel, door handle inlays, the shift lever and the border of the internal light in the roof lining. The seats of the White Racing Edition are finished in black Alcantara and black and white leather; the edges of seats are entirely in white; doors and seats have diamond-shaped stitching.