Nother CarGuy

Porsche has quietly taken the wraps off the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Rallye concept. Set to debut later this month at Rallye Deutschland, the concept is based on the Cayman GT4 Clubsport and features an assortment of rally specific upgrades. Porsche declined to go into specifics, but the car has auxiliary lighting units and a roof-mounted scoop. We can also see additional underbody paneling, a roll cage and lightweight wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. Like the standard model, the concept likely powered by a 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 385 PS (283 kW / 380 hp). It could be paired to a six-speed PDK transmission. Porsche didn’t say much about the car, but it appears it might actually enter the race as the automaker confirmed the concept will be driven by Romain Dumas. Dumas, as you may remember, set a new record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb when he completed the 12.42 mile (19.99 km) long course in 7 minutes and 57.148 seconds while driving th...

Volkswagen has unveiled the all-new Polo GTI R5 following a preview last month. Introduced earlier today in Spain, the Polo GTI R5 is a turn-key rally car that was designed to compete in the R5 class alongside rivals such as the Citroën DS3 R5, Ford Fiesta R5, and Skoda Fabia R5. As part of the transformation from street car to rally car, the Polo has been outfitted with an aggressive body kit includes a sportier front bumper, extended fender flares, and a large rear spoiler. The model has also been equipped with lightweight wheels, a roll cage, and an assortment of safety equipment. Motivation is provided by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine which produces 272 PS (200 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to a five-speed sequential racing transmission that sends power to permanent four-wheel drive system. This enables the 1,320 kg (2,910 lbs) rally car to rocket from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 4.1 seconds. The Polo GTI R5 will be homo...

MINI has introduced the new John Cooper Works Buggy which will compete in the 2018 Dakar Rally. Set to be driven by the X-raid team, the JCW Buggy is a rear-wheel drive model that is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine that produces 340 PS (250 kW) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. The model rides on a tubular steel frame and features unique bodywork that was developed in "close cooperation with MINI Design." While the model doesn't look like anything in MINI's lineup, the rally car is extremely lightweight as its body is constructed out of Kevlar and carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The rally car has already undergone an extensive testing program which has seen the model tackle tough terrain in places such as Morocco and Hungary. X-raid team manager Sven Quandt says these tests have been quite successful as the "buggy never had to stop once due to a technical problem." The JCW Buggy will be joined by the familiar ...

Volkswagen disappointed rally fans when it withdrew from the World Rally Championship at the end of last season. Now, less than a year later, the German automaker has announced its return to the rally scene, just in a very different capacity. Instead of fielding its own Polo R WRC in the top-tier rally series, VW is preparing to offer another version of the Polo to customer teams. Previewed for the first time in this teaser sketch, the new Polo GTI R5 is being built by the same people behind the previous version – including VW Motorsport technical director François-Xavier “FX” Demaison and Sebastien Ogier's race engineer Gerard-Jan de Jongh. Full specifications haven't been announced, but the R5 is being based on the new Polo GTI with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine employing direct injection to channel 270 horsepower to all four wheels through a five-speed sequential gearbox. “With the Polo GTI R5 we are hoping to transfer our expertise from four WRC titles t...

Citroën is gearing up for its big return to the World Rally Championship, and will preview its new entry at the Paris Motor Show with the concept you see here. Called, simply enough, the  C3 WRC  Concept, it was designed jointly by the company's design and motorsport departments to preview the competition-spec model to follow. It's based closely on the new  production C3 hatchback , but with some telltale rally flourishes to convey its purpose. It's wider than the road-going version, with large wings protruding out both ends, and with a sportier racing livery. The concept was designed with the FIA's latest regulations in mind, which call for output up to 380 horsepower, 55 fewer pounds to sling around corners, increased downforce, and an electronic differential. So most of what you see here you can expect to see on the final version that will make its rally debut in Monte Carlo come January. When it does, the French team will be out to add to its unrivaled list of re...

If you've been thinking of picking up a nimble new roadster, but can't decide between the  Mazda MX-5 Miata  and its Italian counterpart the  Fiat 124 Spider , the vehicle you see here might tip the balance. It's the new Abarth 124 Spider, tuned by the Italian automaker's performance division. And it's just made its debut here on the floor of the 2016  Geneva Motor Show . The Abarth version, of course, is based on the  Fiat  model, which in turn is based on the  Mazda . But the one with the Scorpion emblem offers a number of performance upgrades. Under the hood is still a 1.4-liter  turbo  four, producing the same 184 pound-feet of torque, but in Abarth spec offers a more prodigious 170 horsepower (up from 160). Buyers will still be able to choose between a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, but the rest of the components are no-brainers: Brembo brakes, Bilstein dampers, and a Record Monza exhaust. The steering is electrically ass...